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.