What it means
اندازه (andâze) is a native Persian word descended from Middle Persian handâzag, meaning a measurement or proportion. It covers physical size (the size of a shirt, the dimensions of a room), numerical measure (to what degree?), and the more abstract sense of moderation or limit, as in به اندازه خوردن (eat in moderation). It is one of the most versatile measurement words in everyday Persian. A close synonym for the physical sense is ابعاد (ab’âd), meaning dimensions, though that word comes from Arabic and sounds more formal. اندازه feels natural in all registers of speech.
How to use it
- اندازه این لباس چنده؟ (andâze-ye in lebâs chande?) “What size is this shirt?”
- اتاق رو اندازه گرفتم. (otâq ro andâze gereftam.) “I measured the room.”
- به اندازه بخور، زیادش ضرر داره. (be andâze bokhor, ziâdash zarar dâre.) “Eat in moderation; too much is harmful.”
- درست به اندازه کافیه. (dorost be andâze kâfiye.) “That is exactly enough, just the right amount.”
Cultural note
In Persian, اندازه carries a mild ethical overtone beyond its literal meaning. The phrase به اندازه, meaning in measure or just enough, appears in everyday advice about food, speech, and spending, reflecting a broader cultural value placed on balance and avoiding excess. Classical poets and moralists used اندازه frequently when writing about temperance. The word also shows up in a common proverb: هر چیزی اندازهای دارد, meaning everything has its measure, a reminder that proportion is a virtue.