செம்பருத்தி

Tamil Proverbs – Part 2

பங்குனி என்று பருக்கிறதுமில்லை, சித்திரை என்றும் சிறுக்கிறுதுமில்லை.

Neither does he expand in March nor does he get lean in April.

Explanation:

Panguni(around March) in Tamil calendar is the month of big harvest. Sithirai(April ) is a month where there is little profit. The proverb is used of a man who dont change their behaviour with change in seasons.

“A wise man is he who knows that prosperity and adversity are alike”

” He swells not in prosperity, and shrinks not in adversity .”

குறையச் சொல்லி , நிறைய அள.

Tell the defect to get more quantity.

Explanation:

To point out the defect in the goods to make a good bargain.(readers input- Thanks to Prabulingam)

அஞ்சும் மூன்றும் உண்டானால் , அறியாப்பெண்ணும் சமைக்கும்.

If the five and the three are at hand, even an ignorant girl can cook.

Explanation:

It is easy to do a thing when one has all the help required.

The ‘five’ are pepper, salt, mustard, cumin and tamarind. The ‘three’

are water, fire and fuel.

அரைக்காசை ஆயிரம் பொன்னக்குகிறவளும் பெண்சாதி , ஆயிரம் பொன்னை அறைக்காசு ஆக்கு கிறவளும் பெண்சாதி.

The one who is capable of converting half a coin into a thousand gold coins is a wife, and the one who is capable of reducing a thousand gold coins to half a coin is also a wife.

Explanation:

This why people say marriage is made in heaven. If you have a good wife you have agood fortune, if you have a bad one you are doomed.

” All women are good : good for something or good for nothing.”

ஒரு நாளும் சிரிக்காதவன் திருநாளில் சிரித்தான் , திருநாளும் வேறு நாளாச்சுது .

When one who had never smiled, smiled on a sacred day, even the sacred day became an ordinary day.

Or better :

ஒரு நாளுமில்லாமல் திருநாளுக்குப் போனால் , திருநாளும் வேரு நாளாச்சுது.

When a man, who never attended a festival, attends one, even the festival day becomes a common day.

Explanation:

This just goes to show how unluckly people are or how last minute events spoils a long awaited day.