Signification
Showing grief that is not genuine
Contexte culturel
Fish is the most significant cultural symbol. Using fish in an idiom makes it immediately relatable to everyone from a farmer to a professor. Great writers like Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay used such idioms to critique the hypocrisy of the 19th-century 'Bhadralok' (gentleman) class. The idiom reflects 'Lokachar' (folk customs) and the keen observation of nature by rural people who lived closely with ponds and rivers. In modern Bengali TV serials (Mega Serials), this phrase is a favorite for the 'heroine' to use against the 'vamp' character.
Use with Sarcasm
This idiom works best when your tone is slightly sarcastic or skeptical.
Avoid at Funerals
Never use this at a real funeral unless you are absolutely certain the person is a fraud and you want to expose them publicly.
Signification
Showing grief that is not genuine
Use with Sarcasm
This idiom works best when your tone is slightly sarcastic or skeptical.
Avoid at Funerals
Never use this at a real funeral unless you are absolutely certain the person is a fraud and you want to expose them publicly.
Pair with 'Dekhano'
The most natural way to use it is with the verb 'dekhano' (to show). E.g., 'Macher mayer putro shok dekhio na.'
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
তার এই কান্না আসলে ______ মায়ের ______ শোক।
The standard idiom is 'মাছের মায়ের পুত্র শোক' (Macher mayer putro shok).
Which situation best fits the idiom 'মাছের মায়ের পুত্র শোক'?
A person is crying because...
The idiom refers to insincere, performative grief, which fits the politician scenario.
What is the English equivalent of this idiom?
মাছের মায়ের পুত্র শোক
Both 'Crocodile tears' and 'Macher mayer putro shok' refer to insincere displays of sorrow.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
রহিম: 'করিম তো তোমার বিপদে খুব দুঃখ প্রকাশ করছে।' তুমি: 'আরে রাখো! ওটা তো ______। ও নিজেই আমার ক্ষতি করেছে।'
Since Karim caused the harm, his sympathy is insincere, making it a 'fish mother's grief.'
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesতার এই কান্না আসলে ______ মায়ের ______ শোক।
The standard idiom is 'মাছের মায়ের পুত্র শোক' (Macher mayer putro shok).
A person is crying because...
The idiom refers to insincere, performative grief, which fits the politician scenario.
মাছের মায়ের পুত্র শোক
Both 'Crocodile tears' and 'Macher mayer putro shok' refer to insincere displays of sorrow.
রহিম: 'করিম তো তোমার বিপদে খুব দুঃখ প্রকাশ করছে।' তুমি: 'আরে রাখো! ওটা তো ______। ও নিজেই আমার ক্ষতি করেছে।'
Since Karim caused the harm, his sympathy is insincere, making it a 'fish mother's grief.'
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it can apply to anyone—men, women, or organizations. The 'mother' part is just part of the fixed metaphor.
Yes, it is an accusation of lying. Use it carefully.
Yes, but keep the word 'Putro' (son) in the idiom. Don't change it to 'Konna' (daughter).
'Mayakanna' is just the act of fake crying. 'Macher mayer putro shok' is a more descriptive idiom that implies a lack of connection to the victim.
Yes, especially in journalism and literature to criticize hypocrisy.
Because fish lay thousands of eggs and don't care for them, making their 'grief' a perfect metaphor for insincerity.
Sometimes people just say 'মাছের মায়ের শোক' (Macher mayer shok).
Probably not, unless you are discussing a character in a book or a social phenomenon. It's too informal/cynical for a professional setting.
Extremely common. Every native speaker will know exactly what you mean.
No, it is purely secular and based on folk observation of nature.
Expressions liées
মায়াকান্না
synonymFake or illusory crying.
কুম্ভীরাশ্রু
synonymCrocodile tears.
বকধার্মিক
similarA hypocrite (literally: a crane acting like a saint).
হস্তীদন্ত
contrastElephant's teeth (one for show, one for eating).
