خاطر

What it means

خاطر (khâter) comes from Arabic خَاطِر (khâtir), meaning the mind, what passes through the heart, or a thought. In Persian the word retained a sense of the inner self or memory, and it anchors several high-frequency phrases. به خاطر (be khâter) functions as a preposition meaning because of or for the sake of, and is essential for giving reasons or expressing gratitude. خاطره (khâtere) is the derived noun meaning memory or recollection. به خاطر سپردن (be khâter sepordan) means to commit something to memory, and از خاطر رفتن (az khâter raftan) means to be forgotten, literally to leave the memory.

How to use it

• به خاطر تو اومدم (be khâter-e to umadam) “I came because of you, for your sake.”
• به خاطرم نیست (be khâter-am nist) “I do not remember it.”
• خاطرات بچگیم رو دوست دارم (khâterât-e bachegi-am ro dust dâram) “I love my childhood memories.”
• به خاطر دیر کردن معذرت می‌خوام (be khâter-e dir kardan ma’zerat mi-khâm) “I am sorry for being late.”

Cultural note

به خاطر is one of the most practical prepositions a Persian learner can master. It opens apologies, justifications, dedications, and expressions of gratitude, and Iranians reach for it constantly in both formal and informal settings. The phrase به خاطرت می‌ارم (be khâter-et mi-âram, I will keep it in mind for you) signals attentiveness and care, a social gesture that goes beyond its literal meaning. خاطره (memory) also carries nostalgia in Persian culture; sharing childhood memories, خاطرات بچگی, is a beloved conversational genre at family gatherings.

References

• Dehkhoda
• Vajehyab