కోడలు నలుపు అయితే, కులమంతా నలుపు.

kodalu nalupu ayite, kulamanta nalupu.

Translation

If the daughter-in-law be black, the whole family will be blackened. i. e. a bad daughter-in-law will bring disgrace on her husband's family.

Meaning

This proverb reflects traditional social biases where the qualities or perceived flaws of a new entrant (the daughter-in-law) are unfairly attributed to the reputation or lineage of the entire family. It is often used to describe how a single person's traits or actions are sometimes used by society to judge an entire community or group.

Related Phrases

Spicy chili paste for a scraped-out morsel of food.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person is extremely meticulous or demanding even when dealing with something very small, insignificant, or leftover. It highlights the tendency to fuss over trivial matters or to be overly particular about something that doesn't warrant such attention.

Musk is black, and sesame seed cake is also black.

This expression highlights that things which appear identical on the surface can have vastly different intrinsic values. Just as expensive musk and cheap sesame residue look similar because of their color, one cannot judge the quality or worth of something based solely on its external appearance.

Black is Narayanamurthy (Lord Vishnu).

This expression is used to remark that dark skin or the color black is auspicious and divine, referring to Lord Vishnu (Narayana) who is traditionally depicted with a dark complexion. It is often said to challenge colorism or to compliment someone with a dark skin tone.

Two blacks cannot come together to make one white

This proverb is the Telugu equivalent of 'Two wrongs don't make a right.' It suggests that combining two negative actions, lies, or mistakes will not result in a positive outcome or the truth.

If the daughter-in-law is dark-skinned, does the entire lineage become dark?

This proverb is used to criticize the act of judging an entire family or group based on the perceived physical flaws or mistakes of a single individual (specifically a new entrant like a daughter-in-law). It highlights that one person's traits do not define or diminish the status of the whole collective.

No matter how many days you wash a rat's skin, it remains black and will never turn white.

This proverb is used to describe an individual's inherent nature or character. It suggests that a person's basic personality, especially if it is flawed or wicked, cannot be changed by external efforts, advice, or superficial improvements. It is similar to the English expression 'A leopard cannot change its spots'.

Black reveals four curves, while red hides seven curves.

This traditional Telugu proverb highlights the visual properties of colors in relation to physical appearance. It suggests that darker colors (black) tend to emphasize flaws, bends, or physical imperfections in an object or person, whereas brighter colors (specifically red) can mask or hide many more imperfections, making things look more attractive or seamless than they actually are.

If the cow is black, is the milk also black?

This proverb is used to emphasize that external appearance does not define internal quality or character. Just as a black cow still yields white milk, a person's outward look or status does not dictate their inner worth or the value of their contribution.

If the clouds are black, will the rainwater be black?

This proverb is used to illustrate that the source or external appearance of something does not necessarily define the quality or essence of the outcome. Just as dark clouds produce clear water, a person's humble origins or outward appearance do not dictate their character or the value of their work.

The crow is black when it is born, and black when it is grown.

This expression is used to describe something or someone that remains unchanged regardless of time or circumstances. It implies that certain inherent traits, habits, or characters are permanent and will not change as one grows or matures. It is often used to refer to people who do not learn from experience or who maintain their original nature (often a negative one) forever.

What's bred in the bone will never be out of the flesh. The wolf changes his hair but not his nature. (Latina.)!