Persian proverbs

Proverbs from all Persian speaking parts of the world.

A

• Az in guš mi-girad, az ân guš dar mi-konad.
  • Translation: In at one ear and out at the other.
  • English equivalent: Advice most needed are the least heeded.
  • Meaning: For various reasons a good advice or a genuine warning is often disregarded or considered of no importance.
  • Source for meaning and proverb: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 179. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

D

• Dust ân bâšad ke girad dast-e dust dar parišân hâli o darmândegi.
  • Translation: A friend is he who gives a helping hand to his friend in distress.
  • Idiomatic translation: A friend is known in adversity, like gold is known in fire; A friend in need is a friend indeed.
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 159. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

E

• Ezzat-e har kas be-dast-e ân kas ast.
  • Translation: Every man is the architect of his own fortune.
  • English equivalent: Every man is the smith of his own fortune.
  • Meaning: In shaping one's own fortune one should not rely on the help of others, as they are also concerned mainly about their own matters.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 388. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

L

• Loqme râ gonde-tar az dahan bardâštan.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't have too many irons in the fire.
  • Afkari (2008). فرهنگاصطلاحات،هلندى-فارسى. Amsterdam University Press. p. 175. ISBN 908964007X. 

K

• Kuh be kuh nemi-rasad; âdam be âdam mi-rasad.
  • Translation: It is the mountains that do not move to help one another; but one man surely comes to the help of another.
  • Idiomatic translation: A mountain never meets a mountain, but a man meets a man.
  • Meaning: There are some things/events that are impossible, like an encounter of mountains, but there is always a chance for people to meet. or Once can always find a possibility for revenge.
  • Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 213. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

T

• Tarre be toxm-aŝ mi-ravad Ḥasani be bâbâ-š.
  • Translation: The leek resembles its seed and little Hassan takes after his father.
  • English equivalent: Like father, like son.
  • Meaning: Sons may look and behave like their fathers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 170. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.