చదువుకు ముదురు, సాముకు లేత

chaduvuku muduru, samuku leta

Translation

Advanced in studies, tender in physical combat

Meaning

This proverb describes a person who is intellectually mature or advanced for their age but physically young or inexperienced in physical arts and combat. It is often used to characterize someone who excels in academics but lacks physical prowess or experience in manual skills.

Related Phrases

The wife should be young, and the seedlings should be old.

This traditional proverb offers advice on two different aspects of life: agriculture and marriage. It suggests that for a successful harvest, seedlings (naru) should be well-matured before transplantation, whereas, according to traditional social norms of the time, it was believed that a younger wife would better adapt to a new household.

Old sapling for Brinjal, young sapling for Banana.

This is an agricultural proverb used to describe the ideal stage for transplanting different crops. It explains that brinjal (eggplant) thrives when a more mature sapling is planted, whereas banana plants are best started from young, tender shoots. It is used metaphorically to highlight that different tasks or people require different conditions or stages of maturity to succeed.

The cattle are young, and the crop is mature.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where things are perfectly timed or well-suited for a specific purpose. Just as young cattle have the strength and appetite to graze, and a mature crop is ready to be harvested or consumed, it signifies an ideal state of readiness or a favorable coincidence where resources meet the need.

No education, no prayers, but offspring in abundance.

This proverb is used to mock someone who lacks knowledge, discipline, or productive skills but is highly successful at reproducing or multiplying problems. It highlights a lack of responsibility or intellectual pursuit while focusing only on basic biological or unproductive aspects of life.

[He has] no learning and [says] no prayers but [has] nuiserous issue. Said of an ignorant, irreligious, sensual man.

This expression is used to describe someone who lacks education, culture, or professional discipline, yet excels in producing children or multiplying problems without the means to support them. It highlights a lack of responsibility or foresight in one's lifestyle.

Learning a limited education and perishing within those limits

This expression refers to individuals who possess shallow or incomplete knowledge and mistakenly believe it is absolute. Their pride or reliance on this limited understanding eventually leads to their downfall. It is used to caution against the dangers of incomplete learning and intellectual arrogance.

Does death have old or young?

This expression means that death is inevitable and does not discriminate based on age. It is used to convey that both the young and the old are subject to mortality, often said when a young person passes away unexpectedly.

The wife should be young, and the seedlings should be aged.

This proverb highlights traditional agricultural and social wisdom. In farming, seedlings (naru) are stronger and more likely to survive if they are sufficiently aged before transplantation. Socially, it reflects the traditional preference for a younger wife to ensure a long life together and a growing family. It is used to describe choosing things at their most ideal stage for success.

Eggplant should be old, and Paddy should be young.

This is an agricultural proverb indicating the ideal stages for transplantation. Eggplant (brinjal) seedlings should be mature/sturdy before being replanted, whereas paddy (rice) seedlings should be young and tender for the best crop yield.

Crops should be mature, while cattle should be young.

This is a traditional agricultural proverb. It means that crops (like paddy) yield better when they are fully matured and ripe, whereas livestock or cattle are most productive and useful when they are young and energetic. It highlights the ideal states for different assets in farming.