Proverbs, slang and wishes
Vietnamese Proverbs and Their Meanings
Tục ngữ are traditional sayings that pass on practical wisdom. The first English line gives the literal sense; the second gives the meaning.
Hard work and perseverance
| Vietnamese | English |
|---|---|
| Có công mài sắt, có ngày nên kim | Grind iron long enough and it becomes a needleSteady effort pays off. |
| Có chí thì nên | With will, you will succeedDetermination brings success. |
| Kiến tha lâu đầy tổ | Ants carrying a long time fill the nestSmall steady efforts add up. |
| Nước chảy đá mòn | Flowing water wears away stonePersistence overcomes anything. |
| Thất bại là mẹ thành công | Failure is the mother of successWe learn from our failures. |
| Còn nước còn tát | While there is water, keep bailingNever give up while there is hope. |
Gratitude and kindness
| Vietnamese | English |
|---|---|
| Uống nước nhớ nguồn | When you drink water, remember its sourceBe grateful to those who came before you. |
| Ăn quả nhớ kẻ trồng cây | When you eat fruit, remember who planted the treeBe grateful to those who helped you. |
| Lá lành đùm lá rách | Whole leaves wrap torn leavesThose who are well off should help those in need. |
| Thương người như thể thương thân | Love others as you love yourselfTreat other people with compassion. |
| Một miếng khi đói bằng một gói khi no | One bite when hungry equals a whole parcel when fullHelp given at the right moment is worth the most. |
| Ở hiền gặp lành | Live kindly and meet with goodGood people meet good fortune. |
Family
| Vietnamese | English |
|---|---|
| Một giọt máu đào hơn ao nước lã | A drop of blood is worth more than a pond of waterFamily ties are the strongest. |
| Anh em thuận hòa là nhà có phúc | Brothers in harmony make a blessed homeA family at peace is truly fortunate. |
| Chị ngã em nâng | When the elder sister falls, the younger lifts herSiblings support each other. |
Learning
| Vietnamese | English |
|---|---|
| Không thầy đố mày làm nên | Without a teacher, I dare you to succeedWe owe our success to our teachers. |
| Học thầy không tày học bạn | Learning from a teacher is no match for learning from friendsFriends can teach as much as teachers. |
| Tiên học lễ, hậu học văn | First learn manners, then learn lettersGood conduct comes before knowledge. |
| Muốn biết phải hỏi, muốn giỏi phải học | To know you must ask; to be good you must studyKnowledge has to be sought. |
| Người không học như ngọc không mài | A person without learning is an unpolished gemStudy brings out your worth. |
Character
| Vietnamese | English |
|---|---|
| Đói cho sạch, rách cho thơm | Though hungry, stay clean; though in rags, stay fragrantKeep your dignity even in hardship. |
| Gần mực thì đen, gần đèn thì sáng | Near ink you turn black, near a lamp you turn brightYou become like the company you keep. |
| Tốt gỗ hơn tốt nước sơn | Good wood beats good paintSubstance matters more than appearance. |
| Cái nết đánh chết cái đẹp | Good character beats beautyCharacter matters more than looks. |
| Một câu nhịn là chín câu lành | One sentence held back is worth nine kind onesPatience avoids conflict. |
| Giấy rách phải giữ lấy lề | Even torn paper must keep its marginKeep your principles, whatever your circumstances. |
Life’s lessons
| Vietnamese | English |
|---|---|
| Sông có khúc, người có lúc | A river has its bends, a person has their momentsEveryone has ups and downs. |
| Xa mặt cách lòng | Far from the face, apart from the heartOut of sight, out of mind. |
| Tiền nào của nấy | Each price buys its own goodsYou get what you pay for. |
| Gieo gió gặt bão | Sow the wind, reap the stormBad actions bring worse results. |
| Cháy nhà ra mặt chuột | When the house burns, the rats show their facesTrouble reveals who people really are. |
| Nước đến chân mới nhảy | Only jump when the water reaches your feetLeaving things to the last minute. |
| Ngựa quen đường cũ | The horse knows its old roadOld habits die hard. |
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