What it means
جست زدن (jast zadan) is a pure Persian compound verb meaning to leap, to bound, or to spring suddenly. It is built from جست (jast, “a leap” or “a spring”), an old Persian noun rooted in classical literature, and the light verb زدن (zadan, “to strike” or, in compounds, simply “to do”). The compound describes a single, purposeful burst of upward or forward movement, more decisive than a casual پریدن (paridan, “to jump”). You might use it for an athlete clearing a hurdle, a cat pouncing, or a child leaping over a puddle.
How to use it
- از روی دیوار جست زد و فرار کرد. (az ru-ye divâr jast zad o farâr kard.) “He leapt off the wall and escaped.”
- گربه روی صندلی جست زد. (gorbe ru-ye sandali jast zad.) “The cat sprang onto the chair.”
- بچهها از سنگ به سنگ جست میزدند. (bačče-hâ az sang be sang jast mi-zadand.) “The kids were bounding from rock to rock.”
- با یه جست زدن از رودخونه رد شد. (bâ ye jast zadan az rudxune rad shod.) “With a single leap he crossed the stream.”
Cultural note
The root جست (jast) appears in classical Persian poetry and prose to describe heroic leaps in battle or hunting scenes. In Persian folk tales, a brave youth جست میزند over an obstacle to prove his worth. Today the verb remains vivid in everyday speech, often used playfully to describe children, animals, or athletes. It pairs naturally with از (from) and روی (onto) to describe the origin and destination of a leap, giving it a precise, cinematic quality that simpler verbs lack.