Pham Van Binh (Binh Tam)

12:39 (3 hours ago)

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Dã tràng xe cát 

(Crabs carry sand)

From hard work one may get nothing 

Dạ sâu hơn biển, bụng kín hơn buồng

(Man’s heart is deeper than a sea and man’s belly is closer than a room )

It’s difficult to understand a man’s feelings 

Dạ trước mặt, trật cặc sau lưng (tục)

(He who says “yes, sir” in front of you shows his cock out behind you ) (vulg)

One may be double-faced 

Dại bầy hơn khôn độc

(A group of fools is better than one clever man )

As: Cả bè hơn cây mía 

Dại làm cột con, khôn làm cột cái

(A foolish man acts as a small pillar and a wise man acts as a main one )

One should work according to his ability 

Danh chính, ngôn thuận 

(When your position is legal your words will be listened to)

One should do his work on his legal position 

Danh cương, lợi tỏa

(Fame is a string, wealth is a lock)

One has no freedom in fame and wealth 

Danh lợi bất như nhàn

(Fame and wealth can’t be compared with leisure)

One shouldn’t pursue fame and wealth at any cost  

Dao năng liếc năng sắc

(The more a knife is ground, the sharper it is)

The more trained, the more perfect

Cp: Practice makes perfect 

Dao năng liếc năng sắc, người năng chào năng quen

(A regularly-ground knife is sharp, a regularly-met man is familiar)

A regularly contact makes familiarity

Dao sắc chẳng cắt được chuôi

(Even a sharp knife can’t cut its handle) 

It’s not easy for even a talented person to educate his own child in his way  

Dao thử trầu héo, kéo thử lụa sô

(A knife is tested with a wither betelpalm and scissors are tested with coarse silk)

As: Có gió lung mới biết tùng bách cứng, có ngọn lửa lừng mới biết thức vàng cao

Dày che mưa, thưa che gió

(If  it’s thick it’ll prevent rain; if it’s thin it’ll prevent wind) 

Everything is useful if one knows how to use it  

Dạy con từ thuở còn thơ, dạy vợ từ thuở ban sơ mới về

(Teach your children when they are still babies and teach your wife right after your marriage)

One should do everything in its time 

Cp: Strike the iron when it is hot 

Dâm tang, gian tích

(Catch him read-handed before saying he has committed adultery, show out the proofs of his sin before saying he has committed a crime) 

One should have proofs to prove anything  

Dân như cây gỗ tròn

(Common folks are like logs )

Common folks are easily led 

Dâu dâu rể rể cũng kể là con

(Both his daughters-in-law and sons-in-law are members of his  family, too)

One shouldn’t make distinctions between his children in blood and children-in-law     

Dâu dữ mất họ, chó dữ mất láng giềng

(A wicked daughter-in-law frightens away all her husband’s relatives as well as a brutal dog frightens away all its master’s neighbours)

A wicked daughter-in-law causes a lot of trouble in her husband’s family  

Dâu hiền hơn gái, rể hiền hơn trai

(Better a good daughter-in-law  or son-in-law than a bad daughter or son in blood) 

A real child is a good child

Dâu hiền nên gái, rể hiền nên trai

(A good daughter-in-law  or son-in-law becomes a blood one) 

As:  Dâu hiền hơn gái, rể hiền hơn trai

Dâu là con, rể là khách

(His son’s wife is his daughter but his daughter’s husband is his guest)

One has the right to educate his daughter-in-law but doesn't have the right to educate his son-in-law 

Dâu vô nhà, mụ gia ra ngõ

(When her daughter-in-law enters, she goes out )

Mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law are not always in harmony 

Dẫu đắt, cắt ra miếng 

(Though it’s expensive, it can be cut into big pieces)

A thing bought at a high price must be of great value 

Dẫu vội, chẳng lội qua sông

(Don’t swim across a river even when you are in a hurry)

One shouldn’t be rash even when he is in a hurry 

Dậu đổ, bìm leo

(When the fence falls, the dodder will climb up )

When a man is irretrievably ruined, the mean and cruel will reverse their opinions and ill-treat him 

Cp: Everyone gives a push to a falling man 

Dây mực mất lòng cây gỗ cong

(The chalkline hurts a deformed log’s feelings) 

True words will hurt a bad person’s feelings    

Dây thẳng mất lòng cây gỗ queo

(A straight line hurts a deformed log’s feelings)   

As:  Dây mực mất lòng cây gỗ cong

Dễ dò rốn biển, khôn lường đáy sông

(It’s easy to search the sea’s navel but it’s difficult to search the river’s bottom )

One may understand difficult matters but may not understand easy ones  

Dễ người, dễ ta

(I’s easy to them, it will be easy to us, too)

  When one is easy to others they’ll be easy to him 

  What is easy to this man will be easy to that one  

Dĩ độc trị độc

(Use a poison to neutralize another) 

   To rule over a tartar, one should use another tartar  

   To solve a dilema, one should take a daring method 

Cp: Set a thief to catch a thief   

Dĩ đức báo oán

(Use morals to return to hostility)

One should show his good will even to his enemy

Dĩ hòa vi quí 

(Concord is a precious thing) 

 One ought to forget petty discords with others to live together in peace

Cp: Better a lean peace than a fat victory 

Dĩ thân tác tắc

(Use oneself to make an example)

One’s good deeds are the best example for others to follow 

Dĩ thực vi thiên

(Consider food as Heaven) 

Food is the base for everything to exist and develop

Dĩ trực báo oán

(Use rectitude to return to hostility) 

One should show his rectitude even to his enemy 

Dốc bồ thương kẻ ăn đong

(When he’s riceless he takes pity on those who live in need)

As:  Có ăn nhạt mới thương đến mèo

Dốt đặc hơn hay chữ lỏng

(Better be completely arrogant than a would-be scholar)

Better know nothing than have a vage knowledge of something 

Cp: Untaught is better than ill-taught 

Dốt đến đâu học lâu cũng biết

(However stupid he may be, he can get  knowledge  after  a long term of learning )

Man is capable of comprehension

Dốt hay nói chữ

(A stupid man likes speaking flowerily)

It’s blamable for those who are stupid but like speaking flowerily

Dục tốc bất đạt

(The more you haste, the less you get ) 

Too much hurry may make one slow 

Cp: Haste makes waste  

Dùi đến đục thì đục đến chạm

( When the awl drills the chisel, the chisel  will  chisel  the flat chisel )

One’s direct action to someone may cause indirect influence to someone else  

Dụng nhân như dụng mộc

(Using a man is like using a piece of wood) 

To manage one’s men well, one should know their strong points as well as their weak points carefully   

Duyên ai, phận nấy

(His marriage is his fate) 

Everyone has his own marriage  

Dừng có mạch, vách có tai

(Walls have ears and partitions have slots) 

One’s secret may be leaked out by his careless talks 

Cp: Wall has ears 

Dừng mạch, vách tai

(Walls’ ears, partitions’ slots) 

As:  Dừng có mạch, vách có tai

Dương sao, âm vậy

(Like the earth, like the hell )

One often thinks what exists and happens on Earth also exists and happens in Hell   

Dưỡng hổ di họa

(He who leaves the tiger alive will be clawed by it )

One shouldn’t loosen the control of dangerous people 

Dứt dây, ai nỡ dứt chồi

(Nobody has the heart to nip off the bud when he breaks the old vine )

Dứt dây, động dừng



(A pull of the string will shake the partition )

A touch of a part may shake the whole 

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Đa ngôn đa quá

(The more you speak, the more mistakes you make) 

One shouldn’t be talkative   

Đa nhân duyên nhiều đường phiền não

(He who has many sweethearts has many ways to sorrow)

The more love affairs one concerns, the more troubles he’ll meet with    

Đa thọ, đa nam, đa phú quí

(The more years of living and sons, the more richness and nobility)

One thinks the more years he lives and the more sons he has, he will be richer and more noble  

Đa thọ, đa nhục

(The more years he lives, the more shame he gets) 

One may feel miserable when he is in his old age 

Đa tửu hại tâm, đa dâm hại thận

(A man’s mind is harmed by alcohol and his kidneys are harmed by his lust )

A depraved life kills all men 

Cp: Diseases are the interests of pleasure  

Đá cũng có khi đổ mồ hôi

(Even a stone sometimes sweats)

One must sometimes get sick  

Đã chắc mèo nào cắn mỉu nào

(Nobody can tell which cat will give a bite )

In a competition, nobody knows which competitor will be the winner 

Cp: A fool may sometimes give a wise man counsels  

Đã giàu thì lại giàu thêm, đã khó lại khó cả đêm lẫn ngày

(The rich will be richer and the poor will be poor day and night)

There is still the injustice in our society: Some are very rich and some are very poor    

Đã khó, chó cắn thêm

(The dog adds a bite to a poor man)

Cp: Chó cắn áo rách

Đã khôn lại ngoan, đã đi làm đĩ lại toan cáo làng

(He is both wise and artful as she who has prostituted herself intends to prosecute a claim for compensation) 

A wrong-doer may slander honest people 

(Đã) mưa thì mưa cho khắp

(When it rains, it rains everywhere) 

One shouldn’t have discrimination in offering 

Đã nghèo lại gặp cái eo

(He who has been poor is now falling in a difficult situation)

As:  Chó cắn áo rách

Đã trót thì trét

(He who is the starter has to be the stopper)

When doing anything, one should do it till the end 

Cp: In for a penny, in for a pound   

Đã vo thì vo cho tròn, đã vót thì vót cho nhọn

(When you make a ball you should make it spherical, when you make a point you should make it sharp) 

When doing anything one should do it perfectly 

Đài các giả, phong lưu mượn

(False nobility and loan wealth) 

A humble man may pretend to be a rich and noble man 

Đại lãn chờ sung

(He who is very lazy waits for the sycamore to fall)

The idle often hope for a god-send 

Cp: If ifs and ands were pots and pans 

Đại lãn nằm gốc cây sung

(He who is an idler is lying at the bottom of a sycamore tree)

As:  Đại lãn chờ sung

Đại phú do thiên, tiểu phú do cần

(Great fortune is due to Heaven and small fortune is due to hard-working)

One should be hard working 

Đám cưới người ta, đám ma nhà mình

(A man’s wedding is another man’s funeral) 

This man’s good luck may be that man’s bad luck 

Cp: One man’s meat is another man’s poison 

Đan chẳng tày giặm

(Making is not worth repairing) 

Better do well at the first time than repair afterward 

Cp: Soon enough done if well done  

Đan đi chẳng tày giặm lại

(As: Đan chẳng tày giặm )

Đan lỗ hóa miếng trám

(He who intends to make a hole makes a pad)

The result of one’s work may be out of his aim 

Đàn anh có mả, kẻ cả có dòng

(This man is appointed chieftain by his ancestry’s grave and that man is chosen superior by his race)  

As:  Chạy trời không khỏi nắng

Đàn bà cạn lòng như đĩa

(A woman’s heart is as shallow as a plate) 

Woman is easy to change her mind and isn’t far-sighted 

Đàn đâu mà gảy tai trâu

(No music is suitable for a buffalo’s ears)

A delicate thing is not suitable for a boor 

Đàn ông cắp chà, đàn bà làm tổ

(Man gathers twigs, woman makes nests )

Husband and wife should work together for a happy family 

Đàn ông như giỏ , đàn bà như hom

(Man is a basket, woman is a lid) 

Man is the main labourer in his family and his wife is the cashier of his money  

Đàn ông nông nổi giếng khơi, đàn bà sâu sắc như cơi đựng trầu

(Man’s heart is as shallow as a well and woman’s heart is as deep as a betel-tray)

Woman is light-headed whereas man is profound and subtle

Đàn ông quan  tắt  thì  chầy,  đàn  bà  quan  tắt  nửa ngày nên quan

(It takes a man much time to become a mandarin but it takes a woman just half a day to become a lady )

Woman is easy to get to a high social position

Đàn ông vượt biển có chúng có bạn, đàn bà vượt cạn chỉ có một mình

(A man crosses the sea with his friends whereas a woman "crosses the land" just by herself )

Nobody can share a pregnant woman’s pain in her child birth 

Đàng cưa vạy trách lưỡi cưa không ngay

(The winding sawline blames that the saw-blade is not straight)

A bad workman often shifts responsibility of his fault on circumstances 

Cp: A bad workman quarrels with his tools 

Đảng viên đi trước, làng nước theo sau

(Party members go in the lead and common folks will go in the rear )

Leaders must be bright examples for common folks to follow

Đánh bạc quen tay, ngủ ngày quen mắt, ăn vặt quen mồm

(Gambling regularly makes him a regular gambler, taking a nap regularly makes him a regular nap-taker and eating nosh regularly makes him a regular nosh-eater)

     A regular bad deed will soon become a bad habit

Đánh bẫy, lại chê đực cái

(He who is a traper finds fault with the sex of the game) 

One shouldn’t be too fastidious in choosing what he gets by luck 

Đánh chẳng được, tha làm phúc

(He who can’t beat it says forgiving)

As:  Bắt chẳng được, tha làm phúc

Đánh chó, ngó chúa

(Take a look at the dog’s master before beating it) 

One should pay attention to a wrong doer’s superior when giving him a punishment 

Đánh chó phải ngó chủ nhà

(As:  Đánh chó, ngó chúa)

Đánh cờ phải xuất tướng

(He who plays chess must put the chessking out) 

In a competition, one must give his best means or competitor(s) out to win his opponent(s)  

Đánh đĩ không đủ tiền phấn sáp (tục)

(She who works as a prostitute has not enough money for her cosmetics)(vulg)

  The income of one’s work may not be enough to pay the expenses for it 

   One may work much but get little 

Cp: The game is not worth the candle 

Đánh giặc họ Hàn, làm quan họ Đặng

(The Hans are fighting against the enemy while the Dangs are working as mandarins) 

People of merits may get nothing while people of no merits get everything  

Đánh kẻ chạy đi chứ ai đánh người chạy lại

(Nobody strikes those who run back to him but these who run away)

As: Chim kêu, ai nỡ bắn

Đánh lệnh, dắt bò nhà

(He who beats the gong leads his own cow out of its shed)

   Leaders must be examples for others to follow in everything 

   The instigator of a movement may be the sacrifice for the movement 

Đánh mõ không bằng gõ thớt

(Ringing the bell is not as good as beating the chopboard) 

One just cares for what is close to his own interests

Đánh một lưỡi a mất ba công lưỡi hái

(It takes three times as much to make a sickle as to make a shear)

To reach the same purpose, one should choose the shortest way  

Đánh nhau đong gạo, chào nhau ăn cơm

(They come to blow when buying rice but invite one another when taking meals) 

As: Ăn cho, buôn so

Đánh nhau vỡ đầu rồi mới nhận họ

(They recognise one another by relation when having broken one another’s heads) 

   One may recognise his acquaintance(s) by chance 

   People may do one another harm before recognise their relation ties

Đánh rắn phải đánh rập đầu

(When beating  a  snake, you  should  break  its  head  into 

pieces) 

When attacking his dangerous rival, one should  give  a 

fatal blow to his mortal point(s)

Đánh ruồi không đủ miệng cóc

(The caught flies are not enough for the toad’s meal)

   It’s blamable for a man who does not to work hard enough to earn his living 

   One may not earn his enough living with his work 

Đánh số đề, ra đê mà ở

(His gambling drives him to the dike)

Gambling brings about just poverty

Đào hồ thả sen, làm men ủ bột

(Dig a lake for growing lotuses and make yeast for expanding dough)

Every deed has its own purpose 

Đào ngã, mận thay

(When the peach tree falls, the plum tree will take its place)

Eveything or everyone is replaceable

Đào ngạch gặp phải nhà thờ

(After digging a trench into a house, the thief found out it’s a chuch)

One may get nothing from his toil 

Đáo giang tùy khúc, nhập gia tùy tục

(Follow a river when you travel on it, comply to a family’s customs when you pay it a visit)

One should comply to the regulations of any places he comes to 

Cp: When at Rome, do as the Romans do 

Đau chóng, đã chày

(It takes a short time to get ill but a  long time  to  be  well 

again)

Diseases develop very fast but need a long treatment 

Cp: Agues come on horseback, but go away on foot   

Đau đẻ còn chờ sáng giăng

(She is in the fit  of  birth waits for the moon to rise)

It’s silly to wait for convenience to do an urgent job 

Đau thiết, thiệt van

(He who feels painful when getting a wound, cries for compensation when his things are damaged )

One always complains when he gets a pain or his things get damaged   

Đau thương thân, lành tiếc của

(He who takes pity on himself when being sick takes pity on his wealth when having been well again)

One often thinks more of wealth than health 

Đáy bể mò kim

(He looks for a needle at the bottom of a sea) 

It’s difficult to find a small thing (or a man) in a vast (or crowded) area

Đắc thời đắc thế thì khôn

(He who meets his time becomes wise) 

Opportunities play a very important part in a man’s successes 

Cp: Circumstances alter cases  

Đắm đò, nhân thể giặt mẹt

(She whose boat sank took the chance to wash her flat basket) 

Nothing is completely bad 

Cp: Every cloud has a silver lining 

Đắm đò, tiện thể rửa trôn (tục)

(She whose boat was sunken took the chance to wash her buttocks)(vulg) 

As:  Đắm đò, nhân thể giặt mẹt

Đắng cay cũng thể ruột rà

(His words are bitter but he is still a relative) 

Better a bad relative than a good stranger 

Cp: Blood is thicker than water

Đắt chè hơn rẻ nước

(Better expensive tea than cheap water) 

One always attaches more importance to major things than minor ones 

Đắt lúa tẻ, rẻ lúa nếp

(When the ordinary rice is expensive, the glutinous rice is cheap)

When necessary things are in demand, unnecessary things are not in one’s attention   

Đắt muối, ế cà

(When the salt is expensive the eggplant is unwanted) 

The prices of things are closely related

Đắt ra quế, ế ra củi

(It turns to be cinamon bark when having a large custom but firewood when unmarketable) 

A thing’s value changes due to the need of it  

Đâm đi đâm lại, gái dại cũng làm nên (tục)

(Even a foolish woman can do the deed of moving “that thing” back and forth) (vulg)

One can do well what he often does 

Đâm lao phải theo lao

(After throwing your javelin, you should follow it) 

As:  Đã trót thì trét

Đất chẳng chịu trời, trời phải chịu đất

(If the earth doesn’t submit the sky, the sky has to submit the earth )

One should relax the tension of his discord with others to live together in peace 

Đất có lề, quê có thói

(Lands have their regulations and villages have their customs) 

Every zone has its own customs and traditions 

Cp: So many countries, so many customs  

Đất có thổ công, sông có hà bá

(The land has its god and the river has its king) 

Every place has its owner 

Đất có tuần, dân có vận

(Land has its turns and man has his chances) 

As: Bĩ cực, thái lai

Đất lành, chim đậu

(Birds gather to a fertile land) 

One settles where he can live a good life 

Đất rắn, trồng cây khẳng khiu

(A dry soil gives birth to thin trees only) 

Bad circumstances beget bad people 

Cp: Circumstance alter cases 

Đất sỏi có chạch vàng

(There are golden eels in unfertile land) 

As: Chùa nát có bụt vàng

Đất thơm, cò đậu

(Storks gather to fragrant land) 

As: Đất lành, chim đậu

Đất tốt, cò đậu

(Storks gather to good land) 

As: Đất lành, chim đậu

Đất tốt, trồng cây rườm rà

(A good soil gives birth to leafy trees) 

Good circumstances beget good people 

Cp: Circumstances alter cases 

Đất vua, chùa làng, phong cảnh Bụt

(Land belongs to the King, pagodas to the Commune and scenary to Buddha) 

All social properties belong to ruling classes 

Đất vua, cơm trời

(Land is the King’s and food is Heaven’s)

  One shouldn’t rely on others’ support

   Nobody can prove to be others’ master 

Đầu ai, chấy nấy

(Everyone’s head has its own lice) 

Everyone has to take responsibility for his own deeds 

Đầu bằng con ruồi, đuôi bằng cái đũa

(Its head is as small as a fly but its tail is as big and long as a chopstick)

An event may develop beyond its limit

Đầu bằng quả quít, đít bằng cái thúng

(Its head is as small as a tangerine but its tail is as big as a basket) 

As:  Đầu bằng con ruồi, đuôi bằng cái đũa

Đầu chẳng phải lại phải tai

(The blows don’t fall on the head but the ears) 

The responsibility or punishment spared for the insider may fall on the outsider

Đầu đàn quan mốt, rốt đàn quan hai

(Which is in the lead costs one quan and ten pence, which is in the rear costs one quan and twenty pence ) 

     One may offer a higher price when his goods are salable   

Đầu năm buôn muối, cuối năm buôn vôi

(He who trades in the salt at the begining of the year trades in the lime at the end of it)

One should change the kinds of goods in his trading according to customers’ need

Đầu ngoài sân, sau lần vào bếp

(First he stayed in the yard and then he entered the kitchen)

One never stops in his ambition 

Cp: If you agree to carry the calf, they’ll make you carry the cow  

Đầu ráo, áo ướt

(His head is dry but his clothes are wet )

Nothing is quite perfect 

Đầu rồng, đuôi tôm

(A dragon’s head but a shirmp’s tail) 

There may not be unity and synchronism in an object

Đầu voi, đuôi chuột

(An elephant’s head but a mouse’s tail) 

One may concentrate a lot of his  effort  or  money  on something at first but soon forget it 

Đầu xuôi, đuôi lọt

(If the head passes through, the same the tail can do) 

     The success of the first step makes the success of the rest 

Cp: A good begining makes a good ending   

Đấu tranh, tránh đâu

(A critic has no hiding place )

     Criticism often brings about trouble and misfortune

Đấy mây, đây cũng song già

(That is rattan, this is old big rattan, too )

In a competition, one may prove to be equal to his opponent(s) 

Đấy vàng, đây cũng đồng đen

(That is gold, this is black brass, too )

As: Đấy mây, đây cũng song già

Đen đầu thì bỏ, đỏ đầu thì nuôi

(He who abandons a black-headed child nurses a red-headed one)

It’s blamable for those who prefer their concubines’ children to their wives’ ones  

Đèn nhà ai, nhà ấy rạng

(His lamp lights up his house )

Everyone thinks of himself and his own family 

Cp: Every man for himself  

Đèn xuôi, đóm ngược

(The lamp is down but the bamboo splinter is up )

There may be opposite ideas on one matter 

Đẽo đòn gánh, đòn gánh đè vai

(He who has made the carrying pole is pressed by the carrying pole) 

A good deed may be paid with hatred

Đẹp người không bằng đẹp nết

(A fair face is not so good as a fair heart )

As: Cái nết đánh chết cái đẹp

Đẹp như rối, chẳng có mối cũng không xong

(Though she is as beautiful as a doll she can't be a good match without a match-maker )

The middle-man plays an important part in many social aspects chiefly marriages  

Đẹp tốt bày ra, xấu xa đậy lại

(He who shows out his good point hides his bad one) 

     Nobody wants to let others know his faults 

Cp: It is best to wash one's soiled linen at home 

Đẹp trai đi bộ không bằng thằng rỗ đi xe

(A handsome walker is not equal to a pock-faced cyclist )

     One often prefers the rich to the poor even in love  

Đẹp trai không bằng chai mặt

(A handsome man is not equal to a brazen-faced one )

Patience may bring about more successes than beauty in love  

Đẹp vàng son, ngon mật mỡ

(Gold makes beauty, molasses and fat make delicacy )

As:  Con gà tốt mã vì lông

Để là hòn đất, cất nên ông Bụt

(Without a sculptor's hands, a clod of soil never becomes a statue to Buddha )

With others’ favour and help, a fool may get a high position   

(Để) lâu, cứt trâu hóa bùn

(Left a long time, even buffaloes' droppings become mud )

Things will be forgotten after a long time  

Để một thời giàu, chia nhau thời khó

(Give it to one man he will be rich, share it among three men they will still be poor) 

     Few sharers get more benefit than many 

Để thời buồn, cắt thời đau

(He who feels sad when it is left intact, feels painful when it is cut off )

One may feel sad when he has to keep relations with someone or something but he doesn’t dare to cut off the relations for that person or that thing is too close to him 

Đêm có khuya, ngày có rạng

(Night will fall and day will break)

One shouldn’t hesitate to settle his affairs for everything has a certain time to exist 

Đêm ngắn, tình dài

(Night is short, love is long )

One’s love may be so deep that he has not enough time to express it  

Đến chậm, gậm xương

(He who comes late gnaws just bones and heads )

Idlers or slowcoaches never meet fortune

Cp: He who sleeps catches no fish   

Đến xứ Lào phải ăn mắm ngóe

(He who goes to Laos has to eat frog sauce)  

As:  Đáo giang tùy khúc, nhập gia tùy tục

Đi buôn có bạn, bán chỉ một mình

(He who has partners when he does the buying has only himself when he does the selling )

One never lets others know his own methods of gaining benefit in business

Đi buôn gặp nạn hồng thủy

(He who goes trading meets with the flood )

One may not meet fortune when doing his job 

Đi buôn lỗ vốn, làm ruộng mất mùa

(He who gets a loss when doing the trading gets a crop failure when doing the tilling)

   One may never meet fortune when doing anything 

    A man of no talent can’t do anything well 

Đi buôn nhớ phường, đi đường nhớ lối

(He who does business misses his guild, she who is a traveller remembers the way )

More or less, one must have sentiment and remem- brance of whom and what he has once worked with  

Đi buôn nói ngay không tày đi cày nói dối

(Honesty in trading is not equal to dishonesty in farming) 

     Trading makes a man become a dishonest one 

Đi cày ba vụ không đủ ăn ba ngày tết

(His tilling in three crops doesn't earn enough food  for 

three days of New Year Festival )

     One may not earn enough food from his toil  

Đi cày trâu húc, đi xúc phải cọc

(He who is gored by a buffalo when going ploughing is hit by a picket when going fishing )

  An awkward fellow can’t do anything well 

  A lazy man can find any excuses for his laziness

Đi cầu nào, biết cầu ấy

(Know just the bridge on which you are going )

One shouldn’t interfere in others’ affairs but pay attention to his only 

Cp: The cobbler should stick to his last 

Đi cuốc đau tay, đi cày mỏi gối 

(He whose hands get painful when he goes hoeing whose knees get tired when he goes ploughing )

As: Đi cày trâu húc, đi xúc phải cọc 

Đi cúi mặt xuống đất, về cất mặt lên trời 

(He who hung his head when going out, held up his head when coming back home )

A humble man in the society may find fault with his wife and children at home   

Đi đêm lắm cũng có ngày gặp ma 

(He who often goes out at night will certainly run across a ghost )

A constant evil-doer will certainly be caught red-handed

Cp: The pitcher goes once too often to the well (but is broken at last) 

Đi giác sắm bầu, đi câu sắm giỏ 

(One should prepare all necessary things for the work he is going to do )

Different jobs need different tools and methods to do with 

Đi học thầy đánh, đi gánh đau vai 

(He who is beaten by his teacher when going to school gets painful on his shoulders when carrying loads )

As: Đi cày trâu húc, đi xúc phải cọc

Đi hỏi già, về nhà hỏi trẻ 

(Ask the old when going out and ask the young when coming back home )

One should ask old people his way and ask small children about the happening at home for old people will be ready to help others find the way whereas children don’t know how to keep their mouths shut about the happenings they have seen   

Đi một buổi chợ, học một mớ khôn 

(She who once goes to market learns a lot of wisdom )

Social contact brings about wisdom 

Cp: Travelling forms a young man

Đi một ngày đàng, học một sàng khôn 

(He who has travelled all day long learns a sieveful of wisdom)

As: Đi một buổi chợ, học một mớ khôn 

Đi mười bước xa hơn đi ba bước lội 

(Better take ten steps around than take three steps across  a pool)

Better a long way in safety or at ease than a short way in difficulty

Đi ra đường soi gương đánh sáp, khi về nhà liếm láp nồi niêu 

(She who adorns herself when going out licks pots and pans when coming back home )

One may show a good appearance of himself in public only 

Đi với Bụt mặc áo cà sa, đi với ma mặc áo giấy 

(He who goes with Buddha in a monk's robe goes with ghosts in paper clothing) 

     To different people, one should have different    treatments 

Cp: He needs a long spoon that sups with the devil  

Đĩ chết lại có văn tế 

(A dead prostitute may have a funeral oration )

     A bad man may be highly praised 

Đĩ có tông, ai trồng nên đĩ 

(No prostitutes come from nowhere but their ancestry )

     Prostitution has its source 

Đĩ thõa được tha, sư già phải ngục

(A prostitute is set free but an old monk is sent to prison )

Good people may get punishment while bad people escape it   

Đỉa bám chân ai, người ấy gỡ 

(He himself takes off the leech that clings to his leg )

   Nobody wants to share others’ responsibilities or problems 

   One should take his own responsibility or deal with his own problem    

Đỉa đeo chân hạc 

(A leech may cling to a crane's leg )

A mean man may try his best to cling to a noble man in a humble way 

Điếc hay hóng, ngọng hay nói

(The deaf like to prick up their ears and the people with speech defect like to talk )

One may often shows out his defectiveness, not perfection 

Điếc không sợ súng 

(The deaf are never frightened of shots )

A fool never learns the difficulties or dangers of what he is going to do 

Cp: A cat may look at a king    

Điếc tai cày, sáng tai họ 

(The buffalo is deaf to the order of ploughing, sharp-eared to the order of stopping )

A lazy man doesn’t want to work but sit idle  

Điếc tai làng, sáng tai họ 

(He who is deaf to the commune's affairs is sharp-eared to the clan's)

As: Đánh mõ không bằng gõ thớt 

Điều lành thì nhớ, điều dở thì quên 

(He who remembers good things forgets bad ones)

     A good man never cares about others’ faults 

Điếu kêu, tốn thuốc

(The louder the pipe sounds, the more the tobacco is spent)

     A good thing may cause a bad effect 

Điểu tận, cung tàn

(No more birds, no more bows )

As: Ăn cá, bỏ lờ 

Đình đám người, mẹ con ta 

(Others have feasts, our mother and children have one another )

One shouldn’t envy or pay much attention to others’ happiness or fortune  

Đít chưa ngồi xuống đất, mồm đã cất lên trời 

(He who hasn't placed his buttocks down onto the ground yet has already turned his mouth up to the sky)

     Gossip is blamable 

Đo bê làm chuồng 

(Measure the calf to build the shed )

     Every plan should be based on the fact 

Đo sông đo bể hồ dễ đo được lòng người

(One can measure rivers and seas' depth but cannot measure a man's heart's) 

     It’s difficult to understand man’s heart   

Đò nào, sào ấy 

(Like the boat, like the pole )

   Like work, like tools 

   Like tasks, like workmen 

Đò nát đụng nhau 

(Decayed boats hit one another )

Even miserable people may come to  quarrels and blows with one another

Đó đầu đen, đây máu đỏ 

(That is  a black head, this is red blood)

     People are of the same origin

Đó nát ngáng chỗ 

(A torn fishpot is an obstacle)

     A man of no more use is a trouble only.

Đỏ bạc, đen tình 

(Red-fated at cards, black-fated in love)

    Nobody is lucky in every aspect

Cp: Lucky at cards, unlucky in love

Đỏ tình, đen bạc 

(Red-fated  in love, black-fated at cards)

As: Đỏ bạc, đen tình                

Đòi nợ tháng ba, đốt nhà tháng tám

(Reclaim debts in  March, set houses on fire in August)

A cruel  man often chooses the worst time of others to do them harm

Đói ăn bánh vẽ

(He who is hungry eats a drawn -on -paper cake )

     The poor always hope for even fruitless promises 

Cp:  Hope is the poor men's bread

Đói ăn vụng, túng làm liều 

(Hunger breeds a sly eating and need breeds a rash doing)

     Poverty may mislead men

Cp : Necessity knows no law

Đói bụng, ăn rau má

(He who is hungry eats pennywort )

     One should rely on himself

Cp: Every herring must hang by its  own gill

Đói cho chết, ba ngày tết cũng no

(Though he is always  hungry he will eat his fill in the three days of  New Year Festival)

    One has enough food to eat at least in New Year Fesival

Đói cho sạch, rách cho thơm

(Be clean-handed even in hunger and good- smelling in rages)

As : áo rách còn giữ lấy tràng

Đói chửa qua, xí xa đã đến

(Hunger hasn't passed yet but cries of cold have already come)

     One may meet with poverty continuously

Đói cơm hơn no rau

(Better be hungry of rice than stomachful of vegetables)

     Rice is always the main food for man

Đói khóc, no cười 

(He who cries when hungry laughs when stomachful)

     One’s sentiment changes due to circumstances

Đói không ai tha, giàu ra có phận

(Nobody spares you when you are in poverty and you have a good position when you are rich)

    One should have a will of struggle for his life

Đói năm, không ai đói bữa

(Nobody is short of one meal)

     A treatment or help for form’s sake is always unwanted

Đói ông ở nhà, không đói bà đi chợ 

(He who is at home may get hungry but  she  who  is  going 

to market  doesn't ) 

     Only those who have advantages can make use of them

Đói trẻ chớ vội lo, giàu trẻ chớ vội mừng

(Don't be worried when you are hungry in your youth and don't be glad when you are rich at your young age)

     Nobody is happy or unhappy all his life

Cp:  There is a crook in the lot of everyone

Đom đóm lại bắt nạt ma trơi

(A firefly dare bully a fen fire)

     A fool  may try to be cleverer than a wise man

Đom đóm sáng đằng đít

(A firefly glows at its tail )

     After events, a fool may say wise

Cp: It is easy to be wise after the event 

Đo nat en gang cho

A torn fishgod is an obstacle