మున్నూరు శిఖలైనా కూడవచ్చును కానీ మూడు కొప్పులు కూడరాదు

munnuru shikhalaina kudavachchunu kani mudu koppulu kudaradu

Translation

Three hundred men's hair tufts can come together, but three women's hair buns cannot.

Meaning

This proverb highlights the difficulty of achieving harmony or cooperation among a small group of women compared to a large group of men. It is often used to describe situations where constant bickering or differences in opinion among a few women prevent a consensus or peaceful environment, suggesting that their temperaments or domestic rivalries are harder to reconcile than the collective will of many men.

Related Phrases

Thirty-six loose hairs can come together, but three buns (braids) cannot.

This proverb is used to describe the difficulty of achieving harmony among women or strong-willed individuals in a single household. It suggests that while many men (represented by loose hair) might reach an agreement or coexist easily, even a small number of women (represented by tied buns/hairstyles) will have conflicting opinions or friction, making it hard for them to get along peacefully.

Thinking it a rope, you should not take it up and throw it away; thinking it a snake you should not step over it.

This expression describes a state of extreme doubt or a situation that requires immense caution. It is used when a problem or object is ambiguous—where treating it lightly (like a rope) could be dangerous if it's actually a threat, but fearing it excessively (like a snake) prevents progress. It highlights the dilemma of uncertainty.

A very difficult person to deal with.

Even if there are five top-knots (men), there is no problem; but if three buns (women) gather, it is a ruin for the religion/order.

This proverb suggests that men can often coexist or work together without much drama, whereas a gathering of women (symbolized by hair buns) might lead to gossip, disagreements, or complications that disrupt the harmony of a group. It is used to caution against the potential for discord when a small group of people known for talking gather together.

You can raise a snake by feeding it milk, but you should never trust a woman.

This is a traditional, albeit misogynistic, Telugu proverb used to caution against placing absolute trust in a woman's intentions or loyalty. It suggests that even the most dangerous creature (a snake) is more predictable than the nature of a woman. It is often cited in old literature or dramatic contexts to warn about betrayal.

Three hundred Śikhas (i. e. men ) may come together, but three Koppus (i. e. women ) should not get together. Śikha is the top-lock worn by men and Koppu is a woman's chignon.

This proverb highlights the difficulty of achieving harmony or agreement among women living together. It suggests that while a large group of men (represented by 'shikha') can coexist peacefully, even a small group of women (represented by 'koppu') often struggle to avoid conflict or disagreement due to varying opinions and temperaments.

You can milk down a Mânika, but you cannot put up a Chiṭṭi. Mânika and Chiṭṭi are measures. One of the former equals 16 of the latter.

This proverb is used to emphasize that once a word is spoken or a secret is leaked, it is impossible to take it back or undo the damage, no matter how small it was. It highlights the importance of being careful with one's speech and actions because while it is easy to release something, it is impossible to restore the original state.

Stubborn Shikhandi

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely stubborn, obstinate, and refuses to listen to reason or change their mind. It combines 'Mondi' (stubborn) with 'Shikhandi' (a character from the Mahabharata known for being unshakeable in their purpose), signifying someone who stands their ground to a fault regardless of the consequences or arguments presented.

Three hundred male tufts can coexist, but three female buns cannot.

This traditional proverb suggests that while a large number of men (symbolized by 'shikha' or tufts) can work together or live in harmony, even a small number of women (symbolized by 'koppu' or hair buns) often find it difficult to coexist without conflict or disagreements. It is typically used to remark on domestic friction or the perceived difficulty of managing multiple women in a single household.

Even crows do not touch the food of a goldsmith.

This expression is used to describe an extremely stingy or miserly person. It suggests that a person is so greedy or manipulative (traditionally associated with the stereotype of goldsmiths skimming off gold) that their food or wealth is considered cursed or tainted, to the point that even scavengers like crows would avoid it.

If the wife is steady, the farm is steady.

This proverb emphasizes the central role of a woman in managing a household and its prosperity. It means that if a wife is disciplined, hardworking, and manages the home well, the family's assets and livelihood (symbolized by the 'farm') will also be stable and successful.