Showing posts with label Sayings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sayings. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Xirhami xi vuyisa na n'wana evukatini
Literal: Chillness causes a daughter to come back to her parents' house from her husband's house.
Figurative: It is very cold.
Mhuti yi biwa ya ha ri na mahika
Literal: An antelope is hit while it sighs.
Figurative: Act swiftly.
Xihlovo xa le mahlweni madlayisa torha
Literal: The well in the distance will make you suffer from thirst.
Figurative: You never know what the future holds.
U nga sahi nsinya hi vuxika, u ta tshwa hi mumu hi malanga
Literal: Do not cut the tree in winter, you will burn by sun in summer.
Figurative: Do not mess up things when you do not need them, you will suffer when you need them.
Xihlovo a xi dungiwi loko u heta ku nwa mati
Literal: Do not stir the well after drinking from it.
Figurative: Do not mess up things after using them, you might need them tomorrow.
Tinhlanga ta le ndzhaku ti tiviwa hi mutlhaveri wa tona
Literal: The tattooing marks made on the back are known by the tattooer (not by the tattooed).
Figurative: You do not know what may happen when you have turned your back.
U nga hlawuli nkuku wa mhangele
Literal: One must not choose the male of the guinea-fowl (similar to "Don't count your chickens before they are hatched").
Figurative: This proverb is said to a young husband who might be tempted to prepare something for their babies before their birth, since you do not know if the baby is a male or female.
Ku banana hi rhanga ro hisa
Literal: To hit each other with a hot 'pumpkin'
Figurative: To accuse each other.
Ku banana hi rhambu ra mfenhe
Literal: To hit each other with a baboon's bone.
Figurative: To exchange gifts with relatives only or to only help your immediate family.
Ku ba ndlopfu hi xibakele
Literal: To punch an elephant.
Figurative: To make a very slight impression or an insignificant act.
Loko u tsundzuka mhelembe khandziya murhi/nsinya
Literal: When a rhino occurs to you, climb a tree.
Figurative: When you foresee danger, act instantly.
Mutlhontlhi wa tinyarhi ti vuya hi yena
Literal: He who pokes buffaloes invites them onto him.
Figurative: He who provokes other people, will face the consequences.
Ximita ntsengele xi tshemba nkolo
Literal: He who swallows a large stone has confidence in the size of his throat
Figurative: When you start something you must have power (courage) to complete it.
A ndzi ku hi laha ku nga na mpfula ku sala ndzhongo
Literal: I thought it is where the rain has poured and left fertile soil.
Figurative: I thought it was good things.
Vuhosi a byi peli nambu
Literal: Chiefdom does not cross the river.
Figurative: Chiefdom stays in the same family, cannot be passed to other families.
Timpfuvu timbirhi a ti tshami xidziveni xin'we
Literal: Two hippos cannot stay in the same deep water.
Figurative: Enemies cannot stay in the same place.
Tinghala timbirhi ta chavana
Literal: Two lions fear each other.
Figurative: Two powerful nations fear each other.
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