چی بودیم، چی شدیم

Persian

Alternative forms
  • چه بودیم، چه شدیم‎ (če budim, če šodim) (more formal, but uncommon)

Etymology

Literally: “What were we and what have we become!”

Phrase

چی بودیم، چی شدیم‎ • (či budim, či šodim)

  1. whatever happened to us!; expression of melancholy for a glorious past or of general cultural pessimism

Usage notes
  • In contemporary discourse most often referring to a comparison of contemporary Iran with pre-revolutionary (or even pre-Islamic) times. Hence associated with those critical of the Islamic Revolution. However, supporters of the latter have also tried to reclaim the expression in a positive sense.
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