Mother

This proverb highlights the profound difference between superficial sympathy and true maternal grief. While an outsider (the one who hears the news) might feel a fleeting pain or 'burn' on the surface (the back), the biological mother (the one who gave birth) feels the intense, internal agony of a 'burning' womb/stomach. It is used to express that only those directly affected by a tragedy can truly understand its depth.

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This proverb describes a helpless or pathetic situation where the person who usually manages things (represented by the mother) is either too old, sick, or incapable, and there is no alternative support system available. It is used to highlight a state of total neglect or lack of resources.

This proverb suggests that no one can care for or love a person more than their natural guardian or the person most closely responsible for them. It is used to express skepticism when a stranger or an outsider shows more concern or emotion than a person's own family or close relatives, often implying that such external affection might be insincere.

This expression highlights the importance of a woman (wife/mother) in maintaining the harmony, prosperity, and happiness of a family. Just as a lamp dispels darkness, a virtuous woman is seen as the light that guides and sustains the household.

This proverb emphasizes that no matter how powerful, wealthy, or successful a person becomes in the world, their status remains the same within the family, especially towards their mother. It is used to teach humility and to remind people that their roots and primary relationships remain unchanged by worldly achievements.

This proverb highlights two fundamental realities: Truth is as powerful and piercing as fire, capable of exposing anything and burning through lies. Water is compared to a mother because it is essential for life, nurturing, and possesses a calming, life-giving nature. It is used to emphasize the importance of honesty and the sustaining power of nature.

This proverb emphasizes the unwavering reliability and nurturing nature of one's mother and the land (earth). It suggests that respecting and depending on these two fundamental sources of life ensures a person's well-being and success, as they never betray those who believe in them.

This expression describes a dog-in-the-manger situation where someone neither helps you themselves nor allows you to seek help or opportunities from other sources. It is used to criticize people who obstruct others' progress while providing no support of their own.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of balance and security. Just as a bowstring is secured at two ends to function properly, a mother is often considered 'complete' or secure when she has at least two children, ensuring that the lineage continues or that the children have companionship and mutual support.

This proverb emphasizes that even if a biological mother is strict or harsh, her love is genuine and beneficial for the child, just as plain rice is nutritious and sustaining even without side dishes. It suggests that basic, essential things are superior to fancy alternatives.

This proverb highlights that no one can have more patience, love, or concern for someone than their own mother (or the person most naturally responsible for them). It is used to suggest that if the person most invested in a situation cannot tolerate something, it is unrealistic to expect a secondary or hired person to do so.

This proverb reflects the traditional roles in a family. When a mother passes away, the emotional bond and the connection to that generation/lineage often weakens or ends because she is the emotional glue. When a father passes away, the legal or financial obligations and 'debts' associated with his authority are considered fulfilled or settled. It is used to describe the profound changes in family dynamics after the loss of parents.

This expression emphasizes the importance of gratitude and affection towards one's mother. It suggests that a person who lacks the basic emotion or decency to address their mother with love is as hollow and useless as a hole in the ground from which clay has been extracted.

This proverb contrasts the nature of love and expectations. A mother's concern is primarily for her child's well-being and whether they have eaten (the stomach), reflecting selfless care. In contrast, a wife is traditionally depicted as looking at the 'back' to see what her husband has brought home (burdens or earnings), symbolizing the practical expectations and responsibilities within a marriage.

This proverb describes a double standard or partiality. It refers to a situation where a person criticizes or sees faults in others (comparing their gaze to painful spears) while viewing their own people's similar actions or flaws as harmless, soft, or pleasant (like light popped grains).

This proverb highlights the vulnerability and neglect a child might face without a mother's protection. It is used to express that someone without a primary guardian or advocate is often mistreated or exploited by others.

This proverb is typically used in the context of cattle or livestock, implying that if one cheats the mother (e.g., by not feeding it well or milking it excessively), the offspring will inevitably suffer. Metaphorically, it means that if you neglect the source or the root of something, the result or the future generation will be flawed or deprived.

This expression highlights the importance of self-control and maintaining one's dignity or authority. It suggests that if a person (represented here by a mother) fails to conduct themselves with composure or discipline, they will lose the respect of those even closest or subordinate to them (represented by children), leading to ridicule.

This proverb is used to convey that one must ask or voice their needs to get what they want. In this world, even those who love you most might not realize your requirements unless you express them or struggle for them.

This proverb suggests that offspring will naturally inherit the traits, habits, or path of their parents. It is often used to imply that children inevitably follow in their parents' footsteps, whether for better or worse, similar to how a calf follows the furrow made by the mother cow.

She hath a mark after her mother. As the old cock crows, so crows the young. " As is the mother so is her daughter." Ezekiel xvi. 44.