Significado
Don't act without knowing the risks.
Contexto cultural
Rivers like the Dnieper are central to Ukrainian identity. The proverb reflects the historical reality of a people who lived by the water and understood its power and treachery. Cossacks were masters of river warfare. For them, 'knowing the ford' was a tactical advantage that allowed them to ambush enemies or escape quickly. Due to economic instability in the 90s, many Ukrainians became very risk-averse. This proverb is frequently used in business to justify slow, careful growth over rapid expansion. While it's a rural proverb, it's equally popular in cities like Kyiv or Lviv, showing how agrarian wisdom remains the backbone of modern Ukrainian speech.
Use it for Business
This is a very 'safe' proverb to use in professional settings to sound wise and prudent.
Don't over-soften
Make sure the 'z' in 'лізь' is soft, but don't turn it into an 's'.
Significado
Don't act without knowing the risks.
Use it for Business
This is a very 'safe' proverb to use in professional settings to sound wise and prudent.
Don't over-soften
Make sure the 'z' in 'лізь' is soft, but don't turn it into an 's'.
The 'Brod' Secret
Remember that 'брід' changes to 'броду' in this phrase. This is a great way to remember how negation affects nouns in Ukrainian.
Grandparent Power
Using this phrase with older Ukrainians will immediately earn you 'wisdom points'.
Teste-se
Заповніть пропуски в приказці:
Не знаючи ____, не лізь у ____.
The standard form uses 'броду' (ford) and 'воду' (water).
В якій ситуації найкраще використати цю приказку?
Ваш друг хоче інвестувати всі заощадження в акції компанії, про яку він нічого не знає.
The proverb is a warning against taking risks without proper information or preparation.
Доповніть діалог:
- Я хочу поїхати в джунглі без гіда! - Ой, будь обережний. ...
While 'Сім раз відріж' is similar, 'Не знаючи броду' is the most natural fit for a dangerous journey into the unknown.
🎉 Pontuação: /3
Recursos visuais
Literal vs Figurative
Banco de exercicios
3 exerciciosНе знаючи ____, не лізь у ____.
The standard form uses 'броду' (ford) and 'воду' (water).
Ваш друг хоче інвестувати всі заощадження в акції компанії, про яку він нічого не знає.
The proverb is a warning against taking risks without proper information or preparation.
- Я хочу поїхати в джунглі без гіда! - Ой, будь обережний. ...
While 'Сім раз відріж' is similar, 'Не знаючи броду' is the most natural fit for a dangerous journey into the unknown.
🎉 Pontuação: /3
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasYes, especially in the context of financial risks like crypto or starting new tech ventures. It's considered 'classic' rather than 'old-fashioned'.
Yes, it works literally too! If you are at a river and don't know the depth, it's the perfect thing to say.
In Ukrainian, when you negate a verb (не знаючи), the object often takes the genitive case. 'Броду' is the genitive of 'брід'.
Not usually. It's seen as helpful advice. However, if said with a sarcastic tone, it can imply the person is being stupid.
The closest is 'Look before you leap,' but 'Don't test the depth of the water with both feet' is also very similar.
Yes, it's a very common rhetorical device in Ukrainian journalism and academic writing to emphasize caution.
Yes, 'лізти' means to climb or crawl, but in this context, it means to enter or get into something with effort.
People don't usually say that, but it would be grammatically correct. The proverb only exists in the negative.
Sometimes people just say 'Не знаючи броду...' and let the listener finish the sentence.
In modern cities, no. But in the context of this proverb, every Ukrainian knows exactly what it means.
Frases relacionadas
Сім раз відміряй, один раз відріж
similarMeasure seven times, cut once.
Тихо їдеш — далі будеш
similarThe slower you go, the further you'll get.
Поспішиш — людей насмішиш
similarHurry and you'll make people laugh (make a fool of yourself).
Береженого Бог береже
builds onGod protects the cautious.
Ризик — благородна справа
contrastRisk is a noble thing.
