కాంతను కనకాన్ని కోరనిదెవరు?
kantanu kanakanni koranidevaru?
Who does not desire a woman and gold?
This expression highlights the universal human attraction towards physical beauty (desire) and material wealth (gold/money). It is often used to suggest that it is human nature to be tempted by these two elements, though it can also be used as a cautionary remark regarding the primary sources of human attachment or downfall.
Related Phrases
ఇన్ని కంతులు కోశానుగాని, నా కంతి అంత నొప్పి మరేదీ లేదు
inni kantulu koshanugani, na kanti anta noppi maredi ledu
I have operated on many tumors, but none was as painful as my own.
This expression is used to describe a situation where a person who helps others solve their problems or treats others' suffering finds it hardest to deal with their own personal pain or issues. It highlights that personal suffering is always felt more acutely than the professional or objective handling of others' problems.
అంతా కంత
anta kanta
All of it is just a hole/gap
This expression is used to describe a situation where there is a total loss, or when something is completely hollow, empty, or useless despite appearances. It implies that everything has gone down the drain or that the entirety of a matter results in nothingness.
ఒకని ఆలి ఒకని కన్నతల్లి.
okani ali okani kannatalli.
One's wife is another's mother.
This proverb emphasizes respect and moral conduct towards women. It suggests that every woman should be treated with the same respect one gives to their own mother, highlighting that a woman who is a wife to someone is essentially a mother figure to others in society.
అన్నాలన్నీ సున్నాలు, అప్పాలన్నీ కప్పాలు
annalanni sunnalu, appalanni kappalu
Let all your rice be chunam and all your cakes frogs ! A certain sage was, on account of his eccentricities, treated as a crazy fellow and not received into society. On one occasion, irritated by being refused admittance to an entertainment, he uttered the above imprecation which to the consternation of the assembled company took effect. They begged his pardon, whereupon he restored in the same miraculous manner the chunam into rice and the frogs into cakes ! The power acquired by austerities.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is extremely ungrateful or dismissive of the food and hospitality provided to them. It suggests that despite being fed well, the person treats the main meals as nothing (zeros) and views the snacks or treats as a burden or tax (tributes) rather than a kind gesture.
పటమట కొరడు వేస్తే పాడుగుంటన్నీ నిండును
patamata koradu veste paduguntanni nindunu
If a rainbow appears in the west, all the ruined ponds will be filled.
This is a traditional agricultural proverb or 'Gidugu' used to predict heavy rainfall. It suggests that a rainbow appearing in the western sky (usually during the evening) is a sign of an impending storm or heavy downpour that will be sufficient to fill even the most neglected or dried-up pits and ponds.
ఒకే కోకిల వసంతాన్ని కొనిరాదు.
oke kokila vasantanni koniradu.
A single cuckoo does not bring the spring.
This proverb means that one person or a single small sign cannot represent the whole situation or achieve a massive change alone. It is used to emphasize that collective effort or multiple signs are needed to confirm a significant event or result, similar to the English proverb 'One swallow doesn't make a summer.'
ఇస్తానన్న వాణ్ణి, వస్తానన్న దాన్ని నమ్మరాదు
istananna vanni, vastananna danni nammaradu
Do not believe the man who says he will give, nor the woman who says she will come.
This proverb warns against relying on verbal promises or superficial assurances regarding material gain or romantic interest. It suggests that people often make empty promises to please others or to get out of a situation, and one should only believe actions rather than words.
అయ్యవారి గుర్రానికి అన్నీ అవలక్షణాలే
ayyavari gurraniki anni avalakshanale
Every single trait of the teacher's horse is a bad omen.
This expression is used to describe a person or a situation where everything is flawed or full of defects. It originated from a story where a poor teacher's horse had no redeeming qualities, and it is now applied to people who possess only negative characteristics or projects that are doomed due to multiple failures.
రాగల వసంతాన్ని కాకులు ఆపగలవా?
ragala vasantanni kakulu apagalava?
Can crows stop the incoming spring?
This expression suggests that inevitable progress, positive change, or the course of destiny cannot be halted by petty critics or insignificant obstacles. Just as crows cawing cannot prevent the arrival of spring, small-minded people cannot stop a great event from happening.
వ్రాసేవాడిని, కోసేవాడిని, గీసేవాడిని నమ్మరాదు.
vrasevadini, kosevadini, gisevadini nammaradu.
You should not trust a man who writes, cuts, or pares. i. e. a village accountant, a butcher, or a toddy-drawer.
This proverb warns against trusting individuals from professions historically associated with manipulation, cruelty, or deception. In this context: the 'writer' (clerk/accountant) could manipulate records, the 'butcher' deals in death/slaughter, and the 'toddy-tapper' could dilute drinks or manipulate measurements. It is generally used to advise caution when dealing with people whose livelihoods depend on cleverness or cold-heartedness.
Put a miller, a weaver, and a tailor in a bag and shake them, the first that comes out will be a thief.