Common Kazakh idioms and proverbs with their figurative meanings explained, for an upper-level learner. Front: the Kazakh idiom. Back: English meaning and explanation.
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- Ер жігіттің сөзі бір (Er zhigittің sözi bir)
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A real man's word is one (a man keeps his word, does not go back on it)- Ат үстінде туып, ат үстінде өлген (At üstinde tuyp, at üstinde ölgen)
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Born on horseback, died on horseback (describes a lifelong warrior or nomad)- Көш жүре түзеледі (Kösh zhüre tüzeledi)
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The caravan corrects itself while moving (things get sorted out along the way)- Аузынан ақ ит кіріп, көк ит шықты (Auzynan aq it kirip, kök it shyqty)
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A white dog went into his mouth and a blue dog came out (he cursed and swore terribly)- Жеті атасын білу (Zheti atasyn bilu)
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To know one's seven forefathers (to know one's lineage well, a mark of a well-raised person)- Тіл тас жарады, тас жармаса, бас жарады (Til tas zharady, tas zharmasa, bas zharady)
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The tongue splits stone, and if not stone, then a head (careless words cause serious harm)- Ел іші алтын бесік (El ishi altyn besik)
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Home is a golden cradle (there is no place like home)- Батыр туса ел ырысы (Batyr tusa el yrysy)
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When a hero is born, it is the nation's fortune (a great person's birth benefits everyone)- Құдай бергенді құдай алады (Qudai bergendi qudai alady)
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What God gives, God takes away (accept fate philosophically)- Асығыс істің ақыры өкініш (Asyġys istiñ aqyry ökinish)
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A hasty deed ends in regret (haste makes waste)- Ит арқасы қияда (İt arqasy qiyada)
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The dog's back is on the ridge (a task will be resolved quickly and easily)- Көзге түсу (Közge tüsu)
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To catch the eye (to stand out, get noticed)- Тас түйін (Tas tüiin)
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A stone knot (a very difficult, unsolvable problem)- Бас қатыру (Bas qatyru)
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To harden the head (to rack one's brain over a problem)- Қолы ashaq (Qoly ashyq)
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Open-handed (a generous person)
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