A graduation-photo caption prompts software engineer Nabil, schoolteacher Rania, and bicycle-workshop owner Ziyad to compare money, meaningful work, and the choices their circumstances allow.
01Read the Arabic conversation
تَعْرِيفُ النَّجَاحِ بِمَا يَتَجَاوَزُ الدَّخْلَ
نَبِيلٌ: أَرْسَلَ زَمِيلُنَا صُورَةَ تَخَرُّجِنَا، وَكَتَبَ تَحْتَهَا: أَيُّنَا أَصْبَحَ أَنْجَحَ بَعْدَ عَشْرِ سَنَوَاتٍ؟ ثُمَّ هَنَّأَنِي بِعَرْضِ التَّرْقِيَةِ فِي شَرِكَةِ الْبَرْمَجَةِ، كَأَنَّ الْإِجَابَةَ حُسِمَتْ قَبْلَ أَنْ نَلْتَقِيَ.
رَانِيَا: تَسْتَحِقُّ التَّهْنِئَةَ، يَا نَبِيلُ، لَكِنَّ صِيغَةَ السُّؤَالِ أَزْعَجَتْنِي. أَنَا أُدَرِّسُ فِي مَدْرَسَةٍ، وَزِيَادٌ يُدِيرُ وَرْشَةَ دَرَّاجَاتٍ؛ فَبِأَيِّ مِقْيَاسٍ سَنَتَحَوَّلُ مِنْ أَصْدِقَاءَ إِلَى مُتَنَافِسِينَ الْيَوْمَ؟
زِيَادٌ: لَوْ كَانَ الْمِقْيَاسُ عَدَدَ الْعَجَلَاتِ الَّتِي أَصْلَحْنَاهَا، لَفُزْتُ بِسُهُولَةٍ! لَكِنَّنِي أَفْهَمُ لِمَاذَا بَدَأَ بِالرَّاتِبِ؛ فَهُوَ رَقْمٌ سَهْلُ الْمُقَارَنَةِ، بِخِلَافِ أَثَرِ الْعَمَلِ أَوْ مَا يَسْتَهْلِكُهُ مِنَّا.
نَبِيلٌ: وَلَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ نَتَظَاهَرَ بِأَنَّ الدَّخْلَ تَفْصِيلٌ صَغِيرٌ. زِيَادَةُ رَاتِبِي السَّابِقَةُ سَاعَدَتْنِي عَلَى دَفْعِ إِيجَارِ وَالِدِي، وَخَفَّفَتْ قَلَقَهُ. هَذَا عِنْدِي نَجَاحٌ لَهُ مَعْنًى شَخْصِيٌّ وَاضِحٌ.
رَانِيَا: أُوَافِقُكَ؛ لِأَنَّ الطُّمَأْنِينَةَ الْمَادِّيَّةَ تُؤَثِّرُ فِي حَيَاتِنَا. عِنْدَمَا قَرَأَ أَحَدُ تَلَامِيذِي قِصَّةً وَحْدَهُ، فَرِحْتُ كَثِيرًا، لَكِنَّ فَرْحَتِي لَمْ تَدْفَعْ فَاتُورَةَ الْكَهْرَبَاءِ الَّتِي أَجَّلْتُهَا ذَلِكَ الشَّهْرَ.
زِيَادٌ: وَأَنَا أُحِبُّ الْوَرْشَةَ، وَلَكِنَّنِي أَتْعَبُ حِينَ يَقُولُ الزَّبَائِنُ إِنَّ حُبَّ الْحِرْفَةِ يُغْنِينِي عَنِ الرِّبْحِ. الْإِيجَارُ مُسْتَحَقٌّ كُلَّ شَهْرٍ، سَوَاءٌ كَانَ الْعَمَلُ كَثِيرًا أَمْ قَلِيلًا فِي ذَلِكَ الشَّهْرِ.
نَبِيلٌ: إِذَنْ لِمَاذَا أَتَرَدَّدُ فِي قَبُولِ التَّرْقِيَةِ؟ سَتَزِيدُ دَخْلِي، وَلَكِنَّهَا تَتَطَلَّبُ السَّفَرَ مُعْظَمَ أَيَّامِ الْأُسْبُوعِ. وَكُنْتُ قَدْ وَعَدْتُ ابْنَتِي بِحُضُورِ أَمْسِيَةِ الْقِرَاءَةِ مَعَهَا كُلَّ خَمِيسٍ هَذَا الْفَصْلَ.
رَانِيَا: لِأَنَّكَ لَا تُقَارِنُ رَقْمَيْنِ فَقَطْ، بَلْ حَيَاتَيْنِ يَوْمِيَّتَيْنِ مُخْتَلِفَتَيْنِ. لَا أَسْتَطِيعُ اخْتِيَارَ إِحْدَاهُمَا لَكَ، وَلَكِنْ يَبْدُو أَنَّ التَّهْنِئَةَ الْمُبَكِّرَةَ جَعَلَتْ رَفْضَ الْعَرْضِ أَشْبَهَ بِتَرَاجُعٍ عَنْ إِنْجَازٍ.
زِيَادٌ: قَدْ تَكُونُ الزِّيَادَةُ مُهِمَّةً مَعَ ذَلِكَ. السُّؤَالُ هَلْ تَحْتَاجُ إِلَى هَذَا الْمَبْلَغِ لِالْتِزَامٍ مُحَدَّدٍ، أَمْ تَشْعُرُ أَنَّ عَلَيْكَ الِاسْتِمْرَارَ فِي الصُّعُودِ لِكَيْ لَا تُخَيِّبَ تَوَقُّعَاتِ الْآخَرِينَ؟
نَبِيلٌ: رَاتِبِي الْحَالِيُّ يُغَطِّي الْتِزَامَاتِي، وَلَدَيَّ مَبْلَغٌ لِلطَّوَارِئِ. سَيُسَرِّعُ الْعَرْضُ ادِّخَارِي لِمَسْكَنٍ أَوْسَعَ، وَهَذَا مَطْلَبٌ حَقِيقِيٌّ، لَكِنِّي لَمْ أَسْأَلْ نَفْسِي إِنْ كَانَ يَسْتَحِقُّ هَذَا الْغِيَابَ الْمُتَكَرِّرَ.
رَانِيَا: وَأَنَا فِي وَضْعٍ آخَرَ. عِنْدِي مُقَابَلَةٌ غَدًا فِي مَدْرَسَةٍ تَعْرِضُ رَاتِبًا أَعْلَى. أَخْفَيْتُ الْأَمْرَ عَنْ زَمِيلَاتِي، لِأَنَّ بَعْضَهُنَّ يَرْبِطْنَ الْإِخْلَاصَ لِلتَّعْلِيمِ بِالِاسْتِعْدَادِ لِلتَّضْحِيَةِ دُونَ شَكْوَى.
زِيَادٌ: لَا يَجْعَلُكِ طَلَبُ أَجْرٍ أَفْضَلَ أَقَلَّ إِخْلَاصًا. وَإِلَّا صَارَ الْمَعْنَى الَّذِي تَجِدِينَهُ فِي الْعَمَلِ وَسِيلَةً لِإِسْكَاتِكِ. هَلْ عَرَفْتِ عَدَدَ الْحِصَصِ وَالْوَقْتَ الْمُخَصَّصَ لِلتَّحْضِيرِ فِي الْمَدْرَسَةِ الْجَدِيدَةِ؟
نَبِيلٌ: وَأَنْتَ يَا زِيَادُ، كُنْتُ أَظُنُّكَ أَكْثَرَنَا حُرِّيَّةً، لِأَنَّكَ تَعْمَلُ لِحِسَابِكَ. لَكِنَّكَ تَأَخَّرْتَ عَنِ اللِّقَاءَاتِ الثَّلَاثَةِ الْأَخِيرَةِ بِسَبَبِ طَلَبَاتِ الْوَرْشَةِ؛ فَهَلْ كَانَ تَصَوُّرِي دَقِيقًا فِعْلًا؟
رَانِيَا: وَسُؤَالُكَ عَنِ الْحِصَصِ مُهِمٌّ؛ لَمْ أَتَلَقَّ جَوَابًا بَعْدُ. أُرِيدُ رَاتِبًا أَفْضَلَ، وَلَكِنَّنِي لَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْتَبْدِلَ قَلَقَ الْفَوَاتِيرِ بِإِرْهَاقٍ لَا يَتْرُكُ لِي وَقْتًا لِتَحْضِيرِ دُرُوسِي.
زِيَادٌ: تَصَوُّرُكَ يَصِفُ نِصْفَ الْحَقِيقَةِ، يَا نَبِيلُ. أَخْتَارُ طَرِيقَةَ الْإِصْلَاحِ، لَكِنِّي أَقْبَلُ أَحْيَانًا مَوَاعِيدَ لَا تُنَاسِبُنِي خَوْفًا مِنْ فَقْدِ الزَّبَائِنِ؛ فَالِاسْتِقْلَالُ عَلَى الْوَرَقِ لَيْسَ وَقْتًا حُرًّا بِالضَّرُورَةِ.
نَبِيلٌ: رُبَّمَا نَحْتَاجُ إِلَى قَائِمَةٍ تَجْمَعُ الدَّخْلَ وَالْوَقْتَ وَالْمَعْنَى، ثُمَّ نَمْنَحُ كُلَّ عُنْصُرٍ دَرَجَةً. سَتُظْهِرُ لَنَا مَا نَكْسَبُهُ وَمَا نَتَنَازَلُ عَنْهُ بِدَلًا مِنَ الْحُكْمِ مِنْ خِلَالِ الرَّاتِبِ وَحْدَهُ.
رَانِيَا: سَأَسْتَخْدِمُ الْقَائِمَةَ لِطَرْحِ أَسْئِلَةٍ، لَا لِجَمْعِ دَرَجَاتٍ. فَقَدْ أُعْطِي الْوَقْتَ قِيمَةً عَالِيَةً الْيَوْمَ، ثُمَّ تُغَيِّرُ نَفَقَةٌ مُفَاجِئَةٌ أَوْلَوِيَّاتِي غَدًا؛ وَلَا يَعْنِي ذَلِكَ أَنَّ مَوْقِفِي السَّابِقَ كَانَ كَاذِبًا.
زِيَادٌ: وَالدَّرَجَاتُ الْمُتَسَاوِيَةُ قَدْ تُخْفِي فُرُوقًا مُهِمَّةً. أَقِلَّةُ زَبَائِنِي اخْتِيَارٌ لِتَخْفِيفِ الْعَمَلِ أَمْ عَلَامَةٌ عَلَى مُشْكِلَةٍ فِي الْوَرْشَةِ؟ الرَّقْمُ وَحْدَهُ لَا يُخْبِرُنِي لِمَاذَا أَمْلِكُ هَذَا الْوَقْتَ الْإِضَافِيَّ.
نَبِيلٌ: إِذَنْ سَأُغَيِّرُ سُؤَالِي مِنْ: هَلْ هَذِهِ تَرْقِيَةٌ؟ إِلَى: مَا الَّذِي سَيَتَغَيَّرُ فِي حَيَاتِي؟ سَأَطْلُبُ تَوْضِيحًا لِجَدْوَلِ السَّفَرِ قَبْلَ الْجَوَابِ، وَلَنْ أُعْلِنَ قَبُولًا لَمْ أَحْسِمْهُ بَعْدُ.
رَانِيَا: وَسَأَذْهَبُ إِلَى الْمُقَابَلَةِ بِأَسْئِلَتِي عَنِ الْأَجْرِ وَالْحِصَصِ مَعًا. لَنْ أَعْتَذِرَ عَنْ رَغْبَتِي فِي الِانْتِقَالِ، وَلَنْ أَعُدَّ الْمَدْرَسَةَ الْحَالِيَّةَ بِلَا قِيمَةٍ لِكَيْ أُبَرِّرَ رَحِيلِي عَنْهَا.
زِيَادٌ: أَمَّا أَنَا فَسَأَغْلِقُ الْوَرْشَةَ فِي الْمَوْعِدِ الْمُعْلَنِ غَدًا. لَدَيَّ طَلَبَانِ أَنْجَزْتُهُمَا، وَلَا سَبَبَ لِبَقَائِي أَنْتَظِرُ زَبُونًا مُحْتَمَلًا؛ لَقَدْ صَارَ الْقَلَقُ يُمْلِي عَلَيَّ سَاعَاتٍ لَمْ أَعِدْ بِهَا أَحَدًا.
نَبِيلٌ: أَعْجَبَنِي أَنَّنَا لَمْ نَخْرُجْ بِوَصْفَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ: أَنْتِ تَبْحَثِينَ عَنْ دَخْلٍ أَعْلَى، وَأَنَا أُرَاجِعُ عَرْضًا يَزِيدُهُ، وَزِيَادٌ يُحَاوِلُ حِمَايَةَ وَقْتِهِ. وَكُلُّنَا يَأْخُذُ الْمَالَ عَلَى مَحْمَلِ الْجِدِّ.
رَانِيَا: وَلَا نَمْلِكُ الْخِيَارَاتِ نَفْسَهَا. قُدْرَتُكَ عَلَى التَّرَدُّدِ تَسْتَنِدُ جُزْئِيًّا إِلَى اسْتِقْرَارِكَ الْحَالِيِّ؛ فَلَا نَجْعَلْ مِنْ رَفْضِ الْمَالِ بُطُولَةً يُطَالَبُ بِهَا مَنْ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ تَغْطِيَةَ نَفَقَاتِهِ الْأَسَاسِيَّةِ.
زِيَادٌ: وَلَا مِنْ تَحَمُّلِ الْإِرْهَاقِ دَلِيلًا عَلَى الْجِدِّيَّةِ. كُنْتُ أَتَبَاهَى بِأَنِّي لَا أُغْلِقُ مُبَكِّرًا، ثُمَّ أَشْكُو غِيَابِي عَنْكُمَا؛ وَقَدْ آنَ أَنْ أُقِرَّ بِأَنَّنِي كُنْتُ أَمْدَحُ مَا يُضَايِقُنِي.
نَبِيلٌ: سَأَرُدُّ عَلَى زَمِيلِنَا، وَأَقْتَرِحُ عُنْوَانًا أَبْسَطَ لِلصُّورَةِ: ثَلَاثَةُ أَصْدِقَاءَ بَعْدَ عَشْرِ سَنَوَاتٍ. وَسَأَشْكُرُهُ عَلَى التَّهْنِئَةِ، مَعَ تَوْضِيحِ أَنَّ الْعَرْضَ مَا زَالَ قَيْدَ الدِّرَاسَةِ وَلَمْ يَصِرْ قَرَارًا.
رَانِيَا: وَأَرْجُو أَنْ تَسْأَلَانِي بَعْدَ الْمُقَابَلَةِ عَمَّا وَجَدْتُهُ، لَا عَمَّا إِذَا كُنْتُ قَدْ فُزْتُ. رُبَّمَا أَقْبَلُ الْعَرْضَ إِنْ جَاءَ، وَرُبَّمَا أَرْفُضُهُ بَعْدَ أَنْ أَعْرِفَ تَفَاصِيلَهُ بِوُضُوحٍ.
زِيَادٌ: سَنَسْأَلُكِ، وَسَنَحْتَفِلُ بِقُدْرَتِكِ عَلَى الِاخْتِيَارِ أَيْضًا. أَمَّا الْيَوْمَ، فَقَدْ بَرَدَ الشَّايُ وَنَحْنُ نَبْحَثُ عَنْ أَنْجَحِنَا؛ فَهَلْ نَطْلُبُ إِبْرِيقًا آخَرَ وَنَتْرُكُ الصُّورَةَ مِنْ دُونِ مَنْصَّةِ تَتْوِيجٍ؟
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Nabil — software engineer: Our classmate sent our graduation photo and wrote underneath: which of us has become the most successful after ten years? Then he congratulated me on the promotion offer at the software company, as though the answer had been settled before we met.
Rania — schoolteacher: You deserve congratulations, Nabil, but the way the question was phrased bothered me. I teach at a school, and Ziyad runs a bicycle workshop; by what measure are we supposed to turn from friends into competitors today?
Ziyad — bicycle-repair shop owner: If the measure were the number of wheels we had repaired, I would win easily! But I understand why he started with salary: it is an easily compared number, unlike the impact of work or what it takes out of us.
Nabil — software engineer: I do not want us to pretend income is a small detail. My previous pay rise helped me pay my father’s rent and eased his anxiety. To me, that is a success with a clear personal meaning.
Rania — schoolteacher: I agree, because financial peace of mind affects our lives. When one of my pupils read a story independently, I was delighted, but my delight did not pay the electricity bill I postponed that month.
Ziyad — bicycle-repair shop owner: I love the workshop, but I get tired when customers say that love of the craft means I do not need a profit. Rent is due every month, whether work has been plentiful or scarce that month.
Nabil — software engineer: Then why am I hesitating to accept the promotion? It would increase my income, but it requires travelling most days of the week. I had promised my daughter I would attend reading evening with her every Thursday this term.
Rania — schoolteacher: Because you are not just comparing two numbers, but two different daily lives. I cannot choose one for you, but it seems the early congratulations have made declining the offer feel like retreating from an achievement.
Ziyad — bicycle-repair shop owner: The increase could still matter. The question is whether you need this amount for a specific commitment, or feel you must keep climbing so you do not disappoint other people’s expectations.
Nabil — software engineer: My current salary covers my commitments, and I have an emergency reserve. The offer would help me save faster for a larger home, which is a real wish, but I have not asked myself whether it is worth this repeated absence.
Rania — schoolteacher: My situation is different. Tomorrow I have an interview at a school offering a higher salary. I kept it from my colleagues because some of them associate commitment to teaching with a willingness to make sacrifices without complaining.
Ziyad — bicycle-repair shop owner: Seeking better pay does not make you less committed. Otherwise, the meaning you find in work becomes a way to silence you. Have you found out the number of lessons and the preparation time at the new school?
Nabil — software engineer: As for you, Ziyad, I thought you were the freest of us because you work for yourself. But you were late to our last three gatherings because of workshop orders; was my picture actually accurate?
Rania — schoolteacher: And your question about lessons matters; I have not received an answer yet. I want better pay, but I do not want to exchange anxiety about bills for exhaustion that leaves me no time to prepare my lessons.
Ziyad — bicycle-repair shop owner: Your picture captures half the truth, Nabil. I choose how to repair things, but sometimes I accept inconvenient appointments for fear of losing customers; independence on paper does not necessarily mean free time.
Nabil — software engineer: Perhaps we need a list covering income, time and meaning, and then give each element a score. It would show us what we gain and give up instead of judging through salary alone.
Rania — schoolteacher: I would use the list to raise questions, not add up scores. I might place a high value on time today, and an unexpected expense could change my priorities tomorrow; that does not mean my earlier position was dishonest.
Ziyad — bicycle-repair shop owner: Equal scores can hide important differences. Are fewer customers a choice to reduce work, or a sign of a problem at the workshop? The number alone does not tell me why I have this extra time.
Nabil — software engineer: Then I will change my question from “Is this a promotion?” to “What would change in my life?” I will ask for clarification of the travel schedule before answering, and will not announce an acceptance I have not decided on yet.
Rania — schoolteacher: I will go to the interview with my questions about both pay and lessons. I will not apologise for wanting to move, and I will not treat my present school as worthless to justify leaving it.
Ziyad — bicycle-repair shop owner: As for me, tomorrow I will close the workshop at the advertised time. I have finished my two orders, and there is no reason to stay waiting for a possible customer; anxiety has started dictating hours I never promised anyone.
Nabil — software engineer: I like that we have not come away with one prescription: you are seeking higher income, I am reconsidering an offer that would increase mine, and Ziyad is trying to protect his time. All of us take money seriously.
Rania — schoolteacher: And we do not have the same options. Your ability to hesitate rests partly on your current stability; let us not turn declining money into a heroic act demanded of someone who cannot cover basic expenses.
Ziyad — bicycle-repair shop owner: Nor should enduring exhaustion become proof of seriousness. I used to boast that I never closed early, then complain about not seeing you two; it is time to admit that I was praising the very thing that bothered me.
Nabil — software engineer: I will reply to our classmate and suggest a simpler caption: three friends after ten years. I will thank him for the congratulations while explaining that the offer is still under consideration and has not become a decision.
Rania — schoolteacher: And I hope that after the interview you will ask me what I found out, not whether I won. Perhaps I will accept an offer if one comes, and perhaps I will decline after learning its details clearly.
Ziyad — bicycle-repair shop owner: We will ask, and we will celebrate your ability to choose too. As for today, the tea has gone cold while we searched for the most successful among us; shall we order another pot and leave the photo without a winners’ podium?
02Useful words and expressions
| Arabic in the conversation | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| مِقْيَاسٍ | a measure or criterion |
| الطُّمَأْنِينَةَ الْمَادِّيَّةَ | financial peace of mind |
| حُبَّ الْحِرْفَةِ | love of the craft |
| تَوَقُّعَاتِ الْآخَرِينَ | other people’s expectations |
| مَبْلَغٌ لِلطَّوَارِئِ | an emergency reserve |
| الِاسْتِعْدَادِ لِلتَّضْحِيَةِ | a willingness to make sacrifices |
| وَسِيلَةً لِإِسْكَاتِكِ | a way to silence you |
| الِاسْتِقْلَالُ عَلَى الْوَرَقِ | independence on paper |
| أَوْلَوِيَّاتِي | my priorities |
| عَلَى مَحْمَلِ الْجِدِّ | seriously |
| قَيْدَ الدِّرَاسَةِ | under consideration |
| مَنْصَّةِ تَتْوِيجٍ | a winners’ podium |
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
- Discuss meaningful work without treating financial strain as proof of dedication.
- Recognise how social praise and different starting circumstances affect personal choices.
- Compare the consequences of an offer while allowing priorities to change with circumstances.
Explore the Arabic in this conversation
Related grammar and vocabularyOpen Araqick guides connected to this conversation.
Lakinna and Lakin in Arabic: Two Patterns for But
لَكِنَّ فَرْحَتِي لَمْ تَدْفَعْ فَاتُورَةَ الْكَهْرَبَاءِ الَّتِي أَجَّلْتُهَا ذَلِكَ الشَّهْرَ
Use lakinna to qualify an accepted achievement with a practical limitation.
Because in Arabic: Give a Reason with Lianna
لِأَنَّ الطُّمَأْنِينَةَ الْمَادِّيَّةَ تُؤَثِّرُ فِي حَيَاتِنَا
Use lianna to introduce the reason financial security belongs in the discussion.
Kaanna in Arabic: As If and As Though
كَأَنَّ الْإِجَابَةَ حُسِمَتْ قَبْلَ أَنْ نَلْتَقِيَ
Use kaanna to present a supposed conclusion whose certainty the speaker questions.
