Adil compares two fictional neighbourhoods with Nadir. Follow how quiet streets, rent, nearby shops and the journey to work shape his decision.
01Read the Arabic conversation
مُقَارَنَةٌ بَيْنَ حَيَّيْنِ
عَادِلٌ: أَبْحَثُ عَنْ شَقَّةٍ، وَأُفَكِّرُ فِي حَيِّ النَّخِيلِ وَحَيِّ الْحَدِيقَةِ. أَيَّهُمَا تَقْتَرِحُ؟
نَادِرٌ: يَعْتَمِدُ ذَلِكَ عَلَى اِحْتِيَاجَاتِكَ. أَتَهْتَمُّ بِالْهُدُوءِ أَكْثَرَ أَمْ بِقُرْبِ الْمَحَلَّاتِ؟
عَادِلٌ: أَعْمَلُ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ أُسْبُوعِيًّا، لِذَلِكَ أَحْتَاجُ إِلَى مَكَانٍ هَادِئٍ.
نَادِرٌ: حَيُّ النَّخِيلِ أَهْدَأُ مِنْ حَيِّ الْحَدِيقَةِ، خَاصَّةً فِي الشَّوَارِعِ الْبَعِيدَةِ عَنِ السُّوقِ.
عَادِلٌ: هَذَا مُنَاسِبٌ، وَلَكِنَّنِي لَا أَمْلِكُ سَيَّارَةً. كَيْفَ أَذْهَبُ إِلَى الْمَكْتَبِ مِنْ هُنَاكَ؟
نَادِرٌ: تُوجَدُ حَافِلَةٌ مُبَاشِرَةٌ، وَتَسْتَغْرِقُ الرِّحْلَةُ نِصْفَ سَاعَةٍ. أَمَّا الْحَيُّ الْآخَرُ فَأَقْرَبُ إِلَى مَكْتَبِكَ.
عَادِلٌ: لَا أُمَانِعُ رِحْلَةً أَطْوَلَ يَوْمَيْنِ فَقَطْ، وَلَكِنْ مَاذَا عَنِ الْإِيجَارِ؟ هَلْ هُوَ مُرْتَفِعٌ؟
نَادِرٌ: الشَّقَّةُ الَّتِي رَأَيْتُهَا فِي النَّخِيلِ أَرْخَصُ مِنَ الشَّقَّةِ الْمَعْرُوضَةِ قُرْبَ حَدِيقَةِ الْحَيِّ الْآخَرِ.
عَادِلٌ: أَهَذَا الْفَرْقُ بِسَبَبِ الْمَوْقِعِ، أَمْ أَنَّ الشَّقَّةَ الْأَرْخَصَ أَصْغَرُ وَلَا تُنَاسِبُنِي؟
نَادِرٌ: الْمِسَاحَةُ مُتَقَارِبَةٌ، لَكِنَّ الْمَبْنَى أَقْدَمُ. مِنَ الْأَفْضَلِ أَنْ تَفْحَصَ الشَّقَّةَ بِنَفْسِكَ قَبْلَ الْقَرَارِ.
عَادِلٌ: سَأَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ. أَشْتَرِي الطَّعَامَ سَيْرًا عَلَى الْأَقْدَامِ، فَهَلْ تُوجَدُ مَحَلَّاتٌ قَرِيبَةٌ؟
نَادِرٌ: نَعَمْ، هُنَاكَ مَخْبَزٌ وَمَتْجَرٌ صَغِيرٌ. أَمَّا السُّوقُ الْكَبِيرُ فَيَبْعُدُ عَشْرَ دَقَائِقَ مَشْيًا.
عَادِلٌ: إِذَنْ لَنْ أَحْتَاجَ إِلَى الْحَافِلَةِ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ. وَهَلِ الشَّارِعُ هَادِئٌ مَسَاءً أَيْضًا؟
نَادِرٌ: كَانَ هَادِئًا عِنْدَمَا زُرْتُهُ، وَلَكِنْ زُرْهُ مَسَاءً لِتَتَأَكَّدَ. قَدْ تَخْتَلِفُ الضَّوْضَاءُ مِنْ شَارِعٍ لِآخَرَ.
عَادِلٌ: أُفَضِّلُ النَّخِيلَ لِأَنَّ الْهُدُوءَ مُهِمٌّ لِعَمَلِي، وَلَكِنَّنِي لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ قَرَارًا نِهَائِيًّا.
نَادِرٌ: هَذَا مَعْقُولٌ. إِذَا زُرْتَ الْحَيَّ، جَرِّبْ رِحْلَةَ الْحَافِلَةِ فِي مَوْعِدِ عَمَلِكَ الْمُعْتَادِ.
عَادِلٌ: فِكْرَةٌ جَيِّدَةٌ. سَأُقَارِنُ الْوَقْتَ الْفِعْلِيَّ بِالْوَقْتِ الْمَكْتُوبِ، ثُمَّ أَفْحَصُ الشَّقَّةَ.
نَادِرٌ: وَاسْأَلْ عَنِ الْمَصَارِيفِ الشَّهْرِيَّةِ أَيْضًا؛ فَالْإِيجَارُ وَحْدَهُ لَا يُوَضِّحُ كُلَّ التَّكَالِيفِ.
عَادِلٌ: سَأَكْتُبُ أَسْئِلَتِي قَبْلَ الزِّيَارَةِ، حَتَّى لَا أَنْسَى شَيْئًا مُهِمًّا عِنْدَ الْمُقَارَنَةِ.
نَادِرٌ: جَيِّدٌ، اِخْتَرْ مَا يُنَاسِبُ حَيَاتَكَ الْيَوْمِيَّةَ، وَلَا تَعْتَمِدْ عَلَى صُورِ الشَّقَّةِ فَقَطْ.
Show English translationHide English translation
Adil: I am looking for an apartment and considering Palm Neighbourhood and Garden Neighbourhood. Which do you suggest?
Nadir: That depends on your needs. Do you care more about quiet or being near shops?
Adil: I work from home three days a week, so I need somewhere quiet.
Nadir: Palm Neighbourhood is quieter than Garden Neighbourhood, especially in the streets away from the market.
Adil: That is suitable, but I do not own a car. How would I get to the office from there?
Nadir: There is a direct bus, and the journey takes half an hour. The other neighbourhood is closer to your office.
Adil: I do not mind a longer journey on just two days, but what about the rent? Is it high?
Nadir: The apartment I saw in Palm Neighbourhood is cheaper than the apartment advertised near the other neighbourhood’s park.
Adil: Is the difference due to the location, or is the cheaper apartment smaller and unsuitable for me?
Nadir: The floor areas are similar, but the building is older. It is best to inspect the apartment yourself before deciding.
Adil: I will do that. I buy food on foot, so are there shops nearby?
Nadir: Yes, there is a bakery and a small shop. The large market is a ten-minute walk away.
Adil: Then I will not need the bus for everything. Is the street quiet in the evening too?
Nadir: It was quiet when I visited, but visit in the evening to check. Noise may vary from one street to another.
Adil: I prefer Palm Neighbourhood because quiet is important for my work, but I have not made a final decision.
Nadir: That makes sense. If you visit the neighbourhood, try the bus journey at your usual work time.
Adil: Good idea. I will compare the actual time with the listed time, then inspect the apartment.
Nadir: And ask about monthly expenses too; rent alone does not show all the costs.
Adil: I will write my questions before the visit so that I do not forget anything important when comparing.
Nadir: Good. Choose what suits your daily life, and do not rely only on pictures of the apartment.
02Useful words and expressions
| Arabic in the conversation | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| اِحْتِيَاجَاتِكَ | your needs |
| أَهْدَأُ مِنْ | quieter than |
| حَافِلَةٌ مُبَاشِرَةٌ | a direct bus |
| لَا أُمَانِعُ | I do not mind |
| الْإِيجَارِ | the rent |
| الْمِسَاحَةُ مُتَقَارِبَةٌ | the floor areas are similar |
| بِنَفْسِكَ | yourself |
| الضَّوْضَاءُ | the noise |
| قَرَارًا نِهَائِيًّا | a final decision |
| الْمَصَارِيفِ الشَّهْرِيَّةِ | monthly expenses |
03Check your understanding
Choose one answer for each question. Look back at the Arabic conversation for evidence. Open the English question support or a hint when you need help.
What to remember
- Compare the features that affect your own daily routine.
- Separate an early preference from a final decision after checking details.
Explore the Arabic in this conversation
Related grammar and vocabularyOpen Araqick guides connected to this conversation.
Arabic Comparatives: Bigger Than and Better Than
حَيُّ النَّخِيلِ أَهْدَأُ مِنْ حَيِّ الْحَدِيقَةِ
See how a comparative followed by min names the other side of a comparison.
Because in Arabic: Give a Reason with Lianna
لِأَنَّ الْهُدُوءَ مُهِمٌّ لِعَمَلِي
Notice how lianna introduces the reason for a preference.
Idha in Arabic: How to Say When and If
إِذَا زُرْتَ الْحَيَّ
Recognise idha introducing the expected visit before advice about what to do.
