What it means
خونسرد (khunsard) literally means “cold-blooded” in the physical sense, but in everyday Persian it describes a person who stays calm and composed under pressure. Think of the colleague who shrugs at a crisis, or the driver who does not flinch in Tehran traffic. It is a pure Persian compound: خون (khun, blood) plus سرد (sard, cold). A close opposite is عصبانی (asabâni, nervous, hot-tempered). Depending on context, khunsard can be a compliment, that quiet toughness Iranians admire, or a mild criticism, suggesting someone is suspiciously unbothered.
How to use it
- اون آدم خونسردیه، حتی تو بدترین شرایطم عصبانی نمیشه. (un âdam khunsardie, hattâ tu badtarin sharâyetam asabâni nemishe.) “He is a cool-headed person, he does not get angry even in the worst situations.”
- خونسرد باش، همهچیز درست میشه. (khunsard bâsh, hame-chiz dorost mishe.) “Stay calm, everything will be fine.”
- چطوری انقدر خونسرد موندی وقتی همه داشتن دیوونه میشدن؟ (chetori anghadr khunsard mundi vaghti hame dâshtan divune mishadan?) “How did you stay so composed when everyone was losing it?”
- مدیر ما خونسرده، هیچ وقت دست و پاشو گم نمیکنه. (modir-e mâ khunsarde, hich vaght dast-o-pâsho gum nemikune.) “Our manager is cool-headed, he never panics.”
Cultural note
In Iranian culture, keeping one’s composure, especially in public, carries real social weight. The ability to appear unruffled, what some describe as a kind of dignified self-control, is often admired in elders, leaders, and anyone navigating a difficult situation. That said, Iranians also have a sharp eye for the person who is khunsard to the point of indifference, someone who seems not to care even when they should. Context and tone of voice usually signal which reading is intended.