చిమడకే, చిమడకే ఓ చింతకాయా, నీవెంత చిమిడినా నీ పులుసు పోదు

chimadake, chimadake o chintakaya, niventa chimidina ni pulusu podu

Translation

Do not overcook, oh tamarind; no matter how much you are boiled, your sourness will not leave you.

Meaning

This proverb refers to an inherent nature or a deep-rooted trait that cannot be changed regardless of circumstances or external pressure. It is often used to describe people who, despite facing hardships or being 'boiled' by life's challenges, remain true to their core character (for better or worse) or to point out that some things are simply immutable.

Related Phrases

What does an ant know about the pain in the testicles?

This is a raw and blunt folk expression used to describe a situation where an outsider cannot possibly understand or empathize with the intense personal suffering or specific problems of another person. It highlights that someone who is not experiencing the hardship (or is the cause of it, like an ant bite) is oblivious to the actual depth of the victim's agony.

The lady who had never seen tamarinds asked if they were sickles upon seeing them.

This proverb describes someone who is completely ignorant of common, everyday things but tries to act sophisticated or superior. It is used to mock people who lack practical knowledge or those who make ridiculous assumptions about simple matters due to their lack of exposure.

Don't boil, don't boil, O garlick! However much you boil, your smell will not go. Said to an envious person, who is said to burn inwardly.

This proverb is used to describe a person's inherent nature or bad character. It suggests that no matter how much someone tries to change their outward appearance or refine themselves through education or status, their basic negative traits or humble/crude origins will eventually manifest. It is often used to criticize someone whose fundamental flaws remain despite external improvements.

The tamarind may be dried, but it loses not its acidity. Retaining vigour of mind though weakened in body.

This proverb is used to describe a person who has lost their wealth, status, or power but still retains their old ego, arrogance, or habits. Just as the acidic quality remains in tamarind even after it dries up, some people refuse to change their stubborn nature despite a change in their circumstances.

Thicker than tamarind stew, thinner than raw tamarind soup.

This expression is used to describe something that is inconsistent, vague, or lacks a definite shape or standard. It refers to a situation or a person's behavior that is confusing because it fits neither one extreme nor the other, often used sarcastically to point out poor quality or lack of clarity.

If you embrace fire, can you avoid getting burnt?

This proverb is used to warn that one must face the inevitable consequences of their dangerous or foolish actions. If you knowingly involve yourself in a volatile situation or bad company, you cannot complain when you get hurt.

An ant's body is a burden to the ant, and an elephant's body is a burden to the elephant.

This proverb suggests that everyone has their own set of problems and responsibilities proportional to their status or size. What may seem small to others can be a significant burden to the person experiencing it. It is used to remind people that we shouldn't dismiss others' struggles just because they seem minor compared to ours, as everyone carries their own weight.

Do not boil, do not boil, O onion; no matter how much you boil, your smell will not go away.

This proverb is used to describe a person with an inherently bad character or deep-seated flaws that cannot be changed regardless of their efforts to appear better or the external transformations they undergo. Just as an onion retains its pungent smell even after cooking, some people's basic nature remains the same.

"No matter" said one, "Then if there's no tamarind, there's no acid" said the other. There is here a pun upon the word Chinta which means both "thought, sorrow" and also "tamarinds."

This is a pun on the Telugu word 'Chinta' which means both 'worry' and 'tamarind'. It is used humorously to describe a situation where someone says they have no worries, but in reality, they are missing a basic necessity or the very thing that gives life flavor. It highlights that being completely free of 'concerns' might sometimes mean lacking something essential.

The elephant's load is heavy for the elephant, the ant's load is heavy for the ant.

This proverb highlights that burden and struggle are relative to one's capacity. What might seem like a small problem to a powerful person can be an overwhelming challenge for someone less resourceful. It teaches empathy and the understanding that everyone faces difficulties proportional to their own strength or status.