అన్నం తిన్నవాడు, తన్నులు తిన్నవాడు మర్చిపోరు
annam tinnavadu, tannulu tinnavadu marchiporu
The one who ate food and the one who received beatings will never forget.
This proverb highlights how human memory is deeply impacted by both kindness and suffering. A person will always remember the one who helped them during hunger (gratitude), just as someone will never forget the person who caused them physical or emotional pain (resentment).
Related Phrases
ఉప్పు తిన్నవాడు నీళ్లు తాగుతాడు.
uppu tinnavadu nillu tagutadu.
The man that has eaten salt drinks water.
This proverb functions as a metaphor for the law of karma and accountability. It means that every action has a consequence, and one must eventually face the results of their deeds. Just as eating salt inevitably leads to thirst, committing an act (especially a wrong or illegal one) will inevitably lead to its natural repercussions or punishment.
ఆవాలు తిన్నమ్మకు యావ, ఉలవలు తిన్నమ్మకు ఉలుకు
avalu tinnammaku yava, ulavalu tinnammaku uluku
A woman who eats mustard seeds has desire; a woman who eats horse gram has a startle.
This proverb describes how different habits, foods, or actions produce specific physiological or psychological reactions. It is often used metaphorically to suggest that a person's behavior or guilt is a direct result of their secret actions—specifically, if someone has done something wrong (eaten horse gram which causes gas/discomfort), they will be jumpy or 'startled' when the topic comes up.
కొన్నవాడే తిన్నవాడు.
konnavade tinnavadu.
He that ate is he that bought. If you want any thing, you must pay for it. Nothing is had for nothing. (French.)
This expression emphasizes that the person who pays for something or takes the risk of purchasing it is the one who truly enjoys the benefits or consequences of it. In a broader sense, it suggests that ownership or direct investment leads to the right of consumption or usage.
అన్నం తిన్నవాడు, తన్నులు తిన్నవాడు మర్చిపోడు
annam tinnavadu, tannulu tinnavadu marchipodu
The one who ate food and the one who received kicks will never forget.
This proverb highlights that some experiences leave an indelible mark on a person's memory. It specifically refers to acts of extreme kindness (giving food to the hungry) and acts of extreme humiliation or physical pain (getting beaten). Both the person who was helped in their time of need and the person who was wronged/punished will remember those moments forever.
ఏమి పెట్టుక తిన్నావంటే, ఆకలెట్టుక తిన్నానందట
emi pettuka tinnavante, akalettuka tinnanandata
When asked what she ate with, she replied she ate with hunger.
This expression highlights that hunger is the best sauce. It implies that when someone is genuinely hungry, the specific side dishes or quality of food do not matter as much as the satisfaction of eating. It is used to describe a situation where necessity or intense desire makes even the simplest thing seem wonderful.
కొన్నవాడి కన్న తిన్నవాడే మేలు
konnavadi kanna tinnavade melu
The man that ate, was better off than the man that bought the things [ and did not use them ].
This proverb suggests that the person who actually enjoys or consumes a resource is in a better position than the one who merely spent money to acquire it but didn't get to use it. It is often used to highlight that true value lies in experience and consumption rather than just possession or investment.
ముంజలు తిన్నవానికంటే, మోరులు తిన్నవానికే తంటా.
munjalu tinnavanikante, morulu tinnavanike tanta.
The one who ate the palm fibers faces more trouble than the one who ate the palm fruits.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where an innocent person or a person who only handled the leftovers/waste of an act gets into more trouble or faces more blame than the person who actually enjoyed the primary benefit. It highlights the irony of unfair consequences.
తిన్నవాడే మన్నవాడు, మన్నవాడే మహారాజు.
tinnavade mannavadu, mannavade maharaju.
He that ate prospered, and he that prospered became a Ma- hârâja.
This proverb emphasizes that health is the greatest wealth. It means that a person who can eat well (is healthy and has sufficient resources) is the one who can endure or live long, and such a healthy person is as happy and powerful as a king. It is often used to highlight the importance of nutrition and physical well-being over material riches.
ఉలవలు తిన్నమ్మకు ఉలుకు, సజ్జలు తిన్నమ్మకు సలుకు.
ulavalu tinnammaku uluku, sajjalu tinnammaku saluku.
The one who ate horse gram startles; the one who ate pearls (millet) remains steady.
This proverb refers to how guilt or hidden secrets affect a person's behavior. Eating horse gram (ulavalu) causes flatulence, making the person jumpy or 'startle' (uluku) in discomfort. In contrast, millet is easier to digest. It is used to describe a situation where a guilty person behaves restlessly or gives themselves away through their nervous reactions, while an innocent person remains calm.
అన్నవారు బాగున్నారు, పడ్డవారు బాగున్నారు, నడుమ ఉన్నవారే నలిగి చచ్చారు.
annavaru bagunnaru, paddavaru bagunnaru, naduma unnavare naligi chachcharu.
Those who said it are fine, those who fell are fine, but those in the middle were crushed to death.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where two opposing parties involved in a conflict or a transaction remain unscathed, while the innocent intermediaries or bystanders suffer the most. It highlights the plight of the middleman or the common person caught in the crossfire of others' actions.