What it means
تحصیل (tahsil) refers to the act of studying or formally pursuing an education. The word is borrowed from Arabic, derived from the root ح-ص-ل (h-s-l), which carries the meaning of obtaining or acquiring. In Persian, tahsil applies to study at every level, from primary school through university. A close related phrase is ادامه تحصیل (edame-ye tahsil), meaning to continue one’s education.
How to use it
- تحصیلش را در تهران تمام کرد. (Tahsilash ro dar Tehran tamum kard.) “He finished his studies in Tehran.”
- دخترم الان مشغول تحصیل است. (Dokhterom alan mashghul-e tahsile.) “My daughter is currently studying.”
- برای تحصیل به خارج رفت. (Baraye tahsil be kharej raft.) “She went abroad to study.”
- هزینه تحصیل خیلی بالاست. (Hazine-ye tahsil kheyli balast.) “The cost of education is very high.”
Cultural note
In Iranian culture, tahsil carries strong social weight. Families across economic backgrounds tend to view formal education as the primary path to a better life, and asking a young person درست میخونی؟ (dorosti mikhooni?, meaning are you studying properly?) is a routine form of care and concern. University entrance, known as کنکور (konkur), is treated as a defining milestone, and the pressure surrounding it shapes the lives of millions of Iranian teenagers each year.