Turkish proverbs
In this issue, I'm a break from the arduous task of hunting for matches, I'll just give a translation, literally, and literally, where it makes sense or could arise for a paraphrase or interpretation of necessity. Next week I hope to continue in the above manner.
Eşek ölür semeri kalır; insan ölür eseri kalır. The ass dies, its saddle remains; a man dies, his accomplishments remain. (= Nothing but the saddle is left behind; but a man's accomplishments live on.)
Karga kekliği taklit edeyim derken, kendi yürüyüşünü unutmuş. The crow trying to imitate the partridge forgot its own gait.
Söyleyene bakma söyletene bak. Take no notice of the one who voices it; fix your attention on the one who (or, on what) makes him (or, causes him to) say it.
Üzüm üzüme baka baka kararır. Bad character or behaviour is infective (= contagious). (Literal translation: "Grapes blacken (=ripen) vis-a-vis other grapes.")
Adama dayanma ölür; duvara dayanma yıkılır. Do not lean on a man (= be not dependant on another person), for he dies; do not lean against a wall, for it falls down.
Bakmakla usta olunsa köpek kasap olurdu. If skills could be gained just by watching (= looking on), every dog would become a butcher.
Yarım doktor candan, yarım imam dinden eder. (veya, Yarım imam dinden, yarım doktor candan eder.) A half doctor causes you to lose your life; a half imam causes you to lose your faith.
Islanmışın yağmurdan korkusu olmaz. A drenched man fears not the rain.
Ayıpsız dost arayan dostsuz kalır. (Mevlana'dan) He who looks for a friend without (a) fault (=blemish), remains without a friend.
Derdini söylemeyen derman bulamaz. (veya, Derdini saklayan derman bulamaz.) He who does not talk (to his friends) about his problems finds no remedy for them. (He who conceals... cannot find...)
Senin dinin sana, benim dinim bana. To you your religion, and to me my religion. (You follow the dictates of your own faith as I am following mine. I have no use or need for your proselityzing.)
Alçak yerde yatma sel alır, yüksek yerde yatma yel alır. Do not lie on low ground lest flooding might drift you off; do not lie on high ground lest high winds might sweep you off.
Avcı ne kadar hile bilirse, ayı da o kadar yol bilir. No matter how many tricks the hunter knows, that many paths (=means of escape) the bear also knows.
Anasının övdüğü kızla değil, eltisinin övdüğü kızla evlen. Do not marry the girl whose mother brags about; marry the girl whose sister-in-law speaks highly of.
Kel ölür sırma saçlı olur kör ölür badem gözlü olur. (veya, Kör ölür badem gözlü olur, Kel ölür sırma saçlı olur) When a blind man dies, they say he had almond-shaped eyes (judged attractive); when a bald man dies, they say he had golden hair. (A sly reference to an exaggerated praise of the dead or of the past.)
İki gönül bir olunca, samanlık seyran olur. For two hearts united, a barnhouse is a promenade. ("promenade" here is not a place for strolling, but implies "pleasure drawn from visual appreciation")
Bir koltuğa iki karpuz sığmaz. Two watermelons cannot be accommodated in one armpit; One cannot carry two watermelons under
one armpit. This is meant to be a warning against doing more than one thing at a time.
Acı patlıcana kırağı çalmaz. A bitter eggplant is immune to frost. The frost cannot harm a bitter eggplant. This is to say "That person is (usually, I am) tough (and hardened by experience); he is not/cannot be easily harmed; he can easily withstand minor assaults/misfortunes.
Her koyun kendi bacağından asılır. Every sheep is hung (= hooked in the butcher's shop) by its own feet. 1. Every man is the architect of his own fate. Every man is on his own and for his own. 2. I don't have to be altruistic and bear your responsibility. This maybe used (sometimes selfishly) to admonish a demanding person ("you take care of yourself as I will take care of myself") or to give practical or indeed cynical advice.
Gülü seven dikenine katlanır. One who loves roses should endure the thorns. (Some translate this as "will endure"; but I feel the proverb is more of an encouragement and advice than mere observation.)
Bedava sirke baldan tatlıdır. Free vinegar is sweeter than honey. (Emphasis is on the idea, "if it is free of charge")
Sen ağa ben ağa, bu ineği kim sağa. You're a squire, me a squire; whose's going to milk the cow?
Kaz gelecek yerden tavuk esirgenmez. Don't (be silly and) hold on to your chicken if you are to receive a goose in return.
Gökyüzünde düğün var deseler, kadınlar merdiven kurmaya kalkar. If someone said there is a wedding-party in the sky, women would attempt to build a ladder up. (A tongue-in-cheek remark about women showing great interest in wedding-parties.)
Let us finish with a proverb most appropriate for the Holy Month of Ramadan:
Parayla imanın kimde olduğu belli olmaz.
Who knows who possesses money or faith.
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