పువ్వుల వగరే తేనె అయ్యేది
puvvula vagare tene ayyedi
The astringency of flowers is what becomes honey
This proverb suggests that raw, bitter, or difficult beginnings can lead to sweet and rewarding outcomes. It is used to encourage patience and perseverance, highlighting that hard work or initial unpleasantness eventually transforms into something valuable and beneficial.
Related Phrases
తేనెతెట్టెను రేపి తియ్యని తేనెను వదలిపోదురా?
tenetettenu repi tiyyani tenenu vadalipodura?
Will they stir up a beehive and then leave without the sweet honey?
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone initiates a complex or difficult task and refuses to walk away until they have achieved the desired result or benefit. It suggests that once the risk has been taken (stirring the hive), the person will certainly stay to reap the rewards (the honey). It is often used in contexts involving persistent efforts or calculated risks.
నువ్వులకు తగిన నూనె
nuvvulaku tagina nune
Oil according to the [ quantity of ] Sesamum.
This expression is used to indicate that the result or output is directly proportional to the investment, effort, or resources put in. It is often used to tell someone that they get what they pay for, or that rewards are commensurate with the work performed.
విత్తే చెట్టయ్యేది
vitte chettayyedi
The seed itself becomes the tree
This expression is used to signify that the origin or the core potential of something eventually manifests into its full form. It often refers to how a child inherits the qualities of the parents or how a small idea/effort grows into a significant result.
పువ్వులు వేడుకైన గడివోయిన వెనుక ఏరువచ్చా?
puvvulu vedukaina gadivoyina venuka eruvachcha?
After the celebration with flowers is over, is there any point in gathering them?
This expression refers to performing an action after the appropriate time has passed. It emphasizes that efforts or remedies are useless once the opportunity or the need for them has ended. It is similar to the English proverb 'locking the stable door after the horse has bolted'.
అడుక్కొని తినేవాడి ఆలి అయ్యేకంటే, భాగ్యవంతుడి బానిస అయ్యేది మేలు.
adukkoni tinevadi ali ayyekante, bhagyavantudi banisa ayyedi melu.
It is better to be a slave to a rich man than to be the wife of a beggar.
This expression suggests that security and basic comforts provided by a wealthy household are preferable to the extreme hardships and instability of poverty. It is used to describe a pragmatic choice where one prioritizes material survival over status or perceived freedom in destitute conditions.
రెండు చేతులు కలిస్తేనే చప్పట్లు అవుతాయి
rendu chetulu kalistene chappatlu avutayi
Only when two hands come together, a clap is made.
This proverb is the Telugu equivalent of 'It takes two to tango.' It is used to suggest that in a conflict or a collaborative effort, one person alone is usually not responsible; both parties involved contribute to the outcome or the argument.
చదువు సన్నమయ్యె అయ్య లావయ్యె
chaduvu sannamayye ayya lavayye
Education became thin, while the teacher became fat
This proverb describes a situation where an endeavor or institution fails to achieve its primary purpose while the person in charge prospers. It is commonly used to criticize scenarios where a student's knowledge diminishes despite the teacher's growth in wealth, or more broadly, when a project fails but the manager benefits personally.
తియ్యటి తేనెనిండిన నోటితోనే తేనెటీగ కుట్టేది.
tiyyati tenenindina notitone tenetiga kuttedi.
The honeybee stings with the same mouth that is filled with sweet honey.
This proverb is used to warn that people who speak very sweetly or appear charming can also be the ones who cause the most harm or betrayal. It suggests that sweetness can sometimes mask a sharp sting, similar to the English expression 'A honey tongue, a heart of gall.'
తేనెటీగ తేనె తెరవరి పాలు.
tenetiga tene teravari palu.
The bee's honey belongs to the traveler.
This proverb means that one may work hard to accumulate wealth or resources, but often someone else (an outsider or an unexpected person) ends up enjoying them. It is used to describe situations where a person's toil benefits others instead of themselves, much like how a traveler takes the honey a bee spent its life collecting.
అధమునికి ఆలయ్యేటంతకంటే, బలవంతునికి బానిస అయ్యేది మేలు.
adhamuniki alayyetantakante, balavantuniki banisa ayyedi melu.
Better be the hand-maid of a great man than the wife of a low fellow. Better fare hard with good men than feast with bad.
This proverb emphasizes that it is better to serve a noble or powerful person than to be intimately associated with someone of poor character or low status. It suggests that even a subordinate role under a virtuous or strong leader offers more dignity and security than a higher-ranking position with a base or wicked individual.