Breakdown of ما به گذر عمر بیتوجه میمانیم، بی آنکه به سالخوردگی فکر کنیم.
ما
we
بهbe
to
ماندنmândan
to stay
فکر کردنfekr kardan
to think
عمرomr
lifetime / life
بی آنکهbi ânke
without [doing]
گذرgozar
passage
سالخوردگیsâlkhordegi
old age
بیتوجهbi-tavajjoh
unaware / inattentive
Questions & Answers about ما به گذر عمر بیتوجه میمانیم، بی آنکه به سالخوردگی فکر کنیم.
Why do we use the subjunctive فکر کنیم instead of the indicative فکر میکنیم here?
The phrase بی آنکه (without [doing something]) introduces a negative clause of manner. Because it describes an action that isn't actually happening, it triggers the subjunctive mood. That's why we use the present subjunctive فکر کنیم.
Is بی آنکه common in everyday spoken Farsi?
It is quite formal and often used in literature or journalism. In casual, everyday conversation, you are much more likely to hear بدون اینکه (bedun-e inke). It works exactly the same way and also requires the subjunctive: بدون اینکه به سالخوردگی فکر کنیم.
Why use عمر for 'life' instead of the more common زندگی?
While زندگی (zendegi) means 'life' in a broad, general sense (how you live, daily life), عمر ('omr) specifically refers to 'lifespan' or the finite duration of time someone is alive. Since this sentence is about aging and time running out, گذر عمر (the passing of one's lifespan) is the most accurate and poetic choice.
Why is the preposition به used before گذر عمر when the English translation says 'unaware of'?
In Farsi, the adjective بیتوجه (inattentive / lacking attention) pairs with the preposition به (to). So, you are literally staying 'inattentive to the passage of life,' rather than 'unaware of' it. Notice that به is used again later in the sentence with فکر کردن (to think about / to).
How is the noun سالخوردگی formed?
It's a beautifully descriptive compound word. It is made of سال (year) + خورده (consumed/eaten, the past participle of خوردن) + گی (a suffix that creates abstract nouns). Literally, it means 'the state of having consumed years,' which translates to 'old age'.
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