బొగ్గును పాలతో కడిగితే నలుపు పోతుందా?

boggunu palato kadigite nalupu potunda?

Translation

Will the blackness go away if you wash charcoal with milk?

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe an inherent nature or character trait that cannot be changed regardless of how much effort is put into refining or cleaning it. It is often applied to people with deep-seated negative traits or stubborn habits.

Related Phrases

Time passes away, but the word remains.

This proverb emphasizes the lasting impact of one's words. While time inevitably moves forward and situations change, the promises made or the words spoken (whether kind or hurtful) stay in people's memories and hold permanent value or consequences.

Time passes, but the word remains.

This expression emphasizes the lasting impact of one's words compared to the fleeting nature of time. It is used to remind someone to be careful with their speech or promises, as people will remember what was said long after the moment has passed.

If you burn hair will it become charcoal ? Vain economy.

This expression is used to describe a futile or impossible task. It implies that certain actions will never yield the desired or expected result because the nature of the material or situation doesn't allow for it. Just as burning hair produces ash and a foul smell rather than useful charcoal, some efforts are simply a waste of time.

If you let a tree grow old, will it break if you pinch it?

This proverb emphasizes that bad habits, problems, or children's misbehavior should be corrected when they are small or in their early stages. Once they grow strong or become deep-rooted over time, they become impossible to control or eliminate.

Will a snake bite go away if wiped with a saree?

This proverb is used to emphasize that serious problems or deep-seated issues cannot be solved with superficial or trivial remedies. Just as the venom of a snake bite cannot be removed by simply wiping the skin with a piece of cloth, complex challenges require appropriate and effective actions rather than mere symbolic gestures.

Will an unexpected husband even dust the sand off your back?

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is not committed or is only temporarily involved in a task will not provide even the smallest help or care. It implies that if there is no genuine bond or responsibility, one cannot expect any support or maintenance from that person.

Will bad luck vanish just by going to a neighboring village?

Changing locations or moving to a different place does not necessarily solve one's problems if they are inherent or caused by poor luck/decisions. It highlights that destiny or the consequences of one's actions follow them wherever they go, and running away is not a solution to fundamental misfortune.

If you burn hair, will it become charcoal?

This proverb is used to indicate that certain things or people cannot be transformed into something valuable, no matter how much effort is put into changing them. Just as burning hair results in ash and a foul smell rather than useful charcoal, some base natures or useless materials cannot be turned into something productive.

If the almanacs are lost, will the stars disappear?

This proverb is used to convey that truth or reality does not depend on documentation or records. Even if the books (panchangams) containing astronomical data are lost, the stars in the sky remain. It suggests that fundamental facts remain unchanged regardless of whether we have the means to track or prove them at a given moment.

There is no love in harlots or whiteness in coals.

This proverb is used to indicate that certain things are fundamentally impossible or non-existent by nature. Just as charcoal can never be white, the affection of a professional seductress (in a historical context) was considered transactional rather than genuine. It is used to warn someone against being deceived by superficial displays of affection or believing in something that is contrary to its inherent nature.