Kwaunobva
Tsumo

Tsumo dzevaShona.

Shona proverbs with their meaning, not just the saying, grouped by what each one is for.

Tsvaga tsumo

Uchenjeri

Wisdom and good judgement

Kupedza nyota kuenda padziva.Settle a dispute or question by consulting someone who truly knows the matter.Charovedzera-charovedzera gudo rakakwira mawere kwasviba.Someone used to doing a thing can manage it even when there are obstacles in the way.Kuziva mbuya huudzwa.To gain knowledge of something you must be told by those who already know it; all wisdom comes from being taught by others.Dzvinyu kuzambe zuva huona bako.Someone who does something they know could get them into trouble has already prepared a way out, knowing the tricks needed to escape it.Nzou haikarari ina makaka.Someone who has something they know they could lose does not talk about it much; a mother with a newborn avoids arguing or quarrelling with a suspected witch, choosing to stay quiet so her child is not bewitched.Tsvaga zano iwe une rakowo.Help yourself first before asking others for assistance, so that you can carry on.Kuchenjera kuruka nhava.A clever person is one who plans ahead where to keep what they are looking for.Ziriwo rechembere ziramba waravira.Do not refuse something outright before you have seen or tried it, because you might end up wanting it, and it might have been useful to you.Kuramba nyama yechidembo hunger nine yetsuro.Refusing something you were given, saying it is bad or unsuitable, means you must have something else in mind that you think is better than what you refused.Kureva ndokunei kutarisa kurevawo.A look can say as much as words; people often understand a glance better than anything that could be said aloud.Kurova mbira kurova bako.Know the ways to get what benefits you; you find what you want by consulting with others who can help.Matukirwo ababa kunema mwana.When someone wants to say something to an elder but fears it will anger them, they often speak as if addressing a child, so the elder hears it indirectly.Zino irema rinosekerera anorivenga.Out of ignorance, a person might grow fond of someone who actually hates them enough to want them dead.Wazarira bako mvura ichada kunaya.Do not dismiss or reject something that could help you, thinking a hardship has already passed, when it may still be coming.Usapedza mapfumo mukubaya nhema idzo nzou dzichauya.People often waste their energy and time on small matters, then find themselves without the resources to deal with big problems when they arrive.Kushaya mano kwendiro kupakurirwa isingadyi.It shows foolishness when someone is given a blessing but fails to make use of it.Kushaya mano kwomusikana kukungira sadza chibhakira.A young person may boast about something helpful without realising they could lose it later in life.Mwana muduku kudziva musendo noruoko iwo uchazomudziva womene.Many people will not heed a warning about danger until they have seen the danger for themselves; only then do they learn caution.Kurava mbudzi nedzisipo kurava nedzava matoo.It is better to rely on what you can currently verify than on something you can no longer confirm, since the situation may have already changed.Maunga marema kudya muti waagere.It shows a lack of foresight to damage or destroy the very thing that would save or benefit you, like cutting down an entire fruit tree just to get its fruit.Kusaziva mumvuri worufu.Someone who does not know something is like someone who is dead; elders say this of people who show ignorance of things known and understood by others.Usatsvaga nhava muuswa iro sora ratsva.It rarely helps to search for something when you already know for certain that it is no longer there.(Deno) Ndakaziva haitungamiri.Listen to others' advice so you do not later regret saying 'if only I had known', because by then it will already have happened.Nherera inozviudza yoga.A person must learn to look out for themselves; especially if they are poor or an orphan with no family to rely on, they must be careful about their own life.Pamanyore hapasimudzwi hapwa dzinozosimudzwa chapo chamuka.To get what you want from a place or from other people, you must first hide your own faults until you have received everything you wanted.Kutanda imbwa ikandire hona.If you find that someone constantly asking you for things is wearing you down, give them a little of what they want so they stop coming back.Chisi chako kuita musoko-musoko unodya wakatarisa kumusuo.If you are using something that is not yours, or something borrowed, you should hurry, since the owner could take it back from you at any time while you are using it.Kutaura kwowadye ganda kunokunda wadya mushuna.Often, a person who knows little is the one who boasts loudly, claiming to know a great deal; those who truly know tend to stay quiet about it.Chidokodoko chirera muviri chikuru chinozouya wakora.For something to become great and significant, it must first have started out small. Everyone who succeeds at doing things starts by doing small things. No one is born already accomplished or skilled.Kupfuura nomuchinanga hugonda neshangu.If you see someone doing something they know is dangerous and difficult, they must already know what they are doing.Imbwa kuminya hona inodada nechivhuno.Seeing someone confidently taking on something they know could put them in danger shows they have something they are relying on.Zimutsa bope kudyidzana nembwa.Keep company with someone who is unstable or reckless for long enough, and you will eventually get hurt by them.Chiripo chariuraya zizi harifi roga nemhepo.Everything that happens does so because someone caused it; nothing happens by magic without a reason.Kuroora mukadzi roora muroyi unofuma wowana chinokurwisira daka.Sometimes something that most people despise is actually the very thing that helps you; it is worth keeping even something considered bad, because it might one day come to your defence in times of trouble.Chikuriri chine chimwe.What is great now will be surpassed by another.Chitsva chiri murutsoka.You gain new experiences by moving to different places.Chiri mumusakasaka chinozvinzwira.People take from group advice only what applies to their own situation.Chitaurirwa hunyimwa mbare dzekumusana.You never get the full information and appreciation from being told, rather than seeing for yourself.Guyu kutsvuka kutsvuka zvaro asi mukati rine masvosve.Some things look attractive from outside but are not so good inside.Igaroziva kuti mhanza yembudzi iri mumabvi.Things are not what they seem.Imbwa nyoro ndidzo tsengi dzamatovo.The innocent-looking are often the guilty.Kamoto kamberevere kakapisa matanda mberi.Small issues can grow large enough to cause big problems.Kure kwegava ndiko kusina mutsubvu.A place is only too far when there is nothing you want there; people will go any distance for what they love, as a jackal travels far for the tsubvu fruit it loves.Kure kwemeso nzeve dzinodya.You don't have to be present somewhere to know what happened there.Kuziva ambuya huudzwa.Everything you know, you were taught by someone.Mviromviro yemhanza mapfeka.Big events are predicted by early signs.Mombe yekurunzirwa ndeyekukama wakarinde nzira.You can never use borrowed things as freely as if they were your own.Nzenza mumvuri, asvika anovanda zuva.A cautious person keeps out of sight and avoids drawing attention to themselves.Rinamanyanga hariputirwi mushushunje.Nothing can be hidden forever.Ramba kuudzwa akaonekwa nembonje pahuma.Those who forsake warnings and advice often fall into calamity.Rega zvipore akabva mukutsva.A burnt child dreads the fire.Regai dzive shiri, mazai haana muto.Wait for events to fully mature instead of harvesting or celebrating prematurely.Yadeuka yadeuka mvura yemuguchu haidyorerwi.What has happened cannot be undone.Zano ndega akasiya jira mumasese.Those who forsake warnings and advice often fall into calamity.Zizi harina nyanga.Things are not what they seem.Zviro zviyedzwa chembere yekwaChivi yakabika mabwe ikanwa muto.You never know what is rewarding unless you try.Zvikoni zvikoni mimba haibvi negosoro.Some things cannot be dealt with by simplistic solutions.Afamba apota.Someone who has travelled widely has gained broad experience and knowledge, more than someone who has never left home.Aiva madziva ave mazambuko.Things that were once great and mighty can, with time, dwindle into something small and insignificant.Akabata sando anongoona chese-chese sechipikiri.A person who only knows one way of doing things applies that same method to everything, even where it does not fit.Akoromoka awa.Misfortune or downfall can strike suddenly and without warning, just as a riverbank can suddenly give way and collapse.Akumhina afamba hazvienzani naTigere.Someone who limps along but keeps going is better off than one who never set out; Tigere is 'the one who stays seated'. Doing something, however poorly, beats doing nothing.Akwewa sanzu akwewa namashizha aro.When you take on something, you take all that comes with it, the good along with the bad.Ane bedzi ndeane rake kudzana anopururudza.Whoever has a fool in the family owns them: when that fool dances, it is their own people who ululate. People stand by their own, whatever others think.Ane mombe yake anoziva makumire ayo.An owner best understands the nature and habits of what belongs to them; you know your own affairs better than anyone else.Ashamba haanokorerwi.Someone who has washed their hands for the meal is not dished up for: a grown person who is ready takes their own share and does for themselves.Ateya mariva murutsva haachatyi kusviba magaro.Once you commit to doing something, you must be ready to accept whatever unpleasant side effects come with it.Atswinya arwa.Whoever gave even a pinch has taken part in the fight: small help still counts as help.Benzi bvunza rakanaka.No one should be dismissed entirely; even someone thought foolish may have something worthwhile to offer if you take the time to ask.Benzi raramba mbanda harirapiki.A person who refuses good counsel or help cannot be helped; rejecting correction only leaves the problem unresolved.Benzi rikasaimba manjemanje richamhanya bani.Someone who fails to keep up with the changing times gets left behind and isolated from everyone else.Bere zvarakatya mapapata aro mangani.Someone who has been hurt before learns to be wary of situations that could bring them harm again.Chada mwoyo hachikoni, mwoyo chiremba.What you truly and wholeheartedly desire cannot be denied you; determination itself is what carries a person through to success.Chafamba chasvava.Something that has travelled a long way tends to lose its original strength or truth, much as a story changes and fades the further it spreads.Chafamba kamwe hachiteivi.What passes by only once is not trapped: a first offence is usually forgiven, in the expectation that it will not be repeated.Chakabaya chikachokera.Once something hurtful strikes, its impact goes deep; it is not something that simply passes over lightly.Chakadya chakaoneka, mutanda wakasiya mbare.A wrong leaves its mark: the burning log that passed has left scorch marks behind, and a hurt done to someone stays with them long after.Chakanaka chakanaka mukaka haurungwi (munyu).Something that is genuinely good needs no further enhancement; true quality speaks for itself.Chakatanga ndochakachenjedza.The first experience of something is what teaches caution for what follows.Chapinda munzeve chavaridza bonde.Something heard can be enough to keep a person awake at night turning it over in their mind.Chati homu chareva.A decisive act or blunt sound can settle a matter on its own; once it happens, nothing more needs to be said.Chauya masikati charamba ndima, chauya usiku charamba hope.A serious trouble disrupts everything, work by day and rest by night alike, leaving a person no peace at any hour.Chava chigondora chava chimombe kutadza kutunga hurema hwacho.Once a calf has grown into a full beast, failing to gore is its own weakness: a person who has grown up has no excuse left for failing to stand up for themselves or do their part.Chavavana batisisa, mudzimu haupi kaviri.Hold on firmly to what you have been given, because such an opportunity is not likely to come around a second time.Chawira pasi mudzimu wembwa.Once something is dropped or abandoned, it is fair game for whoever picks it up, however lowly.Chimene chezizi, parafamba hanzi muroyi.Even a small, ordinary sign from something already associated with misfortune, like an owl, is quickly read as proof of witchcraft.Chibage chinovandira kune vasina meno.A good thing is of no use to someone without the means or capacity to make use of it.Chibwe chiremera chavari kure, vari pedyo vanotamba nacho.A task looks difficult to those unfamiliar with it or watching from a distance, but those close to it and skilled in it handle it with ease.Chidokodoko chirere muviri, chikuru chinozouya wakora.A little food keeps the body going; the big meal will find you already well fed. Small gains sustain a person until greater things come.Chidyamatoo akadzipwa neganda remhuru.Unchecked greed, taking on anything without discernment, can end up harming the very person who indulges in it.Chidziva chakadzikama ndicho chinogara ngwena.Still waters run deep; a calm exterior can conceal something dangerous or significant.Chigere ibwe, muti unowa.What is steady and grounded, like a stone, endures, while what merely stands tall and proud, like a tree, eventually falls.Chikakarara nganda reshumba/nzou.Even something mighty, once it falls, still shows its former greatness in how it lies.Chimwe nachimwe chine nguva yacho.Everything has its proper time; nothing should be rushed or unduly delayed.Chinobhururuka chinomhara.Nothing stays elevated forever; everything that rises eventually comes back down, whether that is pride or hardship.Chinokura chinokotama, musoro wegudo chave chinokoro.Age and time reshape the body, just as an old baboon's head comes to curve like a spoon.Chinono chine'ngwe, bere rakadya richifamba.Slowness belongs to the leopard; the hyena eats while it walks. Do things promptly, since delay lets the chance slip away.Chinorwadza chinogutsa auya nacho.Worthwhile things often come at the cost of hardship, but once achieved they bring the greatest satisfaction.Chinotanga mberi mashura.Before anything significant happens, warning signs usually appear first, pay attention to them.Chinotaura ndechiri mumusungo, chiri muriva chinoti denga rava.Someone in trouble who can still cry out for help still has hope; someone in truly desperate straits, unable even to call out, has already given up.Chinotanga kukambaira, kufamba kunouya kwega.Everything begins with small first steps; greater achievement follows naturally with time and practice.Chinozipa chinoregwa.Sometimes a person must give up even something pleasant, if it is harmful or not right for them.Chinya chegurwe kudashura gumbo neshungu.Excessive, reckless eagerness can end up causing harm to yourself, like a locust breaking its own leg in its haste.Chipitipiti chakazvara chimwandamwanda.Haste gives birth to scattering: what is rushed, a friendship that starts too hot among them, ends in pieces.Chirega kutya kununa, iwe wakasasikwa.Stop being afraid of growing fat, you who were castrated: once you have taken on a situation, do not fear what naturally comes with it.Chiripo chariuraya zizi, harifi nemhepo.Things happen for real, identifiable reasons; nothing occurs entirely without cause.Chirungurira chirwere, ukanyara unofa nacho.Speak up about what troubles you so that you can get help; staying silent out of shame can be fatal.Chisi chako hachibatsiri, unodya wakaringa kumusuwo.What is not yours is of little use to you: you eat it watching the door, in case the owner comes for it.Chisi chako, masimba mashoma.What is not yours, your power over it is small: you have little say over something that belongs to someone else.Chisi chako, rembedza maoko, rega kukungira hata.What is not yours, let your hands hang and do not make a head-pad to carry it: leave other people's things and business alone.Chura kugara mumvura handi kunwa.Being close to something is not the same as benefiting from it; a person can be surrounded by wealth or opportunity without actually partaking of it.Dai ndakaziva haitungamire.Regretful hindsight always comes after the fact; no one has the foresight to know beforehand.Dindingwe rinonaka richakweva rimwe, kana iro rokwehwa roti mavara angu azare'vhu.Being beautiful or standing out draws attention and envy, so much that a person may sometimes wish to hide or dull their own distinction to avoid it.Dzakatamba nepwete dzikareswa kudzorerwa.Careless meddling can leave you with hard work trying to set things right afterward.Dzvinyu kuzamba zuva huona bako.Be cautious in whatever you do, always keeping an escape route within reach in case things go wrong.Fodya haina manenji semhamba.Snuff causes no scenes the way beer does: drink brings trouble and strange behaviour that tobacco does not.Fodya haina shura sedoro.Beer tends to bring trouble and conflict in a way that snuff does not, a caution about the dangers of drink.Fungira mumoyo rwedo rwembwa.A nagging suspicion in the heart is often an early warning sign, like a dog's quiet growl before it barks in earnest.Gangaidzwa mukwenyi mhezi yawavira mumoyo.Stirring up a matter that already stings deep in the heart only adds to the pain, like reopening a wound before it has healed.Gona ana gona vakewo.No one is the ultimate expert; even a highly skilled person has others who surpass them in turn.Gondo kuengerera raona zumbu.A person's interest becomes visible once they have spotted an opportunity worth pursuing, just as an eagle begins circling once it has sighted its prey.Gonzo mhini gara mumwena chakaipa chikuwaniremo.Even someone hiding away out of caution can still be found by misfortune; nowhere is entirely safe.Gore jena chiregopenya ungazotorerwa ushe nedema.During times of success, do not become boastful or complacent, since fortune can turn and take your position away.Gore haribvi pakabva rimwe.Each period of time is different from the last; do not assume things will unfold the same way twice.Gunguo rakaramba kumirira museve rikapona nehwakumukwaku.Acting quickly at the first sign of danger, rather than waiting to see what happens, is often what saves you.Gunguo rinodya mbamba, rino muchero waro.Every creature has its provision: the crow that lives on groundnuts has its food provided, and so every person, however poor, finds a way to live.Hakuna bura rinoswatanukira panze rabva muvhu rakakombama.Something that begins on a crooked path rarely comes out straight in the end; a good outcome needs a proper beginning.Hakuna dziva risina chura.Every place or group has its share of trouble or its own difficult characters; nothing is entirely free of them.Hanya nani chidoma chekwaChivi.A dismissive expression for something trivial, not worth worrying over.Hapana angagone chisingagoneke naGona.If even the most skilled person cannot accomplish something, then nobody can.Hapana mukuyu unovinga shiri.A person of real worth does not need to chase after others; people come to them, the way birds come to a fruit-bearing tree.Hauzivi tsanga inokodza tsambakodzi.You never know in advance which small effort or opportunity will be the one that brings success, so do not dismiss small chances.Hope hadzina ndima.Sleep can overtake a person anywhere, without regard for time or place.Hove dzinokwira dzine muronga.Even a difficult undertaking still needs to follow a proper method or path; nothing hard is achieved by accident.Hove huru dzinodyira kwodoka.Great rewards often come only in their own proper time, after patient waiting.Idambudziko rehope kurota kwawakarambwa.Painful past experiences can resurface even in dreams, beyond a person's control.Ikamwe pagore hembe yenherera.Something that happens only rarely, like the one new piece of clothing an orphan might receive in a whole year.Imbwa yakwavarara yatya.A dog that lies down has given in: someone who humbles themselves and asks for pardon should be spared.Kamoto kamberewere kanopisa matanda mberi.A small problem left unaddressed can grow to consume something much bigger down the line.Kamupungurunje kahove kanyama kasina muto.Something meager and insubstantial leaves you unsatisfied, like meat served without its gravy.Kana shumba ikashaya nyama inodya uswa.In times of real need, even the proud and mighty must accept lesser means to survive.Kana wadya imbwa idya iri hono.If you are going to commit to something, commit fully rather than doing it by halves.Kangoma kana koririsa kawa pedyo nekuda kubvaruka.Something at its loudest, most intense peak is often closest to breaking down or coming to an end.Kuchenjedza nyamukuta kuzvara uchada.Taking guidance from those with real experience makes even a hard undertaking go well and with confidence.Kudyirwa munda nembwa sendakarima nyama.Entrust your work to the wrong keeper and they will ruin it, because destroying it simply comes naturally to them.Kuera dziva igumbo ribodzi, makumbo ese unoerera.Test the depth of a pool with one foot; step in with both and you are swept away. Try a new thing carefully before committing yourself to it wholly.Kufira mafufu segonzo.To die chasing something of little worth, the way a mouse perishes in the ashes hunting mere scraps.Kugocha kunoda kwaamai kwemwana kunodzima moto.Some tasks require real skill and experience; someone without it will only spoil the job in trying.Kugona mbavha kuironzera.Catching a thief takes careful watching and vigilance, not simply waiting for them to show themselves.Kungotya nyanga dzezizi nyamba manhenga.Fearing only the small, visible danger while overlooking the greater one hidden alongside it.Kunzi pakata handi kunzi ridza.Holding something is not the same as knowing how to use it; you can be entrusted with a thing without truly mastering it.Kuramba dzvuku kuona jena.Once you have known something of real quality, you stop settling for what is inferior.Kuravidza chembere muto wegwaya mangwana inofira mudziva.Giving someone a small taste of something good can stir up a craving strong enough to lead them into danger.Kure kwegava ndokusina mutsubvu.A long journey feels short when there is something worthwhile drawing you along the way.Kurembera kwedamba handiko kuwa.Showing signs of weakness or decline does not mean something is finished for good.Kurera imbwa rera inoruma igokudzivirira mupfumvu.Someone or something with an irritating flaw may still be worth keeping, if it protects you from a far greater danger.Kuriona guyu kutsvukira, mukati rizere masvosve.Something that looks appealing on the outside is not always as good on the inside.Kurova imbwa wakaviga mupini.To beat a dog while hiding the stick is to go about a thing indirectly: talking around a matter instead of coming straight to the point.Kurova tsuro negwenzi rayo.Defeating someone by turning their own ground or their own methods against them.Kurumwa netsikidzi rambira mumba, kubuda panze unorumwa mhuno nebere.When forced to choose between two evils, put up with the smaller one rather than risk the greater one.Kusaziva kufa.A person without knowledge is nearly as helpless as one who is dead, unable to protect or help themselves.Kuyewedza semhiripiri mukati izere uturu.Something can look tempting on the surface while carrying real danger underneath.Makata anoshura materu.A great commotion often burns itself out quickly, leaving quiet in its place.Makunguo zvaakatya akafa mangani.Being cautious does not fully protect anyone from harm; even the wary still fall victim in the end.Manakira kure mvura yemubvumbi.Something can look pleasant from a distance, the way a light drizzle does, only to disappoint once you are close enough to feel it properly.Manatsa mukanwa ndonda kurota ichiyamwa.Fine talk alone accomplishes nothing without real action behind it, like a paralysed person merely dreaming of nursing.Manenji kuona kamba ichitamba nembudzi.When something highly unusual happens, people take notice and start to wonder what is really going on.Manomano emuroyi kunyepera kutya dzvinyu akasungirira nyoka muchiuno.Someone may put on a show of fearing something small and harmless while secretly holding something far more dangerous.Manyengedza pfungwa efodya kuzadza dama nehutsi husingasviki kuguru.Something can offer a fleeting sense of satisfaction that never actually delivers the real fulfilment you were after.Mapudzi anovira kusina hari.Things can still get done even without the resources or setup people would normally expect to be needed.Matende mashava anovazva doro.Good results come from having the right tools or the right preparation in the first place.Mucheri wegurwe mutevedzeri, mudimbidziri anorasa mwena.Following the proper, established way through a task leads to success; trying to take a shortcut often ruins it.Mudzimu waro bonga kuwana huku dzichirwa.Some people have a knack for benefiting whenever others around them are already caught up in conflict.Muramba kukombwa muramba hweni.Avoiding being cornered by a problem means keeping away from it from the very start.Muromo hauzarirwi nerwizi.Speech cannot truly be held back; words find their way out no matter what stands in their path.Muromo kapako kekuhwanda nako.A person can use words as a place to hide their true feelings or real intentions.Muroyi ndishe.Someone wielding hidden, feared power can command obedience just as a legitimate ruler would.Musanyengerera makudo neanokamhina.Do not take on a sharp opponent with a weak plan; they will see through it and get the better of you.Mushonga haubati pasina ronda.A remedy only makes sense where there is an actual problem for it to address.Muswe wekutumira haurebi.Someone sent to carry out a task should get on with it, not drag it out longer than needed.Muto wetsenza ndiwo mumwe.Some things stay exactly the same no matter where you encounter them.Muzivi wenzira yeparuware ndiye mufambi wayo.True knowledge of something comes from having actually done it, not merely hearing about it.Mviromviro yemhanza inotanga shosha.A big problem often starts out small and unnoticed before it grows into something visible to everyone.Mvura haitori warema.Someone with real substance and standing is not easily swept away by hardship, unlike those without it.Mvura inonaya yatanga hore.Nothing significant happens without warning signs showing up first.Mvura yembambara tiza ichabva kure.Some dangers need to be guarded against well ahead of time, even while they still seem far off.Mwana wenyoka inyoka haina muduku.Something dangerous by nature stays dangerous, however small or young it may still appear.N’anga haizvirapi.Someone skilled at helping others with a certain problem often cannot resolve that very same problem for themselves.Ndambakuudzwa akaonekwa nembonje pahuma.Someone who refuses good advice usually ends up learning the hard way, with the scars to show for it.Ndezvemeso muromo zvinyarare.Some things are meant to be quietly observed, not spoken about; discretion matters.Ndisvike-ndisvike inoradza vazhinji panzira.Putting things off with the thought that you'll get there eventually often means you never actually do.Nerimwe zuva gava richadimbura musungo.Given enough persistence, even someone caught in a difficult situation will eventually break free.Ngoma tamba vamwe vachatamba.Take the first step yourself, and others will often follow your lead.Ngwena haidyi chabamba charo chinoza neronga.A person of standing and good character does not grab or eat greedily; like the crocodile, whose food comes to it down the channel, they wait for what they are served or invited to.Nhasi chineni mangwana chinewe.Whatever misfortune strikes someone today could just as easily strike you tomorrow, so do not mock them for it.Nhumbu ibakwa rehuni inochengeta nyoka nemakonzo.A person's inner self can conceal all sorts of hidden things that never show on the outside.Nhunzi haimhari pasina ronda.Trouble and gossip rarely gather around something unless there is a real issue behind it.Nyakuravira ndiye anoziva kuti nyama yaibva.Real, firsthand knowledge comes only from having experienced something yourself.Nyoka huru haizvirumi.A big snake does not bite itself: the head of a family does not turn against their own people.Nzanga inokura yerema, yomuchenjeri inoparara.Life does not always reward wisdom the way it should; sometimes the foolish prosper while the wise falter.Nzira ine minzwa ndiyo ine ushe.Real greatness is usually reached by way of a hard road, not an easy one.Nzira masanga.There is more than one way to reach the same goal in life.Pabva zino rave vende.Once something is lost or taken away, its absence tends to stay visible for a long time afterward.Pachapwa madziva miramba tichanyurura.People tend to eat their fill at the funeral of a wealthy person: when the pools dry up, the barbel are there for the taking.Pane machikichori miromo inovanda.Boastful talk tends to fall silent the moment real danger actually shows up.Pasina nyimo makunguo aizodyei.If there were no kind-hearted people, who would help those in need? The crows live on the groundnuts that others grow.Pfimbi yegudo, gare-gare yapfukunurwa.No secret stays hidden forever; sooner or later it comes to light.Pfini yenyoka kuruma chaisingadyi.Harm can strike indiscriminately, even reaching those who pose no threat or benefit to whoever is causing it.Pfupa jena rakabva munyama.Something good and pure can still emerge out of circumstances that were far from clean.Rega kutsindira mwena unobuda ishwa.Do not stop up the hole the flying termites come out of: do not shut off a source of good that still benefits you.Rima rinoshura chiedza.Hard times are often a sign that brighter days are still to come.Rina manyanga hariputirwi mumushunje.Something truly significant cannot be concealed for long; its presence shows through regardless.Rwomuranda rwakoneswa norwashe, rwashe rwakoneswa nemvura kunaya.There is always something greater that can override even the most powerful person's plans.Soko harivhikwi.An important matter cannot be hidden away forever; the truth tends to surface eventually.Tambe tambe vanoda varivo.No one should be forced into something they do not want; real participation has to come from choice.Tichaona kunowira tswimbo nedohwe.How things will really turn out is something only time will show, not something we can decide by guessing now.Tsuro haipunyuki rutsva kaviri.You cannot count on the same stroke of luck saving you every single time.Tswanda inorema yasvika.A load feels heaviest as you near the end of the journey: a task is most tiring just before it is finished.Ubatebate hunourayisa.Handling something dangerous too casually, without proper care, can end up seriously harming you.Uchenjere kudya nzungu zvese nemhutwa.Care and attention are needed even in the simplest, most routine things.Ugaro mwena kutevedza hunoguma.Relying on shelter or support that belongs to someone else does not last forever.Ukadzinga tsuro mbiri imwe inopunyuka.Chasing two goals at the same time usually means losing at least one of them.Ukangosekerera hwiza mangwana dzinokudyira muriwo.Being too lenient with a small problem now lets it grow into something far more damaging later.Ukuru hurema hahuvanzwi.True greatness or importance makes itself known; it cannot stay concealed for long.Upenyu imhindupindu.Life is never a straight line; it constantly shifts between good times and bad.Ura mapako hunozvara mbava nemuroyi.The womb is a cave with many chambers: the same mother may bear a thief and a witch. Children of one family can turn out quite unlike one another and unlike their parents.Urombo hwematede kunaiwa nemvura makurwe ari mumhatso.Foolishness can lead to needless suffering, even when help is close at hand and ready to use.Usachenjedza n’anga kurapwa uchada.Do not try to be cleverer than the very expert whose help you actually need; you only undermine yourself.Usadzinganisa tsuro nemunyu muchanza.Do not presume success before you have actually achieved the thing you are after.Usakangira nyimo vane meno avo havo.Do not do for someone what they are perfectly capable of doing for themselves.Usakurumidza kumedza kutsenga uchada.Do not rush a process that still needs careful, unhurried attention before it is properly done.Usakusha mbeu mvura yaenda.Certain things need to be done at the right time, not after the opportunity has already passed.Usaona imbwa kunyenama ukati unokusekerera.Do not mistake a clear warning sign for friendliness; recognise real danger when you see it.Usapinza munwe mumwena unobuda wareba.Think through the consequences before getting involved in something that could seriously affect you.Usaruka nhava sora ratsva.Prepare while the means to do so are still available, not after they have already been lost.Usashore nyemba nedzinozvimbira.Do not criticise something for going through a process it naturally needs to reach its proper end.Usatamba nematope pasina mvura.Do not attempt something without having the proper means available to actually do it.Usavaka danga pasina mombe.Do not put in elaborate preparation for something that does not actually exist or is not going to happen.Usaverenga mbeva nemudune.When it is time to work, do not count on people who cannot do the job; they only swell the numbers without adding anything, as shrews do when counted with mice.Usiku humwe hauodzi nyemba.Significant things take real time to come together properly; they cannot be rushed to completion.Usiku igore.A single night of danger or waiting can feel as long as an entire year.Utsi hwenyama hautosvori.A person does not mind being troubled while going after something they truly want; despite discomfort, they persevere until they succeed.Uzivi wenzira huri mugumbo.Real knowledge of a path comes from having actually walked it yourself, not from merely hearing about it.Vakachenjera havatsvairani mbeva.Sensible people do not waste effort doing pointless favours for each other.Vakakavira mhepo vachacheka chamupupuri.Someone who recklessly courts trouble often ends up facing consequences far bigger than they bargained for.Waniwa haichatyi kufamba mudova.Someone already soaked by the rain no longer fears walking through the dew: once you have faced the worst, lesser troubles do not frighten you.Wenhamo haachatyi kufamba murima.Someone who has already suffered greatly is no longer frightened by lesser dangers that follow.Wenhamo haaneti.Necessity keeps someone in hardship pushing on without giving up, since stopping is not an option for them.Yadeuka yadeuka, mvura yemuguchu haiorerwi.There is no use lamenting something already lost; better to move on.Zano marairanwa.Good counsel usually comes through consulting one another, not from a single person alone.Zano pangwa, une rako.Listen to the advice others give you, but do not forget to also weigh it against your own judgment.Zano vaviri.A decision made with more than one mind behind it tends to be a better one.Zino irema rinosekerera varisingadi.Out of ignorance, a person may be friendly with someone who secretly hates them: the foolish tooth smiles even at those who wish it harm.Zvakona n’anga murapwa achida.Sometimes even expert help fails, no matter how much the sufferer still longs to be healed.Zizi kurungwa munyu roti ndava hukuwo.Dressing something up on the surface does not actually change what it fundamentally is underneath.Zuva igore, rinodoka rava namarevo mavi namavuya.A single day can hold as much happening, both good and bad, as an entire year.Zvaitika zvaitika, bhurugwa rebenzi risingazivi mberi kana shure.There is little point dwelling on something already done that cannot be undone.Zvinhu zviedzwa, chembere yekwaChivi yakabika mabwe ikanwa muto.Under real pressure, people will attempt even the most unlikely things in their determination to survive.Zviroto zviroto.Dreams should not be taken as certainty; they are not the same as what actually happens in real life.

Unhu

Character and how a person carries themselves

Chirema ndechina mazano chinotamba chakazendama kumadziro.Anyone who knows they have a weakness, in body or in mind, finds their own ways of working around it so that they are not laughed at or defeated in life.Tenda muchero wadya zvinotenza mwoyo.One should give thanks for something's success only once they have seen its reward.Nhava yebenzi haitani kusakara.Someone who does not look after their belongings properly finds they wear out quickly.Chivendekete anoseka chimedure.A person doing wrong often likes pointing at others' faults without considering their own.Chafamba kamwe hachiteyiwi.When someone commits an offence for the first time, they are usually forgiven, in the expectation that they will not repeat such an offence again.Kuzengurira izwi romukuru kuramba mhangwa.When an elder gives you a warning, accept it, because you might otherwise reject good advice that could help you.Rega kubvunza nyama kuti ndeyokugocha ive muto uchiuona.It is thoughtless to ask how something happened when you can clearly see for yourself what caused it; it would be embarrassing to ask 'has someone died here?' while watching people mourning at a grave.Rega kuvera nyoka negavi iyo iripo.A snake frightens people even when it is dead, so nobody wants to handle one, yet a man who boasts of courage is dared to measure it with his hands rather than a string. In the same way, when a matter comes to a real dispute, one must speak the plain truth directly, even at some risk.Mazvokuda kufa namaronda enyora.People do not feel sympathy for someone who brings danger or death upon themselves by their own choice.Ndomene haichemedzi.Trouble you bring on yourself gives you no grounds to complain; if your own doing hurts you, there is no one else to blame.Munhu - munhu hazvienzani nembwa.A person, however disabled or blind, is still a person and deserves to be treated as one.(Chinhu) chinodyiwa chino murandu.It is Shona custom that food, such as beer, must first be formally offered before being given to people; it is not proper for someone to simply help themselves to something not yet offered to them.Chomukuru hachikumbirwi.Elders are rarely asked for things; rather, they are the ones who give to the young unprompted. It is not good practice for the young to get into the habit of asking their elders for things, even food.Chirozva mauya ndicho chiumza mavi.A person who enjoys destroying good things is often the same one who brings about bad things.Imbwa yavata yatya.Someone who kneels and begs for forgiveness should be forgiven, because this shows they are afraid and remorseful.Chitende chinorema ndechine mhodzi.A person is given respect when they have good character or something else that shapes good conduct and supports them; such a person is admired by many.Mukadzi womumwe ndimbuya.Another man's wife should be respected like a mother-in-law, because getting too familiar with her could tempt you into wanting her and land you in trouble; a wise man does not flirt with other men's wives.Apotanechuru avanda.When a wrongdoer flees and hides, even behind someone who cannot protect them, they should be forgiven, because hiding shows they know they did wrong.Kurebesa muromo unodya chedemo chebanga hauchiwani.An axe chopping wood makes noise that draws people to it, but a knife cutting makes no sound unless someone is told. A person who cannot keep a secret is not invited to things done in private, and only gets to share in what is done openly.Dai pasina nyimo makunguo aizodyei?If there were no kind-hearted people, who would help those in need? God made every person knowing how they would live, so even the disabled and the blind survive with help from the generous.Kureva chikwereti kumurombo kunema Mwari.To demand repayment of a debt from someone who has nothing is like insulting and disrespecting God, since it was God who created that person.Aguta haaoneki.When someone has been treated well enough to feel fully satisfied, they usually leave quietly, as if they want nothing more; but someone who is not satisfied lingers, hoping to be given more.Chitsva-chitsva munamba wejenachena.Whenever a person gets something new, they think everything else has become old and no longer want it.Ane jira ndeane rukunara (rusakara) ane idzva akariwana meso atsvuka.Someone who gets something new today should not look down on someone with something old, because the one with the old thing once had something too, when the other had nothing; getting something new often comes only after suffering.Usiku humwe chete hahupedzi ushe.Struggling with hardship for a short time does not change who you fundamentally are or take away your standing; a dignified person is not shamed just because they slept in poor conditions for one night.Ushe ukokwa kuna vamwe.Good manners, good character, and humility earn a person the respect of others.Anonyumwa bere kurira ndouya akazora manda.Just as someone guilty of an offence flinches with fear when it is discussed, a wrongdoer is the one who reacts nervously whenever the crime is mentioned, especially if they panic on seeing a police officer, showing they have something to hide.Iringa nameso muchero wenhundurwa.However much someone desires something, they must not take it if it is forbidden by custom; a person should not want what they cannot rightfully have.Chinonzi rega ndechiri mumaoko chiri mumwoyo hachikandwe pasi.When someone grows up with a bad habit, such as drinking or smoking, they may eventually give it up; but it is rare for someone born with a violent or bad-tempered nature to ever fully let it go.Tendai muchero ugowisa.When someone gives you something, show your gratitude, so that in future they will be glad to give to you again.Hapana mvura isina chura.There is no homestead or country without wrongdoers; wherever people live, there will be troublemakers. Likewise, no person can ever be called entirely faultless, without something they could be blamed for.Akura arehwa.Whoever a person is, once grown and made a leader or head of the family, they no longer fear being talked about or criticised by others.Utsva hworurimi hahuna marapiro.However badly someone has wronged you, it is better to hold back from retaliating so the matter can be properly resolved; the wrongdoer, too, should be patient until both parties' feelings have settled.Muroyi munhu kubayiwa anochemawo.A person who habitually wrongs and angers others also feels pain when they themselves are wronged, just like anyone else.Zongororo kugonya haro asi shungu rinadzo.You might see someone being quiet, but they carry deep feelings within their heart. Some people cannot express what is inside them, and often choose to just stay silent, even while carrying great turmoil.Rutsva runovira nokuona rumwe.Trading insults back and forth stirs up more anger; if someone insults you and you stay quiet, they too will quickly quieten down.Uranda ndohwepfuma (zvipfuwo) hwomunhu hunozvirwira.A person can think for themselves, and so should not be treated like an animal; they should be allowed to choose what they want and refuse what they do not, without being forced.Muromo haupi chinopa maoko.It is easy to make promises with words, but words alone do not give anything; it is only when the hands actually act that the promise is fulfilled.Tenda nyakusvitsa mupi haalpotsera.Thank the one who delivers a gift to you as much as the one who sent it, since the deliverer also helped you.Shungu dzembwa dziri mumwoyo kuhukura ndiko kududza.Everyone carries things in their heart that trouble them, even while appearing happy all the time; they may hold onto these grievances for a while, but eventually they end up speaking about them.Igonyodzo kudya chegadzingani.People show kindness to a stubborn or stingy person while secretly trying to expose their true character; seeing that person mistreat others, they act kindly while actually trying to provoke them into revealing themselves.Muromo unodavidza nomuroyi.A mouth holds no grudge against anyone; it speaks to everyone, even to your own enemy.Imbwa inohukura haina ngozi.A person who talks a lot lets out their anger at once and is done with it, but the quiet person is the one to fear, since once angered, such a person may take revenge without a word.Chayambuka chaoneka tsiga rakasiya mbare pagumbo.Wronging someone, even if they lack the power to retaliate immediately, still leaves behind a lasting hurt or a remark that continues to pain their heart for a long time.Tsvaru anodana tivhu.It is better not to wrong someone even slightly, because it can provoke a much greater retaliation later; if you provoke someone, they will repay you with even greater pain.Chinokanganwa idemo chitsiga hachikanganwe.The one who wronged someone quickly forgets their offence, but the one who was wronged carries the pain in their heart for a long time.Samwoyochena ndiye nyamutsvirwa nemba.A kind-hearted person is rarely thanked by everyone; such a person is often the one who suffers, criticised or wronged because of their good deeds.Kutsenga muriwo hudzidzisana.For someone to treat others well or badly, it is usually because they saw others behaving that way first; people learn from and copy one another.Potsi haarwiwi tinorwira piri.Someone who errs for the first time should be forgiven, but if they repeat the same offence, they may then be punished for it.Chomungazva chinodyiwa nowabata mwana.Those who serve or stay close to someone are the ones who share in what they have: a visitor who holds a new mother's baby, as custom expects, is given the food set aside for her, and a man who has helped with the work eats with the workers.Chinoziva ivhu kuti mwana wembeva anorwara.No one can know what is in another person's heart except that person themselves; everyone has their own private troubles that others cannot know about.Chirungurira ndechowadya maradzwa chowerinopisa isvoto.When someone has been only slightly wronged, they get moderately upset; but if provoked further, they will retaliate.Maronda asiri ako anonhuhwa.A person cannot see their own faults, only those of others.Chikomo shata divi rimwe ritambire pwere.Even a person who does bad things should also have some good qualities, so that they can still be liked by others.Wavengwa anhuhwa.A person who is hated by others comes to be regarded as something disgusting.Muromo itsvimbo unozvidzivirira.The mouth can defend a person against an accusation through speech; even a truth known in the heart still has to be spoken aloud by the mouth to be affirmed.Ane benzi ndeane rake, kudzana unopururudza.When you know the failings of someone of your own, you are not surprised when they behave badly; you accept them as they are, and even cheer them on.Chisi hachiyeri musi wacharimwa.The consequences of bad behaviour are not immediate, but they will come.Chidamoyo hamba yakada makwati.People have the freedom to choose what they want.Chiri mumoyo chiri muninga.What's in the heart is hidden.Gudo guru peta muswe kuti vaduku vakutye.Elders should carry themselves with dignity so as to be respected by the young.Kuipa kuipa zvaro bveni, asi haridyi chakafa choga.However fierce someone's reputation is, there are still lines even they will not cross.Kuzeza chati kwati hunge uine katurike.When you overreact to small things, you probably have something to hide.Mazvokuda mavanga enyora.Suffering you bring on yourself by choice, like the scars of decorative cuts, is not for others to mourn.Makadzi munaku kusaba anoroya.A woman should conduct herself well, so that she is not wrongly suspected of witchcraft.Mwana asingachemi anofira mumbereko.If you don't cry out for help, no one will know, and you may perish in your distress.Takabva neko kumhunga hakuna ipwa.One should remember one's humble origins rather than growing arrogant.Nzou hairemerwi nenyanga dzayo.A person has the strength to carry their own burdens.Seka urema wafa.Do not mock others' misfortunes, because they may come upon you too.Vasikana kudada kudada zvenyu, tichaonana magaro pakuyambuka.You may reject people when things are easy, but you will need them when times get hard.Aita chake ndihombarume.True manliness is shown by carrying out one's duty fully, not by empty boasting.Avengwa anhuhwa.Once a person is disliked, even innocent things they do are viewed as offensive; hatred colours how they are seen.Chako ndechako kuseva unosiya muto.Even when enjoying what belongs to you, show restraint and leave some for others; do not consume everything greedily.Chekuba hachigari.Ill-gotten gains never last; what is stolen brings no lasting benefit.Chembere masikati, usiku imvana.Said of someone with two faces, appearing harmless and ordinary by day while acting very differently, often deceptively, once night falls and no one is watching.Chembere ndeyembwa yomurume, ndibaba wavanhu.Only an old dog is written off as old; an old man is still honoured as father of the people. Age does not make a person worthless, and elders keep their standing.Chidembo hachinzwi kunhuhwa kwacho.A person often cannot perceive their own faults the way others clearly can.China manenji hachifambisi, chinomirira kuti mavara acho aonekwe.Someone of genuine good character or quality does not rush to hide; they let others take the time to see their true worth.Chinogova ruoko, muromo haugovi.Real generosity comes from action, not from mere talk or promises.Chinokanganwa idemo, asi chitsiga hachikanganwe.The one who causes harm may forget doing it, but the one who was harmed never forgets.Chinonzi regedza ndechiri mumaoko, chiri mumoyo unofa nacho.What you hold in your hands can easily be let go, but what is held in the heart, deep feelings and convictions, stays with a person until death.Chomukuru anopa omene.What belongs to an elder is theirs to give out personally; no one else should distribute it without their say.Dare harizondi munhu, rinozonda mhosva.Justice is directed at the wrongdoing, not at the person as an individual; judgment need not carry personal hatred.Gudo guru peta muswe, vapwere vagokuremekedza.An elder should carry themselves with dignity and restraint so that the young will respect them.Gudo kuipa kuipa zvaro asi haridyi chakafa choga.Even someone with a bad reputation still has certain limits they will not cross.Hurudza inofa ichinzi inodya.A master farmer dies still spoken of as one who eats well: the name for plenty that hard work earns stays with a person to the end.Imbwa nyoro ndidzo tsengi dzematowo.Those who seem gentle and harmless on the surface can be the very ones causing mischief behind the scenes.Inotanda yomunyepi, younyerere haitandi.Lying and loose talk are what drive people apart; staying quiet does not cause the same harm.Isimba kaviri kurwa nemukadzi weasipo.There is no courage in confronting or wronging the family of someone who is not present to defend them; it is simply bullying the defenseless.Kuba ngoma kuri nyore, pokuiridzira ndipo panonetsa kuvanda.Doing something wrong can be easy; it is getting away with it undetected that is the hard part.Kudada kwavari mugomo kukumbira vari pasi mapfiwa.It is arrogance for those who live among the rocks to ask people on the plain for hearthstones: the wealthy begging from the poor only mocks their poverty.Kudya chevapfupi nekureba.Someone uses an advantage they have over others to take more than their fair share.Kufa kwemurume kubuda ura.A real man does not give up at the first setback; he keeps fighting until he is truly beaten.Kukonwa kwedare kukonwa kwamambo.When those below fail to resolve a matter, responsibility ultimately falls on the leader above them.Kukurukura hunge vapotsva.You can only tell the tale once you have survived the near miss.Kupotsera dope, rimwe rinosara mumaoko.Slinging insults or dirt at others leaves some of it on you as well.Kurayira kunoda pwere mukuru ndimambo.Elders should be consulted and shown respect, not given orders the way children are.Kurumwa nechekuchera.Bringing trouble on yourself by going after something you did not fully understand the risk of.Kuseka nhamo kunga rugare.Mocking someone else's misfortune can invite the very same misfortune on yourself.Kusekana kwaanakamba.People who share the very same flaw have no business mocking each other over it.Kusimbirira kurapa mhopo kumusana iwe une ziso rine mbonje.Before rushing to fix someone else's smaller problem, first deal with the bigger one you are ignoring in yourself.Kutaura kudzikisira kuita makata.Talking is easy compared with doing: promises cost little, while deeds take real effort.Kutenda kwakitsi kuri mumwoyo.Some show their gratitude only inwardly, without ever displaying it openly.Kuvhunduka chati kwata hunge une katurike.Someone with a guilty conscience tends to be startled by the smallest things.Kwadzinorohwa matumbu ndiko kwadzinomhanyira.People are often driven by their own basic needs, going wherever those needs can be met.Kwave kusakara kwedowo serisakadyiwa nyama.Once a person or thing has outlived its usefulness, people quickly forget the good it once did.Machongwe maviri haakukuridze pamutanda mumwe.Two people of equal standing rarely coexist peacefully in the same position; one must eventually give way.Mangachena inoparira parere nhema.Blame often lands on someone innocent simply because they were near where the real wrongdoing happened.Manzwi induru inouraya.Being loudly and publicly accused often wounds a person more deeply than the wrongdoing itself.Matanda makuru mazunguniswa.Whoever or whatever holds real importance tends to attract far more disturbance and challenge than the insignificant.Matsotsi haagerani.There is no real trust among wrongdoers; they do not look out for one another the way true friends would.Mbavha imbatwa, mbavha-rutsoka ishamwari.Only whoever gets caught actually bears the blame; those who slip away are treated as if innocent.Mboko chena yakaparira parere mhema.Blame often lands on someone innocent simply because they were near where the real wrongdoing happened.Mbudzi yazvarira pavanhu yati nditandirwe’mbwa.Someone in a vulnerable position is right to ask those around them for protection and help.Mhosva haiori.A wrongdoing never simply fades away; it eventually catches up with the one who did it.Mhosva inorondwa hakuna mhosva yakaita honye.Every wrongdoing can be traced to its cause and its culprit if it is properly looked into.Mhuno hainwi mvura muromo usina kunwa.Things should be done in their proper order; the lesser should not go ahead of what comes first.Minwe misiyanwa.People naturally differ from one another in ability and fortune, and that is simply the way of life.Miromo yavakuru haiviri pasi.What elders say tends to come true; their words carry weight and should not be dismissed.Moyo chena unobayisa.Being too kind and trusting can leave a person open to being taken advantage of.Mudzimu vakupa ronda vati nhunzi dzikudye.Misfortune comes because a person's protecting spirits have allowed it: if the spirits let you be wounded, they have also let the flies at you, so one trouble follows another.Mugoti unopiwa anyerere.Good things come to those who wait quietly: the stirring stick, with the sadza left on it, is given to the child who does not pester.Munhu akatsiga anozviganhura pakunwa hwahwa.A steady, sensible person sets their own limit when drinking beer.Munongedzo hauzvinongedzi.It is easy to be quick to criticise others' faults while overlooking your own.Murombo haarovi chine nguo.Someone of low standing is careful not to confront those with greater wealth or status.Murombo munhu.Poverty does not strip a person of their worth; they deserve the same respect and dignity as everyone else.Muroyi royera kure ugowana anokuviga.A warning against wronging your own people close to home: keep their support, or you may find no one left to see you buried.Mutsa worutsoka kuperekedza ziso.Good intentions need to be followed through with action, not left as mere observation.Muzvimbirwi ndiye nyakurwa nesasa.The one who has overeaten is the one who wrestles the door open: the person who is suffering is the one who must go and seek the remedy.Mwana washe muranda kumwe.Status held in one place does not automatically carry over anywhere else; standing is not absolute.Mwana washe ndishewo, womuranda anochemberera muuranda.A person's social standing often follows directly from the family they were born into.Mwoyochena weyi bere kugarira munhu akafa.Someone can put on a show of sympathy while really just waiting to profit from another's misfortune.N’ai kwadzo ndedzomucheche dzomukuru dzinoreva kudya.A small child's yawn means nothing more than a yawn, but when an adult yawns or sighs, there is a request behind it, usually for food.N’anga hadzifarirani.People in the same trade often struggle to get along, rivalry taking the place of cooperation.Natsa kwavabva kwaunoenda husiku.Leave the place you came from on good terms, since where you are going is dark to you: you may need to go back.Ndakazvida haichemedzi.You cannot fairly complain about the consequences of a choice you freely made for yourself.Ndezvehuru, doko dzinonyika miswe.Certain privileges belong to those with seniority or power; the lesser must simply defer.Nhamo yemombe kunyima mashanga iriyo yakarima gombo.It is real ingratitude when the one who did the hard work is the very one denied the reward for it.Nhamo yomumwe hairambirwi sadza.Even while sympathising with someone else's misfortune, you should not stop tending to your own needs.Nyadzi dzinokunda rufu.Public humiliation can feel like a heavier burden to carry than death itself.Nyamunatsi ndiye nyamutsigwa nebonda.Someone who does good by others tends to find support of their own when they need it in return.Nzanga seka dumba, dumba seka nzanga.Things that share the very same nature or flaw have no real grounds to mock one another.Nzou mutupo pana vanhu paseri ava machikichori.A person's grandeur often only shows itself in company; alone, that same standing can mean far less.Pane danga pane mombe, pane hundi pagara hurudza.A cattle pen means there are cattle, and heaps of chaff mean a master farmer lives there: what a person has shows in the signs around them.Rombe pakata hana mukaka ndowavaridzi.A poor labourer may do the work, but the reward for it often goes to those who own the resources, not to the one who laboured.Shanje dzinodya muridzi.Jealousy tends to harm the person who carries it more than the one it is aimed at.Tenda muchero ugowisa.Showing gratitude for what you have received tends to open the way for even more to come.Tenda muchero wadya zvinogadza mwoyo.Expressing gratitude for what you have received brings a sense of peace and contentment.Tenda wakohwa zvemunda wezunde.A good harvest calls for gratitude in return for the blessing received.Totenda dzanwa mombe dzaswera nebenzi.Even when things were left in imperfect hands, a good outcome is still worth being grateful for.Totenda maruva tadya chakata.We give thanks for the blossoms only once we have eaten the chakata fruit: praise a promise once it has borne fruit, not before.Totenda nyemba tanwira mvura.Even a simple meal is worth being genuinely thankful for.Totenda yabikwa imba yepwere.Food prepared and set aside for the children is something the family is right to be grateful for.Totenda yavira tsambakodzi yedemhe.Something that has finally come to its proper, finished state after a long wait is worth giving thanks for.Umambo hutambidzwana.Positions of leadership are not held by one person forever; they pass on from one to the next.Umba hwehosi husina marevere.Someone of real seniority does not need to explain themselves; their standing speaks for itself.Usarume muromo wenzombe inopura zviyo.Do not withhold reward from someone who is doing productive work for your benefit.Ushe hauzvitongi.Leadership cannot function alone; it needs the counsel and cooperation of others to work at all.Ushe hukokwa, hunotokokwa kune vamwe.A position of leadership does not stay with one person forever; it eventually passes on to someone else.Ushe hunonyangira rema.A true leader looks after all of their people, including the weak and vulnerable.Ushe husiirwana.Leadership is handed down from one person to the next as part of an ongoing succession.Ushe idova hunoparara.Power and position do not last forever; they fade away much like morning dew.Ushe imhute hunoparara zuva rabuda.Authority can disappear as quickly as morning mist once conditions change.Ushe madzoro hunoravanwa.In some traditions, leadership rotates between different families or houses in turn.Ushe vuranda.True leadership is really a form of service to one's people, not simply a privilege to enjoy.Vagere pachavo vangonyinda.People among their own are at ease: those who keep company together are confident and look after one another.Vakadyara tsvina vachakohwa hundi muchamupupuri.Wrongdoing eventually catches up with the one who did it, often coming back even worse than it started.Vataitururira matohwe nhasi ndivo votiseka maparapadzwa.Sometimes the very people we once helped are the ones who mock us when we later fall on hard times.Waita womutorwa kuti kumwe kwakaoma kumwe kunyoro.Someone acting like they have no stake in a matter often ends up judging it unfairly, favouring one side over the other.Warara warara nemuromo wake.Trouble often comes about because of what a person themselves said, brought on by their own words.Watungamira haatori nzira.A true leader makes room for others to follow, rather than claiming the whole way forward for themselves.Ziso haribi chomunhu.Merely looking at or admiring what someone else has does not actually take anything away from them.Zongororo kugonya zvaro asi shungu rinadzo.Someone's quiet or passive appearance does not mean they lack ambitions or feelings underneath.Zhundu kugara mudanga zvanzi ndava mombe.Someone who stays close to people of high status wants to be seen as important too, like the kraal worm that lives in the cattle pen and thinks it has become a cow.

Mhuri

Family and the home

Waita mbereko ada kusuka machira.Once someone becomes a parent, they know they must give up childish things and take on the responsibilities expected of a parent, facing whatever hardship comes to them and their family.Mupanje wekunze unodzivirira iri mukati.Do not speak ill of your own people to outsiders, because it shows disunity; family shields its own when they are in danger or being spoken about. It can also mean a chief or parent is the one who protects their children in times of danger.Kubaya tange hama vatorwa vakutye.To give orders that people will obey, you must first discipline your own household, so others see that even your own family follows your rule.Ndiro yechirema hairove.A disabled person has a designated plate known to the whole household; even a woman serving food knows to first find that plate for the disabled member of the home.Rukova rwizi kuyambuka unokwinya nguo.A child from a great household earns respect from others, however young they may be.Benzi kunge riri rako kudzana kwaro unopururudza. (M)When your relative does something people criticise, you do not criticise them too, but rather defend them while trying to correct them privately; no parent wants their child shamed.Chirango chehuku chiri mumusongora.Since ancient times it was known that the neck of a chicken is the tastiest part, so whenever a wife killed a chicken, she was expected to honour her husband by giving him the neck.Zuva rimwe haripedzi dura.Giving someone a single day's worth of food does not finish all the food in the house to the point the household starves.Aramba ukama apa huku yangu kurarama.If someone, even a relative, does not want to visit you or be close to you, do not complain; you lose nothing by it, since there is one guest fewer to feed.Akupa dhamba (rengavi) ndowako.Be grateful to someone who gives you something you can use right away to help yourself; in our culture, when rain has fallen, the person who gives you cattle to plough with is your true relative.Mharadzano dzakabva munzira.In conversations that build a household, people must learn to choose words that do not offend others; most quarrels are caused by the careless use of the wrong words.Akweva sanzu akweva namarara aro.If you take in and care for someone who has dependents relying on them, know that you are now responsible for caring for all of them too; in our culture, a man who marries a woman with a child must also care for both the mother and the child.Chawawana idya nehama mutorwa ane hanganwa.Always remember to help and support your relatives, because they are the ones who will help you when disaster strikes.Mhandakadzi ihonza varanda.Women's quarrels should not be imitated; anyone who tries to copy that kind of behaviour ends up with no one left who gets along with them. Women, especially mothers, who constantly quarrel bring disharmony to the whole family.Chakafukidza dzimba matenga.There are private matters that take place inside the house.Chirere chigokurerawo.Take care of the young so that they may take care of you in your old age.Kuudza mwana hupedzisira.Telling a child something is not enough on its own; teaching must be followed through, not just spoken.Kuwanda kwakanaka, kwakaipira kupedza muto.It's good to have numbers, but they also demand more resources.Kuwanda huuya.The more, the merrier.Mbeva zhinji hadzina mashe.Where there are many people, no one takes responsibility and things go undone.Mhembwe rudzi inozvara mwana ane kazhumu.People produce children with traits similar to themselves; the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.Muroyi royera kure vekwako vagokureverera.Don't be cruel to the people close to you.Nzombe huru yakabva mukurerwa.Great people are raised up by other people.Zviuya hazviwanani.Perfect people rarely find each other in marriage.Zingizi gonyera pamwe maruva enyika haaperi.Settle with one partner; there are many beautiful people in the world.Abereka otochena moyo.Real peace of mind comes only once an ordeal is fully over, just as a mother's anxiety lifts only after her child is safely born.Ane mhuri kwayo ndeane ndume ane mhurikadzi vaeni.In Shona kinship, sons remain within the family and carry its name forward, while daughters usually marry into another home, so within their birth family they come to be regarded, relatively, as visitors.Baba muredzi mwana kuchema anodaidza mai.Even though a father also plays a part in raising a child, a crying child instinctively calls for its mother, showing the especially close bond between mother and child.Chembere ndeyembwa yomunhu, inofa ichigurukuta.An elderly woman keeps faithfully serving her family right up until death, like a loyal dog that works on to the very end.Chikomba chinovirima kwacho.A secret lover does their own thing discreetly, out of everyone else's sight.Chirere, mangwana chigozokurerawo.What you nurture and care for well, such as raising a child, will in turn look after you when you need it.Hapana mhou inokumira mhuru isiri yayo.No one gives the same devoted care to what is not truly their own as they do to what is theirs.Mai musuva usingasevi muto.A mother often gives the best to everyone else while going without herself, always putting her family first.Mbudzi kudya mufenje kufananyina.Children tend to inherit and follow the habits of their parents, for better or worse.Mhembwe rudzi kuzvara mwana ane kazhumu.Offspring naturally carry the traits of their parents, marked out by their family line.Mugoni wepwere ndeasinayo.Those without direct experience of a hardship are often the quickest to judge those who are living through it.Mukadzi oda kuramba murume anoshereketa.Someone about to make a major decision often shows visible unease before they ever say it out loud.Mukwasha mukuyu haapere kudyiwa.A son-in-law is expected to keep contributing gifts to his in-laws over and over, the way a wild fig tree keeps bearing fruit.Munhu haarerwi nebonde.Raising a child well takes far more than simply providing food and shelter; it takes real guidance too.Munyai mutumwa, muridzi wesoko ndiwe.A mediator only carries the message; the real responsibility and final say stay with the person they represent.Muramu inzungu yakateya gonzo.A playful in-law relationship can be tempting, but it carries its own risks, like bait hiding a trap.Murume akanaka asiri wako.It often seems that the most admirable man is never the one available to you; he already belongs to someone else.Musha mukadzi.The wellbeing of a home rests above all on the woman who runs it.Musikana isango rehuni rinotsvagwa naani nani.An unmarried young woman tends to draw many suitors, all hoping to be the one to marry her.Musikana ishavhi, anoteverwa neshiri.A striking young woman draws admirers the way a fruit tree draws in the birds.Mwana mudiki in’anga.Children often blurt out the plain truth without meaning to, the way a healer uncovers what is hidden.Mwana muduku kubvuma rwendo rwake ruri mberi.The young need to accept that they still have a great deal of growing and learning ahead of them.Mwana wengwe mwana wengwe kuona chikara haatizi.The children of the brave tend to inherit that same courage, unshaken by what would frighten others.Ndumudzani hadzidyi mundiro imwe chete.Rivals struggle to share and cooperate closely, even over the smallest things.Nhamo inhamo zvayo amai havaroodzwi.However severe hardship gets, there are lines that must never be crossed to escape it.Nherera inoguta musi wafa mai.An orphan eats its fill only on the day its mother dies, when the funeral brings plenty; after that it goes without.Nherera panorayirwa vana vevapenyu iwe inzwawo.An orphan must pick up guidance indirectly, listening in on lessons meant for others since there is no parent to teach them directly.Nhumbu mukadzi mukuru hairevi chayadya.The belly is like a grown woman: it never tells what it has eaten. A discreet person keeps what they know to themselves.Rinonyenga rinohwarara, rinozosimudza musoro rawana.A suitor keeps low and humble until they have won, and only then lifts their head and shows their true self.Tsvimborume kutandara nemvana mwoyo uri kumhandara.Someone can appear engaged with one thing while their real interest and intention lie somewhere else entirely.Ukama hahusukwi nemvura hukabva.Family ties cannot be erased by outside circumstances; they endure regardless.Ukama hunonhuhwa.Family connections have a way of making themselves known, even without being announced.Ukama igasva hunozadziswa nokudya.Family bonds are strengthened through the simple act of sharing meals together.Ukama urimbo kudambura haubvi.Family ties, once formed, cannot truly be severed, even when there is conflict.Umhandara idambakamwe.Certain stages in life pass only once and cannot be recovered, so they deserve to be valued while they last.Unaki hwemukadzi huri pamwana.A woman's true worth is measured not just by appearance but by how well she raises her children.Urombo hune nherera kudya ikarutsa.Poverty pushes an orphan into real hardship, going without the proper care a child needs.Vana vembwa havasvinure musi mumwe chete.Children of the same family do not all reach their milestones at the same time; each has their own pace.Vana vengwena havakuriri mudziva rimwe chete.Siblings from the same family often end up scattered as they grow, settling in different places.Wabereka sekera muchitende.Joy over good fortune should be shown with restraint, not paraded openly for everyone to see.Wanzi baba wada kamusha kake.Once you are called father, you have chosen your little home and all it asks of you: the duties of a parent come with the title.Wekwemurume ndewe kwemurume.Property tied to a particular family or household stays associated with that family alone.

Kushanda

Work, effort and its reward

Kunzi musikana kana kuti mukomana Ari apa kudya.Everyone should know that eating is what sustains life, so they should work in order to get food.Ateyera mariva murutsva haachatyi mhapa kusviba.Someone who has committed to doing hard work should not fear being criticised or hurt because of it.Chikweya ndechembwa chomunhu chinotevera.Even a lazy or slow person tries to find ways to help themselves.Chinono chine ingwe bere rinodya richifamba.If you are going to do something, do it quickly, because delay can cause many things to prevent you from finishing.Ishavi kurova munda neshamhu.It would be foolish to expect to gain something without working for it, or to be angry about getting nothing from a field you never tended.Zvamangwana zvinozivikanwa nebenzi.A wise person finishes their work on the day it is due, knowing tomorrow may bring obstacles that stop them; only a fool leaves things for tomorrow.Kutumira bete kumukaka haridzoki.Often, when someone is sent to work in a place full of temptation, they fail to succeed at their task.Usaverenga mbeva nemiswe (yadzo).When it is time to work, do not count on people who cannot do the job; they only swell the numbers without adding anything, like tails counted along with the mice.Moto mushoma (ndiwo) unonyautsa muto.Work done gently, without force or excess effort, is usually the one that succeeds.Utsi hwenyama hahutosvori.A person does not worry about being troubled while pursuing something they truly desire; despite obstacles, they will persevere at what they want until it succeeds.Mhavarira inoda vane nharo.Someone who cannot do a thing at first ends up mastering it through sheer determination; a strong will keeps a person trying even at what they cannot yet do.Chomujiri ndechemhanza chomudzimu ndechawadanirwa.When you receive something as a gift or a blessing, you thank your ancestral spirits; but to obtain something you want for yourself, you must earn it through your own effort and labour.Ronda rinosunda ndorine muchichi.Someone who urges others on with real passion is the one whose ideas bring reward; often, the things that bring joy begin by first causing pain to the body and spirit.Ropa uya nderina vatsungi.A person gains things through hard effort; nothing simply comes looking for someone who sits idle. The courageous obtain things, but the cowardly perish in their cowardice.Apunyaira haashayi misodzi.Someone who does something wholeheartedly can also be rewarded for it; nothing is gained by someone who lets their hands hang idle out of laziness. Everything is obtained through diligence.Zuva rimwe hariodzi nyama.If you have something you need to do today, it does not mean you can never do it just because you failed to do it on one particular day; there are many days ahead to do everything you wish to do.Mutoro unorema wasvika.A task usually feels heaviest right when it is about to be finished, so a person is often most exhausted just as they near the end of their journey.Madanha etsvimborume kudya yawarira.A person with no one else to rely on keeps all their tasks prepared in advance while there is still time, knowing that if they do not, things will pile up once time runs out.Ateya mariva murutsva haatyi kusviba magaro.A person will do whatever it takes to accomplish their goals.Chinono chinengwe, bere rakadya richifamba.Do what you do with speed.Chenga ose manhanga hapana risina mhodzi.There's a reward in trying all things.Mandikurumidze akazvara mandinonoke.Rushing through things can make you do them wrong and take even longer than if you had taken your time.Pfavira ngoma, husiku hurefu.Be calm and take your time.Simbi inorohwa ichapisa.Strike while the iron is hot.Wakurumidza kumedza, kutsenga uchada.Someone who rushes on to the next thing before finishing the first will end up having to go back to it.Akanga nyimo awangarara.Stay attentive to the task at hand, since neglect or carelessness while something important is underway can cause it to be ruined, just as roasting groundnuts left unattended will burn.Akuti rima ati ugute.Whoever urges you to farm is really telling you how to have enough to eat; hard work in the fields is the path to a full stomach.Ane marengenya haacharike moto.A person hardened by hard work no longer needs to sit idly warming themselves by the fire like the lazy; toil has made them tough and resilient.Anokutukira badza unokupa upfumi.Someone who scolds you for not working hard enough is not your enemy; they are showing you the path to prosperity.Badza guru ipa murimi, kuripa simbe inovata naro.Give valuable resources to those who will actually work with them; a lazy person will let a good tool go to waste.Basa mangwanani.Work should be started early in the morning; delaying it causes things to go wrong.Bhuru rasarira shure rasarira shamhu.Whoever lags behind or is slow to act ends up facing punishment or blame.Chakatairi pasi ndechevanhu vose asi chiri mumuti ndechowagona kukwira.What is easy to reach belongs to everyone, but what requires effort and skill belongs only to those willing to make that effort.Chidhiidhii kutsvara hundi, moyo uri kumakoto.Going through the motions of a task while one's mind and real interest are elsewhere entirely.Chigare chenda kudya, akaitakura.The one who did the carrying, who put in the labour, is the one entitled to enjoy its reward.Chikuni chinoda mukuchidziri.Even good material needs someone to actively work at it before it produces results; potential alone is not enough.Chinokura choga isango, munda kukura huona tewe.Anything left untended without effort yields nothing worthwhile, just as an uncultivated field produces nothing but weeds.Chinokura usipo imombe, munda unokura nokuvandurirwa.Different kinds of prosperity grow differently; some, like livestock, increase almost on their own, while others, like a field of crops, need constant tending to flourish.Chisi chako, pembera wadya.What is not yours, celebrate only once you have eaten it: do not count on another person's promise or property until it is actually in your hands.Chisi hachieri musi vacharimwa.The punishment for breaking the rest-day taboo does not show on the day the field was ploughed: the consequences of wrongdoing come later.Dzavira mutswanda hadzichanetsi kunhonga.Once something has already been gathered into place, the remaining work of using or collecting it becomes easy.Gapakapa ndere fodya remhudzi rinokura nokusakurirwa.Neglect allows unwanted things to take root and flourish unchecked.Gangaidzwa vavigi kunhuhwa kwaakafa.Those responsible for dealing with an unpleasant problem are the ones who must bear its full unpleasantness.Hari haiviri isina mukuchidziri.Nothing succeeds without someone actively working to keep it going.Jongosi kunyimwa mashanga, iro ndiro rakarima gombo.It is a bitter injustice when the one who did the hard work to make something succeed is the one denied its reward.Kunokanganwa mudyi wenyemba muoreri wamateko haakanganwi.Whoever simply enjoys the result forgets the effort behind it, but whoever did the hard work never does.Kuwanda kwakanaka, kwakaipira mukupedza muto.Many hands are welcome for work, but too many mouths finish a small portion of food all the faster.Kuwanda kwemaoko kunotsonza ndima.When many hands work together, the task gets finished quickly.Murimi anodya amire.A hard worker rarely gets to rest fully, snatching a meal between one task and the next.Mushambadzi haagari pasi.Someone in business must keep working and searching for opportunity, not wait idly for it to arrive.Ndima yabatwa yasundika.Once a task has actually been started, it is already well on its way toward being finished.Ndima yasakurwa haidzoki.Work that has been properly done stays done; genuine effort is never wasted or reversed.Ngoma ndedzemiti kutsemuka tinoveza dzedu.When something we relied on breaks or fails, we are still capable of making our own replacement.Pagara murimi pagara mupopoti.Wherever real effort and hard work happen, a grumbler always seems to turn up alongside it.Rwizi rukuru madirano.Great achievements are usually made up of many smaller contributions coming together.Sango rinopa waneta.Reward tends to come to those who put in real, persistent effort, not to the idle.Zuva rimwe hariradzi munda.Missing one day does not ruin a field: a day's delay does not undo a task, and there is still time to catch up.

Upfumi

Wealth, want and provision

Zundu kugara mundove hunzi neni ndava mombewo.Someone who stays close to a person of high status wants to be seen as important too; likewise a poor person who spends time among the wealthy starts to act as if they, too, are wealthy.Kupa huvigisa.If you lend money or goods to others when they are in need, you will be glad on the day they repay you everything they borrowed; it is as if you had stored away your own wealth for safekeeping.Kudada kwavari mugomo kukumbira vari pasi mapfihwa.It would be arrogant for the wealthy, who live comfortably, to beg from the poor, since it shows contempt and mockery of their poverty.Panoramba machinda nherera sinyungwe.A person should act according to their own means; they should not compare themselves to the wealthy or those in high positions, since some people only do what they do because they are backed by family or wealth.Ngwena haidyi chebamba chayo chinoza neronga.A wealthy person of good character rarely eats greedily; they only eat what they have been served or properly invited to.Tsvimborume chenga urarami hama dzife ugogara nhaka.Someone who lacks things should not lose heart; they should know that as long as they stay alive, they will eventually gain wealth.Chipa muchena kupfuma mudzinu wake. (K)A person who stays poor tends to remain poor even after being helped and given things; they lack the ambition to become wealthy and do not know how to build wealth.Musachema muzvere afirwa nomwana muchisiya uyo afa nomwana wake.People often feel more sympathy for someone with a smaller misfortune than for someone with a much greater one; it happens that someone from a wealthy home is pitied and helped, while a truly poor person who deserves help more goes without.Chaitemura chava kuseva.The once-great are now impoverished.Chiri pamuchena chiri pamutenure.The poor man's victories do not last.Murombo haarovi chinenguwo.The poor man rarely achieves great success.Ane ganda ane nyama hazvienzane nowakabata hohwa.Having even a little is better than having nothing: someone left with only the hide still has meat, which is more than the one holding a mushroom.Chakaenzanwa ibvudzi upfumi hahuna kuenzanwa.Some things, like hair, can be trimmed to be equal, but wealth between people can never truly be made equal.Chinokokwa upfumi, urombo hunozvikoka.Prosperity has to be actively pursued through effort, but poverty arrives on its own, uninvited, the moment one grows idle.Gona rehupfumi iziya.Prosperity comes through hard work and sweat, not through easy shortcuts.Hakuna mombe inokorera pamarekete.You cannot thrive on poor or inadequate resources; good outcomes need proper means.Kubvongodza muto kuseva kweaguta.Someone who already has plenty tends to grow careless and wasteful with what they have, losing the appreciation they once had for it.Kugara nhaka kuona dzevamwe.To manage what you inherit well, learn from watching how others have managed theirs, both their successes and their failures.Kugarika tange nhamo.Most people face hardship before they find stability; prosperity rarely comes without first struggling.Kunaka kwemurume imombe dzake.Traditionally, a man's standing comes not from his appearance but from what he owns.Kunaka kwemurume kuri muhomwe.What makes a man appealing often has more to do with what he has than with his looks.Kupfuma kwemuchana mudzimu wake.Even someone of humble standing has their own path to prosperity when their fortune turns.Kuramba nyama yechidembo hunge une yetsuro.You can afford to turn down a lesser option when you already have something better in hand.Kushaya hakunenerwi munhu denga ratarama.Poverty is not always someone's own fault; sometimes it comes from circumstances beyond their control.Mari ine chitema.Wealth often carries some hidden cost or wrongdoing behind how it was gained; money is rarely entirely clean.Mazvake-mazvake kudya kwembada.Everyone must fend for themselves, the way a leopard eats alone rather than sharing its catch.Mombe yekukumbira ndeyekukama wakaringe nzira.Something borrowed should be used with care and caution, always mindful that it does not belong to you.Mombe yenjeni kutokama wakasungira.What belongs to someone else needs to be handled with even more care than what is your own.Muchero wegudo unodyirwa kupedza.Something gained through real effort or risk is valued fully, with nothing let go to waste.Muromo chipfukuto unopedza matura.Excess, whether in eating or in idle talk, can quietly drain away what took a long time to build up.Mvura inoera usinayo.Good fortune often seems to pass by those who already have the least to build on.Mwanasikana ndimapfumise.Traditionally, a daughter brings wealth to her family through the bride price paid when she marries.Ndingarega sei kununa ini ndiri parumano.Someone whose circumstances are already set up well can hardly fail to prosper.Njera yomusaririra ndiyo yeshiri.Whatever is left over after everyone else has taken their share goes to those with the least standing.Nyika mukanza, haina mukwambo.A land or an opportunity belongs to everyone alike, not to any one person exclusively.Panodya ishe varanda vanodyawo.A leader's good fortune tends to trickle down and benefit those who serve under them too.Pfuma yenhaka inoparadza ukama.Disputes over inheritance often damage family relationships that once held strong.Raramo idivakamwe.Life is a pool you dive into only once: a chance, like life itself, does not come round again.Rombe ngerichaenda rodzoka ndimambo.Someone who leaves with nothing can return transformed and honoured, after struggling and succeeding elsewhere.Rombe rinosekwa richaenda, kana rodzoka hedzo nhureture.Those who mock the poor traveller on the way out are often left astonished when he returns having found success.Rugare tange nhamo.Lasting comfort and peace usually come only after first passing through real hardship.Tsapata rukukwe hazvienzani nokurara pasi.Even something worn and imperfect is still far better than having nothing at all.Upfumi idova hautani kupera.Material wealth can vanish just as quickly as morning dew evaporates in the sun.Urombo hwayo mhembwe kufa iri pamusungo.Poverty can trap someone as helplessly as an animal caught in a snare, unable to break free.Urombo uroyi hauudzwi munhu.People tend to hide their poverty rather than speak of it openly, much the way witchcraft accusations are kept quiet.Vimba nechako, chemwango chekukumbira hachina ndima.Borrowed things are never as reliable as what genuinely belongs to you; put your trust in your own resources.Waguta zvekupisa dura.Overindulgence can lead someone to act recklessly, destroying the very resources that satisfied them.Wegudza ndowegudza kufuga gumbeze rinotsva.It is best to make do with and value what is truly your own, even when it is imperfect.Zviri kumwene wegira kufuka kana kuwarira.The owner of something has the final say over how it gets used.

Ushamwari

Friendship and company

Varume ndivamwe kutsva kwendebvu vanodzimurana.When people live closely together, seeing one of them in danger, they help; this shows that the one who was helped should help the helper in turn later on. A person should not walk past and leave a fellow relative in danger.Kuchengeta imbwa yomweni kuda mwene wayo.If you love someone, you must love everything about them; you cannot claim to love a person while despising something about them.(Mombe) Inonanzva inoinanzvavo.A person loves those who love them back; if you want others to love you, you must first show them love, so they return it to you later.Kandiro kanoenda kunobva kamwe.When you do good to someone, they will do good back to you, because everyone wants a relative who will also help them.Kurera nherera kupakira mavhu muchitende.Helping someone who is struggling can end in regret, when the person you helped later turns against you.Kurera nherera mangwana anofuma okupindukira.Helping someone who is struggling can end in regret, when the person you raised or helped later turns against you.Usaguta ukasunda dura.When you have been helped in a way that pleases you, do not neglect the person who helped you, since you may need their assistance again in future.Panoda mwoyo nzira haisviki.Often, the person you want to be your friend is the very one who shows disdain for you. It can also happen that a person's feelings are confused, causing them to struggle finding a way to reach what they truly want.Nharo imhanjire.Arguing tends to sow hatred between people, as it can lead to someone being cursed, hurt, fighting, and other troubles.Gonzo nachin'ai zvatosvorana.It is unusual for people who normally get along well to suddenly fall out; when close friends quarrel and fight, others are shocked by it.Kutamba ngoma matsive.For anything to succeed, including celebrations, it must be done together, in unity, and by everyone doing their part; today's circumstances can change to someone else's tomorrow, so success requires cooperation.Vayanani ndivo varwi.In life it happens that people who are the closest of friends sometimes fall out and quarrel first; and it often turns out that people who start out fighting end up becoming the best of friends.Kuroorera mukarabwe muchema waisa udyi mumba.Befriending a poor person can leave you regretting it later, as you end up losing your own belongings; a poor friend keeps asking you for things, and you give because you feel for them.Mhembwe urombo ndohwayo haisweri musyo rimwe nembudzi.Even someone who has no one to play or associate with will still never go and spend time with their enemy.Imbwa payadyira haipakanganwi.When someone is in trouble, they return to the place where they were once helped before, knowing that is where kind-hearted people are found.Vari pachavo vanokwenyana.A person should keep close friends, so that when hardship comes they can help each other, and when good times come they can celebrate together; people who stick together always look out for one another.Ashunya arwa.When someone helps you get something you want, they have assisted you; it does not mean they have to give you full support, just that they did what they could at the time.Vaviri-vaviri wechitatu muzvinaguhwa.Two people talking together usually understand each other well, but as soon as a third joins them, gossip and disagreement tend to follow.Kuvengana hakupi chiro nyama inodyiwa yaswera pachoto.Hatred between people brings no benefit at all; people should hold themselves back and try to resolve any dispute, however much time it takes.Shungu neganyu zvinodzimba wotandadza asi chido chinomusimbisa.When someone close to you is upset, it is better to respond with gentle, loving words so they can recover from their anger, rather than saying things that will only make them angrier.Ushamwari hwechikweyakweya mangwana tichanzwa zvipini zvorira.Friendship that begins too intensely often falls apart, leaving people no longer on good terms; love that starts by burning hot does not take long to fade, and often ends in conflict.Akuruma nzeve ndewako.Those who advise or warn you are on your side.Chara chimwe hachitswanyi inda.One person cannot do everything alone.Kakara kununa hudya kamwe.Success comes through the help of others.Mwana kuberekwa vaviri, mugota hamuchemi kacheche.Some things cannot be done by one person alone, like conceiving a child.Rudo ibofu.Love is blind: someone in love cannot see the faults of the one they love.Rume rimwe harikombi churu.One person cannot do all things alone.Varume kutsva kwendebvu vanodzimurana.Men help each other in times of trouble.Chaikanya chototsa, chaitotsa chokanyawo.Helping one another should go both ways; whoever assists you deserves to be helped by you in return.Chigarisano ndicho chine mhosva.Conflict between people often stems not from one person alone but from the way they live and interact together.Chiri pamumwe chiri padanda.People bound together in a shared task share in whatever befalls any one of them; they are all in it together.Chiripo chiripo, ndarira imwe hairiri.A single thing alone often is not enough to do the job; things work best together, in company.Chitaurirwa mbare dzekumusana.What you are only told about is never the whole of it: hearing of an experience is not the same as bearing its marks on your own back.Kandiro enda, kandiro dzoka.Generosity tends to come back to you in kind; what you give out often returns to you.Kupa kuturika.What you give to others is never truly lost; it often comes back to you when you need it most.Kurera imbwa nomukaka mangwana inofuma yokuruma.Even after treating someone with nothing but kindness, there is no guarantee they will not turn against you.Miti inomera pamwepo hairegi kukwizana kana kune mhepo.People who live and work closely together will inevitably have some friction between them from time to time.Moyo muti unomera paunoda.Love and desire cannot be forced or controlled; they take root wherever they choose.Muenzi haapedzi dura.Being generous to guests will never truly ruin you, no matter how much they eat.Vakamboonana havashayane.Once people have truly gotten to know each other, that connection lingers, even after a long time apart.

Other

Mombe yenzuma kufuma ivete kufunga chakadya nyanga dzayo.Seeing someone who is quiet but visibly troubled shows they are wrestling with something on their mind.Kufira guyu kuuya hazvienzani nokufira shamba.It is better to die for something real than to die for something worthless.N'ai kwadzo ndedzonucheche dzonukuru dzinoreva kudya.A small child's yawn means nothing more than a yawn, but when an adult yawns or sighs, there is a request behind it, usually for food.Mabasa kuchonya uri murima.It is pointless to trouble yourself doing something good or bad for someone who cannot see or appreciate it.Mamvura mazhinji akatunza kuba.Thieves often go out to steal when they see rain clouds gathering that will wash away their footprints; people are often driven to wrongdoing by the belief that what they do will not be found out or seen.Chiri mubwe chiri mugonera.When something has happened that people do not understand, there is usually one elder who knows the truth but is known to be too strong-willed to reveal it, so people know they will never be told by that person.Ishe kukura nokuwandirwa.It is the people who follow a chief that create his greatness; for a king to have great power, his subjects must be many.Kubikira mweni kumudzinga.Once a guest has been fed, it becomes clear they should leave; giving someone what they came for means you are finished with them, so they should go.Kukokwa kwasamusha kukokwa kwavagere naye.When the head of a place is invited, their people are invited along with them; a homestead head rarely goes anywhere alone, always bringing their entourage.Doro romunyimi rinovava.Beer was never to be kept from people: anyone who came by where it was being drunk was given some. A stingy person's beer turns sour, either because it was brewed in haste for fear others would finish it, or because it stood too long while the owner held it back.Masuka mukanwa bere harirariri chipashupashu.A person wants a meal that satisfies, not a small, worthless mouthful; a hyena that spends the night on a little locust instead of a whole goat has eaten nothing and sleeps hungry.Ishe-ndishe muranda-muranda.A person of lower status cannot act as they please towards someone above them; only the one in authority can do as they wish, not the one beneath them.Mwana kuchenera nyere yepfuta achairega yaputa.Something new is eagerly pursued by people, but once it has been around a while, it wears out its welcome and people no longer want it as much.Indemo hadzo dzeane nyota asi mvura haikokotwi.When someone reaches real desperation, they become willing to do anything, even foolish or amusing things, in their effort to help themselves.Yatsika dope yanwa.If someone arrives just as the feast or beer at a ceremony is finishing and is given the last remaining cup, they cannot then claim they never drank at the event.Kure ndokuna amai kune mukadzi unofa wasvika.When something you long for is far from you, your heart burns for it so much that the place feels as if it were near.Ageza haanokorerwi.Once a person has grown up and matured, they are expected to also take on adult responsibilities; when the elders speak, they now help support them with their own words.Mwoyo chipanda chaunoda unoturika.A person keeps all their intentions and thoughts, both good and bad, hidden away in their heart.Hwahwa (doro) hune umambo.When someone drinks beer to the point of intoxication, they forget their poverty in that moment and start acting as if they were a king.Hwahwa hahuna mbuva.When a person is thoroughly drunk, they lose their manners and end up destroying the very things they love.Hwahwa hahuna ndashanya.When a visitor drinks too much beer, they become so intoxicated they lose self-control, ending up behaving as if they were the owner of the place, because of how they speak and act.Muvhimi haatyi mumwe.A person is not afraid to do something just because they see someone else already doing it; a young man will not be intimidated by another when it comes to courting girls.Webondo haadyi chiropa.Among the Shona, a person going to war had taboos to keep, such as not eating liver, okra (derere) or bambara nuts (nyimo); the elders knew what eating these would bring on a hunter or a fighter.Mwoyochena ndowei bere kugarira mhuru yakafa zvayo?Whenever people see someone giving help without expecting payment, they suspect that person wants something in return later from whoever they are openly helping.Tsvimborume kutenga duri kuona mashoko kunaka.Seeing someone quietly preparing something they were not expected to prepare shows there is something specific they intend to do.Muzvimbirwi ndiye muzaruri wesuo.A person who is upset knows best what caused their own distress; someone who is sick seeks a healer, and someone who has been wronged goes to report it at the chief's court.Zviururwi zvinofara kana kondo afa ziso.People who are constantly harassed by someone feel relief and happiness when their tormentor is no longer around.Kufa ndikamwe kuora mazuva matatu.Something can happen quickly, but the full resolution of the matter takes much longer; when a person commits an offence, it takes a long time before the matter is properly settled.Meso asangana hwava ukama.People who have met before, even if they later meet again somewhere far off and after a long time, will still recognise one another.Hukwana inodya ndeiri pana mai.When people ask an elder for things, the one who is best known to them is the one who is given the most, and given first.Manenji kuona mukadzi ane mhanza.When a person sees something that has never happened before in people's lives, they call it a bad omen, and it makes them anticipate that something is about to happen in their own life.Musi mavi ndiwo muuya.A day of disaster or grief can also bring about some good; for example, when someone dies, people show each other kindness and forget any grudges they held, at least for that day.Afirwa haaringwi kumeso.The behaviour of someone who has suffered a wrong or a loss is often not what it usually is; a person who has been wronged or bereaved cannot think clearly, so we should not trouble such a person or expect them to act normally.Chirume kufumira pachimwe kunuromo chakatakura.It is obvious that when a man shows up early at another man's house, he has something specific on his mind that he wants to raise; no one knocks early at a neighbour's door without a reason.Mutumwa haana mbonje.A messenger carrying a message bears no blame; a messenger should not be attacked, because they are not the source of the message.Ngoma muridzi wayo.Anything is best understood and properly used by its own owner.Kutanda imbwa yomukuwasha kudzinga muridzi wayo.When a person sees their belongings being resented, they know that they themselves are not wanted either; some people do not show their hatred openly, but reveal it through how they treat someone's things.Kureva donga rimwe riripo rinonyumwa.Speaking about someone's fault while they are absent, in front of someone else who shares the same fault, can offend the person present; a thief does not like hearing another thief being criticised.Aive madziva ava mazambuko.What used to be hard is now easy, and people who were once great are now no different from anyone else.Chinobhururka chinomhara.Whatever rises must eventually come back down; nothing stays at its peak forever.Chisingaperi chinoshura.All things come to an end.Charova sei chando chakwidza hamba mumuti.Extreme situations can cause people to behave in unusual or unexpected ways.Chembere mukadzi hazvienzani nekurara mugota.Poor quality is better than nothing.Kukurukura hunge wapotswa.You can only tell the story once you've survived it.Manga chena yakaparira parere nhema.The good can make the bad stand out.Matakadya kare haanyaradzi mwana.You can't always be satisfied by yesterday's achievements.Mbudzi kuzvarira pavanhu kuda kutandirwa imbwa.People do embarrassing things in front of others in order to get help.Mudzimu wakupa chironda wati nhunzi dzikudye.Misfortune comes because a person's protecting spirits have allowed it: if the spirits let you be wounded, they have also let the flies at you, so one trouble follows another.Mwana wamambo muranda kumwe.Authority and status only work within their own territory.Mukuru mukuru hanga haigari pfunde.However powerful someone is, they cannot linger forever where they do not belong.Atandavara aguta, apfunya ndiye avata nayo.A person's condition shows in how they carry themselves; the well-fed sleep stretched out at ease, while the hungry curl up with their hunger.Chapadare chakakandwa parurimi rwavapfuuri, chomumba chiri mumhepo.Matters spoken about in public quickly spread as gossip on people's tongues, while what stays within the household remains private and unknown to outsiders.Ndezvowabaya kuti chiropa hachiseveswi sadza.It is for the one who slaughtered the beast to say that the liver is not eaten with sadza: the owner of a thing sets the rules for it.Nhamo hadziiti mbiri.When real misfortune strikes, it tends to strike with its full weight, not by halves.Nhamo haizivi pakagara imwe.Hardship can strike regardless of whether someone is already carrying another burden; it does not wait its turn.Nhamo inenge yefodya inoti uku yakarumwa uku inotsva.Suffering tends to affect a person completely, not staying confined to just one part of their life.Nhamo ndimuuyandega semhanza kumhara mumusoro.Misfortune tends to arrive without invitation, just as baldness simply happens on its own.Nhamo neman’a hazvisiyani.Suffering and the grief that goes with it are bound together; you rarely get one without the other.Nhamo urimbo inonamira.Once real trouble takes hold, it tends to cling on stubbornly and is hard to shake off.Nzara ishuramweni.Hunger is often a warning sign of greater misfortune still to come.
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