Yorùbá proverbs
1681
Tí nǹkan bá rújú, ajá a máa fa aṣọ ẹkùn ya
- Literal translation
- When things get complicated, dogs are well able to tear up a leopard's garb
- Meaning
- No impossibility
1682
Tí nǹkan bá rújú, ajá a máa fa aṣọ ẹkùn ya.
- Literal translation
- When things get complicated, a dog is well able to tear up a leopard's garb.
- Meaning
- No impossibility
1683
Tí ò bá sígi lẹ́hìn ọgbà, wíwó nií wó
- Literal translation
- A make-shift fence without the backing of a tree collapses, eventually.
- Meaning
- Good networks are supportive
1684
Tí ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ bá le títí, ó ńpadà bọ̀ wá rọ̀ ni
- Literal translation
- If the plantain fruit remains hard for long, it will eventually become soft (when it ripens).
- Meaning
- Keep up hope: no matter how long an issue tarries, it will eventually get resolved; hang in there: absolutely nothing lasts forever
1685
Tí ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ bá le títí, ó ńpadà bọ̀ wá rọ̀ ni.
- Literal translation
- Regardless of how long the plantain fruit has been hard, it would eventually become soft.
- Meaning
- Keep hope alive; never give up.
1686
Tí ògiri ò bá la'nu, aláǹgbá ò lè r'áyè wọ̀ ọ́.
- Literal translation
- If there are no crevices in the wall, the lizard cannot penetrate into the wall.
- Meaning
- Actions beckon, and quite often, compel reactions; to stop an effect, eliminate the action causing it
1687
Tí ògiri ò bá lanu, aláǹgbá ò lè ráyè wọ
- Literal translation
- If there are no crevices in the wall, the lizard cannot penetrate it.
- Meaning
- Effects are caused
1688
Tí ògiri ò bá lanu, aláǹgbá ò lè ráyè wọnú ẹ̀
- Literal translation
- If there aren't crevices in the wall, the lizard can't penetrate into it
- Meaning
- Effects are caused
1689
Tí òjò bá dá tán, ti abẹ́ igi kì í dá bọ́rọ́.
- Literal translation
- When the rain subsides, the (rain water) dripping under trees seldom cease on time.
- Meaning
- Consequences far outlive actions: let's be mindful of the potential consequences of our actions.
1690
Tí ojú bá f'ara balẹ̀ á r'imú
- Literal translation
- If the eyes can be patient enough, they will see the nose.
- Meaning
- With patience, there's virtually no impossibility
1691
Tí ojú bá f'ara balẹ̀ á r'imú.
- Literal translation
- If the eyes are patient enough, they can get to see the nose.
- Meaning
- Patience is crucialProverbs
1692
Tí ojú bá fara balẹ á rímú.
- Literal translation
- If the eyes are patient enough, they will see the nose.
- Meaning
- With patience, the extraordinary is achievable.
1693
Tí ojú bá fara balẹ̀ á rímú.
- Literal translation
- If the eyes are patient enough, they will see the nose.
- Meaning
- Patience is crucial
1694
Tí ojú bá fi ara balẹ̀ á rí imú.
- Literal translation
- If the eyes can be careful enough, they would see the nose.
- Meaning
- Caution helps make difficult tasks achievable, ultimately.
1695
Tí òkété bá dàgbà ọmú ọmọ rẹ̀ ló máa mu
- Literal translation
- When old the bush rat is suckled by its offspring
- Meaning
- Eventually elders depend on those they've raised
1696
Tí omi bá pọ̀ jokà lọ, ọkà a máa dí kókó
- Literal translation
- Excessive water makes the yam flour meal lumpy.
- Meaning
- Too much of even a good thing can be detrimental
1697
Tí omi bá pọ̀ ju okà lọ, ọkà a máa dí kókó.
- Literal translation
- Excessive water makes the yam flour meal lumpy.
- Meaning
- Moderation is crucial; too much of even a good thing can be detrimental
1698
Tí omi ẹni ò bá tí ì tó'ni í wẹ̀, á fi í bọ́'jú ni.
- Literal translation
- If the quantity of water one has won't do for a bath, one simply uses it to wash the face.
- Meaning
- Contentment is it: make the most of what you have; not exactly what you have, but what you do with what you have is what counts.
1699
Tí omi ẹni ò bá tí ì tó'ni í wẹ̀, á máa fi ńbọ́'jú ni.
- Literal translation
- If the amount of water one has won't do for a bath, one ought to wash the face with it.
- Meaning
- Leverage on available opportunities and resources; make the best of what you have, right where you are
1700
Tí ọ̀rẹ́ kan bá ṣubú, èkejì á sì fàá dìde.
- Literal translation
- If one friend falls, another ought to pull him up.
- Meaning
- Lending a helping hand