Palau Proverbs (50)

A ungil el merreder a ua chull el melemedem er a daob.

“A good leader, like rain, stills the ocean waves.”

A good leader calms conflict and resolves the troubles of the people.

A chimad el dodersii a chimal a chad el odersii.

“Put out your arm, and a man's hand will reach back.”

People are willing to help when you are willing to ask for it.

A isnged a di kmeed e diak dengetemii.

“Our nose is close to our mouth, yet it cannot be licked.”

Do not be overconfident just because something valuable seems within easy reach.

A mekngit el tekoi a dub, e a ungil el tekoi a ollak.

“Bad words are a curse; good words are a blessing.”

Kind speech is repaid with goodwill, while harsh speech brings harm back on the speaker.

A omkokl el sechou a medinges.

“The heron that rises early is filled.”

Those who begin their work early are more likely to succeed and prosper.

A reched a ioud.

“Fast is late.”

Rushing a task carelessly often produces poor results and even further delay.

A ukall a diak lebo ltitimel.

“An ukall tree will not become a titimel tree.”

A person's fundamental nature does not change, and children tend to take after their parents.

Ng di ua dorael er a medal a oles.

“It is as if we were walking on the blade of a knife.”

Describes navigating a dangerous or delicate situation that demands great care.

Moutekangel e ng kmeda a meched.

“Do not give up; the shallow water is approaching.”

Encourages someone struggling through hardship to persevere, because relief is near.

Ienged el merreder.

“The leader is our cave.”

A good leader shelters and protects their people, as a cave once sheltered villagers from danger.

A bo dechebuul e a kedeiuul oltoir.

“It is the poor man who is chased by beggars.”

Ironically, those who have already lost everything are pursued hardest by creditors, while the wealthy are left in peace.

A mesei a delal a telid.

“The taro field is the mother of our life.”

Honors the taro patch as the traditional source of sustenance and survival for Palauan families.

Ng di sengsongd e mrecherchii a kauang.

“Even a small twig can bring a pot to boil.”

A small contribution or a small cause can lead to a large result.

Ngkora chebiei el Cheangel, el di ta e chutur a ta el suk.

“Like the breadfruit of Kayangel: just one rotten piece spoils the whole bunch.”

One person's bad behavior can damage the reputation of an entire group.

Lak moltoech er a todem.

“Don't stick your fork in.”

A warning to mind one's own business and stay out of others' affairs.

Ng ko er a blsuus el telebudel.

“Puffed out like a puffer fish.”

Describes a boastful person who is full of empty pride.

Ng ko er a bukitang, el meduch el meldelodech a bedengel.

“Like the octopus, able to change the color of its body.”

Describes someone who shifts opinions easily or is too readily swayed by others.

Msisichau e a tutau a kmedang.

“Be strong; the morning is near.”

Encourages someone in a difficult moment to take heart, because relief is coming soon.

A telekangel a dilu meng beluu Ngersuul el miltom er a uel el metom ra mlai.

“Through persistence, the village of Ngersuul endured.”

Encourages continuing on despite repeated setbacks or failures.

A remeteet a ko er a redechel a bngaol el di ruebet e oulkou.

“Those of high family are like the seed pod of the bngaol tree.”

True rank is inherited at birth and needs no outward display to be recognized.

Kid a rechad a milechell er a kosekodel.

“Narrow was our birth as human beings.”

Life begins as a perilous passage, a reminder that human existence is fragile and hard-won from its very first moment.

Choreor ourois a rechad.

“The mountains of Koror are its people.”

A community's true greatness and strength come from its people, not from the land alone.

Kemangel a chimal.

“Long of arm.”

Describes a generous person, whose giving reaches far and is well regarded by others.

Kedeb a chimal.

“Short of arm.”

Describes a miserly person, whose reluctance to give is as if their arm cannot reach outward.

A chemeled a di dongaus er ngii, e durur.

“Even fixing our own betel nut, we still get burned.”

Even in familiar, careful work, mistakes and mishaps can still happen, so no one should be overconfident.

Bekokuii er a reng.

“A sympathetic heart.”

Praises the ability to feel and share in another person's situation as if it were one's own.

Dmolech er a reng.

“A sincere heart.”

Values a calm, honest, and rational approach to resolving problems rather than a defensive one.

A rengud me chodab.

“The heart, and one's own assessment.”

True understanding requires tempering careful judgment with genuine feeling.

Eldochel a klekekered chad a ilkolk.

“The light of youth is darkness.”

Youthful brilliance or confidence is not the same as true wisdom, which comes with age and experience.

Ng ko er a bekerurt el chebis el di ruebet e melalem.

“Like a good spinning top that steadies itself quickly.”

Describes someone who grasps new things or lessons quickly.

A merekos el tekoi, a mechuached a telemtemul.

“Sweet words have a bitter taste.”

Warns that flattering promises are sometimes followed by disappointment or harm.

Ng di ngmai a llechul er a rael.

“He gets his law from the streets.”

Describes someone who learns life's lessons through hard personal experience rather than through guidance from elders.

Ng kmes a usekerel el chad.

“A man whose breechcloth is closed.”

Describes a careful, well-organized person, though the same trait can tip over into excessive frugality.

Ke di lotkii a Chelechang, e diak mletkii a Cherechar.

“You think only of the present, never of the future.”

A criticism of failing to plan ahead and consider the consequences of today's choices.

Ng ko er a Beriber me a Chemaredong.

“It is like the case of Beriber and Chemaredong.”

Refers to neighbors who freely share their surplus with one another, an example of good neighborly cooperation.

Ng ko er a chad er a Ngesias, el ngemuu er a mla mokom.

“It is like the men of Ngesias, clamoring over what they had already lost.”

There is no use lamenting over something that cannot be recovered.

A resechal a reng er tir bad.

“The male heart is like stone.”

Describes the steady, unwavering resolve expected of a true leader.

Emeched el bekall.

“Tacked sails.”

Praises a skillful leader who, like a sailor tacking into the wind, can guide people steadily through difficult times.

Ng ko er a teribsel a daob.

“Like the foam of the ocean.”

Describes something that looks impressive but settles into nothing, with no lasting accomplishment.

Ng kekerei e sechal.

“Though small, still a man.”

Size or stature does not determine a person's worth or capability.

A cherechar a lokelii.

“The distant eras reveal.”

A person's past conduct and history tend to predict how they will act in the future.

A rekung el daob a mla otitech a rekung el beluu.

“Sea crabs have pushed out the land crabs.”

Describes newcomers or outsiders displacing the original people or titleholders of a place.

A remechebuul a klekedellel a beluu.

“Commoners are the tools of the village.”

Recognizes that a community's daily work and strength rest on the labor of its ordinary people.

A ralm a diak locheraol.

“Water costs nothing.”

A reminder, especially to children, that bathing and cleanliness are freely available and should never be neglected.

A ochim a meklechem.

“Your legs are your taro patch.”

Through one's own effort and movement, a person finds opportunity and good fortune.

A redil a desemelel a sechal.

“The woman is the outrigger for the man.”

Just as an outrigger stabilizes a canoe, a spouse provides the balance and support that steadies a household.

A rengalek el sechal a di mekekerei.

“A male child, though small, is like a young barracuda.”

Encourages boys, even while young, to be watchful, alert, and quick-witted.

Ng mechubs a ikrel e mengerem emel.

“Healed on the outside, but rotten within.”

A warning that outward appearances can conceal a hidden problem beneath the surface.

Kemngal osenged.

“A long inspection.”

Refers to closely scrutinizing something suspected to be false, such as counterfeit money, before trusting it.

Bekiu a ngerel.

“Fierce with the mouth.”

Describes someone without real standing who talks back boldly to those with authority, a caution against empty bravado.