nemo est heres viventis

Of uncertain specific origin; current as a maxim across Western Europe by the 16th–17th centuries, in both England and the Continent. Later treated as a precept of common law, though its occasional ascription to the 13th-century English jurist Bracton is spurious.

Suum enim nasci dicimus, qui post mortem nascitur: quoniam sicut viuentis nemo est haeres, ita nemo testatori viuo suus haeres nascitur.

1595, Joachim Mynsinger von Frundeck (citing Mario Salamoni degli Alberteschi), Apotelesma, sive Corpus Perfectum Scoliorum, ad Quatuor Libros Institutionum Iuris Ciuilis, page 285:

Indeed, we say that his [heir] is born, when [the heir] is born after his death: for just as no one is heir of a living person, so no one is born heir to a living testator.

“No one is heir of a living person”: the inheritance of an estate is decided only upon the death of its owner, and nobody is “heir” while that person is alive (only heir apparent or heir presumptive).


cos escarmentados fanse os avisados

Attested in Old Galician-Portuguese (13th century) as dos escarmentados se fazen mais ardeiros.

dyz o prouerbio antigo que dos escarmentados sse fazẽ os arteyros

1370, R. Lorenzo, editor, Crónica troiana, A Coruña: Fundación Barrié, page 325:

an ancient proverb says that of the ones that have suffered damage come the wary ones

a burnt child dreads the fire
a burnt child dreads the fire


آب در هاون کوبیدن

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آب در هاوَن کوبیدن

آب در هاوَن کوبیدن • (âb dar hâvan kubidan)

آب در هاوَن کوبیدن (canonical)
âb dar hâvan kubidan (romanization)

Literally stands for grinding water in a mortar.

to beat a dead horse: to persist to do something pointless, to make a futile attempt, or to do something in vain beyond any reason.


vai a cabra pola viña, tal é a nai como a filla

Attested since 1370. Approximately, "the goat goes by the vineyard: mother and daughter act alike".

Et por esto diz o prouerbio: "cabra uay per vjna, qual fuj a madre tal será a filla".

And this is why the proverb says "chip off the old block".

chip off the old block
chip off the old block


mal de moitos, consolo de todos

Attested since 1370. Approximately, "misfortune of many, comfort of all" (other alternative forms say "comfort of fools").

Et porque diz o prouerbio "mal de moytos cõforto he", por ende os troyãos auj́ã grã cõforto da morte dos quatro rreys que perderã, por aquelles outros sete que os gregos alý perderã..

1370, R. Lorenzo, editor, Crónica troiana, A Coruña: Fundación Barrié, page 403:

And because the proverb says "two in distress make sorrow less [misfortune of many comfort is]", so the Trojans had great comfort of the dead of the four kings they had lost because of the another seven that the Greek had lost there.

misery loves company
misery loves company

two in distress make sorrow less
two in distress make sorrow less

(idiomatic) misery loves company; two in distress make sorrow less


too much pudding will choke a dog

too much of a good thing
too much of a good thing


you're only as good as your last shift

A person's perceived skill or competence is determined by their most recent success or failure.


you have to be good to be lucky

People who succeed do so through skill and preparation rather than mere chance.


поймал мыша, ешь не спеша

пойма́л мыша́, ешь не спеша́

пойма́л мыша́, ешь не спеша́ • (pojmál myšá, ješʹ ne spešá)

пойма́л мыша́ (canonical)
ешь не спеша́ (canonical)
pojmál myšá (romanization)
ješʹ ne spešá (romanization)

stop and smell the roses
stop and smell the roses

following an achievement, stop and smell the roses

en-поймал_мыша,_ешь_не_спеша-ru-proverb-yxg9~AiR


the captain goes down with the ship

From the maritime tradition that a sea captain holds ultimate responsibility for both their ship and everyone embarked on it, and in an emergency will either save those on board or die trying.

A leader is ultimately responsible for the penalities of a catastrophe, even if they result from external causes or the misactions of others under the leader's purview.

le capitaine sombre avec son navire

a leader is ultimately responsible for the penalties of a catastrophe


kellä keččinä kupajau, še kylyn löytäy

Verbatim translation: "he whose skin itches finds a sauna".

Necessity and urge make people find solutions to their problems.


幽霊の正体見たり枯れ尾花

ja-pos

ゆうれい の しょうたい みたり かれおばな

幽(ゆう)霊(れい)の正(しょう)体(たい)見(み)たり枯(か)れ尾(お)花(ばな) • (yūrei no shōtai mitari kareobana)

幽霊の正体見たり枯れ尾花 (canonical)
yūrei no shōtai mitari kareobana (romanization)

幽霊 + の + 正体 + 見たり + 枯れ尾花, literally "when closely examining the identity of the ghost, it's just withered silvergrass"

com

幽霊 + の + 正体 + 見たり + 枯れ尾花


గుడ్డివాడెరుగునా కుందనపు చాయ

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గుడ్డివాడెరుగునా కుందనపు చాయ • (guḍḍivāḍerugunā kundanapu cāya)

guḍḍivāḍerugunā kundanapu cāya (romanization)

Can a blind man discern the colour of pure gold?

en-గుడ్డివాడెరుగునా_కుందనపు_చాయ-te-proverb-xvQJhJ~F


రేపు అనే రోజు వున్నదా

రేపు అనే రోజు వున్నదా • (rēpu anē rōju vunnadā)

tomorrow never comes
tomorrow never comes

en-రేపు_అనే_రోజు_వున్నదా-te-proverb-lWA~hhOw


గుడ్డి కన్నా మెల్ల మేలు

గుడ్డి కన్నా మెల్ల మేలు • (guḍḍi kannā mella mēlu)

A squint eye is better than a blind eye.

en-గుడ్డి_కన్నా_మెల్ల_మేలు-te-proverb-g~bVlYXF


గాలికి పుట్టి ధూళికి పెరిగినట్టు

గాలికి పుట్టి ధూళికి పెరిగినట్టు • (gāliki puṭṭi dhūḷiki periginaṭṭu)

gāliki puṭṭi dhūḷiki periginaṭṭu (romanization)

Born of the wind, and reared up by the dust..

en-గాలికి_పుట్టి_ధూళికి_పెరిగినట్టు-te-proverb-fQr9ZT~V


గొడ్రాలికి యేమి తెలుసును బిడ్డ నొప్పులు

గొడ్రాలికి యేమి తెలుసును బిడ్డ నొప్పులు • (goḍrāliki yēmi telusunu biḍḍa noppulu)

goḍrāliki yēmi telusunu biḍḍa noppulu (romanization)

What does the barren woman know of the pains of childbirth?

en-గొడ్రాలికి_యేమి_తెలుసును_బిడ్డ_నొప్పులు-te-proverb-z~AgrdXJ


డబ్బులేని వానికి భోగముది తల్లి వరస

డబ్బులేని వానికి భోగముది తల్లి వరస • (ḍabbulēni vāniki bhōgamudi talli varasa)

ḍabbulēni vāniki bhōgamudi talli varasa (romanization)

A harlot is as a mother to a man without money.

en-డబ్బులేని_వానికి_భోగముది_తల్లి_వరస-te-proverb-BZ23tuYW


ధైర్యములేని రాజు, యోచనలేని మంత్రి

ధైర్యములేని రాజు, యోచనలేని మంత్రి • (dhairyamulēni rāju, yōcanalēni mantri)

dhairyamulēni rāju (romanization)
yōcanalēni mantri (romanization)

A king without courage, a minister without judgment.

en-ధైర్యములేని_రాజు,_యోచనలేని_మంత్రి-te-proverb-1jf6E3v0


నక్క యెక్కడ, దేవలోకమెక్కడ

నక్క యెక్కడ, దేవలోకమెక్కడ • (nakka yekkaḍa, dēvalōkamekkaḍa)

nakka yekkaḍa (romanization)
dēvalōkamekkaḍa (romanization)

en-నక్క_యెక్కడ,_దేవలోకమెక్కడ-te-proverb-f1qA4Xi2


when in doubt, do nowt

nowt is a dialectal form of nought, used here for the rhyme.

When faced with a difficult decision, it is better not to take unnecessary risks.


జగమెరిగిన బ్రాహ్మణునికి జంధ్యమెందుకు

జగమెరిగిన బ్రాహ్మణునికి జంధ్యమెందుకు • (jagamerigina brāhmaṇuniki jandhyamenduku)

What is the use of the sacred thread to a well known Brahman?

en-జగమెరిగిన_బ్రాహ్మణునికి_జంధ్యమెందుకు-te-proverb-BtzhKsnw


no hay miel sin hiel

Literally, “there's no honey without bile”.

lit

every rose has its thorn
every rose has its thorn


Undank ist der Welten Lohn

Literally, “ungratefulness is the reward of the world”. The form Welten, here, is not a plural but an archaic genitive singular. Compare Dutch ondank is 's werelds loon, Swedish otack är världens lön, Danish utak er de armes løn.

lit

good deeds for the sake of others are unlikely to be met with gratitude, but are nevertheless honorable


ปลูกเรือนตามใจผู้อยู่

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ปลูกเรือนตามใจผู้อยู่

/pluːk̚˨˩.rɯa̯n˧.taːm˧.t͡ɕaj˧.pʰuː˥˩.juː˨˩/

From ปลูก (bplùuk, “to erect”) + เรือน (rʉʉan, “house”) + ตาม (dtaam, “according (to)”) + ใจ (jai, “mind”) + ผู้ (pûu, an agent noun prefix, literally “one (who)”) + อยู่ (yùu, “to live; to reside”); literally "to erect a house according to the mind of the resident".

com

it is the best to give what the recipient really wants; it is the best to follow the desire of the beneficiary.

en-ปลูกเรือนตามใจผู้อยู่-th-proverb-mapc6w6H


opportunity makes a thief

opportunity makes the thief
opportunity makes the thief

Less common version of opportunity makes the thief: People are more likely to steal something if presented with a convenient opportunity to do so.

пло́хо не клади́, во́ра в грех не вводи́


a mali estremi, estremi rimedi

Literally, “to extreme bads, extreme remedies”.

lit

desperate times call for desperate measures


don't get mad, get even

She said that about you behind your back? Don't get mad, get even!

To Peter's surprise, Breslin was emphatic: "Stay in the system. Don't get mad―get even!"

1972, Princeton University, “March 21, 1972”, in Princeton Alumni Weekly - Volume 72, page 9:

A saying or advice suggesting to someone that instead of getting angry at a perceived injustice, slight or other action against them, they should retaliate.


Mi na afu sensi, no wan man e broko mi

Literally, “I am a half cent, nobody can break me”. Minted until 1940, the half cent coin was the smallest denomination in circulation in Suriname and hence could not be divided into smaller units.

Nobody can break my spirit; nobody gets me down.


never meet your heroes

I'm a great believer in the maxim that you should never meet your heroes. I thought of these artists as rebellious, ink-spattered heroes, righting wrongs. What if they turned out to be ranting misanthropes or monosyllabic recluses?

2008 July 22, Phill Jupitus, “Blood, sweat and ink”, in Guardian, retrieved 2021-05-15:

They say you should never meet your heroes, so fans of Canadian DJ and music producer Deadmau5 might want to consider the risks before looking him up online.

2011 February 18, Michael Oliveira, “Deadmau5 mingles and murders in Minecraft”, in The Star, retrieved 2021-05-15:

[Y]ou know how they say never meet your heroes? Well, they’re wrong. Jane was everything I had hoped for and more.

2019 January 29, Ellie Kemper, “What I Learned From the Cast of ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’”, in New York Times, retrieved 2021-05-15:

It is unwise to seek personal acquaintance with people whom one has regarded with high esteem, as they often fail to fulfill one's expectations, resulting in disappointment.


one should never meet one's heroes

never meet your heroes
never meet your heroes#English

Alternative form of never meet your heroes


gli assenti hanno sempre torto

Calque of French les absents ont toujours tort.

calque

one who is not present, or who does not show up to a situation, is often in the wrong and simply trying to avoid answering for his misdeed


les absents ont toujours tort

Compare Italian gli assenti hanno sempre torto.

he who is absent is always in the wrong
he who is absent is always in the wrong

he who is absent is always in the wrong (those who were absent cannot complain that they did not have a say in the decisions that were made)


l'exception confirme la règle

l’ exception confirme la règle (canonical)

the exception proves the rule
the exception proves the rule


fr-proverb

de deux maux, il faut choisir le moindre

entre deux maux, il faut choisir le moindre#French

Alternative form of entre deux maux, il faut choisir le moindre: one must choose the lesser of two evils


聽君一席話，勝讀十年書

ㄊㄧㄥ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄧ ㄒㄧˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

ㄕㄥˋ ㄉㄨˊ ㄕˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄨ

ting³ gwan¹ jat¹ zik⁶ waa⁶, sing³ duk⁶ sap⁶ nin⁴ syu¹

shèng dú shínián shū [Phonetic:tīng jūn yìxíhuà

тин цзюнь исихуа

шэн ду шинянь шу

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕi³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ tu³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

ting gwān yāt jihk wah, sing duhk sahp nìhn syū

ting³ gwan¹ jat⁷ dzik⁹ waa⁶, sing³ duk⁹ sap⁹ nin⁴ sy¹

ting³ guen¹ yed¹ jig⁶ wa⁶, xing³ dug⁶ seb⁶ nin⁴ xu¹

/tʰɪŋ³³ kʷɐn⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚² waː²² sɪŋ³³ tʊk̚² sɐp̚² niːn²¹ syː⁵⁵/

Attested in Zengguang Xianwen (增廣賢文) in a similar form.

同君一席話，勝讀十年書。

同君一席话，胜读十年书。

Listening to the words of a wise person is superior to ten years of studying.


you can't fix stupid

(slang) It is often fruitless to help people who are stupid and do stupid things.


quem avisa, amigo é

[ˈkɐ̃j̃ ɐˈβi.zɐ | ɐˈmi.ɣu ˈɛ]

warnings come from well-intended people and should not be ignored


no hymen, no diamond

Chosen for the rhyme, in reference to the diamond on a wedding ring.

(informal) A man should only marry a woman who is a virgin.


patti chiari, amicizia lunga

patti chiari, amici cari
patti chiari, amici cari#Italian

Alternative form of patti chiari, amici cari


patti chiari, amici cari

Literally, “clear agreements, dear friends”. Compare English short reckonings make long friends.

cog

well-defined agreements avoid possible misunderstandings and argument


一言既に出ずれば駟馬も追い難し

ja-phrase

いちごん すで に いずれば しば も おい がたし

一(いち)言(ごん)既(すで)に出(い)ずれば駟(し)馬(ば)も追(お)い難(がた)し • (ichigon sude ni izureba shiba mo oi gatashi)

一言既に出ずれば駟馬も追い難し (canonical)

Calque from Literary Chinese 一言既出，駟馬難追／一言既出，驷马难追.

zh-l

一言既出，駟馬難追／一言既出，驷马难追

a word once spoken is hard to catch even with a four-horse carriage; a word once spoken cannot be undone


l'homme est un loup pour l'homme

l’ homme est un loup pour l’ homme (canonical)

man is a wolf to man
man is a wolf to man


на безрыбье и рак рыба

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на безры́бье и рак ры́ба

на безры́бье и рак ры́ба • (na bezrýbʹje i rak rýba)

на безры́бье и рак ры́ба (canonical)
na bezrýbʹje i rak rýba (romanization)

Literally, “when there are no fish, even a crayfish is a fish”; cognate with Polish na bezrybiu i rak ryba. Compare English in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

cog

beggars can't be choosers
beggars can't be choosers

beggars can't be choosers (in a pinch anything will do)

en-на_безрыбье_и_рак_рыба-ru-proverb-KU7mAYnV


tarkoitus pyhittää keinot

the end justifies the means
the end justifies the means


人無廉恥，不如早死

ㄖㄣˊ ㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄔˇ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄗㄠˇ ㄙˇ

жэнь у ляньчи

/ʐən³⁵ u³⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

somebody who does not understand shame deserves to die young


человек человеку волк

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челове́к челове́ку волк

челове́к челове́ку волк • (čelovék čelovéku volk)

челове́к челове́ку волк (canonical)
čelovék čelovéku volk (romanization)

[t͡ɕɪɫɐˈvʲek t͡ɕɪɫɐˈvʲekʊ voɫk]

LL-Q7737 (rus)-Tatiana Kerbush-человек человеку волк.wav

en-человек_человеку_волк-ru-proverb-IWRBxNqn


you buy cheap, you get cheap

No more of that stuff, please and thank you. American Grain, my rosy red ass. Someone should have told those babies you put the fertilizer on the hops before you grow em, not after. A headache on three lousy beers! Gosh! Well—you buy cheap, you get cheap.

Inexpensive goods and services tend to be inferior to more expensive ones.


good things come in threes

Coordinate term: bad things come in threes

If a fortunate event has already occurred twice, a third fortunate event is likely to occur.

ei kahta ilman kolmatta

several fortunate events usually occur together


z pustego i Salomon nie naleje

Literally, “even Salomon won't pour [something] from an empty [cup]”.

m-g

even Salomon won't pour 􂀿something􂁀 from an empty 􂀿cup􂁀

lit

(idiomatic) one needs the proper tools in order to complete a task


fortuna kołem się toczy

A reference to the Latin idiom Rota Fortunae.

what goes up must come down
what goes up must come down

(idiomatic) what goes up must come down (everybody experiences some successes and some failures)


co ma wisieć, nie utonie

/t͡sɔ ma viɕɛt͡ɕˌ ɲɛ uˈtɔ.ɲɛ/

(idiomatic) if you're born to be hanged, then you'll never be drowned


człowiek człowiekowi wilkiem

Literally, “man is a wolf to man”. Calque of Latin homō hominī lupus est.


łaska pańska na pstrym koniu jeździ

/ˈwas.ka ˈpaɲ.ska na pstrɘm ˈkɔ.ɲu ˈjɛʑ.d͡ʑi/

great men's favours are uncertain
great men's favours are uncertain

(idiomatic) great men's favours are uncertain


dzieci i ryby głosu nie mają

/ˈd͡ʑɛ.t͡ɕi i ˈrɘ.bɘ ˈɡwɔ.su ɲɛ ˈma.jɔw̃/

Literally, “children and fish have no voice”.

children should be seen and not heard
children should be seen and not heard

(idiomatic) children should be seen and not heard


grosz do grosza, a będzie kokosza

/ˈɡrɔʐ dɔˈɡrɔ.ʂaˌ aˈbɛɲ.d͡ʑɛ kɔˈkɔ.ʂa/

Rhyme, literally, “one grosz at a time and there will be a hen”.

lit

little strokes fell great oaks
little strokes fell great oaks

many a mickle makes a muckle
many a mickle makes a muckle

mighty oaks from little acorns grow
mighty oaks from little acorns grow

ziarnko do ziarnka, a zbierze się miarka

(idiomatic) every little helps, little strokes fell great oaks, many a mickle makes a muckle, mighty oaks from little acorns grow, take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves


kto nie ryzykuje, ten nie pije szampana

/ktɔ ɲɛ rɘzɘkujɛˌ tɛn ɲɛ ˈpi.jɛ ʂamˈpa.na/

Literally, “that who does not risk does not get to drink champagne”. Calque of Russian кто не риску́ет, тот не пьёт шампа́нского (kto ne riskújet, tot ne pʹjot šampánskovo).

cal

nothing ventured, nothing gained
nothing ventured, nothing gained

(idiomatic) nothing ventured, nothing gained (discomfort is necessary to achieve goals)


未食五日節粽，破裘毋甘放

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未食五日節粽，破裘毋甘放

未食五日节粽，破裘毋甘放

/bue³³⁻²¹ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ ɡɔ³³⁻²¹ zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡se(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ t͡saŋ²¹ pʰua²¹⁻⁴¹ hiu²³ m̩³³⁻²¹ kam⁴⁴⁻³³ paŋ²¹/

(Hokkien) Winter clothes cannot be stored away before the Dragon Boat Festival (because temperatures are thought to be still unstable before the Dragon Boat Festival).


kiedy wejdziesz między wrony, musisz krakać jak i one

/ˈkjɛ.dɘ ˈvɛj.d͡ʑɛʂ ˈmjɛn.d͡zɘ ˈvrɔ.nɘ ˈmu.ɕiʂ ˈkra.kat͡ɕ jak i ˈɔ.nɛ/

Literally, “when you go among the crows, you must caw like them”.

lit

jeśli wejdziesz między wrony, musisz krakać jak i one#Polish

(idiomatic) Alternative form of jeśli wejdziesz między wrony, musisz krakać jak i one


nie od razu Kraków zbudowano

Literally, “Kraków was not built all at once”.

Rome wasn't built in a day
Rome wasn't built in a day

(idiomatic) Rome wasn't built in a day (it takes a long time to create something complicated or impressive)


kosto on parhaimmillaan kylmänä

revenge is a dish best served cold
revenge is a dish best served cold


head

am fear nach seall roimhe seallaidh e as a dheigh

He who will not look before him will look behind him.


An uair a chluinneas tu sgeul gun dreach na creid i.

When you hear a tale that is not pleasant, do not believe it. (This means that one should turn a deaf ear to scandalmongers.)


an car a th' anns an t-seana mhaide, is duilich a thoirt as

an car a bha san t-seana mhaide 's duilich a thoirt às#Scottish_Gaelic

Alternative form of an car a bha san t-seana mhaide 's duilich a thoirt às (“you can't teach an old dog new tricks.”)


am fear, is fhaide chaidh bho'n bhaile, chual e'n ceòl bu mhilse leis nuair thill e dhachaidh

"Who farthest away e’er did roam heard the sweetest music on returning home."


an uair a bhios sinn ri òrach bidheadhmaid ri òrach; 's nuair a bhios sinn ri maorach, bidheadhmaid ri maorach

When we are seeking gold, let us be seeking gold; and when we are seeking bait, let us be seeking bait.


деньги не пахнут

де́ньги не па́хнут

де́ньги не па́хнут • (dénʹgi ne páxnut)

де́ньги не па́хнут (canonical)
dénʹgi ne páxnut (romanization)

[ˈdʲenʲɡʲɪ nʲɪ‿ˈpaxnʊt]

LL-Q7737 (rus)-Tatiana Kerbush-деньги не пахнут.wav

money does not smell
money does not smell


money does not smell

The value of money is not affected by the business it comes from, even from the most unpleasant one.


bidh an ubhal as fheàrr air a mheangan is àirde

"The best apple will be on the highest bough."


b'fhearr gun tòiseachadh na sguir gun chriochnachadh

"Better not to begin than to stop without finishing."


chan uaisle duine na cheàrd

cha’n uaisle duine na cheàrd (canonical)


a' chungaidh leighis as goirte, 's i as moth' tha dèanamh feum

The medicine that hurts the most is generally the best healer.


is motha mo shùil na mo bhrù

one's eyes are bigger than one's stomach


dùnan math innearach, màthair na ciste-mine

A good dung heap, mother of the grain bin.


am fear nach dèan cuir ri là fuar, cha bhuan e ri là teth

He who will not sow in March will not reap in the Autumn.


cha bhi toradh gun saothair

There will be no production without labour.


am fear a nì obair na thràth, bidh e na leth-thàmh

The man who does his work in time will always have leisure time.


am fear nach dèan obair na ghnìomh chan fhaigh e biadh air feadh nam preas

He who will not work or act will never find food on any track.


cha leasachadh air droch obair-latha a bhi fada gum tòiseachadh

A late beginning will not mend a bad day's work.


is fheàrr èiridh moch na suidh anmoch

early to bed, early to rise
early to bed, early to rise


酒逢知己千杯少，話不投機半句多

酒逢知己千杯少，話不投機半句多

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄈㄥˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄅㄟ ㄕㄠˋ

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄐㄧ ㄅㄢˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄉㄨㄛ

zau² fung⁴ zi¹ gei² cin¹ bui¹ siu², waa⁶ bat¹ tau⁴ gei¹ bun³ geoi³ do¹

chiu³ fêng² chih¹-chi³ chʻien¹ pei¹ shao⁴

цзю фэн чжицзи цянь бэй шао

хуа бу тоуцзи бань цзюй до

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

jáu fùhng jī géi chīn būi síu, wah bāt tàuh gēi bun geui dō

dzau² fung⁴ dzi¹ gei² tsin¹ bui¹ siu², waa⁶ bat⁷ tau⁴ gei¹ bun³ goey³ do¹

zeo² fung⁴ ji¹ géi² qin¹ bui¹ xiu², wa⁶ bed¹ teo⁴ géi¹ bun³ gêu³ do¹

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ fʊŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kei̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ puːi̯⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵ waː²² pɐt̚⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ kei̯⁵⁵ puːn³³ kɵy̯³³ tɔː⁵⁵/

酒逢知己千杯少，话不投机半句多

If you drink with a bosom friend, a thousand cups are too few; if you talk to someone who is not on the same page, even half a sentence is too much.


ged is e an duine an tuathanach, is e an t-each an saothraiche

Although the human is the farmer, the horse is the labourer.


is fheàrr dìcheall an duine laig, na neo-shunnt' an duine làidir

Better the diligence of the weak than the indifference of the strong.


en-proverb

to a hammer, everything looks like a nail

The Court today mistakes what this case is about. To a hammer, everything looks like a nail. And to a Court bent on diminishing the usefulness of Rule 23, everything looks like a class action, ready to be dismantled.

2013, American Express Co. et al. v. Italian Colors Restaurant et al. (U.S. Supreme Court No. 12–133), Justice Kagan dissenting

if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail#English

Alternative form of if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail


但行好事，莫問前程

ㄉㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄏㄠˇ ㄕˋ

ㄇㄛˋ ㄨㄣˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄔㄥˊ

дань син хаоши

мо вэнь цяньчэн

/tän⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

Attested in the poem Tian Dao (天道) by 馮道 (Feng Dao) in a similar form

lw

s:御定全唐詩 (四庫全書本)/卷737

御定全唐詩 (四庫全書本)/卷737

御定全唐詩 (四庫全書本)/卷737

御定全唐詩 (四庫全書本)/卷737

Dàn zhī xíng hǎoshì, mò yào wèn qiánchéng.

但知行好事，莫要問前程。

御定全唐詩 (四庫全書本)/卷737

但知行好事，莫要问前程。

Just do good deeds and do not worry about the future.


head

's fheàrr a bhith cinnteach na caillteach

better to be safe than sorry
better to be safe than sorry


is fheàrr deagh-eòlas na droch-chàirdeas

better a good acquaintance than a bad friendship.


is fheàrr aon diugh na dà mhàireach

no time like the present
no time like the present

never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.


is fheàrr a dhol a laighe gun suipeir na éirigh ann am fiachan

is fheàrr a dhol a laighe gun suipeir na èirigh ann am fiachan#Scottish_Gaelic

Alternative spelling of is fheàrr a dhol a laighe gun suipeir na èirigh ann am fiachan


is i an dias is truime is ìsle chromas a ceann

The loveliest ear of grain bends its head the lowest.


an seanfhacal fada, fìor; cha bhreugnaichear an seanfhacal

The old proverb, long proved true, shall never be belied.


cha do shèid gaoth riamh nach robh an seòl cuideigin

No wind ever blew that did not fill someone’s sails.


is e an ceò Geamhraidh nì an cathadh Earraich

Winter mists portend springtime snow-drifts.


is ionnan aithreachas crìche ri 'bhi cuir siol mu Fheill-Màrtainn

too little, too late
too little, too late

death-bed repentance is like sowing seed on Martinmas (i.e. "too little, too late").


tha currac air a' bheinn siud an t-uisge a tighinn

Yonder mountain has a cap on, the rain is coming.


èisd ri gaoth nam beann gus an tràigh na h-uisgeachan

Listen to the mountain wind until the streams abate.


is e an Geamhradh luath an Geamhradh buan


fèath Faoilteach is gaoth Iuchair, cha mhair iad fada

A February calm and a Dog Day's breeze, they never last long.


a' bheinn is àirde a th' a anns an tìr, is ann oirre is tric a chithear an ceò

The highest mountain in the land is most often covered by mist.


is fheàrr aon là sa' Mhàirt na trì là 'san Fhoghair

Better one day in March than three days in autumn.


'san Earrach, nuair a bhios a' chaora caol, bidh am maorach reamhar

In Springtime, when the sheep will be thin, the shellfish will be fat.


耳聽為虛，眼見為實

耳听为虚，眼见为实
耳聽爲虛，眼見爲實

ㄦˇ ㄊㄧㄥ ㄨㄟˊ ㄒㄩ

ㄧㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕˊ

ji⁵ ting¹ wai⁴ heoi¹, ngaan⁵ gin³ wai⁴ sat⁶

êrh³ tʻing¹ wei² hsü¹, yen³ chien⁴ wei² shih²

эр тин вэй сюй

янь цзянь вэй ши

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

yíh tīng wàih hēui, ngáahn gin wàih saht

ji⁵ ting¹ wai⁴ hoey¹, ngaan⁵ gin³ wai⁴ sat⁹

yi⁵ ting¹ wei⁴ hêu¹, ngan⁵ gin³ wei⁴ sed⁶

/jiː¹³ tʰɪŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹ hɵy̯⁵⁵ ŋaːn¹³ kiːn³³ wɐi̯²¹ sɐt̚²/

Don't believe what people tell you until you see it for yourself.


親兄弟，明算賬

亲兄弟，明算账
親兄弟，明算帳

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄙㄨㄢˋ ㄓㄤˋ

мин суаньчжан

/t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ su̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ tɐi̯²² mɪŋ²¹ syːn³³ t͡sœːŋ³³/

Even with your own brothers, keep clear accounts.


samanlaiset lapset leikkivät parhaiten

birds of a feather flock together
birds of a feather flock together


hoogmoed komt voor den val

hoogmoed komt voor de val
hoogmoed komt voor de val#Dutch

(archaic) Alternative form of hoogmoed komt voor de val


hoogmoed komt voor de val

Ultimately from the Bible, Proverbs 16:18. Attested since at least the 17th century. The publishing of the 1637 Statenvertaling likely proliferated usage throughout the Low Countries, wherein a variant of the modern proverb can be found.

pride comes before a fall
pride comes before a fall

Johannes Bogerman
Low Countries
Statenvertaling
Synod of Dort
Willem Baudartius
nl:Gerson Bucerus


mieux vaut tenir que courir

better an egg today than a hen tomorrow
better an egg today than a hen tomorrow

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, better an egg today than a hen tomorrow


tall oaks from little acorns grow

mighty oaks from little acorns grow#English

Alternative form of mighty oaks from little acorns grow


etsivä löytää

seek and ye shall find
seek and ye shall find


nem oito, nem oitenta

[ˈnẽɪ̯̃ ˈoɪ̯.tu | ˈnẽɪ̯̃ oɪ̯ˈtẽ.tɐ]

[ˈnẽɪ̯̃ ˈoɪ̯.tu | ˈnẽɪ̯̃ oɪ̯ˈtẽ.tɐ]

[ˈnẽɪ̯̃ ˈoɪ̯.to | ˈnẽɪ̯̃ oɪ̯ˈtẽ.ta]

one frequently takes things to the extreme, instead of searching for an equilibrium or a moderate way


dat brengt moesje niet naar Parijs

Literally, “that won't get mum to Paris”. Ultimately, a corruption of dat brengt monsieur niet naar Parijs (“that won't get Monsieur [a Frenchman] to Paris”); compare Sranan Tongo musyu (“Frenchman”). Cognate of Sranan Tongo dati no e tyari musyu go na Paresi.

cog

We kunnen blijven kijken in de achteruitkijkspiegel, maar dat brengt moesje niet naar Parijs.

2021 March 31, Priscilla Kia, “Illegaliteit wordt aangepakt: natuurlijke personen mogen geen valuta verhandelen [Illegality tackled: natural persons not allowed to trade currencies]”, in De West, retrieved 2021-06-23:

We can keep looking in the rear-view mirror, but that won't get us any further at all.

(Suriname) it doesn't have a significant effect; it's not a useful contribution; it doesn't advance the matter


ei kannettu vesi kaivossa pysy

you can't teach someone who doesn't want to learn


jokainen pisara muovaa kiveä

little strokes fell great oaks
little strokes fell great oaks


普天之下，莫非王土

ㄆㄨˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

ㄇㄛˋ ㄈㄟ ㄨㄤˊ ㄊㄨˇ

pou² tin¹ zi¹ haa⁶, mok⁶ fei¹ wong⁴ tou²

/pʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

pou² tin¹ dzi¹ haa⁶, mok⁹ fei¹ wong⁴ tou²

/pʰou̯³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ haː²² mɔːk̚² fei̯⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ tʰou̯³⁵/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 205 (《詩經·小雅·北山》)

lang

(《詩經·小雅·北山》)

(《詩經·小雅·北山》)

Under the wide heaven, All is the king's land.
Within the sea-boundaries of the land, All are the king's servants.

The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Pǔ tiān zhī xià, mòfēi wáng tǔ.
Shuài tǔ zhī bīn, mòfēi wáng chén.

溥天之下，莫非王土。
率土之濱，莫非王臣。

溥天之下，莫非王土。
率土之滨，莫非王臣。

All land under heaven is the territory of the sovereign


طنجرة ولقت غطاها

head

طنجرة ولقت غطاها

طنجرة ولقت غطاها • (ṭanjara w-laʔat ḡaṭāha)

Literally: “a pot that found its lid”. Compare semantically German auf jeden Topf passt ein Deckel etc.

every Jack has his Jill
every Jack has his Jill


laita lapsi asialle, mene itse perässä

send a boy to do a man's job
send a boy to do a man's job

If you make someone else (particularly your child) do something (that you should do), you'll probably end up having to do it yourself anyway; it is not worth it to send a boy to do a man's job.


千金難買少年窮

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄋㄢˊ ㄇㄞˇ ㄕㄠˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

chʻien¹-chin¹ nan² mai³ shao⁴-nien² chʻiung²

цяньцзинь нань май шаонянь цюн

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ nän³⁵ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ naːn²¹ maːi̯¹³ siːu̯³³ niːn²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

Living with hardship and poverty in one's early youth is a precious experience


joka tyynen makaa, se tuulen soutaa

Literally, “he who lies down calm waters, rows the wind”. Compare Karelian ken tyynellä istuu, še tuulella šoutau.

cog

those who do not prepare for things ahead of time must work twice as hard afterwards


kysyvä ei tieltä eksy

Literally, “one who asks won't go astray from the path”. Compare Karelian ei kyšyjä tieltä ekšy.


on en apprend tous les jours

you learn something new every day
you learn something new every day

every day is a school day
every day is a school day

you learn something new every day, every day is a school day


fr-proverb

le malheur des uns fait le bonheur des autres

/lə ma.lœʁ de.z‿œ̃ fɛ l(ə) bɔ.nœʁ de.z‿otʁ/

one man's joy is another man's sorrow
one man's joy is another man's sorrow

one man's loss is another man's gain
one man's loss is another man's gain

one man's joy is another man's sorrow, one man's loss is another man's gain (some people's misfortune is other people's fortune)


one man's loss is another man's gain

Some people's misfortune is other people's fortune.

some people's misfortune is other people's fortune

مَصَائِبُ قَوْمٍ عِنْدَ قَوْمٍ فَوَائِدُ

one man's trash is another man's treasure


知己知彼，百戰百勝

desc

→ Vietnamese: trăm trận trăm thắng; trăm trận trăm thắng

ㄅㄞˇ ㄓㄢˋ ㄅㄞˇ ㄕㄥˋ

байчжаньбайшэн

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ kei̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pei̯³⁵ paːk̚³ t͡siːn³³ paːk̚³ sɪŋ³³/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ kei̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pʰei̯³⁵ paːk̚³ t͡siːn³³ paːk̚³ sɪŋ³³/

Corruption of 知己知彼，百戰不殆／知己知彼，百战不殆 (zhījǐzhībǐ, bǎizhànbùdài), with 百戰不殆／百战不殆 (bǎizhànbùdài) replaced with 百戰百勝／百战百胜 (bǎizhànbǎishèng, “to be ever-victorious”).

zh-l

百戰不殆／百战不殆 (bǎizhànbùdài)

Know yourself and know the enemy, and you can win every battle you fight.


head

mi na switi kontreki, te yu e gwe yu musu dray baka

Literally, “I am [like] a beautiful region, if you leave, you'll have to come back”.

Mi na switi kontreki, te yu e gwe yu musu dray baka.

I'm a beautiful region, if you leave, you'll have to come back.

I'm irresistible; you might think you can do without me, but you'll be drawn back to me

mi na switi kontreki, te yu dray yu sa kon baka


tanto va el cántaro a la fuente que al final se rompe

Tanto fue el cántaro a la fuente, que al final se rompió. La coalición pro Brexit capturó el sistema político británico en 2016, y ha ido erosionando su credibilidad poco a poco hasta que, como pasa casi siempre, de repente la credibilidad se agotó y los mercados dijeron basta.

2022 October 16, Ángel Ubide, “Y Reino Unido se rompió”, in El País:

the pitcher goes so often to the well that it is broken at last


yhden herkku on toisen myrkky

one man's meat is another man's poison
one man's meat is another man's poison


joka päivä oppii jotain uutta

Literally, “every day (one) learns something new”. Commonly also found in other languages; the exact language of origin is unknown


人はパンのみにて生くる者に非ず

ja-pos

人はパンのみにて生くる者に非ず

ひと は パン のみ に て いくる もの に あらず

人(ひと)はパンのみにて生(い)くる者(もの)に非(あら)ず • (hito wa pan nomi ni te ikuru mono ni arazu)

人はパンのみにて生くる者に非ず (canonical)

[çito̞ β̞a̠ pa̠n no̞mʲi ɲ̟i te̞ ikɯ̟ɾɯ̟ mo̞no̞ ɲ̟i a̠ɾa̠zɨ]

From a translation of the New Testament, Gospel of Matthew 4:4, "man shall not live on bread alone".
Phrase consisting of 人 (hito, “person; man, mankind, humanity”) + は (wa, topic particle) + パン (pan, “bread”) + のみ (nomi, “only”) + にて (ni te, copular conjunction, "on, by means of") + 生くる (ikuru, “living, that lives”), classical attributive of 生く (iku, “to live, to be alive”) + 者 (mono, “person; being”) + に (ni, copular particle) + あらず (arazu, “is not”, classical copula あり (ari) in the negative conjugation).
The Japanese literally parses out to "man is not a being that lives only on bread".

ja-r

man shall not live by bread alone
man shall not live by bread alone


ঘর পোড়া গরু সিঁদুরে মেঘ দেখে ডরায়

head

ঘর পোড়া গরু সিঁদুরে মেঘ দেখে ডরায় • (ghor pōṛa goru śĩdure megh dekhe ḍoraẏ)

ghor pōṛa goru śĩdure megh dekhe ḍoraẏ (romanization)

once bitten, twice shy
once bitten, twice shy

a burnt child dreads the fire
a burnt child dreads the fire

once bitten, twice shy, a burnt child dreads the fire (literally, "the home-burnt cow cowers before a red cloud")

en-ঘর_পোড়া_গরু_সিঁদুরে_মেঘ_দেখে_ডরায়-bn-proverb-xHrOWx9Q


物以類聚，人以群分

Similar things group together, similar people fit together.

ㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄌㄟˋ ㄐㄩˋ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄧˇ ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄈㄣ

mat⁶ ji⁵ leoi⁶ zeoi⁶, jan⁴ ji⁵ kwan⁴ fan¹

jên² i³ chʻün² fên¹

жэнь и цюнь фэнь

/u⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ fən⁵⁵/

maht yíh leuih jeuih, yàhn yíh kwàhn fān

mat⁹ ji⁵ loey⁶ dzoey⁶, jan⁴ ji⁵ kwan⁴ fan¹

/mɐt̚² jiː¹³ lɵy̯²² t͡sɵy̯²² jɐn²¹ jiː¹³ kʷʰɐn²¹ fɐn⁵⁵/

Birds of a feather flock together
birds of a feather flock together


真金不怕火煉

ㄓㄣ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄆㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄌㄧㄢˋ

zhēn jīn bù pà huǒ liàn [Phonetic:zhēn jīn bú pà huǒ liàn]

чжэнь цзинь бу па хо лянь

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pʰä⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ pʰaː³³ fɔː³⁵ liːn²²/

Someone of integrity, determination and/or ability can withstand all tests and trials; Something genuine or correct can withstand all tests


寧可玉碎，不能瓦全

ㄋㄧㄥˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄩˋ ㄙㄨㄟˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄨㄚˇ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

ㄋㄧㄥˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄩˋ ㄙㄨㄟˋ

бунэн вацюань

/niŋ⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ wä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/niŋ³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ wä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

From Book of Northern Qi (北齊書·元景安傳) first attested in c. 636 CE

In the Tianbao era, those who were related to the Yuan royal family were killed. Some distant family members, like Yuan Jing'an, asked to change their family name to Gao. Yuan Jinghao, however, said, "How can you abandon your original family name, and change it into another one? A real man would rather be a broken piece of jade, rather than be a tile in whole!"

Tiānbǎo shí, zhū Yuán dìshì qīnjìn zhě duō bèi zhūlù. Shū zōng rú Jǐng'ān zhī tú yì yù qǐng xìng Gāo shì, Jǐnghào yún: “Qǐ dé qì běn zōng, zhú tā xìng, dàzhàngfū níngkě yù suì, bùnéng wǎ quán!”

天保時，諸元帝室親近者多被誅戮。疏宗如景安之徒議欲請姓高氏，景皓云：「豈得棄本宗，逐他姓，大丈夫寧可玉碎，不能瓦全！」

天保时，诸元帝室亲近者多被诛戮。疏宗如景安之徒议欲请姓高氏，景皓云：「岂得弃本宗，逐他姓，大丈夫宁可玉碎，不能瓦全！」

宁可玉碎，不能瓦全
寧為玉碎，不為瓦全

Rather be a broken piece of jade than be a tile in whole.

Dying an honourable death is better than living a dishonourable life


غاب القط، إلعب يا فار

غاب القطّ، إلعب يا فار

غاب القطّ، إلعب يا فار • (ḡāb il-qoṭṭ, ʾilʕab ya fār)

غاب القطّ، إلعب يا فار (canonical)
ḡāb il-qoṭṭ (romanization)
ʾilʕab ya fār (romanization)

when the cat's away, the mice will play
when the cat's away, the mice will play

en-غاب_القط،_إلعب_يا_فار-ajp-proverb-I3UI58ao


на ловца и зверь бежит

на ловца́ и зверь бежи́т

на ловца́ и зверь бежи́т • (na lovcá i zverʹ bežít)

на ловца́ и зверь бежи́т (canonical)
na lovcá i zverʹ bežít (romanization)

the game walks into one's bag
the game walks into one's bag

the ball comes to the player
the ball comes to the player

skill and luck go together
skill and luck go together

the game walks into one's bag; just the person I've expected; the ball comes to the player; skill and luck go together


even a worm will turn

First attested in a 1546 collection of proverbs by John Heywood, in the form “Treade a worme on the tayle, and it must turne agayne.” Popularized by William Shakespeare in The Third Part of Henry the Sixth, see quotations.

The ſmalleſt Worme will turne, being troden on, / And Doues will pecke in ſafegard of their Brood.

c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], page 154, column 1:

The smallest worm will turn, being trodden on, and doves will peck in safeguard of their brood.

Even the meekest or most docile people will retaliate or seek revenge if pushed too far.


money does not stink

money does not smell
money does not smell#English


百善孝為先

ㄅㄞˇ ㄕㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄢ

байшань сяо вэй сянь

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ siːn²² haːu̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ siːn⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ siːn²² haːu̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ siːn⁵⁵/

Of all virtues, filial piety comes first; Filial piety is the most important of all virtues


təkrar biliyin anasıdır

LL-Q9292 (aze)-Azerbaijani audiorecordings-təkrar biliyin anasıdır.wav

From Latin repetitio est mater studiorum (“repetition is the mother of knowledge”).

der

practice makes perfect
practice makes perfect

experience is the best teacher
experience is the best teacher

practice makes perfect, experience is the best teacher


parantaja, paranna itsesi

Calque of Ancient Greek ἰατρέ, θεράπευσον σεαυτόν (iatré, therápeuson seautón), from Luke 4:23.

clq

ἰατρέ, θεράπευσον σεαυτόν

physician, heal thyself
physician, heal thyself


a río revuelto, ganancia de pescadores

fish in troubled waters
fish in troubled waters

(idiomatic) it is common to fish in troubled waters


silence is consent

A lack of response to an action is a tacit approval of that action.

wie zwijgt, stemt toe

a lack of response to an action is a tacit approval of that action


health is your first wealth

Health is of utmost importance and the most valuable asset that a person can possess.


cleanliness is next to godliness

First recorded in a sermon by John Wesley in 1778.

It is important and morally sound to keep one's body and home clean; those who practice purity and wholeness are close to God.


亂拳打死老師傅

ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄉㄚˇ ㄙˇ ㄌㄠˇ ㄕ ˙ㄈㄨ

ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄉㄚˇ ㄙˇ ㄌㄠˇ ㄕ ㄈㄨˋ

luàn quán dǎsǐ lǎo shīfu [Phonetic:luànquándásǐlǎoshīfu]

луань цюань дасы лао шифу

/lu̯än⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fu²/

luàn quán dǎsǐ lǎo shīfù [Phonetic:luànquándásǐlǎoshīfù]

/lu̯än⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fu⁵¹/

to not follow the rules and do things at a whim


head

time spent laughing is time spent with the gods


it is easy to be wise after the event

Tuchel may wonder whether he should have kept the unbeatable Mendy on for penalties after his heroic performance but it is easy to be wise after the event and Kepa has proved his quality from penalties in the past.

2022 February 27, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:

After one has seen the consequences of a decision, it is easy to tell whether or not the decision was favorable, but it is also too late, since the consequences have already occurred.


en-proverb

the best laid plans of mice and men go oft astray

the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry#English

Alternative form of the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry


history is written by the victors

History is often told according to the interpretation and biases of prevailing historical actors, often those who won in geopolitical disputes or otherwise became dominant forces in society.

التاريخ يكتبه المنتصرون

History is often subjectively told according to the biases of the victors

Die Geschichte wird von den Siegern geschrieben

lịch sử được viết bởi những người chiến thắng

the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must


se, mikä ei tapa, vahvistaa

what doesn't kill you makes you stronger


ce qui ne tue pas rend plus fort

LL-Q150 (fra)-LoquaxFR-ce qui ne tue pas rend plus fort.wav


рани куче да те лае

head

рани куче да те лае • (rani kuče da te lae)

bite the hand that feeds you
bite the hand that feeds you


every stick has two ends

But every stick has two ends, says a Russian proverb, and if the chemical shells helped the Germans, so, by and by, when we and our Allies began to adopt them, they caused also a great deal of damage to the Germans .

1918, Basil Gourko, Memories and Impressions of War and Revolution in Russia 1914-1917, →OCLC, page 167:

Apparently forgetting the times in which we live, the U.S. defense secretary, far from advocating mutual disarmament, called on America to increase its strength so as to be able to destroy the socialist countries both singly and combined. We scarcely need point out that this bellicose call by a representative of the Pentagon is fraught with great danger and above all, to America itself. Every stick has two ends.

1964, United States Central Intelligence Agency, Daily Report, Foreign Radio Broadcasts: Issues 21–22, →OCLC, page BB10:

The saying “every stick has two ends” is apropos here. Every situation has an upside and downside, and the bigger the stick, the bigger the ends.

2005, Michael Ray, The Highest Goal: the Secret That Sustains You in Every Moment, →ISBN, page 82:


忍一時風平浪靜

Endure for one moment, (and) the wind will calm and the waves will become silent

ㄖㄣˇ ㄧ ㄕˊ ㄈㄥ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

rěn yī shí fēngpínglàngjìng [Phonetic:rěn yì shí fēngpínglàngjìng]

жэнь и ши фэнпинланцзин

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ lɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/jɐn³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ lɔːŋ²² t͡sɪŋ²²/

With a little forbearance, you will find calm and peace.


en-proverb

shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations

clogs to clogs in three generations#English

Synonym of clogs to clogs in three generations


keine Antwort ist auch eine Antwort

De-keine Antwort ist auch eine Antwort.ogg

Literally, “no answer is an answer, too”.

lit

Und? Wie schmeckt dir mein neues Gericht? – [Stille.] – Naja, keine Antwort ist auch eine Antwort.
So? How do you like my new dish? – [Silence.] – Well, no answer is an answer, too.

a person’s silence can be very telling; usually in the sense that it can be understood as a negative or declining answer


fr-proverb

c’est dans le besoin qu’on reconnaît ses vrais amis

c'est dans le besoin qu'on reconnaît ses vrais amis

/s‿ɛ dɑ̃ l(ə) bə.zwɛ̃ k‿ɔ̃ ʁ(ə).kɔ.nɛ se vʁɛ.z‿a.mi/

a friend in need is a friend indeed
a friend in need is a friend indeed

a friend in need is a friend indeed (if a friend is by your side when you are in need, they are a true friend)

c’est dans le besoin qu’on reconnaît ses amis

c’est dans le besoin que l’on reconnaît ses amis

c’est dans le besoin que l’on reconnaît ses vrais amis


c’est dans le besoin que l’on reconnaît ses vrais amis

c'est dans le besoin que l'on reconnaît ses vrais amis

/s‿ɛ dɑ̃ l(ə) bə.zwɛ̃ k(ə) l‿ɔ̃ ʁ(ə).kɔ.nɛ se vʁɛ.z‿a.mi/

c'est dans le besoin qu'on reconnaît ses vrais amis#French

Alternative form of c’est dans le besoin qu’on reconnaît ses vrais amis


/fɛt sə kə ʒ(ə) di | pa s(ə) kə ʒ(ə) fɛ/

/fɛt sə kə ʒ(ə) di | pɑ s(ə) kə ʒ(ə) fɛ/

LL-Q150 (fra)-LoquaxFR-faites ce que je dis, pas ce que je fais.wav

do as I say and not as I do
do as I say and not as I do


o bicho vai pegar

(Brazil) things will go wrong if nothing is done


chi vivrà vedrà

Literally, “who will live will see”. Compare French qui vivra verra.


head

the cobbler always wears the worst shoes

People often fail to apply their skills to themselves.

the shoemaker always wears the worst shoes

the cobbler's children are the worst shod


it ain't over till it's over

There are more developments yet to come; one should not presume to know the outcome of an event which is still in progress.

don't count your chickens before they're hatched


la vérité sort de la bouche des enfants

out of the mouths of babes
out of the mouths of babes


tentar non nuoce

there's no harm in trying; it is worth a try


a vingança é um prato que se serve frio

/a vĩˈɡɐ̃.sɐ ˈɛ ũ ˈpɾa.tu ki si ˈsɛʁ.vi ˈfɾi.u/

[a vĩˈɡɐ̃.sɐ ˈɛ ũ ˈpɾa.tu ki si ˈsɛɦ.vi ˈfɾi.u]

/a vĩˈɡɐ̃.sɐ ˈɛ ũ ˈpɾa.tu ki si ˈsɛʁ.vi ˈfɾiw/

[a vĩˈɡɐ̃.sɐ ˈɛ ũ ˈpɾa.tu ki si ˈsɛɦ.vi ˈfɾiʊ̯]

/a vĩˈɡɐ̃.sɐ ˈɛ ũ ˈpɾa.tu ki si ˈsɛɾ.vi ˈfɾi.u/

/a vĩˈɡɐ̃.sɐ ˈɛ ũ ˈpɾa.tu ki si ˈsɛɾ.vi ˈfɾiw/

[a vĩˈɡɐ̃.sɐ ˈɛ ũ ˈpɾa.tu ki si ˈsɛɾ.vi ˈfɾiʊ̯]

[a vĩˈɡɐ̃.sɐ ˈɛ ũ ˈpɾa.tu ki si ˈsɛʁ.vi ˈfɾiʊ̯]

/a vĩˈɡɐ̃.sa ˈɛ ũ ˈpɾa.to ke se ˈsɛɻ.ve ˈfɾi.u/

/a vĩˈɡɐ̃.sa ˈɛ ũ ˈpɾa.to ke se ˈsɛɻ.ve ˈfɾiw/

[a vĩˈɡɐ̃.sa ˈɛ ũ ˈpɾa.to ke se ˈsɛɻ.ve ˈfɾiʊ̯]

/ɐ vĩˈɡɐ̃.sɐ ˈɛ ũ ˈpɾa.tu kɨ sɨ ˈsɛɾ.vɨ ˈfɾi.u/

/ɐ bĩˈɡɐ̃.sɐ ˈɛ ũ ˈpɾa.tu kɨ sɨ ˈsɛɾ.bɨ ˈfɾi.u/

[ɐ βĩˈɡɐ̃.sɐ ˈɛ ũ ˈpɾa.tu kɨ sɨ ˈsɛɾ.βɨ ˈfɾi.u]

Literally, “revenge is a dish that is served cold”.
Cognate with Spanish la venganza es un plato que se sirve frío, Catalan la venjança és un plat que se serveix fred, Italian la vendetta è un piatto che va servito freddo. See also French la vengeance est un plat qui se mange froid.

cog

revenge is a dish best served cold
revenge is a dish best served cold

(Portugal) revenge is a dish best served cold


巧言令色，鮮矣仁

desc

→ Japanese: 巧言令色鮮し仁 (kōgenreishoku sukunashi jin)

→ Vietnamese: xảo ngôn, lệnh sắc, tiển hĩ nhân

ㄑㄧㄠˇ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄙㄜˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ liŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/haːu̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ lɪŋ²² sɪk̚⁵ siːn³⁵ jiː¹³ jɐn²¹/

The Master said, "Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue."

The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

子曰：「巧言令色，鮮矣仁！」

子曰：「巧言令色，鲜矣仁！」

He who utters sweet talk and pretentious words does not have much benevolence.


man shall not live by bread alone

From the King James translation of Luke 4:4 (“And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God”) or Matthew 4:4 (“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”), which are paraphrases of Deuteronomy 8:3.

Another basic religious and moral consideration is that in foreign aid we actually go beyond material realities. “Man shall not live by bread alone.”

1957 April 12, Eugene Carson Blake, The Foreign Aid Program: Hearings Before the Special Committee to Study the Foreign Aid Program. United States Senate, Eighty-Fifth Congress, First Session, page 558:

(1) Why is it in the national interest to provide Federal support for the humanities and the arts? […] The first of these three questions was answered succinctly 2,000 years ago: “Man shall not live by bread alone.”

1965 February 26, Gustave O. Arlt, National Arts and Humanities Foundations […] United States Senate, Eighty-Ninth Congress, First Session, page 326:

I am as anxious as anyone, perhaps more than many in this House, for dollars to be spent in places where they are needed, particularly in the field of old age pensions and other forms of social security. But […] man shall not live by bread alone. I suggest that the concern for preserving the various cultures of an area like Cape Breton Island is a concern that this House does well to consider.

1975 February 28, Stanley Knowles, Canada, House of Commons Debates: Official Report. First Session—Thirtieth Parliament, 24 Elizabeth II, volume 4, page 3690:

People need more than food and shelter to live a fulfilling life.

Deuteronomy 8
King James Version
Luke 4
Matthew 4:4

laysa bi-l-ḵubzi waḥdahu yaḥyā l-ʔinsānu

لَيْسَ بِٱلْخُبْزِ وَحْدَهُ يَحْيَا ٱلْإِنْسَانُ

人はパンのみにて生くる者に非ず

hito wa pan nomi ni te ikuru mono ni arazu


lyhyestä virsi kaunis

Literally, “out of brevity, [comes] a beautiful song”. The traditional proverb is used in the Kalevala (1835), but its further history is unclear.

m-g

out of brevity, 􂀿comes􂁀 a beautiful song

lit

Hyvä on laulu loppuvasta, lyhyestä virsi kaunis

1888 [1835], trad., translated by John Martin Crawford, edited by Elias Lönnrot, Kalevala, poem XII:

Fine the singing quickly ending, Good the song that quickly ceases

brevity is the soul of wit
brevity is the soul of wit

brevity is the soul of wit (conciseness of expression is an essential characteristic of astute, perceptive, or witty remarks)


擒賊先擒王

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄗㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄤˊ

циньцзэйсяньциньван

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/kʰɐm²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚² siːn⁵⁵ kʰɐm²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/kʰɐm²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚² siːn⁵⁵ kʰɐm²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

擒賊擒王 擒賊擒王#Chinese

擒贼擒王 擒贼擒王#Chinese


head

ца́рские ми́лости в боя́рское реше́то се́ются • (cárskije mílosti v bojárskoje rešéto séjutsja)

[ˈt͡sarskʲɪje ˈmʲiɫəsʲtʲɪ v‿bɐˈjarskəjə rʲɪˈʂɛtə ˈsʲejʊt͡sə]

Literally, “tsar's favors is sown in the boyar's sieve”.

lit

царские милости в боярское решето сеются

en-царские_милости_в_боярское_решето_сеются-ru-proverb-47DEQpj8


head

зако́н — что ды́шло: куда́ повернёшь — туда́ и вы́шло • (zakón — što dýšlo: kudá povernjóšʹ — tudá i výšlo)

[zɐˈkon | ʂto ˈdɨʂɫə | kʊˈda pəvʲɪrˈnʲɵʂ | tʊˈda i ˈvɨʂɫə]

Literally, “the law is like a drawbar: it will go wherever you turn it”.

lit

закон — что дышло: куда повернёшь — туда и вышло

every law has a loophole
every law has a loophole

one law for the rich, one for the poor
one law for the rich, one for the poor

зако́н — что конь: куда́ захо́чешь — туда́ поворо́тишь

every law has a loophole; one law for the rich, one for the poor

en-закон_—_что_дышло:_куда_повернёшь_—_туда_и_вышло-ru-proverb-82Mom4wH


играчка-плачка

sh-proverb

играчка-плачка

играчка-плачка (Latin spelling igračka-plačka)

it is all fun and games until someone loses an eye


puolensa kullakin

(idiomatic) there are positive and negative sides to everything; mixed bag


사공이 많으면 배가 산으로 간다

ko-pos

사공-이 많으면 배-가 산-으로 간다

사공이 많으면 배가 산으로 간다 • (sagong-i maneumyeon bae-ga san-euro ganda)

[sʰa̠ɡo̞ŋi ma̠(ː)nɯmjʌ̹n pɛɡa̠ sʰa̠nɯɾo̞ ka̠nda̠]

[sʰa̠ɡo̞ŋi ma̠(ː)nɯmjʌ̹n pe̞ɡa̠ sʰa̠nɯɾo̞ ka̠nda̠]

사공이마(ː)느면배가사느로간다

사공이마(ː)느면베가사느로간다

Compare Japanese 船頭(せんどう)多(おお)くして船(ふね)山(やま)に登(のぼ)る (sendō ōku shite fune yama ni noboru).

ja-r

船頭 多く して 船 山 に 登る

せんどう おおく して ふね やま に のぼる

too many cooks spoil the broth
too many cooks spoil the broth

"if there are many captains, the ship goes to the mountains"; too many cooks spoil the broth


cháy nhà mới ra mặt chuột

(literal) when the house burns, the rodents show their faces; only after the house is incinerated will people who burn it show their mousy faces

Có câu "cháy nhà mới ra mặt chuột". Sau khi công ti vỡ nợ, mọi người biết chân tướng của tên giám đốc tham ô đồi bại.

They say "the rats will come out when the house burns". True enough, after the company filed for bankruptcy, everyone learned about the face of corruption and debauchery that is the president.

(figurative) when there's a fallout, breakdown or collapse, the bad actors or the corrupt that've hidden behind the scenes this whole time will have no choice but show their true identities; only when everything fails will the bad people be known behind the failure


اللي بيته من قزاز، برميش الناس بالطوب

head

اللي بيته من قزاز، برميش الناس بالطوب

اللي بيته من قزاز، برميش الناس بالطوب • (illi bēto min ʔazāz, birmī-š in-nās biṭ-ṭūb)

illi bēto min ʔazāz (romanization)
birmī-š in-nās biṭ-ṭūb (romanization)

Literally: “he whose house is of glass should't throw bricks at people”

people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones

en-اللي_بيته_من_قزاز،_برميش_الناس_بالطوب-ajp-proverb-svKhW7-N


閻王叫你三更死，誰敢留人到五更

閻王叫你三更死，誰敢留人到五更

阎王叫你三更死，谁敢留人到五更

When Yama decides you are to die at midnight, who dares to keep you till dawn?

ㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄤˊ ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄋㄧˇ ㄙㄢ ㄍㄥ ㄙˇ

ㄕㄟˊ ㄍㄢˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄨˇ ㄍㄥ

Яньван цзяо ни саньгэн сы

шэй гань лю жэнь дао угэн

/jɛn³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂeɪ̯³⁵ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤŋ⁵⁵/

When death comes, there will be no postponement.


إذا كترو طباخين بتنحرق الطبخة

إذا كترو الطباخين بتنحرق الطبخة

إذا كترو الطباخين بتنحرق الطبخة • (ʔiza kitru ṭ-ṭabbāḵīn btinḥareʔ iṭ-ṭabḵa)

إذا كترو الطباخين بتنحرق الطبخة (canonical)

Literally: “if the cooks are numerous, the food burns”.

en-إذا_كترو_طباخين_بتنحرق_الطبخة-ajp-proverb-V9NSVAH2


前人種樹，後人乘涼

The ancestors plant trees, the descendants can then rest under its shade.

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄕㄨˋ

ㄏㄡˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄤˊ

cin⁴ jan⁴ zung³ syu⁶, hau⁶ jan⁴ sing⁴ loeng⁴

цяньжэньчжуншу

хоужэньчэнлян

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵/

chìhn yàhn jung syuh, hauh yàhn sìhng lèuhng

tsin⁴ jan⁴ dzung³ sy⁶, hau⁶ jan⁴ sing⁴ loeng⁴

qin⁴ yen⁴ zung³ xu⁶, heo⁶ yen⁴ xing⁴ lêng⁴

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡sʊŋ³³ syː²² hɐu̯²² jɐn²¹ sɪŋ²¹ lœːŋ²¹/

前人栽樹，後人乘涼 前人栽樹，後人乘涼#Chinese

前人栽树，后人乘凉 前人栽树，后人乘凉#Chinese

Synonym of 前人栽樹，後人乘涼／前人栽树，后人乘凉 (qiánrén zāi shù, hòurén chéngliáng)


前人栽樹，後人乘涼

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄗㄞ ㄕㄨˋ

ㄏㄡˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄤˊ

cin⁴ jan⁴ zoi¹ syu⁶, hau⁶ jan⁴ sing⁴ loeng⁴

цяньжэнь цзай шу

хоужэнь чэнлян

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵/

chìhn yàhn jōi syuh, hauh yàhn sìhng lèuhng

tsin⁴ jan⁴ dzoi¹ sy⁶, hau⁶ jan⁴ sing⁴ loeng⁴

qin⁴ yen⁴ zoi¹ xu⁶, heo⁶ yen⁴ xing⁴ lêng⁴

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵ syː²² hɐu̯²² jɐn²¹ sɪŋ²¹ lœːŋ²¹/

A generation sweats for the benefit of future generations; One generation sows (i.e. labours) and the next generation reaps (the fruits of labour)


เสือสองตัวอยู่ถ้ำเดียวกันไม่ได้

th-proverb

เสือสองตัวอยู่ถ้ำเดียวกันไม่ได้

เสือสองตัวอยู่ถ้ำเดียวกันไม่ได้ • (sʉ̌ʉa sɔ̌ɔng dtuua yùu tâm diao-gan mâi-dâi)

/sɯa̯˩˩˦.sɔːŋ˩˩˦.tua̯˧.juː˨˩.tʰam˥˩.dia̯w˧.kan˧.maj˥˩.daj˥˩/

Literally, "two tigers cannot dwell in the same cave." Compare Chinese 一山不容二虎 (yī shān bùróng èr hǔ).

two strong people are incompatible and cannot coexist at the same place, i.e. there cannot be two kings on one throne.

en-เสือสองตัวอยู่ถ้ำเดียวกันไม่ได้-th-proverb-Q51dZaz8


it takes a village

Remember it takes a village, if you feel overwhelmed ask for help, ask questions, the nurses are here to provide education, support and help you.

2014, Chris Candes, What to expect after your miracle baby has arrived:

it takes a village to raise a child#English

Short for it takes a village to raise a child.


it takes a village to raise a child

Said to be of African origin, though specific evidence is lacking.

An entire community of people must provide for, and interact positively with, children in order for those children to grow up healthily and safely.

an entire community must provide for children

lapsen kasvattamiseen tarvitaan koko kylä


慈母多敗兒

ㄘˊ ㄇㄨˇ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄅㄞˋ ㄦˊ

цыму до бай эр

/t͡sʰz̩³⁵ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ mou̯¹³ tɔː⁵⁵ paːi̯²² jiː²¹/

/t͡sʰz̩³⁵ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ mou̯¹³ tɔː⁵⁵ paːi̯²² jiː²¹/

a benevolent mother who spoils her children will have bad children


但願人長久，千里共嬋娟

ㄉㄢˋ ㄩㄢˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄔㄤˊ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄔㄢˊ ㄐㄩㄢ

даньюань жэнь чанцзю

цянь ли гун чань цзюань

/tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛn⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵/

to keep your loved ones close to your heart and wish them the best no matter how physically far apart one is


vỏ quýt dày có móng tay nhọn

(literal) a mandarin orange with thick skin will be dealt with by sharp fingernails

(figurative) it doesn't matter how smart or cunning you are, there's always someone else better to take you down


con sâu làm rầu nồi canh

(literal) one caterpillar spoils the broth pot

(figurative) one bad apple spoils the bunch


cái nết đánh chết cái đẹp

(literal) good personality strikes beauty dead

(figurative) good personality is way more important than outer beauty


nhàn cư vi bất thiện

Sino-Vietnamese word from 閒居 (“being idle”), 為 (“is”) and 不善 (“no good”), a quote from the Great Learning.

vi-etym-sino

if people have nothing better to do, they'll do stupid or harmful things


đi đêm lắm có ngày gặp ma

(literal) keep wandering at night and you'll see a ghost eventually

(figurative) keep doing bad things and you'll get caught eventually


cha mẹ sinh con, trời sinh tính

[t͡ɕaː˧˧ mɛ˧˨ʔ sïŋ˧˧ kɔn˧˧ t͡ɕəːj˨˩ sïŋ˧˧ tïŋ˧˦]

[t͡ɕaː˧˧ mɛ˨˩ʔ ʂɨn˧˧ kɔŋ˧˧ ʈəːj˦˩ ʂɨn˧˧ tɨn˦˧˥]

[t͡ɕaː˧˧ mɛ˨˩ʔ sɨn˧˧ kɔŋ˧˧ ʈəːj˦˩ sɨn˧˧ tɨn˦˧˥]

[caː˧˧ mɛ˨˩˨ ʂɨn˧˧ kɔŋ˧˧ ʈəːj˨˩ ʂɨn˧˧ tɨn˦˥]

[caː˧˧ mɛ˨˩˨ sɨn˧˧ kɔŋ˧˧ ʈəːj˨˩ sɨn˧˧ tɨn˦˥]

(literal) parents may be the ones who birth their children, but it's heaven who gives them their personality

Thằng cu con em lì lắm, nói mấy cũng không nghe !
Cha mẹ sinh con, trời sinh tính.
My son is so stubborn, my words can't get through to him!
I suppose you can't pass down obedience.

(figurative) personality/character isn't biologically inherited from parents


hữu xạ tự nhiên hương

(literal) if you have musk, you'll naturally smell good

(figurative) if you're talented, you'll have your chance to shine


trăm nghe không bằng mắt thấy

[t͡ɕam˧˧ ŋɛ˧˧ xəwŋ͡m˧˧ ʔɓaŋ˨˩ mat̚˧˦ tʰəj˧˦]

[ʈam˧˧ ŋɛ˧˧ kʰəwŋ͡m˧˧ ʔɓaŋ˦˩ mak̚˦˧˥ tʰəj˨˩˦]

[ʈam˧˧ ŋɛ˧˧ xəwŋ͡m˧˧ ʔɓaŋ˦˩ mak̚˦˧˥ tʰəj˨˩˦]

[ʈam˧˧ ŋɛ˧˧ kʰəwŋ͡m˧˧ ʔɓaŋ˨˩ mak̚˦˥ tʰəj˦˥]

[ʈam˧˧ ŋɛ˧˧ xəwŋ͡m˧˧ ʔɓaŋ˨˩ mak̚˦˥ tʰəj˦˥]

Calque of Literary Chinese 百聞不如一見 (bách văn bất như nhất kiến).

cal

a picture is worth a thousand words
a picture is worth a thousand words

a picture is worth a thousand words; seeing is believing


ex ungue leonem

From a part or sample, one can form an idea of the whole.


ang dili kaantos dili masantos

ang dilî kaantos dilî masantos (canonical)

[ʔɐŋ d̪ɪˌl̪iʔ kɐˌan̪.t̪os̪ d̪ɪˌl̪iʔ mɐˈs̪an̪.t̪os̪]

Literally, “he who does not endure will not become a saint”.


od przybytku głowa nie boli

(idiomatic) plenty is no plague, store is no sore, one can never have too much


mądrej głowie dość dwie słowie

/ˈmɔn.drɛj ˈɡwɔ.vjɛ dɔʑd͡ʑ dvjɛ ˈswɔ.vjɛ/

Literally, “to a wise head two words are sufficient”.

lit

a word is enough to the wise
a word is enough to the wise

a word to the wise is sufficient
a word to the wise is sufficient

kto ma olej w głowie, temu dość po słowie

(idiomatic) a word is enough to the wise, a word to the wise is sufficient


tiên học lễ, hậu học văn

(literal) learn manners first, then learn literature

(figurative) learn your manners before you learn anything else; it doesn't matter how smart you are, you have to know your manners first and foremost


never judge a book by its cover

you can't judge a book by its cover#English

Alternative form of you can't judge a book by its cover


天下沒有不散的筵席

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄇㄟˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄙㄢˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧˊ

tin¹ haa⁶ mut⁶ jau⁵ bat¹ saan³ dik¹ jin⁴ zik⁶

tiānxià méiyǒu bù sàn de yánxí [Phonetic:tiānxià méiyǒu bú sàn de yánxí]

tʻien¹-hsia⁴ mei²-yu³ pu⁴ san⁴ tê⁵ yen²-hsi²

тянься мэйю бу сань дэ яньси

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ sän⁵¹ d̥ə¹ jɛn³⁵ ɕi³⁵/

tīn hah muht yáuh bāt saan dīk yìhn jihk

tin¹ haa⁶ mut⁹ jau⁵ bat⁷ saan³ dik⁷ jin⁴ dzik⁹

tin¹ ha⁶ mud⁶ yeo⁵ bed¹ san³ dig¹ yin⁴ jig⁶

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² muːt̚² jɐu̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ saːn³³ tɪk̚⁵ jiːn²¹ t͡sɪk̚²/

[Phonetic: tiānxià méiyǒu bú sàn de yánxí]

天下沒有不散的宴席 天下沒有不散的宴席#Chinese

天下没有不散的宴席 天下没有不散的宴席#Chinese

Synonym of 天下沒有不散的宴席／天下没有不散的宴席 (tiānxià méiyǒu bùsàn de yànxí)


天下無不散的筵席

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄙㄢˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧˊ

tiānxià wú bù sàn de yánxí [Phonetic:tiānxià wú bú sàn de yánxí]

тянься у бу сань дэ яньси

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ u³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ sän⁵¹ d̥ə¹ jɛn³⁵ ɕi³⁵/

天下沒有不散的宴席 天下沒有不散的宴席#Chinese

天下没有不散的宴席 天下没有不散的宴席#Chinese


天下無不散之筵席

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄙㄢˋ ㄓ ㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧˊ

tiānxià wú bù sàn zhī yánxí [Phonetic:tiānxià wú bú sàn zhī yánxí]

tʻien¹-hsia⁴ wu² pu⁴ san⁴ chih¹ yen²-hsi²

тянься у бу сань чжи яньси

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ u³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ sän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ ɕi³⁵/

天下沒有不散的宴席 天下沒有不散的宴席#Chinese

天下没有不散的宴席 天下没有不散的宴席#Chinese


mota Olle i grind

head

mota Olle i grind ("stop the bull at the gate")

(idiomatic) nip in the bud; to stop or prevent something at an early stage, before it gets out of hand


肥水不流外人田

Fertile water should not flow into someone else's field.

ㄈㄟˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄨㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄊㄧㄢˊ

фэйшуй бу лю вайжэнь тянь

/feɪ̯³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/fei̯²¹ sɵy̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²¹ ŋɔːi̯²² jɐn²¹ tʰiːn²¹/

肥水不落外人田 肥水不落外人田#Chinese

Synonym of 肥水不落外人田 (féishuǐ bù luò wàirén tián, “a benefit should not be given to others and should be shared exclusively among one’s own people”)


nhà sạch thì mát, bát sạch ngon cơm

Literally: a clean house feels fresh, a clean bowl makes rice taste good.


De-was ihr seid, das waren wir; was wir sind, das werdet ihr.ogg

Calque of Latin quod sumus hoc eritis, fuimus quandoque quod estis, from the medieval legend of the Three Dead and three Living.

cal

A saying of memento mori, often written on cemetery walls and the like; literally: what you are, we were; what we are, you will be


too much water drowned the miller

too much of a good thing
too much of a good thing


強中自有強中手

ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄗˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄕㄡˇ

цянчжунцзыюцянчжуншоу

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

koeng⁴ dzung¹ dzi⁶ jau⁵ koeng⁴ dzung¹ sau²

/kʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² jɐu̯¹³ kʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

one should never be complacent because there is always room to improve one's craft


de todo hay en la viña del Señor

[d̪e ˌt̪o.ð̞o ˌai̯ ẽn la ˌβ̞i.ɲa ð̞el seˈɲoɾ]

it takes all kinds to make a world
it takes all kinds to make a world


älä katso lahjahevosen suuhun

lahjahevosen suuhun ei saa katsoa#Finnish

Alternative form of lahjahevosen suuhun ei saa katsoa


من حفر حفرة لأخيه وقع فيها

head

مَنْ حَفَرَ حُفْرَةً لِأَخِيهِ وَقَعَ فِيهَا • (man ḥafara ḥufratan liʔaḵīhi waqaʕa fīhā)

he who digs a pit for others falls in himself

en-من_حفر_حفرة_لأخيه_وقع_فيها-ar-proverb-3pFxXDob

lā yaḥīqu l-makru s-sayyiʔu ʔillā biʔahlihi

لَا يَحِيقُ الْمَكْرُ السَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِهِ


la notte porta consiglio

Literally, “the night carries advice”, or more loosely translated as “night is a good advisor/counselor”. Compare French la nuit porte conseil.

lit

in the cold light of day
in the cold light of day#English

sleep on it! (it's better to examine things in the cold light of day)


железото се кова додека е жешко

head

железото се кова додека е жешко • (železoto se kova dodeka e žeško)

železoto se kova dodeka e žeško (romanization)

[ʒɛˈlɛzɔtɔ sɛ ˈkɔva ˈdɔdɛka ɛ ˈʒɛʃkɔ]

железото се кове додека е жешко

железото се кове додека е жешко#Macedonian

Alternative form of железото се кове додека е жешко (železoto se kove dodeka e žeško)

en-железото_се_кова_додека_е_жешко-mk-proverb-BO9Jx8j8


железото се кове додека е жешко

железото се кове додека е жешко • (železoto se kove dodeka e žeško)

železoto se kove dodeka e žeško (romanization)

[ʒɛˈlɛzɔtɔ sɛ ˈkɔvɛ ˈdɔdɛka ɛ ˈʒɛʃkɔ]

strike while the iron is hot
strike while the iron is hot

strike while the iron is hot (act on an opportunity promptly)

en-железото_се_кове_додека_е_жешко-mk-proverb-RWk0zWz8


и ѕидот има уши

и ѕидот има уши • (i dzidot ima uši)

и ѕидовите имаат уши
и ѕидовите имаат уши#Macedonian

Alternative form of и ѕидовите имаат уши (i dzidovite imaat uši)


и ѕидовите имаат уши

и ѕидовите имаат уши • (i dzidovite imaat uši)

walls have ears (be careful about what you say)

en-и_ѕидовите_имаат_уши-mk-proverb-15AHBb6-


пријателот во неволја се познава

пријателот во неволја се познава • (prijatelot vo nevolja se poznava)

prijatelot vo nevolja se poznava (romanization)

a friend in need is a friend indeed
a friend in need is a friend indeed

a friend in need is a friend indeed (if a friend helps you when you are in need, they are a true friend)

en-пријателот_во_неволја_се_познава-mk-proverb-XxAt~7zu


што ќе посееш, тоа ќе жнееш

што ќе посееш, тоа ќе жнееш • (što ḱe poseeš, toa ḱe žneeš)

što ḱe poseeš (romanization)
toa ḱe žneeš (romanization)

[ʃtɔ cɛ ˈpɔsɛɛʃ | ˈtɔa cɛ ˈʒnɛɛʃ]

as you sow, so shall you reap
as you sow, so shall you reap

as you sow, so shall you reap (consequences of actions are in proportion to intentions)

en-што_ќе_посееш,_тоа_ќе_жнееш-mk-proverb-t2Zny9h0


што ќе посееш, тоа ќе ти никне

што ќе посееш, тоа ќе ти никне • (što ḱe poseeš, toa ḱe ti nikne)

što ḱe poseeš (romanization)
toa ḱe ti nikne (romanization)

en-што_ќе_посееш,_тоа_ќе_ти_никне-mk-proverb-t2Zny9h0


con pan e viño faise o camiño

Literally, “with bread and wine you make/walk the road”.

lit

(idiomatic) you don't need a lot to make your way through life; also used emphatically/jokingly when eating or drinking


каква мајка, таква ќерка

head

каква мајка, таква ќерка • (kakva majka, takva ḱerka)

kakva majka (romanization)
takva ḱerka (romanization)

like mother, like daughter
like mother, like daughter

like mother, like daughter (a daughter will have traits similar to her mother)

en-каква_мајка,_таква_ќерка-mk-proverb-P-CSD-h9


каков татко, таков син

каков татко, таков син • (kakov tatko, takov sin)

kakov tatko (romanization)
takov sin (romanization)

like father, like son
like father, like son

like father, like son (a son will have traits similar to his father)

en-каков_татко,_таков_син-mk-proverb-5pPPkSpt


поарно врапче на рака отколку гулаб на гранка • (poarno vrapče na raka otkolku gulab na granka)

[ˈpɔarnɔ ˈvrapt͡ʃɛ ˈna‿raka ˈɔtkɔɫku ˈɡuɫab ˈna‿ɡraŋka]

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (small but certain advantage is preferable)

en-поарно_врапче_на_рака_отколку_гулаб_на_гранка-mk-proverb-RnCOiH0p

podobro vrapče na raka otkolku gulab na granka

подобро врапче на рака отколку гулаб на гранка


天不怕，地不怕，只怕廣東人說官話

天不怕，地不怕，只怕廣東人說官話

天不怕，地不怕，只怕广东人说官话

ㄓˇ ㄆㄚˋ ㄍㄨㄤˇ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

zhǐ pà Guǎngdōngrén shuō guānhuà [Phonetic:tiān búpà

chih³ pʻa⁴ Kuang³-tung¹-jên² shuo¹ kuan¹-hua⁴

чжи па Гуандунжэнь шо гуаньхуа

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pʰä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰä⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹/

There is nothing to be afraid of except Cantonese people speaking Mandarin (because there is a stereotype that Cantonese people cannot speak Mandarin well).


подобро врапче на рака отколку гулаб на гранка • (podobro vrapče na raka otkolku gulab na granka)

[ˈpɔdɔbrɔ ˈvrapt͡ʃɛ ˈna‿raka ˈɔtkɔɫku ˈɡuɫab ˈna‿ɡraŋka]

поарно врапче на рака отколку гулаб на гранка#Macedonian

Alternative form of поарно врапче на рака отколку гулаб на гранка (poarno vrapče na raka otkolku gulab na granka)

en-подобро_врапче_на_рака_отколку_гулаб_на_гранка-mk-proverb-4ELWQDjG


на лагата ѝ се кратки нозете

на лагата ѝ се кратки нозете • (na lagata ì se kratki nozete)

na lagata ì se kratki nozete (romanization)

a lie has no legs (you can't get away with a lie)

en-на_лагата_ѝ_се_кратки_нозете-mk-proverb-kEmbfJx3


на лагата куси ѝ се нозете

на лагата куси ѝ се нозете • (na lagata kusi ì se nozete)

na lagata kusi ì se nozete (romanization)

на лагата ѝ се кратки нозете
на лагата ѝ се кратки нозете#Macedonian

Alternative form of на лагата ѝ се кратки нозете (na lagata ì se kratki nozete)

en-на_лагата_куси_ѝ_се_нозете-mk-proverb-dyIqomZ3


куче што лае, не каса

куче што лае, не каса • (kuče što lae, ne kasa)

kuče što lae (romanization)
ne kasa (romanization)

barking dogs seldom bite
barking dogs seldom bite

barking dogs seldom bite (people who make threats rarely carry them out)


молчењето е злато

молчењето е злато • (molčenjeto e zlato)

[mɔɫˈt͡ʃɛɲɛtɔ ɛ ˈzɫatɔ]


夏蟲不可語冰

ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄩˇ ㄅㄧㄥ

xiàchóng bùkě yǔ bīng [Phonetic:xiàchóngbùkéyǔbīng]

сячун букэ юй бин

/ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵⁵/

/haː²² t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ jyː¹³ pɪŋ⁵⁵/

An insect of the summer cannot be talked with about ice - it knows nothing beyond its own season.

Xiàchóng bù kě yǐ yǔ yú bīng zhě, dǔ yú shí yě.

夏蟲不可以語於冰者，篤於時也。

夏虫不可以语于冰者，笃于时也。

One cannot engage in meaningful discussions with people with only superficial knowledge or narrow experience


Barcelona és bona si la bossa sona

Barcelona is a great place to go if you have money


too many cooks spoil the soup

too many cooks spoil the broth
too many cooks spoil the broth#English

Alternative form of too many cooks spoil the broth


a camel is a horse made by committee

a camel is a horse designed by a committee#English

Alternative form of a camel is a horse designed by a committee


國有國法，家有家規

ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄈㄚˇ

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄍㄨㄟ

gwok³ jau⁵ gwok³ faat³, gaa¹ jau⁵ gaa¹ kwai¹

цзя ю цзягуй

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

gwok⁸ jau⁵ gwok⁸ faat⁸, gaa¹ jau⁵ gaa¹ kwai¹

guog³ yeo⁵ guog³ fad³, ga¹ yeo⁵ ga¹ kuei¹

/kʷɔːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ kʷɔːk̚³ faːt̚³ kaː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ kaː⁵⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵/

A country has its laws and a family its rules; One must do things according to rules and established practice


damlaya damlaya göl olur

* Literally: "drop by drop becomes a lake"

many a mickle makes a muckle
many a mickle makes a muckle

(idiomatic) many a mickle makes a muckle


ayağını yorganına göre uzat

* Literally: "stretch your feet according to your quilt"


make lemonade

... left to its own devices, the Church made lemonade by taking out ads in the Playbill.

when life gives you lemons, make lemonade#English

Short for when life gives you lemons, make lemonade (to make the best out of a difficult situation).


natura ciągnie wilka do lasu

Literally, “nature draws [the] wolf to [the] forest”.

lit

a leopard cannot change its spots
a leopard cannot change its spots

(idiomatic) the wolf may lose his teeth but never his nature, a leopard cannot change its spots


호랑이는 죽어서 가죽을 남기고 사람은 죽어서 이름을 남긴다

ko-proverb

호랑이-는 죽어서 가죽-을 남기고 사람-은 죽어서 이름-을 남긴다

호랑이는 죽어서 가죽을 남기고 사람은 죽어서 이름을 남긴다 • (horang'i-neun jugeoseo gajug-eul namgigo saram-eun jugeoseo ireum-eul namginda)

[ˈɸʷo̞(ː)ɾa̠ŋinɯn t͡ɕuɡʌ̹sʰʌ̹ ka̠d͡ʑuɡɯɭ na̠(ː)mɡiɡo̞ sʰa̠(ː)ɾa̠mɯn t͡ɕuɡʌ̹sʰʌ̹ iɾɯmɯɭ na̠mɡinda̠]

호(ː)랑이는주거서가주글남(ː)기고사(ː)라믄주거서이르믈남긴다

[호(ː)랑이는주거서가주글남(ː)기고사(ː)라믄주거서이르믈남긴다]

Calque of Chinese 虎死留皮，人死留名 (hǔ sǐ liú pí, rén sǐ liú míng), literally “when a tiger dies, it leaves behind its pelt; when a person dies, they leave behind their name”.

calque

a person should focus on the legacy they will have on others

en-호랑이는_죽어서_가죽을_남기고_사람은_죽어서_이름을_남긴다-ko-proverb-~4R1REUy

호사유피 인사유명(虎死留皮人死留名)

same meaning, borrowed instead of calqued


好事多魔

好事多魔 (canonical)
kōjitama (romanization)

the road to happiness is strewn with setbacks


月に叢雲花に風

ja-pos

つき に むらくも はな に かぜ

月(つき)に叢(むら)雲(くも)花(はな)に風(かぜ) • (tsuki ni murakumo hana ni kaze)

月に叢雲花に風 (canonical)
tsuki ni murakumo hana ni kaze (romanization)

Literally "clouds over the moon, winds over flowers" or "the moon covered by clouds, flowers scattered by winds".

Good things don't last forever. Roses have thorns.


好事魔多し

好事魔多し (canonical)
kōji ma ōshi (romanization)

Calque from Literary Chinese 好事多魔 (MC xawX dzriH ta ma).


il faut se méfier de l'eau qui dort

il faut se méfier de l’ eau qui dort (canonical)

still waters run deep
still waters run deep


rahalla ei saa onnea

money can't buy happiness
money can't buy happiness


no se pescan truchas a bragas enjutas

Loosely translated, "you can't catch trout without getting your pants wet"

la vida de la corte es cara, y no se pescan truchas a bragas enjutas

1898, Benito Pérez Galdós, De Oñate a la Granja:

nothing ventured, nothing gained
nothing ventured, nothing gained


loss and gain are brothers twain

An individual's wealth can easily be lost.


once hurt, twice shy

once bitten, twice shy
once bitten, twice shy#English

Alternative form of once bitten, twice shy


the burnt child dreads the fire

a burnt child dreads the fire
a burnt child dreads the fire#English

Alternative form of a burnt child dreads the fire


it isn't over until the fat lady sings

it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings#English

Alternative form of it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings


na bezrybiu i rak ryba

Literally, “when there are no fish, even a crayfish is a fish”. Compare Russian на безры́бье и рак ры́ба (na bezrýbʹje i rak rýba).

cog

на безры́бье и рак ры́ба

beggars can't be choosers
beggars can't be choosers

(idiomatic) beggars can't be choosers, if we can't as we would, we must do as we can


head

/ˈmɔrɡən ˈmɔrɡən ˈnuːr nɪçt ˈhɔʏ̯tə ˈzaːɡən ˈalə ˈfaʊ̯lən ˈlɔʏ̯tə/

De-morgen, morgen, nur nicht heute, sagen alle faulen Leute.ogg

Literally, “tomorrow, tomorrow, just not today, is what all lazy people say”.

lit

a stitch in time saves nine
a stitch in time saves nine#English

was du heute kannst besorgen, das verschiebe nicht auf morgen

One should do a task immediately rather than put it off; a stitch in time saves nine


pierwsze koty za płoty

Literally, “first cats [are thrown] over the fences”. Probably from the fact that the first cats from a litter used to be cast away as they were considered weaker and only the strong ones were kept.

lit

the first pancake is always spoiled
the first pancake is always spoiled

the first step is always the hardest
the first step is always the hardest

(idiomatic) the first pancake is always spoiled, the first step is always the hardest


lửa thử vàng, gian nan thử sức

(literal) fire tests gold, hardship tests strength

(figurative) only hardship can test your ability and endurance; to be better, you need to put yourself through hardship


kruk krukowi oka nie wykole

Literally, “one raven does not peck the other's eye out”. Compare Russian ворон ворону глаз не выклюет (voron voronu glaz ne vykljujet).

cog

ворон ворону глаз не выклюет

(idiomatic) people with shared interest are not likely to do harm to each other


you don't fish off the company pier

you don't dip your pen in company ink#English

Synonym of you don't dip your pen in company ink


en-proverb

don't get your honey where you make your money


LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-you don't get your nookie where you get your cookies.wav


con có cha như nhà có nóc

Literally "a child with a father is like a house with a roof".

"children need their fathers to be complete"


നാളെ നാളെ നീളെ നീളെ

head

നാളെ നാളെ നീളെ നീളെ • (nāḷe nāḷe nīḷe nīḷe)

LL-Q36236 (mal)-Vis M-നാളെ നാളെ നീളെ നീളെ.wav

Literally, "tomorrow tomorrow longer longer".


അക്കരെ നിന്നാൽ ഇക്കരെ പച്ച

അക്കരെ നിന്നാൽ ഇക്കരെ പച്ച • (akkare ninnāl ikkare pacca)

akkare ninnāl ikkare pacca (romanization)

Literally, "if you stand on the other shore, this side is greener".

the grass is always greener on the other side

en-അക്കരെ_നിന്നാൽ_ഇക്കരെ_പച്ച-ml-proverb-~0KMObTc


кој пее, зло не мисли

кој пее, зло не мисли • (koj pee, zlo ne misli)

koj pee (romanization)
zlo ne misli (romanization)

Whoever is singing cannot harbour ill will; singing is an indication of benevolence.


happy wife, happy life

There's all sorts of antiquated marriage advice out there, but it turns out that there's one relationship trope that actually holds true: "Happy wife, happy life."

2014 September 22, Rebecca Adams, “Study Finds That 'Happy Wife, Happy Life' Is Pretty Dead On”, in Huffington Post:

In a “Happy Wife Happy Life” relationship, men suffer in silence and women believe everything is okay as long as they’re getting what they want.

2018 February 10, Rick Fortier, “Exposing the Myth of ‘Happy Wife Happy Life’”, in The Good Men Project:

if you keep your wife happy, you will avoid trouble.


കുരയ്ക്കുന്ന പട്ടി കടിക്കില്ല

കുരയ്ക്കുന്ന പട്ടി കടിക്കില്ല • (kuraykkunna paṭṭi kaṭikkilla)

kuraykkunna paṭṭi kaṭikkilla (romanization)

barking dogs seldom bite
barking dogs seldom bite

en-കുരയ്ക്കുന്ന_പട്ടി_കടിക്കില്ല-ml-proverb-jtZXaGOO


മുറ്റത്തെ മുല്ലയ്ക്ക് മണമില്ല

മുറ്റത്തെ മുല്ലയ്ക്ക് മണമില്ല • (muṟṟatte mullaykkŭ maṇamilla)

muṟṟatte mullaykkŭ maṇamilla (romanization)

Literally, "garden's jasmine is odourless".

familiarity breeds contempt
familiarity breeds contempt

en-മുറ്റത്തെ_മുല്ലയ്ക്ക്_മണമില്ല-ml-proverb-zOpEjXEs


മിന്നുന്നതെല്ലാം പൊന്നല്ല

മിന്നുന്നതെല്ലാം പൊന്നല്ല • (minnunnatellāṁ ponnalla)

Literally, "all that glitters is not gold".

All that glitters is not gold
all that glitters is not gold

en-മിന്നുന്നതെല്ലാം_പൊന്നല്ല-ml-proverb-m4xIrz4g


മൂക്കില്ലാ രാജ്യത്ത് മുറിമൂക്കൻ രാജാവ്

മൂക്കില്ലാ രാജ്യത്ത് മുറിമൂക്കൻ രാജാവ് • (mūkkillā rājyattŭ muṟimūkkaṉ rājāvŭ)

mūkkillā rājyattŭ muṟimūkkaṉ rājāvŭ (romanization)

Literally, "in the land of the noseless, the broken-nosed man is king"

in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king

en-മൂക്കില്ലാ_രാജ്യത്ത്_മുറിമൂക്കൻ_രാജാവ്-ml-proverb-xsGf2e8X


പയ്യെത്തിന്നാൽ പനയും തിന്നാം

പയ്യെത്തിന്നാൽ പനയും തിന്നാം • (payyettinnāl panayuṁ tinnāṁ)

payyettinnāl panayuṁ tinnāṁ (romanization)

Literally, "if you eat slowly, you can even eat a palm tree".

slow and steady wins the race
slow and steady wins the race

Patient work can conquer any problem; slow and steady wins the race

en-പയ്യെത്തിന്നാൽ_പനയും_തിന്നാം-ml-proverb-RdJuTtCL


ചങ്ങാതി നന്നായാൽ കണ്ണാടി വേണ്ട

ചങ്ങാതി നന്നായാൽ കണ്ണാടി വേണ്ട • (caṅṅāti nannāyāl kaṇṇāṭi vēṇṭa)

caṅṅāti nannāyāl kaṇṇāṭi vēṇṭa (romanization)

/t͡ʃɐŋŋaːd̪i n̪ɐn̪n̪aːjaːl kɐɳɳaːɖi ʋeːɳɖɐ/

Literally, "if your friend is good, you don't need a mirror".

The one who has a good friend doesn't need any mirror

en-ചങ്ങാതി_നന്നായാൽ_കണ്ണാടി_വേണ്ട-ml-proverb-Jyp3F25N


ഉണ്മോരുടെ ഭാഗ്യം ഉഴുതേടം കാണാം

ഉണ്മോരുടെ ഭാഗ്യം ഉഴുതേടം കാണാം • (uṇmōruṭe bhāgyaṁ uḻutēṭaṁ kāṇāṁ)

uṇmōruṭe bhāgyaṁ uḻutēṭaṁ kāṇāṁ (romanization)

/uɳmoːɾuɖe b(ʱ)aːɡjɐm uɻud̪eːɖɐm kaːɳaːm/

Literally, "you can see the luck of successful people in their ploughed lands".

If you want to find the reason of success of people who are in higher positions, it would be wise to take a look at their hard work

en-ഉണ്മോരുടെ_ഭാഗ്യം_ഉഴുതേടം_കാണാം-ml-proverb-B5zurD8h


baba z wozu, koniom lżej

Literally, “the grandma's out of the cart, the horses have it easier (now)”.

lit

good riddance to bad rubbish
good riddance to bad rubbish

(idiomatic) good riddance to bad rubbish, good riddance


nhất nhật vi sư, chung thân vi phụ

[ɲət̚˧˦ ɲət̚˧˨ʔ vi˧˧ sɨ˧˧ t͡ɕʊwŋ͡m˧˧ tʰən˧˧ vi˧˧ fu˧˨ʔ]

[ɲək̚˦˧˥ ɲək̚˨˩ʔ vɪj˧˧ ʂɨ˧˧ t͡ɕʊwŋ͡m˧˧ tʰəŋ˧˧ vɪj˧˧ fʊw˨˩ʔ]

[ɲək̚˦˧˥ ɲək̚˨˩ʔ vɪj˧˧ sɨ˧˧ t͡ɕʊwŋ͡m˧˧ tʰəŋ˧˧ vɪj˧˧ fʊw˨˩ʔ]

[ɲək̚˦˥ ɲək̚˨˩˨ vɪj˧˧ ʂɨ˧˧ cʊwŋ͡m˧˧ tʰəŋ˧˧ vɪj˧˧ fʊw˨˩˨]

[ɲək̚˦˥ ɲək̚˨˩˨ jɪj˧˧ sɨ˧˧ cʊwŋ͡m˧˧ tʰəŋ˧˧ jɪj˧˧ fʊw˨˩˨]

He who teaches you, even for a day, should be regarded as your father for the rest of your life.


outta sight, outta mind

out of sight, out of mind
out of sight, out of mind#English

Alternative form of out of sight, out of mind


പഴഞ്ചൊല്ലിൽ പതിരില്ല

head

പഴഞ്ചൊല്ലിൽ പതിരില്ല • (paḻañcollil patirilla)

Literally, "proverbs don't have mistakes".

en-പഴഞ്ചൊല്ലിൽ_പതിരില്ല-ml-proverb-tNAXB7qn


en-proverb

that which has been seen cannot be unseen

what has been seen cannot be unseen#English

Alternative form of what has been seen cannot be unseen


長い物には巻かれろ

ja-pos

ながい もの に は まかれろ

長(なが)い物(もの)には巻(ま)かれろ • (nagai mono ni wa makarero)

長い物には巻かれろ (canonical)
nagai mono ni wa makarero (romanization)


en-proverb

what's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh

One's behavior or characteristics are determined by one's heredity.

proverb — see also a leopard cannot change its spots

lo que se aprende en la cuna, siempre dura

ang gawi sa pagkabata ay dala hanggang sa pagtanda


Übermut tut selten gut

pride comes before a fall
pride comes before a fall


人過留名，雁過留聲

ㄖㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

ㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄥ

jên² kuo⁴ liu² ming², yen⁴ kuo⁴ liu² shêng¹

ren guoh liou ming, yann guoh liou sheng

жэнь го лю мин

янь го лю шэн

/ʐən³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ miŋ³⁵ jɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

One should do good deeds to leave behind a good reputation after one's death

雁飛過去留聲呢，人過去留名呢

ян фигуәчи лю шинни; жын гуәчи лю минни

雁飞过去留声呢，人过去留名呢

ян фигуәчи лю шинни; жын гуәчи лю минни


牆倒眾人推

Everyone gives a shove to a falling wall.

ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄉㄠˇ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄟ

цян дао чжунжэнь туй

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ tou̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ³³ jɐn²¹ tʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

/ʑiã²² tɔ³³ t͡soŋ³³ n̠ʲin⁵⁵ tʰe²¹/

/ʑiã²² tɔ³³ t͡soŋ³³ n̠ʲin⁵⁵ tʰe²¹/

Everyone will seize the opportunity to attack a person when he or she loses power or influence


better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness

better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness#English

Alternative form of better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness


رضا الناس غاية لا تدرك

head

رِضَا النَّاسِ غَايَةٌ لَا تُدْرَكُ

رِضَا النَّاسِ غَايَةٌ لَا تُدْرَكُ • (riḍā n-nāsi ḡāyatun lā tudraku)

رِضَا النَّاسِ غَايَةٌ لَا تُدْرَكُ (canonical)
riḍā n-nāsi ḡāyatun lā tudraku (romanization)

/ri.dˤa‿n.naː.si ɣaː.ja.tun laː tud.ra.ku/

Ibn Abī-l-Ḥadīd attrtibutes it to ʿAlī in his book شرح نهج البلاغة. It literally means "People's acceptance is a goal that cannot be reached".

It is impossible to make a decision that is accepted by every single person; pleasing and appeasing everyone is a goal that cannot be reached.

en-رضا_الناس_غاية_لا_تدرك-ar-proverb-IzSlME8l


الحكي مش متل الشوف

الحكي مش متل الشوف

الحكي مش متل الشوف • (il-ḥaki miš mitl il-šōf)


世の中金

世の中金 (canonical)
yo no naka kane (romanization)

世の中金が全て 世の中金が全て#Japanese


世の中金が全て

ja-pos

よ の なか かね が すべて

世(よ)の中(なか)金(かね)が全(すべ)て • (yo no naka kane ga subete)

世の中金が全て (canonical)
yo no naka kane ga subete (romanization)

拝金主義

拝金主義 はいきんしゅぎ


計劃趕不上變化

ㄐㄧˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄍㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

jìhuà gǎn bù shàng biànhuà [Phonetic:jìhuà gǎn bú shàng biànhuà]

цзихуа гань бу шан бяньхуа

/t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

man plans and God laughs
man plans and God laughs


geteiltes Leid ist halbes Leid

a sorrow shared is a sorrow halved
a sorrow shared is a sorrow halved


a sorrow shared is a sorrow halved

As a result, the optimist always has the lower hand, given that everyone around him is the opposite. You’d be considered a leper if you did not participate in the average, mediocre people’s wailing and complaining. If I’m not happy, I’ll not let you stay happy. After all, sorrow shared is sorrow halved. So let’s whine together!

2019, Leander Moss, Death at a Discount: A Funny, Magical & Inspiring Tale of the After-life, Babelcube Incorporated, page 25:

Grief can be alleviated by discussing it with someone.


hasira ya mkizi furaha ya mvuvi

Sw-ke-hasira ya mkizi furaha ya mvuvi.flac

According to the proverb, the fish will jump out of the water when angry, making it easy to catch.

the anger of the mullet is the joy of the fisherman


食不言，寢不語

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰin²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪk̚² pɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ t͡sʰɐm³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³/

The flesh of his family sacrifice he did not keep over three days. If kept over three days, people could not eat it. When eating, he did not converse. When in bed, he did not speak.

祭肉不出三日。出三日，不食之矣。食不語，寢不言。[[#Chinese|]]


本自同根生，相煎何太急

běn zì tóng gēn shēng, xiāng jiān hé tài jí

ㄅㄣˇ ㄗˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄣ ㄕㄥ

ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄏㄜˊ ㄊㄞˋ ㄐㄧˊ

běn zìh tóng gen sheng, siang jian hé tài jí

pên³ tzŭ⁴ tʻung² kên¹ shêng¹, hsiang¹ chien¹ ho² tʻai⁴ chi²

běn dz̀ túng gēn shēng-, syāng jyān hé tài jí

been tzyh torng gen sheng, shiang jian her tay jyi

бэнь цзы тун гэнь шэн

сян цзянь хэ тай цзи

/pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ kən⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

本是同根生，相煎何太急 本是同根生，相煎何太急#Chinese

Synonym of 本是同根生，相煎何太急 (běn shì tóng gēn shēng, xiāng jiān hé tài jí, “People of the same origin (siblings, relatives or compatriots) should show mercy to each other.”)


黃河百害，唯富一套

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄏㄜˊ ㄅㄞˇ ㄏㄞˋ

ㄨㄟˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄧ ㄊㄠˋ

wéi fù yī tào [Phonetic:Huáng Hé bǎi hài

Хуан Хэ бай хай

вэй фу и тао

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ xɤ³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xaɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ fu⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯⁵¹/

The Yellow River causes extensive harm with its floods and only benefits the Hetao region


本是同根生，相煎何太急

běn shì tóng gēn shēng, xiāng jiān hé tài jí

ㄅㄣˇ ㄕˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄣ ㄕㄥ

ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄏㄜˊ ㄊㄞˋ ㄐㄧˊ

bun² si⁶ tung⁴ gan¹ sang¹, soeng¹ zin¹ ho⁴ taai³ gap¹

běn shìh tóng gen sheng, siang jian hé tài jí

pên³ shih⁴ tʻung² kên¹ shêng¹, hsiang¹ chien¹ ho² tʻai⁴ chi²

běn shr̀ túng gēn shēng-, syāng jyān hé tài jí

been shyh torng gen sheng, shiang jian her tay jyi

бэнь ши тун гэнь шэн

сян цзянь хэ тай цзи

/pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ kən⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

bún sih tùhng gān sāng, sēung jīn hòh taai gāp

bun² si⁶ tung⁴ gan¹ sang¹, soeng¹ dzin¹ ho⁴ taai³ gap⁷

bun² xi⁶ tung⁴ gen¹ seng¹, sêng¹ jin¹ ho⁴ tai³ geb¹

/puːn³⁵ siː²² tʰʊŋ²¹ kɐn⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːn⁵⁵ hɔː²¹ tʰaːi̯³³ kɐp̚⁵/

See 煮豆燃萁 (zhǔdòuránqí). This form with 本是同根生 is from the 79th chapter of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

People of the same origin (siblings, relatives or compatriots) should show mercy to each other.

本自同根生，相煎何太急

běn zì tóng gēn shēng, xiāng jiān hé tài jí


ῥήματα ἀντ' ἀλφίτων

head

ῥήματα ἀντ' ἀλφίτων

ῥήματα ἀντ' ἀλφίτων • (rhḗmata ant' alphítōn)

fine words butter no parsnips
fine words butter no parsnips

actions speak louder than words
actions speak louder than words

fine words butter no parsnips, actions speak louder than words (literally: words instead of barleymeal)


刑不上大夫，禮不下庶人

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄨ

ㄌㄧˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕㄨˋ ㄖㄣˊ

lǐ bù xià shùrén [Phonetic:xíng bú shàng dàfū

син бу шан дафу

ли бу ся шужэнь

/ɕiŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ fu⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

From the Book of Rites, Book 1 (《禮記·曲禮上》):
:
The original meaning of the quote is disputed.

Where the ruler of a state lays hold of the cross-bar, and bends forward to it, a great officer will descend from his carriage. Where a great officer lays bold of the bar and bends forward, another officer will descend. The rules of ceremony do not go down to the common people. The penal statutes do not go up to great officers. Men who have suffered punishment should not (be allowed to) be by the side of the ruler.

The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Guójūn fǔ shì, dàfū xià zhī. Dàfū fǔ shì, shì xià zhī. Lǐ bù xià shùrén, xíng bù shàng dàfū. Xíng rén bù zài jūn cè.

國君撫式，大夫下之。大夫撫式，士下之。禮不下庶人，刑不上大夫。刑人不在君側。

国君抚式，大夫下之。大夫抚式，士下之。礼不下庶人，刑不上大夫。刑人不在君侧。

Corporal punishment does not go up to senior officers, and courtesy does not go down to commoners.


十個光頭九個富

ㄕˊ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄊㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄈㄨˋ

ши гэ гуантоу цзю гэ фу

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ g̊ə³ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴ g̊ə⁴ fu⁵¹/

/sɐp̚² kɔː³³ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ kɔː³³ fuː³³/

Nine out of ten bald-headed people are rich.


一命二運三風水

ㄧ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄦˋ ㄩㄣˋ ㄙㄢ ㄈㄥ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

и мин эр юнь сань фэншуй

/i⁵⁵ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ yn⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɛːŋ²² jiː²² wɐn²² saːm⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

First attested in the Qing dynasty novel Ernü Yingxiong Zhuan.

the main factors determining one's life are, in decreasing order of importance, destiny, luck and feng shui

一命二運三風水，四積陰德五讀書／一命二运三风水，四积阴德五读书

yī mìng èr yùn sān fēngshuǐ, sì jī yīndé wǔ dúshū


Kleider machen Leute

clothes make the man
clothes make the man

clothes maketh the man
clothes maketh the man

clothes make the man, clothes maketh the man


looks can be deceiving

This algebra problem may look very easy at first glance, but looks can be deceiving.

A person, place, thing, or situation can be very different from how it seems or appears to be at first glance.


un grano no hace granero, pero ayuda al compañero

/un ˌɡɾano ˌno ˌaθe ɡɾaˌneɾo | ˌpeɾo aˌʝuda al kompaˈɲeɾo/

[ũŋ ˌɡɾa.no ˌno ˌa.θe ɣ̞ɾaˌne.ɾo | ˌpe.ɾo aˌʝu.ð̞a al kõm.paˈɲe.ɾo]

/un ˌɡɾano ˌno ˌase ɡɾaˌneɾo | ˌpeɾo aˌʝuda al kompaˈɲeɾo/

[ũŋ ˌɡɾa.no ˌno ˌa.se ɣ̞ɾaˌne.ɾo | ˌpe.ɾo aˌʝu.ð̞a al kõm.paˈɲe.ɾo]

/un ˌɡɾano ˌno ˌase ɡɾaˌneɾo | ˌpeɾo aˌʃuda al kompaˈɲeɾo/

[ũŋ ˌɡɾa.no ˌno ˌa.se ɣ̞ɾaˌne.ɾo | ˌpe.ɾo aˌʃu.ð̞a al kõm.paˈɲe.ɾo]

/un ˌɡɾano ˌno ˌase ɡɾaˌneɾo | ˌpeɾo aˌʒuda al kompaˈɲeɾo/

[ũŋ ˌɡɾa.no ˌno ˌa.se ɣ̞ɾaˌne.ɾo | ˌpe.ɾo aˌʒu.ð̞a al kõm.paˈɲe.ɾo]


hverjum þykir sinn fugl fagur

rose-colored glasses
rose-colored glasses

People perceive the things that are "theirs" (that they have made, that belongs to them, or is something that they identify with) through rose-colored glasses – it is perceived as being better than it may really be. Can for example be applied to parents, who usually view their own children as being exceptionally beautiful or skilled.


秋の鹿は笛に寄る

ja-pos

あき の しか は ふえ に よる

秋(あき)の鹿(しか)は笛(ふえ)に寄(よ)る • (aki no shika wa fue ni yoru)

秋の鹿は笛に寄る (canonical)
aki no shika wa fue ni yoru (romanization)

Literally "The autumn deer comes to the whistle". Since autumn is the mating season for deer, hunters use whistles imitating the sound made by female deer in order to catch the deer.

people may bring about their demise for love (like a deer coming forth when it hears a hunter's whistle in mating season), it is easy to have one's weak points taken advantage of


لا تجعل الحبة قبة

head

لَا تَجْعَلِ الحَبّةَ قُبّة

لَا تَجْعَلِ الحَبّةَ قُبّة • (lā tajʕali l-ḥabbata qubba)

لَا تَجْعَلِ الحَبّةَ قُبّة (canonical)
lā tajʕali l-ḥabbata qubba (romanization)

Literally "do not make a grain into a dome", each being a metaphor for something small and something large, respectively.

one should not exaggerate or make a scene of trivial matters.

one should not allow minor problems or disagreements to snowball.


ሮም፡በአንድ፡ቀን፡አልተገነባችም

ሮም በአንድ ቀን አልተገነባችም

ሮም በአንድ ቀን አልተገነባችም • (rom bäʾand ḳän ʾaltägänäbbaččəmm)

ሮም በአንድ ቀን አልተገነባችም (canonical)
rom bäʾand ḳän ʾaltägänäbbaččəmm (romanization)

/ˈɾom bəˈʔand kʼən(ʔ)altəɡəˈnəbːat͡ʃːɨmː/

ሮም፡በ‧አንድ፡ቀን፡አል‧ተ‧ገ‧ነ‧ባ‧ችም

Rome wasn't built in a day
Rome wasn't built in a day

en-ሮም፡በአንድ፡ቀን፡አልተገነባችም-am-proverb-vS7ppDeB


天跌落嚟當被冚

天跌落嚟当被冚
天跌落來當被冚

If the skycollapses, use it as a blanket

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ tiːt̚³ lɔːk̚² lei̯²¹ tɔːŋ³³ pʰei̯¹³ kʰɐm³⁵/

(Cantonese) to be optimistic no matter the circumstances


lekarzu, lecz się sam

Biblical. Calque of Latin medice, cūrā tē ipsum from Luke 4:23.

physician, heal thyself
physician, heal thyself


contra el vicio de pedir, la virtud de no dar

It is best to not give to those that ask for too much


en-proverb

extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence

Outlandish and unbelievable claims must be followed by exceptional evidence to be considered acceptable in rational discourse.


ECREE

extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence#English

Initialism of extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.


le acque chete rovinano i ponti

it-pos

~acqu􂀿e:a􂁀; chet􂀿e:o􂁀; rovina􂀿no:re􂁀; pont􂀿i:e􂁀

Literally, “(the) calm waters ruin (the) bridges”.

lit

still waters run deep
still waters run deep


en-proverb

when the looting starts, the shooting starts

Originally used by Walter E. Headley, the police chief of Miami, Florida, in response to an outbreak of violent crime during the 1967 Christmas holiday season. He accused "young hoodlums, from 15 to 21", of "taking advantage of the civil rights campaign" that was then sweeping the United States.

(US) Lethal force is justified against rioters and looters.


all publicity is good publicity

any press is good press
any press is good press#English


The Danish early childhood educators say there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.

2002, Julie Fisher, Starting from the Child, page 88:

Any type of weather can be endured if adequate clothing is worn.


przezorny zawsze ubezpieczony

Literally, “provident is always protected”. A colloquialized slogan of PZU, a Polish state insurance agency.

lit

forewarned is forearmed
forewarned is forearmed


dinheiro atrai dinheiro

[d͡ʒĩˈj̃e(ɪ̯).ɾu aˈtɾaɪ̯ d͡ʒĩˈj̃e(ɪ̯).ɾu]

(idiomatic) a person who already have a sizable wealth is more likely to be able to earn more profit than someone who possesses little to no wealth


一將功成萬骨枯

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (一將功成萬骨枯):
* → Vietnamese: nhất tướng công thành vạn cốt khô (一將功成萬骨枯)

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄔㄥˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄎㄨ

yī jiàng gōng chéng wàn gǔ kū [Phonetic:yí jiàng gōng chéng wàn gǔ kū]

и цзян гун чэн вань гу ку

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ wän⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu⁵⁵/

jat⁷ dzoeng³ gung¹ sing⁴ maan⁶ gwat⁷ fu¹

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sœːŋ³³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ maːn²² kʷɐt̚⁵ fuː⁵⁵/

[Phonetic: yí jiàng gōng chéng wàn gǔ kū]

From the poem 己亥歲二首·其一 by Cao Song (830-903)

880, 曹松, 己亥歲二首·其一

Píng jūn mò huà fēnghóu shì, yī jiāng gōng chéng wàn gǔ kū.

憑君莫話封侯事，一將功成萬骨枯。

880, 曹松, 己亥歲二首·其一

凭君莫话封侯事，一将功成万骨枯。

A single general achieves fame on the rotting bones of ten thousand.

A general's feat is achieved through the sacrifice of the lives of countless soldiers


لأجل عين ألف عين تكرم

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لِأَجْلِ عَيْنٍ أَلْفُ عَيْنٍ تُكْرَم

لِأَجْلِ عَيْنٍ أَلْفُ عَيْنٍ تُكْرَم • (liʔajli ʕaynin ʔalfu ʕaynin tukram)

لِأَجْلِ عَيْنٍ أَلْفُ عَيْنٍ تُكْرَم (canonical)
liʔajli ʕaynin ʔalfu ʕaynin tukram (romanization)

/li.ʔad͡ʒ.li ʕaj.nin ʔal.fu ʕaj.nin tuk.ram/

Literally: “For one eye, a thousand eyes are honoured.” Compare the polite phrase تُكْرَمُ عَيْنُك (tukramu ʕaynuk, literally “may your eye be honoured”).

If someone is highly honoured, those associated with them will be honoured as well.

en-لأجل_عين_ألف_عين_تكرم-ar-proverb-9BWtBR7t


I before E, except after C

Formed because of the rhyme between the names of the letters E and C, /iː/ and /siː/. The "rule" was invented in the 19th century.

(orthography, mnemonic) In English words that contain the letters I and E together, the I tends to come before the E (ie), except in cases when the two are preceded by the letter C, in which case the E comes before the I (cei).


ei uutta auringon alla

ei mitään uutta auringon alla
ei mitään uutta auringon alla#Finnish

Alternative form of ei mitään uutta auringon alla


buail an t-iarann te

strike while the iron is hot
strike while the iron is hot


쇠뿔도 단김에 빼랬다

쇠뿔-도 단김-에 빼랬다

쇠뿔도 단김에 빼랬다 • (soeppul-do dan'gim-e ppaeraetda)

soeppul-do dan'gim-e ppaeraetda (romanization)


dili hungot ang kalibotan

[d̪ɪˌl̪i hʊˌŋot̪ ʔɐŋ kɐ.l̪ɪˈbo.t̪ɐn̪]

Literally, “the world is not a coconut shell”.

lit

there are plenty of fish in the sea
there are plenty of fish in the sea

(idiomatic) there are plenty of fish in the sea


no human is illegal

no human being is illegal
no human being is illegal#English

Alternative form of no human being is illegal


facts don't care about your feelings

Coined by Ben Shapiro, an American conservative commentator.

Facts exist as they do independently of emotional biases.


桂林山水甲天下

ㄍㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄕㄢ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

Guìlín shānshuǐ jiǎ tiānxià [Phonetic:guìlínshānshuíjiǎtiānxià]

Kuei⁴-lin² shan¹-shui³ chia³ tʻien¹-hsia⁴

Гуйлинь шаньшуй цзя тянься

/ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ lin³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kʷɐi̯³³ lɐm²¹ saːn⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ kaːp̚³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²²/

The landscapes of Guilin are the finest in the world


the revolution will not be televised

Originally a popular slogan among the 1960s Black Power movements in the United States, further popularized by Gil Scott-Heron's song and poem "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" (1970).

(dated) A societal revolution will happen genuinely and in real life, and will not be caught on film.

Gil Scott-Heron
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised


官字兩個口

The character for "official" (官) has two mouths (口)

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄗˋ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄎㄡˇ

гуань цзы лян гэ коу

/ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴ g̊ə⁴ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kuːn⁵⁵ t͡siː²² lœːŋ¹³ kɔː³³ hɐu̯³⁵/

/kuːn⁵⁵ t͡siː²² lœːŋ¹³ kɔː³³ hɐu̯³⁵/

The average citizen would believe that "officials have two mouths", that CY and Brother Paul can do whatever. If the housing prices continue to go up, well, they just ramp up the measures. If the harsh measures aren't enough, then they pull out Tenancy Control, or even stipulate that the selling price cannot be greater than the buying price; then housing prices would surely go down.

2016, 湯文亮, 《細價樓爆煲論之危中有機》, page 120

jat¹ bun¹ si⁵ man⁴ wui⁵ jing⁶ wai⁴, gun¹ zi⁶ loeng⁵ go³ hau², si¹ waai¹, bo¹ go¹ dim² zou⁶ dou¹ ho² ji⁵, jyu⁴ gwo² lau⁴ gaa³ gai³ zuk⁶ soeng⁵ sing¹, jat¹ jyu¹ zoi³ ceot¹ ziu¹, laat⁶ ziu¹ m⁴ gau³ zau⁶ ceot¹ zou¹ gun², sam⁶ zi³ kwai¹ ding⁶ maai⁶ ceot¹ gaa³ bat¹ dak¹ gou¹ jyu¹ maai⁵ jap⁶ gaa³, naa⁵ mo¹ lau⁴ gaa³ jat¹ ding⁶ dit³.

一般市民會認為，官字兩個口，CY、波哥點做都可以，如果樓價繼續上升，一於再出招，辣招唔夠就出租管，甚至規定賣出價不得高於買入價，那麼樓價一定跌。

2016, 湯文亮, 《細價樓爆煲論之危中有機》, page 120

一般市民会认为，官字两个口，CY、波哥点做都可以，如果楼价继续上升，一于再出招，辣招唔够就出租管，甚至规定卖出价不得高于买入价，那么楼价一定跌。

Officials have all the say; officials can say whatever they want; there is no point in arguing with officials.


poverty is a mindset

poverty is a state of mind
poverty is a state of mind#English


poorness is a state of mind

(rare) Synonym of poverty is a state of mind


silence is oppression

silence is violence
silence is violence#English

Synonym of silence is violence (“silence in certain settings perceived or interpreted as unfriendly or hostile.”)


poverty is a state of mind

Someone is only as poor as they perceive themselves to be.


團結就是力量

ㄊㄨㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄕˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

ㄊㄨㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄕˋ ㄌㄧˋ ˙ㄌㄧㄤ

туаньцзе цзюши лилян

/tʰu̯än³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/tʰu̯än³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ¹/

/tʰyːn²¹ kiːt̚³ t͡sɐu̯²² siː²² lɪk̚² lœːŋ²²/

unity makes strength
unity makes strength


líkur sækir líkan heim

birds of a feather flock together
birds of a feather flock together

like attracts like, birds of a feather flock together


donde hay patrón, no manda marinero

what someone says goes
what someone says goes


君子一言，駟馬難追

ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ

ㄙˋ ㄇㄚˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄓㄨㄟ

цзюньцзы иянь

сыма наньчжуй

/t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ sz̩⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

Zigong said: "How regrettable are your words about the superior person. A four-horse-team cannot overtake the tongue. …"

The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE

Zǐgòng yuē: “Xī hū! Fūzǐ zhī shuō jūnzǐ yě. Sì bùjí shé.......”

子貢曰：「惜乎！夫子之說君子也。駟不及舌。……」

子贡曰：「惜乎！夫子之说君子也。驷不及舌。……」

Zigong said: "The superior person, by speaking once, is taken as wise, by speaking once, is taken as unwise; one cannot afford to speak carelessly. …"

Zǐgòng yuē: “Jūnzǐ yīyán yǐwèi zhī, yīyán yǐwèi bùzhī, yán bùkě bùshèn yě.......”

子貢曰：「君子一言以為知，一言以為不知，言不可不慎也。……」

子贡曰：「君子一言以为知，一言以为不知，言不可不慎也。……」


一命二運三風水，四積陰德五讀書

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一命二運三風水，四積陰德五讀書

ㄧ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄦˋ ㄩㄣˋ ㄙㄢ ㄈㄥ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

ㄙˋ ㄐㄧ ㄧㄣ ㄉㄜˊ ㄨˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄕㄨ

jat¹ meng⁶ ji⁶ wan⁶ saam¹ fung¹ seoi², sei³ zik¹ jam¹ dak¹ ng⁵ duk⁶ syu¹

sì jī yīndé wǔ dúshū [Phonetic:yí mìng èr yùn sān fēngshuǐ

и мин эр юнь сань фэншуй

сы цзи иньдэ у душу

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ yn⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ in⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

yāt mehng yih wahn sāam fūng séui, sei jīk yām dāk ńgh duhk syū

jat⁷ meng⁶ ji⁶ wan⁶ saam¹ fung¹ soey², sei³ dzik⁷ jam¹ dak⁷ ng⁵ duk⁹ sy¹

yed¹ méng⁶ yi⁶ wen⁶ sam¹ fung¹ sêu², séi³ jig¹ yem¹ deg¹ ng⁵ dug⁶ xu¹

/jɐt̚⁵ mɛːŋ²² jiː²² wɐn²² saːm⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ sei̯³³ t͡sɪk̚⁵ jɐm⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ ŋ̍¹³ tʊk̚² syː⁵⁵/

一命二运三风水，四积阴德五读书

the main factors determining one's life are, in decreasing order of importance, destiny, luck, feng shui, doing good deeds and education


it-pos

~hai:avere; altr􂀿i:o􂁀; moccol􂀿i:o􂁀; puoi:potere; andare a letto:~; al buio:~

se non hai altri moccoli puoi andare a letto al buio

Literally, “if you do not have other candle ends you might go to bed in the dark”.

lit

if one has exhausted his resources, he must give up on his current undertakings and declare defeat


富貴險中求

ㄈㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟˋ ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

фугуй сянь чжун цю

/fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/


quel che è fatto è fatto

Literally, “that which is done is done”. Compare French ce qui est fait est fait.


il meglio è nemico del bene

Literally, “the best is (the) enemy of the good”. Compare French le mieux est l’ennemi du bien.

perfect is the enemy of good
perfect is the enemy of good


l'apparenza inganna

appearances are deceptive
appearances are deceptive


það er ekki sama Jón og séra Jón

Important people are given special treatment, which is unfair.


久病床前無孝子

there is no filial son by the bedside of a chronically ill parent

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄔㄨㄤˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄗˇ

chiu³ ping⁴ chʻuang² chʻien² wu² hsiao⁴-tzŭ³

цзю бин чуан цянь у сяоцзы

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ u³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Even a filial child will eventually be fed up with taking care of a bedridden and chronically ill parent


I want doesn't get

Impolite demands are not conducive to getting what one wants.