తీయడం పెట్టడం తీపులచేటు, కనడం కూచోవడం నొప్పులచేటు

tiyadam pettadam tipulachetu, kanadam kuchovadam noppulachetu

Translation

Taking and putting is a waste of sweetness; giving birth and sitting is a waste of pain.

Meaning

This proverb highlights that repetitive or redundant actions often lead to unnecessary exhaustion or wasted effort. It specifically suggests that doing something only to undo it immediately (like serving food and taking it back) results in losing the benefit or joy, and enduring pain for no productive outcome is futile. It is used to describe tasks that are laborious but yield no meaningful result.

Related Phrases

Borrowed ornaments cause inconvenience by their weight, pain by taking them off and putting them on, and debt if one of them is lost. He that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing.

This proverb warns against the risks and anxieties of borrowing expensive items from others. It explains that while borrowed ornaments might make one look wealthy, they bring physical discomfort (burden), constant worry about their safety (hassle of handling), and a massive financial liability if something happens to them.

Is feeding one's own wife a favor to the village?

This proverb is used to point out that fulfilling one's basic personal or familial responsibilities is not an act of charity or a service to society. It is used when someone brags about doing something they are naturally obligated to do.

Sitâ was born for Lankâ's ruin.

This expression is used to describe a situation where a specific person's arrival or a particular action becomes the root cause for the downfall or ruin of a group, place, or organization. It implies that an event which might seem normal initially is actually a precursor to inevitable destruction.

Punganuru province means only for eccentricity

This expression is used to describe someone who is overly fastidious, obsessively traditional, or focuses unnecessarily on minute, trivial rules and rituals (Chadastham). It implies that a particular place or person is synonymous with being difficult or eccentric about petty matters.

The maiden's shyness is for the purpose of giving birth

This expression suggests that a young woman's natural modesty or hesitation is a precursor to marriage and motherhood. It is often used to imply that shyness is a temporary stage or a virtue that eventually leads to the fulfillment of life's biological and social duties.

It is easy to get attached, but hard to get rid of.

This expression is used to describe habits, relationships, or problems that are easy to start or acquire, but extremely difficult to escape or resolve. It is often used as a warning against picking up bad habits or entering into complicated commitments.

Borrowed jewelry is a burden, taking it off and putting it back is a tedious task, and if one is lost, it is a risk to one's life.

This proverb warns against the risks and anxieties associated with borrowing expensive items from others. It emphasizes that the mental stress of safeguarding someone else's property and the potential consequences of losing it far outweigh the temporary joy of using it. It is used to advise people to be content with what they own rather than showing off with borrowed goods.

The ruins of debt

This expression refers to a state of being overwhelmed or ruined by excessive debt. It is used to describe a situation where someone's financial stability or life is destroyed due to borrowing beyond their means.

Telling is easy, doing is difficult.

This is a common saying used to point out that it is much easier to give advice or talk about a task than it is to actually execute it. It is the Telugu equivalent of 'easier said than done.'

Borrowed ornaments are a burden; putting them on and taking them off is a hassle; if one is lost, it results in debt.

This proverb warns against the risks and hassles of borrowing items (especially jewelry or valuables) from others. It implies that borrowed luxury brings more anxiety than joy, as one must constantly guard them, and any loss leads to financial ruin or long-term debt to repay the lender.