What it means
خستگی (khastegi) is the noun form of خسته (khaste, tired), itself descended from Middle Persian and rooted in Old Iranian. It covers the full spectrum of tiredness: the ordinary fatigue after a long day, the muscle soreness after exercise, and the deeper emotional or chronic exhaustion that can accompany illness or burnout. A close synonym in formal medical language is فرسودگی (farsudegi, burnout or wear), which implies longer-term depletion, while خستگی is the everyday, neutral word most speakers reach for first.
How to use it
- از خستگی نمیتونم چشمامو باز نگه دارم. (az khastegi nemitunam cheshmâmo bâz negah dâram.) “I am so tired I cannot keep my eyes open.”
- خستگی مزمن میتونه نشونهی بیماری باشه. (khastegi-ye mozman mitune neshune-ye bimâri bâshe.) “Chronic fatigue can be a sign of illness.”
- بعد از ورزش یه خستگی خوبی دارم. (bad az varzesh ye khastegi-ye khubi dâram.) “After working out I have a good kind of tiredness.”
- خستگیام در رفت. (khastegiam dar raft.) “My tiredness went away.” (colloquial: I feel refreshed.)
Cultural note
In Persian conversation, acknowledging خستگی is a standard social courtesy. The phrase خسته نباشید (khaste nabâshid, may you not be tired) is used throughout the day to greet someone who has been working, serving, or simply commuting, and it expects no medical interpretation. Refusing to admit خستگی can be a point of pride in some contexts, particularly among older men, but in health education materials and younger urban circles, talking openly about fatigue is increasingly normalized.