Breakdown of آیا خرس مثل ببر خطرناک است؟
بودنbudan
to be
آیاâyâ
whether (question particle)
خطرناکkhatarnâk
dangerous
مثلmesl
like, such as
ببرbabr
tiger
خرسkhers
bear
Questions & Answers about آیا خرس مثل ببر خطرناک است؟
How does مثل mean "as dangerous as" here when it normally translates to "like"?
In Farsi, you can use مثل (mesl-e) paired with an adjective to show two things share the exact same amount of a quality. While translating it literally as "Is the bear like a tiger dangerous?" sounds strange in English, it is the standard Farsi way to construct an "as...as" comparison.
Could we use به اندازه instead of مثل in this sentence?
Yes! You can say آیا خرس به اندازه ببر خطرناک است؟ and it means exactly the same thing. The phrase به اندازه (be andâze-ye) literally means "to the measure of," which is perfect for expressing "as dangerous as." Both options are very common.
What is the specific word order for this type of comparison?
The structure is: Subject + مثل + Noun + Adjective + Verb. First you state the main subject (خرس), then the comparison phrase (مثل ببر), then the adjective they share (خطرناک), and you finish with the verb (است).
Is the question word آیا always required for this kind of sentence?
No, آیا (âyâ) is completely optional. It is a slightly formal marker that alerts the listener a yes/no question is coming. In casual spoken Farsi, people usually drop it and just say خرس مثل ببر خطرناک است؟, relying entirely on a rising tone of voice to ask the question.
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