.
قصاب كه بسيار شد گاو مُردار شد
qasab ka beayar shud gao mordar shud
-------
Too many butchers ruined the cow.
-------
meaning : Too many cooks spoil the broth.
***
مُشك آن است كه خود ببويد نه كه عطار گويد
moshk an as ka khod boboya na aatar ghoyad
--------
Good perfume is known by is own scent rather by the perfumer's
advertisement.
--------
meaning : A good tree is known by its fruit.
*****
آهن بد شمشير بُرآن يا تيز نميشه
aii han bad shamsher teez jor namesha
------
Poor iron won't make sharp sword.
--------
meaning : you can't get quality out of inferior raw materials.
***
ارزان بي علت نيست و قيمت بي حكمت
arzan be aalat nest wa ghemat be hekmat
--------
A cheep thing doesn't lack defect, an expensive thing quality.
--------
meaning You get what you pay for.
***
برادر با برادر حسابش برابر
brother ba brother hesab ash bara bar
--------
Between brother and brother accounts should be square.
-------
meaning : Even among friends, should be carried out on
an exact basis.
***
بخشش به خروار حساب به مثقال
bakh shesh ba khar war hasab ba mas ghal
-----
One gives by tons, but takes accounts by ounces.
----
meaning : gave liberally but do business exactly.
***
هيچ كس نميگويد دوغ من ترش است
hech kas na me gho ya dogh ma torsh ast
-------
No one says his own buttermilk is sour.
-----
meaning : no one advertises his own faults.
***
زخم بد جور ميشود گپ بد ني
zakhm bad jur mesha ghap bad na
------
Abad wound heals, but a bad word doesn't .
---------
meaning : A cruel tongue dose more harm than a sharp sword.
***
با ماه نشيني ماه شوي با ديگ نشيني سياه شوي
ba ma nesheny ma shawi ba deeg nasheny seya shawi
-------
If you sit beside a cooking pot ;you will get black .
-----
meaning : You reflect the company you keep.
***
خواهي نشوي رسوا همرنگ جماعت باش
khahi na shawee raswa hamrang jama at bash
------
Not to be considered strange conform to the crowd.
--------
meaning : If you don't want to look silly ,look like others.
***
دست شكسته كار ميكند دل شكسته ني
dast shkesta caar mekona dil shkesta na
------
A broken hand can work but a broken heart can't.
-------
meaning : A physical handicap can be overcome
but a wounded spirit cannot be overcome.
***
خدا يك دست را محتاج ديگر دست نكند
khoda yak dast ra moh taj degher dest nakona
------
May God not make one hand dependent on the other.
------
meaning : Each one should bear his own burdens.
and shoulder his own responsibilities
***
شنيدن كي بود مانند ديدن
sha ne dan kai bowad ma nand dedan
-----
Hearing is never as good as seeing .
-----
meaning : One picture is worth a thousand word.
***
از زير چكك گريخت و زير باران نشست
az zeer chakak ghorekht wa da zeer baran na shest
--------
He ran out from under the leaking roof and set in the rain.
-------
meaning : Out the frying pan into the fire.
***
آب را نا ديده موزه را از پاي نكش
aab ra na deda moza ra az pai na kash
------
Without seeing the water don't take your shoes.
(to walk through it)
------
meaning : Look before you leap.
***
پنج انگشت برادر است برابر نيست
panj anghosht brother ast bara bar nest
------
Five fingers are brothers but are not equals.
------
meaning : Although people may related by family or
nationality each person nevertheless is different .
***
من چي ميگويم دمبوره ام چي ميگويد
maa chi meghom dambora am che megha
------
My drum doesn't say what I say .
-------
Usage : Used when a servant ,child or student doesn't do what you have told him to do .
***
پایت را برابر گليم ات دراز كن
paa yat ra brober gha leem at daraz koo
------
Only stretch your foot to the length of your blanket .
--------
meaning ; Cut your cost according to your cloth
or: don't overstretch your bounds.
***
كارد اگر از نقره هم باشد كس در دل خود نميزند اش
kard agher az nogh ra basha kas dar dil khod na mezana
-----
Even if a knife is made of silver, a person won't stab his own heart with it.
-------
meaning : Don't side with your best friend or even with your son if he is in the wrong.
***
نوكر نو آهو را بدو ميگيرد
noker naw aaho ra ba daw megherad
-------
A new servant can catch a running deer.
-----
meaning : A person who is new at a job is overly energetic
in an attempt to make a good impression.
***
كسيكه قدر يك سيب را نه فهمد قدر باغ را نمي فهمد
kaas e ka ghader yak seeb ra nadanad ghader bagh ra na medana
--------
One who doesn't appreciate the apple,
won't appreciate the orchard.
---------
meaning : If we don't appreciate little things ,we won't
appreciate great things.
***
دو تربوز در يك دست گرفته نميشود
do tarboz dar yak dast gharefta na ma sha
-------
Tow watermelons can't be held in one hand.
-------
meaning : If you have too many preoccupations, you will
succeed at none of them.
***
گوشت كه گنده شود نمك ميزنند نمك كه گنده شود اورا چي بزنند
gosht ka ganda shwa namak me zanand agher namak
ganda shawa ao ra chee bazanand
-------
Salt preserves meat, but what can be done with salt if it is bad.
----------
meaning : Ordinary people can be corrected, but hoe can one correct teachers, leaders and preachers .
or: If salt has lost its savor it is good for nothing.
***
خدا گفته كه بنوش و بخور نه گفته كه تا به گلو
khoda goft bokho wa bo nosh na gofta ka ta
glo por ko
------
God said eat and drink but he didn't say
full up to your throat.
-----
meaning : God want us to eat and drink but not overeat
or: we are to eat to live and not to live to eat.
***
غم هرچي ميرود ليكين غم شكم ني
gham harchee merawa gham shekam na
------
Every anguish passes except the anguish of hunger.
-------
meaning : One can forget other troubles, but not the need for food.
***
الو الو به از پلو
alao alao be az palao
------
A warm fire is better than delicious cooked rice.
-----
meaning : warmth is more important than food.
***
مار گزيده از ريسمان دراز ميترسد
mar ghazeeda az resman draz metersad
----
Having been bitten by a snake , he's afraid of a rope.
----
meaning : Once bitten twice shy,
or: not making the same mistake twice .
***
در خانه مورچه شبنم طوفان است
dar khana morcha shabnam tofan ast
------
In a ant colony dew is a flood.
------
meaning : A little misfortune means much to one in need .
***
نان پیاز پیشانی باز
nan peyaz peshani baz
-----
If there is only bread and onion, still have a happy face .
------
meaning : Be content with such thing as you have.
***
روباه را گفتند كه شاهدت كيست گفت دُمم
roba ra ghoftan sha hidet kest ghoft dom am
-----
They ask the fox , who is your witness?
He said my tail.
-----
meaning : Collusion is suspected,
or: one witness for his own benefit.
***
روبا از دست پوست خود در عذاب است
roba az dest post khod dar azab ast
------
A fox is in trouble because of his pelt.
-----
meaning : A person's own talents or possessions can involve
him in trouble, thus becoming his own worst enemy.
***
سري خر سوار ، خر را گُم كرده
sar khar so war khar ra gom karda
----
He is riding donkey, but has lost the donkey.
------
meaning If it had been a snake it would have bitten you
or : he has his hat on, but is looking for it.
***
خار پوشتک چوچه خود را ميگويد ((بخملي بچه ايم
khar poshtak chocha khda megha bakh mal bacheem
------
A porcupine speaking to his baby says O my child of velvet.
------
meaning : One's own child is especially dear to him.
***
عاقبت گرگ زاده گرگ شود
گرچه با آدمي بزرگ شود
aqubat gurg zada gurg shawad garchi ba adami buzurg shawad
------
A wolf's pup will grow a wolf even though it be
raised among men.
--------
meaning : What is bred in the bone will come out in the flesh.
or : you cannot change a leopard's spots.
***
شير خانه روباه بيرون
sher khana roba ya be roon
------
A lion at home , and a fox abroad.
----
meaning : A big frog in a little pond becomes a little in a big
pond.
or : every dog is a lion at home.
***
تا نباشد چوب تر فرمان نبرد گاو و خر
ta na ba shad chob tar farman na barad gao o khar
-------
Without a green switch the cow and donkey won't obey.
-------
meaning : Spare the rod and spoil the child.
***
به خري كه كار نداري ايشه مگو
ba khar ka kaar nadary esha ma gho
------
Don't stop a donkey that isn't yours .
-----
meaning : Mind your own business.
***
گُنجشك نا گرفته روپیه را بيست و پنج تا ست
gungeshk na gerefta ropeya ra best wa pang ta ast
--------
There are twenty-five uncaught sparrows for a penny.
------
meaning : A bird in the hand is worth tow in the bush
or: wishes are a dime a dozen.
***
بار كج به منزل نمي رسد
bar kaj ba manzil na me rasad
-------
A tilted load won't reach its destination.
-----
meaning : Honesty is the best policy.
***
خر خو همان خر است پالانش نو شده
khar kho haman khar asr palan esh now shoda
-----
It's the same donkey, but with a new saddle.
------
meaning : Clothes don't make the man.
***
پیش كله خر ياسين خواندن
pesh kala khar yaseen khandan
-----
Reading scripture in front of a donkey.
------
meaning : Casting your pearls before swine.
***
كوه هر قدر كه بلند باشد باز هم سر خود راه دارد
koh ar gha dar baland basha sar khod rah darad
-------
there is a path to the top of even the highest mountain .
---------
meaning : God is more powerful than the proudest persons.
or : where there is a will, there's a way.
***
تا شمال نباشد درخت شور نميخورد
ta shamal nabasha drakht shoor na ma khora
-----
A tree doesn't move unless there is wind.
-------
meaning : where there is smoke there is fire
or : every effect has a cause.
***
به لق لق سگ دريا مُردار نمي شود
ba lagh lagh sag darya mordar namesha wad
---------
A river is not contaminated by having a dog drink from it.
-------
meaning : One of good character is pure despite criticism .
***
به يك گل بهار نميشود
ba yak gull bahar nameshawad
----
One flower doesn't bring spring.
---
meaning : One swallow doesn't make a spring
Usage : Said of a person who tries to do too much himself.
***
هرچه بكارند همان را ميدروند
har chi ba kari haman ra darow me koni
----
Whatever you sow you reap.
------
meaning : A person gets his just deserts .
***
دوست آن است كه گيرد دست دوست
در پريشان حالي و در مانده گي
dost aan ast ka gerad dast dost
dar pareshan hali wa darmonda gee
------
A real friend is one who takes the hand of his friend
in time of distress and helplessness.
-------
meaning : A friend in need is a friend indeed.
***
خودت گل باشي و عمرت ني
khodat gull bashee wa omer at ne
-----
Flourish like a flower, but may your life be longer .
------
Usage : when one is offered some flowers .
***
هيچ گل بي خار نيست
hich gull be khar nest
------
No rose without a thorn.
------
meaning : no one is perfect.
*****
روز اول دوست ميشوي روز دوم برادر
roz awal dost roz dowom brother
-------
The first day you meet , you are friends,
the next day you meet , you are brother.
-------
meaning : Friendship grows into brotherhood.
***
دل به دل راه دارد
del ba del rah darad
------
There is a way from heart to heart .
--------
meaning : Love finds a way to another's heart.
**