Bedeutung
Actions speak louder than words.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The concept of 'Darba tikums' is central to Latvian culture. It suggests that work is not just a necessity but a moral duty and a source of joy. This proverb is the linguistic embodiment of that value. Similar to Latvians, Estonians value silence and hard work. They have a similar saying: 'Rääkimine hõbe, vaikimine kuld' (Speaking is silver, silence is gold). In Japan, 'Fugen jikkō' is a highly respected trait. It is often associated with the samurai spirit—doing what needs to be done without seeking praise or making noise. While Americans value 'walking the talk,' the culture also rewards 'selling yourself' and 'elevator pitches,' which can sometimes clash with the Latvian 'speak little' philosophy.
Use it as a compliment
If you want to impress a Latvian colleague, describe a hardworking person using this phrase. It shows deep cultural appreciation.
Don't over-use it
If you say it every time someone speaks, you'll seem rude. Save it for moments where a contrast between talk and action is obvious.
Bedeutung
Actions speak louder than words.
Use it as a compliment
If you want to impress a Latvian colleague, describe a hardworking person using this phrase. It shows deep cultural appreciation.
Don't over-use it
If you say it every time someone speaks, you'll seem rude. Save it for moments where a contrast between talk and action is obvious.
The power of 'Maz'
In Latvia, being 'mazrunīgs' (of few words) is often seen as a sign of intelligence and reliability.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing adverbs to complete the proverb.
Runā ______, dari ______.
The standard proverb uses the adverbs 'maz' and 'daudz'.
Which situation best fits the proverb 'Runā maz, dari daudz'?
Situation: Jānis always talks about his new business but never starts it.
The proverb is advice for people who talk too much and do too little.
Match the Latvian words with their English meanings.
1. Runā, 2. Dari, 3. Maz, 4. Daudz
Basic vocabulary check.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the proverb.
Priekšnieks: 'Mums ir par maz laika diskusijām.' Darbinieks: 'Piekrītu. ________.'
While 'a' is the fixed proverb, 'c' is also grammatically correct but 'a' is the idiomatic choice.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenRunā ______, dari ______.
The standard proverb uses the adverbs 'maz' and 'daudz'.
Situation: Jānis always talks about his new business but never starts it.
The proverb is advice for people who talk too much and do too little.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
Basic vocabulary check.
Priekšnieks: 'Mums ir par maz laika diskusijām.' Darbinieks: 'Piekrītu. ________.'
While 'a' is the fixed proverb, 'c' is also grammatically correct but 'a' is the idiomatic choice.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
5 FragenNot at all. While it's an old proverb, it's used daily in modern business and sports contexts.
Yes, but be careful. It's better to use it to describe your own work style rather than telling your boss what to do.
Runājiet maz, dariet daudz.
No, it just means you should prioritize action. Communication is still valued, but 'empty talk' is not.
Yes, 'Mazāk vāries' is a common, more aggressive slang alternative.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Darbi runā skaļāk par vārdiem
synonymActions speak louder than words.
Mazāk runu, vairāk darbu
similarFewer speeches, more work.
Klusēšana zelts
builds onSilence is gold.
Tukša muca tālu skan
contrastAn empty barrel makes the most noise.
