Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

A husband's sister is said to spy on her brother's wife during his absence from home. Reference is to a young wife who refused the advances of a young man, even though it was obvious that no sister-in-law was present to spy. Asked about her relationship with the young suitor, the wife replied: "But my heart is my sister-in-law." The saying may be applied more widely to any circumstance where a person is entrusted with a task without supervision.

Ng

ko

er

a

mud

er

a

Bngei,

el

di

melecheb

er

a

rrengor.

> Like the mud fish of the Bngei lagoon, drawn to the passing wind

The reef fish mud seldom leaves a given rock or cleft in the reef, but according to this saying the mud of Bngei lagoon, near Airai, may be attracted away from their locus by the dust raised by a passing school of fish. The latter portion of this proverb is difficult to translate. The word melecheb may be applied to a person drawn forward by a current of water. Rrengor refers to a movement of air caused by one body passing another. The idiom is applied to a changeable person, a faddist, or a joiner

Ke

ko

er

a

okared

el

di

ngii

el

melul

er

ngii

er

a

ngau.

> You're like a stinkbug that burns itself in the fire.

i.e., you get involved in things that may hurt you.

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

Msisichau

e

ng

di

kmeed

a

meched.

> Be strong, shallows are close

Crossing the lagoon, a canoe is poled in shallow water, paddled in deep. The phrase refers to canoeists tiring after a long paddle over deep water. Applied when someone is about to give up, though better times are ahead.

More Examples:

Mnguu

el

msang

a

di

chim

el

chad.

> Take it and give it to an empty-handed person.

Ng

mera