English-Nepali ukhan (Proverbs)

A bad workman quarrels with his tools—nachna jandaina aagan tedo

Black stone will never grow white—kaglai nuhaudaima bakulla hudaina

A burnt child dreads the fire—agultale haneko kukur bujuli chamkada tarsanxa

A figure among cyphers/A drop in the ocean—hattiko mukhma jira/latako deshma gado tanneri

After death the doctor arrived—hagi sakyo dailo dekhyo

A honey tongue, a heart of gull/A wolf sheep’s clothing—mukhma ram ram bagalima chhura

A little knowledge is dangerous—apla vidhya khatarnak

An empty vessel sound/dances much—namachhine ping ko saya jhaddka

A rotten apple injures its companions—euta kuhiyeko aalule bora nai sakhap parxa

As the king so are the subjects/as you sow, so you reap—jasto raja ustai praja/jasto ropyo ustai falxa

A word to the wise is enough—murkhalai saya korra bujhne lai ek kura

Barking dogs seldom bite— vukne kukurle tokdaina

Beads along the neck and the devil in the heart—mukhma ram ram bagali ma chhura

Building castle in the air—manko laddu gheu sanga

Carrying coals to new castle—indraka agadi sorga ko bayan

Cows are never the whiter for washing—vaisi nuhaudaima gai hudaina

Cattle don’t die from crow’s cursing—jhingako saraple dingo mardaina

Coming events casts their shadows before—hune biruwa ko chillo paat

Contentment is happiness—santos param sukham

Cut your coat according to your cloth—ghati heri haad nilnu

Day and night are alike to a blind man—kana gorulai ausi na purne

Diamonds cut diamonds—falamle falam katxa

Do evil and look for like—aafule khaneko khaltoma aafai parxa

Do not vex the sleeping lion—gulai chalayo gandha

Everything looks yellow to a jaundice eye—saunma aakha futeko goru sadhai hariyo dekhxa

Fair weather friends—chhan gedi sabai meri xainan gedi sabai tedi

Fool to other to himself a sage—arule tapai vanos navanos aafai mapai

God’s will be done/good marksman may miss—hune kura tardaina/ghoda chadne ladxa

Good mind, good find—aafu valo ta jagati valo

Half a loaf is better than none—nahunu mama vanda kano mama jaati

Hard nut to crack—falamko chiura chapaunu

He jests at scars who never felt a wound—aafu namari sworga dekhinna

Haste makes waste—hatpatko kaam latpat

He who would catch fish must not mind getting wet—mahi magnu dhungro lukaunu

Himself a better and a beggar at his door—aafu ta mahadev kasle dela bar

Ill got, ill spent—lootko dhan fupuko shraddha

In the horns of dilemma—virko chindo tala na mathi

It is work that makes a workman—ki padera janinxa ki parera

It takes two to make a quarrel—ek haatle taali bajdaina

Killing two birds with one stone—pashupati ko jatra sidrako byapar

Let dogs bark, the caravan goes on—kaag karaudai xa pina sukdai xa

Look before you leap—ghaati heri haad nilnu

Make hay while the sun shines—maukama chauka hannu

Man proposes, god disposes—aafu takxu mudho, bancharo takxa ghudo

Many a little makes a mackle—thopa thopa milera samundra banxa

Measure for measure—jastalai testai/khun ke badla khun

No one knows the weight of another’s burden—achanoko pir khukurile jandaina

No pains, no gains—dukha nagari sukha painna

One flower makes no garland—ek haatle taali bajdaina

Once a traitor always a traitor—ekpatak ko chor sadhai ko chor

Pure gold does not fear the flame—akbari sun lai kasi laaunu pardaina

Quit not certainty for hope—aas garnu var naparnu

Respect yourself and you will be respected—samman pauna samman garnu parxa

Short acquaintance brings repentance—aamako patti na babako patti

Something is better than nothing—nahunu mama vanda kano mama jaati

Strike the iron while it is hot—mauka ma hira fornu parxa

The empty vessel make much sound—khali gagro dherai bajxa

To kill two birds with one stone—ek goli dui sikar

Tit for tat—jastalai tastai

To count one’s chicken before they are hatched—chhora paune khile khile voto siune ahile

To make a mountain of a mole hill—tilko pahad banaunu

To make castles in the air/Too much courtesy, too much craft—hawama mahal banaunu/ati vayepaxi khati hunxa

To rob Peter, to pay Paul—kam garne kalu, Makai khane valu

Union is strength—ekta nai bal ho

Vows made in storms are forgotten in calm—kholo taryo lauro birsyo

When god is kind, all are favorable—issor dahina vaye kasko k lagxa

Where there is will, there is a way—jaha ichha teha upaya

What is worse that ill luck—bigreko manchheko vatkeko chhal