Exercise about Vietnamese sayings

Bán an em xa mua láng giềng gần.

Trade distant relatives for close neighbour.

Trade close relatives for distant neighbour.

Mèo khen mèo dài đuôi.

The cat praises cats’ tails to be long (beautiful).

The cat praises cats’ tails to be short (ugly).

Đừng chế nhạo người.

Laugh and the world will laugh with you.

Laugh and the world will laugh about you.

Gần mực thì đen, gần đèn thì rạng.

Tell me with whom though goest, and I will tell what though doest.

Tell me with where though goest, and I will tell where though doest.

Yêu ai yêu cả đường đi.

Someone they love and the road that bears that person’s footprints.

Someone they hate and the road that bears that person’s footprints.

Bao lâu vắng mặt khát khao, bao giờ gặp muốn cào mắt ra.

Away, one feels longing; now, face to face, one wants to scratch off the other’s face.

Away, one feels lonely; now, face to face, one wants to kiss off the other’s face.

Đen tình, đỏ bạc. ​

Lucky at cards, unlucky in love.

Lucky in love, unlucky at cards.

Cung chúc tân xuân.

Gracious wishes of the new spring.

Gracious wishes of the new summer.

Sống lâu trăm tuổi.

Long life of 100 years.

Long life of 200 years.

An khang thịnh vượn.

Security, good health, and prosperity.

Love, security, and wealth.