A1 Idiom خنثی

Nema kruha bez motike

No bread without a hoe

معنی

You must work to succeed

🌍

زمینه فرهنگی

This region is the 'breadbasket' of Croatia. The phrase is taken very literally here, as the economy was historically built on wheat farming. People from Slavonija are known for their hospitality and their respect for hard labor. In Dalmatia, the 'motika' was used in vineyards and olive groves on rocky terrain. The work was even harder than in the plains, making the proverb a symbol of survival against nature. Despite the rise of the tech sector, Croatian managers often use this phrase to ground their employees and emphasize that 'hustle' is still required, even in a digital office. Croatians who emigrated to the US, Germany, or Australia often carried this proverb with them as a core value, helping them succeed in new environments through sheer hard work.

💡

Use it for motivation

It's a great way to show empathy while also encouraging someone to keep going.

⚠️

Watch your cases!

Remember: kruh -> kruha, motika -> motike. Using the wrong case makes the idiom sound broken.

معنی

You must work to succeed

💡

Use it for motivation

It's a great way to show empathy while also encouraging someone to keep going.

⚠️

Watch your cases!

Remember: kruh -> kruha, motika -> motike. Using the wrong case makes the idiom sound broken.

🎯

Sound like a native

Natives often sigh slightly before saying this phrase to add a sense of 'that's just how life is'.

خودت رو بسنج

Fill in the missing words in the genitive case.

Nema _____ bez _____.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: kruha, motike

The words must be in the genitive case because of 'nema' and 'bez'.

Which situation best fits the idiom 'Nema kruha bez motike'?

Marko wants to be a famous pianist but never practices.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Nema kruha bez motike, Marko mora vježbati.

The idiom is used to tell someone that they need to put in effort to reach their goal.

Match the Croatian phrase with its English equivalent.

Match the following:

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: a

These are all variations of the same work-ethic sentiment.

Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.

Ana: 'Tako sam umorna od učenja.' Ivan: 'Znam, ali...'

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: nema kruha bez motike.

Ivan is encouraging Ana to keep studying by using the idiom.

🎉 امتیاز: /4

ابزارهای بصری یادگیری

بانک تمرین

4 تمرین‌ها
Fill in the missing words in the genitive case. جای خالی A1

Nema _____ bez _____.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: kruha, motike

The words must be in the genitive case because of 'nema' and 'bez'.

Which situation best fits the idiom 'Nema kruha bez motike'? Choose A1

Marko wants to be a famous pianist but never practices.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Nema kruha bez motike, Marko mora vježbati.

The idiom is used to tell someone that they need to put in effort to reach their goal.

Match the Croatian phrase with its English equivalent. Match A2

هر مورد سمت چپ را با جفتش در سمت راست مطابقت دهید:

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: a

These are all variations of the same work-ethic sentiment.

Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase. dialogue_completion A1

Ana: 'Tako sam umorna od učenja.' Ivan: 'Znam, ali...'

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: nema kruha bez motike.

Ivan is encouraging Ana to keep studying by using the idiom.

🎉 امتیاز: /4

سوالات متداول

3 سوال

Yes, although it sounds a bit traditional, young people use it ironically or when talking about serious goals like university or fitness.

It's better to use it in spoken conversation or informal Slack messages. In a formal email, it might be too colloquial.

Because 'nema' (there is no) always triggers the genitive case in Croatian.

عبارات مرتبط

🔗

Bez muke nema nauke

similar

Without effort, there is no learning.

🔗

Tko ne radi, taj ne jede

similar

He who doesn't work, doesn't eat.

🔗

Kruh sa sedam kora

builds on

Bread with seven crusts.

🔗

Ležati na lovorikama

contrast

To rest on one's laurels.

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