What it means
لطف داری (lotf dâri) is the present-tense second-person singular of the compound verb لطف داشتن (lotf dâshtan, to have kindness or grace). The noun لطف (lotf) comes from Arabic لطف (lutf), meaning kindness, grace, or gentleness. The verb داری (dâri) comes from Persian داشتن (dâshtan, to have). The phrase functions as a social acknowledgment, used when someone gives you a compliment, does you a favor, or says something kind. It is the Persian equivalent of saying you are too kind or that is so sweet of you. A close synonym is مهربونی میکنی (mehrabuni mikoni, you are being kind), which carries a similar warmth.
How to use it
- لطف داری، خیلی ممنون. (lotf dâri, kheyli mamnun.) “You are so kind, thank you very much.”
- لطف داری که این همه زحمت کشیدی. (lotf dâri ke in hame zahmat keshidi.) “It is so kind of you to have gone to all this trouble.”
- نه، واقعاً لطف داری، من لایق این محبت نیستم. (na, vâghe’an lotf dâri, man lâyeq-e in mohabbat nistam.) “No, you are truly too kind, I don’t deserve this much affection.”
- اگه بتونی کمک کنی لطف داری. (age betuni komak koni lotf dâri.) “If you can help, that would be very kind of you.”
Cultural note
لطف داری sits at the heart of ta’arof, the Persian system of elaborate social courtesy. It is used both to receive praise graciously and to deflect it with humility, often triggering a back-and-forth exchange where both parties insist the other is kinder. The concept of lotf in Persian culture extends beyond simple politeness into a philosophical idea of divine grace and human generosity. In everyday conversation, saying lotf dâri is warm and natural across all ages. In more formal settings, you might hear لطف دارید (lotf dârid, the plural respectful form) instead.