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Memani Prose & Poetry
(by Abdur Razzak Thaplawala)

 

Memani Kehavatoon

(Memoni Proverbs)

 

 

(1)

ORG Aany gajar bano, biyo kurelaay na chabbe ?
WDS You – corrot – become – the other- why - not - eat (YOU)
TRN Why should the other man not eat you if you become a carrot.
EXP If you act foolishly, others will take advantage of you.
   

(2)

ORG Asaan to koro cover ayaoon jidda jo Address thIye huda hali winooN
WDS We - blank - envelop - are – where - addressed - there  - (we) go –  away
TRN I am like a blank envelope which will go to the address written on it.
EXP I am a simple man ready to do what is ordered to me. 
E.P. I dance to the tune that is played.

(3)

ORG Aado khaaay ney waasay paee wiyo
WDS Ginjer - eat - and – pusue up -
TRN

He is following up vigorously after eating Ginjer
EXP

He vigorously follows up his assignments,              ambitions or revenge.
E.P.  

(4)

ORG Andhy maiN kanoo raja
WDS Blinds –In – One eyed – King  
TRN A one eyed person is like a King among blinds.  
EXP A man with a little knowledge or expertise is considered very knowledgeable among people with no knowledge or expertise at all.
E.P. In the country of the blinds, the one eyed man is the King.

(5)

ORG Andhay watay roonu nay akhiyon  khoynu  
WDS Blind – before – weeping - and –eyes- loosing
TRN To shade tears before a blind is like loosing your eyes.
EXP It is useless to explain a problem to a fool.  
E.P.  

 

(6)

ORG Aaley jey badley maalo
WDS Aalay – Instead of – Maalo
TRN To bring - Aalay  instead of Maalo
EXP To do a different work than the work assigned or say to bring apples instead of Oranges.
   

(7)

ORG Andharay meiN daang kutaani
WDS Darkness – in – stick – struck
TRN He struck his stick in darkness
EXP To do something wrong because of lack of knowledge.
E.P. He that runs in dark may well stumble

(8)

ORG AkalmaNd key Isharo kafee hoy
WDS Wiseman – To – indication– sufficient – is 
TRN A small indication or advice is sufficient for a wise man.
EXP A wise man needs only a little guidance to accomplish a job.
E.P.  

(9)

ORG Attay kay pisan thee, attoj thinjo  aay
WDS Flour – to – grind – flour – come  out 
TRN You will get flour if you regrind the flour
EXP The labour spent on something which is already complete will  be waste of time and efforts.
E.P.  

(10)

ORG Akh meiN kamro woy to badhay peero disaay
WDS Eye – in – jaundice - has – everything– yellow – is seen
TRN If one is suffering from jaundice – he will see yellow colour in everything.
EXP A person with pre-conceived ideas will see everything from his own point of view.
E.P.  

(11)

ORG Kumbhaar jo gusso ghadheray muthay
WDS Potmaker – of – anger – donkey –on
TRN A Potmaker can be angry with his donkey only.
EXP A poorman can  show anger to only himself or his kids.
   

(12)

ORG Utaavery aama na pakan
WDS In haste – mangoes – not –become ripe.
TRN You can not turn raw mangoes into ripe mangoes hastily.
EXP You have to devote sufficient time to accomplish a job OR a minimum time is required to complete every job.
E.P. Hurry, hurry has no  blessing.

(13)

ORG Kun meiN ghaal theeni
WDS Ear – in – conversation – will
TRN A conversation made in a ear shot will be understood quickly
EXP A good and effective remedy or medicine will act quickly.
E.P.  

(14)

ORG Keeree key pukh aavya
WDS Ant – To – wings – came
TRN Wings came to an ant
EXP Somebody claiming or boasting more than his ability.
E.P.  

(15)

ORG Udhaar jee maaN muray
WDS Credit – of - mother – dies
TRN Mother of credit dies.
EXP Normally petty traders/retailers who do not want to extend credit in sales transactions use these words to refuse credit.
E.P. Credit is dead, bad pay killed it.

(16)

ORG Kun Kapee achanoo
WDS Ear – cut – come
TRN To cut somebody’s ear
EXP Accomplish something remarkable against expectations..
E.P.  

(17)

ORG Kutch maiN chokro, nay gaam meiN dhandhero
WDS Lap – in – boy – and – village – in– announcement.
TRN The boy is in the lap but announcement is made for his search  In the whole village.
EXP To search for something all over when it is with or near you.
E.P.  

(18)

ORG Kutcho Kupnoo
WDS Raw (Fruit) – To cut
TRN To cut a  raw fruit
EXP To do something foolish
E.P.  

(19)

ORG Kaazi kay sujjay shehar jee fikar
WDS A Village Judge – whole – city –of - worry
TRN Kazi keeps worrying about every happening in the town.
EXP Some people keep worrying about every happening whether it concerns them or not.
E.P.  

(20)

ORG Kur daavo, thee baavo
WDS Do – court case – become – poor
TRN To go to a court turns one into a pauper
EXP

Try to solve the problems amicably instead of going to acourt of law because such an action will be expensive
E.P. Law is bottlonless pit. 

(21)

ORG Kida aasman tootee piyo aaye
WDS Where – Sky – Fallen – Is
TRN The sky has not fallen
EXP A small damage should not be equalized to a big catastrophe
E.P.  

(22)

ORG Garaj poy to gatheray kay pay chunoo khape
WDS Need-Have-then-Donkey-to-Father- Call-have to
TRN In case of need you have to call a donkey as your father
EXP In case of need one has to give respect to even a un-deserving person.
E.P.  

(23)

ORG Gaar thee gumra naa theen
WDS Abusive language – by – boils –not grow.
TRN Boils will no grow on your skin by somebody’s abusive language.
EXP Abusive language cause nobodily harm.
E.P. A thousand curses never tors a shirt.

(24)

ORG Ghaslate thee viyo
WDS Kerosene - became
TRN It has become kerosene 
EXP

It is used to describe a situation where money is lost or some goods orbusiness is distroyed.
E.P.  

(25)

ORG Ghar jaa chokra ghanti chatay nay bahar waaray laay ghee kera.
WDS House-of-sons-grinder-lick-and-outsider-for-ghee(butter) banana
TRN The family members lick the remainder of flour stuck on a manual flour grinder and ghee and banana for outsiders.
EXP Instead of satisfying the needs of family members, somebody tries to show off by becoming  generous with outsiders distributing good things (eatables).
E.P.  

(26)

ORG Ghar jee murgi daal baraaber
WDS House-of-chicken-lintal-equal
TRN Chicken prepared at home is equal to a lintal 
EXP Own precious possessions are considered inferior to not so precious possessions of other
E.P.  

(27)

ORG Kun mein seeso bharelo aay
WDS Ear-in-lead-full of-is
TRN His ear is full of lead
EXP A person who does not lend ear to or be attentive to advice from others.
E.P.  

(28)

ORG Kum kay kum sekhaay
WDS Work-to-work-teaches
TRN Practice of work teaches skill
EXP One can learn a work by practicing it
E.P.  

(29)

ORG Kurray kok nay bharay kok
WDS Does-someone-and-suffers -someone
TRN Somebody does it but someone else is blamed
EXP

Somebody is held responsible for misdeed of someone else

E.P.  

(30)

ORG Kheer jo briyo chaay kay fuki fuki nay peeye
WDS Milk-by-burnt-yoghurt-to-blow-blow-and drink
TRN A person burning his mouth with hot milk drinks even yoghurt after blowing it. 
EXP A person with a bitter experience becomes over cautious.
E.P.

He who has been bitten by a snake fears a piece of string OR he who  has once burnet his month, always blows his soup.

(31)

ORG Khisaa khaali nay bharam bhaari
WDS Pocket-Empty-and-show-high
TRN Display of richness with empty pockets
EXP Some people with no money boast as if they are rich.
E.P. Empty vessels make much noise.

(32)

ORG Kheer jo kheer nay paani jo paani
WDS Milk-of-Milk-and-water-of-water
TRN To separate milk from water
EXP To analyse something so as to show reality
E.P.  

(33)

ORG

Khadday mein ootaari deeno

WDS Ditch-in-throw-into-
TRN To throw into a ditch
EXP To cause heavy loss to someone
E.P.  

(34)

ORG Koylay jee dalali mein hath kaara theen
WDS Coal-of-brokerage-in-hand-becomeblack
TRN If you are dealing in coal, you may make your hand black
EXP

If you deal or handle a thing, you might have to absorb it’s quality or colour.
E.P. He that deals in dirt gets foul finger.

(35)

ORG Chaar deeNh khaaraa moraa nikri Unanaa.
WDS Four-days-salty-tasteless-will go away
TRN A few days of tastelessness (trouble)  will be over         
EXP Bad days do not stay for ever.
E.P.  

(36)

ORG Chaar deeNh jee chandni aay
WDS Four-Days-of-Moonlight-is
TRN There are only a few days of moonlight
EXP The happy days will last for a few days only
E.P.  

(37)

ORG Chappar faari nay Allah deeno
WDS Roof-cut-and-the God-will give
TRN Allah will give from unexpected sources
EXP Almighty Allah will bestow his blessings and provide opportunities from unexpected sources.
E.P.  

(38)

ORG Jeenjee laathee oonjee behnse
WDS Whoever owns-stick-his-buffalo
TRN The baffalo belongs to one who has a stick
EXP The man with might can control many things.
E.P. Might is right.

(39)

ORG Jayro desh aero bhes
WDS Like-country-like-dress
TRN One wears a dress which is usual in the country in which he lives
EXP Adopt dress and customs of the country where you live.
E.P. In Rome do as Romans do. 

(40)

ORG Jehtro gur ujna ehtro mitho theeno
WDS As much-desi sugar-put-will-sweet-become
TRN The sweetness will be as much as the quantity of desi sugar is mixed 
EXP Success will be in proportion to the efforts.
E.P.  

(41)

ORG Taali vajey bo hath thee 
WDS Clapping-two-hands-with
TRN Two hands are needed for clapping
EXP A job can be accomplished with the consent and help of both the parties.
E.P. Clapping with one hand will not produce noise.

(42)

ORG Hin Tilen meiN tell naehN
WDS These - Oilseeds-in-oil-not
TRN There is no oil in these oilseeds.        
EXP

There is no capability in a person to accomplish the given task or there is no substance in a proposal.
E.P.  

(43)

ORG Theiyo Kajyo, ghar bhajiyo
WDS Happens-dispute-home-broken
TRN Dispute in family breaks the home
EXP Internal dispute within family destroys the peace of the family home.
E.P.  

(44)

ORG Thadday paani see khas wee
WDS Cold-water-from-irritation-went
TRN The skin irritation went away with cold water
EXP

The trouble or problem was solved without much efforts.

E.P.  

(45)

ORG Doonia andhee neh paNr bewaqoof aay
WDS Word-blind-not-but-fool
TRN The world is not blind but fool
EXP

The people are not blind but ignore misdeeds of other people because of foolishness.
E.P.  

(46)

ORG DhaNri wigar jo dhor
WDS Owner-without-of-animal
TRN An animal without an owner/master
EXP When there is no one to stop somebody from doing mischief.
E.P.  

(47)

ORG Dhandho thoro nay dhamal jeejee
WDS Business-small-and-show-more
TRN Small business but with big show
EXP Making big show of small business.
E.P.  

(48)

ORG Dharam jey kum meiN dheel naa woy     
WDS Religion-of-work-in-delay-not be
TRN There should be no delay in a good or religious work.
EXP Good work should be completed without delay
E.P.  

(49)

ORG Nuk wadhaee oozee aaee
WDS Nose-cut-has
TRN He has cut his nose
EXP To do something which creates bad reputation.
E.P.  

(50)

ORG Naktay jo nuk na woy
WDS Shameless-of-noze-no-has
TRN A shameless person has no noze
EXP A shamless person does not care for respect or reputation.
E.P.  

(51)

ORG Naavaro waitho neekhod waaray
WDS Idle-sitting-destruction-cause
TRN Idle person causes destruction
EXP An idle person keeps doing destructive work
E.P. An idle mind is devil’s workshop.

(52)

ORG Naa maamaa kurtaa-kaaNroo maamoo saaro
WDS No-Peternal uncle-compared to-one eyed-peternal uncle is good
TRN It is better to have a one eyed uncle than no uncle
EXP Something is better than nothing
E.P. Better half a loaf than no bread.

(53)

ORG Naseeb bo daglaa agyaaj aae
WDS Fortune-two-steps-forward-is
TRN His fortune is always two steps ahead of him
EXP The fortune of an unlucky person does not keep pace with him.
E.P.  

(54)

ORG Nakal kay akal naa woy
WDS Imitation-of-wisdom-not-have 
TRN mitation does not use wisdom
EXP A person imitating or copying other does not use his wisdom
E.P.  

(55)

ORG Naseeb meiN oay tan ghar wethey miray
WDS Fortune-in-is-then-house-sitting get
TRN You will get it sitting at home if it is in your luck.
EXP If destiny has earmarked something for you, you will get it without efforts.
E.P.  

(56)

ORG Naraan bhojaay larry nay dhaNri marray
WDS Husband’s sister-brothers wife-figh       and-husband-suffers
TRN The husband suffers due to fight between two sisters in laws.   
EXP In the fight/quarrel between a person’s sister and his wife it is husband who suffers.
E.P.  

(57)

ORG Naayar bhaney siway topro Naakhaway
WDS Coconut-break-without-coconut-not-eaten  
TRN Coconut cannot be eaten with breaking its shell.
EXP To achieve something, you have to follow a natural course.
E.P. If you do not crack the shell, you can’t eat the nut.

(58)

ORG Pehlaa choy kay nooh khay Nathee, pachi choy dharay nathee.
WDS In the beginning-say-that-the bride -eat- not- thereafter- says-neversatisfied.
TRN In the beginning the mother in law  says that the bride does not eat enough but afterwards she starts saying that she (bride) eats too much.
EXP

In traditional homes is mother-in-law shows her love to the new bride but after some time she starts finding fault in her (bride)
E.P.

 

(59)

ORG Pait karaay weth
WDS Stomach-makes you to do-work/labour
TRN All work is done to satisfy hunger
EXP It is one’s natural need to satisfy his hunger which forces him to work.
E.P.  

(60)

ORG Peeray pannay meiN mandee waariya
WDS Yellow-page-in-write-off
TRN (The debt) was written off in yellow pages
EXP The debt was written off in the books of accounts as irrecoverable
E.P.  

(61)

ORG Putar jaa lakkhan paalnay meiN orkhay winan
WDS Son-of-habits & behavior cradle-in-known-become
TRN The habits of the young son become known from cradle
EXP

The future habits and behavior of a person become known from the young age when he is yet in cradle  
E.P.  

(62)

ORG PaaNri pehlaa paar bandhni
WDS Water-before-embankment-to construct
TRN To construct embankment before Water/flood.
EXP To take precaution before the expected danger
E.P.  

(63)

ORG Fooli nay fookrooN theenu
WDS Expand-then-balloon-become
TRN Expands to become a balloon 
EXP To become overjoyed by a little appreciation
E.P.  

(64)

ORG Badhay wahee nay soomanta
WDS Everybody-sits-then-laydown
TRN One lays down on bad from a sitting posture 
EXP Everybody performs a job systematically
E.P.  

(65)

ORG Bo baajo dhol wagaaynu
WDS Two-sides-drum-beat
TRN To beat the dream from  both sides
EXP One who does not stick to one side of an argument.
E.P. Neither here nor there

(66)

ORG Bo baajo dhol wagaaynu
WDS Two-sides-drum-beat
TRN To beat the dream from  both sides
EXP One who does not stick to one side of an argument.
E.P. Neither here nor there

(67)

ORG BhaNrio paNr gaNriyo naa
WDS Studied-but-learnt-not    
TRN He has received education but has not learnt
EXP Education does not make a person learned
E.P.  

(68)

ORG Bhalaay jaa bhaala miran
WDS Good deeds-of-long arrow-get
TRN One is condemned for his good deeds.
EXP In this selfish world one is sometime condemned for his good deeds instead of being appreciated.
E.P.  

(69)

ORG MooNh mitho nay pait khoto
WDS Mouth-sweet-and-stomach-false
TRN Speaks sweet words but has opposite thinking from inside.
EXP A person uses sweet words to praise someone but has just opposite feelings in his mind.
E.P.  

(70)

ORG MooNh meiN moong bharia een
WDS Mouth-in-a kind of lintle-is full of
TRN Refrains from speaking as if his mouth is full of some lintles (Moong)
EXP Someone who keeps  his mouth shut when he should have spoken out.
E.P.  

(71)

ORG Rang naari nay orkhee winnoo
WDS Colour-see-and-recognize - understand
TRN To understand some one by seeing his colour
EXP To understand a person by looking at or studying his face.
E.P.  

(72)

ORG Raj jo gaj karnoo
WDS Dust-of-yard-make
TRN To call small particles of dust as if it is some thing big.
EXP To overstate or over emphasise some thing which is insignificant.
E.P.

(73)

ORG Waandro ghayeedho thee nay paNr  gulati na bhoolay
WDS Monkey-old-becomes-but – jumping not forget
TRN A monkey does not forget jumpingeven after becoming old
EXP It is difficult get rid of old habits
E.P. Old habits seldom  die.

(74)

ORG Loh kay loh kapay
WDS Iron-to-Iron-cuts
TRN Iron cuts iron
EXP A strong man only can face a strong man  
E.P. Diamond cuts diamond

(75)

ORG Wethay wethay khain thee godaam paNr khaalee thee winay
WDS Sitting-sitting-eat-by-grain godow becomes empty
TRN Even a godown full of grains becomes emply if it is continuously used without efforts to replenish it.
EXP Overspending can exhaust a treasure if no attempt is made to earn.
E.P.