Vietnamese proverbs

Proverbs from all Vietnamese speaking parts of the world. A Ăn miếng trả miếng Eat one, pay one. English equivalents: Tit for tat. Measure for measure. An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. Như Cầu Võ Tục ngữ-ca dao dân ca Việt Nam: song ngữ Việt-Anh https://books.google.com/books?id=aovFA9YV4XgC&pg=PA37 2000 Nhà xuất bản Đồng Nai 37 B Bắt cá hai tay. Translation: You catch fish with both hands. English equivalent: Between two stools, you fall to the ground; To run with the hare and hold with the hound; Two timer; You have one cake but cannot eat it up. Meaning: If you cannot make up your mind which of two things you should do, you are liable to get yourself into difficulties by doing neither. Vocabulaire élémentaire Français-Vietnamien http://books.google.com/books?id=eaydHBQ57pMC&pg=PA14 Lulu.com 978-2-9531291-0-6 14 C Cái khó ló cái khôn. English equivalent: Adversity is the mother of wisdom. "I guess the only time most people think about injustice is when it happens to them." Charles Bukowski, Ham on Rye (1982) Hoàng, (Vietnam) 1994 Kể chuyện thành ngữ, tục ngữ Khoa học xãhội 7 Cái nết đánh chết cái đẹp. English equivalent: Handsome is as handsome does. "People should be valued for their good deeds, not their good looks, also occasionally used of things, or as a warning not to be misled by an attractive appearance." "Beauty comes from within, which kills good looks", in another perspective; being genuine human beings mean we should be less perceptive on other human beings, as it isn't their fault they were born with good looks. In conclusion, just be kind always. with or without deeds. where ever, when ever, how ever, and to whoever". Martin H. Manser The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=fgaUQc8NbTYC 2007 Infobase Publishing 978-0-8160-6673-5 113 Quang 2004 Khơi nguồn mỹ học dân tộc Nhà xuất bản Chính trị quốc gia 27 Cẩn tắc vô ưu. Good watch prevents misfortune. English equivalent: Harm watch is harm catch. Quang Mân Trần Thành ngữ & Tục ngữ Việt Nam chọn lọc: Song ngữ Việt-Anh https://books.google.com/books?id=gHxkAAAAMAAJ 2002 Trẻ 90 Càng đông càng vui. English equivalent:The more, the merrier. Bảo 2001 Văn nghệ một thời đê nhớ Văn học 455 Cha nào, con nấy. Like father, like son Dinh Hoa Nguyen Van Giuong Phan Tuttle English-Vietnamese Dictionary https://books.google.com/books?id=57aHCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA79 15 December 2006 Tuttle 978-1-4629-1780-8 79 fellow Chậm mà chắc. English equivalent: Slowly but surely Nguyen Dinh Hoa Phan Van Giuong Tuttle English-Vietnamese Dictionary https://books.google.com/books?id=57aHCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA279 15 December 2006 978-1-4629-1780-8 279 slow Cháy nhà mới ra mặt chuột English equivalent: Rats desert a sinking ship. Meaning: Only when something bad happens; the skeleton(s) in the closet will be revealed. Lê 1991 Lột mặt nạ những con thò lò chính trị Mẹ Việt Nam 38 Chết vinh còn hơn sống nhục Better die a beggar than live a beggar. Better die on your feet than live on your knees. Gia Thy Vuong Learning to Live Through Vietnamese and American Proverbs: A Bilingual Vietnamese-English Edition https://books.google.com/books?id=BORyDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT305 2018 978-1-984541-43-7 305 Còn nước, còn tát Chín người, mười ý. Translation: "Nine people, ten ideas" Meaning: The more people you include, the more opinions and debates you will have. Quang Hồ Văn Trí thức Việt Nam cuối thế kỷ mười tám https://books.google.com/books?id=5pFuAAAAMAAJ 1998 18 Chở củi về rừng. English equivalent: To carry wood back into the forest. Meaning: Doing something unnecessary. ̽Van Giuong Phan Tuttle Compact Vietnamese Dictionary: Vietnamese-English English-Vietnamese https://books.google.com/books?id=oC8iDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA33 2016 Tuttle Publishing 978-1-4629-1833-1 33 choi Chó sủa là chó không cắn. Translation and English equivalent: Barking dogs seldom bite ̽Tục ngữ so sánh: 838 tục ngữ Việt so sánh với gần 3.000 tục ngữ Anh-Pháp-Esperanto https://books.google.com/books?id=rSNlAAAAMAAJ 2003 Nhà xuất bản Hà Nội French 82 Chơi chó, chó liếm mặt Familiarity breeds contempt. Nguyễn, Nguyễn, Phan, (Vietnam) 1993 Từ điên̕thành ngữ Việt Nam Văn hóa 154 Chưa đỗ ông nghè đã đe hàng tổng. Catch the bear before you sell his skin English equivalent: Sell not the bear's skin before you have caught him. Thái Hòa Nguyễn Tục ngữ Việt Nam: cấu trúc và thi pháp https://books.google.com/books?id=jxxlAAAAMAAJ 1997 Nhà xuất bản Khoa học xã hội 111 Chứng nào tật nấy. Who drinks, will drink again Van Giuong 2008 Tuttle Compact Vietnamese Dictionary: Vietnamese-English English-Vietnamese Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd. 61 Có chí làm quan, có gan làm giàu. English equivalent: Fortune favors the brave. "The pain of letting yourself down is much greater than anything someone else can say." Neil Strauss, The Rules of the Game (2007) Vân Hoà Mille et un proverbes http://books.google.com/books?id=A7MFx3d5EcMC&pg=PA62 14 April 2011 Editions Publibook 978-2-7483-6347-0 62 Có công mài sắt có ngày nên kim. Practice makes perfect Translation: If you put in the work to sharpen the steel, it will eventually turn into needles. English equivalent: Persevere and never fear. Meaning: Persistence pays. Lương Yêu ngoài giờ Công ty Văn hóa Hương Trang 83 Có mới nới cũ New one in, old one out Có tật giật mình He who excuses himself, accuses himself. Có chí thì nên. English equivalent: Where there's a will, there's a way. Meaning: "If you are sufficiently determined to achieve something, then you will find a way of doing so." Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=fgaUQc8NbTYC&pg=PA113 2007 Infobase Publishing 978-0-8160-6673-5 299 Stone, J. R. (2005). The Routledge Dictionary of Latin Quotations: The Illiterati's Guide to Latin Maxims, Mottoes, Proverbs and Sayings, Routledge. p. 351 Nguyẽ̂n 1971 Cóchíthìnên Nam-hà1Còn nước, còn tátWhile there's life, there's hope. Con sâu làm rầu nồi canh. Con sâu làm rầu nồi canh - Một người làm đĩ xấu danh đàn bà . One drop of poison infects the whole of wine Hoà 2011 Mille et un proverbes Publibook/Sociétédes écrivains 73 Chim sợ cành cong. English equivalent: once bitten, twice shy Chơn, Tâm Chơn Bóng trúc bên thềm Nhàsách Quang Minh 119 Chở củi về rừng return the wood to its jungle Hoà 2011 Mille et un proverbes Publibook/Sociétédes écrivains 91 Chưa đỗ ông nghè đã đe hàng tổng Sơn 2001 Truyện cỏ̂tích Việt Nam: bình giải Vǎn học 690 Chưa khỏi vòng đã cong đuôi. Meaning: Don't celebrate until you are 100 % sure there is a reason to do so. (Vietnam) 1999 Tuyển tập văn học dân gian Việt Nam Nhàxuất bản Giáo dục 47 Có còn hơn không. English equivalent: Something is better than nothing Giáo sưHoàng Xuân Việt Tìm hiểu lịch sửchữquốc ngữ Công ty Văn hóa Hương Trang 369 Có thực mới vực được đạo. English equivalent: It's no use preaching to a hungry man Meaning: Having food (energy/money) is the prerequisite to achieve anything. United States. Joint Publications Research Service 1996 Vietnamese-English dictionary, Volume 1 U.S. Joint Publications Research Service 173 1476 Có tiền mua tiên cũng được. English equivalent: Money talks. If you have money, can you buy even fairies. Meaning: Money makes things easier. Nguyẽ̂n, Hoa, Phan 2006 Tuttle English-Vietnamese dictionary Tuttle 154 0804837422 Của thiên, trả địa. Translation: (That which) Belongs to heaven, returns to earth. English equivalent: Ill gotten, ill spent. (Mr. B Lam) Cùng tắc biến, biến tắc thông When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Cười người hôm trước, hôm sau người cười. Translation: Laughs at others today, (and) tomorrow others will laugh at you English equivalent: He who laughs last, laughs best. Meaning: "Minor successes or failures along the way are of no significance – the person who is ultimately triumphant is the only real winner." Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=fgaUQc8NbTYC&pg=PA123 2007 Infobase Publishing 978-0-8160-6673-5 123 Minh Học tròkhông học buổi nào Công ty Văn hóa Hương Trang 81 D Dể được, dể mất English equivalent: Easy come, easy go. Meaning: "Things that are easily acquired, especially money, are just as easily lost or spent." Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=fgaUQc8NbTYC&pg=PA71 7 September 2013 2007 Infobase Publishing 978-0-8160-6673-5 71 Lân 2006 Của thiên trả địa Tổng hợp Đồng Nai Dĩ độc trị độc. English equivalent: Fight fire with fire. Meaning: "The best way to deal with an opponent is to fight back with similair weapons or tactics." Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=fgaUQc8NbTYC 2007 Infobase Publishing 978-0-8160-6673-5 87 Thiền sư Quy Sơn Linh Hựu - Nguyễn Minh Tiến dịch và chú giải Quy Sơn cảnh sách văn http://books.google.com/books?id=FTElqBPCD7EC&pg=PA70 Công ty Văn hóa Hương Trang 70 GGKEY:UHY5HY2HSS4 Dĩ hoà vi quý. Translation: Making peace is treasured. Closest English equivalent: Make love, not war. Minh Gọi nắng xuân về Nhàsách Quang Minh 116 Dục tốc bất đạt. English equivalentː Haste makes waste. Hoà Vân Mille et un proverbes http://books.google.com/books?id=A7MFx3d5EcMC&pg=PA97 14 April 2011 Editions Publibook 978-2-7483-6347-0 97 466 Đ Đã trót thì phải trét. If you sell the cow, you will sell her milk too Đánh chết cái nết cũng không chừa. Translation: You can't kill someone's habit. English equivalent: Old habits die hard. Hoà 2011 Mille et un proverbes Publibook/Sociétédes écrivains 102 Đầu xuôi đuôi lọt. English equivalent: A good beginning makes a good ending. Meaning: "Starting properly ensures the speedy completion of a process. A – beginning is often blocked by one or more obstacles (potential barriers) the removal of which may ensure the smooth course of the process." Source for meaning: Paczolay Gyula European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese http://books.google.com/books?id=JiXzAAAAMAAJ 1997 Veszprémi Nyomda 1-875943-44-7 228 40 Hoang Van minh lam giau \& Nguon goc cua cai (NXB Chinh tri Quoc gia, 2007) Dr. Vuong Quan Hoang 157 Đèn nhà ai nấy sáng. Half the world not know how the other half lives. Đen tình, đỏ bạc. Lucky at cards, unlucky in love. Đi một ngày đàng, học một sàng khôn. Travelling forms a young man. Travelling widens one's horizon. Đi với bụt mặc áo cà sa, đi với ma mặc áo giấy. Pay a man back in the same coin. Nguyê̋n, Lê, Vő, Viê̜t Nam, (Vietnam) 2006 Thông báo văn hoá dân gian 2005 Nhà xuất bản Khoa học xã hội 150 Điếc không sợ súng. Translation: He that knows nothing doubts nothing. Ky Su Trong Tu Lulu.com 325 Đoàn kết thì sống, chia rẽ thì chết. English equivalentː United we stand, divided we fall Quỳnh Lâm 1968 Từ diển Anh-Việt, chính-trị, hành-chính, kinh-tế, tài-chính, pháp-luật In tại Thanh-Hiền 256 960 Đời cha ăn mặn, đời con khát nước. Translation: When the father's generation eats salt, the child's generation thirsts for water. Chinese equivalent: Father's debt, son to give back. Minh 2005 Thắp ngọn đuốc hồng Nhà xuất bản Tộng hợp Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 118 Đông tay vỗ nên kêu Trí Viễn Lê Quy luật phát triển lịch sử văn học Việt-Nam http://books.google.com/books?id=tlxkAAAAMAAJ 4 September 2013 1998 nhà xuất bản Giáo dục 216 Đồng thanh tương ứng, đồng khí tương cầu. Đồng thanh tương ứng, đồng khí tương cầu. Ngưu tầm ngưu, mã tầm mã English equivalent: Birds of a feather flock together. Meaning: Similar people often become friends. Tùng, Kieu 2006 Tử vi Chân Thuyên Lulu.com 2 Đừng chế nhạo người Laugh and the world will laugh with you. Đừng xét đoán người qua bề ngoài Do not judge the book by its cover. Do not judge people by their appearance. Được đằng chân, lân đằng đầu. Nguyễn 1997 Bí mật gia đình Lâm Bưu Văn Nghệ 432 G Gần mực thì đen, gần đèn thì rạng. Translation: If near ink, you will be black, if near light, you will shine. English equivalent: Tell me with whom though goest, and I will tell what though doest. Chʻing-yün Chu-ko Khánh Phụng Từ Thư kiếm xuân thu: (võ hiệp kỳ tình trường thiên tiểu thuyết) http://books.google.com/books?id=bzsLAQAAMAAJ 4 September 2013 1971 Đại Nam 179 Gậy ông đập lưng ông. Translation: Using the old man's cane to hit his own back. English equivalent: Hoist with his own petard. Vũ Quốc 2003 Gậy ông đập lưng ông NXB. Thanh niên 159 Giận hóa mất khôn. Hatred is as blind as love Gieo gió gặp bão. What you reap shall reap Minh Nắng mới bên thềm xuân Công ty Văn hóa Hương Trang 102 Gieo gió gặt bão. We reap as we sow H Hoạ vô đon chí. Translation: Misfortunes never come singly. English equivalent: Misery loves company. Nguyen 2011 Legends of the Promised Land Dorrance Publishing Company 38 Hữu xạ tự nhiên hương. English equivalent: Good wine needs no bush. Meaning: "A good product does not need advertising." Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=fgaUQc8NbTYC&pg=PA109 2007 Infobase Publishing 978-0-8160-6673-5 109 Hao Tran Thi Proverbes, dictons, locutions usuels en français en en vietnamien http://books.google.com/books?id=ByClqFpFnDgC&pg=PA11 1 September 2010 Editions L'Harmattan 978-2-296-26409-0 11 I Im lặng là vàng. English equivalent: Silence is golden. Vuong Gia Th?y Learning to Live Through Vietnamese and American Proverbs: A Bilingual Vietnamese-English Edition https://books.google.com/books?id=BORyDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT53 13 October 2018 978-1-984541-43-7 53 Im lặng là vàng Im lặng tức là đồng ý. Translation: Silence gives consent. Hoàng 1998 Vằng vặc sao khuê: tiểu thuyết lịch sử Văn học 155 K Không biết thì dựa cột mà nghe Translation: If you don't know something listen. This refers to students leaning against a pillar of a classroom to listen to a teacher. Không có lửa làm sao có khói Không có lửa sao có khói. Translation and English equivalent: There is no smoke without fire. Meaning: "There is no effect without some cause." or "It is supposed that if there is a rumour, there must be some truth behind it." Source for meaning of English equivalent: Paczolay Gyula European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese http://books.google.com/books?id=JiXzAAAAMAAJ 1997 Veszprémi Nyomda 1-875943-44-7 33 1 Van Giuong 2008 Tuttle Compact Vietnamese Dictionary: Vietnamese-English English-Vietnamese Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd. 180 Không vào hang cọp sao bắt được cọp con. Translation: Can't catch a tiger without going into its cave. Neck or nothing Kiên nhẫn là mẹ thành công. Translation: patience is mother of success. Kiêu ngạo đi trước, bại hoại theo sau. (Kinh Thánh) Pride comes before the fall. (the Bible) Mr. B L Lắm mối tối nằm không. If you run after two hares, you'll catch none Lời nói không đi đôi với việc làm. Do as I say, not as I do. Translation: Words don't match with actions. Meaning: The person referred to in the proverb is a hypocrite; he says one thing but does another. English equivalent: Preachers say: Do as I say, not as I do. Nguyen Dinh Hoa Phan Van Giuong Tuttle English-Vietnamese Dictionary https://books.google.com/books?id=57aHCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA342 15 December 2006 978-1-4629-1780-8 342 variance Lời nói là bạc, im lặng là vàng Speech is silver, silence is gold Tạp chí văn học https://books.google.com/books?id=jeF8yt1JBMsC 1991 50 Lực bất tòng tâm. So much to do, so little done. O Ở hiền gặp lành. One good turn deserves another M Mỗi thời, mỗi cách Other times, other ways Một giọt máu đào hơn ao nước lã. English equivalent: Blood is thicker than water. "In case of need relatives usually help each other more than strangers. – The bonds of relationship are more binding than other bonds." Paczolay Gyula European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese http://books.google.com/books?id=JiXzAAAAMAAJ 1997 Veszprémi Nyomda 1-875943-44-7 233 41 Diên Chu Xuân Đang Lương Văn Tục ngữ Việt Nam https://books.google.com/books?id=dBplAAAAMAAJ 1993 Khoa học xã hội 232 Miệng hùm, gan sứa. If you cannot bite, never show your teeth. Máu chảy, ruột mềm. When the blood sheds, the heart aches. Muộn còn hơn không Better late than never. Mưu sự tại nhân, thành sự tại thiên. English equivalent: Man proposes, god disposes. Meaning: Things seldom turn out as you have planned. Van Giuong 2007 Tuttle Compact Vietnamese Dictionary C. E. Tuttle 339 0804838712 Một câu nhịn chín câu lành. Translation: Better a lean peace than a fat victory. Minh Hoa nhẫn nhục Nhàsách Quang Minh 15 Méo mó có hơn không. English equivalent: Half a loaf is better than no bread. Kho tàng tục ngữ người Việt https://books.google.com/books?id=OYkLAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA1761 2002 1761 N Nói dễ, làm khó. Easier said than done. Vuong Gia Th?y Learning to Live Through Vietnamese and American Proverbs: A Bilingual Vietnamese-English Edition https://books.google.com/books?id=BORyDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT283 13 October 2018 978-1-984541-43-7 283 Nói dễ, Làm Khó No bụng đói con mắt. His eyes are bigger than his belly Ngưu tầm ngưu, mã tầm mã English equivalent: Birds of a feather flock together. HCM France - Vietnamese dictionary https://books.google.com/books?id=UcnDCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA119 119 assembler Nhân nào, quả nấy. Translation: For every seed a corresponding fruit. English equivalent: You reap what you sow. Nguyễn Hữu Kiệt dịch Những bíẩn cuộc đời Công ty Văn hóa Hương Trang 288 Nói trước bước không qua. English equivalent: Don't count your chickens before they're hatched. (Mr. B Lam) Nước chảy đá mòn. Translation: Water flows, rock erodes. English equivalent: Constant dripping wears the stone. "A drop hollows out the stone by falling not twice, but many times; so too is a person made wise by reading not two, but many books." (Giordano Bruno, Il Candelaio) Diệu, Nguyễn 2001 Toàn tập Xuân Diệu Văn học 76 Ngọt mật chết ruồi. Translation: You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar. O Ở hiền gặp lành. One good turn deserves another P Phi thương,bất phú. Translation: Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Meaning: It is necessary to take risks in order to achieve something. Hoàng 2007 Silk for Silver: Dutch-Vietnamese Relations, 1637-1700 Brill 125 R Rượu vào, lời ra. Drunkenness reveals what soberness conceals. S Sinh nghề tử nghiêp. English equivalent: Live by the sword, die by the sword. (the Bible)Mr. B "Those who engage in aggression or violence will meet their death in a similar way." Martin H. Manser The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=fgaUQc8NbTYC&pg=PA124 2007 Infobase Publishing 978-0-8160-6673-5 124 Hao Tran Thi Proverbes, dictons, locutions usuels en français en en vietnamien http://books.google.com/books?id=ByClqFpFnDgC&pg=PA73 1 September 2010 Editions L'Harmattan 978-2-296-26409-0 73 Sinh sự, sự sinh. English equivalent: Never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you. Đinh, Nam 2000 Tỏ̂ng tập văn học Việt Nam Khoa Học XãHội 125 T Tai vách, mạch rừng. English equivalent: Walls have ears. Meaning: "What you say may be overheard; used as a warning." Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=fgaUQc8NbTYC&pg=PA354 27 September 2013 2007 Infobase Publishing 978-0-8160-6673-5 287 Như Ý Nguyêñ Văn Khang Nguyêñ Xuân Thành Phan Viện ngôn ngữ học (Vietnam) Tư ̀điên̕ thành ngư ̃Việt Nam http://books.google.com/books?id=duG4AAAAIAAJ 27 September 2013 1993 Văn hóa 570 Tay làm hàm nhai Translation: The hand works, the mouth (is allowed to) chew. English equivalent: He that does not work shall not eat. "Without due effort one is not entitled to the fruits of the work." Paczolay Gyula 1997 European Proverbs in 55 languages DeProverbio.com 256 527 1-875943-44-7 Van Giuong 2008 Tuttle Compact Vietnamese Dictionary: Vietnamese-English English-Vietnamese Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd. 125 Tham thì thâm. English equivalent: Grasp all, lose all. Van Giuong 2008 Tuttle Compact Vietnamese Dictionary: Vietnamese-English English-Vietnamese Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd. 331 Thấy đỏ tưởng chín. Translation: Mistaking red for ripe. Dr Vương Quân Hoàng 2007 Văn Minh Làm Giàu & Nguồn Gốc Của Cải http://books.google.com.vn/books?id=El4zVl36thsC Nhà xuất bản Chính trị quốc gia - Sự thật 415 Tiền nào của đó. Translation: You get what you paid for. English equivalent: If you buy cheaply, you pay dearly; If you buy quality you only cry once. "What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing." Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan (1892) Lê 2000 Một giá hai giá hay vô giá?: một số bài phóng sự, ký sự và ghi chép Trẻ 35 Trèo cao, té đàu. Translation: The higher you climb, the greater you fall. Meaning: Slip-ups becomes more consequential, the more influence you have. (Vietnam) 2005 Tiếng Huế, người Huế\& văn hóa Huế Nhà xuất bản Văn học 47 Thất bại là mẹ thành công. English equivalent: Failure is the mother of success. Thị Đào Phan Tìm hiểu thi pháp tục ngữ Việt Nam https://books.google.com/books?id=dYxkAAAAMAAJ 2001 41 Tư Tưởng Lớn Gặp Nhau. Great minds think alike. Tư Tưởng Lớn Gặp Nhau Gia Thy Vuong Learning to Live Through Vietnamese and American Proverbs: A Bilingual Vietnamese-English Edition https://books.google.com/books?id=BORyDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT305 2018 978-1-984541-43-7 305 Còn nước, còn tát U Uống nước nhớ nguồn (uống hộ) Translation: Remember the source when you drink V Vụng chèo khéo chống Translation: A poor workman blames his tools. Vạn sự khởi đầu nan. It is the first step that counts Việc người thì sáng, việc mình thi quáng Men are blind in their own cause Vắng chủ nhà, gà mọc vọc niêu tôm. When the cat is away, the mice will play Việc gì làm được hôm nay chớ để ngày mai. Make hay while the sun shines. X Xa mặt, cách lòng. Translation: Out of sight, out of mind. English equivalent: "Long absent, soon forgotten" and also "Out of sight, out of mind." Diệu Kim biên soạn Đố vui Phật pháp Nhà sách Quang Minh 195 Xem việc biết người. English equivalent: A workman is known by his chips. Võ 2004 Ngôn ngữ dân gian Việt Nam: song ngữ Việt-Anh Nhà xuất bản Văn hóa thông tin 31 Unsorted A hundred girls aren't worth a single testicle. Reported in Gérard Chaliand, The Peasants of North Vietnam, tr. Peter Wiles (Harmondsworth, Middx: Penguin, 1969), p. 60 Category:Proverbs by language