Breakdown of ده دقیقه طول میکشد تا چای دم بکشد و غذا هضم بشود.
و
and
چایchâi
tea
دهdah
ten
غذاghazâ
food
تاtâ
so that
شدنshodan
to become
طول کشیدنtul keshidan
to take (time) / to last
دقیقهdaghighe
minute
دم کشیدنdam kashidan
to brew / to steep
هضمhazm
digestion
طولtul
length; duration (dar tul-e = during)
Questions & Answers about ده دقیقه طول میکشد تا چای دم بکشد و غذا هضم بشود.
How is the phrase "it takes ten minutes for..." constructed in Farsi here?
This sentence uses the impersonal duration structure: [Time] + tul mi-kashad + tâ + [Present Subjunctive]. Here, dah daghigheh (ten minutes) is the time, followed by tul mi-kashad (it takes), and tâ (until/for). The actions that are taking the time follow later in the subjunctive form.
Why are both verbs at the end, dam be-kashad and hazm be-shavad, in the subjunctive form?
The conjunction tâ in this duration structure triggers the present subjunctive because it introduces a goal or an anticipated action that hasn't happened yet. Since the tea brewing and the food digesting are part of the same list connected by va (and), the subjunctive mood applies to both of those verbs.
What is the literal meaning of dam be-kashad when talking about tea?
It comes from the compound verb dam kashidan, which specifically means to steep or to brew, and is very commonly used for tea or rice. The word dam relates to breath or steam, and kashidan means to draw or pull, so the phrase figuratively refers to drawing out the steam or flavor.
How does hazm be-shavad translate to "to be digested"? Is it a passive verb?
Yes, it is passive! It comes from the compound verb hazm shodan (to be digested). The noun hazm means digestion. By combining it with the auxiliary verb shodan (to become), it creates a passive meaning. In the present subjunctive, shodan becomes be-shavad. If you wanted the active form, "to digest," you would use hazm kardan.
Learn ده دقیقه طول میکشد تا چای دم بکشد و غذا هضم بشود and more in Farsi
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free