More On Wise Sayings In Nkwen

February 16, 2020February 6, 2023

Advertisements

Advertisements

1. Ŋùdàŋə tuŋə afəmə ŋùdàŋə̀ wu’usə mə̀gə̀’ə̀ mi.	Someone is blowing the trumpet and another is raising the jaws. *(Said when someone wants to take credits on the good acts of another.)*
2. Bə kuu nkyi kǎ məkǔ nfǝ’ǝ.	Legs are not measured when entering the water. *(Meaning abilities are not the same. You do only what you are able to. You don’t need to compare yourself with others.)*
3. Àghàngàŋə̀ zu’u ngaŋə̀	Only those who hear the language understand. (Said in a situation where only part of a gathering understands what is said. When a message is passed on in an idiomatic way that only particular people present could hear and understand.
5. Boŋə ò banǝ ntenə ò jwe nkwu.	If you hate a living being, then you’ll bring forth a dead one. (If you refuse the truth, that is the beginning of evil or you give rise to evil.
6. Əzduŋə nshye chya tsε’ε adaŋə adaŋə.	Earthly things pass away. (Said in situations when generosity is expected or when someone refuses to be generous)
7. Ŋkyi luu a nə̀ awigə̀rə̂.	It is the runoff that makes the river full. *(Said when a crowd or a thing is needed as part of a situation just to make things move.)*
8. Ə̀nywe bənkhə tsə bə mbà’ambà’à. mbà’ambà’à.	A young man’s cutlass is sharp only in the morning. *(The young get discouraged easily)*
9. Əbòŋnə bya-bya zoŋə a ndzèmə nzεrə.	Babbling follows a thief. *(If someone says so many things almost at the same time, then he/she is probably guilty.)*
10. Ǹghə̀ kwo məmə tὲrə̀	A calabash jar or wine gourd is broken inside the wine pot. (Said as a regret when something bad happens in a situation that blames cannot be laid on)
11. O dzwi afo nchə̀ o kə bəkwu nsəŋə.	While on a battlefront don’t count the dead. *(If you’ve embarked on* doing something, don’t give room to discouragement or allow *difficulties to discourage you).*
12. O təmə nna o zòŋə nə̀ aliŋə̀.	If you’ve shot an animal, follow the blood. *(If you have started something, continue till the end.)*
13. Boŋə ntoŋə wwo tə lwε’ɛtə boŋə o bə lya ku ndyâ mə̀shà.	If you have an appetizing throat, you will enter a cult. (If you are a power monger or long for wealth at all cause, you may frustrate your life by joining a cult before you know.)
14. Njwe laa mə̀nyù làa.	As the day breaks, so do events. *(As we live, so do we and things that surround us change.)*
15. Azuŋə abàa wwò niŋə àkù zhə.	Something is put into your bag by your legs. *(If you have got a present somewhere you’ve been, it’s thanks to your legs that took you there.)*
16. Bə bikakə ngwu məmə nkəmə nsəŋə.	Fowls cannot be counted in a cage. (Said in connection to transparency when everybody needs to see what is presented.)
17. Nchu’u ətyə forə bə nkonə yε.	What saves the rat is its tail. *(When there is just a narrow space for one to use in order to escape danger. In a situation where you sense danger or when there is a high possibility of danger, say this and leave)*
18. Njwe afò bə̀zεrə bə njwe-la’à.	A farm day for a thief is the country Sunday. *(Meaning, a thief only goes on mission when he knows no one is there to see him/her)*
19. Boŋə o kakə nkuŋə̀-tyə li’isə̀.	You cannot fool a barber. *(You can’t deceive someone who renders a more often service to you for you shall surely go back to* *him)*
20. Nəwo nə ŋu fəmə kii zhə la zə ŋu nkabə kii be bâdaŋə.	A poor man weeps for his dead but that of a reach man is mourned by others. *(A poor person’s pain or difficulty is not the concern of many as compared to that of a rich or popular person.)*
21. Aya afò məjyə nə ka nsaa.	The way to a food crop farm is never too far. *(We are never discouraged to go where there are rewards or benefits.)*
22. Əboo bə mbwo bikàke kù’ùtə̀.	Fingers are not the same. *(Meaning abilities are not the same. You do only what you are able to. You don’t need to compare yourself with others.)*