Farsi Lesson 118 – Translation of “A Little Frog’s Dream” – Part 2

Invasion, NO!

Conquer, YES!

What is the difference? I don’t know!

I believe I have explained it already. However, I am still targeted by some of my Arab brothers and sisters who still insist the Arabs did not invade Iran.

Persistency is good, but not always.

Most of my friends know me as ‘talkative’! I’d love to talk more about ‘invasion’ and ‘conquer’ issue. However, I am a bit afraid some of the students might not be happy with such topics since they believe they visit this site to learn Persian not to get involved in such issues. Let me tell you that such topics could also be part of learning a language, or I’d better say learning about a language. It is not a bad idea to know about the subjects that are somehow related to a language we are learning.

My Arab brothers and sisters, I love you all as I have told you before. This, however, should not prevent me from expressing what I believe is true.

Let me give you an example.

Almost all Iranians know Changiz Khan, the Mongolian emperor, as one of the most savage persons in history. He is our example in savageness. But, Changiz Khan is the biggest national hero for the Mongolians. The Mongolian people are proud of him. You may talk to them to see if I am right. You may also take a trip to the capital of Mongolia to see the statue of this national hero in the center of the capital city. If you have time, spend a few hours there and you will see that many even worship that statue. No need to mention that many types of wine, vodka, whiskey, even carpets, and other products are labeled ‘Changiz Khan’ with his victorious picture on these products. No, I am not a drinker! Honestly!

I give you another example from my homeland.

Almost all Iranians refer to Cyrus the Great as the Greatest King in our history. They are proud of him. He is the symbol of our country. Many even believe he was a righteous king sent by God since his name has been mentioned several times in the bible.

According to the Iranians, Cyrus the Great ‘conquered’ several countries triumphantly. The Iranians are proud that Iran ‘s territory reached Africa at the time of Cyrus the Great. Iran was at least three times larger under this King of kings.

To me what is surprising is that none of the Iranians have ever asked themselves what this King of Peace, King of kings, Symbol of Human Right and democracy was doing in Africa ? How did this democracy and human right seeker / supporter / distributor reach those areas? Did he do all this with a branch of olive in his hands or he killed thousands of people on his way to Africa ?

Is there anything in such action for me to be proud of?

I deeply hope the Iranians will not target me now!

I am not comparing Changiz Khan with a big prophet like Mohammad, peace be upon him. However, you should know that His followers have not taken my land, for at least one thousand year, with a branch of olive in their hands. Do you know how many people were killed, how many women were raped, how many books were put on fire, and how many homes were destroyed during that ‘conquer’?

I am not saying this to condemn this generation. Just let us open our eyes and see the truth as it is. Try to know the truth first, and then try to forgive and bring a change.

I remember I had talked about this topic on our former Message Board. Unfortunately, I lost all those writings when our server crashed. If you happen to have a copy of my messages on our former bulletin board, please send me a copy. I do appreciate your support.

All right, I hope we are done with this issue.

Now, let us start our new lesson.

Peace and love I give to all of you.

Your servant,

Hassan H.

Ready for more frog works?! Here we go!

7

On a blade of a green bristle grass, little frog sees a green grasshopper. As usual, she is full of confidence about catching it.

blade = /læbeh/ – /bærg/
On a blade of = /ru: ye bærg e/
bristle = /kork/
grass = /giya:h/
green bristle grass =/giya:h e sabz e kork da:r/
grasshopper = /mælækh/
as usual = /tebgh e mæmu:l/ – /mesl e hæ misheh/
confidence = /etema:d beh næfs/
she is full of confidence = /beh khodæsh etmina:n da:ræd/
to catch = /gereftæn/
about catching it = /keh mitæva:næd a:n ra: begiræd/

8

No sooner has she sprung up than the grasshopper jumps away. Little frog wonders why this grasshopper is more nimble.

no sooner = /hæmin keh/ –
to spring up = /pæridæn/ – /jæst zædæn/
to jump = /pæridæn/
jumps away = /pærva:z kona:n du:r mi shævæd/
to wonder = /heira:n ma:ndæn/ – /næda:nestæn/
nimble = /særi/ – /jæld/ – /ferz/
more nimble = /særi tær/

9

Soon she catches sight of a black mole cricket digging a hole. “be calm, I am sure I can catch her,” she warns herself.

soon = /bezu:di/ – /tu:li nemi keshæd keh/
to catch sight of = /didæn/
black mole = /siya:h/
cricket = /jir jiræk/
to dig = /kændæn/
hole = /goda:l/ – /hofreh/
be calm = /khu:n særd ba:sh/
I am sure = /motmæ enæm/
to warn = /ekhta:r da:dæn/ – /næhib zædæn/
she warns herself = /beh khodæsh næ hib mizænæd/

10

Unexpectedly, the black mole cricket jumps into the hole before she catches it.

unexpectedly = /beh tor e gheir e montæzereh/

11

Little frog has not caught a single insect and is suffering from hunger.

has not caught = /nægerefteh æst/
insect = /hæshæreh/
a single insect = /hæt.ta: yek hæ shæreh/
to suffer = /dærd keshidæn/ = /rænj bordæn/
hunger = /gorosnegi/
is suffering from hunger = /æz gorosnegi rænj mibæræd/ = /kheili gorosneh shodeh æst/

12

She cannot stand the hunger. So, she comes to a rice field hoping to catch some moths. However, a water snake is following her.

to stand something = /tæhæm.mol kærdæn/
she cannot stand it = /nemi tæva:næd tæhæm.molæsh konæd/
the hunger = /gorosnegi/
so = /bæna: bær in/
rice = /berenj/
rice field = /sha:liza:r/
hoping to = /omidva:r æst keh/
some = /chænd ta:/
moth = /pærva:neh/
however = / æm.ma:/
snake = /ma:r/
water snake = /ma:r e a:bi/
is following her = /da:ræd u: ra: tæghib mi konæd/

Please do not forget our today’s Quiz! It can help you!

Quiz:

(Source: Lesson 118 – My Translation!!)

1- Listen to the audio files first (preferably once). Repeat a couple of times. Write it down on a paper. Find their English equivalents. (Seen)

One

Two

Three

2- Find the Persian equivalent for the following words and make four sentences with each of them (in different tenses).

No sooner

She wonders

Soon

Be calm!

I cannot stand …

3- Say these numbers in Persian:

7 – 70 – 17 – 137 – 1661 – 791 – 367 – 700 – 701 – 710 – 2005

4- Follow the examples, combine the letters, and make words using the given letters. You’ll have to change the big letters into the small ones whenever needed.

Friend <= /du:st/ < ==

Book <= /keta:b/ < ==

However = ا + م + ا

Cricket = ج + ی + ر + ج +ی + ر + ک

Grasshopper = م + ل + خ

Hunger = گ + ر + س + ن + گ + ی

See you next week!

Lesson 118

• Let’s Write 118
• Useful Drills 118