← Back
Proverbs and Idioms
Common Hindi proverbs and their meanings.
जैसी करनी वैसी भरनी
As you sow so shall you reap
jaisi karni waisi bharni
अधजल गगरी छलकत जाय
Empty vessels make the most noise
adhjal gagri chhalkat jaay
Lit: a half-filled pot keeps spilling
नाच न जाने आँगन टेढ़ा
A bad workman blames his tools
naach na jaane aangan tedha
Lit: can't dance blames the courtyard
अकेला चना भाड़ नहीं फोड़ सकता
One person cannot do everything alone
akela chana bhaad nahin phod sakta
Lit: one chickpea cannot burst a furnace
होनहार बिरवान के होत चीकने पात
Great men show their qualities early
honahaar birwan ke hot cheekne paat
Lit: promising trees show smooth leaves early
काला अक्षर भैंस बराबर
Completely illiterate
kaala akshar bhains baraabar
Lit: black letters are like a buffalo
दूध का दूध पानी का पानी
Justice that separates truth from falsehood
doodh ka doodh paani ka paani
Lit: milk is milk and water is water
जहाँ चाह वहाँ राह
Where there is a will there is a way
jahaan chaah wahaan raah
सौ सुनार की एक लुहार की
One decisive blow is worth a hundred weak ones
sau sunaar ki ek luhaar ki
Lit: one blacksmith blow is worth a hundred goldsmith blows
आम के आम गुठलियों के दाम
To get double benefit from one thing
aam ke aam guthlion ke daam
Lit: the mango and the price of its seeds
बंदर क्या जाने अदरक का स्वाद
Cannot appreciate something beyond one's understanding
bandar kya jaane adrak ka swaad
Lit: what does a monkey know of ginger's taste
समय से पहले और भाग्य से अधिक नहीं मिलता
Nothing comes before its time or beyond one's fate
samay se pahle aur bhagya se adhik nahin milta
