English Proverbs (उखान )/ Ukhaan

English Proverbs (उखान )/ Ukhaan

1.      Slow and steady wins the race.
Nepali: ढिलो तर सही गतिले दौड जितिन्छ।
English Sentence: Don't rush through your work; remember, slow and steady wins the race.
Nepali Sentence: आफ्नो काम हतारमा नगर, सम्झ राख ढिलो तर सही गतिले दौड जितिन्छ।

2.      Actions speak louder than words.
Nepali: बोलाइ भन्दा कर्म ठुलो।
English Sentence: Don't promise to help; just do it. Actions speak louder than words.
Nepali Sentence: मद्दत गर्छु भनेर वाचा मात्र नगर, गर देखा। बोलाइ भन्दा कर्म ठुलो हुन्छ।

3.      A stitch in time saves nine.
Nepali: समयमा एक टाँकोले नौको बचत गर्छ।
English Sentence: Fix the small leak in your roof now; a stitch in time saves nine.
Nepali Sentence: छतको सानो प्वाल अहिले नै मिलाऊ, किनकि समयमा एक टाँकोले नौको बचत गर्छ।

4.      When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Nepali: जुन देशमा बस्छौ, त्यहाँको चाल चल्नुपर्छ।
English Sentence: You should eat with your hands here; when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Nepali Sentence: तँलाई यहाँ हातले खानुपर्छ, जुन देशमा बस्छौ त्यहाँको चाल चल्नुपर्छ।

5.      Don’t cry over spilt milk.
Nepali: पोखिएको दूधको पछुतो नगर।
English Sentence: I know you lost your money, but don't cry over spilt milk.
Nepali Sentence: मलाई थाहा छ तँले पैसा गुमायौ, तर पोखिएको दूधको पछुतो नगर।

6.      No pain, no gain.
Nepali: दुख बिना सुख छैन। / मिहेनत बिना फल पाइँदैन।
English Sentence: You have to train hard every day; no pain, no gain.
Nepali Sentence: तैँले हरेक दिन कडा अभ्यास गर्नुपर्छ, किनकि दुख बिना सुख छैन।

7.      The early bird catches the worm.
Nepali: बिहानको सुँगुरले मोती पाउँछ। (Direct: Early riser gets the pearl)
English Sentence: I wake up at 5 AM every day because the early bird catches the worm.
Nepali Sentence: म हरेक दिन बिहान ५ बजे उठ्छु किनकि बिहानको सुँगुरले मोती पाउँछ।

8.      Honesty is the best policy.
Nepali: इमानदारी नै उत्तम नीति हो।
English Sentence: You should tell the truth even if it's hard. Honesty is the best policy.
Nepali Sentence: गाह्रो परेपनि तँले सत्य बोल्नुपर्छ, किनकि इमानदारी नै उत्तम नीति हो।

9.      Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Nepali: जहाँ चाहा हुन्छ, त्यहाँ बाटो निस्कन्छ।
English Sentence: Don't give up on your dreams. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Nepali Sentence: आफ्नो सपना नछोड, जहाँ चाहा हुन्छ त्यहाँ बाटो निस्कन्छ।

10. All that glitters is not gold.
Nepali: चम्कने सबै सुन नै हुँदैन।
English Sentence: That car looks nice, but be careful. All that glitters is not gold.
Nepali Sentence: त्यो कार राम्रो देखिन्छ तर सावधान, चम्कने सबै सुन नै हुँदैन।

Each includes a Nepali translation and a natural sentence example.

1.      Practice makes perfect.
Nepali: अभ्यासले पूर्णता ल्याउँछ।
English: Keep trying; practice makes perfect.
Nepali: निराश नहो, अभ्यासले पूर्णता ल्याउँछ।

2.      Look before you leap.
Nepali: हात्ती आयो भन्ने बित्तिकै नपुग, बाटो त हेर। (Literal: Don't rush before checking the road.)
English: Don't marry him so fast — look before you leap.
Nepali: त्यति छिटो निर्णय नगर, हात्ती आयो भन्ने बित्तिकै नपुग।

3.      Better late than never.
Nepali: ढिलो भए पनि नहुनु भन्दा हुनु राम्रो।
English: You finally started studying — better late than never.
Nepali: तिमीले पढ्न थाल्यौ, ढिलो भए पनि नहुनु भन्दा हुनु राम्रो।

4.      Haste makes waste.
Nepali: हतारको काम कुकर्म।
English: Slow down — haste makes waste.
Nepali: हतार नगर, हतारको काम कुकर्म हुन्छ।

5.      Birds of a feather flock together.
Nepali: उस्तै जातको भेट, सँगै बस्छन् उही ठाउँ।
English: No wonder they're friends — birds of a feather flock together.
Nepali: तिनीहरू सबै सँगै देखिन्छन्, उस्तै जातको भेट सँगै हुन्छ।

6.      Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Nepali: बाहिरी रूप देखेर कसैलाई नाप्नु हुँदैन।
English: He looks poor but he's very wise. Don't judge a book by its cover.
Nepali: उसको रूप देखेर नहेर, बाहिरी रूप देखेर कसैलाई नाप्नु हुँदैन।

7.      Out of sight, out of mind.
Nepali: आँखा नदेख्ने, मन नलाग्ने।
English: I forgot to call my old friend. Out of sight, out of mind.
Nepali: मैले पुरानो साथीलाई बोलाउन बिर्सें — आँखा नदेख्ने, मन नलाग्ने।

8.      A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Nepali: काम लाग्दा मात्र साँचो मित्र चिनिन्छ।
English: She helped me when I was sick — a friend in need is a friend indeed.
Nepali: जब म बिरामी थिएँ तब उसले मद्दत गरिन् — काम लाग्दा मात्र साँचो मित्र चिनिन्छ।

9.      Every cloud has a silver lining.
Nepali: हरेक नराम्रोमा केही न केही राम्रो हुन्छ।
English: You lost your job, but now you can start your own business. Every cloud has a silver lining.
Nepali: जागिर गयो, तर अब आफ्नै व्यापार गर्न सक्छौ — हरेक नराम्रोमा केही न केही राम्रो हुन्छ।

10. As you sow, so shall you reap.
Nepali: जसो गर्छौ, त्यसैको फल पाउँछौ।
English: Be kind to everyone. As you sow, so shall you reap.
Nepali: सबैसँग मीठो बोल, किनकि जसो गर्छौ त्यसैको फल पाउँछौ।

25 more proverbs

11. Two heads are better than one.
Nepali: दुई जनाको बुद्धि एक जनाभन्दा राम्रो हुन्छ।
English: Let's solve this problem together; two heads are better than one.
Nepali: यो समस्या सँगै समाधान गरौँ, दुई जनाको बुद्धि एक जनाभन्दा राम्रो हुन्छ।

12. Time is money.
Nepali: समय नै धन हो।
English: Don't waste your morning sleeping — time is money.
Nepali: बिहान सुतेर समय खेर नफाल, समय नै धन हो।

13. Rome was not built in a day.
Nepali: ठूलो काम एकै दिनमा हुँदैन।
English: Keep practicing piano; Rome was not built in a day.
Nepali: पियानो बजाउन अभ्यास गरिरह, ठूलो काम एकै दिनमा हुँदैन।

14. Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Nepali: धेरै जनाको हस्तक्षेपले काम बिग्रन्छ।
English: Only one person should lead this project; too many cooks spoil the broth.
Nepali: यो काममा एक जनाले नेतृत्व गर्नुपर्छ, धेरै जनाको हस्तक्षेपले काम बिग्रन्छ।

15. Easy come, easy go.
Nepali: सजिलै आएको चीज सजिलै जान्छ।
English: He spent his lottery money quickly — easy come, easy go.
Nepali: उसले लट्रीको पैसा छिट्टै खर्च गर्‍यो, सजिलै आएको चीज सजिलै जान्छ।

16. Empty vessels make the most noise.
Nepali: खाली भाँडो धेरै बज्छ।
English: He talks big but does little; empty vessels make the most noise.
Nepali: ऊ धेरै बोल्छ तर काम गर्दैन, खाली भाँडो धेरै बज्छ।

17. Many hands make light work.
Nepali: धेरै हात लागे काम सजिलो हुन्छ।
English: If we all clean together, we'll finish fast. Many hands make light work.
Nepali: सबै मिलेर सफा गर्‍यौँ भने छिट्टै सकिन्छ, धेरै हात लागे काम सजिलो हुन्छ।

18. Prevention is better than cure.
Nepali: उपचारभन्दा बचाउ राम्रो।
English: Wear a helmet while riding; prevention is better than cure.
Nepali: बाइक चलाउँदा हेल्मेट लगाऊ, उपचारभन्दा बचाउ राम्रो।

19. Strike while the iron is hot.
Nepali: मौका छँदै काम गर।
English: Apply for the scholarship now — strike while the iron is hot.
Nepali: छात्रवृत्तिका लागि अहिले नै आवेदन देऊ, मौका छँदै काम गर।

20. All is well that ends well.
Nepali: अन्त राम्रो भए सबै राम्रो।
English: The journey was difficult, but we arrived safely. All is well that ends well.
Nepali: यात्रा कठिन थियो, तर सुरक्षित पुग्यौँ — अन्त राम्रो भए सबै राम्रो।

21. Necessity is the mother of invention.
Nepali: आवश्यकता नै आविष्कारकी जननी हो।
English: We created a simple tool because we needed it. Necessity is the mother of invention.
Nepali: आवश्यकताले हामीले नयाँ साधन बनायौँ, आवश्यकता नै आविष्कारकी जननी हो।

22. A rolling stone gathers no moss.
Nepali: अस्थिर मानिसले प्रगति गर्न सक्दैन।
English: If you keep changing jobs, you may not grow. A rolling stone gathers no moss.
Nepali: बारम्बार काम बदल्यौ भने प्रगति हुँदैन, अस्थिर मानिसले प्रगति गर्न सक्दैन।

23. Make hay while the sun shines.
Nepali: समयमै काम गर।
English: Save money while you're earning well — make hay while the sun shines.
Nepali: राम्रो कमाइ हुँदा बचत गर, समयमै काम गर।

24. The pen is mightier than the sword.
Nepali: कलमको शक्ति तरबारभन्दा ठूलो हुन्छ।
English: Writers can change society; the pen is mightier than the sword.
Nepali: लेखकले समाज बदल्न सक्छन्, कलमको शक्ति तरबारभन्दा ठूलो हुन्छ।

25. Still waters run deep.
Nepali: शान्त मानिसभित्र गहिरो ज्ञान हुन्छ।
English: She speaks little but knows a lot. Still waters run deep.
Nepali: ऊ कम बोल्छे तर धेरै जान्दछे, शान्त मानिसभित्र गहिरो ज्ञान हुन्छ।

26. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Nepali: अधुरो ज्ञान खतरनाक हुन्छ।
English: Don't fix the machine yourself with half knowledge. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Nepali: अधुरो ज्ञानले मेसिन नछोऊ, अधुरो ज्ञान खतरनाक हुन्छ।

27. Beggars can't be choosers.
Nepali: आवश्यकता परेकाले धेरै छनोट गर्न सक्दैन।
English: You needed help, so accept what is offered. Beggars can't be choosers.
Nepali: तिमीलाई मद्दत चाहिएको छ भने दिएको स्वीकार गर, आवश्यकता परेकाले धेरै छनोट गर्न सक्दैन।

28. Curiosity killed the cat.
Nepali: बढी चासोले समस्या ल्याउँछ।
English: Stop opening private files — curiosity killed the cat.
Nepali: अरूको गोप्य कुरा नखोतल, बढी चासोले समस्या ल्याउँछ।

29. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
Nepali: जसले सहयोग गर्छ, उसैलाई धोका नदेऊ।
English: Respect your parents; don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
Nepali: आफ्ना आमाबुबालाई सम्मान गर, जसले सहयोग गर्छ उसैलाई धोका नदेऊ।

30. Fortune favors the brave.
Nepali: साहसीलाई भाग्यले साथ दिन्छ।
English: Start your business confidently; fortune favors the brave.
Nepali: आत्मविश्वासका साथ व्यापार सुरु गर, साहसीलाई भाग्यले साथ दिन्छ।

31. Knowledge is power.
Nepali: ज्ञान नै शक्ति हो।
English: Keep reading books because knowledge is power.
Nepali: किताब पढिरह, किनकि ज्ञान नै शक्ति हो।

32. Laughter is the best medicine.
Nepali: हाँसो सबैभन्दा राम्रो औषधि हो।
English: Watch something funny — laughter is the best medicine.
Nepali: केही रमाइलो हेर, हाँसो सबैभन्दा राम्रो औषधि हो।

33. Let sleeping dogs lie.
Nepali: पुरानो कुरा नकोट्याऊ।
English: Don't mention their old argument; let sleeping dogs lie.
Nepali: उनीहरूको पुरानो झगडा नकोट्याऊ, पुरानो कुरा नकोट्याऊ।

34. Money doesn’t grow on trees.
Nepali: पैसा सजिलै पाइँदैन।
English: Stop wasting cash; money doesn’t grow on trees.
Nepali: पैसा फजुल खर्च नगर, पैसा सजिलै पाइँदैन।

35. No news is good news.
Nepali: नराम्रो खबर नआउनु राम्रो संकेत हो।
English: We haven't heard from the hospital, so no news is good news.
Nepali: अस्पतालबाट खबर आएको छैन, नराम्रो खबर नआउनु राम्रो संकेत हो।