Learn Farsi: ترحم بدون اقدام بی‌فایده است.

The root of ترحم is ر-ح-م (r-h-m), which you might recognize from words related to mercy, like رحم (rahm). By plugging these root letters into the ta-C1-a-C2-C2-o-C3 pattern, we get ta-ra-hh-o-m. Because this pattern often describes adopting a certain state, attitude, or feeling, tarahhom becomes the act of showing compassion or taking pity on someone.

Is اقدام (action) also based on an Arabic root pattern?

Yes! Its root is ق-د-م (q-d-m), which is all about stepping or moving forward (you probably know قدم, meaning "step"). اقدام (eqdām) follows the Ef'āl (Form IV) verbal noun pattern, which usually indicates causing an action to happen. Therefore, eqdām translates to "taking steps," "measures," or "action."

Do I need to pronounce an ezafe after بدون (without)?

Yes, you should pronounce it as bedun-e eqdām. Many common Farsi prepositions, including بدون (without), برای (for), and درباره (about), originally functioned as nouns in the sentence structure. Because of this historical grammar quirk, they still connect to the noun that follows them using the ezafe (-e) vowel.

Both بدون and بی‌ convey the idea of "without". Could I just say بدون فایده instead of بی‌فایده?