A contrastive study of english and vietnamese proverbs referring to money = sự phân tích đối chiếu giữa tục ngữ tiếng anh và tục ngữ tiếng việt đề cập đến tiền

Vinh university deparment of foreign languages ngun thÞ thu A contrastive study of English and Vietnamese proverbs referring to money (Sự phân tích đối chiếu tục ngữ tiếng anh tục ngữ tiếng việt đề cập đến tiền) Graduation thesis Field: semantics Vinh, May 2007 i Vinh university deparment of foreign languages A contrastive study of English and Vietnamese proverbs referring to money (Sự phân tích đối chiếu tục ngữ tiếng anh tục ngữ tiếng việt đề cập đến tiền) Graduation thesis Field: semantics Student: Nguyễn thị thu Supervisor: phan thị hơng, M.A Vinh, May 2007 ii Acknowledgements I could not have been able to complete my thesis without the encouragement and help of my teachers, my parents and my friends First of all, I would like to express my deep gratitude to supervisor, Mrs Phan Thị Hương (M.A) who gave me valuable advice, guidance and suggestions in the process of my writing I am indebted to Miss Sandy and Miss Mindy for lending me useful materials and giving me invaluable suggestions I also wish to express my sincere thanks to all the teachers of Foreign Languages Department for their comprehensive lessons as well as their encouragement Finally, I am very grateful to my parents and my friends who are always by my side in order to help and courage me Vinh, may 2007 Nguyễn Thị Thu iii abbreviations CA : Contrastive analysis e.g : For example etc : Et cetera No : Number ii Table of contents page Acknowlegements .i Abbreviations .ii Table of contents iii Part I Introduction 1 Reasons for choosing the subject Aims of the study .1 Objects of the study Methods of the study Design of the study Part II Development Chapter Theoretical background 1.1 An overview on contrastive analysis 1.2 Word 1.2.1 Definition .3 1.2.2 Word meaning 1.3 Set expression 1.4 Metaphor 1.4.1 Definition .5 1.4.2 Distinction between metaphor and simile 1.4.2.1 Similarities 1.4.2.2 Differences 1.5 Proverbs 1.5.1 Definition .7 1.5.1.1 Necessary and sufficient conditions of a proverb definition 1.5.1.2 Definition of English proverbs 1.5.1.3 Definition of Vietnamese proverbs 1.5.2 Distinction between proverbs and idioms 10 1.5.2.1 Similarities 10 1.5.2.2 Differences 10 1.5.3 Features of English and Vietnamese proverbs 10 1.5.3.1 Structural features 10 1.5.3.2 Semantic proverbs 12 1.6 The relationship between proverbs and culture 14 iii Chapter A contrastive study of English and Vietnamese proverbs referring to money 16 2.1 What are proverbs referring to money? 16 2.2 Stylistic features of money proverbs 16 2.2.1 English proverbs 16 2.2.2 Vietnamese proverbs 17 2.3 Semantic features of English and Vietnamese proverbs referring to money .17 2.3.1 Money proverbs about the power of money .17 2.3.2 Money proverbs about money’s effects 20 2.3.3 Money proverbs about money’s drawbacks .21 2.3.4 Money proverbs about money’s relative unimportance .22 2.3.5 Money proverbs about savings 23 2.3.6 Money proverbs about expense 24 2.3.7 Money proverbs about correlation between goods and money’s value .24 2.3.8 Money proverbs about lending and borrowing 25 2.3.9 Money proverbs about the value of time 25 2.3.10 Money proverbs about man’s greediness and selfishness 26 2.3.11 Money proverbs about exchange of goods and services 26 2.3.12 Money proverbs about the rich 26 2.3.13 Money proverbs about unexpected benefit from little investment 27 2.3.14 Money proverbs about money’s sources 27 2.3.15 Money proverbs about the importance of good words .27 2.3.16 Others 28 2.3.16.1 English proverbs .28 2.3.16.2 Vietnamese proverbs 28 2.4 Major semantic similarities and differences of English and Vietnamese proverbs referring to money 30 2.4.1 Differences 31 2.4.2 Similarities 35 Chapter Some suggested exercises for using proverbs referring to money 40 Part III Conclusion 45 References 47 Appendices iv Part I introduction Rationale There is a proverb about its permanence that "Time passes away, but sayings remain" That is true because proverbs play an important role in languages and spirit life of each nation In both daily spoken language and literary language, we often meet the use of many proverbs Truly speaking, proverbs help communication more effectively in ways of simple but sophisticated expressions For example: "Time is money", "Money tempts women, women tempt men", "Penny wise, pound foolish", etc…Expressions like these have caught our attention Additionally, we can not deny that proverbs often reflect a country's customs, cultural and traditional values Therefore, it is essential that we should learn proverbs because mastering proverbs of a country means mastering its culture In this study, I would like to take proverbs referring to money into account since I think that money is considered a great care of human beings Furthermore, in the process of studying, I find many proverbs denoting money cause lot of difficulties for the learners in mastering them In order to interpret a proverb, we can not rely only on its literal meaning, but have to consider their figurative sense For instance: In English, "A golden key opens all doors" means that if you have money, you can anything And Vietnamese equivalent proverb is "có tiền mua tiên được" That interests me much and a query has drawn into my mind what differences and similarities between English and Vietnamese proverbs on money are Last but not least, idioms have been studied a lot (idioms of animals, of human body, of colour, etc…) meanwhile proverbs have not yet been the subject for many studies The above reasons have inspired me to choose the subject entitled "A contrastive study of English and Vietnamese proverbs referring to money" Aims of the study The first aim of this study is to provide readers, especially English learners, with fundamental understandings about words, metaphors, proverbs in general and proverbs referring to money in particular The second aim is to study the meanings of money proverbs in English and Vietnamese equivalents, and then to compare these two groups of proverbs so as to find out similarities and differences between them in some aspects such as culture, social features, structural and semantic features as well as the proportion of semantic features of money proverbs The third aim is that through this study, we hope to be able to offer some possible types of exercises to improve the learners' understanding and using proverbs referring to money Subjects of the study a Proverbs b English and Vietnamese proverbs referring to money c The meanings of English and Vietnamese proverbs referring to money and Vietnamese equivalents Methods of the study To achieve the above- mentioned aims, the author uses the following methods: - Searching and reviewing reference documents related to the study to set up a theoretical framework for the analysis and comparison - Collecting proverbs referring to money in English and n Vietnamese - Classifying proverbs according to their semantic features using systematic method - Analysing and comparing the proverbs classified - Drawing out similarities and differences - Suggesting a number of exercises Design of the study The study consists of three main parts: Introduction includes nationale, aims, subjects, methods and design of the study Development is the main part of the study It is subdivided into three chapters Chapter Theoretical background Chapter A contrastive study of English and Vietnamese proverbs referring to money Chapter Some suggested exercises for using proverbs referring to money Conclusion provide a brief summary of the study and some suggestions for further research References Appendices Part II: Development Chapter Theoretical background 1.1 An overview on contrastive analysis According to Nguyễn Văn Chiến (1992), contrastive analysis is one of important sub ranches of comparative linguistics It is to compare to two or more languages regardless of whether they are related to each other and of course, to find out the differences and similarities between them Thus, it plays an important role in translating, teaching and learning a foreign language There are kinds of CA: the contrast of languages and the contrast of signs The contrast of languages is comparing one language to another, of which one is the base and the other is the means of contrast This kind aims at finding out their specific features The contrast of signs is the study on the inside relationships of languages such as categories, structural systems and so on In practice, CA has its usages as follows: - The ability of discovering a great number of structural features of contrasted languages - The ability of discovering the new interesting language phenomena which can not be recognized if not compared Especially, by comparing the languages, CA can point out some solutions to pedagogical problems as follows: - To solve difficulties in all aspects of languages that the learners often encounter when they learn a foreign language - To collect and select materials for language teaching - To establish an appropriate order of materials for learning foreign languages - To form a system of effective methods for teaching and explaining the materials - To edit a system of suitable exercises and textbooks on foreign languages 1.2 Word 1.2.1 Definition Although the term "word" appears to be a simple concept, it is one of the most difficult one to define in linguistics What are the reasons for this matter? According to Arnold (1986), it is because "the word has many different aspects It has a sound form because it is a certain arrangement of phonemes; it has its orphological structure, being also a certain arrangement of morphemes; when used in actual speech, it may occur in different word forms, different syntactic functions and signal various meanings" Thus, so far have there been many definitions about words from different aspects Among them, the most common one is that word is the smallest independent and meaningful unit of a language 1.2.2 Word meaning Every word combines lexical and grammatical meanings The grammatical meaning reflects the ways in which the lexical meaning operates The same grammatical meaning may be shared by different words For instance, words such as development, progress are the abstract nouns The lexical meaning is the realizations of concept or emotion Similarly, the same lexical meaning is shared by different grammatical forms of a word: warm, warmer, warmest Lexical meaning is classified into denotative and connotative meaning • Denotative meaning is the explicit, literal meaning It involves a broader consensus That is, the denotative meaning of a sign would be broadly agreed upon by members of the same culture and by different cultures For example, "dog" denotes a common animal with four legs, are often kept by human beings as pets or trained for work, hunting, guarding, etc… • Connotative meaning conveys values, judgments, evaluative implications behind the literal meaning It is determined by the cultural codes to which the interpreter has access, and the connotative meaning of a word can have strong emotional content For example, the word "dog" has different connotative meanings in different cultures In Arabic culture, it has negative connotation: dirty and inferiority but in British culture, it has positive one: friendship and loyalty gay 1.3 Set expression Hoàng Tất Trường (1993,p.92) states that “the set expressions studied by phraseology may be completely or partially fixed In other words, they are either unchangeable or changeable expressions" The grammatical structure and lexical components of a set expression are stable For example, we can not replace the components of “to keep an eye on sb” However, in semi-fixed expressions or for a stylistic effect, substitution is, of course, possible For example: instead of “earned” in the The rich kows not who is his friend Where there is muck there is brass Everyone is akin to the rich man Prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them He that has a full purse never wanted a friend Health is better than wealth Wisest is who recks not who is rich It is not what is he but what has he A man’s wealth is his enemy He that marries for wealth sells his liberty A great dowry is a bed full of brambles Wage will get a page The purse of the patient protracts the disease Sweet appears sour when we pay He that can not pay, let him pray He that can not pay in purse, must pay in person If you pay not a servant his wages, he will pay himself Pay beforehand was never well served He who wants the work badly done has only to pay in advance He that pays last never pays twice A borrowed loan should come laughing home Out of debt, out of danger The borrower is servant to the lender He that borrows must pay again with same or loss Poverty is the mother of crime Riches bring care and fears It is best to neither a borrower nor a lender be Little and often fills the purse Know which side one’s bread is buttered on No lock ưill hold against the power of gold The dog will not howl if you beat him with a bone Riches have wings Best is cheapest 56 Giàu điếc, sang đui Giàu hay mần, bần hay ăn Giàu lo bạc, khó lo cơm Giàu người mười giàu Một đồng khoai, hai đồng vỏ Một đồng chẳng thông chợ Thời gian vàng bạc Người vàng, ngãi Miệng nhà giàu nói đâu Vi nhân bất phú, vi phú bất nhân Giàu sang kẻ lại nhà, khó nằm chợ chẳng ma tìm Của cho so đo nhiều Giàu giàu Miệng người sang có gang có thép Của quan có thần, dân có nọc Tham vàng phụ nghĩa Tích tiểu thành đại Góp gió thành bão Kiến tha lâu có ngày đầy tổ Bn tàu bn bè khơng ăn dè hà tiện Chứa nhân chứa nghĩa giàu Chứa bạc chứa ác ốm đau suốt đời Trâu trao chạc, bạc trao tay Quỹ cơng khơng xót khơng đau Đồng bạc tạc nên người Lời nói gói bạc Bạc ba quan mở bát A full cup must be carried steadily Who spends more than he should, shall not have to spend when he would Stretch your arm no further 5than your sleeve with reach It is better to be born lucky than rich In for a penny, in for a pound Appendix 3: Money proverbs about the power of money No English proverbs He that has money has what he No 57 Vietnamese proverbs Có tiền mua tiên 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 wants Money answers all things Money is a passport to everything Money is the best passport Money makes the mare to go Money talks Money is power Love does much, money does everything The money hammer opens the iron door Money makes the world go around No money, no justice Money can move even the Gods Money travels everywhere without feet Money is round to roll patience, time and money accommodate all things Beauty is potent but money is omnipotent Money rules the world Moyen does mickle but money does much (Moyen means “influence”) What will not money do? Money will anything Money will more than my lord’s letter Money makes a man free everywhere With Latin, a horse and money you can travel the world Health and money go far All things are obedient to money Money is the only monarch Money governs the world Money is the ace of trumps Money is the sinews of war When money speaks, the world is silent What can not gold do? He that has gold may buy land Gold goes in at any gate except heaven’s Có tiền mua tiên Khơng tiền mua lược khơng xong Có tiền tiên hay múa khơng tiền ơng táo chúa sân Nén bạc đâm toạc tờ giấy Có rửa trăm bẩn Tiền đến đâu mau đến Mạnh gạo, bạo tiền Miệng nhà giàu nói đâu Tiền lấp lỗ miệng 10 Đồng tiền tiên phật 11 12 13 Hung chi gạo bạo chi tiền Tiền cha vàng, mẹ bạc, bác đồng đen Khơng có mạnh đồng tiền 14 15 Đồng tiền bé hay cửa quyền Tiền chúa muôn đời 16 Tiền múa chúa cười 17 Đồng tiền chúa muôn loài Người ta khách vãng lai thời Mạnh gạo bạo tiền, khôn ngoan rùa mốc 18 19 20 21 Tiền không chân xa gần khắp Nhất chơi tiên, nhì giỡn tiền Nhiều tiền nhiều bạc tiên đời 22 Trăm ơn không tiền 23 Đồng bạc tạc nên người 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Kẻ có tiền chẳng mạnh bạo Bạc ba quan mở bát Năm tiền có chứng, quan có Miệng người sang có gang có thép 31 32 33 58 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 An ass laden with gold climbs to the top of the castle A golden key opens every door A silver key can open an iron lock Be it for better, be it for worse, you after him that bears the purse Gold is an orator You may speak with your gold and make other tongues silent A full purse make the mouth speak The dog will not howl if you beat him with a bone No lock will hold against the power of gold Money is the measure of all things Money, like a Queen, gives rank and beauty Money turns bad into good Money is more eloquent than a dozen members of Parliament Money makes the pot boil Talk is but talk, but ‘tis money buy land Money is an epitome of human power Rich men may have what they will 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Appendix 4: Money proverbs about money’s drawbacks No English proverbs Money is the root of all evils (the love of money is the root of all evils) The abundance of money ruins youth A rich man’s money hangs him oftentimes Too much money makes one mad A man’s wealth is his enemy When we have gold, we are in fear; when we have none, we are in danger Gold dust blinds all eyes No Vietnamese proverbs Tiền bạc người hầu tốt lại ông chủ xấu Tiền bạc làm mờ mắt Bắc thang lên hỏi ơng trời Những tiền cho gái có địi khơng? Hồng kim hắc nhân tâm Của làm hư nết Của làm hại người Vi nhân bất phú, vi phú bất nhân 59 Money is the nerve of war Money is a good servant but a bad master Much coin, much care The rich knows not is his friend Riches bring care and fears Much money makes a country poor, for it sets a dearer price on everything Riches have wings Ready money will away Where wealth is established, it is difficult for friendship to find a place He that has a full purse never wanted a friend Money ruins character Money is round and roll away He that serves God for money will serve the devil for better wages Money has no smell He that marries for wealth sells his liberty 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Chứa nhân chứa nghĩa giàu Chứa bạc chứa ác ốm đau suốt đời Giàu bỏ bạn, sang bỏ vợ 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Appendix 5: Money proverbs about money’s sources No 10 11 12 13 14 15 English proverbs Money makes money Put two pennies in a purse and they will draw together Money would be gotten if there were money to get it with When there is muck, there is brass Muck and money go together There is money in muck Money begets money Trade is the mother of money It takes money to make money Tis money that begets money Money breeds money No bees no honey, no work no money Money doesn’t grow on trees Money goes where money is Where there is muck, there is No 10 11 12 13 14 15 60 Vietnamese proverbs Tiền đẻ tiền Tiền nằm nhà tiền chửa Tiền khỏi nhà tiền đẻ Đồng tiền liền khúc ruột money Appendix 6: Money proverbs about money’s relative unimportance No English proverbs Money is not everything No Money can’t buy happiness Riches alone make no man happy Without wisdom, wise is worthless You can’t take it with you when you die A thousand pounds and a bottle of hay is all one thing at doomsday Gold is but muck Money often unmakes the men who make it Money can’t buy love, self esteem, happiness A good name is better than the riches It’s better to be born lucky 5than rich Better wit than wealth 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Loyalty is worth more than money He that has money in his purse cannot want a head for his shoulders Don’t get married only because of the money, you can borrow it cheaper Health is better than wealth Wisest is who recks not who is rich He is rich enough that wants nothing He is rich enough who lacks not bread Put the poor man’s penny and Vietnamese proverbs Tiền rừng bạc bể vui vẻ lịng Bà tổ tiên khơng phải tiền gạo Tiền tài phấn thổ, nhân nghĩa tựa thiên kim (Tiền tài đất bụi, nhân nghĩa tựa nghìn vàng) Tiền gạch, ngãi vàng Nghèo nhân nghèo nghĩa thời lo Nghèo tiền nghèo bạc chẳng lo nghèo Làm tiền dễ, sống hồn moneyới khó 10 Người làm của, khơng làm người Người sống còn, người chết hết Bạc đeo đầy chẳng thơng minh sáng suốt Bán gia tài, mua danh phận 11 Của bề bề không nghề tay 12 13 Của giàu tám vạn ngàn tư, chết chắp tay lỗ đít Người vàng, ngãi 14 Giàu giàu 15 Của lịng nhiều 16 17 Giàu người mười giàu Rẻ tiền mặt đắt tiền chơi 18 19 20 61 21 the rich man’s penny in ae purse and they will come out alike It is easy to make money but hard to make a living 21 Appendix 7: Money proverbs about savings No English proverbs A penny saved is a penny gained A penny saved is a penny earned No Take care of the pense and the pounds will take care of themselves Save your pennies for a rainy day A penny saved is very grateful A full cup must be carried steadily Little and often fill the purse Light gains make heavy purse It is hard to get but still harder to keep Money saved as good as money gained It is easier to get money than to keep it 10 11 Vietnamese proverbs Đồng tiền tiết kiệm đồng tiền khôn Đồng tiền tiết kiệm đồng tiền kiếm Làm lành để giành đau Tiết kiệm sẵn có đồng tiền Phịng túng nhỡ khơng phiền lụy Ki ca ki cóp cho cọp xơi Tích tiểu thành đại Góp gió thành bão Kiến tha lâu có ngày đầy tổ Buôn tàu buôn bè không ăn dè hà tiện 10 11 Appendix 8: Money proverbs about expense No English proverbs Money spent on the brain is never spent in vain Never spend your money before you have it Stretch your arm no further your sleeve with reach A penny soul never came to two pence Who spends more than he should shall not have to spend when he would Who will not keep a penny shall never have any Penny wise, pound foolish Money burns a hole in someone’s pocket A fool and his money are soon No Vietnamese proverbs Tiền kiếm dễ dễ Việc nhỏ đắn đo, việc to hoang phí Việc to đừng lo tốn Muốn việc phải tốn tiền Một đồng sợ tốn, bốn đồng không đủ Một lần ngại tốn, bốn lần không xong Một đồng khoai, hai đồng vỏ Đồng tiền trước đồng tiền khôn Khôn xu, ngu bạc vạn 62 10 11 12 13 parted Easily earned money is quickly spent The game is not worth the candle Why keep a cow when you can buy milk Don’t keep all your eggs in the same basket 14 15 16 17 18 10 Một đồng cháo ba đồng đường 11 Của đồng công nén 12 Tiền rợ tiền trâu 13 Một tiền gà ba tiền thóc 14 15 16 17 18 Ném tiền xuống ao xem tăm Tiền đanh nặng tiền trống Tiền yên tiền ngựa Tiền thuốc chẳng nặng tiền thang Mua quan tám bán quan tư Appendix 9: Money proverbs about money’s effects No 13 English proverbs Manners and money make a gentleman Jack would be a gentleman if he had money A thief passes for a gentleman when stealing has made him rich Prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them Money makes marriage Money makes the man Money soothes more than the words of cavaliers A rich man’s joke is always funny Everyone is akin to the rich man A man without money is no man at all Money tempts women, women tempt men Knowledge makes one laugh but wealth makes one dance Money taken freedom forsaken 14 Money makes dogs dance 15 A heavy purse makes a light heart A light purse makes a heavy heart Health without money is half an 10 11 12 16 17 No Vietnamese proverbs Còn bạc tiền đệ tử Hết cơm hết rượu hết ông Hết tiền hết bạn Hết tiền tài nhân nghĩa tận Đồng tiền không phấn không hồ Đồng tiền khéo điểm khéo tô mặt người Hết tiền hết tình Nhiều tiền thắm, hết tiền phai Chị em thật hiền Chỉ đồng tiền mà lịng Đơng tiền đũa bẻ hai Khôn tiên không tiền dại 10 Có tiền vợ vợ chồng chồng Khơng tiền chồng Đơng vợ Đồi 11 Chị em hiền thật hiền Lâm đến đồng tiền chị em 12 Có tiền chán vạn người hầu Có bấc có dầu chán vạn kẻ khêu 13 Có tiền nới cùm, khơng tiền niêm chặt 14 Có tiền khơn rái.,khơng tiền dại vích 15 Có tiền khơn mày mạy, khơng tiền dại địng đong 16 Có tiền thời hồng cầm hồng kì Khơng tiền thời rễ si rễ ngái 17 Anh em gạo, đạo nghĩa tiền 63 21 ague Ready money is a ready medicine Friends are plenty when the purse is full In time of properity, friends will be plenty No money, no friend 22 No penny, no paternoster 23 24 No money, no piper When poverty comes in at the door, love flies out the window Poverty parts friends Poverty parts friendship 18 19 20 25 26 27 18 Đồng tiền miếng thịt chín 19 Khơng tiền khơng gạo, mạnh gạo xó bếp 20 Quan tiền nặng, quan tiền chìm Bù nhìn nhẹ, bù nhìn 21 Văn hay chữ tốt khơng thằng dốt tiền 22 Giàu sang nhiều kẻ đến nhà Khó khăn nên nỗi ruột rà xa 23 Có dỗ người 24 Có có mẹ nàng Có bạc có vàng có kẻ ưa 25 Của trọng người 26 Giàu sang kẻ lại nhà Khó nằm chợ chẳng có ma tìm 27 Tham vàng phụ nghĩa In time of adversity, not one in twenty 28 You pays your money and you 28 Coi đồng tiền tàn cán takes your chances 29 Money is bottomlessy in which 29 Coi đồng tiền bánh xe honour conscience and truth may be drowned 30 If money be not thy servant, it 30 Bà tiền bà thóc bà cóc will be thy master 31 Marry not an old crony or a fool, 31 Ơng tiền ơng thóc ơng cóc for money 32 One law for the rich and another 32 Nhiều tiền thiên niên vạn đại for the poor Ít tiền làm lại làm 33 Love lasts as long as money 33 Tiền bạc trước, mực thước theo sau endures 34 The poor man’s shilling is but a 34 Có thêm vào, chẳng có bào penny 35 There is no companion like 35 Có lấy che thân, không lấy penny thân che 36 He that has gold may buy land 36 Thần vị tiền Appendix 10: Money proverbs about correlation between goods and money’s value No English proverbs Best is cheapest Cheapest is dearest You get what you pay for No 6 7 64 Vietnamese proverbs Nhiều tiền ăn thịt, tiền ăn nây Nhiều tiền tốt, tiền xấu Nhiều tiền hồng cầm hồng kì, tiền trần bì xác Nhiều tiền mua thịt, tiền mua xương Nhiều tiền đong đầy, tiền đong vơi Nhiều tiền may áo năm tà Ít tiền may viền hồ bâu Tiền 8 Của rẻ ôi Appendix 11: Money proverbs about lending and borrowing No English proverbs Lend your money and lose your friend A borrowed loan should come laughing home Out of debt, out of danger The borrower is servant to the lender He that borrows must pay again with shame and loss It is better to neither a borrower or a lender be If you would make an enemy, lend him money and ask it of him again You can not force anyone to love you or lend you money Money borrowed is soon sorrowed No Vietnamese proverbs Có vay có trả thỏa lòng Cho vay bạn Vay trả, chạm đền Vay hả, trả hi hi Vay hả, trả lầm bầm Appendix 12: Money proverbs about the value of time No English proverbs Time is money If you lose your time, you cannot get money or again No 1 2 Vietnamese proverbs Thời gian vàng bạc Appendix 13: Money proverbs about man’s greediness and selfishness No English proverbs To make free with another’s purse Near is my shirt but nearer is my skin No Vietnamese proverbs Cắn cơm không bể, cắn tiền bể hai Đồng người, đồng mười ta 4 6 8 9 Của người bồ tát, lạt nuộc Của giữ bo bo Của người thả cho bị ăn Của để, rể bòn Thế gian giúp miệng lao xao Ai giúp đồng mà đỡ khó khăn Quỹ cơng khơng xót khơng đau Tiền không đồng muốn ăn hồng không hột Tiền có ít, thịt muốn nhiều 65 Appendix 14: Money proverbs about exchange of goods and services in business No English proverbs Business is business If you touch the pot you must touch the penny No Vietnamese proverbs Tiền trả mạ nhổ Tiền trao cháo múc Tiền trao ra, gà bắt lấy Trâu trao chạc, bạc trao tay Appendix 15: Money proverbs about the rich No English proverbs The love of money and the love of learning rarely meet Rich men’s spots are covered with money No Vietnamese proverbs Lấy đồng tiền làm láo Người quan khinh kẻ chín tiền 5 6 Giàu điếc sang đui Giàu hay mần, bần hay ăn Đã giàu lại giàu thêm, khó lại khó đêm lẫn ngày Một quan đè chín tiền Appendix 16: Money proverbs about unexpected benefit from little investment No English proverbs Money for Jam Money for old rope No Vietnamese proverbs Làm chơi ăn thật Của rề rề, nghễu nghện Appendix 17: Money proverbs about the importance of good words No English proverbs Good words are worth much and cost little Courtesy costs nothing Good words cost nought Politeness costs little but yields much No Appendix 18: Money proverbs about payment No English proverbs Sweet appears sour when we pay He that can not pay let him pray 66 Vietnamese proverbs Lời nói chẳng tiền mua Lựa lời mà nói cho vừa lịng Lời nói gói bạc Lời nói quan tiền thúng thóc Lời nói quan tiền gấm lụa Một lời nói quan tiền thúng thóc Một lời nói dùi đục cẳng tay He that can not pay in purse must pay in person If you pay not a servant his wages, he will pay himself Pay beforehand was never well served He who wants the work badly done has only to pay in advance He must pay with his body that can not pay with money Appendix 19: Money proverbs about the advantages of having no money No English proverbs An empty purse causes a full heart He that has no money needs no purse Appendix 20: Money proverbs about the poor No English proverbs Who does not have money in the purse must have honey in the mouth He that has not silver in his purse should have silk on his tongue A moneyless man goes fast through the market Want of money, want of comfort Appendix 21: Money proverbs about oppressing classes in feudalism No Vietnamese proverbs Tiền có ló nhiều Tiền trăm bạc chục Lúa đụn tiền kho Lắm bạc nhiều tiền Tiền dư thóc mục Tiền rời thóc đống Ho bạc, khạc tiền Ngồi đống thóc móc tiền Tiền ròng bạc chảy 10 Của vào quan than vào lò Appendix 22: Money proverbs about the hardship of peasants in feudalism: No Vietnamese proverbs Tiền hết gạo không Một đồng kiếm nát đồng cỏ 67 Hai đồng kiếm đỏ mắt Appendix 23: Money proverbs about the disadvantages of having no money No 10 11 12 13 14 Vietnamese proverbs Khôn tiên không tiền dại Dại chó có ló khơn Khơn tiên khơng tiền chịu Khơng tiền khơng gạo mạnh bạo xó bếp Khơng tiền nói chẳng khơn Bố đĩ giàu, bố đĩ tiên Ơng tổng khơng tiền ơng tổng tểnh Có Khơng có để nợ cho Có chia của, khơng có chia nợ Giàu ăn, khó nhịn Giàu bán chó, khó bán Giàu có khơng khỏi ngõ Đói khó chỗ hay Vợ yêu tiền chưa có Không tiền ngồi gốc bàng/đa Một đồng chẳng thông chợ Tiền ngắn mặt dài Appendix 24: Money proverbs about satire on bad habits No 10 11 Vietnamese proverbs Hoài tiền mua thuốc nhuộm Để tiền mua mía đánh khăng vào mồm Hồi tiền mua pháo đốt chơi Nó nổ đánh tạch tiền tiền Tiền cưới trao tay, tiền cheo rấp nước Tiền buộc dải yếm bo bo Trao cho thầy bói mua lo vào Sống chết mặc bay, tiền thầy bỏ túi Mất tiền mua thúng đụng cho tan Meaning Satire on teeth dying Satire on firework shooting Satire on overexpenditure for wedding Satire on superstition Satire on superstition Satire on bad behaviour of mother-inlaws towards daughter-in-laws Mất tiền mua gỗ bổ lấy dao Satire on bad behaviour of mother-inlaws towards daughter-in-laws Mất tiền mua mâm đâm cho // thủng Mất tiền mua mã mượn rõ thầy // đọc kinh Mất tiền mua thúng đụng cho // mịn Những người nghiện ngập bê tha Satire on alcohol addicts 68 12 13 Hao tiền hại sức người ta chê cười Thua kiện mười bốn quan lăm Satire on trial in feudalism Được kiện mười lăm quan chẵn Chứa tiền chứa thóc giàu Satire on robbery Chứa thằng ăn cướp đầu chơi Appendix 25: Money proverbs about other meanings No English proverbs Bad money drives out good Put your money where your mouth is No Vietnamese proverbs Của kho không lo hết 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Meaning Worthless things will drive valuable things out of circulation To be willing to risk something for what you say, you believe Meaning One should be hard-working and take care of his means of living Của non ăn mòn hết // Của phúc Those who invest their money in something will get its result Của trăng trăng chơi, có phải trời Everyone can use his own properity đâu mà giữ Giàu chiều hơm khó sớm mai One is rich at a time but poor at another time Tiền nước thủy triều // Của cho so đo nhiều One had better not appreciate what he is given no matter how much it worths Của quan có thần, dân có nọc Everyone has his own way to protect his properity Làm trai lấy vợ hiền One is lucky to get married to a good Như củầm đồng tiền mua wife miếng ngon Mười quan tiền công không Bonus has great effect on one’s spirit đồng tiền thưởng Chợ có phiên, tiền có ngữ Anything has its limitation Gà chê thóc chẳng bới người Nobody is indifferent to money and chê tiền wealth Góp tiền ăn thịt, góp gạo ăn xơi Praise for unity Giàu lo bạc, khó lo cơm The rich just think of money while the poor think of their daily living only Nuôi nỡ kể tiền cơm Parents shouldn’t complain to their children about their merit of nursing and education Tiền xỏ không lọt chuỗi One shouldn’t be too careful in choosing Tiền rừng bạc bể Forests and seas are unexhausted 69 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 sources of wealth Tiền tật mang One may spend a lot of money on the treatment of his disease but can not have it cured Tiền vàng xỏ lõi lụa Different things of a system may be in the best quality of their kinds so they match one another well Tiền lĩnh quần chị không tiền The whole properity of the poor is just quần em worth an odd thing of the rich Mặt vuông chữ điền đồng tiền không The dishonest are often rich but the có honest are poor Mặt mũi méo mó lại có đồng tiền Tiền có đồng, cá có Everything has its own unit of measure Tiền hết có vua đúc One should live a comfortable life at present and shouldn’t spare much for his future Trai chưa vợ bạc đầy cong, gái chưa A married person has to spend much chồng tiền đầy gác more money for his family than a bachelor Mua danh ba vạn bán danh ba đồng It is very easy to get a bad name but very difficult to gain a good one Tiền vào nhà khó gió vào nhà Money cannot stay long in the pocket trống of the poor Qua chợ cầm tiền vô duyên khỏi Those who get a thing will lose another nhẵn má or vice -versa Tiền lưng gạo bị one prepares necessities for going to a place 70 ... study a Proverbs b English and Vietnamese proverbs referring to money c The meanings of English and Vietnamese proverbs referring to money and Vietnamese equivalents Methods of the study To achieve... pages of a sheet of paper, and they are not separable under any circumstances 15 CHAPTER II: A CONTRASTIVE STUDY OF ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE PROVERBS REFERRING TO MONEY 2.1 What are proverbs referring. .. not separable Culture is regarded as all material and spiritual values which human beings create in the process of dealing with nature and society And language is a means to communicate and to reflect