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.
