What it means
جریمه نقدی (jarime-ye naqdi) means a monetary fine or cash penalty. Both parts of this phrase come from Arabic. جریمه (jarime) derives from the Arabic جریمة (jarima), meaning offense, crime, or the penalty for one, from the root ج-ر-م (j-r-m). نقدی (naqdi) is an adjective from نقد (naqd), the Arabic word for ready money or cash, meaning paid immediately rather than deferred. Together, جریمه نقدی names a fine paid in cash as opposed to other punishments like imprisonment or community service. In everyday Persian you will hear it for traffic fines, tax penalties, and court-ordered payments. A close synonym in common speech is جریمه alone, which Iranians use informally without the نقدی qualifier.
How to use it
- یه جریمه نقدی سنگین گرفت. (Ye jarime-ye naqdi-ye sangin gereft.) “He received a heavy monetary fine.”
- دادگاه بهش جریمه نقدی داد، نه حبس. (Dâdgâh behesh jarime-ye naqdi dâd, na habs.) “The court gave him a monetary fine, not imprisonment.”
- جریمه نقدی تخلف چقدره؟ (Jarime-ye naqdi-ye takhalof cheghadre?) “How much is the fine for the violation?”
- باید ظرف ده روز جریمه نقدی رو پرداخت کنی. (Bâyad zarf-e dah ruz jarime-ye naqdi ro pardâkht koni.) “You must pay the monetary fine within ten days.”
Cultural note
جریمه نقدی is a ubiquitous part of daily life in Iran, most visibly through traffic enforcement. Iranian traffic cameras, known as دوربینهای سرعتسنج (durbin-hâye sor-at-sanj), automatically issue fines for speeding, running red lights, and other violations, and many drivers track their accumulated fines online through the traffic police portal. Courts also issue جریمه نقدی as an alternative or addition to custodial sentences, particularly for first-time or minor offenders.