Macau Proverbs (34)

Traditional proverbs of Macau in Khmer and English — each with its meaning and source.

一分耕耘，一分收穫

“One part planting, one part harvest.”

Effort brings proportional reward; nothing worthwhile comes without work.

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

路遙知馬力，日久見人心

“A long road tests a horse's strength; time reveals a person's heart.”

True character and worth are only revealed after enough time has passed.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

家和萬事興

“When the family is in harmony, all things prosper.”

Unity and peace within the family are the foundation for success in everything else.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

病從口入，禍從口出

“Illness enters through the mouth; trouble exits through the mouth.”

Careless eating brings sickness, and careless speech brings disaster.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

冰凍三尺，非一日之寒

“Three feet of ice does not form in a single day's cold.”

Major problems build up gradually over time, never overnight.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

不入虎穴，焉得虎子

“If you do not enter the tiger's den, how can you catch its cub?”

Great rewards require the courage to take great risks.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

有志者事竟成

“Where there is a will, the task will be accomplished.”

Determination and persistence carry a person through to eventual success.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

少壯不努力，老大徒傷悲

“If the young do not work hard, the old will grieve in vain.”

Wasted youth leads to regret that cannot be undone in old age.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

塞翁失馬，焉知非福

“When the old man at the frontier lost his horse, how could one know it was not fortune?”

Apparent misfortune may, in time, reveal itself as a hidden blessing.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

滴水穿石

“Dripping water pierces the stone.”

Small, steady effort applied over time can accomplish what force alone cannot.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

一寸光陰一寸金

“An inch of time is an inch of gold.”

Time is as precious as gold and must never be wasted.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

磨刀不誤砍柴工

“Sharpening the axe does not delay the work of cutting firewood.”

Proper preparation is never wasted time, even when it seems to slow you down.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

種瓜得瓜，種豆得豆

“Plant melons and reap melons, plant beans and reap beans.”

You receive the results of exactly what you have sown.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

人心齊，泰山移

“When people's hearts are united, even Mount Tai can be moved.”

Unity among people can overcome even the greatest obstacles.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

良藥苦口利於病

“Good medicine tastes bitter but heals the illness.”

Honest, unpleasant advice is often what benefits a person the most.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

三人成虎

“Three men speaking of a tiger will make people believe it exists.”

A rumor repeated often enough by enough people is eventually believed as truth.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

亡羊補牢，未為遲也

“Mending the pen after the sheep is lost is still not too late.”

It is never too late to fix a mistake and prevent further loss.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

一言既出，駟馬難追

“Once a word leaves the mouth, even a team of four horses cannot chase it back.”

A spoken promise cannot be taken back, so words must be chosen carefully.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

十年樹木，百年樹人

“Ten years to grow a tree, a hundred years to cultivate a person.”

Raising and educating people well takes far longer than growing anything else.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

天下無不散之筵席

“There is no banquet under heaven that does not eventually end.”

Every gathering and every good era eventually comes to a close.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

又要威，又要戴頭盔

“Wanting to look impressive while also wearing a safety helmet.”

Wanting both glory and safety at once, when the two usually cannot go together.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese proverb (colloquial), shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

相見好，同住難

“It is pleasant to meet, but difficult to live together.”

Relationships are often easier at a distance than in daily close contact.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese proverb (colloquial), shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

食得鹹魚抵得渴

“If you choose to eat salty fish, you must be prepared to bear the thirst.”

Accept the consequences of the choices you freely make.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese proverb (colloquial), shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

一樣米養百樣人

“The same rice feeds a hundred different kinds of people.”

People raised in similar conditions can still turn out very differently from one another.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese proverb (colloquial), shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

有麝自然香

“If you truly have musk, its fragrance will naturally spread.”

Genuine talent or virtue does not need advertising; it will be recognized in time.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese-Chinese proverb, shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

蘇州過後冇艇搭

“After Suzhou, there is no boat to catch.”

An opportunity missed at the right moment will not come around again.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Cantonese proverb (colloquial), shared regional heritage of Macau's Cantonese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

Água mole em pedra dura, tanto bate até que fura.

“Soft water strikes hard stone until it bores a hole through it.”

Gentle, steady persistence eventually overcomes even the hardest resistance.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Portuguese proverb, shared heritage of Macau's Portuguese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

Quem tudo quer, tudo perde.

“He who wants everything loses everything.”

Greed for more than one's share often ends in losing what one already has.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Portuguese proverb, shared heritage of Macau's Portuguese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

Devagar se vai ao longe.

“Slowly, one goes far.”

A steady, unhurried pace carries a person further than reckless speed.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Portuguese proverb, shared heritage of Macau's Portuguese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

Mais vale um pássaro na mão do que dois a voar.

“A bird in the hand is worth more than two flying.”

A smaller certain gain is worth more than a larger uncertain one.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Portuguese proverb, shared heritage of Macau's Portuguese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

Antes tarde do que nunca.

“Better late than never.”

Doing something after a delay is still better than never doing it at all.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Portuguese proverb, shared heritage of Macau's Portuguese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

Quem não arrisca, não petisca.

“He who does not risk, does not snack.”

Without taking some risk, a person gains nothing worthwhile.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Portuguese proverb, shared heritage of Macau's Portuguese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

Cada macaco no seu galho.

“Each monkey on its own branch.”

Everyone should stay within their own place, role, or area of expertise.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Portuguese proverb, shared heritage of Macau's Portuguese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition

Grão a grão, enche a galinha o papo.

“Grain by grain, the hen fills its crop.”

Small, steady contributions accumulate into something substantial over time.

Traditional Macau Wisdom

Source: Traditional Portuguese proverb, shared heritage of Macau's Portuguese-speaking community, public-domain oral tradition