Bofu Rikati Ndinokurova Rinenge Rine Charakatsika
The assumption is that you can’t pursue doing something dangerous unless you know where you stand.
Other proverbs with the same meaning:
(1) Imbwa kumedza huona kudada nechivhuno.
(2) Benzi Bvunza Rakanaka
Its better to ask if you don’t know.
Ane Benzi Ndoane Rake Rikadzana Unopururudza
Supporting those who belong to you. For example, if you have a foolish child, you applaud when the child dances.
Bveni Kuipa Kuipa Zvaro Asi Haridyi Chakafa Choga.
There is more to a person than meets the eye. A person may have a bad reputation but it doesn’t mean there is nothing good that comes out of them. There is value in everyone regardless of appearance, reputation or social status.
Chitiyo Kupinda Muzai Huona Amai
Children usually behave like their parents.
Other proverbs with the same meaning:
Mbudzi kudya muufenje hufana nyina.
Chiri Mumusakasaka Chinozvinzwira.
If you are among a group of people being advised, you take advice that applies to you.
Chaitemura chava kuseva | Chaikanya chototsa, chaitotsa chokanyawo.
From rags to riches.
Chara Chimwe Hachitswanyi Inda.
One person is limited in what he can achieve compared to team effort. Chara chimwe translated to Shona means a thumb finger. Inda means a louse. Translating this Shona proverb to English, it means one finger cannot crush a louse. Similar Proverbs:
1. Mombe haipingudzwi nomunhu mumwe.
2. Ndarira imwe hairiri.
3. Rume rimwe harikombi churu.
Chitsva chiri murutsoka.
To experience new things, move to different locations.
Charovedzera charovedzera gudo rakakwira mawere kwasviba.
To be focussed on achieving your goal even under difficult circumstances.
Chenga ose manhanga hapana risina mhodzi.
Treat everyone with respect and dignity. There’s something deposited in every person.
Chomujiri ndechemhanza, chemudzimu ndechewadanirwa.
Don’t expect to receive things on a silver platter.
Charova sei chando chakwidza hamba mumuti | Zvina mashura dede kuwa mumuti.
Great surprise to see things that never used to happen.
Chava chigondora chava chimombe kutadza kutunga hurema hwacho.
Once you’re a grownup, you can look after yourself unless if you are a fool.
Chakanaka chakanaka mukaka haurungwi (munyu).
You can’t add extra things to something perfect.
Chinoziva ivhu kuti mwana wembeva anorwara.
Those close to you usually know about what’s troubling you or the hard times you are going through.
Chinokanganwa idemo asi chitsiga hachikanganwe.
If you offend someone, you may forget about it, but that person will always remember.
Chimwe nechimwe chine nguva yacho.
Everything has its own time.
Chidziva chakadzikama ndicho chinogara ngwena.
Still waters run deep.
Chakabaya chikachokera.
It’s impossible to change habits that are ingrained in you.
Chakatanga ndochakachenjedza.
Chikuriri chine chimwe.
What was once great will be smaller at some point in life.
Chakafukidza dzimba matenga.
There are things that are not so obvious that happen behind the scenes in every home.
Chisi hachieri musi vacharimwa.
You reap what you sow not now, but later. If you do something bad, you will face the consequences.
Chisingaperi chinoshura.
All things have a beginning and an end.
Chako ndechako kuseva unosiya muto.
When you are using your own things, you make reservations for future use.
Chavavana batisisa mudzimu haupi kaviri.
Opportunities com once in life.
Chawawana idya nehama mutorwa ane hanganwa.
Chidamoyo hamba yakada makwati.
To choose what you want even if it doesn’t appeal to other people.
Chada mwoyo hachikoni, mwoyo chiremba.
To chase your dream until you get it.
Chura kugara mumvura handi kunwa.
Chiri mumoyo chiri muninga unofa nacho.
Secrets that remain buried inside you till death.
Chirema ndechina mazano chinotamba chakazendama kumadziro.
A disadvantaged person plays it safe in case anything goes wrong. They have something to fall back on.
Chinokura usipo imombe munda unokura nokuvandurirwa.
Chitaurirwa mbare dzekumusana.
Experiencing things first hand differs from being told.
Chembere masikati usiku imvana.
Chembere mukadzi hazvienzani nekurara mugota.
It’s better to have something not so good than to have nothing.
Chinokura chinokotama musoro wegudo chave chinokoro.
Situations change with the passing of time.
Chitende chinorema ndechine mhodzi.
Empty tins make a lot of noise.
Chinonzi regedza ndechiri mumaoko chiri mumoyo unofa nacho.
Chirere mangwana chigozokurerawo.
Take care of a youngster. One day, that person will take care of you.
China manenji hachifambisi chinomirira kuti mavara acho aonekwa.
Chinono chine’ngwe bere rakadya richifamba.
You must make hay while the sun shines. Do things hastily.
Chiri pamuchena chiri pamutenure.
If you have nothing, whatever you get doesn’t seem to last. It’s like putting money in a pocket with a hole.
ALPHABET D
Dai Ndakaziva Haitungamire.
I wish I had known will not help you.
ALPHABET E
Enda kumupata wenyoka, kwete kuna vapfumi | Panorwa hama nehama mutorwa suduruka.
A warning to people to be wise and avoid getting involved in matters that do not concern them.
ALPHABET G
Gudo Guru Peta Muswe Vadiki Vakutye.
The older people should humble themselves to earn the respect of the younger ones.
Guyu kutsvuka kutsvuka zvaro asi mukati rine masvosve.
Some things look attractive from afar or from outside, but they are not so good inside. Same as all that glitters is not gold.
Gavi rakabva kumasvuvuriro | Chida moyo zamu kumera pambabvu | Mazvokuda mavanga enyora.
All mean the same that, ‘you’re in this predicament by choice’ to people who were given prior warning but didn’t listen to advice.
ALPHABET H
Hupfumi hauna kuringanwa chakaringanwa ibvudzi.
Among the rich people, they don’t have the same level of richness.
ALPHABET I
Imbwa Ine Hona Hayihukuri | Nzou haikarari ina makaka.
If you have something you treasure, you’d remain quiet in case you lose it or jeopardise your success.
Imbwa kumedza hona kudada nechivhuno | Kutukana nemuroyi hunge muchizivana.
Some people may say something knowing where they stand, imitating them may get you in trouble.
Imbwa Yarara Haimutsirwe Sadza. Same as: Nyoka Yapinda Mumwena Hayinyombwi.
A warning to people not to provoke others as they will face the consequences and end up in trouble or hurt.
Imbwa nyoro ndidzo tsengi dzamatovo.
The people that seem innocent are usually the guilty ones.
Igaroziva kuti mhanza yembudzi iri mumabvi.
Things are not what they seem like.
ALPHABET K
Kandiro Kanoenda Kunobva Kamwe.
One good turn deserves another.
Kakara kununa hudya kamwe.
Success comes through the help of others.
Kamoto kamberevere kakapisa matanda mberi.
It takes a spark to set the whole bush burning.
Kudzipakata Handi Kunzi Dziridze
If someone lends or borrow you something, it doesn’t mean those things now belong to you to do whatever you want with them. As long as you understand the owner ca take his things back, you are okay using them.
Kuipa kuipa zvaro bveni, asi haridyi chakafa choga.
A baboon might be ugly, but it does eat carcasses of an animals that it finds already dead.
Kugona mbavha huirongera | Kurova imbwa rova wakabata nyama.
To catch someone who is troublesome set him a trap using things he likes.
Kukurukura hunge wapotswa.
You can only narrate an ordeal after you have survived it.
Kure kwegava ndiko kusina mutsubvu.
People will do anything to get what they want.
Kure kwemeso nzeve dzinodya.
You don’t have to be at a place to know what happened.
Kuzeza chati kwati hunge uine katurike.
People who over react to things probably have something to hide.
Kuwanda kwakanaka, kwakaipira kupedza muto.
It’s good to be in large numbers but burdensome in terms of upkeep.
Kuwanda huuya.
The more (people) the merrier.
Kuziva ambuya huudzwa.
All that you know, they taught you.
Kuzvara Kwemumwe Ndekwako
If a misfortune happens in your family or in the community you live, its everyone’s problem. So, people need to put their heads together to solve the problem. It might be youths misbehaving.
ALPHABET M
| Matakadya Kare Hamunyaradzi Mwana Boasting of past successes will not solve present problems. |
| Mazvokuda mavanga enyora. Self inflicted problems. |
| Murombo haarovi chine nguwo, chine nguwo ndirwo rushambwa rwakatangisa, rwakabvira kumahumbwe. When hunting, a poor man does not make a big catch that will supply him with skin to cover himself. |
| Mwana Washe Muranda Kumwe. Even if you are royalty, outside your own country, you are a subject. In Rome, do what the Romans do. |
| Mbeva zhinji hadzina mashe. Too many people are involved in trying to do the same thing, such that the end product will not be good. |
| Mbudzi kuzvarira pavanhu kuda kutandirwa imbwa. People go to the extent of doing strange things in front of others in order to find help. |
| Muto wekupangurirwa, haupedzi sadza | Cimwango chekukumbira hachina ndima. It’s difficult to achieve your goals using borrowed things. |
| Mviro mviro dzemhanza mapfeka | Mharadzano dzakabva munzira. Everything has a beginning and then grows |
ALPHABET N
| Nzou Hairemerwi Nenyanga Dzayo A person has the strength to carry his desires. For example, you may have many children but won’t feel the burden to fend for them. |
| Nzenza mumvuri, asvika anovanda zuva. Bad people will always hide their bad deeds from coming to light. |
| Nzombe huru yakabva mukurerwa. Great people are raised up by other people. |
One man for himself.
ALPHABET G
| Gakanje kunyangara zvaro asi kuruma harigoni | Rwaivhi kupanduka nhando iro risingagoni kuruma People who seem as if they are good at something, yet they are not. |
ALPHABET P
| Pfavira ngoma, husiku hurefu. Be calm and take your time to do things. |
ALPHABET R
Rinamanyanga hariputirwi mushushunje | Chokwadi hachifushirwe. No one can hide forever something that is supposed to be seen. The truth will eventually come out. |
| Rume rimwe harikombi churu | Ndarira imwe chete hairiri mugumbo | Chara chimwe hachitswanyi inda. All mean the same that, one person cannot do all things by himself. |
| Ramba kuudzwa akaonekwa nembonje pahuma. People who forsake warnings and advice often fall into calamity. |
| Rudo ibofu. Love is blind. |
| Regai dzive shiri mazai haana muto Similar to don’t count your chickens before they hatch. |
ALPHABET S
| Seka Urema Wafa Literal translation: don’t laugh at a disabled person because one day you might be like them. Do not make fun of other people’s misfortunes because you will be in the same predicament. |
| Simbi inorohwa ichapisa. Strike the iron while it’s still hot same as make hay while the sun shines. |
| Simba rehove riri mumvura | Chikomba chinovirima kwacho. You can’t start a war with someone at his homestead and win. You never know what he can use to his advantage. |
ALPHABET T
| Totenda dzanwa mombe dzaswera nebenzi Expressing concern and a lack of faith in someone who has proved before to be untrustworthy or incompetent. |
| Takabva Neko Kumhunga Hakuna Ipwa We have experienced it all. There is nothing new. What you hear are just empty promises. |
ALPHABET U
| Ukama igasva hunozadziswa nekudya Relations are incomplete until you partake of a meal together. |
| Usaruka nhave sora ratsva | Usakusha mbeu mvura yaenda Make Hay While The Sun Shines. |
ALPHABET V
| Vaviri Vaviri Wechitatu Muzvinaguhwa To keep a secret three people are too many. The best-kept secret is between two people. |
| Varume kutsva kwendebvu vanodzimurana. Men help each other in times of difficult situations. |
| Vasikana kudada kudada zvenyu, tichaonana magaro pakuyambuka. You may reject people when all seems to go well for you but you will need them when things get hard. |
ALPHABET Y
| Yadeuka yadeuka mvura yemuguchu haidyorerwi. To express vain regrets about what cannot undo. You made a mistake, but there’s no use crying over spilled milk. | |
| Yatsika dope yanwa. We count the one who was present to have been involved. |
ALPHABET Z
| Zano Ndega Akasiya Jira Mumasese If you don’t listen to other people’s advice you will live to regret it. |
| Zino Irema Rinosekerera Newaisingadi A smile is not always a sign of love, even enemies can fake smiles. |
| Zviuya hazviwanani. Its rare for perfect people to marry each other. |
| Zingizi gonyera pamwe maruva enyika haaperi. Settle down with one partner, there are many more beautiful ones all over the world. |
| Zvikoni zvikoni mimba haibvi negosoro. It is what it is. What is impossible is impossible. You can’t remove pregnancy by coughing. |
This collection of Zimbabwe Shona proverbs is a work in progress. Please leave your comment below.