The most common Vietnamese proverbs (and what they mean)
The top 3 according to 25 votes from people: Grind an iron bar long enough and one day it becomes a needle. · Hardship brings out wisdom. · When you drink water, remember its source.. (Updated Mar 19, 2019.)
"Grind an iron bar and one day it becomes a needle", "When you drink water, remember its source" and "Near ink you turn black, near a lamp you shine": the proverbs Vietnamese people use every day, with their meaning and closest English equivalent, from Wikiquote's collection and bilingual Vietnamese–English proverb dictionaries.
Automatically translated (original in Tiếng Việt). See the original
Top 22
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1
Grind an iron bar long enough and one day it becomes a needle.
"Có công mài sắt, có ngày nên kim." Meaning: Persistence pays.
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2
Hardship brings out wisdom.
"Cái khó ló cái khôn." Meaning: Necessity is the mother of invention.
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3
When you drink water, remember its source.
"Uống nước nhớ nguồn." Meaning: Be grateful to those who made your good fortune possible.
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4
Planning is up to people, success is up to heaven.
"Mưu sự tại nhân, thành sự tại thiên." Meaning: Man proposes, God disposes.
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5
Flowing water wears away the stone.
"Nước chảy đá mòn." Meaning: Constant dripping wears the stone.
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6
Failure is the mother of success.
"Thất bại là mẹ thành công." Meaning: Failure is the mother of success.
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7
Such a father, such a son.
"Cha nào, con nấy." Meaning: Like father, like son.
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8
A drop of blood is worth more than a pond of water.
"Một giọt máu đào hơn ao nước lã." Meaning: Blood is thicker than water.
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9
Travel one day and learn a basketful of wisdom.
"Đi một ngày đàng, học một sàng khôn." Meaning: Travel broadens the mind.
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10
With will, you succeed.
"Có chí thì nên." Meaning: Where there's a will, there's a way.
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11
Walls have ears, forests have veins.
"Tai vách, mạch rừng." Meaning: Walls have ears.
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12
Carrying firewood back to the forest.
"Chở củi về rừng." Meaning: Carrying coals to Newcastle.
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13
Greed leads to bruises.
"Tham thì thâm." Meaning: Grasp all, lose all.
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14
Every beginning is hard.
"Vạn sự khởi đầu nan." Meaning: The first step is always the hardest.
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15
Near ink you turn black, near a lamp you shine.
"Gần mực thì đen, gần đèn thì rạng." Meaning: Tell me who you go with and I will tell you who you are.
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16
Nine people, ten ideas.
"Chín người, mười ý." Meaning: So many men, so many minds.
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17
Good character beats good looks.
"Cái nết đánh chết cái đẹp." Meaning: Handsome is as handsome does.
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18
Laugh at others today and tomorrow they will laugh at you.
"Cười người hôm trước, hôm sau người cười." Meaning: He who laughs last laughs best.
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19
Without fire, how can there be smoke?.
"Không có lửa làm sao có khói." Meaning: There is no smoke without fire.
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20
Such a seed, such a fruit.
"Nhân nào, quả nấy." Meaning: You reap what you sow.
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21
Silence is gold.
"Im lặng là vàng." Meaning: Silence is golden.
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22
If you don't enter the tiger's den, how can you catch the cub?.
"Không vào hang cọp sao bắt được cọp con." Meaning: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
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Comments (1)
Câu "Uống nước nhớ nguồn" ông bà mình nhắc hoài, nhất là dịp Tết. Thiếu câu "Ăn quả nhớ kẻ trồng cây" nữa nha.