- Ada ya mja hunena muungwana ni kitendo
Kutokana na tabia ya kibinadamu, mtu hutambulika kwa uungwana wake kwa vitendo vyake wala siyo kwa mavazi, maumbile au maneno ayasemayo.
Public opinion maintains, a gentleman is judged by his actions. (Manners make man; or Handsome is as handsome does).
- Akili ni nywele kila mtu ana zake
Akili za watu ni za aina nyingi na ni tofauti kama vile nywele za kila binadamu ni tofauti. Brains are like hair, every humankind has her/his own kind.
- Baada ya dhiki faraja
Baada ya shida huja raha.
After hardship comes relief. (Every cloud has a silver lining; After storm comes a calm).
- Bandubandu huisha (humaliza) gogo
Hata gogo liwe kubwa namna gain, unapolichanachana mwisho gogo hilo humalizika.
Chip! Chip! Finishes the log. (Little strikes fell great oak. Constant dripping wears away a stone).
- Chanda chema hufikwa (huvishwa) pete
Jambo jema husifiwa na hushangiliwa ili liweze kufana zaidi. Ni wana kama kidole kizuri kinapovalishwa pete ili kizidi kupendeza.
A handsome finger gets a ring put round it.
- Chema chajiuza kibaya chajitembeza
Kitu kizuri huonekana bila ya kunadiwa, lakini kibaya hupigiwa debe ili kukitangaza.
A good thing sells itself, a bad thing advertises itself for sale. (Good wine needs no bush).
- Dalili ya mvua ni mawingu
Ishara ya kuwa mvua itanyesha hivi punde ni mawingu meusi makubwa. Na yasipokuwepo mawingu haiwezi kunyesha. Hali kadhalika, katika juhudi zako waweza kujua mapema kama utafanikiwa.
Clouds are the sign of rain. (Morning shows the day as the childhood shows the man. Cunning events cast their shadows before. No smoke without fire).
- Damu ni nzito kuliko maji
Watu wa ukoo mmoja husaidiana sana katika matatizo yao kuliko marafiki au jamaa wa mbali.
Blood is thicker than water.
- Elimu haina mwisho
Elimu ni za aina nyingi. Kila siku maarifa ya aina mpya yanagunduliwa na kuzuka, hivyo haiwezekani kuielewa elimu yote duniani.
Education has no limits. (One has to continue to learn all his/her life time).
- Elimu ni bahari
Elimu ni pana hivi sawa na upeo wa bahari ambayo huelezwa na kusambazwa miongoni mwa binadamu.
Education is like an ocean which spread all over the horizons of people’s life.
- Fadhili za punda ni mashuzi
Shukrani za mtu mjinga ni kumtukana yule aliyemtendea mema.
The gratitude of a donkey is a breaking of wind.
- Fimbo ya mbali haiuwi nyoka
Fimbo iliyo karibu nawe ndiyo ikufaayo wakati inapotokea shida. Methali hii inalenga kuwatanabaisha watu kuwa binadamu anapopata shida ni watu walio karibu naye ndio watakaomsaidia.
A stick in the hand is the one that kills a snake.
- Ganda la muwa la jana, chungu kaona kivuno
Ganda la jana la muwa huwa limekauka, lakini chungu anapolipata huona ni mavuno maridhawa. Maana asiyezoea kuwa nacho, akipatapo hata kama ni kitu duni au hafifu namna gani na kidogo, hushangilia. Mathalani, kukengeuka kwa maadili kwa vijana barani Afrika na kuzamia tamaduni za kigeni.
The skin of yesterday’s sugar-cane is a whole harvest of an ant.
- Gonga gogo usikie mlio wake
Ukitaka kujua mlio wa gogo, lipige na usikilize. Hili lina maana kuwa yakupasa kulichunguza jambo kwanza kabla ya kulihukumu (kulikabili).
Knock a log in order to hear the sound it makes.
- Haba na haba hujaza kibaba
Ukiweka akiba kidogo ya kitu kila mara, mwishoni utakuwa na akiba kubwa. Mwanzo wa makubwa ni madogo.
Little by little fills up the measure. (Little drops of water, little grains of sand, make a mighty ocean and a pleasant land).
- Harakaharaka haina baraka
Jambo lifanywalo harakaharaka, haliwezi kufana. Mambo lazima yaende kwa kuzingatia mchakato wenye mpango na taratibu madhubuti.
Hurry, hurry, has no blessing. (More haste, less speed).
- Iliyopita si ndwele, ganga ijayo
Mambo yaliyopita, yasishughulikiwe sana, bali tujizatiti kuyakabili na kuyadhibiti yale yajayo.
That which has passed is not a diease, cure what is coming.
- Iwapo nia, njia hupatikana
Mtu anapofanya dhamira ya dhati ya kutaka kulitekeleza jambo, hawezi kukosa njia ya utekelezaji.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
- Jambo usilolijua ni kama usiku wa giza
Chochote usichokifahamu vizuri huwezi kukieleza kwa ufasaha.
A matter of which you are ignorant is like a dark night.
- Jogoo la shamba haliwiki mjini
Jogoo lililozoea kuishi shamba, likihamishiwa mjini hushindwa kuwika kwa sababu ya mabadiliko ya mazingira yake. Maana, ye yote aliye ugenini yampasa kufanya mambo kwa tahadhari ili kulingana na mazingira ya hapo.
The country cock does not crow in the town.
- Kata pua uunge wajihi
Mtu akikata pua yake kwa ajili ya kujirembesha anakuwa anaiharibu sura yake zaidi.
Cut off your nose to mend your face. (Keep up appearances even at the price of losing your property. Cut off your nose to spite your face).
- Kidole kimoja hakivunji chawa
Mtu mmoja peke yake hawezi kutenda mengi. Umoja ni nguvu na utengano ni udhaifu.
One finger cannot kill a louse.
- Kuishi kwingi kuona mengi
Kuishi katika dunia kwa muda mrefu humpa mtu nafasi ya kujifunza mengi. Tuwaheshimu wazee kwa vile wanaweza kutushirikisha katika mang’amuzi mengi yenye hekima na busara.
To live long is to see much.
- La kuvunda halina ubani
Harufu mbaya ya kitu kilichooza haiwezi kufichika au kuzuiwa kwa kufukizia ubani. Hali kadhalika, jambo lililoharibika halifichiki.
There is no incense for something rotting (it is impossible to conceal its evil odour).
- Lililoandikwa ndilo liwalo
Lile aliloliweka Mungu litendeke, halishindwi kutendeka kama alivyolipanga. Hii ina maana kuwa Mwenyezi Mungu ni muweza wa yote, hivyo alipendalo hutokea vivyo hivyo. Hakuna awezaye kushindana na matakwa (mapenzi) ya Muumba.
That which is written (by God) is what is (i.e. must surely come to pass).
- Maji yaliyomwagika hayazoleki
Maji yakisha mwagika haiwezekani kuyazoa au kuyakusanya tena. Yaani, jambo likiharibika huwa limeharibika, hata kama likitengenezwa kamwe halitaweza kuwa kama lilivyokuwa hapo awali.
If water is spilt, it cannot be gathered up.
- Milima haikutani, lakini binadamu hukutana
Milima haina uwezo wa kukutana, lakini binadamu wakiwa hai huweza kukutana hata baada ya kuwa mbalimbali kwa muda mrefu. Hii ni methali inayotumika katika kutiana moyo wakati wanapoagana kwamba wakijaliwa watakutana. Pia hutumika katika kuwaonya watu kuacha tabia ya kuwatendea vibaya wengine kwani huenda wao pia wakatendewa hivyo siku za usoni.
Mountains do not meet, but people meet each other.
- Mtoto umleavyo ndivyo akuavyo
Malezi umpatiayo mtoto huwa ni msingi wa mustakabali wake. Maisha ya mtu yanategemea sana msingi wa malezi aliyoyapata tangu angali mchanga. Ni vigumu kwa mtu kuacha tabia aliyoizoea katika makuzi yake.
As you bring up the child, so he/she will be.
- Njia mbili zilimshinda fisi
Kutokana na tamaa yake kubwa, fisi alijaribu njia mbili ya kushoto na kulia, lakini alishindwa. Mwangata mbili, moja humpokonya.
Two ways failed the hyena.
- Nyumba usiyolala ndani yake hujui ila zake
Mtu hufahamu tu mambo ya nyumba ambamo amelala. Ni jambo la kijinga kwa mtu kujifanya kuwa anaelewa mambo ambayo kwa yamkini hayaelewi.
You cannot know the defects of a house you have not slept in. It is the wearer who knows where the shoe pinches.
- Ombaomba huleta unyonge
Tabia ya kuombaomba vitu humfanya mwombaji kuwa mnyonge au duni. Mlegevu, mzembe, goigoi na mvivu kuwategemea watu wengine, maana hana bidii ya kujitafutia riziki yake kwa kufanya kazi mwenyewe. Mtegemea cha ndugu, hufa maskini.
Begging makes somebody become inferior.
- Ondoa dari uezeke paa
Acha kujenga dari mpaka umalize kuezeka. Mtu anatakiwa kwanza kufanya jambo lililo muhimu kwanza kabla ya mengine yasiyo muhimu.
Remove the ceiling in order to thatch the roof.
- Panapofuka moshi pana moto
Moshi ni ishara ionyeshayo uwepo wa moto. Watu wanaogombana mara kwa mara si ajabu kuwa siku moja wataingia vitani na kusababisha maafa.
Where there is smoke there is fire.
- Paka akiondoka, panya hutawala
Paka na panya ni maadui wakubwa. Paka hutishia sana uhai wa panya kwa kuwakamata na kuwala nyama. Kwa jinsi hiyo, paka anapoondoka, panya hupata nafasi ya kufanya vitu vyao bila ya kuwa na hofu yoyote. Ndivyo ilivyo kwa wafanyakazi, endapo mkubwa wao akiondoka, walio chini hujiona kuwa huru na hufanya mambo wapendavyo.
When the cat goes away, mice do reign. When the cat’s away, the mice do play.
- Penye watu wengi hapaharibiki neno
Mahali ambapo kuna watu wengi hapaharibiki neno. Walipo watu wengi hubadilishana mang’amuzi na hivyo fikira na nguvu zao hukusanywa pamoja ili kulitengeneza jambo. Penye wengi pana Mungu ambaye ni muweza wa yote.
Where there is a gathering of people nothing goes bad. Where there are many people, there God is (Vox populi vox Dei).
- Radhi ni bora kuliko mali
Kupata radhi ya wazazi ni bora kuliko kupata mali. Baraka ya wazazi haiwezi kupatikana hivihivi tu, lakini mtu anaweza kutafuta mali wakati na mahali popote. Kwa hiyo, yatupasa kuwatii wazazi (wakubwa) wetu ili watubariki ndipo hata tutafutapo mali au riziki huwa tumekwisha pata baraka ya mafanikio maishani kutoka kwa wazazi.
Blessings are better than wealth.
- Rahisi haihalisi
Kitu au bidhaa ipatikanayo kwa bei poa ni kitu hafifu hivyo huwa si kizuri na hakifai. Cheap things are not worthy spending money on them.
- Sikio halilali njaa
Hapana siku ipitayo bila ya sikio kusikia maneno fulanifulani yawe mabaya au mazuri. Hivyo sikio halilali bila ya kusikia neno.
An ear does not go to sleep hungry (there’s always plenty of gossip).
- Sumu ya neno ni neno
Moto huzimwa kwa maji na pia neno humalizwa na neno. Likizuka neno au jambo linalowafanya watu kulisema sana au uvumi fulani, ule uvumi huendelea hadi pale uvumi mwingine tofauti utakapotokea. Basi, hapo watu husahau ule uvumi wa kwanza wakaushika ule uvumi mpya.
The poison for a word is a word. Tit for tat.
- Tamaa mbele, mauti nyuma
Mtu mwenye tamaa nyingi mwishowe hupatwa na misiba mibaya. Anayetanguliza tamaa na ubinafsi mbele ajue hana mwisho mzuri.
Desire first, death afterwards (i.e. No one ever thinks of the possibility of death when concentrating on achieving a particular end). Man proposes, God disposes.
- Taratibu ndio mwendo
Mwendo wa polepole ndio ufaao. Yaani, jambo lolote lile halina budi kufanywa kwa kuzingatia kanuni.
Slowly is indeed the way to walk. He that goes slowly goes surely. Hasten slowly. Slow but sure.
- Uchungu wa mwana, aujua mzazi
Mzazi ndiye anayepata uchungu mwingi zaidi ya watu wote anapomzaa mtoto wake. Yaani mwenye kuthamini kitu chochote kile ni yule mwenye kitu hicho. Kwani ni yeye ndiye aliyetaabika katika kukitafuta na kukipata.
The labour of childbirth is known to the mother.
- Ukiona vinaelea, vimeundwa
Ukiviona vyombo vya kusafiria vinaelea juu ya maji, ujue kwamba ni matokeo ya juhudi na maarifa ya watu waliovitengeneza. Kizuri chochote ukionacho, ufahamu kimepatikana kwa bidii na jasho na siyo kwa miujiza.
If you see vessels afloat, remember that they have had to be built.
- Usipoziba ufa, utajenga ukuta
Usipoukarabati ufa kwenye ukuta mapema, ukuta utabomoka na hivyo utalazimika kuujenga ukuta tena. Usipolirekebisha kosa dogo tangu mwanzo, utapata hasara kubwa hatimaye.
If you do not fill up a crack, you will have to build a wall. A stitch in time saves nine.
- Vita havina macho
Wakati wa vita mtu ye yote yule anaweza kuumizwa, kuuawa au kupata madhara ya aina yoyote ile. Ni vema kujiepusha na vita.
War has no eyes (i.e. it kills indiscriminately).
- Vita vya panzi furaha ya kunguru
Panzi wanapopigana na kuuana kwa wingi ni furaha ya kunguru kwani hupata chakula chao kwa urahisi. Hali kadhalika, maafa ya wanyonge huweza kuwa furaha ya wakubwa.
A fight between grasshoppers is a joy to crows.
- Wapiganapo tembo, nyasi huumia
Ndovu wawili wakipigana, husababisha nyasi kukanyagwakanyagwa na kuharibika. Yaani viongozi wawili wanapopigana wanaoumia ni wafuasi au watu walio chini ya himaya zao. Wakati mataifa makuu mawili (k.m.Warusi na Marekani wakati wa vita baridi) yanapopigana, mataifa madogo ndiyo yanayoumia.
Where elephants fight, the reeds get hurt.
- Ya kale hayapo
Yale yaliyotokea zamani yamekwisha na yanapaswa kusahauliwa. Hapana haja ya mtu kuwa na kifundo cha moyo kwa ubaya aliofanyiwa hapo zamani.
The ancient (things) are no longer with us. Let bygones be bygones.
- Yote yang’aayo si dhahabu
Si kila kionekanavyo kinameremeta ni dhahabu. Kwani viko vingi ving’aavyo, lakini ambavyo si dhahabu na ni vya thamani ndogo mno kuliko dhahabu. Usikipende kitu kwa uzuri wake wa nje, bali ukichunguze sana ili ujue ubora wake. Uzuri wa mkakasi ndani kipande cha mti.
All that glitters, do not think it is gold.
- Ziba mwanya, asipite panya
Ukisha kugundua mwanya wa panya, fanya hima ili uuzibe ili panya wasifanye mazoea ya kuutumia mwanya huo. Mathalani, serikali ikisha gundua mwanya wa bidhaa za magendo haina budi kuharakisha kuuziba mwanya ili kuondokana na ugumu wa kulikabili tatizo hilo baada ya kuzoeleka na walanguzi seuze na wafanyabiashara ya magendo.
Seal the small path so that the rats should not create the habit of using it.
- Zimwi likujualo halikuli likakwisha
Shetani akujuaye hakuli akakumaliza. Watu wa jamii au ukoo moja hawadhuriani kabisa. Endapo wakifanya hivyo, basi huhesabika kuwa ni wachawi.
A devil that knows you will not devour you completely.
Vitabu vya Rejea
- Ahmed Ndalu & Kitula G. King’ei, Kamusi ya Methali za Kiswahili, EAEP (1989).
- Charlotte and Wolf Leslau, African Proverbs, The Peter Pauper Press, NY (1962).
- Farsi, S.S., Swahili Sayings, EALB
- Healey, Joseph G., Towards an African Narrative Theology, Paulines Publications Africa (1996); Once Upon a Time in Africa: Stories of Wisdom and Joy, Orbis Books (2004); African Stories for Preachers and Teachers, Paulines Publications Africa (2005); Kueneza Injili kwa Methali, Benedictine Pulications Peramiho (1984).
- Johnson, Frederick, Swahili-English Dictionary & English-Swahili Dictionary, OUP (1939).
- Kalugila, Omushumba Leonidas, Emigani na Ebikoikyo, North Western Publishers, Bukoba (1992).
- Kamati ya Utafiti wa Utamaduni Bujora, Kugundua Mbegu za Injili, Benedictine Peramiho Publications (1993).
- Madam, Swahili-English Dictionary, (1894).
- Mayoka, J.M., Nahau za Kiswahili, Mathews Bookstore & Stationers, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
- Mbonde, J. P., Wisdom from Ngoni Proverbs, privately duplicated (2004).
- Muwanga, Aminieli Stephano, Methali kwa Picha, Utamaduni Publishers (1984).
- Ngole S.Y.A. & Honero Lucas N. (Wahariri), Fasihi Simulizi Methali (kitabu cha Pili (TUKI) DUP (1981).
- Nestor, Hellen Byera, 500 Haya Proverbs, East Africa Literature Bureau (1978).
- Omari,C.K., Kezilahabi, E., and Kamera,W. D., Misemo na Methali Toka Tanzania Kitabu cha 1 (Toleo Jipya 2000) & Kitabu cha 2 (Toleo Jipya 2004) Mathews Bookstore & Stationers, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
- Rugumamu, Severine M., Globalization Demystified: Africa’s Possible Development Futures, DUP (2005).
- Scandinavian Institute of African Studies: Swahili Proverbs from East Africa, Uppsala (1977).
- TUKI: Kamusi ya Kiswahili Sanifu, OUP (1981).
- TUKI: Kiswahili cha Utandawazi, DUP
- TUKI: Kamusi ya Kiswahili Sanifu (toleo la pili), OUP (2004).
- Wamitila, K.W., Kamusi ya Methali, Longhorn Publishers, (2001).
