What it means
نزدیکبین (nazdik-bin) is a compound adjective built from two pure Persian roots: نزدیک (nazdik, near, close) and بین (bin, seeing), from the verb دیدن (didan, to see). Together they create a word meaning someone who only sees what is close, that is, short-sighted or myopic. The word works equally well as a medical term for near-sightedness and as a figurative description of a person or decision that lacks foresight. Its opposite is دوربین (dur-bin, far-sighted), which is also the ordinary word for binoculars or camera.
How to use it
- از بچگی نزدیکبینم و باید عینک بزنم. (az bachegi nazdik-binam o bâyad eynak bezanam.) “I have been short-sighted since childhood and have to wear glasses.”
- این سیاست نزدیکبینانهست، به آینده فکر نکردند. (in siyâsat nazdik-binâne-st, be âyande fekr nakardand.) “This policy is short-sighted, they did not think about the future.”
- مدیری که نزدیکبینه نمیتونه یه تیم قوی بسازه. (modiri ke nazdik-bine nemitune ye tim-e qavi besâze.) “A manager who is short-sighted cannot build a strong team.”
- نظرش خیلی نزدیکبینانهست، فقط به سود فوری فکر میکنه. (nazaresh kheyli nazdik-binâne-st, faghat be sud-e furi fekr mi-kone.) “His view is very short-sighted, he only thinks about immediate profit.”
Cultural note
The -bin (seeing) suffix family is highly productive in Persian: نزدیکبین, دوربین, آیندهنگر and similar compounds let speakers build vivid vocabulary around the metaphor of vision and foresight. In political commentary and journalistic Persian, نزدیکبین and its noun نزدیکبینی (nazdik-bini, short-sightedness) appear frequently to criticize planning that prioritizes short-term gain over long-term stability. The medical sense (clinical myopia) co-exists seamlessly with the figurative one, which can create gentle wordplay in conversation.