Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

bedengel

, n.poss.3s

body; corpse; skin; color; type; kind; appearance; physique.
bedengel a chesbereberel, mamed a mellemau a bedengel. bedengel a chelechedal, ungil okerulel el ngalek a ungil a bedengel.

bedengek

n.poss.1s

bedengem

n.poss.2s

bedengam

n.poss.1pe

bedenged

n.poss.1pi

bedengiu

n.poss.2p

bedengir

n.poss.3p

bedengel a chab

expr.

gray.

bedengel a chudel

expr.

green.

bedengel a chutem

expr.

brown.

bedengel a daob

expr.

deep blue.

bedengel a eanged

expr.

sky blue.

ngar er ngii er a bedengel a kmo

expr.

have a premonition that; have a gut feeling that; feel in one's bones that.

olab bedengel

expr.

well-built; able-bodied; ready and able.

Examples:

Ng sebeched el koreel a bek el bedengel a ngikel.

> We can catch many kinds of fish.

Ng kmal kilurs a bedengel.

> He flinched (from fright, etc.).

Ng di tirke el silobel a kmal di ulebriid me te chiliis el di chad me a bedengel.

> The survivors scattered, each man running off by himself.

Ng ngar er ngii er a bedengek a kmo ng mo er ngii a mekngit.

> I have a premonition that something bad will hapen.

Ak chetitau a bedengek e melemalt a chiuk e meklou a medak.

> I'm brown-skinned with straight hair and big eyes.

Proverbs:

Ng ko er a bukitang, el meduch el meldelodech a bedengel.

> Like the octopus, able to change the color of its body.

He's too erratic or too easily persuaded. A leader, or any person, who is highly erratic, too adaptive; one who appears capable of taking any convenient or easy position.

More Examples:

Ngar er ngii a delngod er a bedengem?

> Do you have any tattoos?

Ng betok a ultil a keltkat er a bedengek.

> I have a lot of scars all over my body.

Achedil, ngka el ngelekem a mera el ungil a bedengel.

> Awe, your baby looks so healthy.

Ng meringel a bedengem el dirrek?

> Does your whole body hurt also?

Ng mellemau a bedengel.

> Its color blue

chansing

, v.t., [From Japanese anshin]

be too sure or proud of (oneself).

chung

, n.

luck or fate.

di

, mod.

only; just; any.
di a olkael; di kau a mei e diak a ngodech; di tedei el buik a mong; se di kau, se di ngii.

el di mle ngii

expr.

all by himself; on his own.

ngii di lebong

expr.

whatever it is; whatever there may be.

Examples:

Ng di melemolem el dmeu a renguk.

> I will continue to be happy.

Ng uchul e ng di blechoel el mo meses a eolt.

> That's why the wind always gets strong.

Ngara me ke di mekekokau el merael?

> Why are you walking so slowly?

Ng di soadel er a rechad el outekoi er ngii.

> This is to be discussed only by those whose concern it is.

Ng di rasech a bilel.

> His clothes are covered with blood.

Proverbs:

Ng ko er a derumk, el di merrumk er ngii el diak a ultutelel.

> Like lightning, a big, unnecessary noise.

Lightning rarely strikes in such a way as to cause serious damage in Palau. May be applied to any unnecessary fuss or oratory at a meeting.

Ng ko er a rengul a bolobel el di melemalt.

> Like the heart of the halfbeak, straight.

The halfbeak, a small fish (bolobel), is regarded as one who follows his fancy or heart, doing as he pleases. The idiom is applied to persons who are easy-going, sleeping when the mood calls for it, undisturbed by the behavior or opinion of others.

Ng ko er a mur er a Ngchesar, el di klukuk el di klukuk.

> It's like the feast of Ngchesar, postoned till tomarrow, then the next, and forever.

You keep sayng tomorrow, tomorrow. You're lucky there's a tomorrow. Presumably, in the past the village of Ngchesar in central Palau tried and tried again to schedule a mur, the largest, villagewide feast conducted in Palau. But for various reasons the feast was forever postponed. The saying applies to the risk of procrastination.

Ke ko er a katuu el di kau el di melecholb er kau.

> You're just like a cat washing yourself.

i.e., you have to do everything yourself because your relatives are neglecting their obligations to you.

Ng ko er a cherellel a beab el di ta e keroker.

> It's like the birth of a rat with one offspring per mother.

It's something that happens just once, something I put up with only once. According to this saying, the rat bears but one litter. Hence the application "once is enough" about an act that bears no repeating.

More Examples:

Ke ko er a kim er a bengall el di kled e siungel.

> You are like the clam of bengall, never moves an inch but always adored.

Ak kmal mesululang e ng di a kmal tekangel.

> I'm so sleepy but im so adamant.

Koi, ke di kie el di mesaod a selaod!

> Argh, You keep talking about what has already been resolved!

Bai di beches el ouchais el kmo ng chetim el mong e lak ko bong e mouuchel er a rengum.

> Be honest and say you don't want to go instead of going and then regretting it.

Ngar er ngii a rechad el di meduch el mesaod e merekong.

> There are people who just know how to talk and thats about it.

kmo

, v.t.

to like someone dearly; express extra or preferential love, care, attention to one person; love; care for; take care of; favor; give preference to. [Unlike the English word 'love,' the usage of this word tends to imply favoritism.]

mla

, v.s.

was/were (located); existed.
mla a melekoi er a rrekui el tekoi; mla mong; mla er ker; mla er a skuul.

bla

v.s.hypothetical

mla

aux.

has (done something).

mlar

cont.

mla er

mlara

cont.

mla er a

a lebla er ngii

expr.

if there had been.

mla mo

expr.

has become.

ng mla er ngii

expr.

there has or have been; there was or were.

Examples:

Kom mla mo meteet?

> Are you already rich?

Ak mla tmuk a kloklel a kleblilliu er aike el beluu el dirk medechel me aike el beluu el mla mengai.

> I have assigned as the possession of your tribes the land of the nations that are still left, as well as of all the nations that I have already conquered.

Ng mo ua kerrekar el mla medul er a ngau a rechelel, me a bngal a mosebek er a eolt el mo cheroid.

> They will be like trees whose branches are burned by fire, whose blossoms are blown away by the wind.

Aika el kall a mla mo medeel er kemam.

> There's gotten to be too much food for us.

Tirka el chad a mla remenges el kmo kau, e Rubak, a obengkemam.

> These people have already heard that you, Lord, are with us.

Proverbs:

Ng mla merekakl a tekingel.

> He swallowed his words.

An inconsistent person, especially one who has stated that he would never do something, then does it.

A rekung el daob a mla otitech a rekung el beluu.

> Sea crabs have pushed out land crabs.

Outsiders have taken over the land or titles of local people. An outsider (e.g., adopted child, friend) has become more important than a blood relative.

Ng ko er a chad er a Ngesias, el ngemuu er a mla mokom.

> It's like when the men of Ngesias clamored over what they had lost (after a party of raiders had attacked without warning and taken a head as a trophy).

The men of the Ngesias (Peleliu) village club were sitting near their clubhouse one evening when raiders broke through the brush, shouted wildly, and excaped with the head of one of them. When they recovered their senses, the men jumped to their spears and shouted threats into the darkness of the surrounding brush. Aroused by the commotion, the village chief appeared and ,when appraised of the situation, admonished them to be quiet since the fuss would gain nothing. "Don't cry over spilt milk."

Ng mla mkelii a tual.

> He cut down his own banana.

A man supplies fertilizer (money) for a banana tree that, eventually, provides fruit (gifts of food). The cycle, in this saying, is compared with that of the food-money cycle of a marriage in which the wife's clan provides food and service, while the husband's clan provides occasional payments of money. If a banana tree is cut down before it bears fruit, the cycle is interrupted. Hence, a man who marries incestuously within his own clan and thereby inhibits the foodmoney cycle.

Ng ko er a Ngiramesemong, el omilt a mla me e mong.

> Like Ngiramesemong, rehashing what has been finished.

Pertains to a person who repeatedly reminds another of past favors or continually recalls the mistakes of others. (My sources no longer recalled the episode or story from which this idiom derives.)

More Examples:

Aika el olsengek a di mla kaiririid.

> My knives have gone missing.

Ak mla er a skuul.

> I came from school.

Ng ko er a ngodech a debechiil. Ng mla mo diak e di lkau. Ng di uaia lengar er ngii a bereked er kau er a bek el taem.

> It is weird being married. You're not on your own anymore. It's like something is attached to you all the time.

Ka bo er a oreomel e mues aike el rambotang el kmo mla mo marek e mngai a bebil mei. Ke mo ungil mart me ng diak leues a rechad el lolengit er a uchei er a be mrei.

> Go check the rambutan in the rain forest. If there are ripe ones, bring them home but make sure to hide them so people don't bum them off you.

A ochedak a mle blechoel el mesauch a buuch. Chelecha el bla lorael e ng kuk urerek.

> My brother used to get the betelnuts. Now that he left, it's my duty.

mo

, aux.

will; shall; become; get.
mo a melekoi er a ngar medad; mo er a klukuk; ng mo el merekong? ng mo e mei.

bora

cont.

bo er a

mlo

aux.past.

became; got.
mlo a melekoi er a taem el tekoi a dilubech; mlo kot er a rurt; mlo smecher; mlo er a omerael.

mlor

cont.

mlo er

mlora

cont.

mlo er a

mora

cont.

mo er a

ng mo er ngii

expr.

there will be.

Examples:

A skuul a mo meseked.

> The school is getting crowded.

Ngara uchul me ke mlo er a Saibal?

> Why did you go to Saipan?

A cheldecheduch a mo omuchel er a euid el klok.

> The meeting will begin at seven o'clock.

A delak me ngak a mo er a Oreor.

> My mother and I are going to Koror.

Ng/Te mlo merek el meched a rengrir a remerael er a chelsel a bebil el sikang.

> The travelers stopped being thirsty in a few hours.

Proverbs:

Ng ko er a chad er a Ngerechelong, el di bita el mo dechor er a debsel a lei.

> Like the people of Ngerechelong, standing together on the base of the coconut tree.

The mound or hump that forms at the base of the coconut tree is said to represent the highest ranking village clan. The leader of that clan is spoken of as "standing on the mound." In the idiom, it is suggested that the people of Ngerechelong (northern Palau) would all like to be leaders-all standing on the mound at the same time. The idiom may be applied where too many people try to direct an operation; too many leaders.

Ng ko er a teribsel a daob el di mei e mo diak.

> It's like the foam of the sea, which forms unexpectedly and then disappears.

It's a matter that comes up for lengthy discussions and then is dropped without resolution or effect. Some things, like sea foam, drift on without settlement. Endless discussion without reaching agreement.

Metkul a bkul a Ngirair, e klou el Belau el mo er a Ngerechelong.

> From the Metkul boundary point at Ngirair, Palau is yet huge up to Ngerechelong.

This saying is given two meanings, both negative, pertaining to the people of northern Palau and to Ngaraard particularly: (i) the people of northern Palau are so provincial that they still think Palau is a huge country; (2) the people of northern Palau are the biggest liars (a play on "to deceive," which sounds like Belau [Palau] ). The idiom may be shortened to "Men of the point" (Chad ra bkul), referring to a point of land at Ngirair marking the boundary of Ngaraard. Or the act of patting the elbow (bkul) may carry the same meaning. Actually, the idiom is of fairly recent vintage, pertaining in part to resistance on the part of some of the people of northern Palau to administrative programs instituted by the Japanese.

Ng kora osechel a mengur, el di ngar er a milkolk el mo er a milkolk.

> Like coconut water, passing from darkness to darkness.

Water, drunk from a coconut, passes from the dark of the nut to the dark of the mouth. Some discussions, such as those of village leaders, are secretively passed from mouth to mouth without public discussion.

A uel el kuk meremang el me omeklatk me ng mo uchul a klengitereng

> When the purple swamp hen appears, it brings remembrance

There is a song (Oumachas) from which this saying derives: Once there was a young couple who made love in a secluded spot in the taro garden. While they were lying together a purple swamp hen darted out of the brush startling the couple. Eventually love cooled, but thereafter whenever the girl saw a purple swamp hen while she worked in the gardens, she recalled her lover. Hence any occurrence that brings back fond memories.

More Examples:

Ak oureng er a ta er a taem el mo sebeched el kasoues.

> I only wish that we will see each other in the future.

Ak dilu er a delak el kmo ak mo milil er a tebetab.

> I told my mom that I'm going to the park.

Ng kmal kirem el mo mesa a toktang.

> You really should see a doctor.

Ng kirek el mo meredem aike el teblong er a biskang.

> I need to put together at least two more spears.

Ak mlo meruul a ungelek er a haishia.

> I went to fix my teeth at the dentist.

mong

, v.i.

go (in a direction not towards either the speaker or listener).
mong a merael mo cheroid; skuul a ngar a mong.

Bong!

v.imp.

Go! Go ahead!.

bocha
/bochang

v.inch.hypo.

may become.

bochung
/bochu

v.hypothetical

is about to go.

bong

v.hypothetical

mlong

v.past

went.
mlong a mla mong; mlo er a skuul.

mochang
/mocha

v.inch.

is beginning to arrive; is just arriving.
mochang a omerolel el mong; locha mochang.

mochung
/mochu

v.pred.

is about to go.
mochung a kmeed el mong; ke mochung? ak mochung.

el mo

expr.

until.

el mo el mong

expr.

(do something) in a continuous fashion; go on or keep on (doing something).

ng mochu er ngii

expr.

there is about to be.

nguu el mong

expr.

take.

Examples:

A Kukumai a ngiluu a kall el mo er a delal.

> Kukumai brought the food to her mother.

Ak omerolek el mo ungil el smecher er a tereter.

> I'm in the process of getting better from my cold.

Ng dirk mellomes e ng sokol el mo bad.

> It is still light out but he feels like going to sleep.

Te ulemuchel el mo melai er se el bukl el beluu.

> They started out to invade the hill country.

Ulekum ng ngar er ngii a ududek, me ng mo sebechek el mo er a Merikel.

> If only I had some money, then I'd be able to go to America.

Proverbs:

Ng ko er a ebedel a Mengellakl el di mochu meleketek.

> Like the clouds of Mengellakl that just pile up

High points like Mengellakl in Palau sometimes create clouds as the moisture-laden air is lifted by the wind to higher cooler altitudes. This saying applies to a situation or a fad that spreads; drinking to excess.

Ng ko er a chad er a Ngerechelong, el di bita el mo dechor er a debsel a lei.

> Like the people of Ngerechelong, standing together on the base of the coconut tree.

The mound or hump that forms at the base of the coconut tree is said to represent the highest ranking village clan. The leader of that clan is spoken of as "standing on the mound." In the idiom, it is suggested that the people of Ngerechelong (northern Palau) would all like to be leaders-all standing on the mound at the same time. The idiom may be applied where too many people try to direct an operation; too many leaders.

Ng kora osechel a mengur, el di ngar er a milkolk el mo er a milkolk.

> Like coconut water, passing from darkness to darkness.

Water, drunk from a coconut, passes from the dark of the nut to the dark of the mouth. Some discussions, such as those of village leaders, are secretively passed from mouth to mouth without public discussion.

Metkul a bkul a Ngirair, e klou el Belau el mo er a Ngerechelong.

> From the Metkul boundary point at Ngirair, Palau is yet huge up to Ngerechelong.

This saying is given two meanings, both negative, pertaining to the people of northern Palau and to Ngaraard particularly: (i) the people of northern Palau are so provincial that they still think Palau is a huge country; (2) the people of northern Palau are the biggest liars (a play on "to deceive," which sounds like Belau [Palau] ). The idiom may be shortened to "Men of the point" (Chad ra bkul), referring to a point of land at Ngirair marking the boundary of Ngaraard. Or the act of patting the elbow (bkul) may carry the same meaning. Actually, the idiom is of fairly recent vintage, pertaining in part to resistance on the part of some of the people of northern Palau to administrative programs instituted by the Japanese.

More Examples:

A eim el renged el mo dmak e Kerradel.

> Five villages united and called Kerradel.

Aki mlo mesauch a buuch er a ked, e aki bong e te mla smauch.

> We went to pick the betelnuts on the hills but when we got there, someone already picked them.

Ke mekudem el mo er a Oreor me a kuk kesengil e bo mtuchakl el oldingel er a rechedam.

> You visit Koror frequently so at least visit your relatives.

soak el mo er a Siabal

>

Ak omdasu e a rechad er a Irrai a bai ungil el meruul a omelai el oleng er a ngii di el chad el mo er a skozio.

> I think people in Airai should make toll booths at the airport and collect fees.

ngar

, v.s.

be (located); exist; be alive.
ngar a outeliil; chad a ngar; ngar er ngii a klengar er ngii; charm a ngar.

ngar ngii

cont.

ngar er ngii

ngarker

cont.

ngar ker

ngar er a bab a rengul

expr.

conceited; disrespectful; proud; arrogant; haughty; snobbish.

ngar er a bab el chad

expr.

one's superior; wealthy/well-to-do person.

ngar er a eou a rengul

expr.

(person is) humble/respectful.

ngar er ngii

expr.

there is.

ngar ker

expr.

where is it.

Examples:

Aika el merkong el elolem el buil e ng ngar ngii a dellemelem el mla mekang er a beab?

> In the past 6 months have rats eaten your plants?

Ng ngar er ngii a demmiu?

> Do you have a father?

Ng ngar er ngii a uldesuek.

> I have an idea.

A beab a sebechel kmerd er a Ngcheangel el ngar er a chelsel a blil a kall el ua bek el beras.

> Rats can get to Kayangel in bags of food such as rice.

Ng ngar er ngii a kombalii er ngak.

> I've got people who can help me in preparing food.

Proverbs:

Ng kora osechel a mengur, el di ngar er a milkolk el mo er a milkolk.

> Like coconut water, passing from darkness to darkness.

Water, drunk from a coconut, passes from the dark of the nut to the dark of the mouth. Some discussions, such as those of village leaders, are secretively passed from mouth to mouth without public discussion.

Melim e menga er a ngar er a ucharm.

> To eat and drink by the mast tip.

The ucharm (bird) is the hardwood tip at the top of the canoe mast. The person to whom the idiom is applied is accused of thriving on gifts from other places. Particularly it may be applied to persons of a highranking village who rather expect that visitors in canoes from other villages will come provisioned with gifts-thus, those who watch for the canoes. Sometimes the idiom goes: Ngkora chad ra Oreor, "Like the man of Koror," with reference to the high ranking community of Koror in central Palau.

Ng ngar ngii a melebisech er a chutem e imiit

> Are there any who spear at the ground and miss?

Used to describe something that is easily accomplished.

More Examples:

A chad er a laibreri a oungerachel aike el rokui el buk me a babier el ngar er a laibreri.

> A librarian's job is to take care of all the books and documents in the library.

Ng ngar er a blil a blengur?

> Which restaurant did you go to?

Ng locha ngar er ngii a techelled el mo mesisiich er tia el iakiu.

> Maybe we have a chance to win this baseball game.

Ng diak moltobed aike el ngar er ngii a desal.

> Hey, when you the females, leave the eggs in.

Ng diak kumekall me ak di ngar er a bas.

> I dont drive so I take the bus.

ngera
/ngerang
/ngarang
/ngara

, pro.

what; which; what kind of; anything (but or except).
ngerang a ker; ngera ke melekoi? tia ng ngerang? ngera soam?

ngii

, pro.

he/she/it (emphatic).
ngii a melekoi el kirel a chad me a klalo; ngii el dil, ngii el kall, ngii el beluu; ngii el urreor; ngii el udoud.

Examples:

a rokui el smecher el chad er ngii el beluu

> all the other sick people on the island

Ng kedorem a ngii di el bad?

> Is there a sharp stone? Is any stone sharp?

Ngar ngii a chad er a Kayangel el mla mo smecher er a leptospirosis?

> Is there anyone from Kayangel who has ever had leptospirosis?

A Satsko a ulumulak er a Toki el kmo a John a ngar er ngii a betok el ududel.

> Satsko told Toki a lie (saying) that John has lots of money.

A irechar e ng mla er ngii a ta el chelid el ngklel a Meluadeangel.

> Once upon a time, there was a god named Meluadeangel.

Proverbs:

Tia di ngii mak terrob ra Mekaeb

> It's as if I've submerged my head into Mekaeb (the channel between Peleliu and Agaur).

A term to describe a dish that is really salty.

A chemeled a di dongaus er ngii, e durur.

> Even though we fix our own betel-nut, we get burned.

Chemachel is a "betelnut package" consisting of the seeded nut, the pepper leaf (kebui), and the lime (chaus). By applying too much lime to a "package" it is possible to burn one's mouth. Although this is sometimes done among young people to signal another secretly of sexual attraction, typically it happens accidentally. The idiom implies that everyone makes mistakes; it can't be helped. No matter how careful we are, we sometimes fail; we shouldn't be too sure or overconfident in ourselves.

Ke ko er a cheberdord el di ngii el melul er ngii er a ngau.

> You're like a beetle that burns itself by flying into the fire.

You're always getting yourself into trouble.

Ng meredem er oiaol bedul ngii.

> Attaching the drain spout to oneself.

Pertains to favoritism, the adjustment of the flow of favors from the leader to one-self. It is considered unsporting and in poor taste to seek favoritism through undue support of a leader in direct anticipation of favors.

Ng ouchaet a chikled er ngii el tekoi.

> My neck is sore from that affair.

Looking up for a long period makes for a sore neck; hence, a person who is tired of occupying an inferior position for a long time. More widely applied: One who is facing work that is beyond his capabilities.

More Examples:

Ng locha ngar er ngii a techelled el mo mesisiich er tia el iakiu.

> Maybe we have a chance to win this baseball game.

Eya, ngke el uel el oba teuang ak miltom er ngii.

> I lost the turtle that takes four people to subdue.

Ke mera el ko er a aika el bidabd el diak a bo tab er ngii.

> You're like the jellyfish that do not have a destination.

Eya, ak urrenges e ng mo er ngii a klou el blengur e le ng tansiobi er a Reklai.

> I heard there is a big party for Reklai's birthday.

Me ka mouchais, ngera mla er ngii er a kesus?

> Do tell, what happened last night?

ngii di el

, pro.

any.

singio

, n., [From Japanese]

trust; reputation.

meruul a singio er ngii

expr.

show (oneself) in a good light; show (oneself) to be responsible or trustworthy; put one's best food forward.

Examples:

Ng ungil a singio er ngii.

> She is trustworthy.

ta
/tang

, num.

1 [one] (unit of time; human; counting).
tang a ochur el chimong , ta el buil, ta el tekoi, ta el chad.

tal

cont.

ta el

tara

cont.

ta er a

el di ngak el tang

expr.

alone; by myself.

ko el tang

expr.

the very first time; the first time after a long while.

ngii di el tang

expr.

either one; anything.

ta el chad

expr.

one person; (persons) having same mother or father; (persons) of same blood.

ta el rak

expr.

one year.

ta el sils

expr.

one day.

ta er kemam

expr.

one of our relatives (usually, close); one of us.

ta er ngak

expr.

one of my relatives (usually, close).

ta er tir

expr.

one of them.

Examples:

Me ta er a kiklou el sualo.

> Give me a basket that's a little bigger.

Ng di mle ngii el tang el mo ngmasech er a rois el mo meluluuch. Me se er a bocha lekebesengei, e a Jesus a di mle ngii el tang.

> He went up a hill by himself to pray. When evening came, Jesus was there alone.

Ak mlo er a kedera el di ngak el tang.

> I went to the beach along.

Ng mlo merek el chull er a chelsel a ta el sikang.

> It finished raining in an hour.

Te di mle ta el mengedecheduch.

> They both spoke at the same time.

Proverbs:

Ng cheiko e omekrael er a ta er a cheiko.

> A blind man leading another blind man.

The application is identical to that of the familiar English idiom

Ng kora chebiei el Cheangel, el di ta e chutur a ta el suk.

> Like the breadfruit of Kayangel, just one rotten piece will spoil the whole bunch.

One bad person can ruin the reputation of a whole group. It is said of the Chebiei variety of breadfruit found at Kayangel atoll that one rotten one will spoil others packaged with it. Similar to "One bad apple spoiled the bushel."

Ng ta el suk me ng diilut re Meduu.

> A full basket was dropped in Ngeremeduu bay.

From the folk tale about Obak era Kedesau on his way to a feast being given in honor of his wife by her adoptive father. While crossing Ngeremeduu Bay between Ngatpang and Ngeremlengui, Obak dropped a basket of Palauan money overboard. Despite this terrible loss, he still had the courage and sufficient cash to carry off his visit in high style. The saying may be used to reassure someone, following a loss, reminding them that Obak era Kedesau recovered from an even greater loss.

Ng ko er a chelebed er a Utaor, el di ta temetemir

> Like the blow at Utaor, one stroke for all

A person or perhaps a club of the hamlet of Utaor (a hamlet of either Koror or Chol) offended a major village and, in consequence, the village retaliated by attacking the whole hamlet. The idiom applies to any general statement or punishment that might better be directed toward a particular group or individual

Ng ko er a cherellel a beab el di ta e keroker.

> It's like the birth of a rat with one offspring per mother.

It's something that happens just once, something I put up with only once. According to this saying, the rat bears but one litter. Hence the application "once is enough" about an act that bears no repeating.

More Examples:

Rungalek, ka bo mocheuir a ta er a taxi el mei me lotekak el mo er a bdelul a chang.

> My child, go hail me a taxi cab so that I can take it to the dock.

A delak a milsa ta er a bekerkard el techel a til.

> My mom gave him a piece of Palauan money for his wallet.

ngdi ungil a kumekedong er kau er a tara taem

>

Ak oureng er a ta er a taem el mo sebeched el kasoues.

> I only wish that we will see each other in the future.

Mosischeklii a ngelekem el dongmesii me lesebechel dongmesii a ta er a chad.

> Teach your child to respect themselves so that they can respect others.

tab

, n.

destination.
tab a motab; tabeluach.

teblo
/teblong

, num.

2 [two] (animal; nonliving thing).
teblong a ochur ; bduu a teblong. mengur a teblong; teblong el blai.

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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