The best-known Vietnamese proverbs and what they mean
The top 3 according to 32 votes from people: "When you eat the fruit, remember who planted the tree" · "Even when the paper is torn, keep its margin" · "Choose where you eat and choose whom you befriend". (Updated Sep 21, 2022.)
From "When you eat the fruit, remember who planted the tree" to "Grind an iron bar long enough and it becomes a needle" and "Near ink you turn black, near a lamp you shine": the Vietnamese proverbs everyone knows, with a literal translation and their meaning.
Automatically translated (original in Tiếng Việt). See the original
Top 14
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1
"When you eat the fruit, remember who planted the tree"
Be grateful to those who made your good fortune possible.
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2
"Even when the paper is torn, keep its margin"
Hold on to your principles even in hard times.
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3
"Choose where you eat and choose whom you befriend"
Pick your company carefully.
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4
"Grind an iron bar long enough and one day it becomes a needle"
Perseverance gets even the hardest job done.
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5
"Hungry but clean, ragged but fragrant"
Keep your dignity even in poverty.
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6
"Good wood is better than good paint"
What is inside matters more than appearances.
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7
"Good character beats beauty to death"
Good character is worth more than good looks.
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8
"Learn to eat, learn to speak, learn to wrap and to unwrap"
Learn good manners in even the smallest things.
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9
"Stay near ink and you turn black; stay near a lamp and you shine"
The people around you shape who you become.
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10
"Travel one day's road, gain a basketful of wisdom"
Travel broadens the mind.
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11
"With will, you succeed"
Where there's a will, there's a way.
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12
"When eating, watch the pot; when sitting, watch where you sit"
Be mindful of others and behave properly.
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13
"Fence the tree you eat from"
Look after what feeds you.
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14
"Eat the porridge, then kick the bowl"
Said of ingrates who turn on those who helped them.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (1)
Câu "Đói cho sạch, rách cho thơm" bà ngoại mình nói suốt, hồi nhỏ không hiểu, lớn lên mới thấy thấm. Thiếu mỗi "Uống nước nhớ nguồn" thôi.