Hindi proverbs

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This page is for proverbs from the Hindi language, one of the 22 official languages in India.

[edit] 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: Beware of the insider, for he can bring down the biggest setup
    • 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 adark ka swaad
    • Literal: What does a monkey know of 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.
    • Source: Shyam Bahadur Varma, ed (2006). Encyclopaedia of Quotations. Prabhat Prakashan. p. 96. 

[edit] See also

Indian proverbs, Kumaoni Proverbs

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