What it means
تجربه (tajrobe) means experience, a lived lesson, or in more formal contexts, an experiment or trial. The word comes from Arabic, from the root j-r-b meaning to try or to test. In everyday Persian it usually refers to something a person has lived through and learned from, rather than a scientific test. A close synonym in the sense of skill gained over time is مهارت (mahârat), though that word stresses ability more than the lived process. The contrast to watch for: tajrobe is about the event of experiencing, while دانش (dânesh) is the knowledge that may result from it.
How to use it
- این یه تجربه خوبی بود. (In ye tajrobe-ye khubi bud.) “That was a good experience.”
- اون تجربه کافی نداره. (Un tajrobe-ye kâfi nadâre.) “He doesn’t have enough experience.”
- از تجربههات یاد بگیر. (Az tajrobe-hât yâd begir.) “Learn from your experiences.”
- این اولین تجربهام بود. (In avalin tajrobe-am bud.) “This was my first time going through this.”
Cultural note
In Iranian culture, personal experience and the wisdom that comes with age carry real social weight. Elders are often described as bâ tajrobe, meaning experienced, and that label brings genuine respect. The phrase تجربه تلخ (tajrobe-ye talkh), a bitter experience, appears often in Persian proverbs and literature to frame hardship as a teacher rather than a misfortune. This framing reflects a broader cultural tendency to find meaning and lesson in difficulty rather than treating it as mere bad luck.