నీరు చొరక లోతు నికరము తెలియదు

niru choraka lotu nikaramu teliyadu

Translation

One cannot know the exact depth of the water without entering it.

Meaning

This expression means that you cannot understand the true nature, difficulty, or complexity of a situation until you personally get involved or experience it. It is used to suggest that practical experience is necessary to judge the reality of a matter, rather than making assumptions from the outside.

Related Phrases

The depth of a good person and the depth of an abandoned pit cannot be known.

This proverb suggests that just as it is difficult to measure the depth of an overgrown or abandoned pit, it is equally difficult to fathom the true intentions, thoughts, or internal nature of a seemingly quiet or good person. It is often used to remind others that appearances can be deceptive and that calm people often possess deep, complex characters or hidden strengths.

One does not know which snake lives in which anthill.

This expression is used to convey that one cannot judge or predict someone's potential, true nature, or hidden talents based on their appearance or background. It is also used as a warning that danger or unexpected outcomes can arise from seemingly ordinary places or people.

Until it hits the head, one knows nothing.

This proverb is used to describe a person who does not understand the severity or consequences of a situation until they personally suffer from it or until the problem becomes unavoidable. It is similar to the English expression 'to learn the hard way.'

On account of excessive fat, the bend/curve is not noticeable

This expression is used to describe a situation where a person is so consumed by pride, arrogance, or their own status that they fail to recognize their own flaws or the subtle changes around them. It can also refer to how excessive wealth or power can mask underlying problems or lack of character.

He said, 'You look as big as a buffalo, yet you don't know the scorpion charm?'

This is a sarcastic expression used to mock someone who possesses great physical size or strength but lacks basic common sense or a specific simple skill. It highlights the irony of having a large stature without the expected mental capability or practical knowledge to handle a small problem.

The depth is not known until one enters (the water).

This expression means that one cannot truly understand the complexity or difficulty of a situation until they are personally involved or have started the task. It is used to advise against making superficial judgments or to explain that practical experience is necessary to grasp the reality of a problem.

One does not realize the bad smell of one's own mouth.

This proverb is used to point out that people are often unaware of their own flaws, mistakes, or annoying habits, even though they are obvious to everyone else around them. It is similar to the English concept of 'being blind to one's own faults.'

Without eating you can't tell the taste; without going down [ into the water ] you can't know the depth. The proof of a pudding is in the eating.

This proverb emphasizes that practical experience is essential to truly understand or judge something. Just as you cannot judge a dish without tasting it or know the depth of a pond without stepping into it, you cannot understand the complexities or difficulties of a situation or task until you are personally involved in it.

Without eating, you cannot know the taste; without entering, you cannot know the depth.

This proverb emphasizes that experiential knowledge is superior to theoretical knowledge. Just as one must taste food to know its flavor or enter a body of water to gauge its depth, one cannot truly understand a situation, a task, or a person's character without direct involvement or personal experience.

Without eating, tastes are unknown; without diving, depths are unknown.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of firsthand experience over theoretical knowledge. It is used to convey that one cannot judge the quality, difficulty, or nature of a situation or task without actually engaging in it or trying it out.