Manchu Proverbs 181–210
Manchu proverbs are the distilled wisdom of a people whose language once commanded an empire. This seventh collection presents 30 proverbs. Each saying pairs the elegant vertical Manchu script with romanization and English translation, allowing learners to encounter the language as it was written and spoken. These proverbs address the conduct of daily life: how to choose friends, how to speak with care, how to face adversity, and how to cultivate virtue. It presents proverbs 181 through 210, continuing our journey through the moral imagination of Manchu culture.
[181] Manchu script ᡨᠣᠨᡩᠣ ᡤᡳᠰᡠᠨ ᡧᠠᠨ ᡩᡝ ᡳᠴᠠᡴᡡ ᠪᡳᠴᡳᠪᡝ, ᠶᠠᠪᡠᠨ ᡩᡝ ᡨᡠᠰᠠ,ᠰᠠᡳᠨ ᠣᡴᡨᠣ ᠠᠩᡤᠠ ᡩᡝ ᡤᠣᠰᡳᡥᠣᠨ ᠪᡳᠴᡳᠪᡝ, ᠨᡳᠮᡝᡴᡠ ᡩᡝ ᡨᡠᠰᠠ.
Romanization tondo gisun xan de icakv bicibe, yabun de tusa,sain okto angga de gosihon bicibe, nimeku de tusa.
English Loyal advice may grate on the ear but benefits conduct; good medicine may taste bitter but benefits illness.
[182] Manchu script ᡳᠯᠠᠨ ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠯᠮᠠ ᠶᠠᠪᡠᡵᡝ ᡩᡝ, ᡠᡵᡠᠨᠠᡴᡡ ᠮᡳᠨᡩᡝ ᠰᡝᡶᡠ ᠣᠵᠣᡵᠣᠩᡤᡝ ᠪᡳ.
Romanization ilan niyalma yabure de, urunakv minde sefu ojorongge bi.
English Among any three people I walk with, there is sure to be someone who can teach me.
[183] Manchu script ᠠᠪᡴᠠ ᡩᡝ ᡩᡝᠶᡝᠮᡝ ᡤᠠᠰᡥᠠ ᠪᡳ, ᠨᠠ ᡩᡝ ᡶᡝᡴᠰᡳᡵᡝ ᡤᡠᡵᡤᡠ ᠪᡳ.
Romanization abka de deyeme gasha bi, na de feksire gurgu bi.
English There are birds in the sky and beasts on the ground.
[184] Manchu script ᠰᠠᠪᡠ ᠠᠮᠪᠠ, ᠪᡝᡨᡥᡝ ᡩᡝ ᠠᠴᠠᠨᠠᡵᠠᡴᡡ. ᡝᡨᡠᡴᡠ ᠠᡩᡠ ᠠᠵᡳᡤᡝ, ᠪᡝᠶᡝ ᡩᡝ ᠠᠴᠠᠨᠠᡵᠠᡴᡡ.
Romanization sabu amba, bethe de acanarakv. etuku adu ajige, beye de acanarakv.
English Shoes that are too large do not fit the feet; clothes that are too small do not fit the body.
[185] Manchu script ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠯᠮᠠ ᠣᡶᡳ, ᠰᠠᡳᠨ ᡝᡥᡝ ᠪᡝ ᡳᠯᡤᠠᡵᠠᡴᡡ, ᡩᠣᡵᠣ ᡤᡳᠶᠠᠨ ᠪᡝ ᡶᠠᡴᠰᠠᠯᠠᡵᠠᡴᡡ ᠣᠴᡳ, ᡠᠯᡥᠠᠴᡳ ᠠᡳ ᡝᠨᠴᡠ.
Romanization niyalma ofi, sain ehe be ilgarakv, doro giyan be faksalarakv oci, ulhaci ai encu.
English If a person cannot distinguish good from bad or right from wrong, how is that person different from an animal?
[186] Manchu script ᠪᠠᡳᡨᠠ ᡧᠠᠩᡤᠠᡶᡳ ᠵᠠᠪᠴᠠᡵᠠ ᠠᠩᡤᠠᠯᠠ, ᡩᡝᡵᡳᠪᡠᡵᡝ ᠣᠩᡤᠣᠯᠣ ᠣᠯᡥᠣᡧᠣᡵᠣ ᡩᡝ ᡳᠰᡳᡵᠠᡴᡡ.
Romanization baita xanggafi jabcara anggala, deribure onggolo olhoxoro de isirakv.
English Better to be careful at the beginning than complain after the event.
[187] Manchu script ᡩᡝᡵᡝ ᠣᠶᠣᠩᡤᠣ, ᡠᠮᡝ ᡤᠠᠯᠠ ᡤᠣᠯᠮᡳᠨ ᠣᠵᠣᡵᠣ.
Romanization dere oyonggo, ume gala golmin ojoro.
English Honor matters; do not be light-fingered.
[188] Manchu script ᠪᠠᠶᠠᠨ ᠪᡳᠮᡝ ᠸᡝᠰᡳᡥᡠᠨ ᠠᡴᡡ, ᠶᠠᡩᠠᡥᡡᠨ ᠪᡳᠮᡝ ᡶᡠᠰᡳᡥᡡᠨ ᠠᡴᡡ.
Romanization bayan bime wesihun akv, yadahvn bime fusihvn akv.
English Rich but not noble; poor but not base.
[189] Manchu script ᠴᡳᡵᠠ ᠪᡝ ᡨᠠᡴᠠᡵᠠ ᡤᠣᠵᡳᠮᡝ, ᠮᡠᠵᡳᠯᡝᠨ ᠪᡝ ᠰᠠᡵᡴᡡ.
Romanization cira be takara gojime, mujilen be sarkv.
English You may know a face without knowing the heart.
[190] Manchu script ᠠᠪᡴᠠᡳ ᡶᡝᠵᡝᡵᡤᡳ ᡳ ᠵᠣᠪᠣᡧᠣᡵᠣ ᠴᡳ ᠨᡝᠨᡩᡝᠨ ᠵᠣᠪᠣᡧᠣᠮᡝ, ᠠᠪᡴᠠᡳ ᡶᡝᠵᡝᡵᡤᡳ ᡳ ᠰᡝᠪᠵᡝᠯᡝᡥᡝ ᠠᠮᠠᠯᠠ ᠰᡝᠪᠵᡝᠯᡝᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization abkai fejergi i joboxoro ci nenden joboxome, abkai fejergi i sebjelehe amala sebjelembi.
English Be the first to worry about the world’s troubles and the last to enjoy its pleasures.
[191] Manchu script ᠪᠠᡥᠠᠨᠠᡵᠠᠩᡤᡝ ᠸᡝᠰᡳᡥᡠᠨ ᠣᠴᡳ, ᡶᡠᠨᡳᠶᠠᡤᠠᠨ ᠠᠮᠪᠠ ᠣᠮᠪᡳ, ᠰᡠᡴᡩᡠᠨ ᡝᡨᡠᡥᡠᠨ ᠣᠴᡳ, ᠵᡳᠯᡤᠠᠨ ᡩᡝᠨ ᠣᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization bahanarangge wesihun oci, funiyagan amba ombi, sukdun etuhun oci, jilgan den ombi.
English Broad understanding brings broad capacity; strong spirit brings a resonant voice.
[192] Manchu script ᡴᡝᠮᡠᠩᡤᡝ ᠮᠠᠯᡥᡡᠨ ᠶᠠᡵᡤᡳᠶᠠᠨ ᡤᡠᠯᡠ ᠰᡝᡵᡝᠩᡤᡝ ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠯᠮᠠᡳ ᠰᠠᡳᠨ ᡝᡵᡩᡝᠮᡠ, ᠮᠠᠮᡤᡳᠶᠠᡴᡡ ᡩᠠᠪᠠᠯᡳ ᡝᠯᡩᡝᠩᡤᡝ ᡶᡳᠶᠠᠩᡤᠠ ᠰᡝᡵᡝᠩᡤᡝ ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠯᠮᠠᡳ ᠠᠮᠪᠠ ᡝᡥᡝ.
Romanization kemungge malhvn yargiyan gulu serengge niyalmai sain erdemu, mamgiyakv dabali eldengge fiyangga serengge niyalmai amba ehe.
English Frugality and simplicity are virtues; luxury and extravagance are great faults.
[193] Manchu script ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠯᠮᠠ ᠪᡝ ᠪᠠᡳᡨᠠᠯᠠᡵᠠ ᡩᡝ, ᡨᡝᡵᡝᡳ ᡤᠣᠯᠮᡳᠨ ᠪᡝ ᡤᠠᡳᠮᡝ, ᡨᡝᡵᡝᡳ ᡶᠣᡥᠣᠯᠣᠨ ᠪᡝ ᠸᠠᠯᡳᠶᠠᠴᡳ ᠠᠴᠠᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization niyalma be baitalara de, terei golmin be gaime, terei foholon be waliyaci acambi.
English When employing people, use their strengths and set aside their weaknesses.
[194] Manchu script ᡧᠠᠪᡳᠰᠠ ᠪᡝ ᡠᡵᡠᠨᠠᡴᡡ ᠰᡝᡶᡠ ᡩᡝ ᡳᠰᡳᡵᠠᡴᡡ ᠰᡝᠴᡳ ᠣᠵᠣᡵᠠᡴᡡ, ᠰᡝᡶᡠ ᠪᡝ ᡳᠨᡠ ᡠᡵᡠᠨᠠᡴᡡ ᡧᠠᠪᡳᠰᠠ ᠴᡳ ᡶᡠᠯᡠ ᠰᡝᠴᡳ ᠣᠵᠣᡵᠠᡴᡡ.
Romanization xabisa be urunakv sefu de isirakv seci ojorakv, sefu be inu urunakv xabisa ci fulu seci ojorakv.
English A pupil need not be inferior to a teacher, nor must a teacher always be superior to a pupil.
[195] Manchu script ᠵᠠᠯᠠᠨ ᡩᡝ ᠪᡝ ᠯᠣ ᡨᡠᠴᡳᡴᡝ ᠮᠠᠩᡤᡳ, ᠮᡳᠩᡤᠠᠨ ᠪᠠ ᠶᠠᠪᡠᡵᡝ ᠮᠣᡵᡳᠨ ᡨᡝᠨᡳ ᡨᡠᠴᡳᠮᠪᡳ. ᠮᡳᠩᡤᠠᠨ ᠪᠠ ᠶᠠᠪᡠᡵᡝ ᠮᠣᡵᡳᠨ ᡴᡝᠮᡠᠨᡳ ᡨᡠᠴᡳᠴᡳᠪᡝ, ᠪᡝ ᠯᠣ ᡴᡝᠮᡠᠨᡳ ᡨᡠᠴᡳᡵᠠᡴᡡ ᠣᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization jalan de be lo tucike manggi, minggan ba yabure morin teni tucimbi. minggan ba yabure morin kemuni tucicibe, be lo kemuni tucirakv ombi.
English Only after there is a Bole can a thousand-li horse be recognized; fine horses are common, but Bole is rare.
[196] Manchu script ᡩᠵᡠᡳ ᡠᠩ ᠨᡳ ᡤᡡᠨᡳᠨ ᠨᡠᡵᡝ ᡩᡝ ᠠᡴᡡ, ᠠᠯᡳᠨ ᠮᡠᡴᡝ ᡳ ᠰᡳᡩᡝᠨᡩᡝ ᠪᡳ.
Romanization dzui ung ni gvnin nure de akv, alin muke i sidende bi.
English The old drunkard’s interest is not in the wine, but in the mountains and waters.
[197] Manchu script ᠠᠯᡳᠨ ᡩᡝᠨ ᡩᡝ ᠠᡴᡡ, ᡝᠨᡩᡠᡵᡳᠨ ᠪᡳᠴᡳ ᡤᡝᠪᡠᠩᡤᡝ ᠣᠮᠪᡳ. ᠮᡠᡴᡝ ᡧᡠᠮᡳᠨ ᡩᡝ ᠠᡴᡡ, ᠮᡠᡩᡠᡵᡳ ᠪᡳᠴᡳ ᡶᡝⵔᡤᡠᠸᡝᠴᡠᡴᡝ ᠣᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization alin den de akv, endurin bici gebungge ombi. muke xumin de akv, muduri bici ferguwecuke ombi.
English A mountain need not be high if an immortal dwells there; water need not be deep if a dragon lives there.
[198] Manchu script ᠪᡝᠶᡝ ᠴᡠᡴᡠᡨᡝᠯᡝ ᡥᡡᠰᡠᠨ ᠮᠣᡥᠣᡨᠣᠯᠣ, ᠪᡠᠴᡝᠴᡳ ᡨᡝᠨᡳ ᠨᠠᡴᠠᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization beye cukutele hvsun mohotolo, buceci teni nakambi.
English Exert oneself to the utmost until death.
[199] Manchu script ᠴᡳᠨᡠᡥᡡᠨ ᡩᡝ ᡥᠠᠨᠴᡳ ᠣᠴᡳ ᡶᡠᠯᡤᡳᠶᠠᠨ ᠣᠮᠪᡳ, ᠪᡝᡥᡝ ᡩᡝ ᡥᠠᠨᠴᡳ ᠣᠴᡳ ᠶᠠᠴᡳᠨ ᠣᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization cinuhvn de hanci oci fulgiyan ombi, behe de hanci oci yacin ombi.
English Those who stay near vermilion turn red; those who stay near ink turn black.
[200] Manchu script ᡠᡩᡠ ᠴᠣᡴᠣ ᡳᠨᡩᠠᡥᡡᠨ ᡳ ᠵᡳᠯᡤᠠᠨ ᠪᡝ ᡳᠰᡥᡠᠨᡩᡝ ᡩᠣᠨᠵᡳᠮᡝ ᠣᠴᡳᠪᡝ, ᡩᠠᠮᡠ ᠰᠠᡴᡩᠠᠮᡝ ᠪᡠᠴᡝᡨᡝᠯᡝ ᠵᡳᠮᡝ ᡤᡝᠨᡝᡵᠠᡴᡡ.
Romanization udu coko indahvn i jilgan be ishunde donjime ocibe, damu sakdame bucetele jime generakv.
English Though the sounds of chickens and dogs can be heard across the way, people may grow old and die without visiting one another.
[201] Manchu script ᡝᠯᡩᡝᠨ ᠰᡳᠯᠮᡝᠨ ᠰᡳᡵᡩᠠᠨ ᡳ ᡤᡝᠰᡝ, ᡧᡠᠨ ᠪᡳᠶᠠ ᡥᠣᠮᠰᠣ ᡳ ᠠᡩᠠᠯᡳ.
Romanization elden silmen sirdan i gese, xun biya homso i adali.
English Time flies like an arrow; the sun and moon move like a shuttle.
[202] Manchu script ᠵᡠᡤᡡᠨ ᡩᡝ ᠸᠠᠯᡳᠶᠠᠪᡠᡥᠠ ᠵᠠᡴᠠ ᠪᡝ ᡤᠠᡳᡵᡝ ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠯᠮᠠ ᠠᡴᡡ, ᡩᠣᠪᠣᡵᡳ ᠠᠮᡤᠠᡵᠠ ᡩᡝ ᡩᡠᡴᠠ ᠶᠠᡴᠰᡳᡵᠠᡴᡡ.
Romanization jugvn de waliyabuha jaka be gaire niyalma akv, dobori amgara de duka yaksirakv.
English Nothing is picked up from the road, and doors need not be locked at night.
[203] Manchu script ᡤᡠᠩᡤᡝ ᠮᡠᡨᡝᠪᡠᡵᡝ ᠪᡝ ᡶᠠᡳᡵᠠᡴᡡ, ᡩᠠᠮᡠ ᡝᠨᡩᡝᠪᡠᡴᡠ ᡨᡠᠴᡳᡵᠠᡴᡡ ᠪᡝ ᡝᡵᡝᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization gungge mutebure be bairakv, damu endebuku tucirakv be erembi.
English Seek no special merit; only avoid making mistakes.
[204] Manchu script ᡝᡵᡤᡠᠸᡝᠵᡳᡨᡠ ᡩᡠⵔᡙᡝᠵᡳᡨᡠ ᠠᡴᡡ ᠣᠴᡳ, ᡥᠣᡧᠣᠩᡤᠣ ᠮᡠᡥᡝᠯᡳᠶᡝᠨ ᠣᠪᡠᠮᡝ ᠮᡠᡨᡝᡵᠠᡴᡡ.
Romanization erguwejitu durbejitu akv oci, hoxonggo muheliyen obume muterakv.
English Without compass and square, one cannot make proper circles and squares.
[205] Manchu script ᡨᡝᡵᡝ ᠰᠣᠣᡵᡳᠨ ᡩᡝ ᠠᡴᡡ ᠣᠴᡳ, ᡨᡝᡵᡝ ᡩᠠᠰᠠᠨ ᡩᡝ ᡩᠠᡵᠠᡴᡡ.
Romanization tere soorin de akv oci, tere dasan de darakv.
English If you are not in that position, do not plan the affairs of that office.
[206] Manchu script ᡨᠰ'ᠠᠩ ᡥᠠᡳ ᠮᡝᡩᡝᡵᡳ ᠪᡝ ᠰᠠᠪᡠᡥᠠᠩᡤᡝ ᡩᡝ ᠮᡠᡴᡝ ᠵᠣᠨᠣᡶᡳ ᠠᡳᠨᠠᠮᠪᡳ, ᡠ ᡧᠠᠨ ᠠᠯᡳᠨ ᠴᡳ ᡨᡠᠯᡤᡳᠶᡝᠩᡤᡝ ᠪᡝ ᡨᡠᡤᡳ ᠰᡝᠴᡳ ᠣᠮᠪᡳᠣ.
Romanization ts'ang hai mederi be sabuhangge de muke jonofi ainambi, u xan alin ci tulgiyengge be tugi seci ombio.
English After seeing the vast sea, other waters are hard to value; beyond Mount Wu, other clouds seem ordinary.
[207] Manchu script ᠪᠠᡳᡨᠠ ᠪᡝ ᠮᡠᡨᡝᠪᡠᡵᡝ ᡩᡝ ᡥᡡᠰᡠᠨ ᡳᠰᡳᡵᠠᡴᡡ, ᠪᠠᡳᡨᠠ ᠪᡝ ᡝᡶᡠᠯᡝᡵᡝ ᡩᡝ ᡶᡠᠨᠴᡝᡨᡝᠯᡝ ᡥᡡᠰᡠᠨ ᠪᡳ.
Romanization baita be mutebure de hvsun isirakv, baita be efulere de funcetele hvsun bi.
English Not capable enough to accomplish things, but more than capable of ruining them.
[208] Manchu script ᡴᡳᠮᡠᠨ ᠪᠠᡨᠠ ᡳᠰᡥᡠᠨᡩᡝ ᡠᠴᠠᡵᠠᡥᠠ ᡩᡝ ᠶᠠᠰᠠ ᡝᠨᠴᡠ ᡥᠠᠴᡳᠨ ᡤᡝᡥᡠᠨ ᠣᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization kimun bata ishunde ucaraha de yasa encu hacin gehun ombi.
English When enemies meet, their eyes blaze all the more.
[209] Manchu script ᠪᠣᠴᡳᡥᡝ ᠪᠠᠨᠵᡳᡥᠠ ᡠᡵᡠᠨ ᠠᠮᡥᠠ ᡝᠮᡥᡝ ᡩᡝ ᠠᠴᠠᡵᠠ ᠴᡳ ᡠᡴᠴᠠᠮᡝ ᠮᡠᡨᡝᡵᠠᡴᡡ.
Romanization bocihe banjiha urun amha emhe de acara ci ukcame muterakv.
English Even an unattractive bride must eventually meet her parents-in-law.
[210] Manchu script ᠠᠮᠪᠠ ᠮᡝᡩᡝᡵᡳ ᡩᡝ ᠨᡳᠮᠠᡥᠠ ᠪᠠᠯᠠᡳ ᡤᠣᡩᠣᠮᠪᡳ, ᠣᠨᠴᠣ ᡠᠨᡨᡠᡥᡠᠨ ᡩᡝ ᡤᠠᠰᡥᠠ ᠴᡳᡥᠠᡳ ᡩᡝᠶᡝᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization amba mederi de nimaha balai godombi, onco untuhun de gasha cihai deyembi.
English In the great sea, fish may leap freely; in the vast sky, birds may fly as they wish.