What it means
بردباری (bordbâri) is a pure Persian compound noun built from two elements: “bord” (برد), the past stem of “bordan” meaning to carry or to bear, and “bâri” (باری), meaning a load or burden. Together they describe the quality of carrying one’s burdens with composure, patience, and tolerance. It covers both passive endurance of difficulty and the active, dignified choice not to react with anger. A close synonym is صبر (sabr), which comes from Arabic and is more commonly used in everyday speech; بردباری carries a slightly more literary, philosophical weight. The opposite is بیحوصلگی (bi-howselegi), restlessness or impatience.
How to use it
- بردباری او در برابر مشکلات واقعاً تحسینبرانگیز بود. (bordbâri-ye u dar barâbar-e moshkelât vâqe’an tahsin-barangiz bud.) “His patience in the face of problems was truly admirable.”
- زندگی خوب به بردباری نیاز داره. (zendegi-ye khub be bordbâri niyâz dâre.) “A good life needs patience.”
- باید بیشتر بردباری داشته باشیم. (bâyad bishtar bordbâri dâshte bâshim.) “We need to have more forbearance.”
- بردباری یه فضیلته، نه ضعف. (bordbâri ye fazilate, na za’f.) “Patience is a virtue, not a weakness.”
Cultural note
Patience and forbearance are among the most praised virtues in Persian literary and Islamic ethics alike. Classical poets such as Saadi and Hafez return to the theme repeatedly, presenting بردباری as a hallmark of the wise and noble person. In everyday Iranian culture, showing restraint and not reacting explosively in conflict is still widely admired as a sign of character and maturity. The word appears frequently in Persian proverbs, including the saying “صبر و بردباری کلید فرج است” (patience and forbearance are the key to relief).