What it means
خوشبین (khoshbin) means optimistic, someone who tends to see the good side of things. The word is purely Persian: خوش (khosh) means good or pleasant, and بین (bin) is the present stem of دیدن (didan), meaning to see. So a khoshbin person is literally a good-seer, one who sees things in a positive light. Its direct opposite is بدبین (badbin), meaning pessimistic. In everyday speech, خوشبین is used both as a compliment and, sometimes ironically, to suggest someone is too trusting of a situation.
How to use it
- سعی کن خوشبین باشی. (sa’y kon khoshbin bâshi.) “Try to be optimistic.”
- اون همیشه خوشبینه، حتی تو سختترین شرایط. (on hamishe khoshbineh, hattâ to sakht-tarin sharâyet.) “She is always optimistic, even in the hardest conditions.”
- خیلی خوشبینانه فکر میکنی. (kheili khoshbinâneh fekr mikoni.) “You are thinking very optimistically.”
- من به آینده خوشبینم. (man be âyandeh khoshbinam.) “I am optimistic about the future.”
Cultural note
Optimism and a hopeful outlook carry a complex weight in Iranian culture. On one hand, Persian proverbs and poetry frequently counsel patience and hope in difficult times. On the other hand, a reputation for being overly خوشبین can suggest naivety, particularly in contexts involving business, politics, or trust. The word pairs naturally with its opposite بدبین in everyday conversation, and Iranians often discuss which outlook is more realistic given their circumstances.