At his graduation celebration, Nadim discusses two job offers with his father Salim and his aunt Manal. Their disagreement exposes the difference between parental care, family expectations, and responsibility for a personal choice.
01Read the Arabic conversation
مُنَاقَشَةُ التَّوَقُّعَاتِ الْمِهْنِيَّةِ بَيْنَ الْأَجْيَالِ
نَدِيمٌ: أَبِي، وَضَعْتَ رِسَالَةَ عَرْضِ الْمَصْنَعِ بَيْنَ صُوَرِ تَخَرُّجِي، فَظَنَّ الضُّيُوفُ أَنَّنِي قَبِلْتُهُ. أَعْرِفُ أَنَّكَ فَرِحٌ، لَكِنَّنِي لَمْ أُرْسِلْ جَوَابِي بَعْدُ، وَأُرِيدُ مُنَاقَشَةَ الْعَرْضِ الْآخَرِ.
سَلِيمٌ: لَمْ أَقْصِدْ أَنْ أُعْلِنَ قَرَارًا نِيَابَةً عَنْكَ. رَأَيْتُ عَقْدًا لِسَنَتَيْنِ، وَرَاتِبًا مَعْلُومًا، وَمَكَانًا قَرِيبًا مِنْ بَيْتِنَا؛ فَشَعَرْتُ أَنَّ تَعَبَ الدِّرَاسَةِ صَارَ أَمَانًا يُمْكِنُ لَمْسُهُ.
مَنَالُ: وَأَنَا سَمِعْتُكَ تَقُولُ لِلْجِيرَانِ إِنَّ نَدِيمًا وَجَدَ مَكَانَهُ أَخِيرًا. قَدْ تَكُونُ عِبَارَةَ فَرَحٍ عِنْدَكَ، وَتُصْبِحُ عِنْدَهُ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُحَافِظَ عَلَيْهِ أَمَامَ الْعَائِلَةِ.
نَدِيمٌ: دَرَسْتُ تَصْمِيمَ الْمُنْتَجَاتِ، لَكِنَّ مَهَامِّي فِي الْمَصْنَعِ سَتَكُونُ مُتَابَعَةَ الطَّلَبَاتِ. أَمَّا الْمَرْسَمُ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ الْأُخْرَى فَيَعْرِضُ عَلَيَّ الْمُشَارَكَةَ فِي تَصْمِيمِ أَثَاثٍ لِمَكْتَبَةٍ، لِمُدَّةِ سِتَّةِ أَشْهُرٍ.
سَلِيمٌ: سِتَّةُ أَشْهُرٍ تَمُرُّ سَرِيعًا، وَإِيجَارُ الْغُرْفَةِ سَيَأْخُذُ جُزْءًا مِنْ رَاتِبِكَ. لَا أَحْتَقِرُ التَّصْمِيمَ، وَلَكِنِّي أَخْشَى أَنْ تَنْتَهِيَ فَرْحَةُ الْبِدَايَةِ وَتَبْقَى وَحْدَكَ تَحْسُبُ الْمَصَارِيفَ فِي آخِرِ الشَّهْرِ.
مَنَالُ: لِنَفْصِلْ بَيْنَ سُؤَالَيْنِ: هَلِ الْمُهِمَّةُ مُنَاسِبَةٌ لِمَا يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَتَعَلَّمَهُ، وَهَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ تَحَمُّلَ شُرُوطِهَا؟ الْإِجَابَةُ عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا لَا تُغْنِي عَنِ الْآخَرِ، وَلَا يَكْفِي اسْمُ الْوَظِيفَةِ.
نَدِيمٌ: سَأَلْتُ مُدِيرَةَ الْمَرْسَمِ عَنْ ذَلِكَ. سَأُعِدُّ رُسُومًا وَنَمَاذِجَ تَحْتَ إِشْرَافِ مُصَمِّمَةٍ، وَلَنْ أَقْتَصِرَ عَلَى تَرْتِيبِ الْمَلَفَّاتِ. وَقَدْ أَرْسَلَتْ وَصْفًا مَكْتُوبًا، فَلَسْتُ أَعْتَمِدُ عَلَى صُوَرِ الْمَكَانِ الْجَمِيلَةِ.
سَلِيمٌ: وَهَلْ كَتَبَتْ أَنَّكَ سَتَبْقَى بَعْدَ الْمَشْرُوعِ؟ لَقَدْ بَدَأْتُ أَنَا بِوَعْدٍ شَفَهِيٍّ بِالِاسْتِمْرَارِ، ثُمَّ أُغْلِقَ الْمَكْتَبُ. مُنْذُ ذَلِكَ الْوَقْتِ، صِرْتُ أَسْمَعُ كَلِمَةَ فُرْصَةٍ وَأَبْحَثُ خَلْفَهَا عَنِ الْمَوْعِدِ النِّهَائِيِّ.
مَنَالُ: هَذَا يُفَسِّرُ قَلَقَكَ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ كَلَامِكَ عَنِ الْهَيْبَةِ أَمَامَ النَّاسِ. لَكِنَّ تَجْرِبَتَكَ لَا تَجْعَلُ كُلَّ عَقْدٍ قَصِيرٍ خِدَاعًا، كَمَا أَنَّ حَمَاسَ نَدِيمٍ لَا يَجْعَلُهُ مَضْمُونًا.
نَدِيمٌ: لَا يُوجَدُ وَعْدٌ بِالتَّمْدِيدِ، وَلَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَبْنِيَ قَرَارِي عَلَيْهِ. أُفَضِّلُ الْمَرْسَمَ لِأَنَّ الْمَهَامَّ فِيهِ تُقَرِّبُنِي مِنَ الْعَمَلِ الَّذِي تَدَرَّبْتُ عَلَيْهِ، لَا لِأَنَّنِي أَضْمَنُ مَا بَعْدَهُ.
سَلِيمٌ: أَعْتَرِفُ أَنَّنِي تَخَيَّلْتُكَ تَتَقَدَّمُ فِي الْمَصْنَعِ حَتَّى تَصِيرَ مُدِيرًا. رُبَّمَا أَلْبَسْتُ مُسْتَقْبَلَكَ صُورَةَ الْمَكَانِ الَّذِي تَمَنَّيْتُهُ لِنَفْسِي، لَكِنَّ مَسْؤُولِيَّتِي نَحْوَكَ لَا تَنْتَهِي عِنْدَ تَخَرُّجِكَ.
مَنَالُ: وَمَسْؤُولِيَّتُكَ لَا تَعْنِي أَنْ تَعِيشَ حَيَاتَهُ مَرَّةً ثَانِيَةً. عِنْدَمَا غَيَّرْتُ عَمَلِي، احْتَجْتُ إِلَى مَنْ يَسْأَلُنِي بِجِدِّيَّةٍ، لَا إِلَى مَنْ يَصِفُ كُلَّ تَرَدُّدٍ بِالْجُبْنِ أَوْ كُلَّ مُغَامَرَةٍ بِالشَّجَاعَةِ.
نَدِيمٌ: هَذَا دَفْتَرُ حِسَابِي، وَفِيهِ الْإِيجَارُ وَالنَّقْلُ وَالطَّعَامُ. الرَّاتِبُ يُغَطِّيهَا بِفَارِقٍ صَغِيرٍ، وَمَا ادَّخَرْتُهُ مِنْ عَمَلِي الصَّيْفِيِّ يَكْفِي لِثَلَاثَةِ أَشْهُرٍ بَعْدَ الْعَقْدِ، إِذَا لَمْ أَجِدْ عَمَلًا.
سَلِيمٌ: أَرَى أَنَّكَ حَسَبْتَ رَسْمَ الِانْتِقَالِ، لَكِنَّكَ لَمْ تَذْكُرْ مَا سَتَفْعَلُهُ إِذَا تَأَخَّرَ الرَّاتِبُ. لَا أَسْأَلُ لِأُحْرِجَكَ؛ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَعْرِفَ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَفْتَرِضُ أَنَّنِي سَأُغَطِّي كُلَّ فَرْقٍ.
مَنَالُ: سُؤَالٌ عَادِلٌ، عَلَى أَلَّا نَجْعَلَ الْمُسَاعَدَةَ ثَمَنًا لِلطَّاعَةِ. يَحِقُّ لَكَ يَا سَلِيمُ أَنْ تُوَضِّحَ حُدُودَ قُدْرَتِكَ، وَيَحِقُّ لِنَدِيمٍ أَنْ يَعْرِفَهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَلْتَزِمَ بِالِانْتِقَالِ.
نَدِيمٌ: لَمْ أَحْسِبْ مُسَاعَدَةً شَهْرِيَّةً مِنْكَ. إِذَا تَأَخَّرَ الرَّاتِبُ، فَسَأَسْتَخْدِمُ جُزْءًا مِنْ مُدَّخَرَاتِي، وَسَتَقْصُرُ مُدَّةُ بَحْثِي بَعْدَ الْعَقْدِ. هَذَا يَعْنِي أَنَّ الْأَشْهُرَ الثَّلَاثَةَ لَيْسَتْ هَامِشًا ثَابِتًا.
سَلِيمٌ: أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أُبْقِيَ غُرْفَتَكَ هُنَا، وَأَنْ تَعُودَ إِلَى مَائِدَتِنَا إِذَا احْتَجْتَ. أَمَّا إِيجَارُ غُرْفَةٍ أُخْرَى فَلَا أَسْتَطِيعُ الِالْتِزَامَ بِهِ، وَأُفَضِّلُ أَنْ أَقُولَ ذَلِكَ الْآنَ بِوُضُوحٍ.
مَنَالُ: بَقِيَتْ نُقْطَةٌ فِي كَلَامِكَ يَا نَدِيمُ: قُلْتَ أَمْسِ إِنَّ الْمَصْنَعَ يَبْقَى بَدِيلًا. هَلْ أَخْبَرُوكَ بِذَلِكَ، أَمْ جَعَلْتَ الْعَرْضَ الْحَالِيَّ شَبَكَةَ أَمَانٍ لِوَقْتٍ لَمْ يَعِدُوكَ بِهِ؟
نَدِيمٌ: أَنْتِ مُحِقَّةٌ؛ جَوَابِي مَطْلُوبٌ لَدَيْهِمْ قَبْلَ نِهَايَةِ الْأُسْبُوعِ، وَلَا يَحْجِزُونَ لِي مَكَانًا بَعْدَهَا. سَأَرْفُضُ الْعَرْضَ بِاحْتِرَامٍ، وَأَتَحَمَّلُ أَنَّ الْبَحْثَ اللَّاحِقَ قَدْ يَكُونُ عَنْ وَظِيفَةٍ مُخْتَلِفَةٍ تَمَامًا.
سَلِيمٌ: إِذَنْ أَنْتَ تَمِيلُ إِلَى الْمَرْسَمِ حَتَّى بَعْدَ هَذِهِ الْأَسْئِلَةِ. لَا أَزَالُ أَرَى الْمَصْنَعَ أَفْضَلَ، لَكِنَّنِي أَسْمَعُ الْآنَ قَرَارًا لَهُ تَكْلِفَةٌ تَعْرِفُهَا، لَا اعْتِرَاضًا عَلَيَّ لِمُجَرَّدِ الِاعْتِرَاضِ.
مَنَالُ: لَيْسَ ضَرُورِيًّا أَنْ نَخْرُجَ بِرَأْيٍ وَاحِدٍ لِكَيْ نَبْقَى عَائِلَةً. الْمُهِمُّ أَلَّا تَتَحَوَّلَ كُلُّ زِيَارَةٍ قَادِمَةٍ إِلَى امْتِحَانٍ يُثْبِتُ فِيهِ أَحَدُكُمَا أَنَّ الْآخَرَ كَانَ مُخْطِئًا مُنْذُ الْبِدَايَةِ.
نَدِيمٌ: أَحْتَاجُ إِلَى هَذَا خَاصَّةً إِذَا تَعَثَّرْتُ. أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْتَطِيعَ إِخْبَارَكَ بِصُعُوبَةٍ دُونَ أَنْ أُضْطَرَّ إِلَى الدِّفَاعِ عَنْ قَرَارِي كُلِّهِ، وَدُونَ أَنْ أُخْفِيَ عَنْكَ مَا يَحْدُثُ.
سَلِيمٌ: سَأُحَاوِلُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَ عَمَّا تَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ أُذَكِّرَكَ بِرَأْيِي. وَسَأَتَّصِلُ بِعَمِّكَ الَّذِي فَهِمَ أَنَّكَ قَبِلْتَ الْمَصْنَعَ؛ فَلَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ تَحْمِلَ أَنْتَ عِبْءَ تَصْحِيحِ كَلَامِي أَمَامَهُ.
مَنَالُ: وَأَنَا سَأُسَاعِدُكَ فِي قِرَاءَةِ وَصْفِ الْمَهَامِّ مَرَّةً أَخِيرَةً، إِذَا أَرَدْتَ. لَنْ أَكْتُبَ الْجَوَابَ عَنْكَ، وَلَنْ أَجْعَلَ تَجْرِبَتِي السَّابِقَةَ خَرِيطَةً تَصْلُحُ لِكُلِّ طَرِيقٍ تَخْتَارُهُ فِي حَيَاتِكَ.
نَدِيمٌ: سَأُرْسِلُ الْجَوَابَيْنِ غَدًا بَعْدَ الْقِرَاءَةِ. وَأُرِيدُ أَنْ آخُذَ هَذِهِ الصُّورَةَ مَعِي، الَّتِي نَضْحَكُ فِيهَا جَمِيعًا؛ فَهِيَ تُذَكِّرُنِي بِتَخَرُّجِي، وَلَا تَطْلُبُ مِنِّي أَنْ أُصْبِحَ شَخْصًا رَسَمَهُ غَيْرِي.
سَلِيمٌ: خُذْهَا، وَاتْرُكْ لِي نُسْخَةً. لَا أَعِدُكَ بِأَنَّ قَلَقِي سَيَخْتَفِي مَعَ حَقِيبَتِكَ، لَكِنَّنِي أَفْهَمُ الْفَرْقَ بَيْنَ أَنْ أَقُولَ لَكَ إِنِّي خَائِفٌ، وَأَنْ أَجْعَلَ خَوْفِي قَرَارًا مُلْزِمًا لَكَ.
مَنَالُ: وَالْآنَ أَعِيدَا الْأَوْرَاقَ إِلَى الْمِلَفِّ؛ فَالْكَعْكَةُ لَمْ تُقْطَعْ بَعْدُ. يُمْكِنُنَا أَنْ نَحْتَفِلَ بِمَا أَنْجَزَهُ نَدِيمٌ الْيَوْمَ، مِنْ دُونِ أَنْ نَطْلُبَ مِنْهُ ضَمَانَ السَّنَوَاتِ كُلِّهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ نُهَنِّئَهُ.
Show English translationHide English translation
Nadim — graduate: Dad, you put the factory’s offer letter among my graduation photographs, so the guests assumed I had accepted it. I know you are happy, but I have not sent my answer yet, and I want to discuss the other offer.
Salim — parent: I did not mean to announce a decision on your behalf. I saw a two-year contract, a stated salary, and a workplace near our house; it felt as though the hard work of studying had become something tangibly secure.
Manal — aunt: And I heard you telling the neighbours that Nadim had finally found his place. For you that may be an expression of joy; for him it can become a promise he must keep in front of the family.
Nadim — graduate: I studied product design, but my duties at the factory would be following up orders. The studio in the other city is offering me a role designing furniture for a library, for six months.
Salim — parent: Six months pass quickly, and renting a room will take part of your salary. I do not look down on design, but I fear the excitement of starting will end and leave you alone, counting expenses at the end of the month.
Manal — aunt: Let us separate two questions: does the work suit what he wants to learn, and can he manage its conditions? Answering one does not answer the other, and the job title alone is not enough.
Nadim — graduate: I asked the studio director about that. I would prepare drawings and models under a designer’s supervision, rather than only organise files. She sent a written description, so I am not relying on attractive photographs of the place.
Salim — parent: Did she write that you would stay after the project? I started with a verbal promise of continued work, and then the office closed. Ever since, when I hear the word opportunity, I look behind it for the end date.
Manal — aunt: That explains your anxiety better than what you said about prestige in other people’s eyes. But your experience does not make every short contract deceptive, just as Nadim’s enthusiasm does not make it guaranteed.
Nadim — graduate: There is no promise of an extension, and I do not want to base my decision on one. I prefer the studio because its duties bring me closer to the work I trained for, not because I can guarantee what comes afterward.
Salim — parent: I admit I pictured you advancing at the factory until you became a manager. Perhaps I dressed your future in the image of the position I wanted for myself, but my responsibility toward you does not end at graduation.
Manal — aunt: Your responsibility does not mean living his life as a second version of yours. When I changed jobs, I needed someone to question me seriously, not someone who called every hesitation cowardice or every risk courage.
Nadim — graduate: Here is my budget notebook, including rent, transport, and food. The salary covers them with a small margin, and what I saved from summer work is enough for three months after the contract if I do not find work.
Salim — parent: I see you included the moving charge, but you have not said what you would do if the salary were delayed. I am not asking to embarrass you; I want to know whether you assume I will cover every gap.
Manal — aunt: That is a fair question, provided we do not make assistance the price of obedience. Salim, you are entitled to clarify the limits of what you can provide, and Nadim is entitled to know them before committing to the move.
Nadim — graduate: I have not included monthly help from you. If the salary is delayed, I will use part of my savings, and the period I can spend looking afterward will shorten. That means the three months are not a fixed buffer.
Salim — parent: I can keep your room here, and you can come back to our table if you need to. But I cannot commit to paying rent for another room, and I would rather say that clearly now.
Manal — aunt: There is still one point in what you said, Nadim: yesterday you said the factory would remain a fallback. Did they tell you that, or have you turned the current offer into a safety net for a time they never promised?
Nadim — graduate: You are right: they require my answer before the end of the week and will not hold a place for me afterward. I will decline respectfully and accept that the later search may be for a completely different job.
Salim — parent: So you still favour the studio after these questions. I still think the factory is better, but now I hear a decision whose cost you recognise, rather than opposition to me simply for the sake of opposing me.
Manal — aunt: We do not need to leave with one opinion in order to remain a family. What matters is that every future visit does not become an examination in which one of you proves the other was wrong from the start.
Nadim — graduate: I especially need that if I struggle. I want to be able to tell you about a difficulty without having to defend my entire decision, and without hiding what is happening from you.
Salim — parent: I will try to ask what you need before reminding you of my opinion. And I will call your uncle, who understood that you accepted the factory job; you should not have to carry the burden of correcting what I told him.
Manal — aunt: I can help you read the duties once more, if you want. I will not write your reply for you, and I will not make my own past experience a map for every path you choose in life.
Nadim — graduate: I will send both replies tomorrow after reading through. And I want to take this photograph, the one where we are all laughing; it reminds me of graduating without requiring me to become a person someone else has drawn.
Salim — parent: Take it, and leave me a copy. I cannot promise my worry will disappear along with your suitcase, but I understand the difference between telling you I am afraid and making my fear a decision that binds you.
Manal — aunt: Now put the papers back in the folder; the cake has not been cut yet. We can celebrate what Nadim has achieved today without asking him to guarantee all the years ahead before congratulating him.
02Useful words and expressions
| Arabic in the conversation | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| نِيَابَةً عَنْكَ | on your behalf |
| الْمَهَامَّ فِيهِ | the duties there |
| وَصْفًا مَكْتُوبًا | a written description |
| بِوَعْدٍ شَفَهِيٍّ | with a verbal promise |
| الْمَوْعِدِ النِّهَائِيِّ | the end date |
| بِالتَّمْدِيدِ | of an extension |
| هَامِشًا ثَابِتًا | a fixed buffer |
| حُدُودَ قُدْرَتِكَ | the limits of what you can provide |
| شَبَكَةَ أَمَانٍ | a safety net |
| لِمُجَرَّدِ الِاعْتِرَاضِ | simply for the sake of objecting |
| عِبْءَ تَصْحِيحِ كَلَامِي | the burden of correcting what I said |
| قَرَارًا مُلْزِمًا لَكَ | a decision that binds you |
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
- Recognise when family enthusiasm creates an implicit commitment before a personal decision has been made.
- Separate the relevance of lived experience from predictions about another person’s career.
- Define practical support and acknowledge uncertainty while preserving both disagreement and family connection.
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
لَكِنَّنِي لَمْ أُرْسِلْ جَوَابِي بَعْدُ
Use lakinna with an attached pronoun to qualify family enthusiasm with an unresolved personal decision.
Because in Arabic: Give a Reason with Lianna
لِأَنَّ الْمَهَامَّ فِيهِ تُقَرِّبُنِي مِنَ الْعَمَلِ الَّذِي تَدَرَّبْتُ عَلَيْهِ
Introduce a reason with lianna followed by the accusative noun al-mahamma and a verbal predicate.
Fa in Arabic Conditional Sentences: When the Result Needs Fa
إِذَا تَأَخَّرَ الرَّاتِبُ، فَسَأَسْتَخْدِمُ جُزْءًا مِنْ مُدَّخَرَاتِي
Link an idha condition to a future consequence with fa followed by sa-.
