Thanh Ngu

LÔØI NOÙI ÑAÀU

FOREWORD

Khi hoïc taäp, nghieân cöùu ngoân ngöõ cuûa moät daân toäc. ai maø khoâng mong muoán hieåu bieát ngoân ngöõ ñoù moät caùch thaáu ñaùo vaø söû duïng noù moät cach thaønh thaïo? Ñeå ñaït ñöôïc ñieàu naøy, ngöôøi hoïc khoâng theå khoâng ñi saâu tìm hieåu vaø tieáp thu kho taøng tuïc ngöõ cuûa daân toäc ñoù vaø kho taøng thaønh ngöõ cuûa ngoân ngöõ ñoù. Bôûi vì trong khi giao tieáp, moät caâu tuïc ngöõ hay moät thaønh ngöõ ñöôïc söû duïng ñuùng luùc, ñuùng choã seõ taïo ra moät hieäu quaû lôùn, taùc ñoäng toát ñeán vieäc giao löu tö töôûng, tình caûm giöõa nhöõng ngöôøi ñoái thoaïi. Trong cuoán saùch naøy, chuùng toâi söu taàm vaø giôùi thieäu moät phaàn kho taøng tuïc ngöõ Vieät Nam vaø thaønh ngöõ tieáng Vieät nhaèm nhöõng muïc ñích sau: Laøm giaøu theâm voán töø cho caùc baïn thuoäc nhöõng daân toäc noùi tieáng Anh ñang hoïc taäp vaø nghieân cöùu tieáng Vieät, giuùp caùc baïn ñoù söû duïng tieáng Vieät ñöôïc chính xaùc, uyeån chuyeån, haøm suùc vaø giaøu hình aûnh. Ngoaøi ra cuoán saùch naøy cuõng mong phaàn naøo giuùp ñöôïc caùc baïn Vieät Nam chuùng ta ñang hoïc tieáng Anh boå sung theâm voán kieán thöùc tieáng Anh cuûa mình vaø hieåu bieát saâu theâm veà neàn vaên hoïc daân gian cuûa daân toäc mình cuõng nhö khaû naêng dieãn ñaït phong phuù cuûa tieáng meï ñeû. Ñeå ñaït ñöôïc nhöõng muïc ñích ñoù, chuùng toâi bieân soaïn cuoán saùch naøy theo phöông phaùp sau ñaây: Giôùi thieäu caâu tuïc ngöõ hay thaønh ngöõ cuøng vôùi nhöõng caâu ñoàng nghóa (neáu coù) cuûa noù. Dòch saùt nghóa thöïc (nghóa ñen) cuûa noù sang tieáng Anh ñeå ngöôøi ñoïc naém ñöôïc caùch dieãn ñaït ñaëc thuø cuûa ngöôøi Vieät Nam. Giaûi thích caâu tuïc ngöõ hay thaønh ngöõ ñoù theo nghóa roäng (nghóa boùng) maø noù muoán aùm chæ. Tìm moät caâu tuïc ngöõ hay thaønh ngöõ Anh töông ñoàng (neáu coù) ñeå minh hoïa cho roõ theâm. Vôùi khaû naêng coù haïn vaø laàn ñaàu tieân bieân soaïn neân chuùng toâi khoâng traùnh khoûi nhöõng thieáu soùt trong cuoán saùch naøy. Raát mong nhaän ñöôïc söï goùp yù cuûa baïn ñoïc gaàn xa ñeå laàn taùi baûn sau, cuoán saùch ñöôïc hoaøn thieän hôn. Taùc giaû

When studying a nation’s language, who doesn’t want to apprehend it thoroughly and to master it well? To reach this aim, the students are not allowed to skip that nation’s proverbs and it’s language’s idioms. But on the contrary, they must inherit them with a thorough study. Because in the social contact, a proverb or an idiom used in a proper moment and place will have great effects on the collocutors’ understanding. In this book, we collect and compile a part of the Vietnamese proverb and idiom treasure for the following purposes: Enrich the Vietnamese vocabulary of the English-speaking students who are studying the Vietnamese language so that they can express their thoughts and feelings in Vietnamese exactly, fluently, meaningfully and figuratively. By studying and inheriting the Vietnamese students proverb and idiom treasure, the readers can get a deeper knowledge of the Vietnamese people’s thoughts, sentiments and virtues. Besides, this book may partly help the Vietnamese students of English enriching their English and at the same time thoroughly apprehending their nation’s folklore as well as their mother tongue’s rich ability of expressions. To attain the above-said purposes, this book is compiled in the following method: Introduce the Vietnamese proverbs and idioms together with their synonyms (if any). Translate them literally into English so that readers can apprehend the Vietnamese people’s characteristic expressions. Explain the broad (figurative) meaning of the Vietnamese proverbs and idioms. Give the Vietnamese proverbs and idioms their English synonyms (if any) to make them clearer. With our limited ability and first compilation, we should not avoid errors in this book. Sincerely hope to accept all the readers’ remarks on our book so that in the next edition, it can be better and better. The author

PHAÀN I

VAØI NEÙT VEÀ TUÏC NGÖÕ VIEÄT NAM VAØ THAØNH NGÖÕ TIEÁNG VIEÄT I.

PHAÂN BIEÄT TUÏC NGÖÕ VÔÙI THAØNH NGÖÕ Tuïc ngöõ laø moät boä phaän cuûa neàn vaên hoïc daân gian neân baûn thaân moãi caâu tuïc ngöõ laø moät “taùc phaåm vaên hoïc” hoaøn chænh chöù khoâng phaûi laø moät boä phaän cuûa ngoân ngöõ nhö thaønh ngöõ. Tuïc ngöõ laø moät caâu noùi hoaøn chænh dieãn ñaït ñaày ñuû moät yù. YÙ ñoù coù theå laø moät nhaän xeùt, moät kinh nghieäm, moät luaân lyù, moät coâng lyù hay moät lôøi khuyeân hoaëc pheâ phaùn ruùt ra töø trong thöïc teá ñôøi soáng cuûa con ngöôøi. Ví duï nhö neâu leân moät nhaän xeùt veà hieän töôïng töï nhieân, tuïc ngöõ Vieät Nam coù nhöõng caâu: - Trôøi naéng choùng tröa, trôøi möa choùng toái. - Traêng quaàng thì haïn, traêng taùn thì möa. - Ñeâm thaùng naêm chöa naèm ñaõ saùng, ngaøy thaùng möôøi chöa cöôøi ñaõ toái. v. v. Nhaän xeùt veà hieän töôïng xaõ hoäi coù nhöõng caâu: - Cha sinh con, trôøi sinh tính. - Soáng moãi ngöôøi moät neát, cheát moãi ngöôøi moät taät. - Coù taät giaät mình, v. v. Neâu leân nhöõng kinh nghieäm saûn xuaát coù nhöõng caâu: - Moät löôït taùt, moät baùt côm. - Ruoäng khoâng phaân nhö thaân khoâng cuûa. - Ñaát noû, gioû phaân, v. v. Ruùt ra nhöõng kinh nghieäm soáng coù nhöõng caâu: - Giaø neùo, ñöùt daây. - Chôi choù, choù lieám maët. - Gaàn möïc thì ñen, gaàn ñeøn thì raïng, v. v. Ñeà cao moät luaân lyù coù nhöõng caâu: - AÊn quaû nhôù keû troàng caây. - Cheát trong coøn hôn soáng ñuïc. - Ñoùi cho saïch, raùch cho thôm. hay moät coâng lyù: - AÙc giaû, aùc baùo. - Trôøi quaû baùo, aên chaùo gaõy raêng - Tham thì thaâm, v. v. Ñöa ra moät lôøi khuyeân coù nhöõng caâu: - Traùnh voi chaúng xaáu maët naøo. - Chaúng phaûi daïy, ñó veùn vaùy - Ñöøng neân vaïch aùo cho ngöôøi xem löng, v. v. Nguï yù mæa mai hay pheâ phaùn coù nhöõng caâu: - Mieäng nam moâ, buïng boà dao gaêm - AÊn troäm aên cöôùp thaønh phaät thaønh tieân - Ñi chuøa chieàn baùn thaân baát toaïi

- Gaùi ñó giaø moàm, v. v. Vì laø moät taùc phaåm vaên hoïc hoaøn chænh, neân tuïc ngöõ coù ñuû nhöõng chöùc naêng cô baûn cuûa vaên hoïc laø chöùc naêng nhaän thöùc, chöùc naêng thaåm myõ vaø chöùc naêng giaùo duïc. Vi duï trong caâu: “Muoán aên heùt, phaûi ñaøo giun” thì chöùc naêng nhaän thöùc cuûa noù laø: muoán aên thì phaûi laøm. Coøn chöùc naêng giaùo duïc cuûa noù laø: chæ coù baèng noã löïc cuûa chính baûn thaân, con ngöôøi môùi coù ñöôïc haïnh phuùc. Vaø ñeå bieåu hieän chaân lyù ñoù, ngöôøi ta ñaõ söû duïng nhöõng hình aûnh aån duï “chim heùt” vaø “ñaøo giun” ñeå chæ nhöõng coá gaéng maø con ngöôøi caàn phaûi coù. Ñoù chính laø nhöõng chöùc naêng thaåm myõ maø thoâng qua noù, ngöôøi ñoïc ngöôøi nghe caûm nhaän ñöôïc moät caùch cuï theå vaø roõ raøng chaân lyù treân. Khaùc vôùi tuïc ngöõ, thaønh ngöõ laø moät boä phaän cuûa ngoân ngöõ chöù khoâng phaûi laø boä phaän caáu thaønh neân vaên hoïc daân gian. Ñoù laø moät cuïm töø coá ñònh, moät boä phaän caâu. Töï noù khoâng dieãn ñaït ñöôïc troïn veïn ñöôïc moät yù neân noù chæ töông ñöông vôùi ñôn vò töø maø thoâi. Ví duï: - AÊn traéng, maëc trôn = nhaøn haï - AÙo raùch, quaàn manh = raùch röôùi - Gaàn ñaát, xa trôøi = saép cheát - Doát ñaëc caùn mai = cöïc doát, v. v. Coù theå noùi thaønh ngöõ laø nhöõng cuïm töø ñaõ ñöôïc tu töø vaø thöôøng coù hình aûnh duøng ñeå thay theá nhöõng töø ngöõ thoâng thöôøng nhaèm laøm taêng hieäu quaû dieãn ñaït cuûa caâu vaên, lôøi noùi. Do ñoù thaønh ngöõ chæ coù chöùc naêng thaåm myõ chöù khoâng coù chöùc naêng nhaän thöùc vaø chöùc naêng giaùo duïc. Noù khoâng chöùa ñöïng moät nhaän xeùt, kinh nghieäm, baøi hoïc hay nguï moät yù khuyeân raên, pheâ phaùn gì caû. II. NHÖÕNG NEÙT ÑAËC TRÖNG CUÛA TUÏC NGÖÕ VIEÄT NAM 1. VEÀ HÌNH THÖÙC a.

Haàu heát caùc caâu tuïc ngöõ Vieät Nam ñeàu coù vaàn ñieäu. Caùch gieo vaàn cuõng raát phong phuù. Coù khi laø vaàn lieàn nhau nhö trong nhöõng caâu: - Buùt sa, gaø cheát - Coù taät, giaät mình Lôøi chaøo cao hôn maâm coã, v. v. coù khi vaàn caùch nhau moät chöõ nhö trong nhöõng caâu: - May tay hôn hay thuoác - Löûa ñaõ ñoû laïi boû theâm rôm Laáy vôï xem toâng, laáy choàng xem gioáng, v. v.

b.

coù khi vaàn caùch nhau hai chöõ nhö trong nhöõng caâu: - Moät mieáng khi ñoùi baèng moät goùi khi no - Laøm ñó chín phöông, ñeå moät phöông laáy choàng Khoâng coù caù, laáy rau maù laøm ngon, v. v. Cuõng coù khi vaàn caùch nhau ba chöõ nhö trong nhöõng caâu: - Nhaát töï vi sö, baùn töï vi sö - Vieäc ngöôøi thì saùng, vieäc mình thì quaùng - Tieáng laønh ñoàn xa, tieáng döõ ñoàn xa, v. v. Haõn höõu coù moät soá caâu khoâng vaàn thì cuõng coù tieát taáu laøm cho ngöôøi nghe caûm thaáy eâm tai nhö nhöõng caâu sau: - No nhö buït / ñoùi ra ma - Gaø queø / aên quaàn / coái xay - Ba be / baûy boái. v. v. Nhieàu khi do caáu truùc gioáng nhau neân raát khoù phaân bieät tuïc ngöõ vôùi thaønh ngöõ. Ví duï nhö caâu: “Thöïc tuùc, binh cöôøng” (tuïc ngöõ) (Danh töø + tính töø, danh töø + tính töø) vaø caâu “Nhaø raùch, vaùch naùt” (thaønh ngöõ) (Danh töø + tính töø, danh töø + tính töø) gioáng nhau hoaøn toaøn veà keát caáu ngöõ phaùp nhöng moät caâu thì laø tuïc ngöõ coøn caâu kia laïi laø thaønh ngöõ. Ñeå phaân bieät ñöôïc ñieàu ñoù, ngöôøi ta phaûi caên cöù vaøo nghóa cuûa chuùng maø suy ra. Ta coù theå suy luaän nhö sau vôùi caâu treân: Thöïc coù tuùc thì binh môùi cöôøng. Theo moái quan heä nhaân quaû naøy thì caâu ñoù dieãn ñaït troïn veïn ñöôïc moät yù laø: Moät quaân ñoäi muoán huøng maïnh thì cô sôû ñaàu tieân vaø voâ cuøng quan troïng cuûa noù laø ñieàu kieän vaät chaát phaûi ñaày ñuû. Do ñoù maø caâu naøy laø tuïc ngöõ. Coøn caâu döôùi thì khoâng coù quan heä nhaân quaû vì nhaø raùch khoâng theå laø taùc nhaân laøm cho vaùch naùt ñöôïc. Moái quan heä giöõa chuùng chæ laø moái quan heä töông ñoàng: Nhaø raùch = vaùch naùt vaø cuõng laø bieåu hieän moät tình traïng ngheøo naøn sa suùt cuûa moät gia ñình naøo ñoù maø thoâi. Vì vaäy caâu naøy chæ laø thaønh ngöõ. Laïi coù nhöõng tröôøng hôïp, maø theo yù kieán cuûa rieâng caù nhaân chuùng toâi, moät caâu coù theå bieåu ñaït caû hai noäi dung khaùc nhau maø vì theá noù vöøa laø tuïc ngöõ laïi vöøa laø thaønh ngöõ. Ví duï nhö hai caâu sau: Buïng ñoùi, caät reùt (1) Trong aám ngoaøi eâm (2) Neáu ta hieåu theo moái quan heä nhaân quaû thì coù theå coi ñoù laø hai caâu tuïc ngöõ vì caâu (1) neâu leân moät nhaän xeùt laø trong muøa ñoâng caùi ñoùi (buïng ñoùi) laøm cho ngöôøi ta caûm thaáy caùi reùt giaù buoát hôn laø khi no buïng (caät reùt); vaø caâu (2) ñöa ra moät kinh nghieäm hay laø moät lôøi giaùo huaán laø noäi boä coù ñoaøn keát (trong aám)

thì môùi giöõ gìn ñöôïc söï oån ñònh trong quan heä ñoái ngoaïi (ngoaøi eâm). Nhöng neáu chuùng ta hieåu hai caâu ñoù theo moái quan heä töông ñoàng thì chuùng laïi laø nhöõng thaønh ngöõ vì luùc coù caû hai boä phaän cuûa caâu (1) cuøng mieâu taû tình traïng khoán khoå (trong thì ñoùi maø ngoaøi thì reùt) cuûa moät ngöôøi naøo ñoù vaø hai thaønh phaàn cuûa caâu (2) cuõng cuøng mieâu taû tih trang oån ñònh (trong thuaän ngoaøi hoøa) cuûa moät gia ñình hay moät quoác gia naøo ñoù maø thoâi. 2. VEÀ NOÄI DUNG a.

b.

c.

Tuïc ngöõ Vieät Nam mang tính phaûn phong maïnh meõ. Ñoái vôùi giai caáp thoáng trò nhö vua quan, ñòa chæ, thaàn quyeàn v. v. cuõng nhö caùc hình thaùi vaên hoïc daân gian khaùc, tuïc ngöõ Vieät Nam ñaû phaù maïnh vaøo nhöõng thoùi hö taät xaáu cuûa chuùng nhö tham lam, ñoäc aùc, giaû doái, kieåu caùch, v. v. nhö nhöõng caâu sau: - Cuûa vaøo quan nhö than vaøo loø - Quan thaáy kieän nhö kieán thaáy môõ - Mieäng quan, troân treû - Muoán noùi gian laøm quan maø noùi - Coù ñoäc môùi coù, coù phuõ nhö choù môùi giaøu - Mieäng nam moâ buïng boà dao gaêm - Baø chuùa ñöùt tay baèng aên maøy xoå ruoät v. v. Tuïc ngöõ Vieät Nam giaøu tính traøo loäng, haøi höôùc: Neáu nhö tuïc ngöõ cuûa nhieàu daân toäc khaùc nhö tuïc ngöõ nöôùc Anh chaúng haïn coù ñaëc ñieåm laø nghieâm trang möïc thöôùc thì ngöôïc laïi tuïc ngöõ Vieät Nam laïi raát giaøu tính traøo loäng, haøi höôùc, theå hieän roõ neùt baûn chaát thoâng minh, hoùm hænh cuûa ngöôøi noâng daân Vieät Nam. Ví duï nhö nhöõng caâu sau ñaây: - Chaúng phaûi daïy ñó veùn vaùy - Thöù nhaát quaän coâng, thöù nhì khoâng khoá - Laém moái, toái naèm khoâng v. v. Tuïc ngöõ Vieät Nam raát giaøu tính nhaân vaên: Baûn chaát ngöôøi Vieät Nam laø hieàn laønh, giaøu loøng thöông ngöôøi, troïng tín nghóa, mong muoán ñöôïc soáng hoøa bình, bieát yeâu thöông ñuøm boïc nhau trong hoaïn naïn. Ñieàu naøy ñöôïc theå hieän roõ trong vaên hoïc noùi chung vaø trong tuïc ngöõ noùi rieâng. Ví duï nhö nhöõng caâu sau: - Thaân coø cuõng nhö thaân chim - Moät giot maùu ñaøo hôn ao nöôùc laõ - Anh em nhö theå chaân tay - Yeâu nhau chin boû laøm möôøi - Laù laønh ñuøm laù raùch - Moät lôøi noùi, moät ñoïi maùu - Baùn anh em xa, mua laùng gieàng gaàn - Moät con ngöïa ñau, caû taøu khoâng aên coû, v. v.

d.

e.

Baûn saéc daân toäc laø moät cö daân noâng nghieäp laáy caây luùa nöôùc laøm löông thöïc chính ñöôïc theå hieän raát roõ qua moät soá löôïng khaù lôùn nhöõng caâu tuïc ngöõ veà kinh nghieäm saûn xuaát (maø do khuoân khoå cuoán saùch coù giôùi haïn, chuùng toâi khoâng theå ñöa vaøo ñaây ñöôïc) vaø qua moät soá caâu mang yù nghóa xaõ hoäi nhö sau: - Gaø queø aên quaån coái xay - Moät tieàn ga,ø ba tieàn thoùc - AÊn baùt côm deûo, nhôù neûo ñöôøng ñi - Sai con toaùn, baùn con traâu, v. v. Tuïc ngöõ Vieät Nam coøn laø nhöõng nhaän xeùt, ñaùnh giaù veà ñaëc ñieåm töùng ñia phöông, töøng ñaëc saûn vaø nhöõng neùt ñaëc saéc trong tính caùch cuûa ngöôøi daân ôû nhöõng vuøng ñoù (maø do khuoân khoå cuoán saùch coù giôùi haïn, chuùng toâi khoâng theå ñöa vaøo ñaây ñöôïc) Ví duï nhö nhöõng caâu sau: Baùnh daøy neáp caùi, con gaùi hoï Ngoâ Cheø Vaên Thaùi, gaùi Tieân Löõ Trai caàu Voàng Yeân Theá, gaùi Noäi Dueä caàu Lieâm Doát Ñoâng Ngaøn baèng ngöôøi ngoan thieân haï Thöù nhaát kinh kyø, thöù nhì phoá Hieán, v. v.

2. NHÖÕNG HAÏN CHEÁ Tuïc ngöõ cuõng nhö nhöõng hình thaùi vaên hoïc daân gian khaùc laø saùng taùc taäp theå cuûa nhieàu theá heä nhaân daân. Noù phaûn aûnh theá giôùi quan vaø nhaân sinh quan cuûa nhaân daân tröôùc töï nhieân vaø xaõ hoäi. Do ñoù, tuïc ngöõ Vieät Nam theå hieän roõ neùt nhöõng maët tích cöïc cuõng nhö tieâu cöïc cuûa ngöôøi daân Vieät Nam. Qua tuïc ngöõ, chuùng ta thaáy qua bean caïnh nhöõng neùt ñaùng yeâu, nhöõng öu ñieåm cô baûn, ngöôøi noâng daân Vieät Nam tröôùc kia coøn coù nhöõng toàn taïi caàn khaéc phuïc sau: a. Tö töôûng troïng nam khinh nöõ coøn naëng neà, theå hieän qua nhöõng caâu: - Thuyeàn theo laùi, gaùi theo coàng - Moät traêm con gaùi khoâng baèng hoøn daùi con trai b. Chöa coi troïng naêng löïc phaåm chaát cuûa töøng caù theå maø coøn mang naëng tính bình quaân chuû nghóa theå hieän qua nhöõng caâu: - Xaáu ñeàu hôn toát loõi - Khoân ñoäc khoâng baèng ngoác ñaøn. c. Coøn coi troïng hö danh, theå hieän qua nhöõng caâu: - Moät mieáng giöõa laøng baèng moät saøng xoù beáp - Goùc ao khoâng baèng dao ñình d. Ñoâi khi coøn coù tö töôûng thoûa hieäp vaø ñòa phöông chuû nghóa, theå hieän qua nhöõng caâu: - Dó hoøa vi quyù - Leänh laøng naøo laøng aáy ñaùnh, thaùnh laøng naøo laøng aáy thôø - Pheùp vua thua leä laøng.

e.

Coøn coù tö töôûng muoán giaøu sang danh voïng maø coi thöôøng baûn chaát cuûa giai caáp mình, theå hieän qua caâu: - Maûnh coàng quan hôn ñaøn choàng daân. Nhöõng haïn cheá treân ñaây laø taát nhieân vaø khoâng traùnh khoûi vì ngöôøi noâng daân Vieät Nam tröôùc kia bò soáng giam haõm trong moät xaõ hoäi phong kieán neân khoâng khoûi bò aûnh höôûng nhöõng tö töôûng phong kieán. Nhöng vôùi söï nhaän thöùc tieán boä hoâm nay cuûa mình, chuùng ta coù ñuû khaû naêng “gaïn ñuïc, khôi trong”, loaïi boû nhöõng gì khoâng thích hôïp, chöa tieán boä, maø choïn loïc laáy nhöõng tinh hoa trong voán kinh nghieäm soáng cuûa caùc theá heä ñi tröôùc laøm chæ nam cho cuoäc soáng cuûa mình. IV.

NHÖÕNG NEÙT ÑAËC TRÖNG TRONG THAÙNH NGÖÕ TIEÁNG VIEÄT

Cuõng nhö tuïc ngöõ Vieät Nam, thaønh ngöõ tieáng Vieät coù nhöõng ñaëc tröng töông töï khoù coù theå troän laãn vôùi thaønh ngöõ cuûa caùc ngoân ngöõ khaùc. 1. Nhö ñaõ noùi ôû phaàn treân ((1-b, muïc II), thaønh ngöõ tieáng Vieät nhieàu khi raát khoù phaân bieät vôùi tuïc ngöõ. Khoâng chæ nhöõng ngöôùi ít hoïc maø caû nhöõng ngöôøi coù hoïc vaán cao vaãn deã laàm tuïc ngöõ vôùi thaønh ngöõ. Trong khi ñoù, ôû caùc ngoân ngöõ khaùc nhö tieáng Anh chaúng haïn, vieäc phaân bieät naøy khoâng coù khoù khaên chi laém. Ví duï vôùi nhöõng caâu sau ñaây: - Out of sight, out of mind - There is no smoke without fire - There is small choice in rotten apple - No great loss but some small profit, v. v. thì ai cuõng bieát ñoù laø tuïc ngöõ. Coøn vôùi nhöõng cuïm töø sau: - To talk under one’s breath - To pull someone’s leg - To make a beeline for - Busy as a bee - Blind as a beetle, v. v. thì ai cuõng hieåu ñoù laø nhöõng thaønh ngöõ. Bôûi vì ngay veà maët hình thöùc, caùch caáu keát caâu cuõng theå hieän raát roõ ñieàu naøy. 2. Cuõng gioáng nhö tuïc ngöõ Vieät Nam, thaønh ngöõ tieáng Vieät ñeàu coù hình aûnh vaø hình aûnh laïi giaøu tính caùch traøo loäng. Ví duï nhö nhöõng thaønh ngöõ sau: - Xoû chaân loã muõi - Doát ñaëc caùn mai - Baéng nhaéng nhö nhaëng vaøo buoàng tieâu - Löø ñöø nhö oâng töø vaøo ñeàn - Loø ñoø nhö coø aên ñeâm, v. v.

3.

Cuõng gioáng nhö tuïc ngöõ Vieät Nam, thaønh ngöõ tieáng Vieät thöôøng coù vaàn veø, neáu khoâng cuõng giaøu nhaïc ñieäu. Ví duï nhö nhöõng thaønh ngöõ sau: - Ñuûng ñænh nhö chónh troâi soâng - Maët hoa, da phaán - Laät ñaät nhö xa vaät oáng vaûi vaø - AÊn traéng / maëc trôn - Caù beå, / chim ngaøn - Maét troøn, / maét deït, v. v.

KEÁT LUAÄN Tuïc ngöõ cuûa caùc daân toäc cuõng nhö thaønh ngöõ cuûa caùc ngoân ngöõ treân theá giôùi ñeàu coù nhöõng neùt töông ñoàng: Nhöng coù ñaëc ñieåm taâm lyù daân toäc khaùc nhau vaø caùc ngoân ngöõ khoâng gioáng nhau neân tuïc ngöõ cuûa moãi daân toäc vaø thaønh ngöõ cuûa moãi ngoân ngöõ ñeàu coù nhng ñaëc tröng cuûa noù. Treân ñaây chuùng toâi chæ môùi neâu sô löôïc nhöõng neùt ñaëc tröng cuûa tuïc ngöõ Vieät nam vaø thaønh ngöõ tieáng Vieät ñeå giuùp caùc baïn ngöôøi nöôùc ngoaøi ñang hoïc taäp vaø nghieân cöùu ngoân ngöõ hay vaên hoïc daân gian Vieät nam coù ñöôïc moät söï hieåu bieát ban ñaàu laøm cô sôû ñi saâu tìm hieåu veà chuùng. Ñoàng thôøi, chuùng toâi cuõng hy voïng cuoán saùch naøy phaàn naøo giuùp theâm caùc baïn ñoïc ngöôøi Vieät Nam trong quaù trình tìm hieåu voán vaên hoïc daân gian vaø ngoân ngöõ cuûa daân toäc mình.

PART II

SOME OUTLINES ON THE VIETNAMESE PROVERBS AND IDIOMS I.

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PROVERBS AND IDIOMS Proverbs are a section of folklore. Each of them can be considered as a “complete work of literature”. They are not a section of language as idioms. A proverb is a complete sentence expressing an idea of comment, of experience, of morality, of justice or of criticism drawn from the human life. To bring out a comment on the natural phenomena, there are the following proverbs: - Trôøi naéng choùng tröa, trôøi möa choùng toái. (Noon arrives soon when it’s sunny, night falls quickly when it’s rainy)

- Traêng quaàng thì haïn, traêng taùn thì möa.

(When the moon is surrounded by a circle, it will be sunny; when the moon is surrounded by a halo, it will be rainy)

- Ñeâm thaùng naêm chöa naèm ñaõ saùng, ngaøy thaùng möôøi chöa cöôøi ñaõ toái.

(In May, one hardly had gone to bed when the day breaks; in October, one hardly had laughed when it gets dark, etc.

To mark on the social phenomena, there are the following proverbs: - Cha sinh con, trôøi sinh tính. (His body was born by his parents but his nature was born in Heaven)

- Soáng moãi ngöôøi moät neát, cheát moãi ngöôøi moät taät.

(Everyone has his own manner in living and gets his own disease for dying)

- Coù taät giaät mình,

(He who commits faults often gets startle) etc. To set out experiences of labor, there are the following proverbs: - Moät löôït taùt, moät baùt côm. (A time of watering is a bowl of rice)

- Ruoäng khoâng phaân nhö thaân khoâng cuûa. (A field without manure is like a man without property)

- Ñaát noû, gioû phaân,

(A clot of dry soil equals a basket of manure) etc. To draw out experience of living, there are the following proverbs: - Giaø neùo, ñöùt daây. (Tight fastening breaks the string)

- Chôi choù, choù lieám maët.

The dog will lick your face when you play with it)

- Gaàn möïc thì ñen, gaàn ñeøn thì raïng,

- AÙo raùch, quaàn manh = raùch röôùi

(His staying near the ink makes him black and his staying near the light makes him bright) etc.

(to be in a torn shirt and thin trousers = to be in rags)

There are proverbs hightening morals such as: - AÊn quaû nhôù keû troàng caây.

- Gaàn ñaát, xa trôøi = saép cheát

(to be close to the ground and far from the sky = to be going to die)

He who eats the fruits recalls the grower of their tree)

- Cheát trong coøn hôn soáng ñuïc. (Better die purely than llive muddily)

- Uoáng nöôùc nhôù nguoàn

(He who drinks the water recalls its source)

- Ñoùi cho saïch, raùch cho thôm.

(Be honest even in hunger and clean in rags)

- AÙc giaû, aùc baùo.

(He who does evils will meet evils)

- Trôøi quaû baùo, aên chaùo gaõy raêng (He who is to be punished by God will have a tooth broken even when eating rice gruel)

- Tham thì thaâm,

(Greed brings losses) etc. To give an advice, there are the following proverbs: - Traùnh voi chaúng xaáu maët naøo.

- Doát ñaëc caùn mai = cöïc doát,

(to be thick-headed as a spade handle = to be very stupid) etc. We may say idioms are just rhetorical phrases and they often contain images. They are used to replace ordinary words so that the expression effect of the sentences can be strengthened. Therefore, idioms don’t possess the functions of apprehension and education but only the function of esthetics. They never contain any comment, experience, lesson and never hint at any criticism, either.

II. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VIETNAMESE PROVERBS 1. IN THE FORM

(Don’t feel ashamed of avoiding an elephant)

- Chaúng phaûi daïy, ñó veùn vaùy

(Never teach a prostitute to curl up her skirt)

- Ñöøng neân vaïch aùo cho ngöôøi xem löng, (Don’t put off your shirt to show your back) etc. To hint at mockery or criticism, there are the following proverbs: - Mieäng nam moâ, buïng boà dao gaêm (His mouth is full of prayers but his belly is full of daggers)

- AÊn troäm aên cöôùp thaønh phaät thaønh tieân Ñi chuøa chieàn baùn thaân baát toaïi

(The thieves become Buddhas whereas the devotees get hemiplegia)

- Gaùi ñó giaø moàm,

(Prostitutes are oftentimes talkative) etc. As to be a “complete work of literature”, a proverb possesses all the fundamental functions of literature such as function of apprehension, function of esthetics and function of education. For instance, in the proverb “Muoán aên heùt phaûi ñaøo giun” (He who wants to eat thrushes, goes to dig up worms) , its function of apprehension is that those who want eating have to work, and its function of education is that one just has happiness with his own labor. To express the above-said truth, the following metaphorical images are used: “Thrushes” hints at happiness that one longs for and “to dig up worms” hints at the labor one should produce. It is the function of esthetics by which readers or hearers can fell the truth concretely and clearly. Different form proverbs, idioms are not a section of folklore but a section of language. An idiom itself cannot express and idea completely so it equals only to a phrase. For example: - AÊn traéng, maëc trôn = nhaøn haï (to eat while rice and wear fine clothing = to live in luxury)

a.

Most of the Vietnamese proverbs hold a rhyme. The means of making rhymes in them are several. The rhymes are likely close to each other such as in the following proverbs: Buùt sa, gaø cheat Coù taät, giaät mình Lôøi chaøo cao hôn maâm coã, etc. The rhymes may stand far from each other. There is likely a word between them such as in the following proverbs: - May tay hôn hay thuoác - Löûa ñaõ ñoû laïi boû theâm rôm Laáy vôï xem toâng, laáy choàng xem gioáng, etc. There are likely two words between them such as in the following proverbs: - Moät mieáng khi ñoùi baèng moät goùi khi no - Laøm ñó chín phöông, ñeå moät phöông laáy choàng Khoâng coù caù, laáy rau maù laøm ngon, etc. There are likely three words between them such as in the following proverbs - Nhaát töï vi sö, baùn töï vi sö - Vieäc ngöôøi thì saùng, vieäc mình thì quaùng - Tieáng laønh ñoàn xa, tieáng döõ ñoàn xa, etc. There seldom are some of the Vietnamese proverbs without rhyme but they are rhythmical to please hearers’ ears such as the following proverbs: - No nhö buït / ñoùi ra ma (buït is an aneven tone but ma is an even tone) - Gaø queø / aên quaàn / coái xay (queø and xay are even tones but quaån is an uneven tone) - Ba be / baûy boái.

(beø is an even tone but boái is an uneven tone) etc. In many cases, it is difficult to distinguish a proverb from an idiom for their resemblance. For instance, the proverb “thöïc tuùc binh cöôøng” (noun + adjective, noun + adjective) and the idiom “nhaø raùch, vaùch naùt” (noun + adjective, noun + adjective) are absolutely alike in structure: To determine them, one should apprehend their meanings. The former can be analyzed as follows: “Thöïc tuùc” (the foodstuff is full) – “binh cöôøng” (the army is powerful). In this causal relation (part one is the cause and part two is the effect), the former expresses an experience that the first and very important factor to strengthen an army is to care for its material basic. Therefore, it is a proverb. As to the latter, it possesses no causal relation for “nhaø raùch” (the house is ruined) is not the cause of “vaùch naùt” (the walls are cracked). The relation between them is just homologous: “nhaø raùch” equals “vaùch naùt” and they together show a certain family’s decline and poverty. Therefore, it is an idiom. In some cases, to our mind, an expression can possess two different meanings thus it is a proverb with one meaning and as well as an idiom with the other. For example: - Buïng ñoùi, caät reùt (1) - Trong aám, ngoaøi eâm (2) If apprehended in the causal relation, they can be considered as two proverbs for the former expresses the remark that in winter, hunger (buïng ñoùi, the empty stomach) makes a man feel colder than usual (caät reùt, the frozen back) and the latter shows out the experience that the internal unity (trong aám, worm inside) will confirm the external stabilituy (ngoaøi eâm, calm outside). On the other hand, if apprehended in the homologous relation, they can be considered as two idioms for now, the former just expresses someone’s miserable status and the latter just expresses a certain family’s (or country’s) stable situation. b.

2. IN THE CONTENT a. The Vietnamese proverbs fiercely attack feudalism: To the oppressing class represented by kings, mandarins, landlords, spiritual power, the Vietnamese proverbs, together with other forms of folklore, strongly attack their bad habits and defects such as greed, cruelty, falsity and mincing manners, etc. For example: - Cuûa vaøo quan nhö than vaøo loø - Quan thaáy kieän nhö kieán thaáy môõ - Mieäng quan, troân treû - Muoán noùi gian laøm quan maø noùi - Coù ñoäc môùi coù, coù phuõ nhö choù môùi giaøu - Mieäng nam moâ buïng boà dao gaêm - Baø chuùa ñöùt tay baèng aên maøy xoå ruoät v. v. b. The Vietnamese proverbs are full of humour and satire.

c.

d.

e.

When other nations’ proverbs i.e. the English ones are known of their seriousness and reasonableness, the Vietnamese proverbs, on the contrary, are well known by their humour and satire. This feature shows clearly the Vietnamese peasants’ intelligence and sense of humour. For example: - Chaúng phaûi daïy ñó veùn vaùy - Thöù nhaát quaän coâng, thöù nhì khoâng khoá - Laém moái, toái naèm khoâng v. v. The Vietnamese proverbs are rich of humaneness. The Vietnamese people’s virtues are gentleness, kindheartedness, faithfulness, lover of peace and mercy on one another in misfortunes. These features are clearly described in their literature generally and in their proverb treasure particularly. For example: - Thaân coø cuõng nhö thaân chim - Moät giot maùu ñaøo hôn ao nöôùc laõ - Anh em nhö theå chaân tay - Yeâu nhau chin boû laøm möôøi - Laù laønh ñuøm laù raùch - Moät lôøi noùi, moät ñoïi maùu - Baùn anh em xa, mua laùng gieàng gaàn - Moät con ngöïa ñau, caû taøu khoâng aên coû, v. v. The Vietnamese national color as an agricultural population is clearly shown by a great number of proverbs dealing with labor experiences (that can’t be contained in the book) and through the following social ones: - Gaø queø aên quaån coái xay - Moät tieàn ga,ø ba tieàn thoùc - AÊn baùt côm deûo, nhôù neûo ñöôøng ñi - Sai con toaùn, baùn con traâu, v. v. Some of the Vietnamese proverbs are remarks and comments on the specialities of areas, products or local inhabitants (that can’t be contained in the book) as the followings: - Baùnh daøy neáp caùi, con gaùi hoï Ngoâ (Rice-pies should be made of the big-grained glutinous rice and women should be from the Ngoâ’s) (This proverb remarks that the women from the Ngoâ families are aas excellent as the big-grained glutinous rice-pies)

- Cheø Vaên Thaùi, gaùi Tieân Löõ

(Tea should be Vaên Thaùi’s, women should be Tieân Löõ’s) (This proverb extols that Vaên Thaùi’s tea and Tieân Löõ’s women are of the best)

- Trai caàu Voàng Yeân Theá, gaùi Noäi Dueä caàu Lieâm

(Men should be those from Caàu Voâng, Yeân Theá, women should be those from Noäi Dueä, Caàu Lim) (This proverb extols that Caàu Voàng, Yeân Theá’s men are very strong and brave and Noäi Dueä, Caàu Lim’s women are very beautiful and lovable)

- Doát Ñoâng Ngaøn baèng ngöôøi ngoan thieân haï

(Ñoâng Ngaøn’s fools are still as clever as the wise in other areas)

(This proverb extols that Ñoâng Ngaøn’s people are very wise)

- Thöù nhaát kinh kyø, thöù nhì phoá Hieán,

(The capital is the first and Phoá Hieán is the second) (This proverb extols that Phoá Hieán is a very busy place of business)

etc.

3. THE LIMITATIONS OF THE VIETNAMESE PROVERBS As other form of folklore, proverbs are collected creative works of several generations. They reflect man’s outlooks on the world and life. Therefore, the Vietnamese proverbs clearly show out the Vietnamese people’s advantages and limitations as well. Through the Vietnamese proverbs we can see that the Vietnamese people of old time, besides their lovable characters and basic advantages, still kept some shortcomings which must be remedied such as: a. The disrespect of women revealed in the following proverbs: - Thuyeàn theo laùi, gaùi theo choàng - Moät traêm con gaùi khoâng baèng hoøn daùi con trai b. The ignorance of individual abilities and characteristics as well as the reverence of egalitarianism revealed in the following proverbs: - Xaáu ñeàu hôn toát loõi - Khoân ñoäc khoâng baèng ngoác ñaøn. c. The preference of vanity revealed in the following proverbs: - Moät mieáng giöõa laøng baèng moät saøng xoù beáp - Goùc ao khoâng baèng dao ñình d. The thought of compromise and localism revealed in the following proverbs: - Dó hoøa vi quyù - Leänh laøng naøo laøng aáy ñaùnh, thaùnh laøng naøo laøng aáy thôø - Pheùp vua thua leä laøng. e. The lust of the nobility and the rich people in disregard of their original classes revealed in the following proverb: - Maûnh coàng quan hôn ñaøn choàng daân. These limitations are natural and unavoidable for the Vietnamese peasantry of old time was to live in a feudal society. Therefore, they could not be out of the influence of the feudal moralities. But nowadays, with our advanced ideas, we are full of ability to “separate the sheep from the goats” to sift away unsuitable and backward thoughts and obtain the essence of the former generations’ experience treasure in life to use it as a guide in our own. IV. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VIETNAMESE PROVERBS

In relation with the Vietnamese proverbs, the Vietnamese idioms possess the similar characteristics that can’t be confused with the idioms of other languages. 1. In reference to the article II-1-b, in many cases, it is very difficult to distinguish the Vietnamese idioms from the Vietnaemse proverbs. Not only unlearnt people but also scholars may get confused in distinguishing them: Whereas in other languages i.e. the English one their distinctions are not so difficultly taken. For instance with the following expressions, everybody can know that they are proverbs: - Out of sight, out of mind - There is no smoke without fire - There is small choice in rotten apple - No great loss but some small profit, etc. And with the following expressions, everybody can know that they are idioms: - To talk under one’s breath - To pull someone’s leg - To make a beeline for - Busy as a bee - Blind as a beetle, v. v. it is because that their difference is very clear even in their structures. 2. As the same as the Vietnamese proverbs, most of the Vietnamese idioms contain figures and many of them are full of humour and satire such as the following idioms: - Xoû chaân loã muõi - Doát ñaëc caùn mai - Baéng nhaéng nhö nhaëng vaøo buoàng tieâu - Löø ñöø nhö oâng töø vaøo ñeàn - Loø ñoø nhö coø aên ñeâm, v. v. 3. As the same as the Vietnamese proverbs, a lot of the Vietnamese idioms are with a rhyme or rhythm. For example: - Ñuûng ñænh nhö chónh troâi soâng - Maët hoa, da phaán - Laät ñaät nhö xa vaät oáng vaûi and - AÊn traéng / maëc trôn - Caù beå, / chim ngaøn - Maét troøn, / maét deït, etc. V.

CONCLUSION Every nation’s proverbs as well as every language’s idioms of the world have a certain number of general features. Yet, for different nations have different mental habits and besides, all the languages are not the same, every nation’s proverbs and every language’s idioms have their own characteristics. Here we have simply set out the main characteristics of the Vietnamese proverbs and idioms so that the foreigners who are studying the Vietnaese language on folklore are able to obtain a

rough knowledge of them as a preliminary basis for their further study. At the same time, we also hope that the book will give a little help to the Vietnamese students who are making a thorough study of their nation’s folklore and their mother tongue.

PHAÀN II

TUÏC NGÖÕ VIEÄT NAM (VIETNAMESE PROVERBS)

A AÙch giöõa ñaøng mang quaøng vaøo coå (He puts on the yoke that lies on the road)

It is blamable for a man to get troubles by interfering in other’s own affairs.

Ai aên traàu, naáy ñoû moâi (He who chews betels, his lips get red)

It’s not necessary to be cheerful with other’s success.

Ai bieát ñaâu ma aên coã (Who knows where and when the ghost attends a feast?)

Nobody can know an evildoer’s deeds.

Ai bieát ngöùa ñaâu maø gaõi (Who knows where you are itchy to scrape?)

If someone needs a help from others, he should ask them.

Ai bieát uoán caâu cho vöøa mieäng caù (Who knows the fish’s mouth to make the hook?)

It’s blamable for a hard-tempered man to force others to please him.

Ai daùm ñaùnh ñu vôùi tinh (Who dares to join the company of devils?)

Nobody dares to have a cunning man’s company.

Ai daùm thi hôi vôùi giaûi (Who dares to compete with a tortoise in diving?)

Nobody dares to compete with those who are better than him.

Ai ñem duøi ñuïc ñi hoûi vôï (Who brings a carpenter’s cudgel to ask a girl’s hand?)

In some cases, one should show his gentleness to reach his aim. Ai öa döa khuù baàu giaø (Who likes stale pickles and old calabashes)

One just likes the good and the beautiful.

An phaän, thaân voâ nhuïc (He who submits to his fate, gets no disgrace)

Those who are pleased with what they have will get no worries, hardships, losses and shames.

A constant visitor gets a cold reception. Cp Do not wear out your welcome.

Anh em cheùm nhau baèng going, ai cheùm baèng löôõi

AÙo gaám ñi ñeâm

(Brothers never chop each other by the edged side of their swords)

(He walks out by night in a brocade robe)

Even in discord, brothers never do each other harm.

Nobody knows a good job doõn secretly / It’s useless to show one’s goodness untimely.

Anh em haït maùu seû ñoâi (Brothers are particles of one blood drop)

Brothers should love one another. Syn Anh em nhö theå chaân tay. (Brothers are limbs of a body)

AÙo ngaén ruõ chaúng neân daøi (He can’t make a short dress long by shaking)

Nobody can alter a fixed thing.

AÊ

Anh em khinh tröôùc, laøng nöôùc khinh sau (His borthers are the first to despise him and his neighbors are the second)

Despises come from home first.

Anh huøng ña naïn

AÜm con choàng hôn boàng chaùu ngoaïi

(A hero often comes across misfortunes)

(Better carry your husband’s own daughter than your maternal grandson)

Anh huøng laøm neân thôøi theá

AÊn baùt côm deûo, nhôù neûo ñöôøng ñi

A brave and chivalrous manoften meets troubles for he cannot stand still before unjustice.

(A hero makes his time)

A hero can alter his time.

Anh khoá son boøn anh khoá naâu (A red-loincloothed man squeezes the brown loinclothed man)

The rich always exploit the poor.

Anh luøn xem hoäi (A short man watches the procession)

People of lower classes always get the smallest share. Cp The weakest goes to the wall.

Even her husband’s own daughter is closer to a woman than her maternal grandson.

(Recal the way you’ve covered when you eat a bowl of delicious rice)

Don’t forget the old days of hardship when you’ve gained victory.

AÊn bôùt baùt, noùi bôùt lôøi (Eat less as well as speak less)

One shouldn’t eat and speak too much otherwise he will meet misfortune. Cp Gluttony kills more than the sword A fool’s tongue is long enough to cut his own throat. Syn Tham thöïc, cöïc thaân (Gluttony tortures gluttons) Höông naêng thaép naêng khoùi, ngöôøi naêng noùi naêng loãi

Ao saâu, toát caù (The deeper the pond is, the more quickly the fish grow)

The better the living conditions are, the more quickly the people’s life flourishes.

AÙo baøo gaëp ngaøy hoäi (A brocade robe meets with a festival)

It’s lucky for a man to get a good chance to show his talent or riches.

AÙo naêng may naêng môùi, ngöôøi naêng tôùi naêng thöôøng (The more a man has shirts cut, the more he is well dressed; the more regularly a guest comes, the more he’s despised)

(A regularly burnt incense is smoly, a regularly talking man often makes mistakes)

AÊn böõa saùng, lo böõa toái (He who taking breakfast worries about dinner)

One always worries about his living. Syn AÊn böõa hoâm, lo böõa mai. (He who taking dinner worries about tomorrow’s breakfast)

AÊn caây naøo, raøo caây naáy (Fence the tree you eat its fruit)

One should defend his source of living. Cp Do not quarrel with your bread and butter. Syn AÊn cuûa Buït, thaép höông thôø Buït (You should worship Buddha if you eat his food)

Haùt ñình naøo, chuùc ñình naáy (You should give congratulations to the commons hall where you sing)

AÊn caây taùo, raøo caây ñaøo (Eat the apples, fence the peach tree)

It’s blamable for a man not to care for his means of living but others’ Syn AÊn caây taùo, raøo daây boà quaân (Eat the apples, fence the malagasyplum jtree)

AÊn caây taùo, raøo caây xoan ñaâu (Eat the apples, fence the beed tree)

AÊn chaùo, ñaùi baùt (Eat the gruel, piss into the bowl)

It’s ungrateful for a man to get another’s help and then do him harm. Syn AÊn maät, traû göøng (Eat honey, pay back ginger) AÊn sung, traû ngaûi (Eat sycamore, pay back ficus) Cöùu vaät vaät traû ôn, cöùu nhaân, nhaân traû oaùn (A rescued anumal makes a good turn to iis benefactor, but a rescued man makes a bad one) Xong chay, quaúng thaày xuoáng ao (When the expiatory mass is over, the sorcerer is thrown into the pond)

Cp A kindness is soon forgotten.

AÊn chaúng no, khoù ñeán mình (He who eats little does all things difficult)

Those who get the smaller share may have to do the heavier job.

AÊn cho ñeàu, chia cho soøng (Goes should be equal, shares should be fair)

There should be justice in sharing.

AÊn cho neân ñoïi, noùi cho neân lôøi (Eat up all the rice in your bowl and speak out all the words in your sentences)

When speaking, one should speak clearly and express exactly his thoughts and feelings. Cp Dot your i’s and cross your t’s. AÊn coù choã, ñoã coù nôi (Eat in the dining room and sleep in the bedroom)

One should live in a certain order. Syn AÊn coù nôi, chôi coù choán (Eat in the dining room and play in the playground)

AÊn coù nôi, laøm coù choã (Eat in the dining room and work in the workshop)

AÊn coù môøi, laøm coù khieán (Eating needs inviting and working needs asking)

Nobody takes meals without invitation and does jobs without demand. Cp Speak when you are spoken to, come when you are called. AÊn côm caùy ngaùy o o, aên côm thòt boø la ngay ngaùy (He who snores with meals of spider crabs will be on an anxious bench with meals of beefsteak)

The honest life inpoverty makes a man easy at thought and the dishonest life in riches makes him frightened of the laws. Syn AÊn caùy böng tai (He who eats spider crabs for his meals can cover his ears to sleep)

Côm caø laø nhaø coù phuùc (He who just eats eggplants for his meals is of fortune)

Cp A good conscience is a constant feast A great fortune is a great slavery. AÊn khoâng rau nhö ñau khoâng thuoác (Meals without vegetables are as bad as diseases without medicine)

Vegetables act a very important role in man meals. Syn AÊn côm khoâng rau nhö nhaø giaøu cheat khoâng keøn troáng (Meals without vegetables are like the rich funerals without music)

AÊn côm nhaø, vaùc ngaø voi (He who eats his meals carries others’ ivories)

Those who spend much time to the public activities often get nothing. Syn AÊn côm nhaø vaùc tuø vaø haøng toång. (He who eats his own meals carries the public horn)

AÊn laém traû nhieàu (He who eats much pays much)

There is always justice in life. Syn Vay laém, traû nhieàu (He who borrows much, pay much) AÊn laáy chaéc, maëc laáy beàn (Eat to a stomachful and wear with durable clothes)

The practical interest is better than the vain glory. Syn AÊn laáy ñaëc, maëc laáy beàn (ditto) Cp Comfort is better than pride. AÊn lôøi tuøy voán, baùn voán tuøy nôi (To his different customers, he gets different benefits)

One treats his customers not quite the same.

AÊn luùc ñoùi, noùi luùc say (Eat when hungry and speak when drunk)

Only when hungry one eats with appetite and only when drunk one speaks much or reveals his secrets. Cp When wine is in, wit is out.

AÊn maøy ñoøi xoâi gaác

Saùng röûa cöa, tröa maøi ñuïc, toái luïc côm (He who grinds the

(A beggar wants to have monordica sticky rice)

saw in the morning and the chisel in the afternoon hurries for dinner in the evening)

It is unreasonable for a beggar to take choice of what he’s asked. Syn AÊn chöïc coøn ñoøi baùnh chöng (A sponger wants to have a rice cake)

Cp Beggars cannot be choosers. AÊn maën noùi ngay coøn hôn aên chay noùi doái (Better eat meat and speak openly than keep fast and tell lies)

Falsity is blamable in the social relations Cp Honesty is the best policy. AÊn mieáng, tieáng aên

(Eating is eating though eating a of a morsel only)

A blow taken will be given Cp Tit for tat (is a fair play) An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. AÊn moät baùt chaùo chaïy ba quaõng ñoàng (He has to run over three plots of fields to eat a bowl of gruel)

It’s not worth going too far to attend a feast. Cp The game is no worth the candle. AÊn moät mieáng, tieáng moät ñôøi (His eating of a morsel smears his name all his life!)

An ill-gotten gain though small can destroy completely a good fame.

AÊn moät mình ñau töùc, laøm moät mình cöïc thaân (Those who eats alone feel stuck and those who works alone think they are in bad luck)

Loneliness never brings joys and happiness.

AÊn muoái coøn hôn chuoái chaùt (Better have salt than unripe bananas for meals)

One should choose the better of rw bad things. Cp Of two evils choose the less. AÊn nhö roàng cuoán, noùi nhnö roàng leo, laøm nhö meøo möûa (He who eats as a dragon sweeps and speaks as a dragon climbs, works as a cat vomits)

Good eaters and speakers are often bad workers. Syn AÊn nhö roàng cuoän, laøm nhö caø cuoáng loäi nöôùc (He who eats as a dragon sweeps works as a coleopteron swims) AÊn coã ñi tröôùc, loäi nöôùc ñi sau (He is the first to go for feasts and the last to pass streams) AÊn ñaøn anh, laøm ñaøn em (He is the elder brother at meals and the younger one at work)

AÊn nhö thuyeàn chôû maõ, laøm nhö aû chôi traêng (He who eats as a boat carries paper articles for ancestral rituals works as a prostitute walks in the moonlight)

Cp Eating and scratching wants but a beginning. Criticism is easy and art is difficult. AÊn phaûi nhai, noùi phaûi nghó (Eating needs chewing and speaking needs thingking)

One should think carefully before uttering. Syn Uoán löôõi baûy laàn tröôùc khi noùi (Curl your tongue seven times before speaking)

Choù ba quanh môùi naèm, ngöôøi ba laêm môùi noùi (A dog never lies until it’s made three tours and a man never speaks until he’s cleared his throat three times) Chim khoân tieác loâng, ngöôøi khoân tieác noùi (A wise bird spares its feathers and a clever man spares his words) AÊn no loøng, noùi maát loøng (Eating makes one’s stomach full and speaking makes one’s heart hurt) Cp First think, then speak.

AÊn quaû nhôù keû troàng caây (Recall the grower of the tree you take it’s fruit)

One should be grateful to his benefactor. Syn Uoáng nöôùc nhôù nguoàn (Recall the source of the water you drink from)

Cp Never cast dirt into that fountain of which you have sometimes drunk AÊn troäm aên cöôùp thaønh Phaät thaønh tieân Ñi chuøa ñi chieàn baùn thaân baát toaïi (The thieves become Buddhas whreas the devotees get hemipegia)

There is a paradox that the mean and cruel often get fortunes and the noble and kind-hearted get misfortunes. Syn Con ñó leân baø, boõ giaø neân oâng. (A prostitute becomes a lady and an old servant becomes a gentleman)

Cp A thief passes for a gentleman when stealing has made him rich. AÊn troâng noài, ngoài troâng höôùng (Sometimes take a look into the kettle when you’re eating and choose the right direction for your sitting)

When being with others, one should know how to conduct himself well.

AÊn voùc, hoïc hay (He who eats much, learns well)

Children should eat much to get good health for learning. Cp A strong mind is in a strong body.

AÊn vuïng choùng no (A stealthy eating soon makes the stomach full)

In a stealthy sexual intercourse, a woman often gets pregnant.

AÊn vuïng khoâng bieát chuøi meùp (He who eats stealthily knows not how to wipe out his mouth)

An evildoer may not know how to erase his traces.

B Ba baø, chín chuyeän (Three ladies together make nine troubles)

Woman is talkative and gossipy. Cp Two is company but three is none. Ba beø, baûy boái (Three parties breed seven scandals)

Division makes an unstable situation. Cp United we stand, divided we fall. Ba oâng thôï da baèng oâng Gia Caùt Löôïng (Three cobblers equal one Gia Caùt Löôïng [Gia Caùt Löôïng is a man of great talents who lived in the late Han dynasty of China])

Several ordinary people together can make out good ideas. Syn Tam ngu thaønh hieàn (Three fools together become a wise man) Cp Two heads are better than one.

Ba thaùng troâng caây khoâng baèng ba ngaøy troâng quaû (Three months’ longing for the tree growing is not worth one day’s waiting for its fruits born)

Everyone longs for the result of what he’s doing.

Baø chuùa ñöùt tay baèng aên maøy xoå ruoät (A small cut of the quuen’s finger is as worse as an open wound of a beggar’s belly)

The rich usually make noise of their small pains. Syn Nhaø giaøu phaûi gai moàng tôi baèng nhaø ngheøo phaûi caùi raêng böøa (A malabar night-shade thorn’s hitting of a rich man is as serious as a harrow tooth’s hitting of a poor man)

Baø chuùa phaûi gai baèng thuyeàn chìa xoå ruoät (A thorn’s hitting of the queen is as worse as an open wound of a fisherman)

Baø tieàn baø thoùc, baø coùc gì ai (You are the lady of nobody but rice and money)

Many people of high class are respected not for their talents or virtues but wealth.

Baøn tay ai cuõng coù ngoùn daøi ngoùn ngaén (Nobody has all fingers of the same length) Every family may have a bad child / Members of a group have not the same ability. Syn Mía coù ñoát saâu, ñoát laønh (A sugar cane may have some decayed joints)

Baøn tay khoâng che noåi maët trôøi (He can’t hide the sun with his hands)

Cp Every family has a black sheep Nobody can conceal the truth. Baùn anh em xa, mua laùng gieàng gaàn (He who sells his distant brothers buys his near neighbors)

One should make a good relationship with his neighbors.

Baùn boø, taäu eãnh öông (He who sells a cow buys a frog)

One may get great losses in business.

Baùn chòu, maát moái haøng (He who sells on credit loses his customers)

Customers who buy on credit may not come bac to the shop for they don’t want to pay or arre not able to pay.

Baùn haøng noùi thaùch, laøm khaùch traû reû (Sellers often overstate the prices of their goods and buyers often lower them down)

Everyone wants a good bargain.

Baùt ñuõa coøn coù khi xoâ (The dishes sometimes hit)

In their family life, husbands and wives may have quarrels.

Baùt nöôùc ñoå ñi roài khoâng hoát ñaày laïi ñöôïc (Nobody can get back a bowful of the spilled water)

Broken relations are difficult to be healed Syn Gaïo ñoå boác chaúng ñaày thöng (Nobody can make the bushel full again with its spilled rice)

Cp A broken friendship may be saved but never be sound. Baûy möôi chöa queø chôù khoe raèng toát (Don’t say you’re out of danger even though your legs haven’t been broken at the age of seventy)

Nobody can foresee and confirm his future. Cp In the evening, one may praise the day. Baûy möôi coøn hoïc baûy möôi moát (A man of seventy still learn a man of seventy one)

One must learn all his life / One still learns something from a man of a bit greater talent. Cp It is never too late to learn.

Baéc caàu maø noi, khoâng ai baéc caàu maø loäi (Nobody makes a bridge to go under) Everyone hopes to receive the good result from his work. Baén buïi tre, deø buïi hoùp (Beware of the reeds when you’re moving away the bamboos)

When working on something, one should take care of others around it. / When fighting against a rival, one should take care of his cliques. Syn Cheùm tre phaûi deø ñaàu maët (He who chops the bamboo should take care of its joints.)

Baèng maët, khoâng baèng long. (Satisfied on face, unsatisfied in mind)

Sweet words may not come from the heart Syn Tröôùc maët oâng sö, sao long thaèng Ngoâ (He who calls ambassador in his presence is called a foolish Chinese in his absence)

Cp He that fears you present will hate you absent. Baét chaúng ñöôïc, tha laøm phuùc

A child who is not well-educated when young will be depraved when grown up. Syn Non chaúng uoán, giaø noå ñoát (A bamboo that is not bent in youth will get its joints broken in later bending)

Cp Train up a child in the way he should go. Beù ngöôøi, to con maét (His body is small but his eyes are big)

Men of no (great) talent are usually thirsty for a high position. One’s ambition is always greater than his ability. Syn Maét to hôn ngöôøi (His eyes are bigger than his body). Beù thì con meï con cha, lôùn thì con vua con chuùa (When young he is his parents’ son, when grown up he’s king’s)

Everyone must be in service of his government and country

Beänh quyû, thuoác tieân (A devil’s disease needs fairy’s herbs)

Desperate diseases need special treatments / problems need artful settlements. Cp Desperate diseases must have desperate remedies.

Puzzling

(He who can’t catch it says forgiving)

One may pretend to be kind-hearted when he’s not able to do harm. Cp The grapes are sour, as the fox said when he could not reach them. Baét coïp khoù, thaû coïp deã (It is easy to free a tiger but difficult to trap it)

A dangerous prisoner should carefully be kept.

Bó cöïc, thaùi lai. (Prosperity will come when misfortune has reached its limit)

Nobody is in poverty all his life. Syn Khoå taän, cam lai (As the bitter is ended, then comes the sweet) Ñaát coù tuaàn, daân coù vaän (Lands have their turns and people have their chances)

Trôøi chaúng ñoùng cöûa nhaø ai (God never shuts anyhbody’s door)

Baát nhaân, trí ñoaûn (Short in size, short in mind)

A narrow-minded man has no great ideas. Cp A little pot is soon hot. Baát ñoäc, baát anh huøng (No cruelty, no heroes)

Cp After rain comes fair weather. Bieát ngheà gì, khoå ngheà aáy (He suffers from the occupations he knows)

The more occupations a man knows, the more he is asked for help. Cp Too much knowledge makes the head bald.

In a wicked man’s mind, to reach his aim, one should be savage and cruel to others. Cp All is fair in love and war.

Bieát soáng ñeán mai, ñeå cuû h oai ñeán saùng

Beù ñi caâu, lôùn ñi haàu

There is no certainty in one’s life. Cp Take no thought for the morrow.

(A fisher is childhood, a servant in manhood)

Those who are vagavonds in their childhood will live a misery life. Cp Live and learn. Beù khoâng vin, caû gaõy ngaønh (The tree that is not bent when young will break in later bending)

(He who doesn’t know he can be alive till tomorrow will not spare the potatoes today)

Boø aên maï thì daï boø hay (The cow that grazes the rice-plants, knows it itself)

Nobody but an evil-doer knows best about the evil-doing. Cp Everyone knows best where his own shoe pinches.

Boù duõa choïn coät côø

Buïng ñoùi, cuû chuoái cuõng ngon.

(Choose a flg pole among the chopsticks)

(He who is hungry has a good appetite with the banana butt)

Among the ordinary people, a bit- talented man can be their chief. Syn Khoâng voi, boø laøm lôùn. (Where there are no elephants, a bull is king.)

Cp Among the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Boû thì thöông, vöông thì toäi (Abandonment causes pity but l ove makes troubles heavy)

Nobody can drop what or who he still loves.

Boùc ngaén, caén daøi (Short in peeling, long in biting)

One may spend more tha his earning.

Boùi ra ma, queùt nhaø ra raùc (Themore he tells fortunes the more gjhosts appear, and the more he sweeps the more rubbishes come out)

Fortune-telling breeds just anxiety and is not worth believing.

Boùi reû coøn hôn ngoài khoâng (Better tell fortunes for someone at a low price than sit idle)

Better get a small benefit than get nothing. Cp Better a mouse in the pot than no flesh at all. Boà duïc chaám maém caùy (The kidney is eaten with spider crab sauce)

It’s a pity that a good thing goes in pair with a bad one. Cp Extremes meet. Boà duïc ñaâu ñeán baøn thöù naêm (The kidney is never brought to the fifth table)

Men of lower ranks never get good shares. Cp The race is to the swift. Bôõn quaù hoaù that (Too much jest turns into reality)

A hungry man denies nothing. Cp Hunger is the best sauce. Buïng ñoùi, tai ñieác (When hungry, he is deaf)

When in poverty, one may care no laws and reasons. Syn Cuøng quaù hoùa lieàu (He who is in misery will be rash) Cp A hungry belly has no ears. Buïng laøm daï chòu (The stomach endures the result of what his belly has done)

Nobody but the doer takes the consequence of his work. Syn Thaân laøm toäi ñôøi (His body tortures his soul) Cp Nobody’s enemy but his own. Buoân taøu baùn beø khoâng baèng aên deø haø tieän. (Even trading by ship is not so good as thrift)

Thrift is the best way to run a steady life. Syn Phí cuûa trôøi, muoân ñôøi chaúng coù (A prodigal never has any) Cp A penny saved is a penny gained. Buoàn nguû laïi gaëp chieáu manh (A sleepy nam comes across a mat) One is lucky to suddenly get what he is long for. Buùt sa, gaø cheát (Writes down the pen, gets killed a hen)

Nothing can be changed after a written agreement has been made. Cp Never write what you dare not sign. Buït cheâ oaûn chieâm (The Buddha refuses the sacrificial truncated cone-shaped cookies made of summer rice)

Even a poor man sometimes refuses a poor thing.

Very often a joke of something may bring it into reality. Syn Ñuøa quaù hoùa that (ditto)

Buït khoâng theøm aên maøy ma

Buïng ñoùi, caät reùt

An honorable man never begs a favor of a cad Cp A gentlemen keeps his integrity even in poverty.

(The empty belly makes the b ack frozen)

(The Buddha never begs anything from the ghost)

The more hungry a man is, the colder he feels. Cp There is no ill in life that is no worse without bread.

Buït treân toøa, gaø naøo moå maét

Buïng ñoùi, ñaàu goái phaûi boø

The inferiors dare disobey their superior for he doesn’t conduct himself well. Syn Thöôïng baát chính, haï taéc loaïn (The superior’s evil doings breed

(He who is hungry crawls on his knees)

A hungry man has to do even a humble job. Cp Hunger breaks stone walls.

(Which cock dares to peck Buddha’s eyes when he is on the throne?)

the inferior’s rebellions)

Laøm keû caû phaûi ngaû maët leân (He who is the superior has to turn his face up)

Cp He is not fit to command others that cannot command himself. Böôùc chaân ñi caám kyø trôû laïi (Remember not to return here when you’ve left)

One never wants to link again the relation with those who’ve left him.

C Caø cuoáng cheát ñeán ñít vaãn coøn cay (The coleopteron is hot even when death comes to its tail)

A stubborn man is stubborn to his death. Cp The wolf may change his coat, but not his disposition. Caù chuoái ñaém ñuoái vì con (For her children, a trout can be drown)

Parents can sacrifice all for their children. Cp A child may have too much of his mother’s blessing. Caù lôùn nuoát caù beù (Big fish eat small ones)

The strong and rich often oppress the poor and weak. Syn Coùc laøm toäi nhaùi, nhaùi laøm toäi eãnh öông. (The toad mistreats the frog, the frog in turn mistreats the tree-toad)

Cp Dog eats dog.

Caù thoái raén xöông (A stinking fish has hard bones)

A bad-tempered man is oftentimes stubborn. Cp A cat has nine lives. Caù vaøo ao ai, ngöôøi aáy ñöôïc (The owner of the fish is the owner of the pond the fish has swum in)

Whatever in the scope of a man’s sovereignty his property. Cp Findings are keepings. Caû giaän maát khoân (He who is too angry has not wit)

Anger may mislead a man’s deeds. Syn No maát ngon, giaän maát khoân (His full stomach loses his appetite and his anger loses his wit)

Caû gioù, taét ñuoác (A strong wind will blow out the torch)

A overstrain will bring about a breakdown. Syn Giaø neùo ñöùt daây (Tight fastening breaks the strings) Cp It is the last straw that breaks the camel’s back. Caû theøm, choùng chaùn

(The longer he desires, the sooner he’s tired of)

After having been satisfied, a great ambition may soon die out Cp Soon hot, soon cold. Caû voán, lôùn laõi (Great capitals breed great interests)

The more investments a man has, the more dividends he gets. Cp Much will have more. Caû vuù laáp mieäng em (A big breast can fill up the child’s mouth)

One can shut up his oponent’s mouth with a long talk / A big bribe can keep anybody silent. Cp Every man has his price. Caùi khoù boù caùi khoân (Poverty binds wisdom fast)

The poor can’t realize their desires and plans though they are full of talents and capacities.

Caùi khoù loù caùi khoân (Difficulty forces out wisdom)

Difficulties and hardships train a man’s wit. Cp Adversity is a great schoolmaster. Caùi kim trong boïc laâu ngaøy cuõng phaûi loøi ra (Sooner or later, the needle will come out of the rag)

All secrets will be out. Cp What is done by night, appears by day. Caùi neát ñaùnh cheát khoâng chöøa

(Man’s nature never submits even when beaten to death) Syn Chöùng naøo taät naáy (He commits again his old mistake) Ngöïa quen ñöôøng cuõ (A horse will come back to it’s old path) Baø vaõi chaúng khoûi laàn leân chuøa (A Buddhist nun will go to the Buddhist temple) Chöøa, muøa döa laïi traûy (The chief said to give up but when the season of mellon came, he stole them again) Meøo laïi hoaøn meøo (At last, a cat comes back to its skin) AÊn caép quen tay, nguû ngaøy quen maét (A thief’s hand gets a habit of stealing as well as a sleeper’s eye get a habit of closing)

Cp The wolf may loose his teeth but never his nature. Caùi raêng caùi toùc laø goùc con ngöôøi (His teeth and hair are a quarter of his body)

One’s teeth and hair play a very important part in his appearance.

Caùi saûy naûy caùi ung (A prickly heat turns into an abscess)

Out of care, a trivial damage can become serious.

Cp A small leak will sink a great ship. Caøng quen caøng leøn cho ñau (The more he’s acquainted with you, the more he squeezes you)

A bad man often makes use of his relation with others to squeeze them.

Cao leã, deã thöa (A big present leads to an open talk)

One may not change anything after a lonsg and hard work. Syn Caâu haøo, thaû raõnh (He who catches the fish in the ditch, frees them in the trench)

Caàu ñöôïc, öôùc thaáy (He’ll get what he truly asks for and see what he truly wishes)

What one truly hopes for will come to him. Cp Talk of the devil and he is sure to appear.

With a big bribe, one may get what he can’t in an ordinary way. Syn Toát leã, deã van (ditto) Trôn boït, loït laïch (A thing slippery passes the slot easily)

Caàu ngöôøi, neå maët

Caùo cheát ba naêm coøn quay ñaàu veà nuùi

Caây caøng cao thì gioù caøng lay

(The fox that has been dead for t here years still turns his head to the mountain)

Nobody can forget his homeland. Syn Laù ruing veà coäi (The leaves fall down to the foot of the tree) Cp East or West, home is best.

(He who calls on, shows his respect first)

One should have a proper respect to someone he needs.

(The higher a tree is, the more it’s shaken by the wind)

The higher position a man gets, the more he’s envied and attacked. Cp The highest heads are the most exposed. Caây coù coäi, nöôùc coù nguoàn

Caùo cheát ñeå da, ngöôøi ta cheát ñeå tieáng (A dead fox leaves its skin, a dead man leaves his name)

A man’s fame, though good or bad, is still alive even when he’s dead. Syn Baùo cheát ñeå da, ngöôøi ta cheát ñeå tieáng (A dead panther leaves its skin, a dead man leaves his name)

Cau giaø dao saéc laïi non

(The tree has its roots and the water has its source)

Everything has its source and everybody has his ancestry. Syn Con coù cha coù meï, khong ai ôû loã neû chui leân (Nobody comes from a hole but his parents)

Caây muoán laëng, gioù chaúng muoán döøng (The tree wants to stand still but the wind has no will)

Not all people want to live in peace.

(An old betel nut becomes young under a sharp knife)

With his talents and good methods, one can alter a bad situation for the better.

Caây vaïy hay gheùt möïc taøu (A deformed log o ften hates the chalkline)

The bad never like the good.

Caét daây baàu bí, chaúng ai caét daây chò daây em (Nobody cuts the ties to her sisters but the calabash vines)

The relation among members of a family is never cut off. Cp Blood is blood.

Caäy thaàn phaûi neå caây ña (He who asks for the favor of the banyan tree’s God has to respect it)

Those who want to ask for someone’s help have to please his servant first.

Caån taéc voâ uu (His care brings peace to his mind)

Precaution is a precious quality one should have to avoid troubles. Syn AÊn caù boû xöông, aên quaû boû hoät (Chew fish off bones, chew pulp off seeds)

AÊn toâm caén ñaàu, aên traàu nhaû baõ (Cut off the shrimp’s head before eating, and leave off the remain of the betel after chewing) Cheû tre, nghe ngoùng (Listen to the sound from the bamboo when you split it)

Cp Caution is the parent of safety. Caâu chuoâm, thaû ao

(He who catches the fish in the pond, frees them in the pool)

Cha chung khoâng ai khoùc (No children mourn their common father’s death) Nobody cares for the public affair. Cp A public hall is never swept. Cha giaø con coïc (An old father, an undersized son)

Old people aren’t able to breed storng and healthy children.

Cha hoå mang ñeû con thìu ñìu (The cobra may breed a grass snake)

A coward may come from the brave. Cp Many a good cow has an evil (bad) calf.

Cp It is easy to bear the misfortunes of others. Cha meï giaøu, con coù; cha meï khoù, con khoâng (Children from the rich will be rich and children from the poor will be poor)

The rich can help their children with wealth but the poor can’t.

Cha meï noùi oan, quan noùi hieáp, choàng coù nghieäp noùi thöøa (Parents slander, mandarins say huffily, and husbands overstate)

Superiors can say anything wrong about inferiors / In old time, women had to suffer from all the injustice.

Cha meï sinh con, trôøi sinh tính. (His body was born by his parents but his nature was born in Heaven)

Everyone has his own nature. Cp All men do not follow in the footsteps of their forebears. Cha naøo, con naáy (Like parent, like child)

The young generation inherit its elder one’s characteristics. Syn Thaày naøo, troø naáy (Like teacher, like pupil) Rau naøo, saâu naáy (Like vegetable, like worm) Gioû nhaø ai, quai nhaø aáy (Like basket, like grip) Gioáng naøo noù vaøo gioáng naáy (Every sort has its own nature) Con nhaø toân, khoâng gioáng loâng cuõng gioáng caùnh (Coming from a good nest, the birdie that doesn’t resemble its arents by feathers still resembles by wings)

Cp As the tree so as the fruit.

Cha sinh khoâng taøy meï döôõng (The father’s begetting of a child doesn’t equal the mother’s nursing)

The mother’s nursing of a child is not comparable.

Chaùu baø noäi, toäi baø ngoaïi (He is his paternal grandmother’s grandson but his maternal grandmothers’ debt)

People serve their paternal grandparents on duty but when young they were often nursed by their maternal ones.

Chaùu noù luù, chuù noù khoân (He’s foolish but his uncle’s wise)

In a family or group of people there must be at least a wise man. Syn Chò daïi ñaõ coù em khoân (She is foolish but her youger sister is not)

Chaùy nhaø haøng xoùm, bình chaân nhö vaïi (He stands as firm as a jar even when his neighbors house is on fire)

A selfish man is usually indifferent to other’s misfortunes/fire. Syn Cuù coù cuù aên, voï khoâng coù voï laên ra cheát (The screech owl has food, so he eats; the barn owl has no food, so he dies)

Chaïy trôøi khoâng khoûi soá (Never run out of destiny those who are of mortality)

Every man has his own fate Syn Chaïy trôøi khoâng khoûi naéng (Nobody can run out of the sun’s shining)

AÊn maøy caàm tính bò gaäy (A beggar is born under the sign of bags and sticks)

Ñaøn anh coù maû, keû caû coù doøng (This man is appointed chieftain by his ancestry’s grave, and that man is chosen the superior by his race)

Cp No flying from fate.

Chaéc quaù hoùa leùp (Too solid is hollow)

One shouln’t ask for a quite perfect thing because it’s impossible. Syn Toát quaù hoùa leùp (The rice plants that grow too fast will fall) Giaø keùn, keïn hom (The more he chooses, the worse he gets) Tính giaø hoùa non (Careful calculation may come to nought) Caây choïn maát laù, caù choïn maát vaây (A chosen tree has no leaves,m a chosen fish has no scales)

Cheâ cam sanah, gaëp quít hoâi (He who finds fault with a thickkinned orange takes a sour tangerine)

Cheâ thaèng moat chai, phaûi thaèng hai naäm (She that has divorced the drundard of one bottle, gets married to the drunkard of two vials)

Cheâ choàng tröôùc ñaùnh ñau, gaëp choàng sau mau ñaùnh

(She that divorced the strongly beating husband gets married to the regularly beating one)

Cp Too much of a good thing is good for nothing. Chaúng cheâ, maát leà con gaùi

(She that doesn’t find fault with any boy is not called a decent girl)

No girls accept a man’s proosal in the first time.

Chaúng ngon cuõng soát, chaúng toát cuõng môùi (It’s hot though may not be delicious, it’s new though may not be good)

Anything new can draw a great attention Cp Everyone has a penny to spend at a new ale house. Chaúng oám chaúng ñau laøm giaøu maáy choác (Without illness and diseases, one soon be rich)

One is partly poor for his illness and diseases.

Chaúng phaûi daïy ñó veùn vaùy (It’s not necessary to teach a prostitute how to curl her skirt up)

It’s no need to advise a skillful working man in his job Cp Don’t teach fishes to swim.

Chaúng thieâng ai goïi laø thaàn

Cp All that live must die.

(Who calls him God if he’s not sacred?)

Those who are in high ositions must have certain authority.

Chaân toát vì haøi, tai toát vì hoaõn (Owing to the shoes, her feet look nice and owing to the ear-drops, her ears look fine)

One’s more beautiful with adornments. Syn Ngöôøi ñeïp vì luïa, luùa toát vì phaân (People are pretty with silk and rice grows fine with namure)

Chaâu chaáu ñaù xe (A grasshopper dares kick a cart)

It’s unreasonable for the weak to fight against the strong. Syn Chaâu chaáu ñaù voi (A grasshopper dares kick an elephant) Coø goã moå coø thaät (A wooden stork dares peck a real one) Cheû voû khoâng baèng ñoû vaän (To work honestly is not as good as to meet fortunes)

Men of fortunes may live a happier life than hard-working men.

Cheát ñuoái vôù ñöôïc coïc (Tha drowning man catches a pole0

Its lucky for a man to meet fortunes in his abject poverty.

Cheát ñuoái vôù phaûi boït (The drown man catches foams) It’s unlucky for the man who is at the dead end to get an unreliable help. Cheát laø heát (Death is a full stop)

Death ends everything. Cp Death ends all things.

Cheát trong coøn hôn soáng ñuïc (Better die purely than live muddily)

Better die in honor than live in dishonor. Cp Better die on your feet than live on your knees. Chæ ñaâu maø buoäc chaân voi (There are not enough threads to tie an elephant’s legs)

Nothing and nobody can stop those who wants constantly to go on his own way.

Chò ngaõ em naâng (When the elder sister falls, the younger one will help her up)

One should help another in needs. Syn Laù laønh ñuøm laù raùch (The untorn leaf should cover the torn one). Chim coù caùnh, caù coù vaûy (Birds have wings, and fish have fins) Everyone has his own ability and tricks. Syn Cua coù oùc, coùc coù gan (Crabs have roe and toads have liver) Boáng coù gan boáng, bôùp coù gan bôùp (A gudgeon has its liver as well as a goby has its own)

Chim ñaäu chaúng baét, baét chim bay (He doesn’t catch the sitting bird but tries to catch the flying one)

One may not get an easy job to do but takes a difficult one.

Chim khoân ai nôõ baén, ngöôøi khoân ai nôõ noùi naëng (Who has the heart to shoot a clever bird and to blame a wise man?)

Nobody mistreats a man of good behavior. Syn Meøo laønh ai nôõ caét tai (Nobody has the heart to cut a good cat’s ears)

Cheát laø heát nôï

Chín ngöôøi, möôøi yù

(Death quits all debts)

(Nine men have ten opinions)

Cheát soâng cheát suoái, khoâng ai cheát ñoïi neon

Choù caén aùo raùch

(Nobody drowns in an oillamp bubl but into rivers and strams)

(The dog bit nothing but the rag)

One has no more worries when he’s dead. Cp Death pays all debts.

One cannot die of petty disasters.

Cheát treû hôn laáy leõ

Everyone has his own mind Cp So many men, so many minds.

Misfortunes often fall on nobody but the poor. Syn Ñaõ khoù, choù caén theâm (The dog adds a bite to a poor man).

(Better die yong than ba a concubine)

A concubine’s life is very sad.

Cheát treû, khoeû ma

AÊn maøy ñaùnh ñoå caàu ao (The beggar clumsily overturns his food on the washing platform of the pont)

Cp It never rains but it pours.

(He who dies young will be a healthy ghost)

One doesn’t fear death.

Choù caäy gaàn nhaø, gaø caäy gaàn chuoàng

(A dog puts on air by its house and a cock by its coop)

A coward becomes brave just where he can get a rescue. Cp A cock is valiant on his own dunghill. Choù cheâ meøo laém loâng

Syn Meøo muø vôù xcaù raùn (The blind cat caught a fried fish) Choù ngoài baøn ñoäc (The dog sits on the altar)

Men of no talent and virtue may be in high position.

(The dog calls the cat a pussy)

It’s ridiculous that men of the same defect blame another for it. Syn Chuoät chuø cheâ khæ raèng hoâi (The musk rat laughs at the monkey’s smell)

Vua beáp cheá oâng nhoï moàm. (The Kitchen God blames that one black-mouthed)

Cp The pot calls the kettle black. Choù cheát, heát caén (A dead dog can’t bite)

An evil-doer can’t do anybody harm when he’s dead.

Choù cheát, heát chuyeän (No more talk when the dog’s dead)

No more gossiper, no more troubles.

Choù cuõng caén daäu (At the dead end, the dog bites even a fence)

At the dead end, one may become dangerous.

Choù daïi coù muøa, ngöôøi daïi quanh naêm (Dogs are mad by seson but men all the year round)

Fools can be found at any time / A fool is always a fool.

Choù gheû coù môõ ñaèng ñuoâi (The mange dog has fat at its tail)

A cruel man may pretend to be kind-hearted.

Choù nhaø queâ ñoøi aên maém möïc (The countryside dog is asking for cuttle fish sauce)

It’s blamable for those who are in the low position to ask for greater shares.

Choù æa baøn côø, dô maët töôùng (The general gets dirty when a dog emits its excrement on the chessboard)

The superior gets shame for his men’s wrong-doings.

Choàng khoân vôï ñöôïc ñi haøi (She who has a wise husband has shoes to go with)

Women depend much on their husbands.

Choàng nhö ñoù, vôï nhö hom (Husbands are baskets and wives are their lids)

Husbands make money and wives manage it.

Choàng yeâu, xoå chaân loã muõi (She who is much loved by her husband puts her feet into his nostrils)

When getting her husband’s ardent love, a bad wife forget her right behavior.

Chôø ñöôïc vaï, maù ñaõ söng (His cheeks have been swollen when comes the compensation)

Compensation always comes later than loss. Syn Chôø ñöôïc maõ thì raõ ñaùm (The funeral has dispersed when come the paper articles).

Choù gheùt ñöùa gaêm xöông, meøo thöông ngöôøi hay nhöû

Cp After supper, mustard.

(Dogs dislike a gnawer and cats like a lurer)

Chôù thaáy ñoû maø ngôõ laø chin

One hates those hwo vie with him for gains but likes those who falter him.

Choù giaø giöõ xöông (The old dog jealously guards the bone)

People of incapacity often don’t want to leave their positions to others. Choù giöõ nhaø, gaø gaùy troáng canh (The dog looks after the house and the cock warns the time)

Everyone has his own function and use.

Choù ngaùp phaûi ruoài (The dog caught a fly by its gaping)

A man of talent may gain a victory owing to his good luck.

(Don’t mind the fruit is ripen though it looks red)

The nature is not all the time in accord with the form. Syn Xanh voû ñoû long (Green outside, red inside) Cp All that glitters is not gold. Chôù thaáy soùng caû maø ngaû tay cheøo (Never put off the paddle even in big waves)

One shouldn’t give up struggling for his life. Cp Grasp the nettle and it won’t sting you. Chôï chöa hoïp, keû caép ñaõ ñeán (The thief has come though the market is not open yet)

When there is a gathering, outsiders often come first.

Chôi choù, choù lieám maët

(The dog will lick your face when you play with it)

One will take liberties when he’s much familiar. Syn Chôi coø, coø moå maét (The stork will pick your eye when you play with it)

Cp Familiarity breeds contempt. Chôi dao saéc coù ngaøy ñöùt tay (He who plays with a sharp knife will certainly be cut)

A contact with dangerous consequences. Cp Do not play with edged tools.

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Chuû vaéng nhaø, gaø voïc nieâu toâm (When its host is away, the cock pokes its beak into the port of shrimps)

Inferiors often do wrong when they are out of their boss’s control. Syn Vaéng chuû nhaø, gaø böôi beáp (Whe the host is absent, the cock makes mess in the kitchen) Cp Sport as you may while the master’s away. Chuùng khaåu doáng tö, oâng sö cuõng cheát

Thöông gaëm xöông chaúng ñöôïc (He who says love wants to gobble up)

Khaåu Phaät taâm xaø (Buddha’s words but snake’s heart) Caù vaøng buïng boï (The gold fish’s stomach is full of worms) Maët ngöôøi daõ thuù (Man’s facebut beasts’ mind) Cp A fair face may hide a foul heart (soul). Chuoät khoâng hay, hay æa beáp (The cat is bad at hunting mice is good at making mess in the kitchen)

It’s blamable for those who are bad at work and troublesome. Cp It is an ill wind that blows nobody good. Chuoät sa chónh gaïo (The mouse had fallen into the case of rice)

It’s a great fortune for a man to suddenly get a good job or a rich life.

Chuyeän beù xeù ra to (He inflated the small thing into a big one)

It’s a bad manner to make noisae of petty problems / A petty trouble may be turned to be serious.

(Even a monk dies when all say the same)

Even an innocent man can be accused if any witnesses say false against him.

Chöa choïc ñöôïc ñui ñaõ ñoøi boùi gia söï (He who hasn’t blinded himself wants to tell fortunes)

It’s rash for a man to do something that he’s not good at it yet.

Chuoàng chuoàng ñöôïc maáy hoät thòt (How much flesh can be got from a dragonfly?)

A strong man always thinks a weak man can’t K.O. him?) Syn Cun cuùt ñöôïc maáy hoät loâng (How many feathers can be taken from a quail)

Chöa ñaùnh ñöôïc ngöôøi maët ñoû nhö vang, ñaùnh ñöôïc ngöôøi roài maët vaøng nhö ngheä (The face gets red when he hasn’t given his rival a blow yet, and his face turns yellow after he’s given his rival a blow)

(An ondatra has a bell)

An ill-mannered man often teaches others virtues Cp The devil can quote Scripture for his purpose.

A truculent man is always a coward. Syn Meàm naén raén buoâng (He who grabs the soft lets go the hard) Giaø traùi, non hoät (The fruit is ripe but he seeds aren’t) Mieäng huøm gan söùa (Tiger’s mouth, jelly fish’s liver) Cp Cowards are cruel.

Chuoät chuø laïi coù xaï höông

Chöa ñeû ñaõ ñaët teân

Chuoät chuø ñeo ñaïc

(An ondatra has a civet-cat’s musk)

A man of no talent often proves t be talented.

Chuoät chuù neám giaám (An ondatra tastes vinegar)

An unexperienced man often proves to be experienced.

Chuoät ñoäi voû tröùng (A rat puts an eggshell on its head)

A bad man often hides his nature behind an innocent look. Syn Mieäng nam moâ, buïng boà dao gaêm (His mouth’s full of prayers but his belly’s full of daggers) AÉn ñoùng giaû löôn (A snake is in an eel’s skin)

(She who hasn’t born a baby yet has given it a name)

It’s ridiculous for a man to take pride in what he hasn’t made yet. Cp Don’t cackle till your egg is laid. Chöa ñoã oâng ngheø ñaõ ñe haøng toång (He who hasn’t got the doctorate yet threads all the villagers)

It’s oddly for a man to take pride in the merit he hasn’t got yet. Cp Do not boast until your enemy is dead. Chöa hoïc boø ñaõ lo hoïc chaïy (One should not learn to creep yet wants to learn to run)

One should not turn upside down the reasonable orders.

Syn Chöa vôõ boïng cöùt ñaõ doøi bay boång (The bird that has its shit-bladder still wants to fly) Cp Learn to creep before you leap.

Nothing exists without is material base. Syn Coù tích môùi dòch neân troø (No play without its actual story) Coù chí laøm quan, coù gan laøm giaøu

Chöa hoïc laøm daâu ñaõ hay ñaâu laøm meï choàng (She that hasn’t been a daughter-in-law knows not to be a motherin-law) The young and the new can’t know all things.

(Those who have an ambition will become mandarins and those who are daring will become rich)

Chöa hoïc laøm xaõ dsaõ hoïc aên bout

Coù chí thì neân

(He who hasn’t learned to be a village chief wants to be a squeezer)

Even a man of low position wants to convert funds to his own use.

Chöa noùng nöôùc ñaõ ñoû goïng (Its pincers have turned red even when the water is not hot yet)

A coward gets frightened even when the danger has not come.

Chöa thaønh taøi ñaõ thaønh taät (He whose talent is not perfect yet has got deflective)

It’s blamable for those that haven’t learned to do well yet want to do wrong. Syn Chöa taäp baét chuoät ñaõ taäp æa beáp (The cat that doesn’t train itself in hunting mice has practiced in making mess in the kitchen)

Chöûi cha khoâng baèng pha tieáng (Cursing is not worse than voice imitating)

Nobody can bear a mocking at his dialect or voice (His stable settlement makes his business prosperous) Settlement is the first thing that one must think of in his life.

Coù aên nhaït môùi thöông ñeán meøo (He takes pity on the cat who feels the food flat)

One is sympathetic for a miserable man only when he’s experienced misery. Syn Doác boà thöông keû aên ñong (When he is riceless he takes pity on those who live in need)

Cp He that is warm thinks all so. Coù aên coù choïi môùi goïi laø traâu (A grass grazing animal is called buffalo just when he knows fighting)

One must confirm himself by his deeds.

Coù beänh thì vaùi töù phöông (He who getrs ill begs in all the four directions)

When getting a desperate disease or a complicated problem, one may ask for the treatment everywhere. Cp The drowning man will catch at a straw. Coù boät môùi goät neân hoà (Nobody can make glue without flour)

Those who are patient and brave will reach thir aim. Cp Fortune favors the brave. (He who keeps up his oatience will get successes)

Parience brings successes. Syn Coù coâng maøi saét coù ngaøy neân kim ( A regularly ground piece of iron will become a needle) Nöôùc chaûy ñaù moøn (A running water wears away stones) Laâu ngaøy laù daâu thaønh luïa (After a long time, the mulberry leaves will be silk) Traêm boù ñuoác cuõng vôù ñöôïc moät con eách (He who spends upone hundred torches will catch a frog)

Coù cuûa thì röûa traêm dô (Wealth can wash off all dirts)

The rich’s ill fame can be washed off with their money. Cp Money makes the mare go. Coù ñaét haøng toâi môùi troâi haøng baø (Your goods can be sold when mine have a large custom)

In business, one should have a close and mutual relationship with the others.

Coù gan laøm, coù gan chòu (He who dares to do a job will take it’s consequence)

A hand that does must be a hand in charge, Syn Coù gan aên caép, coù gan chòu ñoøn (He who dares to rob will challenge the rod)

Cp As you brew so must you drink. Coù gioù lung môùi bieát tuøng baùch cöùng Coù ngoïn löûa löøng môùi bieát thöùc vaøng cao (The strong pinetree is know in a fierce tempest and the high quality gold is known in a great heat)

Dangers and hardships sort out men. Syn Löûa thöû vaøng, gian nan thöû ñöùc (Gold is tested in fire, man’s endurance is tested in hardships)

Dao thöû traàu beùo, keùo thöû luïa soâ (A knife is tested with a wither betelpalm, and scissors are tested with coarse silk) Voâ hoaïn naïn baát anh huøng (No misfortunes, no heroes)

Cp A friend in need is a friend in deed. Calamity is man’s true touchstone.

Coù hoïc môùi hay, coù caøy môùi bieát (He gets knowledge in learning and knows how to work in tilling)

Study and work perfect a man. Cp Knowledge is power Practice makes perfect.

Coù moám thì caép, coù naép thì ñaäy (Shut your mouth and put the lid on)

One shouldn’t boast too much as well as babble about others’ affair. Cp Keep your mouth shut and your ears open. Coù môùi nôùi cuõ (The new he gets, the old he forgets)

One often forgets the old when he gets the new and the better. Syn Coù the queân luïa, coù vaøng queân thau (The gauze he gets, the

Syn Nhaát só nhì noâng, heát gaïo chaïy roâng, nhaát noâng nhì só (Scholars are in high position and farmers are in the low one only when there is no want of rice)

Coù söøng thì ñöøng coù nanh (Don’t long for a fang when you have a horn)

Don’t try to oppress others when you are strong enough to protect yourself.

Coù taät, giaät mình (He who omits a fault often gets startled)

A hidden fault is a constant worry. Syn Coù taät giaät minh, coù tình kinh trong buïng (He who commits a fault gets startled, he who falls in a stealthy love always lives in fear)

Cp He that has a great nose thinks everyone in speaking of it.

silk he forgets)

Coù thaân môùi coù khoå, coù khoå môùi coù thaân

a calabash)

Coù naêm coù baûy thì toát, coù moät laïi voâ duyeân

Everyone has his own sufferings and misfortunes but due to them he can learn a lot of experiences. Syn Höõu thaân höõu khoå (He who comes into being suffers hardships) Cp Life has its duties ever.

(He half a dozen of children are all good and healthy but his single child is bad ill)

Coù thôø coù thieâng, coù kieâng coù laønh

Chôi traêng queân ñeøn (The moon he admires, the lamp he forgets) Coù bí cheâ baàu laø hoâi (He finds fault with the gourd who has got

A single child is oftentimes unhealthy or ill-bred.

(He who comes into being suffers hardships but hardships forms him)

(Worship breeds sacredness and abstaining breeds safety)

Worship and care bring about fortunes.

Coù nuoâi con môùi bieát loøng cha meï (She who brings up a child knows her parents’ heart)

Only when having experienced hardships in nursing a child, one can know his parents’ love for him. Syn Coù nuoâi con môùi ra loøng meï (She who brings up a child knows

Coù thöïc môùi vöïc ñöôïc ñaïo (First eating then doctrine)

Materials are the basic of spirits. Cp The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.

a mother’s love)

Cp He that has no children knows not what love is. Coù oâng töôùng dôû ñôõ oâng töôùng hay

Coù tieàn khoân nhö maøi maïi, khoâng tieàn daïi nhö thong dong

(A bad general hightens a good one)

(He who is as wise as a man when having money, is as foolish as when having not any)

Coù phuùc laáy ñöôïc daâu hieàn, voâ duyeân laáy pahæ daâu daïi

Coù tieàn, mua tieân cuõng ñöôïc

In comparison with men of no or less ability, a man of great talent can be known.

(Those who are unlucky get a good daughter-in-law, these who are unlucky get a bad one)

A daughter-in-law plays a very important part in her husband’s family.

Coù phuùc thôï moäc thôï neà, voâ phuùc thaày ñeà thaày thoâng (Those who work as carpenters or masons are lucky, and those who work as secretaries or interpreters are unlucky)

Manual labor is a basic and steady means of living.

One is lucid when he has no worries to think of / One can’t do anything or realize any plans when he’s poor. Cp Money talks. (He who has money can buy even a fairy)

When one’s rich, he can have anything he needs. Cp Money makes the mare go. Coù traàu chaúng ñeå moâi thaâm (He hwo havs betels lets not his lips pale)

Everyone gts benefits from the good condition he has.

Coùc cheát laïi coù minh tinh (A dead toad has a strip with his name and title written on in his funeral)

A man of no talent may be hightened up.

One often feels envied with one another just for petty things.

Coùc keâu khoâng thaáu trôøi

Con gaùi laø con boøn

(A toad’s cries don’t reach the sky)

(Daughters are their parents’ squeezers)

The poor and humble never reach justice. Syn Thaáp coå beù mieäng keâu khoâng thaáu trôøi (A short-necked and small-mouthed man’s cries can’t reach the sky)

Cp Truth lies at the bottom of a well. Con caù saåy laø con caù to. (The lost fish is always big)

One often thinks what he has lost is bigger then itself. Cp The apples on the other side of the wall are the sweetest.

Girls often ask their parents’s property for their own family.

Con giun xeùo laém cuõng quaèn (Even a worm withes in a long trample)

There’s a struggle where there’s oppression. Syn Töùc nöôùc vôõ bôø (An overflow will break the dike) Töùc noøng suùng, suùng noå (An overpressure in a gun’s barrel makes it shoot)

Con hôn cha laø nhaø coù phuùc Con chò noù ñi, con dì noù lôùn (After the elder sister gets married, the younger sister will soon be grownup)

After the elder sister gets married, it will soon come her younger sister’s turn.

Con coù cha nhö nhaø coù noùc, con khoâng cha nhö noøng noïc ñöùt ñuoâi (A child withits father is lke a house with its roof on, but a child without its father is like a tailless tabpole)

A child’s father is its protector and adviser.

Con coù meï nhö maêng aáp beï (A child with its mother is like a bambooshoot with its ocreare)

Children have no wrorries in their mother’s love and care.

Con daïi, caùi mang (When the child is mistaken, its mother gets frightened)

Parents always take responsibility of their children’s deeds. Syn Con moáng, soáng chung (When a youth rebels, his father is responsible)

Con ñaõ moïc raêng, noùi naêng chi nöõa (What can you say when your baby’s teeth have came out?)

It’s too late for a man to redo what he’s already done. Cp Let bygones be bygones. Con ñaâu, meï ñaáy (Where live a child, there live its parents)

Parents always live together with their children.

Con gaø toát maõ vì loâng (The cock is good-looking for his fine feathers)

One may be high-valued by his apprearance)

Con gaø töùc nhau tieáng gaùy (The cocks arouse anger with one another just for their crows)

(It’s a family of fortune when the child is wiser than his father)

It’s a great fortune that the younger generationis better than the elder one.

Con hö taïi meï, chaùu hö taïi baø (Owing to his mother, the son becomes bad, owing to her grandmother the granddauther becomes depraved)

Mothers and grandmothers often pamper their children too much. Cp Mother’s darlings but milksop heroes. Con khoân nôû maët meï cha (A clever boy brgightens up his parents’ face)

A clever child is its parents’ pride) Cp Happy is he that is happy in his children. Con khoâng cheâ boá meï khoù, choù khoâng cheâ chuû ngheøo (A child never criticizes his parents’ poverty and a dog never blames its master’s misery)

Nobody forgets his poor parents.

Con khoâng khoùc, meï khoâng cho buù (A mother never feeds her baby when it doesn’t cry)

No asking, no giving.

Con kieán kieän cuû khoai (An ant can’t bring a lawsuit against a potato)

The poor and humble can’t do anything against the rich and powerful.

Con maét laø maët ñoàng caân (Man’s eyes are a balance index)

A wise or experienced man can precisely value an object with his eyes only.

Con moät ñöøng coù ñi ñaày

(An only child shouldn’t go abrard a full bat)

An only child should be kept from dangers. Cp Venture not all in one bottom. Con nhaø lính tính nhaø quan (The servant’s son has a mandarin’s constitution)

It’s blamable for a poor man to follow the rich’s way of living. Syn Con nhaø baán coá caém ñuyoâ tö saûn (The poor farmer’s son has a bourgeois’s tail)

Con nuoâi cha khoâng baèng baø nuoâi oâng (His wife takes care of him better than his children)

A wife takes care of her husband better than a son (daughter) takes care of his (her) father.

Con ruoài ñoã naëng ñoàng caân (Even a fly can make the balance move)

Even a small thing can bring a great help. Cp Little pigeon can carry great messages. Con saâu boû rauaà noài canh (Even a worm spoils the whole pan of soup)

The whole community may get a bad name just for a bad member. Syn Moät ngöôøi laøm ñó xaáu danh ñaøn baø (A prostitute blurs all the women’s names)

An inferior may prove to be more powerful than his superior. Syn Söøng moïc quaù tai (His horns grow longer than his ears) Coác moø, coø xôi (The stork picks up what the cormorant gropes)

The maker may not be the possessor. Syn Cuù keâu, ma aên (The owl screeches and the ghost eats) Cp Fools make feasts and wise men eat them. Côø bí thí toát (He who is driven to dead-end at chess abandons the pawns)

A cruel chieftain at his dead-end dare sacrifice his men to save himself. Cp Don’t swap horses when crossing a stream. Côø ñeán tay ai, ngöôøi aáy phaát (He who gets the banner will be the waver)

One is called a man of talent just for he’s got opportunities to show his talent.

Côm ba baùt, thuoác ba thang (When having a meal you should eat three bowls of rice and when taking medicine you should take three decoctions)

Quantity is also as important as quality. Cp An oak is not fallen with one stroke.

Löôn boø ñeå tanh cho roå (The eel leaves its stink to the basket) Cp Rotten apple injures its neighbors.

Côm khoâng aên, gaïo coøn ñoù

Con vua vua daáu, con chuùa chuùa yeâu

There is no worry of intact things. Syn Gioã chöa laøm, heo coøn ñoù (When the feast is not prepared yet,

(A king loves his son and a lord loves his daughter)

Everyone loves his own children Syn Con voi voi daáu, con chaâu chaáu chaâu chaáu yeâu (An elephant loves his cub and a locust loves her kidling)

Cp The devil’s child, the devil’s luck

Coøn gaø troáng, gaø maùi thì con gaø gioù (When there are cocks and hens there will be chicks)

Things will certainly develop when there wtill exist necessary conditions for their development. Syn Coøn da loâng moïc, coøn choài leân caây (Wool will grow when there is still shin, as well as trees will appear wheõn there are still buds)

Cp Never say die.

Coøn nöôùc coøn taùt (There water remains, there is pumping still) One should not lose his heart in struggling against misfortunes. Cp While there is life, there is hope. Coå to hôn ñaàu (The neck is bigger than the head)

(If the rice is not eaten, it’s still there)

the pig is still in its sty)

Côm nhaø chuùa, muùa toái ngaøy (With the food of his boss, he dances without stop)

Servants have no worries about their daily life / Bureaucratic officials never care for the effect of their work for their salaries are steadily paid.

Côm teû, meï ruoät (Rice is the mother of the belly)

Nothing can replace rice in man’s meals. Syn Côm teû no, xoâi voø chaúng thích (He who is full with ordinary rice dislikes even sticky rice cooked with split peas)

Cp Corn is the stuff of life.

(Note: Rice is the principal foodstuff in the Vietnamese meals)

Côm treo, meøo nhòn ñoùi (The cat is hungry while the rice is hung up)

One may live a miserly life though he’s not poor. Syn AÊn chaùo, ñeå gaïo cho vay (He eats gruel to spare rice for lending)

Cp When the blood sheds, the heart aches. Cuù coù, voï möøng (The barn owl feels happy when the screech owl gets prosperity)

People often share joys with one another.

Cuûa kho, khoâng lo cuõng heát (Without a care, even a storeful property will soon disappear)

One should be hard-woring and take care of his means of living.

Cuù ñoùi aên con (A hungry screech owl eats its owlets)

When one is in need, he can be cruel even to his relatives.

Cuûa khoâng ngon, nhaø nhieàu con cuõng heát (A big family eats up even all poor food)

Children from big families are easily fed up.

Cuù keâu ra ma (When an owl screeches, a ghost will appear)

When a bad man takes part in something, it will certainly be a mess.

Cuõ ngöôøi, môùi ta (It’s old for him but new for me)

This person’s old thing, wife or husband may be considered still good by that one.

Cuûa aên vuïng laø cuûa ngon (Stolen food is delicious)

A stealthy enjoyment brings much more pleaure than an open one. Cp Stolen kisses are sweet. Cuûa beàn taïi ngöôøi (The duration of a thing depends on its user)

To prolong the life of things, one should use them with care.

Cuûa bieáu laø cuûa lo, cuûa cho laø cuûa nôï (A gift is a worry and a present is a debt)

Cuûa laøm ra ñeå treân gaùc, cuûa côø baïc ñeå ngoaøi saân (Wealth gained by working is kept on the upper story and wealth gained by gambling is put out in the yard)

Wealth gained by gambling will soon disappear. Syn Cuûa phuø vaân khoâng chaân maø chaïy (Ill-acquired property can run with no legs.)

Cp Ill-gotten, ill-spent.

Cuûa moät ñoàng, coâng moät neùn. (The thing is worth a piaster but the service is worth a bullion of gold)

One’s effort is sometimes of greater value than his job itself.

Cuûa ngöôøi boà taùt, cuûa mình laïi buoäc (He who is Bodhisatva with other’s properties binds fast his own)

It’s blamable for a man to be generous in spending others’ property but thrifty with his own.

Cuûa ngöôøi, phuùc ta (This man’s property is that m an’s windfall)

It’s ill-mannered to get a good fame by taking a man’s thing to give another.

Gifts and presents just bring troubles to the receivers. Cp The receiver is as bad as the thief.

Cuûa phuø vaân khoâng chaân maø chaïy

Cuûa choàng coâng vôï

Ill-gotten wealth soon disappears Cp Ill-gotten goods never prosper.

(A husband;s wealth is his wife’s merit)

Wives make a great contribution to their families’ prosperity.

Cuûa chua ai thaáy cuõng theøm (Everyone likes a sour fruit)

A beautiful girl can arouse every man’s leve. Cp An open door may tempt a saint. Cuûa ñau, con xoùt (Lost things make man ache)

Everyone feels painful when his things are lost or his relatives come across misfortunes. Syn Tay ñöùt, ruoät xoùt (When the hand is cut, the heart aches) Maùu chaûy ruoät meàm (When the blood sheds, the bowels wither)

(Ill-gotten wealth can run with no legs)

Cuûa reà reà khoâng baèng moät ngheà trong tay (A lot of property is not so good as an occupation at hand)

One’s occupation is his inexhaustible treasure. Cp A useful trade is a mine of gold. Cuûa ruoäng ñaép bôø (The field path is mended with the field’s soil)

The property shifted among members of the same familty is not lost. Syn Loït saøng xuoáng nia (Out of the sift, down into the basket) Saåy vai xuoáng caùnh tay (Out of the shoulder, down on to the arm)

Cuûa vaøo quan nhö than vaøo loø

(Things to a mandarin is as quickly taken as coals to an oven)

Mandarins take all bribes given to them.

Dao naêng lieác naêng saéc (The more a knife is ground, the sharper it is)

Cuûi muïc khoù ñun, choåi cuøn khoù queùt

The more trained, the more perfect. Syn Vaên oân voõ luyeän (Writing needs revising and boxing needs

(It’s difficult to burtn with rotten wood as well as to sweep with blunt brooms)

Cp Practice makes perfect.

People out of date are no longer useful / Depraved people are difficultly led.

Cuûi muïc laønh ñun, choàng ñaàn deã khieán (It’s easy to burn rotten wood as well as to manage a foolish husband)

A foolish husband is easily led.

practicing)

Dao naêng lieác naêng saéc, ngöôøi naêng chaøo naêng quen. (A regularly ground knife is sharp, a regularly met man is familiar)

A regular contact makes familiarity.

Caøy che möa, thöa che gioù Cöù ngöôøi coù toùc, ai cöù ngöôøi troïc ñaàu

(If it’s thick, it prevents rains; if it is thin, it prevents winds)

Everything is useful if we know how to use them.

(Nobody takes a bare-headed man’s hair but a hairy man’s)

Nobody extorts money oiut of th e poor but the rich / Nobody blames a man of low position but one of high position. Syn Naém ngöôøi coù toùc, ai name ngöôøi troïc ñaàu (ditto) Cöïa laém caøng saåy vaûy (The more he moves, the more he hurts)

One may not get out of his own trouble even he’s make great efforts.

Daâu döõ maát hoï, choù döõ maát laùng gieàng (A wicked daughter-in-law frightens away all her husband’s relatives as well as a brutal dog frightens away all it’s master’s neighbors)

A wicked daughter-in-law causes a lot of troubles in her husband’s family. Daâu hieàn hôn con gaùi, reå hieàn hôn con trai (Better a good daughter-in-law or son-in-law than a bad daughter or son in blood)

Cöôøi ba thaùng, khoâng ai cöôøi ba naêm (One can laugh three months but not three years) Nobody jests at a man’s fault too long.

A real child is a good child. Syn Daâu hieàn nen gaùi, reå hieàn neân trai (A good daughter-inlaw or son-in-law becomes a blood one)

Cöôøi ra nöôùc maét

Daâu laø con, reå laø khaùch (His son’s wife is his daughter but his daughter’s husband is his guest)

(Tears run out from laughters)

Bitterness may be hidden in laughters Cp Many a true word is spoken in jest.

D

One has the right to educate his daughter-in-law but has not to his son-in-law.

Daãu ñaét, caét ra mieáng (Though it’s expensive, it can be cut into big pieces)

It’s natural that a thing of great value must be bought at a high price.

Daõ traøng xe caùt (A little crab carries sang)

One may get nothing after a hard and long toiling Cp The mountain has brought forth a mouse.

Daãu voäi chaúng loäi qua soâng (Don’t swim across a river even when you are in a hurry)

Don’t be rash even when you are urgent.

Danh cöông, lôïi toûa

Daäu ñoå, bìm leo

(Fames bind and gains tie)

(When the fence falls, the dodder will climb up)

Those in the circle of fame and gain have no liberty.

Danh chính, ngoân thuaän (His good name makes his words reasonable)

A right aim can persuade people to agree or follow.

When a man is irretrievably ruined, the mean and cruel people will reverse their opinions and ill-treat him. Syn Traâu laønh khoâng ai maëc caû, traâu ngaõ laém keû caàm dao (Nobody asks to buy a healthy buffalo but all rushes to a sick one with a knife in hand)

Cp Everyone gives a push to a falling man.

Ñaõ möa thì möa cho khaép Daãy möïc maát long caây goã queo (The chalk line hurts a deformed log’s feelings)

(When it rains, it rains everywhere)

One shouldn’t have discrimination in offering.

True words will hurt the bad people’s feelings. Ñaõ troùt thì treùt

Dó hoøa vi quyù (Concord is a precious thing)

One ought to forget petty discords with others to live in peace together. Syn Thua kieän möôøi boán quan name, ñöôïc kieän möôøi laêm quan chaün (The loser lost fourteen quans and five piasters and the winner lost fifteen quans roundly) (Note: “Quan” is the currency in the old time and equals five piasters.)

Moät ñôøi kieän, chín ñôøi thuø

(He how is the starter will be the stopper)

When doing something, one must do it till the end Syn Ñaâm lao thì phaûi theo lao (After throwing your javelin, you should follow it)

Vaät ñeán keo, treøo ñeán maùi (Wrestle to the end of the round and climb up to the top of the roof) Xem hoäi, ñi cho ñeán chuøa (Go to the temple when you want to see the festival)

Cp In for a penny, in for a pound.

(A generation’s lawsuit will make nine generations’ hatred)

Ñaïi laõn chôø sung

Doát ñaëc hôn laø chöõ loûng

The idle often hope for a godsend. Cp If ifs and ands were pots and pans.

Cp Better a lean peace than a fat victory.

(Better be completely ignorant than a would-be scholar)

Better known nothing than have a vague knowledge of something. Cp Untaught is better than ill-taught. Doát ñeán ñaâu, hoïc laâu cuõng bieát (Stupid as he is, one can get knowledge after a long-term of learning)

Man is capable of understanding.

(He who is very lazy waits for the sycamore fruits to fall)

Ñan ñi khoâng taøy daëm laïi (Making doesn’t take more time than repairing)

Better do well in the first time than repair afterward. Syn Vuïn ñeõo, khoù chöõa (It’s difficult to repair a thing badly done) Cp Soon enough done if well done. Ñaøn ñaâu maø gaûy tay traâu (No music is suitable for a buffalo’s ears)

Duïng nhaân nhö duïng moäc (Use a man as use a piece of wood)

To manage a man well, one dhould carefully learn his strong points as well as weak points.

A delicate thing is not suitable for a boor Syn Thoùc ñaâu maø ñaõi gaø röøng (No rice for a woodcock) Ñaùnh keû chaïy ñi chöù ai ñaùnh ngöôøi chaïy laïi (Nobody strikes those who run back to him but those who run away)

Döùt daây ñoäng röøng (A pulling of the string will shake the partition)

A touch of a part may shake the whole.

Nobody kills or mistreats his submitters.

Syn Chim keâu, ai nôõ baén (Who has the heart to shoot a crying

bird?) Cp Don’t strike a man when he is down.

Ña töûu haïi taâm, ña daâm haïi thaän (A man’s mind is harmed by alcohol and his kidney is harmed by his lust.

A depraved lilfe kills all men. Cp Diseases are the interests of pleasure. Ñaù cuõng coù khi ñoå moà hoâi (Even a stone sometimes sweats)

One must sometimes get sick.

Ñaõ chaéc meøo naøo caén mæu naøo (Nobody can tell which cat will give a bite)

In a cometition, nobody knows who will be the winner. Cp A fool may sometimes give a wise man counsels.

Ñaùnh nhau ñong gaïo, chaøo nhau aên côm (They come to blow when buying rice but invite each other when taking meals)

Ones may be generous in their social relations but not in their business. Syn An cho buoân so (He who is generous in offering is close-fisted in trading)

Neå coâ neå dì laáy gì laøm voán (He soon has no more capital who often sells his uncles and aunts with indulgence)

Cp A bargain is a bargain.

Ñaùnh raén phaûi ñaùnh daäp ñaàu

(When beating a snake, you should beat its head into pieces)

When attacking his dangerous rival, one should give a fatal blow to his mortal point.

Ñaùnh soá ñeà ra ñeâ maø ôû

Ñaát chaúng chòu trôøi, trôøi phaûi chòu ñaát (If the earth doesn’t submit the sky, the sky has to submit the earth)

One should relax the tension of his discord with others to live together in peace.

(His gambling drives him to the dike)

Gambling brings about just poverty. Syn Côø baïc laø baùc thaèng baàn (Gambling is the uncle of poverty) Ñaùnh troáng boû duøi

Ñaát coù thoå coâng, soâng coù haø baù (Every land has its God and every river has its King)

Every land has its owner. Cp An Englishman’s home is his castle.

(He beats the drum and thows away the stick)

A noisy start may have a silent stop with no results Syn Hoø voi baén suùng saäy (He how beats about bushes with loud cries shoots at an elephant with a rifle of reed) Ñaàu voi ñuoâi chuoät (It has an elepahnt’s head but a mouse’s tail)

Ñaùo giang tuøy khuùc, nhaäp gia tuøy tuïc (Follow the river flow when you travel on it, comply to the family’s customs when you pay it a visit)

One should comply to the regulations of anywhere he comes to Syn Ñeán xöù Laøo phaûi aên maém ngheù (He who goes to Laos eats frog sauce)

Cp When at Rome, do as the Romans do. Ñau choùng, ñaõ chaøy (It takes a short time to get ill and a long time to be healed)

Ñaát laønh chim ñaäu (Birds gather to a fertile land)

One settles where he can live a good life.

Ñaát leà, queâ thoùi (Lands have their regulations, villages have their customs)

Every zone has its own customs and traditions Cp So many countries, so many customs. Ñaát soûi coù chaïch vaøng (There are golden eels in an unfertile land)

Men or things of great value may have an unvalued origin. Syn Chuøa naùt coù buït vaøng (There is a golden statue of Buddha in the ruined pagoda)

Nhaø naùt, baùt vaøng (There is a golden bowl in a ruined house)

Diseases develop very fast but need a long time to be treated. Cp Agues come on horse-back, but go away on foot.

Ñaát vua, chuøa laøng, phong caûnh buït

Ñau ñeû, chôø saùng traêng

(Land belongs to the King, pagodas to the Commune and scenery to the Buddha)

(She who is in the fit of birth waits for the moon to rise)

It’s silly for a man to wait for convenience to do an urgent job.

Ñaøo ngaïch gaëp phaûi nhaø thôø (After digging a trench into a house, the thief found out it’s a church)

One may get nothing from his toil.

Ñau thöông thaân, laønh tieác cuûa (He who takes pity on himself when being sick takes pity on his wealth when having been well again)

One often thinks of wealth than health.

Ñaùy beå moø kim (He looks for a needle at the bottom of the sea)

It’s difficult to find a small thing (or a man) in a vast (or a crowded) zone.

Ñaét ra queá, eá ra cuûi (It turns cinnamon bark when having a large custom but firewood when unmarketable)

A thing’s value changes due to the need of it.

All the social properties belong to the ruling class.

Ñaàu chaúng phaûi, phaûi tai (The blow doesn’t fall on the head but the ears)

The responsibility or punishment spared for the insider may fall on the outsider. Syn Quyùt laøm cam chòu (The orange suffers the consequence of the work the tangerine did)

Keû aên oác, ngöôøi ñoå voû (One who eats the snails and another throws their shells)

Ñöùng ngoaøi maát aùo daøi thaâm (The outsider lost his coat) Ñaàu xuoâi, ñuoâi loït (If the head passes through, the same the tail can do)

The success of the first step makes the success of the rest. Cp A good beginning makes a good ending. Ñaáu tranh, traùnh ñaâu (A critic has no hiding place)

Criticism often brings about troubles and misfortunes.

Ñeøn nhaø ai, nhaø aáy raïng (His lamp lights up his house)

Everyone thinks of himself and his own family Cp Every man for himself. Ñeïp ngöôøi khoâng baèng ñeïp neát (A fair face is not so good as a fair heart)

Good nature is man’s fundamental character. Syn Caùi neát ñaùnh cheát caùi ñeïp (Virtue kills beauty) Toát goã hôn toát nöôùc sôn (Good log is better than good paint) Cp Beauty is only skin deep. Ñeïp toát baøy ra, xaáu xa ñaäy laïi (He who shows out his good hides his bad)

Nobody wants to let others know his faults. Cp It is best to wash one’s soiled linen at home. Ñeïp vaøng son, ngon maät môõ (Gold makes beauty, molasses and fat make delicacies)

Things are not all good by themselves. Syn Con gaø toát maõ vì loâng (A cock is good-looking for his feather) Cp All is not gold that glitters. Ñeïp nhö roái, chaúng coù moái cuõng khoâng xong. (Without a matchmaker, a girl will be unwanted though she is as beautiful as a doll)

In marriage, a matchmaker plays an important part.

Ñeå laø hoøn ñaát, caát leân oâng buït (Without a sculptor’s hands, a clot of soil never becomes a Buddha)

With others’ favor and help, a fool may get a high position.

Ñeán chaäm, gaäm xöông (He who comes late gnaws bones and heads)

Iddlers or slowcoaches never meet fortunes. Syn Traâu chaäm uoáng nöôùc ñuïc (A slow buffalo always drinks muddy water)

Cp He who sleeps catches no fish. Ñi ñeâm laém coù ngaøy gaëp ma (He who offentimes goes out at night will certainly run across a ghost)

A constant eveidoer will certainly be caught red-handed. Cp The pitcher goes once too often to the well (but is broken at last) Ñi moät ngaøy ñaøng, hoïc moät saøng khoân (He who travels all day long learns a siftful of wisdom)

Social contact brings about wisdoms. Syn Ñi moät buoåi chôï hoïc moät môù khoân (He who once goes to market learns a lot of wisdoms)

Cp Traveling forms a young man.

Ñi vôùi buït maëc aùo caø sa, ñi vôùi ma maëc aùo giaáy (He who goes with Buddha in a monk’s robe goes with ghosts in paper clothing)

To different people, one should have different treatment. Syn Laønh vôùi buït, ai laønh vôùi ma (Nobody is kind to devils but Buddha)

Cp He needs a long spoon that sups with the devil. Ñieác hay hoùng, ngoïng hay noùi (The deaf like to pick up their ears whereas the dumb like to talk)

A fool often proves to be cleveer but just sjhows his ignorance. Syn Ngöôøi caâm hay noùi, thaày boùi hay nhìn (The dumb like to talk, fortune-tellers like to look) (In the old time, most of the fortune-tellers were blind)

Ñieác khoâng sôï suùng (The deaf are never fringtened of explosions)

A fool never learns the difficulty and danger of what he is going to do. Syn Con ngheù môùi sinh khong kinh gì hoå (A newly-born calf never fears a tiger)

Chaâu chaáu thaáy ñoû löûa thì vaøo (A grasshopper always flies into a flame)

Cp A cat may look at a king.

Ñieác tai laøng, saùng tai hoï (He who is deaf to the common affairs, sharp-eared to the relatives)

One just cares what is close to his own interests. Syn Ñaùnh moõ chaúng baèng goõ thôùt (Ringing the bell is not as god as beating the chopboard)

Ñieáu keâu toán thuoác (The more loudly the pipe sounds, the more the tobacco is spent)

The better one works the more he is make of / A good thing may cause a bad effect.

Ñoø raùch ngaùng choã (A torn fishpot is an obstacle)

A man of no more use is a trouble only.

Ñoû baïc, ñen tình (Red-fated at cards, balck-fated in love)

Nobody is lucky in every aspect Syn Ñoû tình, en baïc (Red-fated in love, black-fated at cards) Cp Lucky at cards, unlucky in love. Ñoùi aên baùnh veõ (He who is hungry eats a drawn-on-page cake)

The poor always hope for even gruitless promises)

Cp Hope is the poor men’s bread. Ñoâng sao thì naéng, vaéng sao thì möa Ñoùi aên vuïng, tuùng laøm lieàu

(With several stars appearing it’ll be sunny, and with few ones it’ll be rainy)

(Hunger breeds a sly eating and need breeds a rash doing)

One never feels lonely when with his companions Cp Two in distress make trouble less.

Ñoùi buïng aên rau maù

Ñoâng tay hôn hay laøm

(He who is hungry eats pennywort)

(Better many hands than hard working)

Poverty may mislead men. Cp Necessity knows no law.

One should depend on himself. Cp Every herring must hang by its own tail.

Better several ordinary workmen than few laborious ones. Cp Many hands make light work. Ñoàng thanh töông öùng, ñoàng khí töông caàu

Ñoùi cho saïch, raùch cho thôm. (Be honest even in hunger and clean in rags)

One should keep his honor in any circumstances Syn Giaáy raùch giöõ laáy leà (A torn sheet of paper still keeps its margin

(Those of a voice will respond, those of a manner will meet)

Those who have the same nature or taste will have the same ideas and look for one another. Cp Great minds think alike.

intact)

AÙo raùch coøn giöõ laáy traøng (A torn shirt still keeps its flap intact)

Cp A genlleman keeps his integrity even in poverty. Ñoùi naêm khoâng ai ñoùi böõa (Nobody is short of one meal)

A treatment or help for form’s sake is always disliked.

Ñom ñoùm saùng ñaèng ñít (A firefly glows at its tail)

After events, a fool may say wise. Cp It is easy to be wise after the event. Ñom ñoùm tranh ñeøn (A firefly dares to compete with a lamp in glow)

Ñoàng saøng, dò moäng (They sleep in the sam bed but have different dreams)

Not all people living together have the same point of view.

Ñoàng tieàn ñi tröôùc laø ñoàng tieàn khoân (The first given money is a wise one)

In business or help, the money in advance achieves a lot of sympathy. Cp He gives twice who gives quickly. Ñoàng tieàn lieàn khuùc ruoät (Your money must be tied to your belly)

One’s money must be close to himself / One often prefers money to affection.

A fool may try to be cleverer than a wise man. Syn Ñom ñoùm baét naït ma trôi (A firefly dare bully a fen-fire)

Ñôøi cha vo troøn, ñôøi con boùp beïp

Ñoøn xoùc hai ñaàu

A bad child may destroy what his parents have built up. Syn Cha laøm thaày, con baùn saùch (The father is a teacher but the

(A carrying pole has tow ends)

A double-faced man is very dangerous and should be watched over. Cp The sam knife cuts bread and fingers. Ñoà teå ñaùnh nhau nong thòt (The butchers come to a gist-fight just for a basket of meat)

The mean and cruel are easy to fight against one another for even petty gains.

(What the father has rolled into balls, the son presses flat)

son is a bookseller)

Cp Many a good father has but a bad son. Ñôøi cua cua maùy, ñôøi caùy caùy ñaøo (The crab burrows for his living and the fiddler digs for hers)

One should live on his own labor. Syn Coø kieám coø noác, coác kieám coác aên (What the stork picks the stork eats and what the cormoran picks the cormoran pecks) Thaân ai ngöôøi aáy lo (Nobody but he thinks of himself)

Cp The devil looks after his own. Ñoäi vaùy naùt meï (She threatens her mother by putting a skirt on her head)

It’s ridiculous for the unexperienced to play tricks on the experienced.

Ñuõa beáp khuaáy noài bung (A poker wants to stir the pan of stew)

It’s ridiculous that a man of no talent dares take charge of others’ important jobs.

Cp The grass always seems greener across the river. Ñöôïc böõa naøo xaøo böõa naáy

Ñuõa moác laïi choøi maâm son (The musty chopsticks want to lie on a crimson tray)

It’s blamable for a man of low position to hope for marrying a girl of the higher class / It’s blamable for a man of no talent to hope for marrying a beautiful girl) Syn Hoïc thì doát, vôï toát thì muoán (He who is bad in learning wants to marry a beautiful girl)

Ñuïc nöôùc beùo coø (The muddy water fats the storks)

An unsteady situation is the golden time for opportunists.

Ñöùa ôû xeùt coâng, vôï choàng xeùt nhaân nghóa (Servants are considered in their toil but husband and wives are considered in their love)

In his behavior to others, one should pay attention to their love and deeds spared for him.

Ñöùc naêng thaéng soá (His virtue alters his fate)

A kind-hearted man can avoid misfortunes. Syn Ñöùc troïng quyû thaàn kinh (Even devils fear a man of great birtue) Ñöøng khinh khoù, chôù caäy giaøu (Don’t look down upon the poor and take pride in your riches)

One should have a modest behavior to everyone.

Ñöøng bôùi raùc leân maø ngöûi (Don’t stir up the garbage to smell)

Bad things in the past shouldn’t be stired up. Cp It is easier to raise the devil than to lay him. Ñöøng neân hoûi sö möôïn löôïc (Never ask a monk for a comb)

Don’t ask others what you know they have not.

Ñöøng neân mua traâu veõ boùng (Never buy a buffalo by thie picture of it)

One shouldn’t spend time and money on an uncertainty. Syn Ñöøng neân thaû moài baét boùng (Never throw a prey to catch the shadow of a game)

Cp Never buy a pig in a poke. Ñöùng nuùi noï troâng nuùi kia (He who stands on a mountain looks at another)

One often thinks that others’ position are better than his. Syn Ñöøng cheâ loon ngaén maø tham chaïch daøi (Don’t blame a short-sized eel to hope for a long-sized loach)

(He eats up all the bread he’s just earned)

A shallow-minded man never thinks of his future. Syn Ñöôïc ñoàng naøo xaøo ñoàng naáy (He spends all the money he’s just earned)

Ñöôïc chaêng, hay chôù (He agrees with whatever he gets)

One should be pleased with his life / It’s blamable for a man to be pleased with a from-hand-to-mouth life. Syn Khoâng coù caù, laáy rau maù laøm ngon (He who catches no fish thinks pennywort is the best dish) Khoâng coù caù, laáy cua laøm troïng (He who catches no fish, thinks the crab is the best dish) Cp If you cannot have the best, make the best of what you have. Ñöôïc chim quean naù, ñöôïc caù quean noâm (As the bird has been caught the bow is forgotten, as the fish has been got the fishing basket is abandoned)

One is often thankless. Syn AÊn caù, boû lôø (He who has caught a fish, throws away his pot. Ñieåu taän cung taøn (No more birds, no more bows) Ñöôïc ñaèng chaân, laân ñaèng ñaàu (He who gets hold of the feet will get hold of the head)

When having violated once, one will violate twice. Cp If you agree to carry the calf, they’ll make you carry the cow. Ñöôïc laøm vua, thua laøm giaëc (He who wins will be king, he who is defeated will be a rebel)

A winner will get all and a defeater will lose all.

Ñöôïc aên caû, ngaõ veà khoâng (The winner gets all and the failer loses all)

Make or mal Syn Ñöôïc loøng raén, maát loøng ngoùe (He who wins the snake’s sympathy gets the frog’s antipathy. It’s difficult to satisfy everybody. Cp He that spares the bad injures the good. Ñöôïc loøng ta, xoùt xa loøng ngöôøi (What pleases you injures another)

This man’s good luck may be that man’s bad luck. Syn Ñaùm cöôùi ngöôøi ta, ñaùm ma nhaø mình (A man’s wedding is another mans funeral)

Cp One man’s meat is another man’s poison. Ñöôïc lôøi nhö côûi taám loøng (A word of content unfastens a man’s heart)

A word of content can kill off ones worry and doubt.

E

Ñöôïc moái haøng, meï chaúng nhöôøng con (Even a mother never leaves her daughter a good bargain)

One may forget deep affection just for a little gain.

Ñöôïc muøa thì cheâ côm haåm, maát muøa laåm caû côm thiu (He who finds fault with musty rice in the good harvest, gobbles up stale rice in the bad one)

One often puts on airs when in a high or rich position but easily accepts a humble life when being broke. Syn No cheâ côm nguoäi, ñoùi cheùn caû côm thiu (He who finds fault with cold rice when he stomach is full, eats even stale rice when being hungry)

Ñöôïc tieáng khen, ho hen chaúng coøn (His bad health is no more when he receives applauses)

When getting a vainglory, one’s health may completely ruined) Cp Praise is not pudding. Ñöôïc voi, ñoøi tieân

Em thuaän anh hoøa laø nhaø coù phuùc (A family of fortune is a family of harmony)

Harmony is the most precious thing in a family.

EÙp daàu eùp môõ, ai nôõ eùp duyeân (Nobody has a heart to squeeze out marriages but oil and fat)

Marriage should be free.

EÁch aên thòt eách (This frog eats its flesh / Frog eats frog)

To waste your relatives; wealth is to waste your own wealth / Men may be cruel to one another.

EÁch ngoài ñaùy gieáng coi trôøi baèng vung (Sitting at the bottom of a well, the frog thinks the sky is just as small as the well’s lid.)

A man of poor knowledge may thinks he’s the greatest.

(He who has got a toy-elephant asks for a toy-fairy)

Man’s desire has no limit. Syn Loøng tham khoâng ñaùy (Greedy is bottomless) Ñöôïc ñaàu voi, ñoøi ñaàu ngöïa (He who has got an elephant’s

G

head asks for a horse’s)

Con roâ cuõng tieác, con dieác cuõng muoán (He wants both the anabas and the ardea)

Coù chaùo ñoøi cheø (He who has got rice gruel asks for a compote) Uoáng nöôùc caû caùu, aên canh caû caën (He spares no dregs when eating soup as well as when drinking) No buïng, ñoùi con maét (He whose stomach is full is still hungry in his eyes)

Ñöôøng ñi hay toái, noùi doái hay cuøng (A long run will meet a dark and a long lie will meet a deadlock)

Sooner or later, all will be discovered. Cp A lie has no legs. Ñöôøng ôû moàm (Your way is in your mouth)

One can find his way by using his tongue to ask others. Cp He that has a tongue in his head may find his way anywhere. Ñöùt tay, hay thuoác (When the hand has been cut, the medicine is known)

A thing’s value is known when it is needed / A success is often paid with a lot of bitter failure. Cp No pain, no gain.

Gaø aên hôn coâng aên (Better the hen eats than the peacock eats)

Better benefit ordinary relatives than noble outsiders. Cp Near is my shirt but nearer is my skin. Gaø beùo thì baùn beân Ngoâ, gaø khoâ thì baùn laùng gieàng (He sells fat chickens in China, but thin ones to his neighbors)

One often considers gains are bigger than neighborhood.

Gaø cheâ thoùc chaúng bôùi, ngöôøi môùi cheâ tieàn (As long as chickens finds fault with rice, men dislike money)

Nobody is indifferent to money.

Gaø ñeû gaø cuïc taùc (The hen lays eggs cackles)

One often praises his merit by himself. The seller must be the price setter.

Gaø ngöôøi gaùy, gaø ta saùng (The neighbor’s cock crows, his cock knows)

Through others’ work, one can know how to do his work better. Cp Learn wisdom by the follies of others.

(Women admire talent, men admire beauty)

Women are easy to fall in love with men of talents as well as men often fall in love with beautiful ladies.

Gaø queø aên quaån coái xay (A lame cock looks for his food round the rice-hulling mill)

A man of incapacity dare not leave the place where he can earn an easy living / A man of no talent often tries to exploit his neighbors by all means.

Gaàn chôï ñeå nôï cho con (She who lives near the market leaves debts to her children)

Living near a market, one can’t help buying things even on credit.

Gai treân röøng ai böùt maø nhoïn (Nobody makes but the thorns are sharp)

The cruel are cruel by their cruel nature.

Gaàn chuøa goïi buït baèng anh (He who lives next to a pagoda calls the Buddha brother)

Gaùi choàng raåy phi chöùng noï cuõng chöùng kia (An abandoned wife has certainly some fault)

No woman is deserted without reason.

Gaùi coù choàng nhö goâng mang coå, trai coù vôï nhö rôï buoäc chaân

Familiarity mayh lessen respect. Syn Buït chuøa nhaø khoâng thieâng (The Buddha in the village-own pagoda is not sacred to them)

Cp No man is a hero to his valet. Gaàn möïc thì ñen, gaàn ñeøn thì raïng,

(A husband is a noose on a lady’s neck, and a wife is a rope on a man’s ankle)

(His staying near the ink makes him black and his staying near the light makes him bright)

One is less free in his married life than in celibacy. Cp He that has a wife has a master.

Those who contact the bad will be bad and those who contact the good will be good. Syn ÔÛ baàu thì troøn, ôû oáng thì daøi (What is in a bulb will be round

Gaùi coù con nhö boø hoøn coù reã, gaùi khoâng con nhö beø ngoå troâi soâng

Cp A man is known by the company he keeps.

(A wife with her child is like a soapberry tree with its long roots whereas a childless wife is like a raft of lentils on the river)

There is no guarantee for a childless woman’s wifehood and future.

and what is in a tube will be long)

Gaàn nhaø giaøu ñau raêng aên coám, gaàn keû troäm oám löng chòu ñoøn (To be a rich man’s neighbor his teeth ghet gaion for chewing grilled rice and to be a thief’s, his back gets pain by sticks and knives)

Neighborhood may have a certain influence on one’s life.

Gaùi coù coân, choàng chaúng phuï (Nobody forgets his wife’s toil)

A good work will be worthily paid. Syn Laøm coã khoâng lo maát phaàn (A cook is never worried about his

Gaäy oâng laïi ñaäp löng oâng (His stick beats his back)

One may fall into his own trap.

share)

Cp A good deed is never lost. Gaùi ñó giaø moàm

Gheùt cuûa naøo, trôøi trao cuûa aáy (God gives him what he hates)

One is often given what he dislikes.

(Prostitutes are often talkative)

An evildoer often talks back loudly as if he were innocent.

Gaùi goaù lo vieäc trieàu ñình (A widow makes arrangement for the imperial court’s affairs)

It’s ridiculous for a man of no great capacity to take to heart other’s great cause.

Gaùi moät con troâng moøn con maét

Gaø chôi troáng boûi (He who is old already plays the paper-tambourine still)

Cp

It’s foolish for an old man to do games spared for youth. No fool like an old fool.

Giaø ñoøn, non leõ (More beating makes less arguing)

(Nobody gets tired of looking at a woman of one child)

In a dictator’s opinion, terrorism can suppress freedom of speech) Cp Words may pass but blows fall heavy.

Gaùi tham taøi, trai tham saéc

Giaø moùt, ngoït canh

After the first birth, women are often more beautiful than before.

(The more he gleans, the sweeter his soup is)

A constant thrift brings about riches. Syn Naêng nhaët, chaët bò (Constant picking fills the bg) Kieán tha laâu cuõng ñaày toå (The ant’s constant carrying fills their hill)

Tích thieåu thaønh ña (The little gathered together will ba a mickle) Goùp gioù thaønh baõo (The winds gathered become a typhoon) Cp Penny and penny laid up will be many. Giaù thuù baát luaän taøi (Property counts nothing in marriage)

Love can’t be bought.

Giang sôn naøo, anh huøng aáy (Every land has its own hero)

(These who are rich are his relatives and these who are poor are his outsiders)

Money can change one’s relation ties. Syn Phong löu xa cuõng neân gaàn (The way to a rich man is short) Heát tieàn taøi, nhaân nghóa taän (No more money, no more love) Boài ôû, lôû ñi (The river side that banks up will remain and the river side that caves in will disappear)

Coù tieàn vôï vôï choàng choàng, khoâng tieàn choàng Ñoâng vôï Ñoaøi (When money is in, they cal each other “my pet”; when the money is out, one of them goes to the East ad the other to the West) Chaûo môõ kiweán boø (The ants rush to a pan of fat) Anh em gaïo, ñaïo nghóa tieàn (Brothership relies on rice and relationship relies on money) Chò em naùm nem ba ñoàng (She calls her customer “my dear” but gets three piasters for just one meat roll)

Everyone is moster at the place he lives. Cp A man is master in his owwn house.

Cp Poverty parts friends.

Giaøu boû baïn, sang boû vôï

(A rich lady is called elder sister and a poor lady is called the younger sistrer)

(As becoming rich he abandons his friends, as bedoming noble he divorces his wife)

Riches and reputation may make a man forgert his old relation links Syn Giaøu ñoåi vôï, sang ñoåi baïn (His riches change his friends and his honor chages his wife)

Giaøu laøm chò, khoù luïy laøm em Money cn put a man in high position. Cp An empty sack cannot stand upright.

Giaøu thuù queâ khoâng baèng ngoài leâ keû chôï (A landlord in the countryside is still poorer than a loiterer in town)

Giaøu chuû kho, no ñaàu beáp, choùng cheat quaûn voi

One can earn much more easily in town than in the countryside. Syn Giaøu nhaø queâ khoâng baèng ngoài leâ thaønh phoá (ditto) Cp London’s streets are paved with gold.

(Store-keepers are rich, chefs are with their fill and machouts soon get killed)

Giaøu vì baïn, sang vì vôï

Cp Rich upstarts ignore their belongings.

One’s occupation likely brings to him fortunes or misfortunes. Syn Sinh ngheà töû nghieäp (He who lives on his occupation dies of his occupation)

(Owing to his friend he gets rich, owing to his wife he gets noble)

Giaø ñieác, sang ñui

(The Chinese enemies are not so dangerous as the husband’s younger sisters)

The rich are deaf and the noble are blind)

A rich man never takes pity on others. Cp A rich neighbor is a poor friend. Giaøu hai con maét, khoù hai baøn tay (He is rich for his sharp eyes, she is poor for her disable hands)

One’s eyes and hands play a very important part in earning his living. Giaøu khoâng ra koûi ngoõ, khoù moïi choã moïi hay. (The rich never go out of their gates but the poor drag their feet all the places)

The rich have everything at hand but the poor have to go everywhere to earn their living. Giaøu laø hoï, khoù laø döng

One’s good friends and wife can help very much.

Giaëc beân Ngoâ khoâng baèng boø coâ beân choàng Girls often find faults with any act of their elder sisters-in-law.

Giaëc ñeán nhaø, ñaøn baø cuõng ñaùnh (When enemies come to their threshold, they will fight even through they are petticoats)

Everyone will fight against an aggressor of his country.

Giaän caù cheùm thôùt (He who gets angry with the fish chops the board)

One may vent his anger of a man (thing) on another. Syn Giaän choàng vaät con (She who gets angry with her husband beats her child)

Giaän con raän ñoát caùi aùo (He who gets angry with a louse sets his shirt on fire)

Giaän thì maéng, laëng thì thöông

(He who scolds in fury feels sorry at ease)

(More laughters, more cries)

Giaáu ñaàu hôû ñuoâi

Giô cao ñaùnh kheõ

(It that hides its head shows its tail)

(He who raises the rod high beats light)

Giaây maùu, aên phaàn

Giöõ ñöôïc ngöôøi ôû chöù ai giöõ ñöôïc ngöôøi ñi

(He sheds some drops of blood to get a share)

(The stayer can be kept but the goer can’t be)

Lovers’ anger is soon replaced by affection. Cp Lovers’ quarrels are soon mended.

One may carelessly reveal what he tries to keep in secret.

An opportunist often pretends to be active in something to get benefits from it.

Sorrows often follow joys. Cp Sorrow treads upon the heels of mirth.

One should warn a wrongdoer than punish.

Nobody can hold back a man who wants to leave.

Goø maù laøm khaù ngöôøi ta Gieo gioù, gaët baõo (He who scatters winds reaps typhoons)

Those who commit crimes will certainly be punished. Syn Möu thaâm thì hoïa cuõng thaâm (A cunning plot brings a great loss) Cp Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. Gieo vöøng ra ngoâ (The sesames he’s scattered turn into Iindian corn)

The result of one’s deed may be out of his aim. Syn Ñan loã hoùa mieáng traùm (He who wants to have a hole makes a pad)

Gieáng ñaâu, eách ñoù (Where there is a well, there is a frog)

One cannot live without his familiar condition of living.

Gieát chöùng phi tang (To kill the witness is to erase the proof of crime)

Criminals think they can hide their crimes by erasing all traces of them. Cp Stone dead has no fellow. Gioù chieàu naøo, che chieàu aáy (He hides himself from the windward)

One’s behavior should depend on the outside situation. Syn Naéng beà naøo, che beà aáy (He hides himself from the sunward) Bieát thôøi theá môùi laø tuaán kieät (A hero must accept his case) Cp Wait for the cat to jump. Gioù chieàu naøo ngaõ theo chieàu aáy (The tree bends to the windward)

Opportunists always follow the mightiest. Syn Phuø thònh chöù ai phuø suy (Nobody follows the loser but the winner)

Cp He dances well to whom fortune pipes. Giôõn cöôøi, töôi khoùc

(Her cheeks make her better)

A girl’s beauty is her best means for her to reach her aim. Cp Cheeks bring success.

H Haù mieäng maéc quai (He who opens his mouth meets trouble with the grip)

Those who have done something wrong dare not criticize others. Syn AÊn xoâi chuøa ngoïng mieäng (He gets dumb who has eaten the sticky rice in the Buddhist temple)

Cp People who live in glass houses should not think stone. Hai vôï choàng son coù moät con thaønh boán (A married couple plus one child equals four)

To bring up a child, one should spend a lot of time and money. Cp One chick keeps the hen busy. Hang huøm ai daùm moù tay (Who dares put his hands into a tiger’s den)

Nobody dares to do a dangerous job or contact a dangerous man.

Haøng saêng cheát boù chieáu (A dead coffin-maker is wrapped with a mat)

Producers often get no luck to enjoy their products. Syn ÔÛ vöôøn nhaø aên cau saâu (The garden owner eats decayed areca nuts)

Thôï reøn khoâng dao aên traàu (A blacksmith has no knives to prepare a betel quid)

Thôï reøn aên dao luït (A blacksmith uses a blunt knife) Cp The cobbler’s wife is the worst shod. Haøng thòt nguyùt haøng caù (The butcher gives the fishwife a dirty look)

No salesman wants to share his customers with others / There is no unity among those who have desire for the same target. Cp Two dogs over one bone seldom agree. Hay aên mieáng ngon, choàng con traû ngöôøi (She who is gluttonous loses all her husband and children)

A gluttonous wife will certainly not have a good care for her family.

Hay khen, heøn cheâ (The good will be praised and the bad will be blamed)

It’s natural that one praises the good and blames the bad.

Hay khoâng laây heøn, sen khoâng laây buøn

Hoïc taøi thi phaän (Learning shows talent and exams show fortunes)

Those who are good in learning may fail at the exams and vice versa.

Hoïc thaày chaû taøy hoïc baïn (Better learn your friends than your teachers)

From his friends, one can learn what he can’t get from his teachers.

Hoàng nhan baïc meänh (A beautiful lady has a short life)

Beautiful girls often die early.

(The noble will not mix with the mean as the lotus doesn’t mix twith the mud)

Hoàng nhan ña truaân

Heát khoân, doàn daïi

Huûi khoâng sôï gheû

(Out of wisdom, into nosense)

(A leper doesn’t fear itch)

The good are not easily led to evildoing.

One is sometimes not able to keep up his wisdom.

Heát naïc, vaïc ñeán xöông

(A beautiful lady lives a unstable life)

Hardships and difficulties often fall on beautiful ladies.

Those who have experienced a lot of great hardships or miseries don’t fear petty ones. Cp He that is down need fear no fall.

(He who has eaten up the meat spares no bones)

In his need, a bad man may squeeze out property from his relatives.

Heát xoâi roài vieäc

Huøm döõ khoâng aên thòt con (Even a wicked tiger never eats his cubs)

No parents are cruel to their children. Cp Dog doesn’t eat dog.

(No more sticky rice, no more work)

No aying, no working. Cp No money, no piper.

Hoa maát nhò, laáy gì laøm thôm (The flower that’s lost it’s pistil is no longer fragrant)

Those who have lost their virginity or virtue are of no value.

Hoïa trung höõu phuùc (There is a good luck even in a misfortune)

Nothing is completely bad Cp Every cloud has a silver lining.

Hoïc aên hoïc noùi hoïc goùi hoïc môû (He learns to eat, to speak as well as to pack and to unpack)

One should learn everything from his childhood to be a gentleman.

Hoïc khoân ñi lính, hoïc tính ñi buoân (He joins the army to learn wisdom and does business to learn calculation)

Army and business are great schools for a man.

Huøm gieát ngöôøi huøm nguû, ngöôøi gieát ngöôøi thöùc ñuû naêm canh (The tiger that’s eaten a man still sleeps soundly but the man who has killed another stays up through the night)

A man of unclean conscience is never at ease Cp A good conscience is a soft pillow.

Huøm hay keâu nhöng huøm khoâng caén, raén khoâng keâu raén caén cheát ngöôøi (The tiger roars but doesn’t bite, the snake doesn’t roar but may bite a man to death)

A taciturn person is a real dangerous man / Men of great will or talent often have a quiet look Syn Taåm ngaåm taàm ngaàm maø ñaâm cheát voi (He who often keeps a quiet look once gave an elephant a death)

Cp Dumb dogs are dangerous / Barking dogs seldom bite blow. Huøm maát höôu hôn meøo maát thòt (It’s more difficult for a tiger to suffer the loss of its game than a cat)

It’s more bitter for a man of high position to lose his benefit than a man of low position.

(He weighs eight ounces and his opponent weighs half a kilo)

Huùng moïc, tía toâ cuõng moïc (When the peppermint grows, the balm mint also grows)

It’s bl;amable for a man to imitate others blindly Syn Voi ñuù, chuoät chuø cuõng ñuù (When the elephants romp, the

The two opponenets are of the same level of talent Syn OÂng gheâ, baø cuõng gheâ (He is sly and she is fox-like) Keû caép gaëp baø giaø (A thief encounters an old lady) Cp It is six of one and half a dozen of other.

musk-rats romp)

Keû vo troøn, ngöôøi boùp meùo

Höõu xaï töï nhieân höông

(One man rolls it into a ball and another presses it flat)

(The musk smells sweet by itself)

True values need no advertisements Cp Good wine needs no bush. Höông naêng thaép naêng khoùi, ngöôøi naêng tôùi naêng thöôøng (A regularly burnt incense is smoky and a regularly visiting man gets no sympathy)

A regularly visitation breeds familiarity. Cp A constant guest is never welcome.

I Ít ngaøi daøi ñuõa (Less gentlemen, further the copsticks reach)

Less the partakers, greater the shares. Syn Ít thaày ñaày ñaãy (Less the magicians, fuller the bags)

K Keû aên khoâng heát, ngöôøi laàn chaúng ra (This man has much to eat but that man finds no small pieces) Some people are too rich whereas some people are too poor Keû caép laïi cheâ vaûi heïp khoå (The thief finds fault with the cloth of short width)

It’s balmable for a man tofind fault with what he squeezes from others.

Keû caép ôû laãn vôùi ngöôøi (Thieves lilve among honest men)

Nothing can be done if one man builds up but another destroys.

Khaùc maùu, tanh loøng (Different of blood, stinking at heart)

Those who are not of a blood have no mercy on another. Syn Khoâng ñeû khoâng thong, khoâng maùu khoâng xoùt (No pregnancy, no mercy; blood different, breat different)

Cp You cannot get blood from stone. Khaùch ba, chuû nhaø baûy

(The guest eats three but the host eats seven)

Under the title of treating guests, one may make feasts for himself. In fact, guests often eat less then hosts.

Kheùo aên thì no, kheùo co thì aám (These who know how to eat will be with their fills, these who know how to use a blanket to cover will be warm)

The planning in comsumption brings about n want. Cp The busiest man finds the most leisure. Khi giaän, ai beû thöôùc maø ño (Who takes measure of his anger)

Nobody controls his anger.

Khoù giuùp nhau môùi thaûo, giaøu tröø nôï khoâng ôn (Nobody thanks for the rich ignoring his debt but for the poor’s help.

The poor’s help is much more highly valued than the rich’s forgiven debt.

Khoù giöõ ñaàu, giaøu giöõ cuûa (The poor protect their heads whereas the rich keep their things)

The poor have nothing but tgheir lives to worry about. Cp The beggar may sing before the thief.

There often live the dishonest among the honest Cp There is a smake in the grass.

Khoûi voøng cong ñuoâi

Keû ñaày thöng khinh keû löng baùt

One soon forgets his hard time and others’ helps. Syn Khoûi reân, quean thaày (He who is recovered forgets the doctor) Chim nhôù caây, tôù quean thaày (A bird remembers its tree but a

(Those who have a full bushel look down on these who have a half of bowl)

The rich oftren look down on the poor.

Keû taùm laïng, ngöôøi nöûa caân

(The dog raises it’s tail as soon as it has been out of danger)

man forgets his master)

Ñöôïc chim queân naù, ñöôïc caù quean nôm (As the bird has been caught, the bow is forgotten; as the fish has been got the fishing basket is abandoned) AÊn caù boû lôø (He who’s caught a fish, throws away his fishing pot) Ñieåu taän, cung taøn (No more birds, no more bows)

(A wise man has been wise since three years old but a fool remains foolish in his old age)

Talents reveal very soon and ignorance is never improved. Syn Choù daïi coù muøa, ngöôøi daïi quanh naêm (Dogs get mad by season but men get mad all the year round)

Cp The old cow thinks she was never a calf.

Cp Every man is a fool or a physician at forty.

Khoù muoán giaøu, ñau muoán khoûi

Khoân nhaø, daïi chôï

(The poor want to be rich and the sick want to be recovered)

Everyone wants to get out of his misfortune.

Khoân ba naêm, daïi moät giôø

(Wise at home, foolish in the market)

Those who prove to be wiser than their relatives often reveal their stupidity in public.

(She who is wise for three years is foolish for an hour)

Khoân soáng moáng cheát

Khoân chaúng qua leõ, khoûe chaúng qua lôøi

In the struggle for life, not the stupid but the wise can exist. Cp Simpletons are always fleeced.

A decent girl may lose her way to love.

(Wisdom can’t surpass reason, strength can’t surpass words)

Reason shouldn’t be didstorted and forced.

(The foolish die while the wise are alive)

Khoân treû, khoeû giaø (The young’s wit and the old’s strength are alike)

The stupid always think of property but the wise never. Cp Money is a good servant but a bad master.

Never hope wisdom from the young as well as strength from the old. Syn Treû ngöôøi non daï (A young body has an unexperienced mind) Cp You must not expect old heads on young shoulders.

Khoân ngoan chaúng loï thaät thaø

Khoân thì ngoan, gian thì noàng

(Better honest than sly)

(The wise are well behaved but the cruel are truculent)

Khoân laáy cuûa che thaân, daïi laáy thaân che cuûa (The wise hide their lives with property but the stupid do oppositely)

Honesty is the best way of behavcior. Syn Thaät thaø baèng cha giaû doái (Falsity calls honesty father) Cp Honesty is best policy.

The good know h ow to behave themselves but the bad do not.

Khoâng ai giaøu ba hoï, khoâng ai khoù ba ñôøi (Nobody is rich or poor through three generations)

Khoân ngoan ñeán cuûa quan môùi bieát, giaøu ngheøo ba möôi Teát môùi hay (A lawsuit shows out the wiser and a new year festival shows out the richer)

One’s wisdom and property are known just in need Syn Coù khoâng muøa ñoâng môùi bieát (Winter shows out he is rich or poor). Khoân ngoan hieän ra maët, queø quaët hieän ra chaân tay (His wisdom is shown on his face as his lameness is shown on his limbs)

One’s capacity can be judged by his appearance. Syn Khoân ra mieäng, daïi ra tay (Wisdom comes from the mouth, ignorance comes from the hands)

Luùa toát xem bieân, ngöôøi hieàn xem töôùng (The riceplant at the field edge show the harvest as a man’s look shows his character) Nhaân hieån taïi maïo, traéng gaïo ngon côm (A man’s character is shown on his face as the white rice shows its delicacy)

Cp The face if the index of thie mind.

Khoân ngoan töø thuôû neân ba, daïi thì ñeán giaø cuõng daïi

Nobody is rich or poor all his life / Everyone must have a happy time. Syn Trôøi chaúng ñoùng cöûa nhaø ai (God never closes anyone’s door) Ñoùi treû chôù voäi lo, giaøu true chôù voäi möøng (Don’t be worried of your poverty as weel as gald of your upstart at your youth)

Cp Every dog has its day. There is a crook in the lot of everyone.

Khoâng ai naém tay qua ngaøy ñeán toái (Nobody can hold his fists all day long)

Nobody is wise all the time. Syn Thaùnh nhaân coøn coù khi laàm (Even a saint is sometimes mistaken)

Nhaân voâ thaäp toaøn (Human being is imperfect) Cp To err is human. Khoâng boùp coå, chaúng leø löôõi (He will not stick out his tongue until his neck is squeezed)

One will not submit until he is driven to the wall.

Khoâng caùi daïi naøo gioáng caùi daïi naøo

(Every stupidity has its own shade)

Nobody can avoid making foolish deeds.

Khoâng coù löûa, laøm sao coù khoùi (Where does the smoke come from it there is no fire?)

Everything happens for a certain reason Syn Xanh khoâng thuûng caù ñi ñaøng naøo (Where does the fish go if the pot has no hole?)

Khoâng coù maây sao coù möa (There are no rains without clouds) Cp There is no smoke without fire. Khoâng coù quaân töû thì ai khieán tieåu nhaân (Who commands the small men if there are no gentlemen?)

It’s unavoidable for the good to live together with the bad in society Syn Voâ tieåu nhaân baát thaønh quaân töû (No small men, no gentlemen)

Khoâng ñöôïc aên thì ñaïp ñoå (He kicks down what he is not allowed to eat)

A poor man’s words are of no value. Khoâng vaøo hang coïp sao baét ñöôïc coïp con (He who dare not enter a tiger’s den will not catch its cubs)

No daring, no gaining. Cp Nothing venture, nothing have. Khuaát maét, khoân coi (Nobody sees a hidden thing)

Nobody can know about the quality as well as the cleanliness of a hiddenly made thing.

Kieám cuûi ba naêm thieâu moät giôø (He burnt up all the woods he had gathered for three years just for an hour)

One can destroy very quickly what he’s built up for a long time. Kieâng caùi, aên nöôùc (He who abstains from the meat takes the broth)

It’s just the same not to use something in this way but in that way.

One may disturb a business he gets no share from. Syn Khoâng laáy cuõng khuaáy cho hoâi (He stains it who can’t get it) Cp The grapes are sour, as the fox said when he could not reach them.

Kim chæ coù ñaàu

Khoâng kheùo maø xöng

Kyù coùp cho coïp noù tha

(He goes in confession without compression)

One may unconsciously reveal his secrets.

Khoâng neân phaûi ñoùng cöûa baûo nhau

(A needle has its ppoint and a thread has its ends)

One must abide by the order of the social ranks.

(He spares penny by penny and the tiger takes away all his money)

One’s property that he’s saved for a long time may be all taken away by another.

(Shut your door to settle your discord)

L

Family affairs shouldn’t be let out. Syn Ñöøng neân vaïch aùo cho ngöôøi xem löng (Don’t put off your shirt to show your back)

Cp Family affairs should be kept private.

Laïi maët to hôn cöôùi

Khoâng thaønh coâng cuõng thaønh nhaân

(The groom ‘s visit to the bride family after the wedding day is more solemn than his wedding)

(He makes the cause though he’s failed to get the success)

Though a hero’s cause is failed, it can wake up others. Cp No great loss but some small profit. Khoâng thaày ñoá maøy laøm neân

It’s blamable to make an addition greater than the main or the need.

Laøm chuù khi nay, laøm thaày khi khaùc (Servant today, master tomorrow)

(I dare you achieve successes without teachers)

One is not in a low position all his life. Cp What you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts.

Khoâng thieâng cuõng theå buït nhaø

Laøm coù chuùa, muùa coù troáng

Nobody can become wise without a teacher.

(He is still your Buddha though he’s not sacred)

(He who works under the lord’s command dances with the drumbeats)

Khoâng tieàn noùi chaúng ra khoân

Laøm ñó chín phöông, ñeå moät phöông laáy choàng

One should respect his superior though he’s of no great talent.

(He can’t speak wisely who has no money)

Everything should be done with a mangement.

(You should prostitute yourself in nine directions only to spare one for your marriage)

One should limit his wrongdoing for his future. Cp Don’t venture all in one bottom. Laøm ñó khoâng ñuû tieàn phaán saùp (Her whoredom cannot pay her cream and powder)

One’s toil may sometimes not be worthily paid Cp The game is not worth the candle. Laøm ôn neân oaùn (He does a man a favor but gets his hatred) A favor may get no thanks but hatred instead. Syn Ñeõo noon gaùnh, noon gaùnh ñeø vai (He who makes a carrying pole suffers its weight)

A man of the lower position has to endure all the hardships and shames. Syn Laøm thaân löon chaúng quaûn laám ñaàu (An eel is not afraid of dirts stuck on its head)

Laøm thaàn ñaát ta, laøm ma ñaát ngöôøi (He who is a God at hoem is a ghost abroad)

Those who are well-known in his homeland may be unknown in others’

Laøm tôù thaèng khoân hôn laøm thaày ñöùa daïi (Better be a wise man’s servant than a fool’s master)

The stupid just cause troubles to others.

Laøm laøm gaùo, vôõ laøm muoâi (When intact, it is a dipper; when broken it will be a ladle)

Laøm phuùc, khoâng caàu ñöôïc phuùc (He who gives others alms doesn’t hope to be given back)

A gentleman never thinks of gains when helping others.

In his fight, one can accept any losses.

Laønh quaù hoùa ngu (Too mild is stupid)

Laøm phuùc nôi naøo caàu ao chaúng baéc (Where do you give alms while the washing platform of your pone has not been made?)

Generosity should begin at home Cp Charity begins at home.

A mil-tempered man is easily misled.

Laønh thì ñôõ, dôû thì ñeø (He who helps the mild oppresses the hard)

One often helps submissive men but oppresses those who have not the same ideas with him.

Laøm phuùc phaûi toäi (He who gives others favors takes to himself a trouble)

One may get troubles when helping others. Syn Thöông ngöôøi laïi khoù ñeán thaân (He who takes pity on others

Laït meàm buoäc chaët (The bamboo string is tender but binds fast)

Tenderness conquers a man more easily than power.

takes trobles to himself)

Laøm phuùc quaù tay, aên maøy khoâng kòp

Laïy oâng toâi ôû buïi naøy (Your excellency, I am in this bush)

One’s generosity should be according to his property. Cp Be just before you are generous.

A wrong doer’s hesitation or careless words and deeds may show out his error. Cp Who makes excuses himself accuses.

Laøm quan coù daïng, laøm daùng coù hình

Laém con nhieàu nôï, laém vôï nhieàu caùi oan gia

(Giving to many alms soon makes a man a beggar)

(He who is a mandarin has a commanding look, she who is a dresser has a nice form)

Not all people can make themselves more impressive with adornment.

Laøm quan hay quaân, laøm choàng hay vôï (A mandarin knows his troops and a husband knows his wife)

A chief must know his men thoroughly / In his leadership (or husbandship) one will learn his men (or his wife) carefully.

(Those who have many children get many troubles, these who have lot of wives meet lots of misfortunes)

A large number of wives or children causes a lot of trouble. Syn Ña nhaân duyeân, nhieàu ñöôøng phieàn naõo (The more girls he loves the more troubles he gets)

Laém moái toái naèm khoâng (He who is with several lovers by day, sleeps alone at night)

Following too many will get none. Cp Dogs that put up many hares kill none.

Laøm thaân löôn chaúng neà laám maét (An eel has to accept the mud stuck in its eyes)

Laém ngöôøi yeâu hôn nhieàu ngöôøi gheùt (Better many lovers than many haters)

One should live in concord with others. Laém thaày thoái ma, nhieàu cha con khoù laáy choàng

Leänh laøng naøo laøng aáy ñaùnh, thaùnh laøng naøo laøng aáy thôø

(Too manh priests spoil the corpse, too many fathers disturb the daughter’s marriage)

(The gong of this village will be beat by these villages, and the God of that village will be worshiped by those ones)

Too many people take responsibility of one thing just spoil it. Syn Laém saõi, khjoâng ai ñoùng cöûa chuøa (TheBuddhist temple’s

One shouldn’t interfere in other’s affairs. Cp Don’t put your hand between the bark and the tree.

gate remains open for there are too many monks)

Cp Too many cooks spoil the broth. Laém thoùc nhoïc xay

Leänh oâng khoâng baèng coàng baø (His cymbal is smaller then her gong)

A wife’s authority may be greater than her husband’s.

(The more rice he gets, themore he is tired of grinding)

The richer a man is, the more he is worried and busy.

Laâu cöùt traâu hoùa buøn (After a long time, even buffalo’s droppings become mud)

Debts will be forgotten after a long time.

Laâu ngaøy daøy keùn (The more the time lasts, the thicker the cocoon is)

Time is also a good mean for one to fortify his success or to get more benefits from his business.

Laáp soâng laáp gieáng, khoâng ai laáp ñöôïc mieäng thieân haï (Nobody can fill up other’s mouths but rivers and wells)

Nobody can prohibit rumors.

Laáy ñoäc trò ñoäc (Use poison to neutralize poison)

To rule over a tartar, one should use another tartar / To solve a dilemma, one should take a daring method. Cp Set a thief to catch a thief. Laáy vôï xem toâng, laáy choàng xem gioáng (Learn your girlfriend’s history before leading her to the alar, learn your boyfriend’s race before going with him to the wedding.)

One should learn his (or her) lover’s family to know him/her thoroughly before marriage. Syn Mua heo choïn naùi, mua gaùi choïn doøng (Pigs are chosen by seeing their mother, wives are chosen by learning their ancestors) Mua traâu xem voù, mua ngöïa xem noøi (Buffales are chosen by seeing their hooves and wives are chosen by learning their race)

Cp Choose a wife by your ear rather than your eye Know the breed, know the dog. Leo cao, ngaõ ñau (He who climbs high will get a heavy fall)

The higher position one reaches, the bitterer he feels when dismissed. Cp The highest tree has the greatest fall.

Lieäu côm gaép maém (Serve the sauce according to the rice)

One should spend his energy, time or money on his work in accordance with its importane and quantity. Syn Lieäu boø ño chuoàng (Measure your cow to build its shed) Cp Cut your caot according to your cloth. Lieäu gioù phaát côø (Wave your flag according to the wind)

One should act according to the situation. Syn Lieäu gioù boù buoàm (Trim your sail according to the wind) Tuøy cô öùng bieán (Conduct yourself according to the situation) Cp Trim your sails to the wind. Lính ngoä traän môùi neân coâng (A soldier perfdorms a feat of arms only in fights)

One can have a chance of showing his talent at work only.

Lo baïc ñaàu, saàu baïc toùc (His beard get grey with worries and his hair getrs white with melancholy)

Worries and sorrows make a man old soon. Cp Care kills a cat Loøng vaû cuõng nhö loøng sung (The fig and the sycamore are alike) Men’s sentiments are alike. Cp It’s as broad as it’s long. Lôøi chaøo cao hôn maâm coã (Greetings are above feasts)

Greetings are precious and necessary in our social relations.

Lôøi noùi gioù bay (The wind can take away theo words)

Pure words are of no value / One can easily deny his responsibility for something unwritten. Syn Khaåu thieät voâ baèng (The spoken words leave no traces) Cp Hard words brea no bone.

Lôøi noùi goùi baïc (Words are bags of silver)

Kind words are more precious than property. Cp Good words are worth much and cost little. Lôïi baát caäp haïi (The good is less than the bad)

One’s work may bring to him more bad than good effects. Syn Hôn chaúng boõ hao (The gian is less than the loss) Moät tieàn gaø, ba tieàn thoùc (The chicken costs one but its food

Every crime will certainly be punished. Cp The mills of God ground slowly but they ground exceedingly small. Löôõi khoâng xöông, nhieàu ñöôøng laét leùo (The tongue has no bone so it is flexible)

One can change his words even quickly. Syn Göôm hia löôõi, mieäng traêm hình (A sword has two edges but a mouth has hundred of forms)

Cp There is no venom like that of the tongue.

costs three)

Cp Why keep the cow when you can buy mild. Lôùn buøi, beù meàm (The big are tasty and the small are tender)

A greedy man spares nothing to grasp Syn Treû chaúng tha, giaø chaúng thöông (He takes pity on neither the young nor the old) Cp All is grist that comes to his mills. Lôïn laønh chöõa thaønh lôïn queø (His medical treatment turns a well-conditioned pig into a lame one)

Om a bad workman’s hand, a good thing may be destroyed. Cp A remedy is worse than disease. Luït thì luùt caû laøng

Löôn chaúng nhòn coø, coø chaúng nhòn löôn (The eel and the stork never make a mutual concession)

Everybody want to be the winner of arguments Syn Trôøi khoâng sôï ñaát, ñaát chaúng sôï trôøi (The sky doesn’t fear the earth and the earth doesn’t fear the sky either)

Löôn ngaén, chaïch daøi (Eel is short and loach is long)

Every sort has its own pecularity / The rich and the poor are not the same sort.

(Note: In fact, the eel is longer than the loach)

Löôn ngaén laïi cheâ chaïch daøi (The short-sized eel mocks the loach’s long-size)

An inferior may think he’s better than a superior.

(When there comes a h igh tide, the whole village is flooded)

M

Nobody suffers disasters alone.

Löûa ñaõ ñoû laïi boû theâm rôm (He puts more straw into the blaxing fire)

It’s foolish and cruel to strain the tension of a bad relation. Cp Don’t start a row. Löûa gaàn rôm laâu ngaøy cuõng beùn (Sooner or later, the straw that is near thiefire will burn)

A close contact will make a boy and a girl fall in love.

Löïa ñöôïc con daâu saâu con maét (His eyes get hollowed after he’s chosen a daughter-in-law)

It’s not easy to choose a contented daughter-in-law.

Löïc baát toøng taâm (His power doesn’t follow his will)

Nobody can do beyond his capacity Syn Söùa khoâng nhaûy qua ñaêng (A jellyfish cannot jump over a fisheing basket)

Ma cheâ cöôùi traùch (Funerals are found fault with and marriages are blamed)

Nobody can aovid mistakes in his family’s funerals and marriages.

Ma cuõ baét naït ma môùi (The old ghost bullies the new one)

The old often bully the new.

Ma khoâng thöông ngöôøi oám, keû troäm khoâng thöông nhaø ngheøo (The ghost never takes pity on the sick and a thief never takes pity on the poor)

A thief has no mercy at all / Even a poor family can’t avoid the stealing.

Cp No living man all things can do.

Mai daøi hôn thuoång

Löôùi trôøi loàng loäng

What one promises to do later will never be done Cp Tomorrow never comes.

(The God’s net is boundless)

(A spade is longer than a hoe)

(Note: “Mai” has two meanings 1: Spade – 2: Tomorrow)

Mang cheát, choù cuõng leø löôõi (The dog also sticks out its tongue when the deer dies) In a fight, the winner may suffer great losses as the defeater. Syn Traïng cheat, chuùa cuõng baên haø (When the first doctoral candidate dies, the Lord is no longer living either) Maûnh choàng quan hôn ñaøn choàng daân (One mandarin husband is worth a large number of folk ones)

A husband of the high position is of much more value than a husband of the low position.

Maõnh hoå nan ñòch quaàn hoà (A strong tiger can’t win a pack of foxes)

A single hero can’t win several opponents.

Maïnh ñöôïc yeáu thua (The strong will win the weak)

In a fight, the strong are always winners and the weak are always defeaters. Cp The thread breaks where it is weakest. Maïnh vì gaïo, baïo vì tieàn (Rice makes him courageous and money makes him vigorous)

Property can give a man self-confidence. Syn Keû coù tieàn chaúng maïnh thì baïo (The rich are always strong and brave)

Maët vuoâng chöõ ñieàn, ñoàng tieàn khoâng coù; maët muõi meùo moù laïi coù ñoàng tieàn (The wry-faced men have lots of money but the square-faced men have not any)

The dishonest are often rich but the honest are often poor.

Maát boø môùi lo laøm chuoàng (He builds a cowshed whose cow has been stolen)

It’s useless to do precaution work after a robbery Cp It si too late to lock the stable-door when the horse is stolen. Maát loøng tröôùc, ñöôïc loøng sau (First get h is antipathy then win his sympathy)

Words or acts for justice may hurt a man at first but will gain his sympathy afterward. Cp First the bitter then the sweet. Maät ít, ruoài nhieàu (There is little honey but the flies are many)

The greedy are always more than gains Syn Buït nhieàu, oaûn ít (There are severa Buddhas but few truncated coneshaped cookies. Maät ngoït, cheát ruoài (Honey kills flies)

Sweetness may bring a man into a trap. Cp Flies are easily caught with honey than with vinegar.

Khoâng tieàn khoâng gaïo, maïnh baõo gì thaày (He who has neither money nor rice is no longer strong and brave)

Maùu boø cuõng nhö tieát deâ (A cow blood is not different from a goat’s one)

All people must be equally treated. Syn Ngöôøi ta ai cuõng thòt da thòt naáy (All is of a flesh) Cp What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. May hôn khoân (Better have good luck than wisdom)

A fortunate man may bain hat a wise man cannot. Cp Better be born lucky than wise. May tay hôn hay thuoác (A good doctor is better than good medicine)

Medical treatment is much more important than medicines themselves. Syn Maùt tay hôn hay thuoác (ditto) Maét thôï, vôï vua (A workman’s eyes are as perfect as a king’s wife)

In his job, every workman can see better than outsiders.

Maáy ai bieát luùa gon, maáy ai bieát con xaáu (Who knows his receplants are worm-eaten and his child’s mistaken)

Few people can recognize ther cildren’s faults Cp Every man thinks his own geese swans. Maãu töû tình thaâm (There is a deep love between a mother and her child)

Love between a child and its arents is one of the greatest human sentiments Syn Phuï töû tình thaâm (There is a deep love between a father and his child) Meï haùt, con khen hay (The mother sings and the children praise)

Every child thinks its mother’s deeds are the best / Inferior often raise ther superiors’ deeds.

Meï ngoaûnh ñi, con daïi; meï ngoaûnh laïi con khoân (When the mother turns away, her child is silly; when the other turns back, her child is witty)

A good care brings a good child.

Meøo giaø hoùa caùo

Cp There is many a slip between the cup and the lid.

(An old cat will become a fox)

Working for a long time, one will learn all the tricks of life. Cp An old fox is not easily snared,

Mieáng aên laø mieáng nhuïc

Meøo giaø laïi thua gan chuoät nhaét

Eating in some cases may devalue one’s virtue. / What gives a great impression will be long remembered. Syn Mieáng aên quaù khaåu thaønh taøn (Eating may turn a greedy

(An old cat is less brave than a mouse)

An experienced man may not be as bold as an unexperienced . An old man may not be so brave as a child.

(A morsel of food is a morsel of shame)

man into a cruel man)

Mieáng ngon nhôù laâu, lôøi ñau nhôù ñôøi (Delicious dishes and acute words make a long remembrance)

Meøo laønh chaúng ôû maû, aû laønh chaúng ôû haøng côm

Mieáng nogn nhôù laâu, ñieàu cô caàu nhôù dai (Delicious dishes

(A good cat will not live in a graveyard and a decdcent girl will not live in a snack bar)

Mieáng ngon nhôù laâu, noon ñau nhôù ñôøi (Delicious dishes and

A decent girl never lives a vagabond life.

Meøo lôùn baét chuoät to, meøo con baét chuoät nhoû (The cat hunts rats and the kitten hunts mice)

and ill-treatments are long remembered) hard beatings are long remembered)

Cp Many words cut more than swords. Mieäng keû sang coù gang coù theùp

Like man, like job. Cp Little things amuse little minds.

(Steel lies in a noble man’s mouth)

Meùo mieäng ñoøi aên xoâi voø

Mieäng quan, troân treû

An authoritative man’s words are powerful.

(He who has a deformed mouth asks for sticky rice with split beans)

(Like a child’s anus, like a mandarin’s mouth)

Meùo moù, coù hôn khoâng

Mieäng theá gian khoâng ít thì nhieàu

A man of no talent may dare ask for a great interest.

(A deformed thinig is better than none)

Better an ugly (or defective) wife (or husband) than none / Better little or a defective thing than none. Syn Reá raùch ñôõ noùng tay (His torn kettle holder prevents him from heat)

Öôùt seà coøn hôn veà khoâng (Better your basket is wet with something in it than go home empty handed)

Cp A little is better than none.

Mía coù ñoát saâu ñoát laønh (Every sugar cane is decayed in some joints)

Not all things are absolutely good as well as people.

Men of authority change their words very quickly.

(More or less, truth lies in a rumor)

Not all rumors are false.

Moït naøo aên ñöôïc cöùt saét (No moth can eat slags)

Nobody can ask anything from a chose-fisted man.

Moà cha khoâng khoùc, khoùc ñoáng moái (He who never cries on his father’s tomb cries on a termite’s hill)

It’s blamable for a man not to take pity on his parents but outsider. Syn Moà meï khoâng khoùc, khoùc moái boøng bong (He doesn’t cry on his mother’s tamb but a pile of bamboostrip wastes)

Mía ngoït ñaùnh caû cuïm

Moâi hôû, raêng laïnh

(He who learns the sugar canes are sweet chops all of them to eat)

(When the mouth is open, the teeth feel cold)

Mía saâu coù ñoát, nhaø doät coù nôi

Moãi caây moät hoa, moãi nhaø moät caûnh

(The sugar cane is not all decayed and the roof is not all leaky)

(Every tree has its own blossoms and every familyhas its own situation.

One may marry or have sexual intercourse with all the sisters of a family.

Not all things and people are bad.

In an alley, one weak member will weaken the others. Cp The chain is no stronger than its weakest link.

One’s lives are not the same Cp All bread is not baked in one oven.

Mieáng aên ñeán moàm maø vaãn coøn rôi (The morsel falls even when close to the mouth)

One may lose what’s been in his reach.

Moàm choù, voù ngöïa (A horse’s hooves and a dog’s mouth are alike)

One should beware of a dog’s mouth, for it may bite nd a horse’s hooves for it may kick.

Syn Moät ñôøi ñöôïc maáy anh huøng (There are very few heroes in a time)

Moàm mieäng ñôõ chaân tay

Moät ñoàn möôøi, möôøi ñoàn traêm

(His mouth helps his hands

(A rumor will cast into ten and ten into hundred)

A good tlkrt can save himself from work. Cp Idle folks lack no excuses,

A rumor is quickly dispersed / A rumor is often deformed. Syn Lôøi noùi khoâng caùnh maø bay (Words have no wings but they fly)

Moàm voû don aên lôû non lôû nuùi (An oysterlike mouth can eat up mountains)

Even small expenditures lasting long will soon destroy all wealths if there is no income. Syn Mieäng aên nuùi lôû (A mouth can eat up mountains) Moät caâu noùi ngay laøm chay caû thaùng (A true word equals a whole month of praying)

A true word spoken out is more useful than several prayers / A true word spoken out may cause a lot of troubles.

Moät chaïch khoâng ñaày ñaàm

Coù ít, xích ra nhieàu (A small thing is turned into a big one) Cp A tale never loses in the telling. Moät gioït maùu ñaøo hôn ao nöôùc laõ (Better a drop of blood than a pond of water)

The relationship by race is sacred. Syn Chín ñôøi coøn hôn ngöôøi döng (None generation relatives are still better than strangers) Chaùu muoân ñôøi coøn hôn ngöôøi döng (Ten generation grandchildren are still better than strangers) Anh em nhö theå chaân tay (Blood brothers are like the limbs of a body) Cp Blood is thicker than water.

(One loach doesn’t fill the marsh)

One can’t make a great cause singly Cp One man is no man. Moät ngöïa ñau caû taøu khoâng aên coû

Moät kho vaøng khoâng baèng moät nang chöõ (Better a bag of words than a store of gold)

Knowledge is much more precious than wealth Cp Knowledge is power.

(When a horse is sick, its whole pack will not eat)

Syn Thöông ngöôøi nhö theå thöông thaân (Love your country men as yourself)

Cheát caû ñoáng hôn soáng moät ngöôøi (Better die all than live one) Töù haûi giai huynh ñeä (The people all over the four oceans are all brothers)

Moät con sa baèng ba con ñeû (A failed birth equals three successful ones)

A failed birth does much harm to a pregnant woman) Syn Chöûa con so laøm lo laùng gieàng (A woman of first pregnancy makes even her neighbors worry) Moät cong hai gaùo, chaúng khua laùo cuõng long (Two dippers in one jar will soon break)

There often ha[[en troubles in a family olf one husband and several wives.

Moät coâng ñoâi vieäc (He who makes one act solves two problems)

With one act, one may reach several aims.

Moät ñaàm ñöôïc maáy con caù lôùn (There is very little big fish in a lake)

Men of great talent are very rare

Moät laø vôï, hai laø nôï (A wife or a debt)

A bad wife is really a burden to a man.

Moät laàn ngaïi toán, boán laàn chaúng xong (Once he hesitates to spend money, four times his work is half-done)

Ond shouldn’t be close-fisted when need be.

Moät lôøi noùi doái, saùm hoái baûy ngaøy (A lie needs seven days of repentance)

Falsity begets a constant uneasiness of mind Cp Repentance is good but innocence is better. Moät lôøi noùi, moät ñoïi maùu (A word equals a bowl of blood)

A promise is a sacred thing that one can’t eat up Cp Promise is debt. Moät lôøi noùi quan tieàn thuùng thoùc, moät lôøi noùi duøi ñuïc caúng tay (Words can bring about rice and money but they may bring about blows only)

Words play a very important role in one’s social relations.

Syn Moät caâu nhòn, chín caâu laønh (A soft word equals nine kind ones)

Côm soâi bôùt löûa, choàng giaän bôùt lôøi (Soften the fire when the rice is boiling and lessen your words when your husband gets angry) Côm soâi caû löûa thì traøo (The boiling rice overflows when the fire is too hot)

Cp Soft and fair go far.

Moät maët hôn möôøi goùi

(All his relatives gt favor when he gets a high position, all his relatives lose favor when he does wrong)

One’s deeds can cause a great effect to his relatives Syn Moät ngöôøi laøm quan, caû hoï ñöôïc nhôø (All his relatives get favor when he is a mandarin)

Moät ngöôøi lo baèng kho ngöôøi laøm (One man of managemnt equals a store of manual labor)

A good management plays a very important role inworking / Brain work plays a very important part in one’s activities.

(Better one open than ten close)

One in the hand equals ten by words. Cp A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Moät maát möôøi ngôø

Moät söï baát tín, vaïn söï baát tín (He who is once mistrusted will be thousand times unbelievable)

Honesty keeps upone’s prestige and vice versa. Cp A liar is not believed when he speaks the truth.

(One thing is lost, ten men are suspected)

When one has something stolen he often suspect several men.

Moät meï giaø baèng ba then cöûa

Moät traêm con gaùi khoâng baèng hoøn daùi con trai (One hundred girls are not worth a boy’s testicules)

Woman is of no value.

(An old mother equals three door-bolts)

An old mother is a good guard.

Moät mieáng giöõa laøng baèng moat saøng xoù beáp (A piece in the commune house equals a siftful in the kitchen)

Vainglory is still the thing one hungers for Syn Goùc ao khoâng baèng ñao ñình (A pond corner doesn’t equal a roof corner of the communal house)

Moät mieáng khi ñoùi baèng moat goùi khi no (A morsel when hungry is as good as a pack when stomachful)

A small help in misfortune is as good as a great one when normal.

Moät mieäng thì kín, chín mieäng thì hôû (A secret is kept in a mouth but revealed in nine)

A secret known by several people is no more a secret. Cp When three know it, all know it. Moät ngheà cho chín, hôn chín möôøi ngheà (Better skilled in one occupation than unskilled in ten)

One should spare all his efforts and time for his main occupation. Syn Nhaát ngheä tinh, nhaát thaân vinh (His excellence in his occupation brings him a happy life)

Moät ngheà thì soáng, ñoáng ngheà thì cheát (To know one trade is alive and to know all trades is to die)

Cp Jack of all trades is master of none. Moät ngöôøi laøm neân caû hoï ñöôïc caäy, moät ngöôøi laøm baäy, caû hoï maát nhôø

Moät xanh coû, hai ñoû ngöïc (Green grassed tomb or red medaled breast)

In a hero’s life, there are no other ways but death or glory Cp Sink or swim. Muø trôøi môùi baét ñöôïc keùt (A teal is caught just when it’s foggy)

Objective situaitons play a very important part in one’s activity.

Mua danh ba vaïn, baùn danh ba ñoàng (He who buys his name with thirty thousand piasters sells it for only three pence)

It’s very easy to get a bad name but very difficult to gain a good one. Cp A good name is sooner lost then won. Mua laàm, baùn khoâng laàm (Not a seller but a buyer is mistaken)

A seller knows very well about the quality and price of his goods.

Muùa gaäy vöôøn hoang (He makes a stick-dancing on a deserted garden)

When alone, every man is brave.

Muõi daïi laùi chòu ñoøn (The bow is mistaken, the steering wheel suffers the beat)

The superior has to take responsibility of his men’s faults / Parents have to take responsibility of their children’s faults.

Muoái ñoå loøng ai naáy xoùt

(Those whose hearts are salted feel poignant)

None but those who are in calamity feel painful. Cp It is easy to bear the misfortunes of others. Muoán aên heùt, phaûi ñaøo giun

Cp No garden without weeds. Möu con ñó, trí hoïc troø (A prostitute’s plot and a schoolboy’s wit are alike)

A schoolboy’s knowledge is still poor.

(He who wants to eat thrushes has to go digging worms)

Every happiness or pleasure msut be paid Syn Hay aên thì laên vaøo beáp (He who likes to eat has to enter the kitchen)

Muoán aên caù phaûi thaû caâu (He who wants to eat fish has to go fishing)

Möu söï taïi nhaân, thaønh söï taïi thieân (Man plots, God ratifies)

Nobody can confirm that his work will certainly be successful. Cp Man proposes, God disposes.

Chöa laøm voøng chôù mong aên thòt (Don’t think of eating games

N

until you have made a loop)

Hoàng naøo maø chaúng coù gai (Every rose has its thorns) Cp No pain, no gain.

Nai aên ñaâu, naùt daäu ñoù Muoán bieát phaûi hoûi, muoán gioûi phaûi hoïc (If you want to know you must ask, it you want to be good you must learn)

(The deer tramples down all the fences where it grazes)

An undisciplined man often makes mess wherever he stays.

One should be active in getting knowledte or experience.

Naêm con naêm baùt, nhaø naùt coät xieâu Muoán laøm lôùn thì laøm laùo (If you want to be a VIP you ought to contravene the laws)

(Five bowls of rice spared for his five children every meals soon make his house ruined)

Muoán noùi gian, laøm quan maø noùi

Naèm ñaát haøng höông hôn naèm giöôøng haøng caù

The bad often get higher position than the good.

(If you want to tell lies, please be a mandarin first)

Men of authority often distort truth Cp Might go before right.

One is woon be poor when he’s got several children.

(Better lie on the ground at an incense maker’s than lie in bed at a fishmonger’s)

(If you want to slander, be a husband first)

Better live in an uncomfortable but clean place than live in a comfortable but dirty one. Syn Naèm ñaát vôùi chò haøng höông hôn naèm giöôøng vôùi chò haøng caù (Better lie on the ground at an incense maker than lie in

Möa daàm thaám ñaát

Naèm giöõa chaúng maát phaàn chaên

Muoán noùi khoâng, laøm choàng maø noùi A husband thinks he has the right to ill-treat his wife.

(The soil is wet by the fine rains)

Many small acts can gain the success that a great one can’t. Syn Möa daàm laâu cuõng luït (Even a long fine rian causes a flood) Cp Little strokes fell great oaks. Möa luùc naøo maùt maët luùc aáy (He feels cool whenever it rains)

One is pleased with every little fortunes.

Möôøi ñoàng tieàn coâng khoâng baèng moät ñoàng tieàn thöôûng (Ten piasters in pay don’t equal one in reward.

Everyone likes praises.

Möôøi ngoùn tay cuõng coù ngoùn daøi ngoùn ngaén (There are both short and long fingers in a hand) In a family there may be bad and good children.

bed at a fishmonger) (He who lies in the middle loses not his part of the blanket)

Neutralism brings no loss.

Neùm chuoät vôõ bình (He how throws at a mouse breaks a pot)

A careless extermination of petty injuries may cause a great loss. Syn Neùm chuoät gheâ chaïn baùt (Take care of the cupboard when you t hrow stones at a mouse)

Cp Don’t spoil the ship for a ha’p’orth of tar. Neùm ñaù giaáu tay (He who throws stones hides his hands)

A cunning man often harms other stealthily.

Neâu cao nhöng boùng chaúng ngay (The pole is high but its shade is not straight)

Those who are in the high position may not be respected for their wrongdoings. Neâu cong thì boùng cuõng cong (A curved pole has a curved shade)

A bad-natured man has certainly misdeeds / A bad superior (teacher) will have a bad man (pupil) Syn Xaáu ngöôøi, xaáu caû moà hoâi (Even a bad man’s sweat is bad to smell)

Ngöôøi sao cuûa vaäy (Like himself, like his things) Cha naøo con aáy (Like father, like son) Thaày naøo tôù aáy (Like master, like man) Cp Like father, like son. Nghóa töû laø nghóa taän (The sentiment to a dead man is the last one)

One shouldn’t show his antipathy to a dead man.

Ngoïc toát khoâng neä baùn rao (A good jewel is not afraid of sold by public auction)

(A good horse often has a fault)

A talented man often has some defects. Syn Coù taøi thöôøng coù taät (He who is of great talents is often defective)

Ngöïa non haùu ñaù (A colt likes to kick)

The young are often pretentious. Syn Ong non ngöùa noïc (A young bee likes to sting) Ngöôøi aên thì coøn, con aên thì heát (Some of the food he’s treated to guests is left but none of that he’s given his children)

What one fives outsiders will be back by different ways.

Ngöôøi chöûa cöûa maû (Pregnancy is a doorway to a grave)

Pregnancy may cause a sudden death to women.

Ngöôøi daïi côûi truoàng, ngöôøi khoân xaáu hoå

A good thing is highly valued in any cases Syn Röôïu ngon chaúng quaûn be saønh (A good wine is not afraid of eathen jars)

(When a fool is naked, a wise man is ashamed)

Ngoài dai khoai naùt

Ngöôøi ñi khoâng böïc baèng ngöôøi chöïc noài côm

(He who sits too long makes his host’s potatoes psty)

One shouldn’t pay a so long visit to others.

Ngoài maùt aên baùt ñaày, laày caày khoâng ñaày baùt (Those eat bowlfuls tho sit idel, these who work hard eat little) The rich do nothing but have everything and the poor have to work hard but have not enough food to eat. Syn Ngoài maùt aên baùt vaøng (He who sits in a cool place eats with golden plates. Ngoài maùt laïi ñoøi aên baùt vaøng (He who likes to sit in a cool place wants to eat with golden plates.

Idle men often wish to live in luxury.

Ngoài roài laém chuyeän (An idle man has a lot of tales) By idle talking, one may cause a lot of troubles Cp The tongue of idle people is never idle. Ngu si höôûng thaùi bình (He who is stupid but lives in peace)

The stupid often live the happier life than the wise. Cp Where ignorance is blioss it’s folly to be wise. Ngöïa hay thöôøng coù taät

A cultured man may feel shameful of a wrongdoing made by an uncultured one.

(Those who are waiting for the diner to begin are much angrier than these who have to leave it)

One is often angry when waiting too long for a dinner. Cp A hungry man, an angry man. Ngöôøi gheùt cuûa yeâu (His face is disliked but his things are liked)

One may like others’ things but dislike themselves.

Ngöôøi khoân nhoïc lo, ñöùa daïi aên no laïi naèm (The wise are tired of worries whereas the foolish just eat and sleep) The wise are often more hard-working than the foolish. Ngöôøi khoân noùi ít hieåu nhieàu (A wise man learns much even in few words)

Wise men are very sensitive. Syn Ngöôøi khoân noùi maùnh, ñöùa daïi ñaùnh ñoøn (The wise need only a hint but the foolish need a beat to understand)

Cp A word to the wise.

Ngöôøi laøm ra cuûa chöù cuûa khoâng laøm ra ngöôøi (Man makes wealth but wealth cannot make man)

Man is the most precious thing in the world, Syn Ngöôøi soáng ñoáng vaøng (A living man is worth a pile of gold) Giaøu ngöôøi baèng möôøi giaøu cuûa (Rich of men is ten times b etter than rich of wealth)

Raäm ngöôøi hôn raäm cuûa (Better lots of men than lots of wealth) Moät maët ngöôøi b aèng möôøi maët cuûa (Batter one man than ten things)

Ngöôøi naêm baûy ñaáng, vaät naêm baûy loaøi (There live together several kinds of people as well as several sorts of animals)

Cp It takes all sorts to make a world Don’t look at every body with the same eye. Ngöôøi ta laø hoa ñaát (Human being is a flower of the earth)

Human being is the best masterpiece of the nature.

Ngöôøi treân caây khoâng lo, lo ngöôøi döôùi goác (The man on the tree is not anxious but the man under it is)

It often dangerous that the insider is not anxious about dangers or difficulties but the outsider is. Ngöu taàm ngöu, maõ taàm maõ (Buffaloes look for buffaloes and horses look for horses)

The bad will make friends with the bad. Syn Ñoàng naùt laïi veà Caàu Noâm (Broken brass ustensils will gather in Caàu Noâm) Note:Caàu Noâm is the place where there are several foundries

Cp Birds of same feathers flock together. Nhaø doät töø noùc doät xuoáng (The house leaks on the roof first)

Nhaø khoù caäy vôï hieàn, nöôùc loaïn nhôø töôùng gioûi (A clever wife is needed in a poor family and a talented general is needed in a rebellious country)

In a poor family, the wife’s role is very important.

Nhaø khoù ñeû con khoân (A poor family has wise children)

The poor’s children are often wise from their early age.

Nhaø khoâng chuû nhö tuû khoâng khoùa (A house without its host is like a wardrobe without locks)

Home is home as long as its owner is at home.

Nhaø saïch thì maùt, baùt saïch ngon côm (A clean house makes men feel cool and a clean bowl makes food look delicious)

Cleanliness stirs good spirits. Cp Cleanness is next to goodiness. Nhaø xieâu khoù choáng

(It’s difficult to support a sagging house)

What is in the danger of collapse is difficult to be restored.

Nhai kyõ no laâu, caøy saâu toát luùa (Thorough chewing makes a long fill, thorough ploughing nakes a good harvest)

Precaution makes perfect. Cp Second thoughts are best.

Men of high position are often the first to do wrong. Cp Fish begins to stink at the head.

Nhaøn cö vi baát thieän

Nhaø giaøu huùp töông (The rich suck soy sauce)

Leisure is the cause of eveildoings. Cp An idle brain is the devils’ worshop.

Note:Soy sauce is the poor’s daily dish)

Nhanh nhaåu ñoaûn, thaät thaø hö

Nhaø giaøu noùi ñaâu ra ñaáy (The rich speak clearly)

Too much enthusiasm and sincerity may not do good. Syn Duïc toác baát ñaït (The more you haste, the less you get) Cp Haste makes waste.

Nhaø giaøu troàng lau ra mía

Nhaàm, thua, voâ yù maát tieàn

The rich are stingy

The rich’s words are more believed than the poor’s.

(The rich plant reeds and harvest sugarcanes)

The rich make money very easily. Syn Nöôùc chaûy choã truõng (Water runs down to the lower place) Cp Money makes money. Nhaø giaøu tham vieäc, that nghieäp tham aên (The rich are greedy of work but the poor are greedy of food)

The rich love to work to get richer and richer whereas the poor love to eat for they are often hungry

(Leisure breeds ill-deeds)

(Too quick will get a fall, too sincere will be bad)

(Mistake, failure, carelessness lose money)

One has to pay for his mistake, failure and carelessness.

Nhaân baát hoïc baát tri lyù (An untaught man know no reasons)

Knowledge makes a man Syn Ngöôøi khoâng hoïc nhö ngoïc khoâng maøi (An untaught man is like an unground jewel)

Cp Knowledge is power.

Nhaân ñònh thaéng thieân (Man’s will wins God’s)

Syn Nhieàu tieàn ñong ñaày, ít tieàn ñong vôi (With much money he buys much, with little money he buys little)

It is a man but none can manage his life. Cp Every man is the architect of his own fortune.

Nhieàu tieàn cuûa toát, ít tieàn cuûa xaáu

Nhaát anh huøng, nhì coá cuøng

(Wich much money he can buy good things, with little money he just can buy bad ones)

(The brave is the first and the daring are the second)

One respects heroes and fears of venturous guys. Syn Ñöôïc vua, thua giaëc (He who wins a king fears a rash man)

Nhòn mieäng qua ngaøy, aên vay maéc nôï

Nhaát quyû, nhì ma, thöù ba hoïc troø (Devils are the first, ghosts are the second and schoolchildren are the third)

One should keep away from borrowing for it will lead him to debt. Cp Better buy than borrow.

Nhaát thì, nhì thuïc

Nhoå coû phaûi nhoå caû reã

Schoolchildren are mischievous.

(Opportunity is the first and well-trainedness is the second)

Everything is best done in time Syn Bô baûi chaúng baèng phaûi thì (Better in time than in a hurry) Cp Everything is good in its season. Nhaát toäi, nhì nôï (The first is imprisonment and the second is debt)

Imprisonment and debt are the most dreadful things to men. Cp He that goes a-borrowing, goes a-sorrowing. Nhaát töï vi sö, baùn töï vi sö

(Better kill time away with an empty stomach than fall into debt by borrowing)

(When taking out the weeds, you should exterminate their roots)

For a dangerous thing, one should exterminate it to the root.

Nhôø pheøn, nöôùc môùi trong (The water is clear owing to copper sulphate)

One’s success often depends on several outside factors.

No côm aám caät, daâm daät moïi nôi (He who eats his fill gets excited everywhere)

A life of plenty may turn a man into a debauchee.

(He who teaches you a word or even half a word is your teacher)

No doàn, ñoùi goùp

Nhaát vôï nhì trôøi

Those sho are too prodigal will soon be in misery Cp Stuff today and starve tomorrow.

One should respect those who transfer knowledge to him.

(The wife is the first and God the second)

In some men’s mind, their wives are above all. Cp A woman must has her own way. Nhieàu no, ít ñuû (A great quantity gives fullness and a small one gives a sufficiency)

One should be glad to suffer a poor llife. Syn Nhieàu no loøng, ít maùt ruoät (A great quantity fills his stomach and a small quantity pleases his heart)

Nhieàu tay voã neân keâu (Several hands make a big sound)

Several people together will make a great cause (force). Cp Union is strength. Nhieàu tieàn mua thòt, ít tieàn aên xöông (With much money he can buy meat, but with little money he can just buy bones)

Everything has its own price / One’s expenditure depends on his income.

(He who is stomachful today will be badly hungry tomorrow)

No neân buït, ñoùi ra ma (His full stomach makes him Buddha and his empty stomach makes him devil)

Man’s virtues may change according to the circumstances.

Noùc nhaø xa hôn keû chôï (It’s further to go up to the roof than to go downtown)

People of no sympathy are strange even when they live in the same family.

Noùi coù saùch, maùch coù chöùng (His arguments rely on books and his reports rely on proofs)

No arguments or theories can stand without proofs in the fact. Syn Daâm tang, gian tích (He who says there is illegal sexual intercourse must catch it red handed, he who says there is a robbery must show out its proof)

Noùi ñi thì nheï, noùi laïi thì naëng (Once spoken words are light, twice spoken words are heavy)

Words spoken repeatedly often hurt one’s feelings.

Noùi gaàn noùi xa chaúng qua noùi that (Better tell the truth than beat about the bush)

Truth telling is the best way of social contact. Cp An honest tale speeds best, being plainly told. Noùi moät ñaøng, laøm moät neûo (He who speaks in one way, works in another)

A dishonest man never does as he says. Cp Saying and doing are two things. Noùi ngoït loït ñeán xöông (A sweet word can get to the bones)

A sweet word is easily accepted / A profound ironical word makes one’s heart achy.

Noùi phaûi nhö gaõi choã ngöùa (A reasonable word is like a scrape to an itch)

One is always pleased with reasonable words.

Noùi phaûi cuû caûi cuõng nghe

Syn Noài naøo vung aáy (Like pot, like lid) Noài ñoàng laïi uùp vung ñoàng (A brass pot will be covered by a brass lid)

Noài laønh laïi uùp vung laønh (An unbroken pot will be covered by an unbroken lid)

Nuoâi ong tay aùo, nuoâi caùo trong nhaø (He keeps bees in his sleeves and a fox in his house)

It’s dangerous to favor and have a close contact with a thankless person Cp Set a fox to mind the geese. Nuoâi quaân ba naêm, duøng quaân moät ngaøy (The army that has been trained for three years is used just for one day)

An army is rarely used and the maintenance of it is expensive but very necessary.

Nöùa troâi soâng khoâng daäp thì gaõy (A forest bamboo will break in a flood)

A vagabond will get bad manners.

(Even a turnip listens to reason)

Nöôùc ñeán chaân môùi nhaûy

Noùi vôùi ngöôøi say nhö vay khoâng traû

It’s too late to prepare work to meet an evernt when it comes n ear. Cp Don’t have thy cloak to make when it begins to rain.

Reason can persuades everyone.

(A word to a drunkard is like a non returned debt)

A drunkard is not conscious to understand what is spoken to him.

(He jumps just when the tide floods to his feet)

Nöôùc ñoå laù khoai (The water just pours on the taro leaves)

Noài da naáu thòt (A skin kettle cooks the fkesh)

Men of the same blood (or country) may make war on one another. Cp Dogs eat dogs. Noài ñoàng ñaùnh ra laïi saùng (After a scrape, the brass pan is clean again)

The good are always of high value.

It’s useless to give counsels to a hard-headed man Syn Nöôùc ñoå ñaàu vòt (The water just pours on a duck’s head) Nöôùc khe ñeø nöôùc suoái (The spring water runs over the stream one)

The ruling class is always above others. Cp Cesar’s wife must be above suspicion. Nöôùc luït, choù nhaûy baøn ñoäc (In the flood, a dog jumps on the altar)

Noài naùt chaúng khoûi tay thôï haøn (A broken pan cannot avoid a solder)

One must depend on those whom he lives on Syn Noài naùt laïi veà Caàu Noâm (A broken pan will be sent to Caàu

The bad often make use of a hard time to do wrong.

Nöôùc maét chaûy xuoâi chöù bao giôø chaûy ngöôïc (Tears never run up)

Noâm) (Note: Caàu Noâm is the place where there work severao solders) Boø cheát chaúng khoûi aên rôm (Even a dead co can’t avoid the straw)

Parents dan sacrifice all for their children but few children dare do the same for their parents. Syn Côm vôï thì ngon, con con thì hoùc (He who takes a meal cooked by

Noài troøn uùp vung troøn, noài meùo uùp vung meùo

Nöôùc maát, nhaø tan

(A round lid covers a round pot and a deformed lid covers a deformed pot)

Like husband, like wife.

his wife with appetite is choked with his children’s)

(When your country is lost, your family will be scattered)

Those whose country is lost have not a happy life.

Nöôùc noùng coøn coù khi nguoäi

It’s ridiculous that those who are not able to help themselves dare ask for helping others.

(Hot water will be cool)

One shouldn’t get angry with others too long.

OÂm rôm raëm buïng (He who carries the straw feels itchy)

Nöôùc noåi beøo noåi

The more jobs you get, the more troubles you’ll meet.

(The water lentils rises up by the flood)

An individual will be prosperous when the whole society advances forward. Cp There is no standstill.

OÁm no boø daäy (He gets up himself who was kept in bed for a long times)

One is sometimes so poor that he has no money to buy medicine for his disease and illness.

Nöôùc soâng, coâng lính (Like river’s water, like soldiers’ toil and merits)

Nobody can count a soldier’s toils and merits.

Nöôùc suoái coù bao giôø ñuïc (Spring water is never muddy)

A man of good nature will never defile his virtues.

Nöôùc xa khoâng cöùu ñöôïc löûa gaàn (The water from a distant place can’t put out the fire)

One’s rescue forces from a distant place can’t help him when he gets troubles.

OÂng aên chaû, baø aên nem (As he eats meatpie, she eats meat rolls) When a husband has a sexual intercourse with another woman, his wife may commit adultery and vice versa. OÂng maát chaân gioø, baø thoø chai röôïu (He puts out a leg of pork and she gives out a bottle of wine)

Mutual benefits keep friendship long. Syn Coù ñi coù laïi môùi toaïi long nhau (To please the giver, the taker should give something back to him)

Hoøn ñaát quaêng ñi, hoøn chì quaêng laïi (When a piece of soil is thrown away, a piece of lead must fly back)

Cp Scratch my back and I shall scratch yours.

O Ong kieán coøn coù vua toâi (Bees and ants also have their kings)

There should be laws and hierarchic order in the human society.

Ong veû ñoát meï ñau con (The child feels pain when a hornet stings its mother)

A hornet stings very painfully / Everyone feels painful when his parents are ill-treated.

OÕng buïng treøo caây cao (A pregnant woman climbs a high tree)

One’s foolish act may lead him to danger.

OÂ

OÂng noùi gaø, baø noùi vòt (He tells the tale of a hen and she tells the tale of a duck)

In their talks, ones may misunderstand one another’s words and thoughts.

OÂng thaày aên moät, baø coát aên hai (The sorcerer eats one but the sorceress eats two)

The bribees have the same greed / The inferior may get the greater share than the superior.

OÂng thaày khoe oâng thaày toát, baø coát khoe baø coát hay (The sorcerer says he’s good and the sorceress says she’s nice)

Everyone likes to speak well of himself. Syn Meøo khen meøo daøi ñuoâi (A cat always praises his long tail) Cp Every cook praises his own broth.

Ô

OÁc khoâng mang noåi mình oác, laïi ñoøi mang coïc cho reâu

ÔÛ choïn nôi, chôi choïn baïn

(The snail that is not able to carry itsels dare ask the moss for carrying a pole)

Natural and social environments exert a great influence on men Cp Better ba alone than in bad company.

(Be careful when you choose your settlenent as well as your friends)

ÔÛ hieàn gaëp laønh (He who is well behaved is well treated)

As one’s conducts, so his life. Syn Coù phuùc coù phaàn (He who often give others favors will get his share)

AÙc giaû aùc baùo (He who does evils will meet devils) AÊn raùy ngöùa mieäng (He who eats wild taroes will be itchy) AÊn maën khaùt nöôùc (He who eats salty food will be thirsty) Caây khoâ khoâng coù loäc, ngöôøi ñoäc khoâng coù con (A dry tree has no buds and a wicked woman has no children)

Cp As the man lives so shall he die.

ÔÛ trong chaên môùi bieát chaên coù raän (He who is under the blanket knows that there are lice in it)

Only the insiders know the corruptions Cp Everyone knows best where his own shoe pinches.

P Phaù laù caây deã, phaù choài chaúng deã (The leaves can be cutg but the buds can’t be)

One is not easily conquered by force. Cp You can take the horse to the water but you cannot make him drink. Phaûi moät caùi, giaùi ñeán giaø (Once bitten, ever frightened)

After having been tricked by someone, one may not dare to get in touch with him any more / After suffering a great loss in his work, one may loss his heart to do it again) Syn Chim bò teân sôï caû caønh cong (Once wounded by an arrow, the bird fears even a ben twig)

Cp A burnt child dreads the fire. Phaùp baát vò thaân (Laws have no favoritism)

Laws should be fair to every sort of men. Syn Quan phaùp voâ than (ditto) Cp Business is business. Phaán doài maët, ai nôõ doài chaân (Nobody appliles powder to her feet but face)

Men of great talent will be put in high position or important work / Things of high value will be put in an honorable place.

Phaän laøm em aên theøm vaùc naëng (He who is in the younger’s lot eats little but works hard)

Men of lower rank often work hard but get a small share / A concubine often has to do harder work but gets smaller share than the first wife. Pheùp vua thua leä laøng (The king’s laws give way to the rural customs)

The local laws are sometimes above the central ones. Cp Customs rule the law. Phi thöông baát phuù (No business, no riches)

Business is one of the quickest way to make money.

Phong ba baõo taùp khoâng baèng ngöõ phaùp Vieät Nam (Even a typhoon is not so dreadful as the Vietnamese grammar)

The Vietnamese grammar is very complicated.

Phong löu moãi ngöôøi moät caùch, lòch söï moãi ngöôøi moät kieåu (Everyone has his own manner)

There is not only one manner of behavior for everybody.

Phuù quyù nhö phuø vaân (Riches are like clouds)

Riches are not ever constant in one’s life.

Phuù quyù sinh leã nghóa (Riches breed formalities)

When getting rich, one often thanks out several luxurious and queer ways of living.

Phuø thuûy ñeàn gaø (The magician pays the sacrificial cock)

A humbug will pay for his tricks / One will pay for his bad work Syn Laøm thaày ñòa lyù maát maû taùng cha (He who works as a geomancer loses his father’s tomb)

Phuùc baát truøng lai, hoïa voâ ñôn chí (Fortune never comes twice and misfortune never comes once) The poor often meet more adversities than good lucks. Cp Misfortunes never come singly. Phuùc ñöùc taïi maãu (Children’s happiness and virtues are due to their mothers)

One’s deeds exert a great influence on his children’s life and virtues Syn Ñôøi cha aên maën, ñôøi con uoáng nöôùc (The father eats salty food, the son will be thirsty)

Ñôøi cha ñaép naám, ñôøi con aám moà (The father makes the grave, the son’s tomb later will get warm)

Q Qua caàu ruùt vaùn (He who has passed over the bridge takes its board off)

It’s blamable for a man to cut off the relations with whom hie has made use of. Syn Qua caàu caát nhòp (ditto) Qua chôï caàm tieàn, voâ duyeân khoûi nhaün maù (Her money will be untouched if she can’t buy food, and if she has no charm, her cheeks will not be smooth)

Quan muoán sang, nhaø haøng muoán ñaét (Mandarins love luxury and shopkeepers want to have a large custom)

Everyone has his own purpose to aim at.

Quan nhaát thôøi, daân vaïn ñaïi (Mandarins exist for a time but folks exist for ever)

One cant get a mandarinship all his life.

Quan phuû ñi, quan tri nhaäm (This county chief comes as soon as that one has just gone off)

The change of governmental officials brings no change of policy Cp Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know.

Those who get a thing will lose another and vice versa Cp A cracking door hangs long on its hinges.

Quan tha, ma baét

Quaù muø ra möa

The poor always meet with misfortunes. Syn Quyû tha, ma baét (He who’s been set free by the devil is arrested by

(Too much mist burns into rain)

An overstep of limit breeds an unexpected consequence Cp Extremes are dangerous. Quaï thaáy gaø thì ñôùp (A crow will pick up chicken whenever he sees them)

A greedy man loses no chance of making profits.

Quan baát taïi ngu (Mandarinship will never fall on a fool)

High positions are not for the stupid.

Quan caû, vaï to (The higher position you get the greater misfortune you meet / The higher ranked mandarin you meet, the greater penalty you get)

Men of high position take great responsibility / The higherranked official takes more bribes. Cp The highest heads are the most exposed. Quan caàn, daân treã

(He who’s been set free by the mandarin is arrested by the yamen)

the ghost)

Quan thaáy kieän nhö kieán thaáy môõ (Mandarins see a lawsuit like ants see a piece of fat)

Men of authority always make profit of common people’s discords to extort their money.

Quan thì xa, baûn nha thì gaàn (The mandarin is far but the yamen isn ear)

Justice is always far from the common people but troubles are near.

Quaân cô baát khaû laäu (Military secrets can’t be leaked out)

Military secrets must be carefully kept.

Quaân hoài voâ pheøng (Retreating troops need no orders)

When a gathering comes to an end, there is often a disorder.

(The mandarin is in a hurry, but the folk take it easy)

The laboring people always show their opposition to the ruling class. Cp If the moutain will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet must go to the mountain.

Quaân leänh nhö sôn (A military order is as heavy as a mountain)

A military order should absolutely be abide by.

Quaân töû aån hình, tieåu nhaân loä töôùng Quan hai, laïi moät (The mandarin takes two and his officials also take one)

Men of authority are all bribees Syn Quan tham, laïi nhuõng (Mandarins are greedy and their officials ask bribery)

Cp Like master, like man.

(Great men hide temselves but small men reveal)

The wise are modest but the stupid are arrogant Syn Doát hay noùi chöõ (An untaught man likes to talk florid) Cp An empty vessel gives a greater sound than a full barrel. Quaân töû loøng nhaân, tieåu nhaân ñoäc buïng (A gentleman is kind-hearted but a small man is wicked)

R

A gentleman and a small man are quite different. Quaân töû nhaát ngoân (A gentleman has only one word)

A gentleman always keeps his words.

Quaân töû phoøng thaân, tieåu nhaân phoøng bò gaäy

Ra ngoõ hoûi giaø, veà nhaø hoûi true (Ask an old man when you are out and ask a child when you come back home)

(Great man take care of their lives and small men prepare bags and sticks)

Old men and children often speak truth) Cp Truth comes out of the mouths of babes and sucklings.

(Note: Bag and stick are eggar’s begging instruments)

Raén con raêm nuoát caù voi

All the people, rich or poor, have something to take care of. Cp Although the sun shines leave not thy cloak at home Quaân voâ töôùng nhö hoå voâ ñaàu (An army without a commander is like a tiger without a head)

Without its commander, even a well-trained army is weak.

Quaàn hoà baát nhö ñoäc hoå (Even a group of foxes is not so strong as a tiger)

Few brave or strong men are better than several cowardy or weak ones. Syn Quyù hoà tinh baát quyù hoà ña (A good quality is better than a big quantity)

Quen maët ñaét haøng (The most people he knos, the more customers he has)

A shopkeeper who has several acquaintances will have a large custom.

Quen mui beùn muøi aên maõi (Once eating the dish, he likes to eat it for ever)

Much giving breeds much expecting Syn Thaáy bôû cöù ñaøo maõi (Easily digged ground makes more digging)

AÊn maøy quen ngoõ (A regular beggar does not lose his way) Ba möôi ñöôïc aên, moàng moät tìm ñeán (He who gets food on the thirtieth will come on the first)

Cp Appetite comes with eating.

(A little snace wants to gobble a whale)

It’s ridiculous for a weak man (or country) to have the idea of submitting a strong one.

Raén ñeå noïc cho löôn (The snake leaves its venom to the eel)

An evildoer often shifts an ill-fame on others Cp Give a dog a bad name and hang him. Raén ñeán nhaø khoâng ñaùnh thaønh quaùi (The coming snake that is not beaten will become a monster)

The evildoer who is not punished but covered up will be mcu worse.

Raäm ngöôøi hôn raäm coû (Lots of men are better than lots of grass)

The more people the better.

Raâu oâng noï caém caèm baø kia (A man’s beard is stuck on a lady’s chin)

A thing but in a wrong place will cause a queer situation / A thing may be put in a wrong place.

Rieâng reõ khoûe aên (He who works alone eats all)

One can take all profits from the work he did by himself.

Quoác gia höng vong, that phu höõu traùch (Even a bear is responsible for the destiny of his homeland) Everybody takes responsibility of his country.

Ruoäng saâu traâu naùi khoâng baèng con gaùi ñaàu loøng

Quyû quaáy nhaø chay

Roäng mieäng caû tieáng

(Better a first born daughter than low field and she-buffaloes)

First born daughters help their parents a great deal.

(The devil bothers the host of expiatory mass)

(A big mouth gives out a loud voice)

Quyeàn rôm, vaï ñaù

Röôïu vaøo lôøi ra

The bad often cause troubles to the meek.

(Straw-like authority, stone-like calamity)

A man of no power may take a lot of responsibilities.

A big man often talks big.

(When the wine is in, the words will be out)

When drunk, one often talks much / When drunk, one may reveal his secrets. Cp Drunkenness reveals what soberness conceals.

Sinh söï, söï sinh

S Sa cô phaûi luïy cô (He who meets with misfortunes has to submit to them)

One sometimes has to submit to the situation where he’s in. Syn Qua soâng phaûi luïy ñoø (He who wants to go across a river asks for a boat)

Cp Call the bear “uncle” till you are safe across the bridge.

(He who cause troubles will be troubled by troubles)

Those who causes troubles to others will certainly meet with troubles. Cp Don’t trouble trouble till trouble troubles you. Soâng coù khuùc, ngöôøi coù luùc (A river is sometimes bent and a man is sometimes down)

Nobody is happy and lucky all his life. Syn Giaøu giôø ngoï, khoù giôø muøi (He who is rich at noon will be poor in the afternoon)

Giaøu chieàu hoâm, khoù sôùm mai (He who is rich today will be Sai con toaùn, baùn con traâu (He who makes a wrong calculation sells off a buffalo)

One may pay with a great cost for a small fault Syn Sai moät li ñi moät daëm (If you are mistaken with an inch, you’ll be misled a mile)

Cp For want of a nail, the shoe was lost. Saåy cha coøn chuù, saåy meï buù dì (He whose father is no longer living still has his uncle, she whose mother is dead sucks her aun’t breast)

One’s uncle and aunt are considered his stepparents when his parents are no longer living.

Saåy chaân coøn hôn saåy mieäng (Better a foot slips tha a tongue)

One should take care of his words. Syn Sa chaân ñôõ laïi, sa mieäng ñôõ khoâng laïi (A foot’s slip can be held back but a tongue’s slip can’t be.

Nhaát ngoân kyù xuaát töù maõ nan truy (Even four horses can’t catch up with a spoken word)

Cp Better the foot slips than the tongue. Saåy choàng ra thoùi traêng hoa (When her husband is away, she indulges in lust)

A woman may not keep her virtues when living far from her husband.

Saåy ñaøn, tan ngheù (When their pack is broken, the calves are scattered / Out of the pack, a calf will be lost)

When a family is broken down, its members hafe to live far from one another / Out of his family, a child will fall in misery.

Saåy nhaø ra thaát nghieäp (He who goes out of his house becomes homeless)

When one has to stay out far from his family, he may meet a lot of inconveniences, troubles or even mistreatments.

poor tomorrow)

Cp There is a crook in the lot of everybody. Soáng chaúng cho aên, cheát laøm vaên teá ruoài (When living he was given nothing to eat, when he’s dead, the offering to him just serves flies)

One’s filialness to his parents is to care for them when they are alive. Syn Moät laïy soáng baèng ñoáng laïy cheat (Better one of your kowtows to your parents when they are alive than a lot of your knowtows to them when they are no longer living)

Soáng cheát maëc bay, tieàn thaày boû tuùi (I don’t care about your lives but the money I’ve raked into my pocket)

A selfish and cruel man is always indifferent to others’ misfortunes and even make use of them to get benefits.

Soáng laâu leân laõo laøng (His age makes him an old folk)

One may get an honorable position with his age or a long time of working but not with his talents or skills.

Soáng moãi ngöôøi moät neát, cheát moãi ngöôøi moät taät (Everyone has his own manner in living and gets his own disease for dying)

Different people have different natures, happinesses and sorrows Cp Every man must carry his own cross. Soáng moãi ngöôøi moät nhaø, cheát moãi ngöôøi moät moà (Everyone has his won house to live and his own grave to die)

People’s tastes are different Cp Every man to his taste.

Sôn aên töøng maët, ma baét töøng ngöôøi (Paint chooses faces to effect and ghosts choose people to seize)

Not all people are easily bullied. Syn Ma baé coi maët ngöôøi ta (Even a ghost takes a look at the man he wants to seize)

(Throw an osphromenus to catch an anabas)

Suy buïng ta ra buïng ngöôøi (He measures others’ bellies as his)

To get a big thing one must sacrifice a small on. Syn Troàng caây bí, thí caây tre (He who grow a calabash chops off a

One may think others have the same ideas and thoughts with him. Cp Meaure another’s corn by one’s own bushel)

Cp Throw a sprat to catch a herring (a mackerel, a whale)

Sö noùi sö phaûi, vaõi noùi vaõi hay

(He who is greedy of a bowl loses a tray)

bamboo)

Tham baùt, boû maâm

(The monk says he’s right and the nun says she’s precise)

One may lose a big thing for trying to get a small one. Syn Tham moat ñóa, boû caû maâm (He who is greedy of a dish loses a

Söôùng quaù hoùa roà

Cp Better lose the saddle than the horse.

Everyone protects his own opinions.

(Too much joy turns him mad)

Sometimes one makes a foolish act for his joys or riches. Cp Give a man enough rope and he will hang himself.

T Tai vaùch, maïch röøng (Walls have ears and partitions have slots)

One’s secrets may be leaked out by his careless talks. Syn Röøng coù maïch, vaùch coù tai (ditto) Cp Walls have ears. Taïi anh, taïi aû, taïi caû hai beân (Both of them make it)

trayful)

Tham buoåi gioã, loã buoåi caøy (He who enjoys a feast loses a day’s work)

Evry joy has to pay.

Tham thì thaâm, (Greed brings losses)

One’s greed will derange himself and lead him to great losses. Syn Tham hôn phaûi thieät, tham daøi phaûi saâu (Who chooses the bigger takes the smaller, who choses the longer takes the rotten) AÊn nhieàu, nuoát khoâng troâi (He who eats much is not able to swallow) AÊn saâu, ngaäp caùnh (The stork that gropes deep has its wings soiled) Cuû naên buøi nghòt coù ngaøy maát traâu (He who likes to dig caltrops may lose his buffalo)

Everyone has his own fault in a wrong doing ro a discord. Cp It takes two to make a quarrel.

Cp Grasp all, lose all.

Tay laøm haøm nhai, tay quai mieäng treã

(He who is greedy of gold drops his virtues)

(When his hands work, his jaws chew; when his hands stop, his jaws open idle)

Tham vaøng boû nghóa Wealth may buy one’s soul.

No working, no eating. Syn Thaúng da löng thì chuøng da buïng (When the back skin is unstrained the belly skin is slack) Cp No bee, no honey; no work, no money.

Thaùnh nhaân ñaõi keû khuø khôø

Taét ñeøn, nhaø ngoùi cuõng nhö nhaø tranh

Thaèng cheát caõi thaèng khieâng

(The saint treats the fool well)

A fool may meet good lucks Cp Fortune favros the fool.

(When the light is off, a tile-roofed house is as dark as a thatched cottage)

(The corpse talks back to the carrier)

Thaø laøm ñaàu gaø hôn laøm ñuoâi traâu

Thaèng coøng laøm cho thaèng ngay aên

In a disaster, all is the same / In the dark any woman is good. Cp All cats are grey in the dark.

An outsider may think he knows the matter better than an insider.

(Better be a cock’s head than a buffalo’s tail)

(The humbacked work and the straighbacked enjoy)

Better be the chief of a small office (or locality) than an ordinary official to a big one. Cp Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.

Those who work hard may have little to eat but these who are idle may have plenty for they expoit the others. Syn Ong laøm maät maø chaúng ñöôïc aên (Bees make honey but

Thaû con saên saét, baét con caù roâ

Cp One beats the bush and another catches the bird.

never enjoy it)

Thaèng daïi laøm haïi thaèng khoân

Thaày boùi noùi döïa

(The foolish do the wise harm)

(Fortune-tellers often say after events)

One’s work may be destroyed by another man’s foolish deeds or words.

A fortune-teller is just a humbug.

Thaày boùi xem voi Thaèng nhaùt naùt thaèng baïo (The faint-hearted frighten the brave)

A coward sometimes dares to intimidate a brave man.

Thaân coø cuõng nhö thaân chim (The stork and the bird are alike)

All the poor have the same status.

Thaân löøa öa naëng

(The four fortune-tellers touch an elephant)

An unthorough study brings a false knowledge

(Note: Most fortune-tellers are blind)

Thaày naøo tôù aáy (Like master, like servant)

An inferior often learns his duperior’s manners and virtues. Cp Good masters make good servants.

(An ass likes to carry a heavy load)

Thaáy aên khoai cuõng vaùc mai ñi ñaøo

Thaân nhau laém caén nhau ñau

It’s foolish and blamable to follow others blindly Syn Ai noùi laøm sao, baøo hao laøm vaäy (He follows whatever others

A fool never submits to reason but force.

(The closer they are together, the more painfully they bite each other)

(He who sees others eating potatoes carries a spade to go digging)

say)

An excess in love often goes to an excess in hatred. Syn Thaém laém, phai nhieàu (The richer a color is, the faster it fades)

Thaáy hieàn, ñaâm xieân loã muõi

Thaàn hoàn naùt thaàn tinh

One often bullies the mild. Cp A shy cat makes a proud mouse.

(His soul threatens his thought)

When fearing something, one always thinks of it even when it is not existing.

Thaàn linh cuõng kinh ñöùa ngoä (Even a god fears a fool)

A fool may have queer or dangerous deeds. Cp As the fool thinks, so the bell clinks.

(He who sees you are too mild will pierce through your nostrils)

Thaáy ngöôøi sang baét quaøng laøm hoï (He who learns that you are rich will say he’s your relative)

It’s balmable for those who like to make acquaintance with the rich and the noble.

Theo ñoùm aên taøn (Follow the torch to get its ashes)

Thaàn naøo höôûng cuûa naáy (Like gods, like offerings)

It’s blamable for a man to follow an evildoer to make profit.

Men of different talents and positions get different shares (salaries) / Different people get different treatments. Syn Thaàn naøo, teá naáy (ditto).

Theo voi hít baõ mía

Thaàn thieâng nhôø boä haï

Thieân cô baát khaû laäu

(He who follows an elephant just smell sugar-cane dregs)

Those who serve a greedy master just get nothing.

(God is sacred due to his staff)

(Heaven’s secrets can’t be leaked out)

Thaáp tay vôùi chaúng tôùi keøo

Thieáu voi phaûi duøng ngöïa

A chieftain’s power and prestige are greatly made by his men.

(A short-armed man can’t reach the ratters)

A low-classed person can’t marry a hig-classed one.

Thaát baïi laø meï thaønh coâng (Failures give birth to successes_

A failure is a good lesson for one to learn how to win. Cp Failure is the mother of success.

Nobody has the right to reveal Heaven’s secret.

(He who is short of elephants use horses instead)

Sometimes one has to use improper instruments and men in need. Syn Khoâng coù traâu baét boø ñi ñaàm (He who has no buffaloes forces oxen to work)

Thôøi buoåi naøo, phong hoùa aáy (Like time, like customs)

AÊn theo thuôû ôû theo thì (He changes his manners according to the time)

One’s way of living as well as manners and habits change with time Syn Thôøi naøo, thoùi aáy (ditto)

Flood and fire are even more dangerous than robbery when they are out of control / One should beware of flood, fire and robbery. Syn Giaëc phaù khoâng baèng nhaø chaùy (Destruction made by enemies is not so bad as fire)

Cp Fire and water are good servants but bad masters. Thôøi theá taïo anh huøng (Circumstances make heroes)

Men of great talents are born by the need of their time. Cp Circumstances alter cases. Thôm thaûo, baø laõo aên thöøa

Thuyeàn theo laùi, gaùi theo choàng (A wife has to follow her husband as a boat follows the direction of the rudder)

Wives have to comply with their husbands’ opinions.

(The old lady gives the remains of her food to show her kindness)

Thöù nhaát quaän coâng, thöù nhì khoâng khoá

Thuû kho hôn thuû tröôûng

Poverty is not a shame Cp Poverty is no sin.

The close-fisted often make believe to be generous.

(The store-keeper has more authority than his chief)

An inferior chiefly a keeper of material or money may ignore his superior’s orders.

Thua keo naøy, baøy keo khaùc (Think of another fight after your defeat)

One shouldn’t lose his heart in his life. Cp If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Thua trôøi moät vaïn khoâng baèng keùm baïn moät ít (Better ten thousand times inferior to God than an inch to friends)

One often feels shameful when he’s just a bit inferior to his friends.

Thuaän mua, vöøa baùn (You buy if you feel pleased and I sell when I agree)

(The duke is the first and the man of no loin-cloth is the second)

Thöû keâu, ñoát tòt (The firecrackers that are explosive in a test is mute in a performance)

Those who are good at exams may be bad at work / A thing that is good in testing may be bad in performing.

Thöïc tuùc, binh cöôøng (When the foodstuff is full, the army is powerful)

Material plays a very important part to the strength of an army Cp An army matches on its stomach. Tích coác phoøng cô, tích y phoøng haøn (Store cereals in case of famine, stock coats in case of cold)

One should reserve necessary things for hard time Syn May vaù phoøng khi caû daï (She makes a robe in cae of pregnandy) Cp Lay something for a rainy day.

There is no pressure in trade.

Tieân hoïc leã, haäu hoïc vaên Thuaän vôï thuaän choàng, taùt bieån ñoâng cuõng caïn (A united family can dry up the China Sea)

Harmony can help people to surpass any hardships and difficulties Cp One volunteer is worth two ressed men Union is strength. Thuoác daéng ñaõ taät, lôøi that maát loøng (Bitter medicine cures disease but truth hurts people’s heart)

Truth often hurts one’s feelings Syn AÊn no loøng, noùi maát loøng (Food kills away hunger, words kill Cp

away relationship)

Truth is generally unpalatable.

(First learn how to conduct yourself then learn words)

A pupil should learn to be a good person before receiving knowledge.

Tieân traùch kyû, haäu traùch nhaân (First blame yourself then others)

One should criticize no men but himself first for any mistakes. Cp Sweep before your own door. Tieàn baïc ñi tröôùc, möïc thöôùc ñi sau (Rules go after money)

Laws can be destroyed by money Syn Neùn baïc ñaâm toaïc tôø giaáy (A bullion of silver pierces through an application of lawsuit)

Thuûy, hoûa, ñaïo taëc (Water, fire, and robbery are three enemies)

Tieàn naøo cuûa aáy (Like price, like goods)

The cost of a thing always matches its value Syn Cuûa reû cuûa oâi (A cheap thing is stale) Cp The cheapest is the dearest.

The junior may be wiser than the senior. Toát danh hôn laønh aùo (Better have good name than have a good shirt)

Tieàn röøng baïc beå (Wood’ money, sea’s property)

One’s reputation is the most precious thing to his person. Cp A good name is better than riches.

Forests and seas are unexhausted sources of wealth. Toát soá hôn boá giaøu

Tieàn traûm haäu taáu (First chop them report)

One sometimes goes beyond his authority.

(Better have a lucky star than a rich father)

A good luck plays the more important part in one’s life than an outside help.

Tieàn trao chaùo muùc

Trai anh huøng, gaùi thuyeàn quyeân

(When the money is given, the gruel is scooped)

(Brave lads are worth beautiful lasses)

In business, the reckoning should be quickly done Syn Tieàn trao ra, gaø baét laáy (When the money is given, the chicken

None but men of great talents deserve the fair Cp None but the brave deserves the fair.

is taken)

Cp If you touch pot, you must touch penny. Tieàn vaøo nhaø khoù nhö gioù vaøo nhaø troáng (The money coming into a poor family disappears as quickly as a wind blowing into an open house)

Money can’t stay long in the poor’s pockets Cp Money burns a hole in one’s pocket. Tieáng cöôøi baèng möôøi thang thuoác

Trai anh huøng voâ duyeân, gaùi thuyeàn quyeân baïc phaän (Brave men are unlucky and fair ladies are ill-fated)

The talented and the fair often meet with misfortunes Syn Hoàng nhan baïc meänh (The fair are ill-fated) Trai coø moå nhau, ngö oâng höôûng lôïi (As the storlk and the oyster are fighting, the fisher seized both)

(A laughter is worth ten medicinal decoctions)

Division is death Cp When rogues fall out, then honest men come by their own.

Cp

Trai thôøi loaïn, gaùi thôøi bình

Joy does people’s health good Laugh and frow fat.

Tieáng laønh ñoàn xa, tieáng döõ ñoàn xa (Good and bad news both travel far and wide)

Cp

One’s ill-fame or good-fame are quickly known Bad news has wings.

Tin bôïm maát boø (He who trusted a cheat lost his cow)

Gullibility brings losses Syn Tin baïn maát vôï (He who believes in his friend loses his wife) Tinh chaúng ra tinh laïi coù töôùng (He has no spirit but has countenance)

A fool and a coward often talk big.

Tình ngay lyù gian

(Be a man in wartime and a lady in peace)

Men are needed in wartime whereas ladies are paid more attention in peace.

Traùnh voû döa, gaëp voû döøa (He who avoids a melon’s peel meets with a coconut’s)

An unfortunate man can’t avoid misfortunes Syn Traùnh huøm maéc hoå (He who avoids this tiger neets with that one)

Traùnh ñaàu phaûi tai (The blow that has missed his head hits his ear)

Traùnh voi chaúng xaáu maët naøo. (Don’t feel ashamed of avoiding an elephant)

It’s not a shame to make way for a savage or mad man Cp For mad words, deaf ears.

(He is innocent in the actual state of affairs but not in reason)

An innocent man may be accused by the reasons that be can’t deny.

To ñaàu maø daïi, beù daùi maø khoân (The big-headed are foolish and the small-testiculed are wise)

Traêm caùi rui nhaèm moät caùi noùc (One hundred rafters are spared for the same roof)

All one’s efforts aim at his purpose / All the methods may serve one purpose.

Syn Traêm caùi teïn nhaèm moat caùi ñuïn (One hundred arrows aim at the same heap of straw)

Cp All roads lead to Rome.

Traêng khuyeát roài traêng laïi troøn (A half moon will be full)

Everything will be changed by the natural laws.

Traêm daâu ñoå ñaàu taèm

Traâu boø huùc nhau, ruoài muoãi cheát

(All mulberry leaves fall on the silkworm)

(When the buffalo and the bull gore each other, the flies and the mosquitoes get killed)

All respoonsibilites and changes fall on the chief.

Traêm ñom ñoùm chaúng baèng moät boù ñuoác (One hundred fireflies are not worth one torch)

A man of great talent is more baluable thanseveral ordinary ones. Syn Toái traêng coøn hôn saùng sao (Better a dim moon than a bright star)

Wars between the strong just bring disasters to the weak.

Traâu buoäc gheùt traâu aên (The tied buffalo hates the untied one that can graze)

Men of bad luck often envy men of good luck.

Tre giaø, maêng moïc (As soon as the bamboo grows, its shoot rise up)

Traêm hoøn chì ñuùc chaúng neân chuoâng (A hundred pieces of lead can’t be casted into a bell)

Even several men of no talent make no great cause.

The young generations will succeed the old ones.

Tre non deã uoán (It’s easy to bend a young bamboo)

Traêm hay khoâng baèng tay quen (Hundreds of good words can’t equal one practical hand)

Practice is muchmore useful than pre theory Cp Practice makes perfect.

One is easily taught when he’s young. Cp Learn young, learn fair. Treû caäy cha, giaø caäy con (A child needs his parents’ nurse and an old men needs his son’s care)

Traêm nghe khoâoâng baèng moät thaáy (Hearing one hundred times is not worth seeing once)

One believes what he sees more than what he just hears of. Cp Seeing is believing.

There should be a natural aid and care among different generations.

Treû con maát loøng ngöôøi lôùn (The grown-up men’s friendship is broken by their children)

Traêm nhaùt cuoác ñeàu giaät vaøo loøng (He pulls all toward himself that hoes)

People may destroytheri friendship by pampering their children.

One is often selfish Syn Traêm hay xoay vaøo loøng (He turns all good things toward his lap) Cp Every miller draws water to his own mill.

Treû ñeo hoa, giaø ñeo taät

Traêm ôn khoâng baèng hôn tieàn

Treû khoân ra, giaø luù laïi

(Hundred thanks are not worth a piaster)

(The yong are wiser whereas the old become more absent-minded)

One often prefers money to pure thanks Cp Many words will not fill a bushel. Traêm voi khoâng ñöôïc moät baùt nöôùc xaùo (He can’t cook a bowl of broth with one hundred elephants)

The more one promises the less he performs Cp Great boast, small roast. Traêng ñeán raèm traêng troøn (The moon will be full in the middle of the month)

When grown up, every girl is attractive / Everything progresses according to the natural laws.

(The young wear ear-drops but the old wear diseses)

The old can’t avoid disesase and illness.

One’s memory gets worse and worse in his old age.

Treo ñaàu deâ baùn thòt choù (He who hangs a goat’s head sells dog meat)

One may not be sincere in business.

Trong aám ngoaøi eâm (Warm inside, calm outside)

The stability of home affairs makes the stability of foreign affairs.

Trong ñom ñoùm, ngoaøi boù ñuoác (A firefly inside, a torch outside)

An outside richness may hide an inside poverty.

Tröôùc trò gia, sau ra trò nöôùc Trong nhaø chöa toû, n goaøi ngoõ ñaõ h ay

(First manage your family then manage your country)

(Still in secret at home, already known in the streets)

It’s blamable to make public the private affairs Cp It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest.

Those who want to do well the public affairs first manage well their own affairs Cp He is not fit to command others that cannot command himself.

Troáng ñaùnh xuoâi, keøn thoåi ngöôïc

Tröôûng giaû hoïc laøm sang

(The drum beats in one tune and the trumpet is blown in another)

(A rich fool also wants to be a gentleman)

Ones may mmisunderstand one another and do oppositely in their cooperation.

It’s blamable for a rich fool to imitate the noble in a rude way.

Tröôûng giaû thieáu traõ naáu côm Trôøi cho hôn lo laøm (The God-sent is bigger than the payment of the work)

(He says he’s a rich man but he’s nmot even an earthen pot)

It’s funny for a poor man to make believe to be rich.

Good lucks may bring more than work.

Tuaàn haø laø cha keû cöôùp Trôøi ñaùnh traùnh mieáng aên (God never strikes a man when he is at meals)

(A watchman is a thief’s father)

Men of authority are worse than thieves.

There should be a cheerful atmosphere at one’s meals. Tuùc traùi nhaân duyeân

Trôøi möa, ñaát chòu (When the sky pours a rain, the earth has to pool it)

Small men have to suffer all troubles caused by big men.

(Marriage is the previous life’s debt)

Marriage is made by fate. Syn Nhaân duyeân tieàn ñònh (Marriage is predestined) Cp Marriage are made in Heaven.

Trôøi quaû baùo, aên chaùo gaõy raêng (He who is to be punished by God will have a tooth broken even when eating rice gruel)

Nobody keeps away from the punishment of God Cp When God would destroy, they first make mad. Trôøi sinh voi, trôøi sinh coû (God creates elephants and also creates grass)

There is enough food for everybody on earth Syn Trôøi sinh, trôøi döôõng (God will feed up whom he’s given birth to) Cp God never sends mouths but he sends meat. Tröùng khoân hôn vòt

Tuùng thì phaûi tính (Deadlock begets invention)

Necessity is the motive of every activity. Cp Needs must when the devil drives Töôïng cheát vì ngaø, ñieåu cheát vì loâng (An elephant dies of its ivory and a bird dies of its feathers)

One may die of his talents or wealth.

Töûu baát khaû eùp (Drinking should not be forced)

Don’t insist people on drinking for it can do them harm Cp Eat at pleasure, drink with measure.

(The egg dares to prove to be wiser than the duck)

It’s blamable for the junior to prove to be wiser than the senior. Syn Tröùng laïi ñoøi khoân hôn vòt (ditto) Tröùng khoân hôn raän (The blow dare prove to be wiser than the

Töûu nhaäp taâm nhö hoå nhaäp laâm (Alcohol in a man’s body is like a tiger in the forest)

Alcohol terribly destroys one’s health.

louse)

Con chaùu khoân hôn oâng vaûi (He thinks he’s wiser than his ancestors)

Cp Don’t teach your grandmother to suck eggs. Tröôùc laï sau quen (First strange, then familiar)

By time, strangers will be friends.

V Vaï bôûi mieäng ra, beänh bôûi mieäng vaøo (Misfortunes come in and diseases go out all via the mouth)

One’s mouth can cause a lot of troubles to himself Syn EÁch cheát taïi mieäng (The frog dies of its mouth)

Mieäng toâ hoâ laøm khoå chaân tay (A babbling mouth causes troubles to the limbs)

(A masterpiece of literature doesn’t need several words)

Quantity doesn’t beget quality.

Cp A fool’s tongue is long enough to cut his throat. Vaên hay chöõ toát khoâng baèng thaéng doát laém tieàn Vaûi thöa khoâng che noåi maét thaùnh (Thin cloth can’t hide anything from a saint’s eyes)

Falsity and wrongdoing can’t be awkwardly hidden from the wise. Cp What is done by night appears by day.

(A famous scholar is not worth a rich fool)

A rich fool gets more respect than a great scholar when money is the lord of the society.

Vaên mình, vôï ngöôøi (My writing and your wife are the best)

Vaïn söï khôûi ñaàu nan (Everything is difficult at the beginning)

Nobody can avoid difficulties and troubles when starting a new job for being short of experience. Cp It is the first step that costs.

Everyone thinks that his writinig is better than others’ and others’ wives are more beautiful than his. Cp Every ass likes to hear himself bray. Vaéng chuùa ñaøn, tan con ngheù (When the leading buffalo is away, a calf is lost)

Vaïn toäi baát nhö baàn (Hundred thousands of sufferings ae not so bad as poverty)

The presence of the leader of an organization can prevent it from disorder and danger.

Poverty is the most suffering.

Vaéng ñaøn oâng quaïnh nhaø, vaéng ñaøn baø quaïnh beáp Vaøng baïc coù giaù, toâm caù theo buoåi chôï (Jewelry has its fixed price but fish and shrimps are priced according to each day)

Food’s price are changed every day.

(A man’s absence makes the house desert, a woman’s absence makes her kitchen cold)

Men are real masters of their houses as well as women in their kitchens. Cp Men make houses, women make home.

Vaøng khoâng sôï löûa (Gold never fears fire)

A man of clear conscience doesn’t fear slanders / A brave man doesn’t fear any danger and hardship Syn Caây ngay khoâng sôï cheát ñöùng (A straight tree doesn’t fear an upright death)

Cheát thaèng gian, chaúng cheteá ngöôøi ngay (It’s not the honest but the dishonest get killed)

Vaéng sao hoâm, coù sao mai (There is the morning star when the evening star disappears.

One is not short of friends as well as lovers. Syn Vaéng traêng coù sao, vaéng ñaøo coù lyù (There are stars when the moon is absent and there is a plumtree when the peachtree is no more)

Coù cöùng môùi ñöùng ñaàu gioù (Nobody but the strong stand the

Vaét muõi chaúng ñuû ñuùt mieäng

windward)

(What he squeezes out of his nose is still not enough for his mouth)

Coù cöùng môùi vöõng tay cheøo (Nobody but the strong hold on

It’s not easy for one to earn his living.

the paddles)

Cp A clear conscience laughs at false accusation A good anvil does not fear the hammer. Vaøo loã haø, ra loã hoång

Vaän khöù hoaøi sôn naêng chí töû (An unfortunate man may die of a tonic)

An unfortunate man may die of petty accidents. Cp An unfortunate man would be drowned in a tea-cup.

(It comes into one hole but goes out of another)

Cp

Too close-fisted turns into wasteful A penny soul never came to two-pence.

Vaät khinh, hình troïng (It is not worth seeing but its significance is)

A small present may hold a great significance.

Vaûy caù hôn laù rau (Fish scales are better than vegetables)

Better few things of high quality than several things of low quality.

Vaên hay chaúng lo daøi doøng

Veõ voi phaûi tìm voi (He who wants to draw an elephant must look for it)

When one wants to do something he must study it carefully.

Veùn tay aùo soâ, ñoát nhaø taùng giaáy

(He curls up the sleeves of his mourning robe to set on fire the paper hearse)

One may squander recklessly the property that he inherits from his parents. Cp Set a beggar on horseback and he will ride to the devil. Vò caây daây quaán (On account of the tree, thie vines winds each other)

Vôï daïi ñeû con khoân (A foolish wife will give birth to a clever child)

A stupid wife still brings happiness to her husband.

Vôï ñeïp chæ toå ñau löng (A beautiful wife just brings the backache to her husband)

A beautiful wife just brings harms to her husband

The relations of two strange men with the third make the close to each other. Cp One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

(Note: This proverb is only a joke)

Vò tình vò nghóa, chaúng ai vò nghóa xoâi ñaày

A clever wife can help her husband a lot with her wise counsels Cp A good wife is a good prize.

(Nobody makes acquaintance for a full dish of sticky rice but love)

One is often wise in others’ affairs but unwise in his Syn Laøm thaáy ñòa lyù maát maû taùng cha (He who works a s geomancer loses his father’s tomb)

Vôï khoân ngoan laøm quan cho choàng (A wise wife will do the mandarin’s work for her husband)

Vua nghe vôï maát nöôùc (The king who believes his wife’s words will lose his kingdom)

Wives often give their husbands bad counsels / Gullilbility often brings about great losses.

Cp Lookers-on see most of the game. Vieäc nhaø thì nhaùc, vieäc chuù baùc thì sieâng (He who is lazy in his house work is sedulous in his uncles)

One may be lazy in his own work but enthusiastic in others’.

Voû quít daøy, moùng tay nhoïn (There will be a sharp fingernail to peel off the thick-skinned tangerine)

Nobody and nothing are unvincible. Syn Cao nhaân taéc höõu co nhaân trò (Even a man of great talent will

Cp

certainly be defeated by another) Boï neït coù gieû cuøi (There is a caterpillar, there is a blue magpie) Quaû xanh, nanh saéc (Unripe fruits will meet sharp teeth)

Vuïng cheøo, kheùo choáng (He how works badly with a paddle works well with a pole)

A bad workman is often a good excuse-maker.

Vuïng muùa cheâ ñaát leäch (The bad dancer blames that the floor is not even)

A bad workman often shifts responsibility of his faults on outside circumstances. Syn Vuïng haùt, cheâ ñình tranh (A bad singer blames that the commune h all is thatch-roofed)

Diamond cut diamond.

Ñaøng cöa vaïy tradh löôõi cöa khoâng ngay (The winding sawout blames that the sawblade is not straight)

Voâ phöôùc böôùc cöûa quan (He who is ill-fated comes into the mandarin’s)

Men of authority are daytime robbers / Lawsuuits bring just poverty and troubles. Syn Voâ phuùc ñaùo tuïng ñình (The ill-fated come to the court and the court watches for the ill-fated) Muoán giaøu nuoâi taèm, muoán naèm ñi kieän (Who wants to be rich, bring upsilworms; who wants to lie, bring a suit) Ruû nhau laøm phuùc, chôù ruû nhau ñi kieän (Ask one another to ive alms not bring suits)

Voâ söï tieåu thaàn tieân (He who gets no troubles is a small angel) A man of no worries is a real happy man. Vôï choàng môùi cöôùi khoâng baèng vaéng laâu

Cp A bad workman quarrels with his tools. Vuoát maët cuõng phaûi neå muõi (Spare the nose when you strike the face)

One shouldn’t insult the good members of his opponents in a quarrel Syn Ñaùnh choù, ngoù chuùa (Take a look at the dog’s master before Cp

beating it)

Spite the face, spare the nose.

Vöøa ñaùnh troáng, vöøa aên cöôùp (He beats the drum that robs)

It’s sjameful for a man to do something wrong to another and then loudly slander him Syn Vöøa aên cöôùp, vöøa la laøng (He cries “help” that robs) Cp He carries fire in one hand and water in the other.

(A new marriage desn’t equal a long absence)

Cp

Absence deepens one’s love. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Vöøa maét ta, ra maét ngöôøi (If it pleases your eyes it will pleae mine)

What can please others must please its owner first.

X Xa chuøa vaéng tieáng, gaàn chuøa inh tai (Far from the temple, it’s quiet but near by the temple, it’s noisy)

Ones often miss one another when living in separation but quarrel with one another when living together Syn Xa moûi chaân, gaàn moûi mieäng (A long distance tires their legs but a short distance tires their tongue)

Xa thôm, gaàn thoái (At a long distance it smells sweet but at a short distance it smalls awful)

Xa maët, caùch loøng (No seeing, no loving)

Khoân ñoäc khoâng baèng ngoác ñaøn (ditto) Caû beø hôn caây mía (The whole raft of bamboos is better than one sugar-cane)

Xem boùi ra ma, queùt nhaø ra raùc (Fortune-telling breeds ghosts as sweeping breeds rubbish)

Xem vieäc bieát ngöôøi (A workman is known by his work)

One’s virtues and talents are shown by his work Syn Xem trong beáp, bieát neát ñaøn baø (A housewife is known by her Cp

kitchen)

A bird may be known by its song.

Xoâi giaû, vaï thaät (Unreal sticky rice, real fine)

One may get gains by words but misfortunes in fact.

Separation may lessen one’s love Cp Out of sight, out of mind.

Xôûi lôûi trôøi gôûi cuûa cho, xo ro trôøi co cuûa laïi

Xay thoùc thì khoûi beá em

Those who are generous will be rich and these who are closefisted will be poor Cp A penny soul never came to two pence.

(He who grinds the rice will not carry the baby)

Nobody can do several things at the same time) Cp One cannot blow and swallow at the same time.

(Who is generous will get God’s gift, but whois close-fisted won’t)

Y

Xaáu chaøng, hoå ai (Who feels ashamed when a husband gets an ill-fame?)

The wife (husband) will be ashamed when her husband (his wife) is dishonored. Syn Xaáu naøng, hoå ai (Who feels ashamed when a wife gets an illfame?)

Y phuïc xöùng kyø ñöùc (His costume is worth his virtue)

Ones clothing and adornments should be suitable to his talents and virtues or social position.

Xaàu chöõ maø laønh nghóa

Yeâu caây môùi nhôù ñeán hoa

(An ill-looking word holds a good meaning)

(He who loves the tree loves its blossoms)

A bad appearance may hide a good nature Syn Xaáu, ñaùnh traáu ra vaøng (When the dirt is cleaned off, the gold is seen)

When one loves another he must love his belongings. Syn Yeâu hoa neân phaûi vì caønh (He who loves the blossoms loves their twigs)

Cp A ragged coat may cover an honest man.

Cp Love me, love my dog.

Xaáu, coù caáu maø aên

Yeâu cho roi cho voït, gheùt cho ngoït cho buøi

(It’s dirty, but rice come comes out of it)

(He who is loved is given beats, he who is hated is given sweets)

One shouldn’t despise dirty jobs for every job euals and serves him. / One should not find faults with his wife (her husband) who is ugly but laborious.

Children should get a strict education Cp Spare the rod, spoil the child. Yeâu nhau, chin boû laøm möôøi

Xaáu ñeàu hôn toát loõi (Better bad in all than good in one)

It’s of no use to exist only one good thing (person) among the ordinary. Syn Daïi baày hôn khoân ñoäc (Better foolish in all than wise in one)

(When in love, you ought to make nine rounded into ten)

When in love, one must forgive the petty errors of one another Cp Wink at small faults. Yeâu nhau, raøo daäu cho kín

(To whow their good neighborhood, they make their hedge firm)

A hedge between the two neighbors can prevent their mutual violation so that their neighborhood remains constant / When ones love one another they shouldn’t reveal the shortcomings of one another.

Yeâu neân toát, gheùt neân xaáu (Love thinks it’s good but hatred thinks not)

One looks with the eyes in his heart not the eyes in his head Syn Khoâng öa thi döa co gioøi (He who hates her sees worms in her pickles)

Bôùi beøo ra boï (He turns the marsh lentil into worms) Cp Faults are thick where love is thin. Yeâu treû treû ñeán nhaø, kính giaø giaø ñeå tuoåi cho (Children will pay visits to those who love them and old folks will leave their age to those who respect them)

One should respect the old and love the young Syn Kính laõo ñaéc thoï (He who respect the old will live long) Yeáu traâu cuõng baèng khoûe boø (A weak buffalo is still as good as a strong ox)

A weak man is still stronger than a strong woman / A weak big man is still stronger than a strong small man.