నిన్న చస్తే రేపటికి మూడు, నేడు చస్తే రేపటికి రెండు

ninna chaste repatiki mudu, nedu chaste repatiki rendu

Translation

If one died yesterday, it is three days by tomorrow; if one died today, it is two days by tomorrow.

Meaning

This proverb highlights how quickly time passes and how soon people are forgotten after death. It is used to express the transient nature of life or to mock someone who overestimates their importance, suggesting that life goes on regardless of an individual's presence.

Related Phrases

If you think of two for tomorrow, it becomes three by the day after.

This expression is used to describe how tasks, problems, or expenses tend to multiply and increase the longer they are postponed. It emphasizes the importance of punctuality and dealing with issues immediately before they grow more complex or burdensome.

Today's seed is tomorrow's tree

This proverb emphasizes that small actions, investments, or habits formed today will grow into significant results or consequences in the future. It is commonly used to highlight the importance of childhood education, early investments, or environmental conservation.

If one dies during the day, there is nothing for the mouth; if one dies at night, there is no lamp.

This proverb describes a state of extreme, wretched poverty where a family lacks even the most basic resources to perform funeral rites. It is used to highlight situations of utter destitution where someone has nothing to fall back on, regardless of the timing or circumstances of their hardship.

Why worry day and night that there is no food for tomorrow?

This expression advises against excessive worrying about the future or basic necessities that are not yet missing. It encourages living in the present and having faith instead of consuming oneself with anxiety over potential future scarcity. It is often used to comfort someone who is overthinking their financial or food security for the coming days.

If he dies in the day, there is no rice to put in his mouth; if he dies in the night, there is no oil for a lamp. Rice is put into the mouth of the dead at the funeral ceremony. Said of a miserably poor person.

This proverb is used to describe an extreme state of poverty or a situation of absolute misfortune where one lacks even the most basic resources for necessary rituals. It highlights a state of utter helplessness where no matter when or how a problem arises, the means to address it are completely absent.

If one dies during the day there is no wick, if one dies at night there is no lamp.

This proverb describes a state of extreme poverty or a sequence of unfortunate timings where basic necessities are unavailable regardless of the situation. It is used to highlight a person's miserable condition where they lack resources for even essential rites or survival, no matter when or how the need arises.

Today's child is tomorrow's father

This expression highlights the cycle of life and the continuity of generations. It emphasizes that the way a child is raised today determines the kind of parent and leader they will become in the future, suggesting that the future of society rests on the upbringing of its children.

Do not postpone today's work to tomorrow.

This is a common proverb advising against procrastination. It emphasizes the importance of completing tasks promptly and managing time efficiently rather than delaying them unnecessarily.

If you strike fire, it splits into two, but if you strike water, does it split into two?

This expression emphasizes the unbreakable strength of unity and blood relations. Just as water cannot be divided by striking it with a stick, family bonds or deep friendships cannot be permanently severed by external interference or petty quarrels. It is used to describe things that are inseparable.

If you die to-day, to-morrow will be two. i. e. the second day, on which milk will be poured on his bones, accord- ing to custom, after his body has been burnt.

This proverb is used to highlight the transient nature of life and the rapid passage of time. It implies that once a person is gone, the world moves on quickly, and their death soon becomes a thing of the past. It is often used to counsel against over-thinking about the future or to emphasize that time waits for no one.