What it means
خواهش میکنم بفرمایید (khâhesh mikonam befarmâyid) combines two pure-Persian elements: خواهش کردن (khâhesh kardan, “to request”) from the root خواستن (khâstan, “to want”), and بفرمایید (befarmâyid), the polite imperative of فرمودن (farmudan, “to command, to deign to do”). Together they form a polished invitation: “I request you, please proceed.” The phrase is used when inviting someone into a room, offering a seat, or gesturing for someone to go first. It contrasts with the simpler بفرمایید alone, which is itself already polite but slightly less elaborate.
How to use it
- خواهش میکنم بفرمایید، تشریف بیارید داخل. (Khâhesh mikonam befarmâyid, tašrif biârid dâkhel.) “Please, do come inside.”
- خواهش میکنم بفرمایید بنشینید. (Khâhesh mikonam befarmâyid benšinid.) “Please, go ahead and sit down.”
- خواهش میکنم بفرمایید غذا بخورید. (Khâhesh mikonam befarmâyid qazâ bokhorid.) “Please, go ahead and eat.”
- خواهش میکنم بفرمایید، شما اول. (Khâhesh mikonam befarmâyid, shomâ avval.) “Please, after you, you go first.”
Cultural note
This phrase is a textbook example of taarof, the Persian system of elaborate verbal courtesy. When an Iranian host says خواهش میکنم بفرمایید, the guest is expected to accept only after being invited at least twice, sometimes three times. Declining on the first offering is considered polite, not rude. Using only بفرمایید is already courteous, but adding خواهش میکنم signals an even higher degree of deference and warmth toward the guest.