Signification
Appearances can be deceptive.
Contexte culturel
Gold is the most significant symbol of wealth and purity in Bengali culture, especially in weddings. Using gold in this proverb makes the metaphor deeply relatable to every Bengali household. In villages, this proverb is often used to warn against the 'glitter' of city life, which is seen as attractive but potentially soul-crushing or fake compared to the 'pure' life of the village. Many 19th-century Bengali writers used this theme to criticize the 'Baboo' culture—Bengalis who imitated British manners superficially but lacked true education or character. Today, it's a common reaction to 'clickbait' culture and fake news. It's used to tell people to verify information before believing it.
Use it for advice
This is the perfect phrase to use when a friend is about to make a hasty decision based on looks.
Don't over-use
If you use it for everything, you might sound like a pessimist. Save it for truly deceptive situations.
Signification
Appearances can be deceptive.
Use it for advice
This is the perfect phrase to use when a friend is about to make a hasty decision based on looks.
Don't over-use
If you use it for everything, you might sound like a pessimist. Save it for truly deceptive situations.
Master the '-lei'
The '-lei' suffix is very powerful in Bengali. Practice it with other verbs to sound more native (e.g., 'khalei' - just by eating).
Teste-toi
Complete the proverb with the correct word.
চকচক করলেই ______ হয় না।
The proverb specifically uses 'Sona' (Gold) as the standard of value.
Which situation best fits the proverb 'Chokchok korlei sona hoy na'?
Situation A: You buy a cheap watch that looks like a Rolex but stops working in two days. Situation B: You find a 100 Taka note on the street.
Situation A involves a deceptive appearance (looks like a Rolex) and a lack of real value (stops working).
What would the friend say in this conversation?
Rahim: 'এই ল্যাপটপটা খুব সস্তা আর দেখতেও খুব গ্লসি!' Friend: '______'
The friend is giving a wise warning about a 'too good to be true' deal.
Identify the correct grammatical form of the proverb.
Which one is the standard proverb?
The emphatic '-i' in 'korlei' and the present simple 'hoy na' are essential for the proverb's canonical form.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesচকচক করলেই ______ হয় না।
The proverb specifically uses 'Sona' (Gold) as the standard of value.
Situation A: You buy a cheap watch that looks like a Rolex but stops working in two days. Situation B: You find a 100 Taka note on the street.
Situation A involves a deceptive appearance (looks like a Rolex) and a lack of real value (stops working).
Rahim: 'এই ল্যাপটপটা খুব সস্তা আর দেখতেও খুব গ্লসি!' Friend: '______'
The friend is giving a wise warning about a 'too good to be true' deal.
Which one is the standard proverb?
The emphatic '-i' in 'korlei' and the present simple 'hoy na' are essential for the proverb's canonical form.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
5 questionsNot at all! While it's an old proverb, it is used daily in modern contexts like online shopping and social media.
Yes, but it's usually used to warn *someone else* about that person, rather than saying it to the person's face.
There isn't a direct single-phrase opposite, but 'Guni-r gun guni jane' (Only the talented know the value of talent) suggests looking for real value.
In this context, yes. It can also mean 'clean' (e.g., the floor is chokchoke), but in the proverb, it implies a distracting shine.
The standard proverb uses 'hoy na' (does not become/is not). 'Sona noy' is grammatically correct but not the traditional way to say the proverb.
Expressions liées
বাইরে ফিটফাট ভেতরে সদরঘাট
similarPolished on the outside, chaotic on the inside.
নাম বড় কিন্তু দর্শনধারী ছোট
similarBig name, but small appearance/reality.
হাতি ঘোড়া গেল তল, ভেড়া বলে কত জল
contrastThe mighty have drowned, yet the fool asks how deep the water is.
এক মাঘে শীত যায় না
specialized formWinter doesn't end with a single month of Magh.
