Bedeutung
One person's gain is another's loss.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In rural Bengal, the month of Poush is synonymous with 'Poush Parbon,' where families make various types of 'Pitha' (rice cakes). The proverb reminds people that while they celebrate, they should not forget those suffering from the winter cold. In modern cities like Dhaka or Kolkata, this proverb is frequently used in political talk shows to criticize government policies that favor the elite while burdening the middle class with taxes. Many Bengali writers, including Rabindranath Tagore and Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, have used this proverb or its themes to highlight the plight of the poor in their novels. Using this proverb in a business meeting can be a subtle way to point out that a deal is unfair or one-sided without being directly aggressive.
Use it for Social Critique
If you want to sound like a native intellectual, use this when discussing news about inflation or corporate profits.
Don't be too insensitive
Be careful using this directly to someone who is suffering. It's better used as a third-party observation.
Bedeutung
One person's gain is another's loss.
Use it for Social Critique
If you want to sound like a native intellectual, use this when discussing news about inflation or corporate profits.
Don't be too insensitive
Be careful using this directly to someone who is suffering. It's better used as a third-party observation.
The 'Poush' Vibe
Remember that Poush is cold. If you use this in summer, the literal meaning is lost, but the figurative meaning remains 100% valid.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the proverb.
কারো ______ মাস, কারো ______।
The standard proverb uses 'পৌষ' (Poush) and 'সর্বনাশ' (Shorbonash).
Match the situation to the proverb's meaning.
A company goes bankrupt, and its rival gets all the customers. This is an example of:
This situation shows one person's gain (the rival) coming from another's ruin (the bankrupt company).
Complete the dialogue naturally.
রহিম: 'বাজারে চালের দাম বাড়ায় আমাদের খুব কষ্ট হচ্ছে।' করিম: 'হ্যাঁ, কিন্তু অসাধু ব্যবসায়ীদের তো এখন ______।'
Since the price hike is bad for Rahim, it is a 'harvest' (Poush Mash) for the dishonest traders.
Which sentence uses the proverb correctly in a formal context?
Choose the best sentence:
Sentence 'a' correctly applies the proverb to a social/political context with the right contrast.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 Aufgabenকারো ______ মাস, কারো ______।
The standard proverb uses 'পৌষ' (Poush) and 'সর্বনাশ' (Shorbonash).
A company goes bankrupt, and its rival gets all the customers. This is an example of:
This situation shows one person's gain (the rival) coming from another's ruin (the bankrupt company).
রহিম: 'বাজারে চালের দাম বাড়ায় আমাদের খুব কষ্ট হচ্ছে।' করিম: 'হ্যাঁ, কিন্তু অসাধু ব্যবসায়ীদের তো এখন ______।'
Since the price hike is bad for Rahim, it is a 'harvest' (Poush Mash) for the dishonest traders.
Choose the best sentence:
Sentence 'a' correctly applies the proverb to a social/political context with the right contrast.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
8 FragenIn the context of this proverb, yes. It represents a time of plenty and celebration. Outside the proverb, it's just a month.
No, the proverb is fixed. Using 'Magh' or 'Boishakh' would make it unrecognizable as a proverb.
It's not offensive, but it is cynical. It points out a harsh truth, so use it with empathy.
Yes, it is equally popular and understood in both regions.
The closest is 'One man's meat is another man's poison' or 'One man's gain is another man's loss.'
Only if you are discussing market trends or social issues. Don't use it to describe your own promotion over a colleague!
Yes, it literally means 'destruction of everything.' It's very dramatic.
You can say: 'ওর এখন পৌষ মাস চলছে।' (His Poush Mash is going on now.)
Verwandte Redewendungen
পরের মাথায় কাঁঠাল ভাঙা
similarTo exploit someone for one's own gain.
এক মাঘে শীত যায় না
similarDanger doesn't come only once; don't be too arrogant in your good times.
কারো ঘর পোড়ে, কেউ আগুন পোহায়
synonymOne person's house is burning, while another warms themselves by the fire.
নিজের নাক কেটে পরের যাত্রা ভঙ্গ করা
contrastTo hurt oneself just to cause a loss for someone else.
