Nkwen Language Wise Sayings Mǝbǎkò’ò

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Àbàa ntəǝ nə̀ kàa nluu. An Advice bag never gets full.

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S/No	Nkwen	Free Translation
1	Àbàa ntəǝ nə̀ kàa nluu.	An advice bag never gets full. (You continue to get advice or learn till your last day, even in events you think you are an expert.)
2	Boŋə m̀bì’inə̀ kàkə atyə̌ chyà.	The shoulder can never be above the head. (A slave, “worker, student, wife” can never be above his master “boss, teacher, husband”.)
3	M̀bàŋə nə̀lwenə̀ ə̀ bə moo.	An old-age walking stick is a child. (An encouragement for parents to take good care of their children and to children who take good care of their old-aged parents.)
4	Moo tə̀ zu’u ǹtèe mya kù zhə̀ nsansə.	A child who never listens to his mother’s advice shall face his/her doom. (A warning to recalcitrant children)
5	Ngwo nə̀ kǎ moo ngwo dàŋə njwe.	A dog cannot give birth to a different species. (Said when a child grows with the good or negative qualities of a parent)
6	O tə kuu moo ŋù ò jwe wwò.	When nursing another man’s child bring yours forth. (Said in situations where an adopted child despises his/her caretakers)
7	Fya azuŋə ambwo ŋù wuma a zhi ǹdwènə̀.	Give something to one who knows the value. (Said in a situation where someone takes good care of something)
8	À̀wuŋə nə̀ tə kwi afò a ǹnà kàkə̌ m̀yə̀.	A hunting session does not end because animals are finished in the bush. *(We do not stop an activity because the enjoyment or pleasure is not still there but because we have to keep time.)*
9	Boŋə ò ka kù’u bǔ ŋù tòŋə ò kàkə̌ ǹfὲ’ὲ njya zhì zhi.	If you’ve never eaten achu with someone you’ll never know how he consumes the soup. (If you’ve never lived with someone, you’ll never know his/her attitude.)
10	Ǹchə̀ ngwo dzwi nə ngwo.	A curse on a dog remains with it. (Said when we need not revenge a bad act from someone but leave it to God’s judgment.)
11	Boŋə o ka ndya dzwi bə bǐtə̀ ǹjyǎ zhə̀ nə̌ nkyǐ.	If you are not present, water will be added to your soup. (If you are not present, you’ll always be cheated.)
12	Bǝ̌ tyə mbenə mə ndya bə nə̀ ngrə-məkwε.	Fighting within the household is done with the elbows. (Infighting within siblings should never be done fiercely)
13	Ǹdya tə̀ sa’anə̀ bə awε̌ ŋu.	A family with no quarrels is the absence of people. (Said as a consolation to a family or group of people who are quarreling or fighting)
14	Àbwo bikàkǝ̌ ntsù adàŋə̀ dàŋə nku’u.	An empty hand never goes to the mouth. (Said when someone needs a reward for a service or when someone has to feed on what is available and not what he likes)
15	Ə̀tyə bya boŋə nchya zi mo’o.	Two heads are better than one. *(We need to journey or reason with others for we are not perfect)*
16	O tə tòŋə akù’u ò zə̂ ǹjya zhi za’a.	See the achu soup first before boring it. (Foresee before embarking on any project)
17	“Mə̀ nkə̀ la zhi” ǹtsə̀mə zoŋə bə ndzə̀̀mə̀.	“Had I known” always comes last. (Said when an omission brings negative results)
18	Mə̀tànə ŋù bə nə̀li zhi.	A man’s choice is his eyes. (Said when one has to make a personal choice or decision.)
19	Ndyâ bikàkə nə bǝ̀ nshwe.	A house cannot burn with people inside. (A problem can’t go unresolved when people are present.)
20	A ka mətanə kə ghə o kə mbəŋə nə ala’a shu’u.	If you can’t go to the market don’t wish the rain on people there. (Do not sabotage if you are not taking part in something)
21	Tə zhi ntsǝ̀mǝ̀ mbu’u.	An innocent person is in God’s grace. (Said when someone is not guilty of something or is accused when he/she is not guilty)