قفسه

What it means

قفسه (qafase) means “shelf” or “shelving unit,” the open structure of horizontal boards where you arrange books, dishes, or goods. A bookshelf is قفسه کتاب, and in a shop the قفسه is the display shelving. Unlike the closed کمد with doors, a قفسه is usually open, and a single recessed ledge in a wall is more often called a طاقچه.

How to use it

• کتاب رو بذار تو قفسه (ketâb ro bezâr tu qafase) “put the book on the shelf”
• قفسه کتاب (qafase-ye ketâb) “bookshelf”
• قفسه‌ها رو گردگیری کن (qafase-hâ ro gardgiri kon) “dust the shelves”
• این جنس رو قفسه نیست (in jens ru qafase nist) “this item is not on the shelf”

Cultural note

An open قفسه کتاب in the living room often doubles as a display for family photos, decorative objects, and a few prized volumes such as a Divan of Hafez. In shops and pharmacies, قفسه is the standard word a shopkeeper uses when telling you where to find something.

References

• Dehkhoda
• Vajehyab