Cambodian people use a lot of sayings and expressions in daily life which offer advice and even sometimes have hidden meanings.
Check out these proverbs and quotes below to gain some insight into Cambodian beliefs and ways of thinking.
Below I’ve listed famous Khmer quotes, inspiring Khmer sayings and common Khmer proverbs.
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Famous Khmer Proverbs & Khmer Sayings
Below I’ve listed the most famous Cambodian proverbs in Khmer as well as some common Khmer sayings with translation. These are used often in day to day life.
- Phnom muoy men ach mean khla pi – One mountain never has two tigers.
This Khmer quote means that there can only be one powerful person ruling a place.
- Changkes mouy bach kach min bak – A bunch of sticks cannot be broken.
- Khloun ti peung khloun – Depend on yourself first.
This Khmer saying means that we should depend on ourselves first before asking others for help.
- Dtek loeng trey sisra-mauch, dtek hauch sra-mauch si trey – When water raises, fish eats ant; when water lowers, ants eat fish.
This proverb is similar to the English saying ‘what goes around, comes around’.
- Khoeng koch, khoeng khat – Anger is damage, anger is waste.
- Cheh eng oay kreng cheh keh – You may know a lot, but you should also respect other’s knowledge.
This proverb in Khmer emphasizes the importance of humility. Don’t show off because there may be someone that knows more than you.
- Angkuy leu chang eh, leuk khluon eng – Sit in the basket, lift up yourself.
This Khmer quote teaches us not to brag too much.
- Chea min chnah chorng – Knowing is never better than willingness.
- Tork tork penh bampong – Drop by drop fills the container.
- Kmas lngueng toeb ches, kmas kror toeb mean – Feeling shame about being ignorant leads to knowledge, feeling shame about being poor leads to wealth.
- Teuk trocheak, trei kom – When the water is cold, the fish will gather.
This Khmer proverb encourages leaders to treat their staff well because then the staff will be loyal and attract other people to work for them.
- Maday kit kaun doay chrova deung. Kaun kit maday vinh doay preah brae kroay – A mother thinks about her children like an oar to a canoe. Children think of their mother like the Buddha who turns his back.
This Khmer quote highlights that the love a parent has for their child is immeasurable and unparalleled compared to the love children have for their parents.
- Cheh mok pi rean, mean mok pi rok – You learn from studying, you have wealth from working.
- Ches dob min smoeuning prasab mouy – Knowing ten things is not equal to having one skill.
- Sralanh kaun muoy tao. Sralanh chao muoy thaing – Love your children one tao. Love your grandchildren one thaing.
In Khmer, tao is a unit of measurement.
One thaing is equivalent to 2 taos so essentially this Khmer proverb means that you should love your grandchildren twice as much as you love your own children.
- Oay mae, euv, pisar toan bampong ko nov chhor – Let your parents eat while their throat is still standing.
This Cambodian proverb teaches us to take care of our parents and cherish the time we have with them because they won’t be around forever.
- T’wer la-or ban la-ar, t’wer aa-krok, ban aa-krok – Do good, get good. Do bad, get bad.
- Kom tuk chet mek, kom tuk chet pkay – Don’t trust the sky, don’t trust the stars.
This Khmer quote about life means that you should never trust anything 100%. If the sky looks like it is about to rain, don’t fully trust it.
- Som-dey saw cheat, meayeat saw pouch – Words show personality, manners show your family.
This Khmer saying means that you should be careful of the words you choose and how you act as it could reflect badly on you and your family.
- Bot dek toan tov kdao, prodao kaun toan nov khmeng – Fold the metal while it’s still hot. Discipline your child when they are still young.
- Pel chheu yok damrey tov boan, dol pel chumngeu sroan yok pongmoan tov thvay – When you are sick, you take the elephant to pray. When your health is better, you offer only a chicken egg.
This Khmer quote about gratitude means that in bad times, you make big promises but when your wishes are granted, you offer little in thanks.
Beautiful Khmer Quotes & Khmer Proverbs in English
Below I’ve listed a range of famous and inspirational Khmer quotes and Khmer proverbs which have been translated into English.
All of these Cambodian proverbs have Cambodian origin.
- If you are patient in a moment of anger, you will spare yourself one hundred days of tears.
- Running out of ideas will put you in the dark until death.
- You don’t have to cut a tree down to get at the fruit.
- Knowing yourself to become ignorant you will eventually become wise.
- Cultivate a heart of love that knows no anger.
- What we think, we become.
- The tiger depends on the forest, the forest depends on the tiger.
- Every man is the architect of his own fortune.
- He who makes no mistakes, makes nothing.
- A still tongue makes a wise head.
- Incapable of being a blacksmith, you blame the metal.
- If you know a lot, know enough to make them respect you, if you are stupid, be stupid enough so they can pity you.
- Negotiate a river by following its bends, enter a country by following its customs.
- Don’t let an angry man wash dishes, don’t let a hungry man guard rice.
- Stretch your arm no further than your sleeve will reach.
- For news of the heart, ask the face.
- People give, but don’t be in a hurry to take.
- Whether the pitcher strikes the stone or the stone strikes the pitcher, it’s going to be bad for the pitcher.
- Catch a fish without muddying the water.
- Burn it to a crisp or leave it raw.
This Khmer proverb means that if you are going to do something, you should commit to it.
- Don’t take rich people as examples.
- The elephant that is stuck in the mud will tear down the tree with it.
- If you are doing something wrong, make sure you don’t get fat from it.
- Active hands, full bellies.
- Genuine gold does not fear fire.
- When wine is in, wisdom is out.
- Cats hide their claws.
- You can’t claim heaven as your own if you are just going to sit under it.
- An ox is taken by the horns and a man by his word.
- Once a thief, always a thief.
- Those who live amongst wolves must learn to howl like wolves.
- Though the wound is healed, a scar remains.
Best Khmer Idioms & Khmer Expressions
Below I’ve listed the most well-known Khmer idioms and expressions. Many of these have hidden meanings.
- Sok neak na, kbal neak nung
This Khmer saying literally means ‘your hair, your head’. If it is said to you, it means that something is your responsibility.
- Ang tong veng, chhnang veng
This phrase literally means ‘long eel, long pot’ however it is actually used as a way to make fun of someone who is not clever.
It comes from an old Cambodian story where a man brings home an eel for his wife to cook.
She didn’t know how to cook it and searched the house for a long pot to cook the eel in.
- Chlong tdoonle
This Khmer idiom literally means ‘cross the river’ however it is actually used to say that someone has given birth.
The idiom comes from the idea that giving birth to a baby is difficult like swimming across a river.
Check out the videos below which feature a range of famous Khmer quotes and well-known Khmer sayings & proverbs.
Thanks for reading this post on the best Khmer quotes about life, famous Khmer sayings and fascinating Khmer proverbs.
These Khmer quotes & sayings give an interesting insight into the Khmer beliefs and language.
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