Hindi proverbs
This page is for proverbs from the Hindi language, one of the 22 official languages in India.
Sourced
- सौ सोनार की, एक लोहार की
- Transliteration: Sau sunar ki, ek lauhar ki
- Literal: A single blow of a blacksmith is equal to a hundred blows of a goldsmith.
- Meaning: Generally used to demonstrate the power of a strong person to a weak one.
- Source: John Christian (1891). Behar proverbs. K. Paul, Trench, Trübner & co., limited. p. 131.
- जान है तो जहान है(Hindi)
- Transliteration: Jaan hai to Jahan Hai
- Literal: (If) there's life, then there's the world.
- Meaning: Only if you are alive, things matter.
- Source: Vihārilāla Mitra (1998). The Yoga-Vāsiṣṭha of Vālmīki. Parimal Publications. p. 294.
- जंगल में मोर नाचा किस ने देखा ?
- Transliteration: Jangal main mor nacha, kisne dekha?
- Literal: Who saw a peacock dance in the woods?
- Meaning: Even a very good thing will have to be made public, to be acclaimed by people.
- Source: India Today Volume 25. Thomson Living Media India Ltd.. 2000. p. viii.
- जिस की लाठी उस की भैंस
- Transliteration: Jis ki lathi usi ki bhains
- Whoever owns the lathi (a huge cane/stick) owns the buffalo
- English equivalent: Might is right
- Source: S. W. Fallon; Sir Richard Carnac Temple; Faqir Chand (Lala.) (1998). A dictionary of Hindustani proverbs. Asian Educational Services. p. 119. ISBN 978-81-206-0663-0.
- घर का भेदी लंका ढाये
- Transliteration: Ghar ka bhedi lanka dhayey
- Literal: The insider who knows all the secrets can bring down Lanka (a very prosperous city in Hindu mythology)
- Translation: It is the insider who is dangerous and leaks secretive information to help out your enemies.
- Source: Sanjay Chadha (2004). Mantras Of Success. Ocean Books (P) Ltd.. p. 89. ISBN 978-81-88322-49-7.
- बंदर क्या जाने अदरक का स्वाद
- Tranlisteration: Bandar kya jaane adrak ka swaad
- Literal: What does a monkey knows about the taste of ginger?
- Translation: Someone who can't understand can't appreciate (or) Someone without refined tastes cannot appreciate a fine thing
- English equivalent: Laying pearls before swine.
- Source: Henk W. Wagenaar; S. S. Parikh; D. F. Plukker (1993). Allied Chambers transliterated Hindi-Hindi-English dictionary. Allied Publishers. p. 79. ISBN 978-81-86062-10-4.
- अब पछताए होत क्या जब चिड़िया चुग गई खेत
- Tranlisteration: Ab pachhtaaye hote kya, jab chidiya chug gayi khet?
- Literal: What is the use of crying when the birds ate the whole farm?
- Translation: There is no use crying over something that has already finished/happened.
- English equivalent: It's no use crying over spilled milk.
- Source: Shyam Bahadur Varma, ed (2006). Encyclopaedia of Quotations. Prabhat Prakashan. p. 96.
- नाच न जाने, अंगान ठेदा
- Transliteration: Naach na jaane, aangan tedha
- Literal: Knows no dance, claims the stage is tilted.
- English equivalent: A bad workman blames his tools.
- Translation: Said of a person without skill who blames his failure on other things.
- Source: [1]
- दूर के ढोल सुहावने लगते हैं
- Transliteration: Door ke dhol suhavane lagte hain.
- Literal: The drums sound better at a distance.
- Translation: We tend to like the things we don't have.
- Source: [2]
- घर की मुर्गी दाल बराबर
- Transliteration: Ghar ki murgi daal barabar.
- Literal: Hen at home is equivalent to the pulses.
- Translation: Self possessions are always undermined and other's possessions seem better.
- Source: [3]
- जल में रहकर मगर से बैर ठीक नहीं
- Transliteration: Jal mein rehkar magar se bair thik nahi.
- Literal: You should not have enmity with the crocodile if you are living in the water.
- Translation: You should not be hostile with people you need to stay/work with.
- English equivalent: It is hard to live in Rome and strive against the Pope.
- Source: [4], [5]