Manchu Proverbs 241–270
Manchu proverbs are the distilled wisdom of a people whose language once commanded an empire. This ninth 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 241 through 270, continuing our journey through the moral imagination of Manchu culture.
[241] Manchu script ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ ᡤᠣᡳᡩᠠᠴᡳ ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠯᠮᠠᡳ ᠮᡠᠵᡳᠯᡝᠨ ᠪᡝ ᡠᠯᡥᡳᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization inenggi goidaci niyalmai mujilen be ulhimbi.
English Time reveals a person’s heart.
[242] Manchu script ᡥᡝᠨᡳ ᠮᠠᠵᡳᡤᡝ ᠵᠠᠯᡳᠩᡤᠠ ᡴᠣᡳᠮᠠᠯᡳ ᡳ ᠮᡠᠵᡳᠯᡝᠨ ᡩᡝᡵᡳᠪᡠᠴᡳ ᠣᠵᠣᡵᠠᡴᡡ, ᡥᡝᠨᡳ ᠮᠠᠵᡳᡤᡝ ᡠᠨᡨᡠᡥᡠᠨ ᡥᠣᠯᠣ ᡳ ᡤᡡᠨᡳᠨ ᡨᡝᠪᡠᠴᡳ ᠣᠵᠣᡵᠠᡴᡡ.
Romanization heni majige jalingga koimali i mujilen deribuci ojorakv, heni majige untuhun holo i gvnin tebuci ojorakv.
English Do not harbor even the slightest deceitful intention or the least false and hypocritical thought.
[243] Manchu script ᠰᡳᠩᡤᡝᡵᡳ ᡳ ᡠᠨᠴᡝᡥᡝᠨ ᡩᡝ ᠶᠣᠣ ᡤᠠᠨᠵᡳᡥᠠ ᠠᡩᠠᠯᡳ, ᠨᡳᠶᠠᡴᡳ ᡤᡳᡥᡝ ᠰᡝᠮᡝ ᡤᡳᠶᠠᠨᠠᡴᡡ ᡠᡩᡠ.
Romanization singgeri i uncehen de yoo banjiha adali, niyaki bihe seme giyanakv udu.
English A sore on a mouse’s tail cannot contain much pus.
[244] Manchu script ᠠᠮᠠ ᡝᠮᡝ ᠪᡝ ᠣᠩᡤᠣᠴᡳ ᠣᠵᠣᡵᠠᡴᡡ, ᠮᠠᡶᠠ ᡤᡠᡵᡠᠨ ᠴᡳ ᡠᠪᠠᡧᠠᠴᡳ ᠣᠵᠣᡵᠠᡴᡡ.
Romanization ama eme be onggoci ojorakv, mafa gurun ci ubaxaci ojorakv.
English Parents must not be forgotten, and the ancestral country must not be betrayed.
[245] Manchu script ᡥᠠᡥᠠ ᠮᠠᠩᡤᠠ ᡩᡝ ᡥᠠᡩᡠᡶᡝᠨ ᡩᡝ ᡥᠠᡩᠠᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization haha mangga de hadufen de hadambi.
English A strong man can hammer a nail into a sickle: ability is shown by accomplishing what others cannot.
[246] Manchu script ᠵᡝᡶᡠ ᡩᡝ ᠠᡴᡩᠠᠴᡳ ᠶᡠᠶᡠᠮᠪᡳ, ᡝᡨᡠᡴᡠ ᡩᡝ ᠠᡴᡩᠠᠴᡳ ᠪᡝᠶᡝᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization jefu de akdaci yuyumbi, etuku de akdaci beyembi.
English Rely on grain and you may still go hungry; rely on clothes and you may still freeze: do not depend entirely on others.
[247] Manchu script ᠮᠣᠣ ᡳ ᠰᠠᡳᡴᠠᠨ ᡩᡝ ᡤᠠᠰᡥᠠ ᡳᠰᠠᠮᠪᡳ, ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠯᠮᠠ ᠰᠠᡳᠨ ᡩᡝ ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠯᠮᠠ ᡳᠰᠠᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization moo i saikan de gasha isambi, niyalma sain de niyalma isambi.
English Good trees attract many birds, and good men attract many friends: self-cultivation earns recognition.
[248] Manchu script ᡠᡳᡥᡝ ᠪᡳᡥᡝᠩᡤᡝ ᡤᡝᠮᡠ ᡳᡥᠠᠨ ᠸᠠᡴᠠ.
Romanization uihe bihengge gemu ihan waka.
English Not everything with horns is a cow: appearances may be deceptive and should not be taken for granted.
[249] Manchu script ᡩᠣᠪᡳ ᠪᡠᠴᡝᠴᡳ ᡩᠣᡵᡤᠣᠨ ᠰᠣᠩᡤᠣᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization dobi buceci dorgon songgombi.
English When the fox dies, the badger weeps: false sentiment cannot hide conflicts of interest.
[250] Manchu script ᠠᠰᡠ ᠪᡝ ᠪᠣᠯᠵᠣᠨ ᠪᡝ ᡨᡠᠸᠠᠮᡝ ᠮᠠᡴᡨᠠ, ᡝᠶᡝᠨ ᠪᡝ ᡨᡠᠸᠠᠮᡝ ᠪᠠᡵᡤᡳᠶᠠ.
Romanization asu be boljon be tuwame makta, eyen be tuwame bargiya.
English Cast the net according to the waves and haul it with the current: act according to circumstances and common sense.
[251] Manchu script ᠨᡳᠮᠠᡥᠠᡳ ᡩᡝᡵᡝ ᠪᡝ ᡨᡠᠸᠠᡵᠠᡴᡡ ᠣᠴᡳ ᠮᡠᡴᡝᡳ ᡩᡝᡵᡝ ᠪᡝ ᡨᡠᠸᠠᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization nimahai dere be tuwarakv oci mukei dere be tuwambi.
English If not for the fish, then for the water: show consideration for the sake of someone or something connected.
[252] Manchu script ᡩᠠᠯᡳᡥᠠᠨ ᡤᠠᡵᡤᠠᠨ ᡩᡝ ᡧᡠᠯᡥᡝ ᠯᠠᠪᡩᡠ.
Romanization dalihan gargan de xulhe labdu.
English Heavy fruit bends the branch: every result has its cause.
[253] Manchu script ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠯᠮᠠ ᡳ ᡤᡳᠰᡠᠨ ᠴᡳ ᡤᡝᠯᡝᡵᡝ ᠣᠴᡳ, ᠨᠠᡥᠠᠨ ᡩᡝ ᡩᡝᡩᡠᡶᡳ ᠪᡠᠴᡝᡵᡝ ᡩᡝ ᡳᠰᡳᡵᠠᡴᡡ.
Romanization niyalma i gisun ci gelere oci, nahan de dedufi bucere de isirakv.
English If one fears gossip, one might as well die on the heated bed: do not be ruled by other people’s talk.
[254] Manchu script ᡶᠠᡳᠴᡳᠩᡤᠠ ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠯᠮᠠ ᡠᠰᡳᠨ ᡩᡝ, ᠪᠠᠨᡠᡥᡡᠨ ᡥᠠᡥᠠ ᠨᠠᡥᠠᠨ ᡩᡝ.
Romanization faicingga niyalma usin de, banuhvn haha nahan de.
English The diligent person is in the field; the lazy person is on the heated bed: actions reveal diligence and laziness.
[255] Manchu script ᠰᠠᠯᠠᡥᠠ ᠪᡠᡩᠠ ᡩᡝ ᠰᠠᡳᠨ ᠰᠣᡤᡳ ᡤᠠᡳᡨᠠᠩᡤᠠ, ᠰᠠᡳᠨ ᡥᠠᡥᠠ ᡩᡝ ᠰᠠᡳᠨ ᠮᠣᡵᡳᠨ ᡤᠠᡳᡨᠠᠩᡤᠠ.
Romanization salaha buda de sain sogi baitangga, sain haha de sain morin baitangga.
English Cold noodles need hot dishes, and a good man needs a fine horse: things should be properly matched.
[256] Manchu script ᠪᡝᡵᡥᡝᠨ ᠴᡳ ᠪᡠᡩᠠ ᡩᡝ ᡩᠣᠰᡳᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization berhen ci buda de dosimbi.
English From drinking soup to eating the meal: asking for more and more, inch by inch.
[257] Manchu script ᡝᠮᡠ ᡴᡠᡵᠪᡠ ᠴᠠᠴᡳ, ᠨᠠᡩᠠᠨ ᠯᠠᠮᠠ ᡳ ᡝᡵᡤᡝᠨ ᠪᡝ ᠠᡳᡨᡠᠪᡠᡥᠠᠴᡳ ᡶᡠᠯᡠ.
Romanization emu kurbu caci, nadan lama i ergen be aitubuhaci fulu.
English Building one bridge is better than saving seven lamas: the gloss values practical benefit over empty preaching.
[258] Manchu script ᠠᠩᡤᠠ ᠸᠠᡳᡴᡠ ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠯᠮᠠ ᠵᡳᠩᡴᡳᠨ ᠨᠣᠮᡠᠨ ᠪᡝ ᡥᡡᠯᠠᠮᡝ ᠪᠠᡥᠠᠨᠠᡵᠠᡴᡡ.
Romanization angga waiku niyalma jingkin nomun be hvlame bahanarakv.
English A crooked-mouthed lama cannot recite the true scripture: a pretender lacks real skill.
[259] Manchu script ᠰᠠᠮᠠᠨ ᠯᠠᠮᠠ ᠪᡝᠶᡝ ᠪᡝᠶᡝᠪᡝ ᠶᡝᠪᡝᠯᡝᡵᠠᡴᡡ.
Romanization saman lama beye beyebe yebelerakv.
English Shamans and lamas each chant their own scripture: each follows his own way and looks down on the other.
[260] Manchu script ᠯᠠᠮᠠ ᠯᠠᠪᡩᡠ ᠣᠴᡳ ᠪᡠᡩᠠ ᡴᠣᠮᠰᠣ ᠣᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization lama labdu oci buda komso ombi.
English Many lamas, little porridge: those who do not work should not expect to eat more; the saying is satirical.
[261] Manchu script ᠯᠠᠮᠠ ᡳ ᠶᠠᠰᠠ ᡶᠠ ᡳ ᡨᡠᠯᡝᡵᡤᡳᡩᡝ.
Romanization lama i yasa fa i tulergide.
English The lama’s eyes look out the window: being absent-minded and neglecting one’s proper work.
[262] Manchu script ᡴᡳᠴᡝᡵᡝᠩᡤᡝ ᡝᡨᡠᡴᡠᡳ ᡩᠠ, ᠮᠠᠯᡥᡡᡧᠠᡵᠠᠩᡤᡝ ᠵᡝᡴᡠᡳ ᡩᠠ.
Romanization kicerengge etukui da, malhvxarangge jekui da.
English Diligence can serve as clothing and thrift as food: diligence and economy are the foundation of life.
[263] Manchu script ᡥᡡᡨᡠᡵᡳ ᡩᡝᡵᡤᡳ ᠮᡝᡩᡝᡵᡳ ᡳ ᡤᡝᠰᡝ, ᠵᠠᠯᠠᡶᡠᠨ ᠵᡠᠯᡝᡵᡤᡳ ᠠᠯᡳᠨ ᡳ ᠠᡩᠠᠯᡳ.
Romanization hvturi dergi mederi i gese, jalafun julergi alin i adali.
English May your fortune be as vast as the Eastern Sea and your longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountain.
[264] Manchu script ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠯᠮᠠ ᡳ ᠠᠮᠠ ᡝᠨᡳᠶᡝ, ᠪᡝᠶᡝ ᡳ ᠠᠮᠠ ᡝᠨᡳᠶᡝ ᡳ ᠠᡩᠠᠯᡳ.
Romanization niyalma i ama eniye, beye i ama eniye i adali.
English Treat other people’s parents as you would your own.
[265] Manchu script ᠪᠠ ᠸᠠᠩ ᠨᡳ ᠪᠠᡨᡠᡵᡠ, ᡴᡠᠩᠮᡳᠩ ᠨᡳ ᡝᡵᡩᡝᠮᡠ.
Romanization ba wang ni baturu, kungming ni erdemu.
English The courage of the Hegemon-King and the wisdom of Kongming.
[266] Manchu script ᠰᠠᡳᠨ ᠮᠣᡵᡳᠨ ᡝᠵᡝᠨ ᠪᡝ ᠠᠰᡥᡡᡵᠠᡴᡡ, ᠰᠠᡳᠨ ᡳᠨᡩᠠᡥᡡᠨ ᡝᠵᡝᠨ ᡴᠠᡵᠮᠠᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization sain morin ejen be ashvrakv, sain indahvn ejen karmambi.
English A good horse chooses its master; a good dog protects its master: know where you belong and remain loyal.
[267] Manchu script ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠯᠮᠠ ᠪᡝ ᡝᡳᡨᡝᡵᡝᠴᡳ ᠵᠣᠪᠣᠯᠣᠨ ᠵᡳᠮᠪᡳ, ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠯᠮᠠ ᠪᡝ ᠣᠨᠴᠣᡩᠣᠴᡳ ᡥᡡᡨᡠᡵᡳ ᠣᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization niyalma be eitereci jobolon jimbi, niyalma be oncodoci hvturi ombi.
English Deceiving others brings misfortune; treating others generously brings blessings.
[268] Manchu script ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠯᠮᠠᡳ ᠰᠠᠯᡳᡤᠠᠨ ᡨᠠᠴᡳᠨ ᡶᠣᠨᠵᡳᠨ ᡩᡝ ᠪᡳ, ᠪᡳᡨᡥᡝᡳ ᠰᠠᠯᡳᡤᠠᠨ ᠰᠠᡵᠠᠰᡠ ᡩᡝ ᠪᡳ.
Romanization niyalmai saligan tacin fonjin de bi, bithei saligan sarasu de bi.
English A person’s worth lies in learning; a book’s worth lies in knowledge.
[269] Manchu script ᡥᠠᡳᠯᠠᠨ ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠯᠮᠠ ᡩᠠᠰᠠᡵᠠᡩᡝ ᠠᡴᡩᠠᠮᠪᡳ, ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠯᠮᠠ ᠪᡝᠶᡝᡳ ᡨᠠᠴᡳᡵᠠᡩᡝ ᠠᡴᡩᠠᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization hailan niyalma dasarade akdambi, niyalma beyei tacirade akdambi.
English A tree becomes useful through cultivation; a person becomes capable through self-study.
[270] Manchu script ᠮᡝᠨᡨᡠᡥᡠᠨ ᠨᡳᠩᡤᡝ ᠨᡠᠵᠠᠨ ᡤᠠᡳᡨᠠᠯᠠᠮᠪᡳ, ᠮᡝᡵᡤᡝᠨ ᠨᡳᠩᡤᡝ ᠰᡠᡵᡝ ᠰᡝᡴᡨᡠ ᡤᠠᡳᡨᠠᠯᠠᠮᠪᡳ.
Romanization mentuhun ningge nujan baitalambi, mergen ningge sure sektu baitalambi.
English The foolish use fists; the wise use intelligence.