Lei NOI E>AU

...

.:II

Hien nay, trong miing nghien cuu, bien soan thanh ngif, tuc ngir tieng Anh moi chi c6 cac sach Anh - Vi¢t la nrong d6i phong phii, con hau nhu chua c6 cuon Vi¢t - Anh nao la day du va co d¢ ehinh xac cao. Trong khi do, mot cuon Thanh ngtr, Tuc ngit, Ca dao Viet - Anh la rat can thiet, No lam eho ngiroi dung sach tiet kiern duoc nhieu thai gian va cong sue moi khi muon tim mot thanh ngfr hay tuc ngu tirong dirong trong tieng Anh. tai nay se giup ngiroi hoc tieng Anh co von tit virng phong phii, the hien y nrong cua mlnh mot each bong bay, giau hlnh anh, co nhUng cau noi day tinh trier 19 va thong thai khi giao tiep bang tieng Anh vai nguoi mroc ngoai, Dong thai, no ding giup nguai day tieng Anh dua ra nhtrng thi du rcrt hap dan trong qua trinh len lop, gay hirng thu hoc tap eho hoc sinh, mang Iai hieu qua eao cho gio day, Ngoai ra, tai lieu nay con giup nguol nuoc ngoai dang hoc tieng Viet tim hieu kho tang Van hoa dan gian Viet Nam. Tuy da mat nhieu cong sue nhirng khong the tranh khoi nhGng thieu s6t do chu quan trong viec tlm nhimg thanh ngu, tuc ngfr tirong dirong giira hai thil tieng mot each ehinh xac tuyet doi, V~y nen toi rat mong duoc su gop Y chan tinh cua cac d6ng nghiep va ban dQC.

De

Tac gid Nguy~n Dlnh Hung

vAl NEllE
THANH NGif Tue NGif • VIET - ANH
•

9
I. PHAN BI~T THANH NGU VOl TUC NGU. Khi sap hoan thanh viec SUU tam cua minh, toi co y dinh ghi ro don vi tieng Viet nao Iii thanh ngu hay tuc ngu de nhUng ai can doc co nhieu thuan loi hon trong viec Slr dung tap tai lieu nay. Nhung t6i thay ngay la minh g~p phai mot kho khan rat IOn. Thoat tien, toi dua vao quyen T1}c ngfr Viet Nam cua nha xuat
ban Khoa hoc xii h¢i -1975 thi thay da so cac don vi tieng Viet toi siru HIm la tuc ngit. Den khi t6i xem cu6n Tir dien giai thfch thanh

ngu tieng Vi¢t cua Trung tam Khoa hoc xa h¢i va nhan van qu6c gia Vien Ngon ngu hoc -1998 thi lai vo Ie ra Iii hau het cac don vi d6 Iii thanh ngit, T6i xin trich dan mot sO' tnrong hQ'Pc6 51,1' sAp xep khong thong nhat b hai cu6n sach do nhir:

An

chon noi, choi chon ban Giau "d6i ban, sang d6i vq ... T6i thay hoang mang qua va quyet dinh khong dam tlurc hien y do phan loai r6 rang dau Iii t1}Cngtr, dau la thanh ngft tieng Vi¢t nua vi ve mat nay kha nang cua toi khong eho phep, Tuy nhien, t6i thay cling phai rut ra mot sc dinh huang cho bim than va giiip eho cac dong nghiep cling hoc sinh khi doc tai lieu nay eo nhtrng nhan dinh ca nhan trong viec phan biet 11:IC ngir vai thanh ngfr, Thea dinh nghia trong Til di6n tieng Viet cua Vien Ngon ngfr hoc - Nha xuat ban Da Nang -1977 thi: "Thanh ngil Ia tap hQ'P "tir cO' dinh da quen dung rna nghia cua no thuong kh6ng th~ giai thich diroc mot each dan gian bang nghia cua cac ttr tao nen no .. Thl du: Mot nang hai strong Ran sanh ra rna Dam ba che cu."

di tnroc, 16i mroc di sau Mot tien ga ba tien thee

Sai mot ly di mot darn Ca 100 nu6t ca be

co

10
"T!,Ie ngu la cau ngan gQn, tlnrong co van dieu, due ket tri thirc, kinh nghiem song va dao due thuc tien cua nhan dan. Thi du: Doi cho sach, rach cho thorn Mot giot mau dao hem ao nuoc Hi. Thira nguoi nha moi ra ngiroi ngoai." Qua hai dinh nghia tren, ta chua thay het duoc 51! khac nhau giUa thanh ngfr va tuc ngu rna phai phan tich them nhu sau: cau noi hoan chinh, dien dat tron ven mot y mang nci dung nhan xet quan h¢ xa h¢i, truyen d~t kinh nghiern song, eho bai hoc luan Iy hay phe phan SI! viec, Do do, mot cau tuc ngir co th~ diroc coi Ia mot "tac pham van hoc" hoan chinh vi no mang trong rnlnh d. ba clnrc nang co ban ella van hoc Ia clnrc nang nhan thirc, chiic nang tham my va chrrc nang giao due. Vi du nhu cau tuc ngil Viet Narn "Thuan vq thuan chong, (at be dong cung can" dien dat mot nhan xet sue manh doan ket, mot kinh nghiem song va lam viec eo hoa hop thi moi dem lai ket qua, mot luan Iy trong quan he vq chong. Chirc nang nhan thuc trong cau tuc ngu nay la giiip eho con ngcoi hieu duoc eo sa cua quan h¢ VCj chong la binh dang. dan chu va thong cam voi nhau. Chtrc nang giao due cua no la gop phan dira tinh cam giO'a nguai va ngtroi theo huang tot dep trong quan he Vrj chong noi rieng va trong quan he xii hQi noi chung. Chirc nang tham my cua no la d~ truyen tai noi dung nen ngiroi ta dii dung each noi cuong dieu va co hlnh anh khien ngirci doc bi thuyet phuc va tiep thu.

1. Tuc ngfl

la mQt

ve

de

ngil phap thi no ehua th~ la mot cau hoan chinh, vi the no chi luang duong voi mot tiro Thanh ngir khong neu len mot nhan xet, mot kinh nghiern song, mot bai hoc luau Iy hay mot sl! phe phan nao ca nen no thuong rnang chirc nang tham my chu kh6ng co clurc nang nhan thirc va chirc nang giao due, rna thieu hai chirc nang nay thi no kh6ng the tra thanh mot rae pham van hoc tron ven diroc. Cho nen, thanh ngfr thuoc ngon ngu. Vi du trong tieng Viet, thanh ngil "mat hoa da phan" chi noi len ve dep yeu kieu cua nguoi phu nu, nhung no khong neu len duoc mot nhan xet, mot loi khuyen hay mo: su phe phan nao d. Vi the, du duoc dien dat mot each bong bay. co hinh anh (chuc nang tham my), thanh ngu tren kh6ng mang lai cho ngiroi ta mot hieu

2. Thanh ngil Iii mot cum tir co dinh da quen dung. Xet v~ mat

ve

11
bier cuoc song va mot bai hoc nao ve quan he con nguoi trong xii hoi (chirc nang nhan tlnrc va chirc nang giao due), 3. Trong khoa hoc Iogich,

ve

co

hai hinh thirc ur duy

rna

d~e

diem va moi quan h~ giira cluing voi nhau co the diroc coi la nhtmg co sb nhan thirc luan eho viec xac dinh d~e diem va m6i quan he giifa tuc ngu va thanh ngu. D6 la cac hlnh tlnrc khai niern va pharr doan. Xet nQi dung va each dien dat cua nhirng cau rna ta van goi la thanh ngfr va tuc ngil thl thay: noi dung cua thanh ngu Ia noi dung cua nhtrng khai niem, con noi dung cua tuc ngiJ la n¢i dung cua nhtrng phan doan. Quan he gifra thanh ngu va tuc ngif phan anh quan h¢ giua

cac hinh thirc khai niern va phan doan. Chang han nhu khai niern "su udng cong" diroc ciing phai trai qua mot qua trlnh khai quat rat nhieu hien urong nhu "mroc dO hi khoai", "ruroc dO dau vit", "da trang xe cat" ... Theo each mieu ta cua cac thanh ngu nay thl do la nhimg hien tuong rieng re, duoc nhan tlnrc bang nhimg tri giac cua giac quan. SI! nhan thee nay nham muc dfch khang dinh mot thuoc tinh nhat dinh cua nhung hien nrong do. SI! khang dinh ay duoc th~ hien ra thanh nhfmg phan doan, the dien di;lt nhu sau: "Niroc dO dau vit thl rnroc lai troi di het'', "Niroc d6 la khoai thi mroc lai troi di het", "DB: trang 'xe cat bien dong, nhoc long rna chang nen cong can gi'' ... Nhu vay, SI! gi6ng nhau gitra thanh ngil va tuc ngil la b cho ca hai deu chua dung va phan anh tri thirc cua nhan dan ve cac str v~t va hien tuong cua th€ Siai khach quan. &! khac nhau la b cho nhfrng tri thirc ay khi diroc rut lai thanh nhiing khai niern thi ta thanh ngfr, con khi duQ'c trinh bay. dien giai thanh nlumg phan doan thi ta co tuc ngif,

co

ve

co

co

4. Su khac nhau clurc nang cua cac hlnh thirc nr duy tren day th~ hien ra b SI! khac nhau chuc nang cua cac hlnh thuc ngon ngif dung d6 hien thuc hoa cluing, Hlnh thirc ngon ngif phu hop voi hinh thirc khai niem chirc nang dinh danh. Hlnh thirc ngon ngu phu hop voi hlnh thue phan doan co chuc nang thong bao. Thanh ngfr dien dat khai niern nen thanh ngil eo clurc nang dinh danh, con tuc ngil d~n cac phan doan nen tuc ngu chirc nang thong bao, Trong ngon ngu. chuc nang dinh danh duoc thuc hien boi cac tit ngil, eho nen viec sang tao thanh ngfr ve tlurc chat ill mot trong nhimg hinh thirc sang tao tit ngu d~ dap img yeu cau d~t ten eho nhfing SI! vat, hien nrong moi, Do do, thanh ngil Iii mot hien nrong thuoc linh vue

ve

ve

co

ta

co

12
ngon ngif.

eo

ban

Con tuc ngtr khi thuc hien chirc nang thong bao cua no thl chat III mot hoar dong nhan thirc, nam trong Iinh V1!cnhung

hlnh thirc hoat dong nhan thirc khac nhau cua con nguoi nhu khoa h9C, nghe thuat, van h9C ... Qua su phan tich tren day, ta co tM khang dinh SI! khac nhau giua thanh ngu va tuc ngu ve co bin III SI! khac nhau giifa mot hien nrong ngon ngtt voi mot hien nrong '1 thirc xii hoi. Do do, thanh ngu chu yeu 13. d6i nrong nghien ciru cua khoa h9C ngon ngtr, Con tuc ngil, tuy co nhieu mat dang duoc khoa hoc ngon ngir chu '1, song ve CO ban can duoc nghien cuu nhu III mot hien urong '1 thirc xii hoi, mot hien nrong van hoa, tinh than ella nhan dan lao dong. Tren day, toi dii phan biet thanh ngil' va tuc ngu qua b6n binh dien nghien ciru khac nhau. T6i xin tom tM thanh bang tong ket diroi day tien so sanh d6i chieu:

de

Blnh dien nghien cUu Ket cau ngu phap Chile nang van h9C Hinh tlnrc nr duy Logich Chile nang cua cac hlnh tlnrc

. Thanh ngu Cum tit co dinh nrong duong voi mot tit Chuc nang tharn my

T1:1c gil n
CAu hoan chinh Chirc nang thAm my Chirc nang nhan thirc Chirc nang giao due Dien dat phon doan. khang dinh mot thuoc tinh cua hien tuang. Clnic nang thong baa thuoc Hoh vue hoat

ngon ngfr

Dien dat khtii niem, khai quat nhirng hien tirong rieng Chile nang d!nh danh thuc hien hoi cac tir ngu

reo

Hien nrong thuoc linh VI!C ngon ngil.

dong nhan thirc

Hien nrong '1 thirc xii hoi, van hoa, tinh than cua nhan dan

II. NHONG NET TUONG a6NG vA KHAc BI~T GIOA TUC NGU ANH (PROVERB) V A TUC NGU VI~T NAM.
1. Nhiing net tuang dong.

13
Gat qua cai vo ngon ngu, cai d~e thu cua tung dan toe, cluing ta co the d~ dang tim thay su dong nhat v~ nr duy va nhan thuc ella cac dan toe khac nhau trong mot cau tuc ngu. Rieng ve tuc ngtt ella hai dan tQc Viet va Anh, cluing ta thay nhieu Call gi6ng nhau ca ve tu duy, nhan thirc cling nhu phirong phap bieu hien tuy chung mang darn net dac thu cua hai dan 19c. Chi can bang v6n s6ng, bang so sanh clur khong can tra cuu, cluing ta cling d~ dang tim thay nhfrng cau nrong dang trong kho tang tuc ngu Anh va
Vi¢t.

- Xa mat each long.

Out of sight. out of mind - (xa mat each long) - Tai vach mach rung. Walls have ears - (Tuong vach co tail

- Yeu cho roi cho vot, ghet cho ngot cho bui.
Spare the rod, and spoil the child. (De danh chiec roi lam hu dua tre)
- Cua re HI.ella oi,

Cheapest is dearest - (Rib nhat lai la dat nhat) - MUll su tai nhan, thanh sl! tai thien. Man proposes, God disposes.
(Ngirci du dinh, troi quyet dinh).

- Mat be>moi 10 lam chuang.

It is too late to lock the stable when the horse is stolen. (Mat ngua roi moi khoa cira chuang thl qua muon),

- Tha con san sM, b£t con

Throw a sprat to catch a herring. (Tha con ca corn de biit con ca trich). f)h~m gi6ng nhau thu hai Iii trong mot cau tuc ngtr Viet hoac Anh co the chua mot can thanh ngff, Vi du trong cau tuc ngu Viet "Chong yeu, xo chan 16 mui" co thanh ngii "xo chan 16 mui", Hoac trong cau tuc ngu "Chay nha hang xom, blnh chan nhu vai'' thi co thanh ngu "blnh chan nhu vai". Chung ta cling thay hien urong do 0 trong 1I;Icngii Anh. Vi du trong cau tuc nget "Don't put all your eggs

ca. ro,

14
in one basket" co chua thanh ngir "put all one's eggs in one basket". Hoac trong cau tuc ngu "Birds of a feather flock together" c6 chua thanh ngil "birds of a feather".

co, thay d6i di mot chut de su dung vao muc dfch dien dat rieng cua bin than minh cho dung voi ngfr canh cu the nao do. Thi du trong tieng Viet, tit nhtmg cau: An nen doi, noi len loi, Cai kho bo cai khon. Co nguai da

Mot diem gi6ng nhau nua la trong Uri noi cua mlnh, nguoi V iet ta ding nhu ngum Anh co the pha va ket cau cua cau tuc ngu san

chuyen the thanh ra:

An khong nen doi, noi khong len loi,

Cai kho lo cai khon.

Cling nhu vay trong tieng Anh, tit cau tuc ngfr "Man proposes, God disposes" co ngiroi da pha va ket cau cua no di bang each thay the cap danh tit nay bang cap danh tit khac tao thanh bien the nhu "The writer proposes, the readers dispose". Su thay dOi nay tao hieu qua sinh ra mot cau tuc ngil moi co noi dung thu hep phil hop VOl de tai cau chuyen rna ngirci d6 de cap den. Hoac trong cau tuc ngu "Never put off until tomorrow what we can do today" ta co the d~ dang thay dong tit "do" bang "eat" hoac "buy" ... de lam cho lbi noi them tinh hai huoc, d~ lam eho ngiroi nghe thay vui va dong y thuc hien mong mu6n cua minh, 2. Nhiing net khac bi¢t gifla tuc ngft

Anh va Vi¢t.

Tuy nhien clning ta thay dieu kien tv nhien, xa hoi khac nhau tao ra ban sAc dan tt')c va nen van hoa khac nhau, VI the rna tuc ngti cua hai dan toe Viet va Anh co nhung khac biet kha r6. Diem khac nhau thu nha] lit nhirng cau tuc ngil noi v~ kinh nghiem san xuat, thai ti€t, thien nhien chiern mot phan dang ke trong kho tang tuc ngft Viet Nam, the hien rat r6 d~c tinh cua mot cu dan DOng nghiep lay lila mroc lam luong thuc chinh. Vi du nhu nhtmg cau

tuc ngtt:
- T6t gi6ng, t6t

rna, t6t

rna, t6t

hia,

15
- Mot IUQ1 tat, mot bat cam. - Muon giau nuoi trau cai, muon lun bai nuoi bo cau. - Dau nam strong mu6i, cuoi nam gio nom ... Nhilng tuc ngu nhu that kh6 rna tim duoc cau luang duong trong tieng Anh, bbi Ie tuc nga mroc Anh hau nhu tap trung phan anh moi quan h~ xa hoi rna it de cap Uri moi quan h¢ voi thien nhien va kinh nghiem san xuat. Diem khac nhau thir hai lil trong tuc ngu Vier Nam tlnh phan phong, tfnh dau tranh giai cap duoc tM hien rat r6 net, rat quyet liet trong mot s6 hrong IOn nhimg cau tuc ngu voi nhfrng tit ngtr va hlnh anh vita tham thuy, sau cay vira tao bao nham to cao nhirng cai xau xa cua giai cap thong tri, dong thai phan anh nhilng mau thuan giUa nong dan voi dia chu va quan lai tham nhiing. Vi du nhu nhirng cau: Mieng quan, tron tre. Quan thay kien nhu kien thay rna. Muon noi gian lam quan rna noi, Hay lam thi doi, hay noi thl no. Ba tien ba thee, ba coc gl ai. ..

the

Trong khi d6, tuc ngu tieng Anh c6 tfnh phan phong rat rna nhat, tinh dau tranh giai cap khong quyet liet. .. the hien so hrong it oi, Iai Ie va hlnh anh kin dao chu khong tao bao, sau cay. Chung ta chi g~p mot so it cau n6i lien quan den vua chua, luat phap bat c6ng

nhir:

A cat may look at a king. (Chu meo nho dam ngo mat vua)
One law for the rich and another for the poor. (Luat tnroc cho nguoi giau, Luat sau cho ke kh6). Diem khac nhau thu ba Ia mot cau tuc ngu Anh (proverb) kh6 co the bi lam voi mot thanh ngff Anh (idiom), con d6i voi mot s6 cau tuc ngu Viet thi tuy theo binh dien nghien ciiu. phan tich rna c6 the vira la tuc ngit, vita Ia thanh ngu (nhu da noi muc J). Vi du cau "Trong ngoai em" neu xern d6ta mot hien tuong cho ta khai quat thanh mot khai niem ve su yen on ve doi noi IAn d6i ngoai thl day . l3. mot thanh ngii. Nhung xet theo m6i quan he nhan qua "trong "ngoai em" thl day la cau tuc ngu vi n6 due ket mot kinh nghiem ta

am.

ca

am" -

16
sl! doan ket noi bo la co d6i ngoai,

sa viing chac

cho su 6n dinh trong quan he

Mot diem khac nhau nita la trong viec sir dung phep an du (Metaphor) tuc ngil hai mroc co dung nhtrng hlnh nrong khac nhau dien dat mot y kien, mot nhan tmrc, mot su phe phan gi6ng nhau. Thi du cau tuc ngu Viet "Hang sang chet be chieu'' co tM nrong dong voi diu tuc ngir Anh "The cobbler's wife is the worst shod" trong do dung hinh nrong vq anh tho chua giay lai la ngirci di giay xau nhat. Hoac cau tuc ngil Viet "Nguu tarn nguu, rna tam rna" thl nrong d6ng voi cau tuc ngii' Anh "Birds of a feather flock together" trong do lai dung hinh tirong Hi nhtrng con chim co cung mot thu long thl tu tap thanh dan vili nhau.

de

Cu6i cung, cung can neu len mot nhan xet nho nita la doi khi y mot phan voi diu tuc ngfr Viet, Nhung co hie phai tim den hai cau tuc ngil Vi¢t moi co du y d~ nrong dong voi mot cau tuc ngir Anh. Thi du cau tuc ngll Anh "Each bird loves to hear himself sing" (con chim nao ctlng thich nghe tieng hot cua mlnh) chi nrong dirong ve y voi mot mra cau tuc ngir Viet "Van mlnh, vq nguoi". Ngiroc lai, phai can hai cau tuc ngtt Viet la "An co chirng, choi co do" va "Tim bat kha ep" thi moi co du y de dien dat cau tuc ngii Anh "Eat at pleasure, drink with measure" (An tuy thich, u6ng tuy sire) ...
mot diu tuc ngfr Anh chi trung

Ill. BAN

VE HAl CHi]

"CA DAO" TRONG

no slfU

TAP NAy.

Dong nghiep cua chung rei lit co Anita Gallagher da thac mac la tai sao toi lai dira tit "folksongs" vao nhan cua cu6n sach nay. CO Ie dich "ca dao" lit "folk - song" hay "pop- song" thl ngirci mroc ngoai se hieu Ia "dan can mat Nhe ra, d~ tranh hieu thi nen dich la "six - eight - word distich' nghia ta mot c~p g6m hai cau tho It:IC bat. Nhirng nhu the thl nhan eu6n sach lai qua dail Toi da phai giai thich cho Anita day la nhimg cau 11,1C bat da tuc ngii hoa (become proverbial) va diroc dira vao nhu nhtrng dan V! U,lC ngu khac chi! khong con lit Ibi ella mot bai dan ca nhu "Yeu nhau cci ao cho nhau"

de

lam

de

nita.

Trong cac sach suu tam tuc ngil Viet Nam ngay nay deu co rat nhieu nhirng cau II,lC bat lay tir kho tang ca dao ra rna thuong co nghia

17
tirong dong voi mot cau tuc ngfr nao day, Cac cong trlnh nhu the co til dau the ky 20 va noi dung SlID tam thuong g6m eli thanh ngil', tuc ngu va ca dao. Thi du nhu: - "Tuc ngO phong dao" ella Nguyen Van NgQC, xu!t bin hill

dau 1928.
- "Phong dao, ca dao, phuong ngon, tuc ngfr" cua Nguyen Van

Chien - 1936.
- "N g<).nngfr phong dao" cua Nguyen Can Mong - 1941. - "Tuc ngtr, ca dao, dan ca Viet Nam" cua Vii NgQC Phan,

xuat ban Ian dau tien nam 1958.

T6i muon khai thac triet khia canh nay lam cho bQ suu tap cua minh dam da ban sac dan toe han, vui tum han va di dom han. Thf du, (j cac sach khac tac gia chi dua vao thanh ngil "(j hien g~p tanh" thl toi cho them phan "cling": hien thl lai g~p lanh, NhUng nguoi nhan dire troi danh phuc cho.

de

de

Hoac : Cung:

Phu tai son lam khach hnu cau, Ngheo hen gitra cho ai choi, Giau trong hang nui nhieu ngubi hoi tham,

6 day ta can phan biet ca dao thuan toy va ca dao da tuc ngu hoa. NhiIng cau ca dao thuan toy dai 10~i nhu:
"C6 kia tat ruroc ben dang, Sao co h~t anh trang vang d6 di'', Hoac: "Qua dlnh nga non trong dlnh, Dlnh bao nhieu ngoi thuong minh bay nhieu" ...

nhan dan lao dong, Trong sach suu Him nay, toi chi dua vao nhiing cau ea dao da tuc ngfr hoa thoi, Chung co day nhiing tfnh chat ella mot diu tuc ngir nhu da phan tfch phan 1.

cua mot ca nhan nao do trong m¢t hoan canh cu tM khien ngtroi ta ngdu hirng sang taco Chung khong nham muc dich tong ket va ph6 bien nhtrng kinh nghiem doi song, kinh nghiern lich sir - xa h¢i cua

chi ea ngoi cai dep trong lao dong hoac noi len

cam xuc nho thirong

du

11
M¢t van d~ d$t ra la ngoai ca dao, trong tieng Viet con co nhtrng yeu t6 gl c6 the tuc ngil h6a duqc? Nhin ra the gi6i., ta thay nhieu Uri.n6i ciia cac nhan vat trong cac tac pham cua nhiing nha van Ian cac mwc nhu Nga, Phap, Anh v.v ... da tra thanh thanh ngu, U,IC ngif va duqc dua vao tu dien thanh ngil - ngu cu hQC (Phraseological dictionary) cua nhUng nuoc do. Thi du:

- I.Kri-lop (Nga) co cau "Mot thang ngoc hay giup do con nguy hitm hem ca ke thu", - Tir dau d~ m¢t chuyen ngl,l ngon cua La Fontaine co thanh ngu "sao muon long cong". (Phap) ta tarn

- Shakespeare (Anh) co cau "Much ado about nothing", dich la "Be xe ra to".

Ben canh nhimg thanh ngu, tuc ngil nlur tren day, trong cac sach suu tcim hoac tu dien thanh ngu - ngu cii hoc baa gio ngiroi ta cling neu ten tic giii va tharn chi con trich dan ca tac phAm nlra. Theo huang do, ben canh cau "Baa gio chach de ngon da" toi da manh dan them mot cau nrong dong cho no la "Bao gio cho den thang rmroi". Mac du dola ten mot phim Viet Nam, nhung no da trothanh cau noi cira mieng cua nhieu ngtroi mlli khi muon am chi mot hy vong kho tro thanh hien thuc. Tuong tl! nhu vay, tOi dua vao cau "Biei r6i, kh6 tam, noi mai" trong "S6 do" cua Vii Trong Phung rna trong cuoc song hang ngay ta tlnrong nghe nhac den. TOi thay neu hu6ng nay duqc chap nhan thl kho lang thanh ngir, tuc ngu Viet Nam Sf! ngay ding phong phii va phat trien,

Ngoai ra, tOi con dinh dua vao mot so cau tho cua cac nha tho niSi tieng nuoc ta, co the la luc bat, that ngon, bat ngOn... co mang tfnh chat due ket kinh nghiern trong cuoc song. Thi du:

Hoac:

Het corn, het nrou het eng toi, Nguyln Binh Khiem
Tha mot phut huy hoang roi chot t<1t, Con hon buon Ie lei suet tram nam. Xuan Dieu

COn bac, con tien con d~

tu

19
Dieu thu vi la nhUng cau tho nay lai co cau nrong dirong trong tieng Anh va cac tieng khac ntra! Nhirng y ureng nay khong diroc chia se hoan toano Mot vai dong nghiep day van thi ling ho, nhung mot s6 khac thl kien quyet phan d6i, cho rang tho lit tho, khong tM dua vito mot cu6n sach co tieu 11,IC ngu, ca dao diroc. Vay nen tOi dii tarn tit bo Y dinh nay cua mlnh. Tuy nhien, trong mot vai bo suu tap cua cac tac gia khac toi dii thay cau nhu vay.

de

co

Tren day lit mot vai y kien rna toi thu 111<;1ll1 duoc va phat trien qua cac tai lieu doc diroc ve tuc ngu va thanh ngir Vi¢t cilng nhu Anh. Toi da sap xep lai cho hop ly, d~ hieu va chi them vai ba nhan dinh rieng cua ban than trong nhUng dieu dii trlnh bay phan thu nhat nay. Cong sue cua toi trong de tai nay chu yeu la nam phan thO' hai trong viec tim nhirng cau tuc ngir tirong dong cua hai ngon ngu Viet Anh va suu tam duoc mot s6 dan V! thanh ngu, H,IC ngil', ca dao thong dung chua co cac tai lieu khac rna ban than toi lilY lam Him dac.

Muc dfch cua toi khi lam de tai nay la phuc VI,I cho viec giang day va nang cao kien thirc cling nhu von tit virng ca tieng Anh IAn tieng Viet cua ngiroi hoc, Neu cac ban dong nghiep va sinh vien khi doc hoac tham khao tai lieu nay c6 phat hien fa dieu gi sai s6t rna chic chin la khong th~ tranh khoi, toi ra.'t mong duoc gop y thang than. TOi xin chan thanh earn an. Cu6i cung, toi muon bay t6 long biet hon sau sac den cac dong nghiep la cac can b¢ giang day tieng Anh, Van hQC Viet Nam ... ciing nhu nhUng ngiroi than quen c6 quan tam den tai nay dii giiip nhieu y kien qUI bau trong viec tim va chon lua nhtrng don vi tieng Viet hoac tieng Anh d~ lam cho cuon sach nay them day va co chat hrong cao ve noi dung.

de

du

20

Viti quy doc d1i.cjc s\t dung khi tra ctru

Adj - adjective Adv - Adverb arch - archaism det - determiner idm - idiom lit - literally n - noun pl - plural pp - past participle: : tinh : pho til : til c6 : tir xac dinh : thanh ngii'. khong dich rieng tirng tu diroc. : theo nghia den. dich timg chtr : danh tir : nhieu phan tir qui klur

ter

so

sb - somebody
sth - something v - verb

: ai

(...)

..J...

: cai gi do : dong tir : tu trong ngoac don co the dung khong dung : c6 the dung bat eu tir nao

do

hoac

THANH NGU", Tue NGU", •

CADAO

VIET-ANH • THUNG DUNG •

23

A
.J

Ac gia ac bao,

• Curses (like chickens) come home to roost. - As the call, so the echo. - He that mischief hatches, mischief catches. - Everything comes to him who waits. - The ball comes to the player.

2.

Ai biet cho, ngiroi fiy se diroc.

Ai giau ba ho, ai kho ba dai - Every dog has its/his day. Cling: - The longest day must have an DUng co chet mat thl thai. end. SOng thi co hie no xoi chan che .. The morning sun never lasts a day.
Ai lam

nay Chill.

- He, who breaks, pays. - The culprit must pay for the damage.

Ai 10 phan nay.
Cling:

- Every man for himself. - Every miller draws water to his Ai co than nguoi ay 10, ai co bo own mill. nguoi ay giii. - Every man is the architect of his own fortune - Self comes first . . Let every tub stand on its own bottom.

4. culprit (n) mu pham 5. miller(n) chu c6i xay

1. cuse(n) loi nguyen rua, chiri rua mischief (v) gib tro tinh quai

roosttv) ~u

hatch(n) cira ~p

di ngu

tub(n) chau, b"inh

2/J
6

an.
7

Ai thay nay giii'. Ciing: Chirn troi ca mroc, ai duoc thi

- Finders keepers. - Findings are keepings,

An phan thu thuong,

- Feel smug about one's present circumstances. - The cobbler must/should stick to his last. - Let not the cobbler go beyond his last. - Rest on one's laurels. - A constant guest is never welcome. - Do not wear out our welcome.

Ao nang may nang moi, nguoi nang toi nang thuong. Cling: Nang mira thl tot Ilia duong, nang di nang lai xem thirong xem khinh. An banh tra tien

- After the feast/dinner the reckoning.

comes

IO

An bot bat/doi, n6i bot loi,

- A still tongue makes a wise head. - Hear much, speak little. - Hear and see and be still/and say but little, - Give every man thine ear but few thy voice. - Live from hand to mouth. - Make both ends meet.

II

An btta hom 10 bua mai

Cilng:
An bii'a tnra

10 bua tci.

7. smug (adj) ur bang long, til man cobbler(n) tho giay lasun) c6t giay 10. thine (arch - dung tnroc nguyen am) va thy (det.arch) nhu your

25
I2

mat
1~

An cap quen tay, ngu ngay quen - Once a thief, always a thief.
- One fences the tree one eats.
(Lit.)

An cay nao rao cay ay.

- You must defend the one who gives you a living. - Do not quarrel with your bread and butter. I4 An chao daJdai bat. An chac mac ben. - Eaten bread is soon forgotten. - Bite the hand that feeds. - Comfort is better than pride. - Solidity first.

- Business is business. An cho, buon so. - A bargain is a bargain. Cling: Viec cong xin ell phep cong rna
lam

17
IS I9

An An

cho deu, keu cho dU/song.

- Share and share alike. - To cool one's heels for ages. - Eat at pleasure, drink with measure. - Diseases are the interests of pleasures. - Enough is as good as a feast. - Moderation in all things. - Plenty is no dainty.

An chuc nam chao

co chirng, choi co do,

16. bargairun) giao keo mua ban 19. dainty(n) mieng an ngon

26
zo
An

co gid,

lam

co buoi.

- There is a time for all things. - All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. - Speak when you are spoken to, come when you are called. - He that comes may sit where - An early riser luck. - The early bird worm. first to the hill he will. is sure to be in catches the

Z.I

An

co moi, lam co khien.

2Z

An

co di tnroc.Ioi ruroc di sau.

An cam cay ngay 0 0, - A great fortune is a great An com thjt bo thi lo ngay ngay. slavery. - Better joy in a cottage than sorrow in a palace. _,. iches lead to lawsuits. R An d~ song, chu khong song de

an.
Z5

- Live not to eat, but eat to live. - You must eat to live, and not live to eat. - Never do things by halves. - What is worth doing at all is worth doing well. To sit twiddling one's thumbs. Fold one's arms, Keep one's hands in pockets. Sit with idle hands.

An den noi, lam den chon. Cling; Xem hoi, di cho toi chua. An khong ngdi r6i.

z6

Z7

An hie doi, noi hie say.

- What soberness conceals drunkenness reveals.

22. worm(n) con sau, giun

23. lawsuit(n) viec kien cao 26. twiddle(v) xoay, quanh

27. soberness(n)

revealtv)

de 10fa

su tinh

tao, khOng say

conceal(v) che day

27
Z8

An may doi xoi gsc, an chiu doi - Beggars cannot be choosers. banh chirng. - Beggars must! should be no choosers. - Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. An mieng tra rnieng. - An eye for an eye (and a tooth for a tooth). - Measure for measure. - Tit for tat. - To return like for like. - To pay one back in his own com. - Answer in kind. - Give as good as one gets. - Serve sb with the same sauce. - Of two evils choose the lesser. - Choose the least of two ills. - Dot your i's and cross your t's. - Know the sufferings of the poor after being in poverty. - Eat like a horse.

Z9

30

An mu6i con han chu6i chat. An nen doi, noi nen loi.

3.1:

32

An nhat moi thirong den mea. An nhu mo khoet,

Cung:

33

An thung ba't chi thlnh.

34

An nhu rong cuon, noi nhu rong leo, lam nhu mea mira,

- Great talkers are little doers. - Loud talking, little doing.

29. in kind (idrn) bang cai luang II! 31. dot(v) danh da:u cham

28
~5
An 6c noi mo. • Speak by guess and by God. . Speak without knowing the first thing about sb/sth. - Take a leaf out of sb's book. - First think then speak. - Look before you leap. - Think today and speak tomorrow. - He, who drinks, will drink agam. - Appetite comes with eating. - Have a finger in the pie. - His/her nose is not clean. - Live by makeshifts.

36
~'7

An phai dua cua ai. An phai nhai, noi phai nghi,

38

An quen ben

mui,

39

An

vung kh6ng bier chili mep,

40

An xcii (1 thi.

B
41

Ba anh tho da bing Gia Cat Ll1qng Cling: Tam ngu thanh hien.

- Four eyes see more than two. - Two heads are better than one. - The council of many is better.

40. makeshift

37. ieap(v) nhay, nhay vot len (0) vAtdung tam thai

29
42 Ba bit chin chuyen, - One tongue is enough for a woman. - Three women make a market. - Two is company, (but) three's a crowd. - Words are women, deeds are men. - Live a life full of vicissitudes. - Live a life marked by ups and downs. - Go through all life's ups and downs. - Better joy in a cottage than sorrow in a palace. - To talk hot air . - Shoot one's mouth off (about sth.) - Have a loose tongue.

4~

Ba chim bay noi chin lenh denh.

44

Ba gian nha ra loa xoa,

Phai duyen coi tua chin toa nha lim.

45

. Ba hoa chich choe.

CLing: Ba hoa thien dia,

4&

Ba hill don nha bang mot

nha,

Ian chay

- Three removals are as bad as a fire. - Measure thrice and cut once. - (There's) no fool like an old fool. - How much better it is to get wisdom than gold. - Live to be a hundred together.

47

Ba hill do, mot Ian

Bac dAu con dai,

cat.

48

49

Bac deo day minh khong bang

thong minh sang su6t.

50

Bach nien giai lao.

43. vicissitude (n)

SLr

thang tni.m

30
51

Bam dai nhu dia.

- Cling/stick to sb like a leech/a burr. - Stick to sb like a flea to a fleece. - Stick to sb like a limpet to a rock. - Be tied to one's mother's/wife's apron strings. - Better a neighbour that is near than a brother that is afar. - We can live without our friends but not without our neighbours. - A good neighbour /friend is worth more than a hundred relatives. - To toil and moil. - Sell one's soul (to the devil).

sz

Bam vay my/vclCiing: B! mt;/vq xo chan 16 mui. Ban anh em xa mua lang gieng gan.

54

Ban mat cho dat, ban lung eho troi,

55

Ban re danh dir, Ciing: Ban linh hon cho qui dii Ban cii ban t6t, nrou ell l"UQ'U ngon.

- Old friends and old wine are best. - An old friend is better than two new ones. - An old friend is worth two new ones.

51. leech (n) con dia flea (n) bo chet limpet (n) con ha 52. apron (n) cai tap

burr (n) qua ke fleece (n) long elm

de

31
57 Bao gio chach

Cling:
Bao

de ngon

da.

gic cho den thang rmroi

- When pigs fly. - When two Fridays come together. - On the second Sunday of next week. - Till the hay comes home. - Until the cows come home. - When the devil is blind. - When the moon turns green cheese. - More royalist than the king. - A greater catholic than the Pope. - A creaking door hangs long on its hinges. - Cracked pots last longest. - Creaking doors/gates hang the longest. - Earn sth by the sweat of one's brow/by one's own toil. - It's no use crying over spilt milk. - To cry over spilt milk. - What is lost is lost. - What is lost is gone forever.

58

Bao hoang han vua.

59

Bat be: de diroc lau.

60

Bat mo hoi d6i bat com.

Bat nuoc hat di roi lam sao lay

61

Bat b6 danh con khong lanh Cling: NUDe kh6 b6c.

l<_liduoc, Cilng:

do

62

lanh.

Bay miroi chua que cho khoe Iii. - All is well that ends well.

59. creak (v) keu col kef hinge en) ban H~

32
6)

sang bat

cu gid nao.

- At any cost. - At all costs. - By hook or by crook. - There are more ways to the wood than one. - There are more ways of killing a dog than by hanging. - If he cannot bite, he scratches. - He that fears you present will hate you absent. - Of the same rank and age. - Be on both sides of the fence. - Carry water on both shoulders. - Hide two faces under one hood. - Between two stools you fall to the ground. - Dogs that chase many hares kill none. - Have a foot in both camps. - Playa double game. - Run with the hare and hunt with the hounds. - The grapes are sour, (as the fox said when he could not reach
thern.)

BAngdu moi each. Cling: Oich nay khong xong thi xoay cach khac,

65

Bang mat, khong bang long. Bang vai phai lua. CGng: Bat d. hai tay, an may co luc,

66 6,

Bar ca hai tay.

ft8

Bat chang duoc tha lam phuc,

67. hood (n) mili (rum dau hound (n) ch6 san

hare (n) tho rung

33
Bat dau lai tit con s6 khong. . Start again from nothing. Be back where one started from. Begin all over again.

'70
7:1

:sat ne bat net. :sat qua tang.

- To find fault with sth. - Catch/take sb red-handed. - Catch sb in the act/fact (of doing sth) - Catch sb at the scene of crime. tran, - Catch sb red-handed. - Be as busy as a bee / as a beaver / as a beehive. - Give sb the green light. - Find quarrel.in

'72

B¥ tan tay, day ~

Ban tfu tit,

on
74
75 76

~t den xanh (cho ai).

Be hanh be toi, Be hat tieu.

a straw.

- A little body often harbours a great soul. - Little bodies may have great souls. - Little pigeons can carry great messages. - As the twig is bent, so the tree grows.

77

Be khong vin, ca gay canh.

73. beaver (n) con hai ly 76. harbour (v) chua dVng. 77. twig (n) canh eon

ap u

beehive (n) [6 ong rnessagetn) thu lin, birc dien

34
78

Be xe ra to.
Cting: Chuyen

be

xe ra to.

- A storm in a tea-cup. - Make a mountain out of a molehill. - Much ado about nothing. - An iron fist glove.

79

Be ngoai then
trong nham khong dao,

thdt

hiern giei nguOi

n.6i cuci, M

I hand

in a velvet

80

Benh qui da co thu6c tien.

CUng: Non cao cling co dirong

tree,

- Desperate diseases must have desperate cures.

Nhtmg benh hiem ngheo co thuec than tien,

81

Hi cue, thai lai. Cling: Kh6 tan, cam lai.

- After a storm, comes a calm sea. - After rain comes fair weather, - April showers bring forth May flowers. - Goudy morning gives way to clear evening. - There is a good time coming. - Have one's back to the wall. - Be driven into a comer.

8:1

B~don vao the bi.

Cting: Bi don van chan nrong.

Biet dau rna an cO.

- You can never know where the ghosts feast, (Lit.) - You can never know the secrets of others.

78. ado (n) sl! om xom, r6i eft

molehill

(n) dA't do chuot dun len

35
84 Bi€t minh biet nguoi. tram tran tram thang, - He who sees through life and death will meet most success. - To know oneself is true progress. - Too much knowledge makes the head bald. - Curiosity killed a cat.

Biet nhieu chong gia.

Biet qua chua bang lam qua, lam - Wise after the event. qua chua bang lam qua. Biel r5 ngon nganh, Cling: Biet moi ngo ngach. Biet r5 nhu long ban tay. - Know all the ins and outs. - Know the ropes. - Be / feel perfectly at home in sth. - Have sth at one's fingertips. - Know sth like the palm of one's hand. - Stop harping on / upon the same string. - A fault confessed is half redressed. - Confession is the first step to repentance. - A sin confessed is half forgiven.

88

Biet roi, khd lam, noi mail

Biet sai thl biet sua.

88. fingertip (n) diu mat ng6n tay 90. confess(v) thu nh~ ~ repentance(n) su Mi h~

redress(v) sua lai, u6n min

3&
91 Biet s6ng den rnai rna d~ Cll khoai den sang. ~Tomorrow never comes. ~Tomorrow is another day. ~Take no thought for the morrow. ~ Seeing falsely is worse than blindness and speaking falsely is worse than silence. ~The less said the better. ~ Be sure it's Sunday before you start ringing the church bells. ~There is a time to speak and a time to be silent. - If you cannot bite, never show your teeth.

Biet thl thua th6t, khong biet thl dua CQt rna nghe.

Biet tam biet tich.

- In the middle of nowhere. - Not a trace remained of sth. - Not a trace of sth was left. - There hasn't been hide or hair of sb.
- Sth smelt into thin air. - Vanish without trace.

94

Biet vo

am tin.

- Not a sound from sb. - Nothing has been heard of sb. - There is neither sight nor sound of sb. ~ Safe and sound. ~ Alive and kicking. ~ Alive and well, ~ Hale and hearty (idm). ~ New wine in old bottle .

9S

Blnh an vo slJ.

..

Bmh ell nrou moi.

91. morrow(n)

ngay h6m sau

37
'T7

EO ngoai tai.

- Tum a deaf ear to sth. - Give no ear to sth. • Take no heed of sth. · Shut one's ears to sth. · (Keep) a white elephant. · For a mischierous dog, a heavy clog. • Live beyond one's means . • Crush sth in the egg . · Nip sth in the bud. - Smother sth at birth. · Bare one's heart / soul (to sb). • Reveal one's soul to sb. · Drag sb I sb's name through the mud / mire. - Make hay while the sun shines. - Strike while the iron is hot, - Take occasion by the forelock. - There is a time for all things. - Pick holes in others' coats. - Pick holes in sth the others do. - (Go all) weak at the knees .

98
99

B6 thl thuong, wang thi t¢i.

BQ net dfi co gie cui.

BOcngan, can dai. BOpchet tiI trong tnmg niroc.

.loe .101

102

B¢c I¢ tarn can. BOitro trat trau (vao mat ai) .

.103

104

Eo bai chang bang phai thi.

Cling: Cho nen b6"10thai CO'. Bm long tim v€t.
Bun rim chan tay.

10S

.I97. heed

(n) sl}' chu

y
smother (v) lam ngat tho mire (n) da't lay
forelock (n) toe x.oa xu6ng tran

99. clog (n) gu6c

101. nip (v) kep, cap.Iam thui chot

103. drag(v) k60 I~ 104. make hay: phoi eo

38
1.07

Bl:II1goi, cll chuoi cung ngon. d

- Hunger finds no fault with cookery. - Hunger is the best sauce/cook. - All's good in a famine. - Hunger - Hunger - Hunger - Hunger fold. is an imperative voice. is a stiff task - master. breaks stone walls. brings the wolf to the

1.08

Bung doi, duu g6i phai boo

1.09

Bung d6i tai diec.

- A hungry belly has no ears. - It's no use preaching to a hungry man. - The hungry man listens to no warmng. nghi - An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening. - It's always easier to think in the morning. - Take counsel with your pillow. - Have a sleep on it.

1.1.0

Bu6i t6i nghi sai, sang mai

dung. CGng:
Nhat da sinh ba ke,

108. fold (n) hili rim de' nh6t ciru task - master (n): ngubi d6c cong 109. preach(v) giang dao, thuyet giao

stiff (adj): nghiem khac, khac nghiet

39
1.11

Buon tau ban be kh6ng bang

an de ha tien.

• A penny saved is a penny gained. · Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves. · He, who spends more than he should, will have nothing to spend when he would. • He, who will not keep a penny, never shall have any. - It's a frightful bore. · One is bored stiff. - Never write what you dare not sign. - What is writ is writ. - The pen is mightier than the sword. - No prophet is accepted in his own country. · No man is a hero to his valet. · No man is a prophet in his own country. • Things done cannot be undone. · What is done cannot be undone. - Things passed cannot be recalled.

1.1.2

Buon nhu trau can.

1.1.3

But sa ga chet,

1.1.4

But chua nha khong thieng.

u.s

Bu6c chan di cam ky tro lai.

112. stiff (adv) tai eire d¢ 114. valet(n) ngirci hau, day to

prophet(n) nha rien tri

40

C
U6

Ca cuong chet den dit con cay. CGng: DOCtui danh canh bac cu6i cung. Ca them chong chan.

- Throw the handle after the blade. - Throw good money after bad. - Hasty love is soon hot and soon cold. - Soon hot, soon cold. -The sharper the storm, the sooner it's over. - A great ship asks deep waters. - Big ship needs deep waters. - A great voyage befits a great ship. - To swallow the bait. - A child may have too much of his mother's blessing. - The great fish eats the small.

117

11.

ca thuyen ca song.

CGng: Tai k111viec phai IOn.

119
:120

Oi dn cau (biet dau rna go). Ca chuoi dam du6i vi con. Ca 100 nu6t ca be. Ca nam tren that (con Him Ie gi).

12% 122

- Be left in the basket. - Be in low water (on the rocks). - Struggle like a fish out of water.

117. sharp (adj) manh me, quyet liet 118. befit (v) thich dang, phU hop 120. blessing (n) an hue va s,! che cho

41
~Q

Qi vang bung bo, • A fair face may hide a foul heart. Cilng: Kla ai lao 1<_l.0 ngoai da, trong · Fair without, foul/ false within. rbng tuyech nhu hoa muong - Beauty and folly are often rimg, companions.

rna

.t24

Cam

each song nen phai II,IY thuyen, bang dirong lien ai phai I\lY ai.

- Call the bear "uncle" till you are safe across the bridge.

~u
~:16

Cai tit qui chinh.

- To mend one's way. - Tum over a new leaf. - Adversity brings wisdom. - Adversity is a great schoolmaster'. - Necessity is the mother of invention. - No difficulties, no discovery. - You can't hide an eel in a sack. • Murder will out. - Truth will conquer. - What is done by night appears by day.

au kh616 cai khon,

~27

~ra.

au

Oii kim trong boc IAungay cung phfu lei ra. CUng: kim boc gie lau ngay ciing toi

Giau voi dun ra, - Beauty is only skin deep. · Those who are good in mind are better than those who are good in appearance.

Cai net danh chet cai dep. Cung: Dep net hon dep nguoi.

126. adversitytn) kho khan, nghich canh 127. eel (n): con hron

conquer (v) chinh phuc, thang

"-2
129

Cai net danh chet khong chua.

Cilng: Danh chet cai net khong chua.

Ding: Troi nang thl troi lai rmra, Tinh ai net tfy co chua diroc dau,

~ Habit is the second nature. - He cannot change his skin. - The cask savours of the first fill. - The wolf may change his coat, but not his disposition. - The wolf may lose his teeth, but never his nature. - What's learnt in the cradle lasts till the tomb. - You cannot wash charcoal white.

1~O

Cai slty nay cai ung.

Cling: Chay rung

~Big! great /large oaks from little acorns grow.

- A small leak will sink a great ship. - A spark is sufficient to kindle a great fire. - Little chips light great fires.

boi chirng ti Uta.

1:Jl

Can nii,

- Be hard up - Be hard pressed for money.

- The highest heads are the most exposed.

uz

Cang cao danh vong, cang day gLallnan.

Ciing: cay cang cao thi gi6 cang lay.

129. cask (n) cai thong disposition (n) tfnh khf charcoal{n) than cui 130. kindle (v) lam chay, nhenlen

savour of sth (v) phang phat cradle(n) cai noi chip(n) va baa

43
:lD

Cang dong cang vui.

- The more the merrier. - Plenty is no plague. - There's always room on top of us. - It is always darkest before the dawn. - Old people may still be of use.

U4

Cang gar. thang loi cang nhieu gian nan. Cang gia cang dec cang dai.

US

:136

Cang mong lai cang Iau. - A watched pot never boils. Ciing: Sl,I' am hay hong, su ngong hay l

trtr.
:137 :138

Cao chay xa bay. Cao chet ba nam quay dau ve nui. Cao rmron oai hum. Cam cau nhtt ch6 can rna.

- Do a bunk (with sth) (idm) - East or west, home is best. - There is no place like home. - An ass in a lion's skin. - Like a bear with a sore head. - Be (as) sulky as a bear. - Grin and bear it. - Keep mum as a fish. - Close as an oyster I as wax. - (As) mute as a fish.

:139 :140

:14:1 Can rang rna chiu. :142

Cam nhu hen, Cilng: Cam mieng hen.

133. plague (n): benh dich, tai hoa 134. dawn (n) blnh minh, rang dong 140. sulky (adj) gian d6i 141. grin (v) nhe rang nrbi 142. mum (adj) im l~ng

on top of sb: sat, canh

wax (n) sap ong

143

cam den chay tnroc 0 to.

- Ran before one's horse to market. - Rush into hell before one's father. - Better go round than fall into the ditch. - Better safe than sorry. - Caution is the parent of safety. - Good watch prevents misfortune. - Look before you leap, - Precaution is better than repentance. - Safe bind. safe find. - Although the sun shines, leave not the cloak at home. - Two sercurities are better than one. - Talk of the devil and he is sure to appear. - Speak of the devil, and his imps shall appear. - Talk of angels.

:144

rung: Can t<ic vo ay nay.

an tac vow.

:145

aiu diroc uoc thay, Ciing: Vtra nhac n.D Thao, Tao Thao dii tm.

Cay ngay khong sq chet dUng. - A clean hand wants no washing. - A clear conscience laughs at false accusations. - A good anvil does not fear the hammer.

144. ditch (n) hao, mlIong, ranh repentance(n) S\f h6i h~ 145. imp (0) qui con.rieu yeu 146. anvil(n) cai de

precaution(n) 51! phong xa

45
147
- A public hall is never swept. Out chung khong ai kh6c. - What is everybody's business is Ciing: Lam sal khong ai dong cita chua. nobody's business. - If you want a thing done well, do it yourself. Cha lam thay, con ban sikh. - Many a good father has but a bad son. - All men do not follow in the footsteps of their forbears. - Many a good cow has a bad calf. - Many a good father has but a bad son. - A chip of the old block. - Like father, like son.

%48

1:49

Cha my sinh con, troi sinh tfnh. Ciing: Sinh con ha de sinh long.

%50

Cha nao con mfy.

Ciing: H6 phu sinh h6

tiro
- Cut one on the raw. - Hit one where it hurts. - Rub salt into the wound I sb's wound. - Sting one to the soul. - Touch a very sore spot. - Touch sb on the raw (idm). - (As) dry as dust. - (As) dull as ditch - water.

%5I

Cham noc,
Ciing: Dung vao cho d~

cam ella

ai.

I:SZ

Chan nhir

cam nep nat.

149. forbear = forebear (n) ong ba 151. rub (v) cha xat, xoa, thoa

t6 lien
raw (n) tran trui, khong e6 quan ao

46
:lS3

OUlY nha hang xom blnh chan

nhu vai,

- It is easy to bear the

misfortunes of others. - We bear other people's trouble lightly. - Other folk's troubles are easily borne. - Rats desert a sinking ship. - Work against time. - Run away like the devil that's caught a whiff of incense. - Run at breakneck pace. - Run for one's life. - Run as fast as one's legs can carry one. - He that is born to be hanged shall never be drowned. - No flying from fate.

:lS4
:ISS

CMy nha ra m~t chuot. Chay dua VOl thoi gian.

:15ft

Chay rong bai cong.

Cling: Vac chan len

cd rna chay,

:lS7

Chay trill sao khoi nang.

G.ing: Chay dau cho khoi nang troi,

o day rna tri. no dOi cho xong.

:ISS

ChAc nhu dinh dong cot.

- As sure as eggs is eggs. - As sure as death/fate/a gun. - As sure as I'm standing here. - Not be able to make head or tail of it. - Cannot make head or tail of sth.

:lS9

ChAng biet dang nao rna tan. Cling: ChAng biei d~u cua tai nheo th€

nao.

154. desert (v) bo di, rm. bb 156. whiff (n) rnui 158. fate (n) s6 phan

incense (n) huong tram

47
1.60

Chang cai dai nao gi6ng cai dai - Every man has a fool in his nao. sleeve. • Every man has his faults . Chang chong thl chay, Chang con gl - Sooner or later . - Th~re's nothing-left to lose . • Not say boo to a goose. (idrn)

.1.6.1. .1.14 .1.630

de rna mat.

Chang-dam he rang.

.1.64

ChAngngoncling sOt, changt6t ci.ingm6i. Cilng: Met cai la hon 11;1 cai quen. Chang noi chang rang. Chang ra tM thong gl.
Cling:

· Anything for a change . · Everyone has a penny to spend at a new ale-house. · Not say a dicky - bird. (idm) • Neither rhyme nor reason . - Without rhyme or reason. • Better late than never . - Slow but sure . - Better go round than fall into the ditch. - Make haste slowly. - Slow and steady wins the race. - Crawl along / creep at a snail's pace.

.1.65

.I."
.1.67 .1.68

ChAng ra nghia

19 gi.
an.

Cham con han khong, Cham rna chac

.1.69

~nhttsen.

164. ale-house (n) quan bia 166. rhyme: vdn (tho) 168. ditch (0) hao, ranh

48
.170

ducc mot nua.

.171. ~t

C1tan doan dung benh

Iiichiia tri

- To know the disease is half the cure. - There's always room on top of us.
- Be packed like cucumbers in a

nha chii khong chat bung .

.1'72

Chat nhu nem (col).

barrel. - Packed in like sardines in a tin. - There is no room to swing a cat.

.17:5 .174

CM soi toe lam tu. Chenngang . Che thl de. thao nghe moi kho. Chet bat dAc ky til. Chet du6i doi den. rung: T&. s6 chet a trong nha cling chet. Chet du6i vai phai cong ram. Cting: Chet du6i vo phai bot, Chet du di'rj thaog dog.

- Split hairs . - Jump the queue. - Criticism is easy and art is difficult. - Die with one's boots - Die in one's boots.
00 •

.l7S

.17&

.177

- An unfortunate man would be drowned in a tea - cup. - Cut one's throat with a feather. - A drowning man will catch at a straw. - Clutch I grasp at a straw. - (As) dead as a doornail/as mutton (idm).

.17.

.179

171. on top of sb: sal. canh 178. clutch (v) VQ lay

grasptv) tum. bam lay

lao

Chet la het.

- Dead dogs don't bite. - Dead men tell no tales. - Death ends all things. - The dead don't come back from the graveyard, - You don't bring the dead back from the graveyard. - Death pays all debts - Death quits all scores. - He that dies pays all debts. - Die/fall/drop like flies. - Better a glorious death than a shameful life. - Better die on your feet than live on your knees. - Not know where to hide oneself. - One almost died of shame, - One would sooner sink through the ground. - One wished the earth would open beneath his feet. - One wished the floor would swallow him up. - Share sb's sorrow and mirth.

1.1

Chet la het nc,

I.a

Chet nhu (nga) ra. Chet trong hon s6ng due, Cung: Chet vinh hon s6ng nhuc, Chi mu6n don tho (cho dO'
ngirong).

I.,
184

,.

Chia ngot

se bui,

181. score(n) lien no 185. mirth(n) su vui ve, hanh phuc

50
Chim cO dan cung hot, ti61g hOt m6ihay, Ngua co ban cung dua, nu&:: dua moi manh.
%87

- Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together.

Chim khon n6i tieng ranh rang, - The bird is known by his note, Nguoi khon tieng n6i diu dang the man by his words. d~ nghe. Chim khon ti€c long, nguOi ngoan - Wise men are not always silent, but know when to be. ti€c 1m. Ciing: - TIe knows much who knows Chim khon chua bat da bay, how to hold his tongue. NguOi kh6n it noi, it hay tra Ioi. Chim phai ten sq canh cay congo Ciing: PhM mot cai, rai den gia.
- A burnt child dreads the fire.

%88

%89

- A bitten child dreads the dog. - Fear has a quick ear. - Once bitten twice shy. - The scalded cat fears cold water. - Every fault needs pardon. - One must not take all that is said literally. - You have to make allowances for mistakes. - You mustn't be too exacting / severe. - Wink at small faults.

%90

Chin bo lam rruroi.

189. dread(v) kinh sCJ 190. make allowance for sth (idm) chieu c6

scaJd(v) lam hong wink at sth nham mat

lam ngo

51
.19.1 Chin ngtroi rmroi

y.

• Everyone to his liking. • Wink at small faults. · Every man to his taste. • So many men, so many minds. • There is no accounting for tastes. · Crack one up to the nines.
_,

.I9Z

Cho (ai) di t~u bay giay. Cho an banh ve . Cho vay mat ban,

.1ft .194

· Feed sb with promises I hopes. · If you lend your money to your friend, you will lose your money and your friend. - Neither a borrower nor a lender be. · Poke one's nose into other people's affairs. · Put I stick one's oar in (idm). · Misfortunes never come alone to a poorman. - A cock is valiant on his own dunghill. · Every dog is a lion at home. · Every dog is valiant at his own door. · Beast at bay bites hard. - A wounded animal at bay.

.195

Cl1.5 mill vao viec nguoi khac. Ciing: Xia vao chuyen nguoi khac. Ch6 can ao rach, Cl1.6 cay gan nhlt, gil cay gan chu6ng.

.I-

.I",

.198

Ch6 cung rUt giau .

19L 195. 197. 198.

accounting(n) Ibi giai thich oar(n) mai cheo valiant(adj) dung cam. can dam at bay (idm) cung duemg

dunghill(n) d6ng phan

52
J:99

016 dai co mua, ngum dai quanh - An ass will always be an ass. nam. - He who is born a fool is never cured. Ch6 den giil muc, - Black dogs don't tum white. - It's hard to change one's character. - A dog in the manger. (idm) - To get a godsend. - To get a gift from the gods. - Barking dogs seldom bite. - Great barkers are not biters. - Threats do not always lead to blows.

ZOO

&OJ:

Chogia gilt xuong, Ch6 ngap ph8.i ru6i. Ch6 sua cho khong can.

&os
203

S04

Ch6 tinh chang sua ch6 khong, - An old dog barks not in vain. Chon ban

ZDS

rna choi.

- Better be alone than in ill company. - Have hut few friends, though many acquaintances. - Choose a wife by your ear rather than by your eye. - Everything but the kitchen sink.

sOft

Own vq thi chon bang tai, Cho chon bang mAtc6 ngay oan gla. Ch6i cun ~ rach,

207

20 L

manger (n) rnang An

204. in vain (idm) mOt each vo Ich

53
208

Chong kh6n vq ngoan, chong quan vo bom. Ciing: V q b~t thoi chong, diia b giong tong chua nha, 010 duqc

- A good husband makes a good wife.

D9
%10

rna thi ra dam.

- After supper, mustard. - While the grass grows the horse starves. - Slow help is no help. - Carry coals to Newcastle. - To send owls to Athens.

010 duoc va thi rna eta sung.

U:l

01(1 cui v~ rirng.

ZU

OIa dung ngay.

Xem:

ke gian, cho oan ngiroi - He that spares the bad injures

the good.
eel.

U:J

OIa nen 00 la thci

Eo 00i chang bang phai thl,

Z:l4

Cho nen dua cot vci tinh yeu,

Cho nen rmia riu qua mat tho.

Do not trifle with love.

:US

- Never offer to teach fish to sWim.

- All that glitters is not gold. - Appearances are deceptive.

u6

ClIa thay sang loang rna nga la

vang.

Ciing:

The gian nhieu ke rna mang,

nang niu,

Thay hon son tham nrong vang

210. starve(v) chet d6i 211. ow!(n) con cu 216. glitter(v) Inp [r._lIh

54
U'7

Ch6 thay song ca cheo,

rna nga tay

- Never say "die"; up, man, and try. - All they that live by the sword shall perish by the sword. - The same knife cuts bread and fingers. - Do not play with edged tools. - It cuts both ways. - Familiarity breeds contempt. - Too much familiarity breeds contempt. - Lay / put one's cards on the table. - Show / throw up one's cards. - Show one's hand. - To play with fire. - Sit on a barrel of gun-powder. - You're only young once. - Coming events cast their shadows before them. - He that fears you present will hate you absent. - Put one's own head/neck under the chopper. - Put one's head into the noose.

Z18

Cheri dao sdc co ngay dlit tay.

Z19

Choi cho cho liern mat, 010g: Than qua hoa Urn. Choi van bai l~t ngira.

zzo

HI

Choi voi lira. Choi xuan keo het xuan di. Chap thirng chop chao, chsng bao thl mua. Chti khi ni, mi khi khac, Cling: D':\tnroc mat, chili sau lung. Chui dau vao thong long. Tu dua dau vao thong long,

2ZZ

2ZJ

U4

ZZS

Ging:

218. perish(v) b6 mang, chet 219. breed(v) gAy ra, Mn 225. chopper(n) dao Mu

dan

contemptm) sir coi chLtimg

55
:zz6 Chu6c va vao than, - Have/fix a millstone neck. about one's

ZZ7

Chuot chay cling sao.

- Be at the end of one's tether. - Be out on a limb. (idrn)

- Jaw on about this and that. - A cock-and-bull story. - Men are blind in their own cause. - Lookers-on see more than players. - Hop from topic to topic. - Jump from one thing to another. - What can't be cured must be endured. - You must grin and bear it. - Two can play at that game.

:as
D9

Chuyen con ca con ke.

Chuyen

mlnh thl quang, chuyen ngiroi thl sang. Ciing: Co ngoai, bai trong. Chuyen no
XQ

UO

chuyen kia.

UJ:

Chil nhan la chii' nrong vang, Ai rna nhan diroc thl cang song lau, Chua biet meo nao caln miu nao. Chua danh dm;c ngum ~t do nhu vang, Danh diroc nguot roi mat Yang

:uz
ZJ,J,

- Cowards are cruel. - Cowardice is the mother of cruelty.

nhu nghe,
Z34 Chua d~t dit da d~t mom. Ciing: Chua thay nguoi da thay tieng. - Have too much tongue. - His tongue is too long for his teeth.

226. 227. 228. 229.

millstonetn) tMt cO'i

tether(n) day dat jaw on (v) ba hoa tAmphao

hop(v) nhay 10 co, nhay

56

us:

Chua de dii d~t ten. Ciing: Chua nan but dii n~n be,

2)6

Chua eng nghe da de hang - Catch the bear before you sell his skin. t6ng. Cting: - First catch your hare then cook Chua bat diroc gau dii dam ban him. - To sell the bear's skin before da. one has caught the bear. - Eat the calf in the cow's belly. - Cook a hare before catching him. Chua hQC be da 10 hQC chay, Ciing: Chua du long canh da chuc bay cao. - Learn to creep before you leap. - Try to run before one can walk.

do

- Don't count your chickens before they are hatched. - Gut no fish till you get them. - Never fry a fish till it's caught.

U7

238

aura khoi yang <.fa cong duoi,

Ciing:

aura khoi ren eta quen thay, 2:J9

Chua rao rnau d.tu.
Ciing:

- Do not halloo till you are out of the wood. - (Still) wet behind the ears. (idm) - Be still a chicken. - He is scarcely out of the shell yet. - Still in swaddling - clothes. - Hardly / just out of swaddling clothes.

Mieng con hoi sua.

235. hatch(v) no fa can 237 creep (v) bu. tnron 238. halloo(v) reo ho, keu Ion tieng 239. scarcely (adv) chi vua mci

gut(v) md, moi ruot ca leap (v) nhay vat len swaddling - clothes (n.pl) ta lot

57
:140

Clnmg

030 ~t a'y.

Oing:
Cai nt!t danh chet khong chua.

- The leopard cannot change its spots. - What is bred in the bone will not go out of the flesh. - Draw one's horns in. - Draw in one's horns. - To drive a hard bargain. - He that is warm thinks all so. - He jests at scars that never felt a wound. - Know the sufferings of the poor after being in poverty. - Have enough and to spare.

241

Co voi lai,
Co ke bot mot them hai. C6 an nhat moi thirong meo,

24Z Z43

den

Z44

C6 bat Ciing: C6 cua

an bat df an cua M.

%45

Co benh vii ttl phirong.

- Any port in a storm. - One cannot make bricks without straw. ~ No flour, no paste.

/<
~'

M. C6 b¢t moi g¢t nen h6.

Ciing: C6 thoc moi boc ra g",o. CO ca moi doi ca chien. Xem: Duoc dang chan IAn dang dau,

Z47

240. spot (n) dom he:' da baa)

58
Z48 CO cac vang cling chiu. ~Not for love or money. • Not for the world and his wife. • Not for all the tea in China. ~Not for all the wealth in the world. ~For no consideration on earth. - Grasp the nettle and it won't sting you. - None but the brave deserve the fair. - No guts, no glory. • Nothing venture, nothing have. - Nothing seek, nothing find. - Fortune favours the brave. - No cross, no crown. • No pains, no gains. - A wilful mao must have his way. - By hard labour one will succeed. • Drop by drop, the sea is drained. - Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. - Patience and time run through the longest day. ~Where there's a will, there's a way. • Genius is only patience.

249

COchi co gao, gian nan wqt tuOl.

250

COchi lam quan, c6 gao

giau,

lam

251

CO chi thi nen,

Ciing:

CO cong mai sat c6 ngay nen kim.

249. nettle (n) cay tarn rna c6 long ngt1'a 250. guts(n,pl) quy€t tAm 251. wilful (adj) c6 chu tam, c6 y

venture (v) li~u will (n) y chi, y mu6n

59
sa COchong ching duoc di dau, - One chick keeps a hen busy. COcon chang duqc dUnglau mot gio, - Marriage is a stone wall.
Oing:

Hai vq chong son them dtra con thanh b6n.

SS3

as chung tieng noi, as co thi cho cling dong, C6 di lay chong thi cho van vui.

- Speak the same language {as sb.) - No man is indispensable. - Every man has his price. - Learn wisdom by the follies of others. - Health is not valued till sickness comes. - Claw me and I'll claw thee. - Nothing for nothing. - One hand washes the other. - Roll my log and I will roll yours. - You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. - Money is the root of all evils. - Honour and profit lie not in one sack. - Muck and money go together.

Z54

SIS SSft

COcua dO diroc nguoi, Co d6t moi co khon, Co dau yeu moi bier qui suc khoe, Co di co lai moi toai long nhau. Cling: Ong dira chan gio, ba tho chai nrou,

:&57

ZSS

ZS9

COdoc moi co, co phfi nhu cho moi giau,

254. indispensable (adj) khong the thieu 258. claw (v) cao bang m6ng tay log (n) khuc gO 259. muck (n) phan chuong, do do ban

thee (pron) Ilr chii' thou = you scratch (v) gai, cao XltC1C

60
Z60

CO it xit ra

nhieu,

- Make a mountain molehill.

out of a

261:

CO lam moi c6 an. Cilng: C6 lam thl moi c6 an, Khong dung ai de dem phan den cho. CO

- A cat in gloves catches no mice. - W ork provides plenty. - No sweet without sweat. - No gains without pains.

Z"

rna dqi den tet.

- Have to wait till the crack of doom. - Absence makes the heart grow fonder. - Far from the eyes, near to the heart. - All truths will not bear telling. - Not all truths are proper to be told. - He that has no children know not what love is.

ztG

CO mat thl mang, vang mat thl thuong.

Z64-

Co

nhttng su th~t kheng nen naira.

DS

CO nuoi con moi biei long cha my.

260. molehill (n) ddt do chuot dun len 262. the crack of doom (idm) ngay tan the"

61
Z66

COt~t gi~t minh.

- He that commits a fault thinks that everyone speaks of it. - He that has a great nose thinks everyone is speaking of it. - A guilty consience needs no accuser. - (There's) no peace for the wicked. - There is no place to hide a sin without the conscience looking
In.

- If the cap fits (wear it).

2ft7

CO thit dbi xoi, Ciing: COchao dbi che, COthuc moi vue duqc dao,

- Fish looks for deeper water, man for better places to live. - We all seek what is better. - A fine cage won't feed the bird. - A fine cage does not, fill a bird's belly. - Fine words butter no parsnips. - You can't feed the hungry with words. - The belly is not filled with fair words. - The way to a man's heart is through his stomach. - A golden key opens all doors. - Money is a passport to everything. - Money makes the mare go. - Money answers all things.

268

S69

COtien mua tien ciing duoc, Ciing: Tien dEn dau mau den dffy.

266. wicked (n) ngum xS:uxa 268. parsnip(n) eLIcai 269. mare (n) ngua boac lua cai

62
270

CO tien vq vq chong chong, Het tien chong dong vq doai,

- A light purse is a heavy curse. - Want makes a strife between man and wife. - When poverty comes in at door, love flies out at the window. - Adversity makes strange bedfellowss. - Not care / give a fig for sb/sth. (idm) - The apples on the other side of the wall are the sweetest. - It cuts both ways. - It is a two - edged weapon. - It has two ways and hits either way.

27:1

Coi trill bang vung.

2'72

Con ca say

la con

ca to.

273

Con dao hai lum.

274

Con giun xeo

lam cling

quan.

- Even a worn will tum. - Tread on a worm and he will tum. - Mother's darlings are but milksop heroes. - Happy is he that is happy in his children. - A cat may look at the king.

:&'7S

Con hu tai my, chau hu tai ba,

Z76

Con khon

no mat

me chao

277

Con nghe moi sinh chang kinh

gl h6.

270. curse (n) Ibi nguyen riia strife (n) sir xung d¢t, ca:i C9 274. tread (v) giarn len 275. milksop (n) dan ling nht1t nhat

want (n) canh tung thieu

63
Z78

Con nha linh, tinh nha quan. Con nha tong khong gi6ng long cung gi6ng canh,

- Born into a poor family but having expensive tastes. - As the cock crows, so do the young. - Like begets like. - Like father, like son. - You cant' have your cake and eat it.

Z79

:z8O

Con ro cling tiec, con gi€Ccling

mu6n.
Cling:

An tnmg thl dimg an con.

Z81

Con sau bo rau n6i canh, MOt nguoi lam di xau danh ca dan.

- It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest. - One cloud is enough to eclipse the sun. - One drop of poison infects the whole tun of wine. - One scabby sheep is enough to spoil the whole flock. - One rotten apple spoils the barrel. - (It's) a fly in the ointment. - (It's) a bug in the butter. - (It's) a blot on the landscape.

279. crow (v) gay beget (v) gay ra, la b6 cua ai 281. foul one's own nest (idm) lam 6 danh gia dlnh scabby (adj) bi ghe eclipse (v) che khuat, lam lu flock (n) dan, bay ointment (n)thu6c mo bug (n) con rep, vi trung blot (n) vet mire

rna

..

Con vua t6t vua d&J., con tOi xau toi yeu

- All sb's geese are swans. - Every mother thinks her own gosling a swan. - The devil's child, the devil's luck. - All is not lost. - It is never long that comes at last. - You must spoil before you spin. - While there is life, there is hope. - Make the best of things. - Make the best of a bad deal/job. - (It is) never too late to learn. - (You are) never too old to learn. - Set the snake on one's own hens.

aft

COn ga tr6ng, ga mai thi con

ga gio.

Cfing: Chua phai ZII4

la tuyet

vong.

COn mroc con tat.

Z8I
Z86

COn song con hQC.

Cong

ran can ga nha,

2JI7

CO dam an xoi,

- Put one's pride in one's pocket

for the sake of one's end.

Z88

C6c rno co xei.

Cong thanh danh toai,

- One

beats the bush, catches the bird.

and another

..
Z90

- Gain/win one's laurels.

Cd ba cuoc, com ba bat, thuoc

ba thang.

- One is no rule/ custom.

282. swan(n) can thien nga 286. set on (v) cho tan cong

gosling(n) ngong can

85
Z91

Cd den tay ai nguOi ay phai.

~Jack is as good as his master. ~One master is as good as . another.

s,s

Co ngoai bai trong. Xem: Chuyen mlnh thi quang, chuyen nguoi thl sang.
Com te me ruot. - Com is the staff of life. - There is nothing like plain bread. - Not want, not wait.

293

294

Com te no, xoi chang thiet. Cling: D6i thi them thit them xoi, Da no corn te thi thoi moi
dirong.

vo

Z9S

Cua an vung la cua ngon. Cung: Mieng vl:mg thl ngon. ella ben tai nguoi. ella bieu la cua 10, ella cho la

- Stolen fruit is sweetest. - Stolen pleasures are sweetest. ~Good depends not on things but on the use we make of things. ~The receiver is as bad as the thief. ~A penny more buys a whistle.

S9.
ZfT1

cua no,

Z98
299

ella c6 la cua duoc,

Cua day n6i lil cua khong ngon ~Plenty is no dainty. ~Enough is as good as feast.

293. the staff of life (idm) banh rnl 298. whistle (n) cai coi

plain (adj) don gian, b1nh thui1ng

18
300 CUa it long nhieu.

_J:
30S
318

~ Modest gift given with all one's heart/with one's whole heart.

CUa mot dong cong mot nen.

~ A grain of wheat in a bushel of

chaff. ~ Better buy than borrow. ~Men cut large thongs of other men's leather. ~To make free with another's purse.

CUa rnua hon cua muon.

CUa ngum b6 tat, cua minh lat

buoc. Oing: Cua mlnh thi gill bo bo,
CUa nguoi thi tha cho bo n6 an. Cira ngum phiic tao

304 30S

~ Rob Peter to pay Paul.

CUa phu van khong chan

rna

_,
..

..

chay, Ciing: 0Ja phi nghia e6 giau dau,

ben.

o eho ngay ~t

giau sau moi

~ Cheats never prosper. ~ Easily earned money is quickly spent. ~III ~gotten gains never prosper. ~III gotten, ill spent. - What is got over the devil's back is spent under his belly. - Cheapest is the dearest .

CUa Iiiii cna

6L

rna re re kh6ng b3ng nghe trong

lay.

- A useful trade is a mine of

gold. - Fortune is easily found but hard to be kept. - Easy come, easy go. - Ill gotten, ill spent. - The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away.
..~-

Cia thien gia dia,

CUng: CUa tri14 hi1i lai JA'y di, Giuong doi mAt ech Hun chi duc.x: troi,

301. chaff (n) trau 303. thong (n) day da 305. cheat (n) nguOi.ho~

lro lira dao

belly (n) d.i bung

67
~ Cimg

hoi cung thuyen,

- Be in the same boat.

- Get on in the same boat with sb. - Birds of a feather. - Chips of the same block. - Of the same batch I kidney - Tarred with the same brush stick. - Cut from the same cloth.

~o

Cling mot giuoc voi nhau. Oing: Oing phirong gia ao tui com.

3U:

Cuoc dui dau phai mot dai

vuon hong.

- Life is not all cakes and ale. - Life is not all beer and skittles. - Life is not a bed of roses. - Pack one's bags (and leave). - Mutton dressed (up) as lamb. - (As) obstinate mule.

3%:1 3%3 3%4

Cuon g6i ra di. CUa simg

lam nghe,

Cling dau cling c6.

I stubborn

as a

3%5

CUoi. nguoi cha c6 cuoi. lau, CUoi. nguoi horn tnroc horn sau nguOi. cum.

- Better the last smile than the first laughter. - He laughs best who laughs last. - He who laughs last laughs longest. - Let them laugh that win. - Smile through one's tears. - Laugh on the wrong side of one's mouth. - Laugh on the other side of one's face.

3%6

cum. ra nuoc
Ciing:

mat.

DO khoc db cum.

310. batch (n) mot

311. ale (n) nrou bia 314. obstinate (adj) ngoan c6

mule (n) con la

me

tar (v) nll nhua, bei hie in beer and skittles (idm) thii vui stubborn(adj) buong binh, irong nganh

68
317

arm vahl,mg.
Ciing:

arm
3%8

den

va cl vung
chim.

- Split one's sides with laughter. - Enough to make a cat laugh.

Qr(tp

com

- Take the bread out of sb's mouth.

0
319

Da trang xe cat bik dong,

Nh9C long gl. Cling:

can

rna chang

nen c6ng

XAy lau dill tren cat.

3S0

Beat the air. Fish in the air. Mill the wind. Build sth on sand. Plough the sand.

DI,isau han bu6ng.

bt,

bung kin hC1l1. - Another person's soul I heart is a mystery. - The soul of another is a dark place I forest. - You can never see into another heart. - He that fears you present will hate you absent. - (As) tough as old boots. - He who is born a fool is never cured.

3U

DI,itruoc mat, chiri sau lung.

3U
323

Dai

nhir chao I gie rach.

Dai thi den gia vAn dai,

69
n4 Danh loi bat nhu nhan. - Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed. - He is rich that has few wants. - He is not poor that has little, but he that desires much. - The used key is always brilliant. - The darkest place is under the candlestick.

32S

Dao nang lib; nang sAc. Dao sac khong got diroc chuoi,

3Z'7

Dao thir trau heo, keo thir lua so. Xem Trong con hoan nan moi ro ban than. Day ba lang b6c thu6c. CUng: Day diven vay, Day khi treo cay. - Teach the dog to bark. . - Teach your granny to roast eggs.

5Z9

Day con tir thuc con tho'. (Day vq tit thub bo vo moi ve),

Train up a child in the way he should go.

go

Darn chan tai chO.

Day ca ra day muong. De nguoi de ta, kho ngiroi kho tao

Mark time. - Make no headway.

M

~ ~

- A long story.
M

What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

324. 325. 326. 332.

blessed (adj) diem phuc thay brilliant (adj) sang choi, lap Ianh candlestick (n) gia dB nen gander (n) ngong dl,rc

70
333

De nhu ban tay. Ciing: Dt nhu choi.

Di doc tri doc. CUng: Lay doc tri doc. Di hoa vi quy Ciing: MQl su nhin lit chin su lanh.

tra

- Like a knife through butter. - As easy as ABC. - As easy as rolling off a log. - As easy as pie / as winking. Habit cures habit. Iron is sharpened by iron. One fire drives out another. Set a thief to catch a thief.

3:J4

3:55

- A bad compromise is better than a good lawsuit. - An injury forgiven is better than an injury revenged. - Better a lean peace than a fat victory. - A bad arrangement is preferable to the best lawsuit. - Delays are dangerous. - He that / who hesitates is lost. - Cowards die many times before their death. - Delay is tantamount to death. - Open one's heart to sb. - Reveal one's soul to sb,

336

Do du Ht tl! sat.

337

D6c bau

Him su,

335. compromise (n) sir thoa hiep revenge (v) lean (adj) t6i, kern . 336. Tantamount (adj) ngang voi, chang khac gl

Ira 1M

71
3,38

Don vao th€ bi.

Cfing: Don vao chan urong,

- Bring sb to bay. - Chase sb up a tree. - Put sb in a spot. - Have / hold sb at bay - Drive sb into a comer. - Have sb cornered. - Not to know a hawk from a handsaw. - Not to know chalk from cheese. - Not to know beans. - Not to know one's arse from one's elbow (idm). - It is better to understand a little than to misunderstand a lot. - Better untaught than ill - taught. - Little knowledge is a dangerous thing. - The less people think, the more they talk. - Fish begins to stink at the head. - A fish rots from the head.

D9

Dot d~c can maio Ciing: Mit dac can thuong.

340

DOt dljic con han hay chtr long.

34.1

Dot hay noi chtr, Dot tir noc d¢t xu6ng.

342

DO da uong uong. - Neither fish, flesh nor good red Ciing: herring. M6n chang fa men, khoai chang - Neither fish, flesh nor fowl. ra khoai.
Cling:

Nila dol, 1l11a chuot.

343. fowl (n) thit chim

342. stink (v) co mui hOi th6i

herring (n) catrlch

72
M4

00 kh6c da cum.
Xem:

CUm fa mroc mat.

- East or west, home is best. - There is no place like home. - There is no place more delightful than one's own fireside. Haste Haste More Slow is of the devil. makes waste. haste, less speed. and steady wins the race.

MS

Du cho di khap bon phirong, V~ nha moi thay que huang dAu bang.

N6

Due tee bat dat, Ciing: Cang v¢i cang cham Ciing: Cham ma chac,
Dtrong dirong

5407

CUng:

tJ! dac.

- With one's nose in the air. - As pround as peacock.

Venh cai mat len.

D
MIl

Da da ich thi~n. Cling: cang nhieu cang t6t.

Da ngon da qua.
Di n6i Ia lam.

- Store is no sore. - The more the better. - Plenty is no plague. - He that talks much errs much. - No sooner said than done. - So said so done. - Once I have said, I will do it.

149
HO

348. plague (n) tai hoa, benh dich

store (n) su doi dao,

co nhieu

73
351

Dil trot phai tret,

Ci1ng: Dam lao phai theo lao.

- A lie begets a lie. - He who rides on a tiger can never dismount. - In for a penny, in for a pound. - We have gone too far to draw back now. - Now that you had accepted you had to begin. - If you say the coat fits, you must wear it. - Over shoes, over boots. - Since it has begun, it must be finished. - Since you have started, you must goon. - You can't back out now that you've begun. - Redeem one's faults by achieving a feat I exploit (Lit). - All men can't be masters.

352

Doai toi lap cong. Dan anh co

3D H4

rna, ke ca co dong.

Dan gay tai trau. Ciing: Hoai canh mai eho ell dau, Dan ong cam dill, dan ba tam t6. Dang yen dang lanh dong eanh

- Be caviare to the general.

- Cast pearls before swine. - Men make houses, women make homes. - Wake a sleeping dog. - Get one's money's worth.

35S

35ft

phli toi.
:JS7

Dang dong tien bat g~o.

351. beget (v) gAy ra, sinh ra 352. redeem (v) tn! het, chuec
354. caviare (n) tnrng ca

dismount (v) xu6ng, xu6ng ngua feat (n) ky cong, chien cOng swine (n) con Ion

74
H8

Danh chet net khong chira,

- The leopard cannot change his spots. - The wolf may lose his teeth but never his nature. - He that lives wickedly can hardly die honestly. - Don't hit / kick a man when he's down. - One should not hit a man when he is down. - Do sth by halves. - Ride off on a side issue. - Marry money I a fortune. - Strike at the roots (of sth). - Tear sth out by the roots. - Agues come on horseback, hut go away on foot. - Misfortunes tell us what fortune
IS.

359

Danh ke chay ill, khong ai danh

ke chay lai,

3&0

Danh tr6ng be dui. Danh tr6ng lang.

3ftI
362 363

Dao rno.
Dao t~n goc, tree tan reo Dau chong, da chay, Dang cay moi bier ngot bui.

3fJ4

365

- He, who has never tasted bitter, knows not what is sweet. - A dash of bitters to make you appreciate sweets. - He knows best what good is that has endured evil.

,,661

DAt nhu torn nroi.

- Sell like hot cakes.

358. wickedly (Adv) IQil6i, xau xa 364. ague (n) benh s6t ret 365. a dash of sb (idm) mot chtit It

75

3'"
368

Dat xat ra mieng. D~t cay tnroc trau, Cfing:

Lam chuyen ngiroc doi,

. - Best is cheapest. - Put I Set the cart before the horse. - You cry out before you are hurt. - Put one's hand between the bark and the tree.

369
3'70

Dam ba che cu.

Dam lao phii theo lao. Xem: Da trot phai tret Dam him sang ao.
- Mill the wind. - Fish in the air. - Pour water into a sieve. - To beat the air. - Every country has its custom. - So many countries, so many customs. - Take the hull by the horns. - In the end things will mend. - Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.
- A bad beginning makes a bad

371

37Z

Dat Ie que thoi, Dat co Ie, que co thoi,

Cfing:

:573 374 37S

Dau can la co, dau kho lit di.

Dau r6i cling vao day. D~u ga hon duoi trau, DAu rae rol, cuoi 16i thoi.

37.

ending. - Bad beginnings make worse endings.

368. cart (n) xe, xe ngua 369. bark (n) vo cay 371. sieve (n) cai sang, cai ray

76
377

Dau tat mat t6i.

- To toil and moil all day and night. - The mountain has brought forth a mouse. - A good beginning is half the battle. - A good beginning makes a good ending. - Well begun is half done. - The first blow is half the battle. - Get sb under one's thumb. - Make sb slave. - Lucky at cards, unlucky in love. - Unlucky at cards, lucky in love. - As black as a sweep / chimney sweep.

378

Dau voi duoi chuot,

Dilu xuoi duoi 191.

379

380

De dilu cuoi cO (ai), Den bac, do tlnh. Cling: Do tlnh den bac, Den nhu COl nha chay.

_~

38Z

383

Den khoe den t6 hon trang, - Candle in the wind. Den ra tnroc gin con chang hoi den. Den nha ai nha nay rl,lllg. - Every man must carry his own cross. - Half of the world knows not how the other half lives. - My house is my castle.

384

378. bring sth forth (v) sinh ra cai gl 382. sweep (n) ngiroi nao 6ng kh6i 384. cross (n) noi 10, dau kho

..
38S

Dep ngiroi khong bang dep net. Cling: Dep n€t han dep ngiroi.

~Handsome is as / that handsome does. ~Prettiness dies first. - As smart / pretty as paint. - When the moon is made of green cheese. - First come, first served. - It is the early bird that catches the worm. - Youth must have its fling.

DqJ nhu tranh .

D€n mila quyt, Den tnroc thl duoc mieng ngon. O1ng: Trau cham u6ng mroc due.

387
388

389

o nha v6i my biet ngay nao khon.

Di cung troi cu6i da't. Di dOinha rna. O1ng: Hong bet d. roi. Di dern Hun cling co ngay gap rna.

Di cho bier d6 bi€t dAy,

390
39.1

- Go to the end of the earth. - All gone to pot. - Go to pot. - The pot goes too often to the well but is broken at last. - Every fox must pay with his skin to the flayer. - There is no trader who does not meet with losses. - You can't always be lucky. - Read sb like a book. - Cut the ground under sb's feet (idm).

HZ

393

Di gu6c vao bung (ai).

389. fling (n) SI! lieng, bay iU'Qrl 392. flayer (n) the i¢t da

78
394

Di mot ngay dang hoc mot sang

khon.
Ciing: Di buoi cho hQCrna khon.

- Travelling forms a young man. - Travelling broadens one's horizons. - He needs a long spoon that sups with the devil. - With foxes we must play the fox. - A fool always rushes to the fore. - He that knows nothing doubts nothing. - Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. - Deaf as a post. - Stone deaf. - Moderation in all things (and all things in moderation). - One hour's sleep before midnight is worth three after. - Early to bed and early to rise (makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise). - Man's heart is unfathomable. - The soul of another is a dark place. - You can never see into another heart.

395

Di v6i but mac ao cit sa, di vai ma mac ao giay,

Diec khong so sling.

3'1'1

Di&: loi / Di&: d~. Dieu d¢ la me sUekhoe,

398

399

Do song do bien de do long

nguUi. Cling: SOng sau con co ke do, Long ngum nham hiim ai do cho cling.

394. 395. 396. 399.

horizons (n.pl) lAmhieu bier sup (v) an bO'at6i fore(n) mui tau, phan tnroc unfathomable (adj) khong db ducc

tread (v) ~t chan, di

79
400

Do mit dung nhau.

- One beggar is driven to beg of another. - Red as a turkey - cock. - Red as a beetroot. - United we stand, divided we fall. - Unity is strength. - Hope is the poor men's bread. - It is hard to be poor and honest. - Necessity knows no law. - A clean fast is better than a dirty breakfast. - Needs make the old wife trot.
- Cry with one eye and laugh with

401: Do mat tfa tai,

Ciing: Mat do nhu gac,

402

Doan ket III song, chia re la

chet.

40:1 Doan ket la sue manh. 404 405 40. 407 408

Dei an banh ve. Dei an vung, tung lam can/ lieu. Dei cho sach, reich cho thorn. Dei dau goi phai 00. Don xoc hai dau.

the other. - Play a double game. - He who chatters to you will chatter of you.
409

Dong cira bao nhau.

- Not to wash one's dirty linen in public. - Family affairs should be kept private.

400. be driven to do sth: buoc phai 401. beetroot (n) cli cii do

lam gl.

406. fast (n) bO'aan chay

407. trot (v) chay Ion ton 408. chatter (v) dua chuyen

80
410

van.

Dong thuyen rna khong xe

- Make bricks without straw. - To see stars before one's eyes. - Add fuel to the fire. - Take oil to extinguish the fire. - Pour oil on the flame. - Fan the flame. - Heap fuel to the flame. - Throw fat in the fire. - Drop I dump sth in sb's lap. - Lay one's own fault at sb else's door. - Anything may happen. - Pigs might fly. - Take a hair of the dog that bit you. - (There are) no two ways about it. - Go often to the house of your friend, for weeds choke up the unused path. - Make white black (Lit). - Call white black. - Turn white into black.

4.1.1
4.12

D6 dom dom mat.

D6 them d~u vao lira, COng: Liia da do lai bo them rom.

413

D6 vay dO thira (cho ai).

4.14

D6 ai hoc duqc chit ngo,

Doc gicii doc. Cling; Doc tri d¢C. Doc nhat vo nhi, D6i ta nhu the con dao, Nang liec nang sac, nang chao nang than.

4.15

4.16

4.17

418

DOi trang thay den.

412. heap (v) chat. xep day 413. dump (v) vut, d6 bira 417. choke up (v) 14pday

extinguish (v) dap

uit

11
4:19

DOng tay hon hay lam. Dong sang di

- Many hands make light work. - Share the same bed but dream different dreams (Lit). - Great minds think alike.

420

mong.

42:1

Dong thanh nrong img, dong khi tuong duo Dong tien di truce Ia dong tien khan.

422

- He gives twice who gives quickly. - He gives twice who gives without delay. - A thief passes for a gentleman when stealing has made him rich. - Money makes the man. - Otildren have to suffer for their parents' sins. - To visit the sins of the father upon the children. - A miserly father makes a prodigal SOD. - Many a good father has but a bad son. - Every man for himself and God for us all. - The devil take the hindmost.

423

Dong tien khong phan khong

ho,
Dong tien kheo diem kheo mat nguoi. 424 Dm cha

to

nuoc.

an man,

dbi con khat

425

Dai eha vo tron, dbi con bop

bep,
COng: Cha lam thay, con ban sach.

426

poi eua eua may, dCri. ay cay c dao.

424. visit upon sb (v) trirng phat ai

425. miserly (adj) keo kiet

sin (n) t()i loi prodigal (adj) hoang phi

426. hindmost (adj) sau cung

82
41t1

DOi. ngiroi c6 mot gang tay, Ai hay ngu ngay con co nita gang.

- Life is but a span. - Life is long if you know how to use it. - To seek a hare in a hen - house. - All alone in the world. - All by oneself. - Having not a soul in the world. - Plough a lonely furrow. - A sow is no match for a goose. - Fish in troubled waters.

as
429

Dam

do ngon tre.

Don thuong d(K: rna. CUng: MQt than mot minh, Diia m6c doi choi rnam son. Due D_uUc beo co. Ciing: Cho nuCfcdue thi cau, Dung an cam moi noi chuyen cii. DUng hOi rae len rna ngiri.

GO 0%

GZ

- Let bygones be bygones. - It is easier to raise the devil than to lay him. - Let sleeping dogs lie. - Don't run before your horse to market. - Don't run into hell before your father. - Do not ring the church bell before looking at the church calender. - One shouldn't carry owls to Athens.

4D

Got

DUng eo cam den chay tnroc 6tO.

OS

DUng co ehb cui ve rimg.

427. span (0) nhip cau 429. furrow (v) lu6ng cay 430. sow (n) Iqn nai

83
436 437
438

Dimg co darn ba che

cu.

- Put not your hand between the bark and the tree.

Dimg co Ion lanh chua Ion que. ~It's better to leave well alone. ~It's better to let well alone. Dirng co venh cai mat len.
Cting:

- Corne off your perch.

Dirng co len mat day doi.

4109

Ditng ch5 mfii vao chuyen nguOi - Know your place! khac. - Stay on your own side of the fence. - This is none of your business. - Mind your own business. DUng d~ mroc den chan moi nhay, - Don't have thy cloak to make when it begins to rain. - Not let the grass grow under one's feet. - Name not a rope in his house that was hanged. - It's no use trying to do two things at once. - Dogs that put up many hares kill none. - If you run after two hares, you will catch none. - It's no use pumping a dry well.

440

44~

khac,
442

DUng goi lai nOi dau ella nguoi

Dung nen bat eel hai tay.

4U

Dirng nen hoi sir muon hroc.

436. bark (n) vo cay

438. come off (v) giam bot, ha xuong

440. thy (det, arch) = your 442. hare (n) tho rihlg

perch (n) dia vi cao cloak (n) ao choang put up (v) ch6ng cir, du6i theo

8"
444 DUng nen tha moi bat bong. - Never lose the substance for the shadow. - Never quit certainty for hope. - Don't tell tales out of school. - Family affairs should be kept private. - It is best to wash one's soiled linen at horne. - Fat paunches have lean pates.

445

DUng nen vach ao eho ngirci xem lung.

446

DUng thay ong huyen to bung rna sq. DUng vl gian con ran rna d6t

44'7

cai ao.
448 DUng vl ngirei db rna b6 lbi n6i hay cua ho,

- Bum not your house to rid it of the mouse. - A fool may sometimes give a wise man counsel. - Fools may sometimes speak to the purpose.

449

DUng di tren lira nam ng6i khong - Be on tenterhooks (idm). yen. - Be on pins and needles. - On a knife - edge. DUng mui chiu sao. DUng ngay nhu phong. Cilng: DUng nhu troi tr6ng. - Stand in the breach. - Throw oneself into the breach. - To stand as if rooted to the ground. - Stand like a stuffed dummy. - Stand like a stone image. - Stand rooted to the spot.

450
4S:l

444. substance (n) chat, cai c6 thuc 445. linen (n) quan ao, do vii lanh 446. paunche (n) bung phe 450. breach (n) vel mtt. ehO ran va 4S 1. dummy (n) nguoi mau gia, manocanh

pate (n) dau, so

85
4P DUng ruii nay trong nui no, - The grass always seems greener across the river. - The grass is always greener on the other side (of the hill). - Blue are the hills that are far from us. - Why look for a good thing when you have one? - Make or mar. - Neck or nothing. - Put all one's eggs in / into one basket. - Sink or swim. - Do or die. - A feast or a fast. - Man or mouse. - Win or lose. - Make a spoon or spoil a hom. - Have one's cake and eat it. - You cannot eat your cake and have it too. - You cannot flay the same ox twice. - When the fish is caught, the net is laid aside (Lit). - Kick away the ladder (by which one rose).

49

Duoc

an ca, nga ve khong.

454

Duoc cai no thi mat cai kia.

4SS:

Duoc chim be mi, duqc ca quen

nom.

453. mar (v) lam hong, pha hong 454. flay (v) l()t da

86
45. Duoc dang chan IAn dang dau,
CUng: Diroc voi doi tien. - Give the devil your finger and he will take your hand. - Give him a ring and he'll want your whole arm. - Give him an inch and he'll take a mile. - If you agree to carry the calf, they'll make you carry the cow. - The more you have, the more you want. - Let him put in his finger, and he will put in his whole hand. - There is no telling what he would try next. - No sooner earned than spent. - Losers are always in the wrong. - Let them laugh that win. - Success in never blamed. - One cannot please all the world and his wife. - He who pleased everybody died before he was born. - There's no pleasing everybody. - You can't please everyone. - It is hard to please all parties. - Please all and you will please none. - If you try to please all, you will please none.

Cling: CO ca moi doi ca chien.

4_
459

45'7

Diroc d6ng nao xao d6ng nay, Diroc lam vua, thua lam giac,

Duqc long dAt mAt long do.

Duqc

Cling: long

dn mat long ng6e.

456. calf (n) con be 458. blame (v) khi~n trach, che

460

Duqc long ta x6t xa long ngiroi. Ctlng: Dune nguoi mua, thua nguni
ban.

.,

- One man's breath is another man's death. - One man's meat is another man's poison. - All lay loads on the willing horse. - Praise is not pudding. - A liar should have a good memory. - A lie has no legs. - All roads lead to Rome. - There are more ways to the wood than one. - Better to ask the way than go astray. - He that has a tongue in his head may find his way anywhere. - The farthest way about is the nearest way home. - The longest way round is the shortest way home.

87

461.

Diroc tieng khen ho hen chang con. Duong di hay t6i, n6i d6i hay cung. DUOngnao ciing v~ La Ma.

46Z

46],

464

Duong

Cfing: Dirong di
461

a em mieng.
a mieng.

Duong vong quen di kern chi duOngtat. Ciing: Di muai biroc xa han di ba buocl¢i.

461. willing (adj) nhiet tlnh, de bao 464. astray (adv) lac duemg

•
E
466

Ep dAu ep rna, ai nO' ep

duyen.

- Love cannot be forced. - Love cannot be compelled. - You can take a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink. - A fool's tongue is long enough to cut his own throat. - Let not your tongue cut your throat.

_,

~h chei tai mieng,

G
Gii dung chO ngua, G3.i co cOng cl16ng chAng phu, Ciing: Urn c6 kheng 10 mat phan, ·470 Gao do met cay. Ciing: Gan het ehO noi. - Touch the right chord. - A good deed is never lost. - An act of kindness is never wasted. - Have a tile I screw loose.

~pm~h.
471

Ga.y nhu que cw.

- (As) thin as a bone / a rail / a lath.

466. compel (v) ep bu¢c 468. chord (0) dAy dan. dan hgp Am 47 L rail (0) eMIt song

lath (n) thanh gO mong

a9
472 Gan chua goi but bang anh, Trong thAy but lanh ha xu6ng datchai. Gan da't xa troi. Cilng: Gan ke mieng 16. Gan muc thl den, gan den thi sang. Ciing: bau thi tron, a 6ng thi dai,
M

No man is a hero to his valet. The nearer the church, the farther from God. Have one foot in the grave.

473

474

• A man is known by the company he keeps. - Evil communications corrupt good manner. - Good can never grow out of evil. - He that lies down with' dogs must rise up with fleas. - He, who keeps company with the wolf, will learn to howl. - Youth and white paper take any impression. - Bad examples are catching. - He that lives with cripples learns to limp. - You can't touch pitch without being defiled, - Good clothes open all doors. - Make a rod for one's own back. - Be hoist with one's own petard.

475 476

Gan sCfda.Ia so quan ao. Gay eng d~p lung eng.

472. valet (n) ngum htu, dAy W 474. corrupt (v) lam hu hong howl (v) hd, ni pitch (n) hie fn 476. hoist (v) keo len, nhac bong len

flea (n) bo chet cripple (n) nguoi que quat defile (v) lam 0 ui!, lam bln petard (n) phao, trai n6

90
477

Ghet cay ghet dang.

- Hate sb like poison. - Hate sb guts. (idm) - Hate sb with one's whole heart. - Have an old head on young shoulders. - Never too much of a good thing. - The best is often the enemy of the good. - The best-laid plans may come to nought. - The best things are worst to come by. - Too much of a good thing is good for nothing. - Enough is a good as a feast. - Extremes are dangerous. - It is the last straw that breaks the camel's back. - The last drop makes the cup run over. - Old age is not a blessing. - An old ass is never good. - When bees are old, they yield no honey. - A cracked bell can never sound welL

478

Gilt gian tnroc tudi, Gilt ken ken hom. CUng: Chin qua hoa nau,

479

480

Gilt neo dUt day.

481

Gilt sinh tat, dat sinh co. Cling: GiA thl moi s\,tmoi hen.

481. blessing (n) an hue, dieu dang mung hoary (ad j) hoa ram

yield (v) sinh ra, cho

91
482 Gill thl gill toe gia tai, - A grey beard, but a lusty heart. Gill rang gia loi, d6 choi khong - No sinner like a hoary sinner. gill. Cung: Gill choi trong boi. Gill trai non hot.
- A bully is always -acoward.

48J,

- Bullies are always cowards. - Where you exaggerate you weaken. 484 485 Gia tnroc tu6i. Gia cam gia diec. - Old beyond one's years. - Act dumb. - Sham dumbness and deafness (Lit). - Pretend to be deaf and dumb (Lit). - A man is master in his own house. - Children are poor men's riches. - A rich neighbour is a poor friend. - He that had a full purse never wanted a friend. - Honour changes manners. - Rich upstarts ignore their belongings.

486

Giang san nao, anh hung ay, Giau con hem giau cua.

487

488
489

Giau diec, sang dui.

Giau d6i ban, sang d6i vq.

483. bully (n) bat nat, ham doa 485. sham (v) gia b¢. gia vb 489. upstart (n) ngum m6'i phat len

ke

exaggerate (v) cuemg di~u, !hOi phong belongings (n, pi)

do dung ca nhan

92
490

Giau khong ha tien kho lien tay, Kh6 khong ha tien kho an may. Giau Ia ho, kho ngiroi dung.

- Waste not, want not.

49.1

- Next of kin to the rich, no kin to the poor. - An empty sack cannot stand upright.

492

Giau lam chi, kho luy lam em. CUng: Ngheo moi di m6i hen. Giau

49~

long hem giau cua.

- A man is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has. - Be in the gravy. - Have money to bum. - Have more gold I money than one can count. - He that has land has trouble at hand. - Friends are plenty when the purse is fulL - Poverty parts friends. - He dances well to whom fortune pipes.

494

Giau nUt d6 dO vach. CUng: Ho ra bac, khac ra tien,

495

Giau sang chua may ai nhan.

4"

Giau sang lam lai nha, Kh6 nam gifra cho chang rna nao nhin. Giau ve vang, sang lich su,

ke

497

491. kin (n) ho hang than thfch 494. gravy (n) ti~n khOng kiem 497. pipe (v) ca hat d6n chao

rna co

4_
499

93
Giau ve ban, sang ve vq. - A good wife is a good prize. - A life without a friend is a life without sun. - A friend is a present you giveyourself. - Cut off one's nose to spite one's face. - He that cannot beat the horse beats the saddle. - Lovers' quarrels are soon mended. - Lovers' tiffs are harmless. - 1he falling out of lovers is the renewing of love .. - Lover's not complete without a quarreL - Go purple (in the face) with rage. - Rob Peter to pay Paul. - Rob your belly to cover your back. - Hide one's light under a bushel.

Gian ca chem th6t.

500

Gi~n thl mang, lang thi thuong,

50.1

Gi~n tim mat,

soz

Giat gau va vai. Ciing: Gi~.t dau va dau tom,

ca

so~
504

Giau tai, Giau voi dun ra, Xem: Cai kim trong boc lau ngay cling

phai loi ra.

499. spite (v) choc tac

500. the falling out (n) sl! dii CQ

saddle (n) yen ngua tiff (n) sl,!'xfch mlch, b!t hoa

94
sos
Giau d6 hlm leo. -Everyone gives a push to a falling man. - Hit a man when he's down. - When a man is going down -hill, everyone will give him a push. - When the tree's fallen, everyone runs to it with his axe. - Get involved in some business for a share of profit. - A ragged coat may cover an honest man. - A gentleman keep; his integrity even

soc.
S0'7

Giay mau an phan,

Giay rach gift lay

Ie.

in poverty,

S08
S09

Giay trang rnuc den. Gieo gin g~t bao,

- In black and white. - Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. - We reap as we sow. - He, who sows the wind, will reap the whirlwind. - Break. a butterfly on/upon the wheel. - Use a steam- hammer to crack a nut. - Crush a fly with a steam - roller. - As the tree, so the fruit. - Like father, like son. - Such fruit, such

S10

Giet ga dung dao m6 trau,

su:

Gi6 nha ai quai nha nay.

tree:

505. go down - hill (idm) xu6ng d6e axe (n) cai riu 407. integrity (n) tfnh trung thuc, chinh true 409. whirlwind (n) con gi616c 410. crack (v) lam VO, kep vo steam -roller (n) xe Ian dLIOng

95
512

Oi6 chieu nao xoay chieu ay, Ciing: Chay buom xem gi6.

- To find out which way the wind blows. - To follow the crowd. - To see which way the cat jumps. - To swim with the tide / stream. - Trim your sails to-the wind. - If you laugh before breakfast, you'll cry before supper. - He who laughs today may weep tomorrow. - Laugh today and cry tomorrow. - Be drowned in tears. - Shed floods of tears. - Pour / throw cold water (on sth), - Be the very image / spit of one's father. - As like as two peas. - (As) like as peas in a pod. - Nothing to choose between them. - Long mint little dint. - Bell the cat (idm). - Carry the can (for sth) (idrn). - There is a time for all things.

5:1~

Gion cuoi, nroi kh6c.

5:14

Niroc mat tuon trao,

S:1S 4:1. 4:17

Giot chau Hi chao Ciing:

Gioi gao nuoc lanh. Gi6ng eha nhu due. Gi6ng nhau nhu hai giot mroc,

51. 5:19

Gic cao danh khe / Gio dau chiu bang. Gio nao viec nay.

se.

520

512. trim (v) xoay theo hirong gio

514. shed (v) trao ra 516. spit (0) mroc bQI 511_ pod (n) qua d~lI 518. mint (n) cay bac ha

dint (n) sec manh, vet lorn

96
SZI.

Gio tram phirong ngan ke. Cling: Xoay du tro. Gili' kin nhu bung. Cling: Khong moi noi mot loi,

- Pull all strings / wires. - Move heaven and earth. - Keep sth bottled up and tightly corked. - You can't get a word out of him. - Wild horses can't drag a word out of him. - Hold one's tongue. - Keep a still tongue in one's head. - Fall between two stools - Sit on the fence. - Serve two masters. - (In) broad daylight.

SH

SU

Gili' morn gili' mieng,

SZ4

Gili' thai do ba phai.

SZS

Gitta ban ngay ban mat.

Cling: Thanh thien bach nhat,

sz.

Go dung cira, Ciing: Tim dung t6 con chuon chuon, Go nham cira, Ciing: Hoi khong dung eho. Gop gio thanh bao.

- Take / get the right sow by the ear. - Take / get the wrong sow by the ear. - Come / get to the wrong shop. - Many a little makes a mickle.

SZ7

SZ8

522. drag (v) keo, mo, lay n6i 526. sow(n) Ion filii 528. mickle (n) sc hrong 1&0,nhieu,

11

ss,

Giri tn1ng cho ac. Cilng: 111<1 vao nao chuong cao

- Give the sheep in care of the wolf. gao

- Put the cat near the goldfish bowl - Set a wolf to keep the sheep.

- Set a fox to keep the geese.

530

Guom linh stit can con tranh, Binh huang dau va mieng sanh con thorn.

- A good name keeps its lustre in the dark. - True blue will never stain.

D
91

Ha mieng cho sung. Cling: Ha mieng cho ho.

- He who waits for dead men's shoes is in danger of going barefoot. - Wait until pigs may fly. - Remain idle and wait fO£the windfall. - People who live in glass houses should not throw stone. - The dog will not howl if you beat him with a bone. - Postpone the evil

S3S

Ha mieng mac quai.

An xoi chua ngong mieng.

533

Ciing:

H~ hoi phan giai,

Hai narn ro mum. Cilng:

hourI day.

534

Ro nhu ban ngay.

- (As) plain as a pikestaff. (idm) - (As) plain as the nose OIl one's face. - One chick keeps a hen busy.

DS

Hai Vrj chong son them dua con thanh bon,

530. lustre (n) ve dep, Sl! vi! vang 531. windfall (n) qua rung

98
S36
537

Hai fa tien.

- Coin money. (idm)

Hang sang chet

Ciing: 111q fen khong dao an trau, Nha vuan an cau sau,
~ Hanh pluic san se 13 hanh phiic

be chieu,

- The cobbler's wife is the worst shod.

- The only way on earth to

nhan doi,

multiply happiness is to divide it.

Hay an thi Ian vao bep, - He that will eat the kernel must crack the nut. Ciing: Muon an het phai dao giun. - He that would have eggs must Muon an sirn chin thi VaDrung endure the cackling of hens. xanh - He who would search for pearls must dive below. - One must take trouble to get profit. - He that would eat the fruit must climb the tree.
540

Hay, dO'cuoi cung rnoi biet,

Cling:

Hay, dO'cuoi cung sf: r5.

- AU is well that ends welL - In the evening one may praise the day. - Praise a fair day only at night. - That's good wisdom, which is wisdom in the end. - The end crowns the work.

536. coin (v) due tien 537. cobbler(n) thQ chua giay 539. kernel (n) hanh nhan, h~t 540.praise (v) ca ngoi

shod (v,pp) di giay cackling (n) tieng cue rae crown (v) holm thanh, ket tluic t6t dep

99
S4J.

Hay khong lay hen, sen khong lay

bun, Cung:

- A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

Hoa sen moe hili lilm, Tuy rang lam hip cung mam hoa sen. S42 Hay lam han hay

cat

noi,

- Actions speak louder than words. - Good words and no deeds.

543

Hay noi thi chang hay lam. Cilng: Nang thuyet bat nang hanh, Hay 11,[ giup minh roi troi se giiip cho. Heo chet khong so mroc sci.

544

- Help yourse1f and the heaven will help you. - He that is down need fear no fall. - Every man a little beyond himself is a fool. - Bite the hand that feeds one. - No money. no friends. - No longer pipe, no longer dance. - Not harm/hurt a fly.

545 54&
547 548 549 550

Het khon, don ra dai,

Het ren quen thay, Het tien tai, nhan nghia tan, Het xoi roi viec, Hi~n nhu but, CG.ng: Hien nhu CI,lC bot. He) voi bAn sung say,

5$1

- Much ado about nothing.

549.pipe (n) 6ng sao, ong tieu

100
SP Hoa co thai, gai co thl, Cting: Dim ba nhir canh hoa mal. No ra chi dtroc mot thai rna thoi, - Everything is good in its season. - The fairest rose at last is withered. - There is a time for everything. - All in good time. - The morning to the mountain. the evening to the fountain. - He that loves the tree loves the branch.

sn

Hoa thom, thorn la thorn lung, Thorn cay den re. ngiroi tr6ng

cung thorn,

SS4

HQa phuc khon luang.

- You never know your luck. - One never knows where one will gain and where one will lose. - Every man is the architect of his own fortune. - Misfortunes never come alone/lonely, - One misfortune comes on the back of another. - Flog a dead horse. (idrn) - Cast one's bread upon the waters.

SSS
55ft

Hoa phuc

a mlnh,

HQa vo dan chi.

ss,
SS8

Hoai cong phi sue. Hoai thoc nuoi eo rirng.

552. wither (v) heo kho 557. flog (v) qua! roi

101
55'

Hoang kim hac the tam. Ciing: Yang do nho long son.

- An open door may tempt a saint. - Money often unmakes the man who makes it. - Opportunity makes the thief. - A fair booty makes many a thief. - Learning is the eye of the mind. - Learning makes people wise, ignorance, otherwise. - We learn not at school but in life. - Learn sth by rote. (idrn) - To come/get to the wrong shop.

560

HQc thi sang, kh6ng hQCthl t6i. COng: Nhan bat hoc bat tri ly, HQCthay khong tay hoc ban, HQc vet. Hoi khong dung cho. Cling: Go nham cira, Hoi thay tu muon luge.

561

56Z 563

564 56S

- It's no use pumping a dry well.

H6 chet ve da, ngiroi ta chet ve - He that had an ill name is half tieng. hanged. H6n bay phach lac, Cling: So lfu ca lwJi. Hong nao - Have / with one's heart in one's mouth. co gai. - There is no rose without a thorn. - Beautifulwomenoftenhave many misfortunes.

5"

56,

rna chang

5"

Hong nhan da truan.

559. tempt (v) cam dO, quyen 560. ignorance: 51! ngu d6t
567. thorn (n) cai gai

ril

booty (n) chien lei pham otherwise (adv) : ngiroc lai

102
S69
S'70

Han hin mot cai dau. Hue dau V~lO Wang. Ciing: Da:m vao b! bong, Hum dO'chang an thit con. Hila nhang hila cuoi. Ciing: Hila htrou hila vUQl1.

- Be I stand head and shoulders above sb. - Bang one's head against a brick wall. - Dog does not eat dog. - Wolf never wars against wolf. - Promise the moon/earth. - Promises are like piecrust, made to be broken. - He that promises too much means nothing. - Least said, soonest mended. - Many speak much who cannot speak well. - Say nothing but think the more. - The less said, the better. - In name rather than in fact. - All that live must die. - Every man must carry his own cross. - Good wine needs no bush. - True coral needs no painter's brush. - Real talent needs no publicity. - Good ware will sell itself.

57:!

572

57:1

Huang nang thap nang khoi, ngiroi nang n6i nang 16i. Ciing: An tam thi het rnieng ngon, N6i lam thi het lai khon h6a r6. Hiru danh v6 tlurc, Huu sinh htru til. Htru than hihi kho, Hfru xa nr nhien huang. Cling: RuQUngon bat luan be sanh, Ao rach kheo va han lanh vung may.

574

575
576

577

577. coral{n) san ho

publicity(n) su rao hang, quang

CaD

103

I
578

fch

ky hai

nhan.

- It is an ill wind that blows nobody good. - It is an ill tum that does no good to anyone.

579

1m lang lIt dong

y.

- Silence gives / implies consent. - Silence is golden. - No wisdom like silence. - Not a breath is heard. - You can hear a pin drop. - Quiet as a mouse. - Keep as silent as the grave. - It is not the quantity that matters, but the quality. - Make a mountain out of a molehill.

580

1m lang Iii vang. 1m lang nhu tao

581

58Z 583

1m thin thit nhir thit nau dong,

it rna tinh.

584

ft xit fa nhieu.
Ci.1ng: CO it xit fa nhieu.

578. imply(v) ngu y 584. molehill(n) dlll do chuot dun len

1.
SIIS

Ke in 6c nguiri dO vo.

- Shouldering
SInS.

other people's

- Bearing sb's trouble on one's back. .. Ke cap b3 gia g@ nhau. - Diamond cuts diamond. - None cut the diamond but a diamond. - One has met his match . - There is snake in the grass. - A man of words and riot of deeds is like a garden full of weeds. - Between two evils 'tis not worth choosing. - Same thing only different. - It is six of one and half a dozen of the other.

..
., 5119
".

Ke

up a tan VOl nguoi.

nhu vuOn co dai,

Ke noi suong Ke tam lang

Ciing:

nguOi mra can,

<log cting ghe, b3 ding g6m.

Kc tham

an Uy rang dao huyet. - Gluttony kills more men than

the sword. - You dig your grave with your teeth.

SP 992

Ken ca chon

canh.

- To pick and choose.

KOO lui banh xe lich

su.

- To put

I set

back the clock.

590. gluttooy(n) th6i pham

an

105
593

Ke vai sat canh, Khac mau, tanh long. Khac nhau mot troi mot vue.

- Shoulder to shoulder. - Side by side. - You cannot get blood from stone. - Be as far removed as heaven from earth. - Be as far apart as heaven from earth. - Be as different as earth from the sky. - A honey tongue, a heart of gall. - The devil lurks behind the cross. - When the fox preaches, take care of your geese. - Put your hand no further than your sleeve will reach. - Love rounds square things, hatred squares round things. - Laugh, and they would laugh with you; weep, and you weep alone.

594

595

596

Khau phat tam xa. Cling: Mieng nam m6 bung b6 dao gam. Cling: Mieng them thot, da otngam, Kheo an thi no, kheo co thl am. Khi thuong cu au cling tron, khi ghet 16 bo hen cling meo, Khi vui thl tay vao, Den khi hoan nan thi nao thay
a1.

597

5_

599

vo

Ciing:

den,

Duoc thoi chia My chia ba, Thua thl phai ngira ngirc ra rna

595. removed (adj) khac biel 596. gall (D) mat preach(v) thuyet giao 597. sleeve (n) lay 60 599. weep (v) kh6c

lurkiv) rulp

106
600 Khinh (ai) nhu me. Ci1ng: Coi ai chang ra gl, Kh6 hen thi chang ai nhln, Den khi trang chin nghln nhan duyen, - Treat sb like dirt

I a dog.

601

do

- Nothing succeeds like success.

602

Kh6 ngtroi kh6 ta, d~ nguoi d~ tao Khoe nhir vam

- What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. - (As) strong as a horse / an ox. - A kindness is soon forgotten. - Vows made in storms are forgotten in calm. - The old cow thinks she was never a calf. - Kick away the ladder (by which one rose). - (As) dry as a bone.

40~ 604

I voi.

Khoi vongcong duoi,

Cling: Het ren, quen thay,

605 ft06

Kh6 nhir ngoi,

Kho tan cam lai. Xem: ill eire thai lai.

Khan dau den tre, khoe dau den gia. - No wise man ever wished to be younger. - There's safety in numbers.

607

608

Khan doc khong bang ng6c dan.

Khan lay ella che than, dai lay than che cua,

609

- Money is a good servant but a bad master.

602. gander (n) ngong due 604. vow (n) lui the nguyen