What it means
بید (bid) is the willow tree, a word with deep roots in the Persian language stretching back to Middle Persian and Proto-Indo-Iranian. It is a native Persian word with no Arabic borrowing involved. The most familiar variety in Iran is بید مجنون (bid-e majnun), literally “the mad willow,” which refers to the weeping willow whose long trailing branches call to mind the lovesick Majnun of classical legend. A related term worth knowing is بیدمشک (bidmeshk), a fragrant distillate made from willow blossoms that is used in Persian sweets and drinks.
How to use it
- درخت بید کنار رودخونه بود. (Derakht-e bid kenâr-e rudkhune bud.) “The willow tree was beside the river.”
- سایهی بید خنک و آرومبخشه. (Sâye-ye bid khanak va ârum-bakhshe.) “The shade of the willow is cool and calming.”
- بید مجنون تو باغ خیلی قشنگه. (Bid-e majnun tu bâgh kheyli ghashange.) “The weeping willow in the garden is really beautiful.”
- شاخههای بید تو باد تاب میخورن. (Shâkhehâ-ye bid tu bâd tâb mikhoran.) “The branches of the willow sway in the wind.”
Cultural note
The willow holds a distinctive place in Persian poetry. Classical poets such as Hafez and Saadi used the image of the swaying willow to evoke grief, longing, and the beloved who is indifferent to the lover’s pain. The weeping willow in particular, bid-e majnun, carries the weight of the Leyli and Majnun story. Beyond poetry, bidmeshk, a steam distillate of willow flowers, remains a genuine ingredient in traditional Persian confectionery and is still sold in bazaars across Iran today.