Idioms and Proverbs
A proverb or an idiom carries a meaning that is different from its words: नाच्न नजान्ने आँगन टेढो is said of a person who blames the yard.
How It Works
Proverbs (उखान) and idioms (मुहावरा) are fixed. Their words usually stay the same, and the meaning is figurative.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| नाच्न नजान्ने आँगन टेढो | a poor worker blames the tools |
| काम गर्ने कालु मकै खाने भालु | one person works and another enjoys the reward |
| बलिको बोका बनाउनु | to blame an innocent person |
| आफू भलो त जगतै भलो | if you are good, the world is good |
| हात्तीको मुखमा जीरा | far too little for the need |
A proverb stands as a full sentence and people often introduce it with भन्ने उखान or भनिन्छ. An idiom fills a place in a sentence and takes the usual verb endings: साथीहरूले उसलाई बलिको बोका बनाए.
Do not translate the words one by one. Learn what the whole phrase means.
Use them sparingly. A well-placed proverb sounds wise, and too many make speech heavy. Ask a Nepali friend about a new phrase before you use it, because a proverb can sound sharp.
Examples (5)
- ऊ हारेपछि मैदानलाई दोष दिन्छ, यसैलाई नाच्न नजान्ने आँगन टेढो भनिन्छ।
He blames the field after he loses; this is what the proverb about the crooked yard means.
The proverb is introduced with भनिन्छ.
- एक जनाले दिनभर काम गरे, अर्को मान्छेले फल खायो; यसैलाई काम गर्ने कालु मकै खाने भालु भनिन्छ।
One person worked all day and another enjoyed the reward; people say this proverb about it.
The proverb is quoted whole.
- साथीहरूले उसलाई बलिको बोका बनाए।
His friends made him the scapegoat.
बलिको बोका बनाउनु is an idiom, and its verb takes the usual ending.
- आफू भलो त जगतै भलो भनिन्छ, त्यसैले पहिले आफ्नो बानी सुधारौँ।
People say that if you are good the world is good, so let us fix our own habits first.
The proverb is quoted whole, and भनिन्छ introduces it.
- थोरै खाना धेरै भोकाएकाहरूलाई पुग्दैन; यसैलाई हात्तीको मुखमा जीरा भनिन्छ।
A little food is not enough for many hungry people; this is what the proverb about cumin in an elephant's mouth means.
जीरा is cumin; the proverb means far too little for the need.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Idioms and proverbs turn up in both everyday and formal Nepali.
Related Patterns
- Sanskrit-Based and Everyday Words
Many idioms use everyday words.
Level 5 - Word Order and Emphasis
Fixed phrases keep their word order.
Level 6 - भनिन्छAsking What Something Is Called
भनिन्छ often introduces a proverb.
Level 4 - -नेDescribing with the -ने Form
-ने forms the participle in phrases like नाच्न नजान्ने.
Level 4
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