Expert: Mojtaba Parsa - 10/7/2009

Question
Dear Mojtaba,

Today I should like to ask about two proverbs.

1.
چراغ پيش پای خودش را نمی بیند
What does this proverb mean to you? Also, what is meant by پيش پا, please? I would have thought that پيش پا was something found e.g. on a horse, contrasting with the back legs (پشت پا?). But do lamps really have front and back legs in Iran?

2.
ترتیزک خریدم قاتق نونم بشه، قاتل جونم شد.
This one I don't understand at all – please could you write it in Latin letters and explain it? The only part I think I understand is the first two words – I bought watercress (?).

All the best,

Simon

Answer
Hi Simon,
The first proverb means "The light doesn't see its own closeness. It doesn't illuminate it." And it should return those lights similar to torches or the headlights. This proverb, I think, is used to make a relation between this kind of lights and those people who try to watch far across the distance, while have not intially verified themselves. We have to resolve our own defects before trying to look for the others', is what this proverb going to say, I think.

پیش پا means one's front closeness. Also said: جلو پا، جلوی پا. It's only used for walking alive objects. But since the light in the proverb represents a person, it is used for the lamp - indirectly the person.

ترتیزک خریدم قاتق نونم بشه، قاتل جونم شد is written in informal spoken form of Persian. To return it to the formal style, some changes should be exerted:
ترتیزک خریدم تا قاتق نانم بشود، ولی قاتل جانم شد.
This is more understandable to you, now.
قاتق نان means something causes you to earn something else as your wage or salary of doing a lawful path, job or activities. I bought something (like watercress) to solve my problems (by giving me chance to earn legimate money) but it conversely added on my previous problems (it killed me because it may be too bitter!).

Here's the pronunciation: "taretizak kharidam ghäteghe nunam beshe, ghätele junam shod"

Hope this one helps.
With Best Regards, Mojtaba Parsa