“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are” is one of the most classic inspirational quotes of all time phrased by the great personality Theodore Roosevelt. Do you want to spell this out in the Khmer language, along with some authentic Cambodian proverbs and quirky Khmer quotes? If yes, this blog is the best thing that happened to you today! From motivational to love quotes, you will learn all the Khmer sayings to help you communicate and make fun conversations with your friends in Cambodia. If you want to learn more, continue reading!
Quotes always have a magical way of making communication more entertaining and meaningful. While you must have already read some ancient Khmer proverbs with their true meanings, eccentric quotes will make your bonds even more robust. From conveying your love to your partner to inspiring someone with inspirational words, quotes play a crucial role in making your presence sophisticated and impressive. So, before packing bags for your trip to Cambodia, sit back and get your hands on the best Khmer quotes for every occasion!
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- Regular Khmer Quotes To Make Your Day
- Motivational Khmer Quotes
- Love Quotes And Khmer Sayings
- Sad Khmer Quotes
- More Khmer Proverb And Quotes
Regular Khmer Quotes To Make Your Day
Let us first read some of the common Cambodia quotes that will come in handy to make flowy conversations. Later on, we will grasp some specific occasional quotes to give out the best impression of your personality. Moreover, quotes are always a good self-motivator. So, once you read, you will indeed feel the adrenaline rush and the power that words can hold. Let’s begin.
1. The Most Beautiful Thing In Cambodia Isn’t The Country – It’s The Cambodian People
Translation: របស់ដែលស្អាតបំផុតក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជាមិនមែនជាប្រទេសនោះទេ គឺប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា។
The quote uttered by Rithy Panh, របស់ដែលស្អាតបំផុតក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជាមិនមែនជាប្រទេសនោះទេ គឺប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា។, pronounced as Robos Dael S’at Bamphot Knong Brates Kampouchea Min Men Chea Brates Nuh Te Kueu Brachachon Kampouchea is one of the most heart touching quote you can use in front of the locals. It talks about the beauty that lies in the country’s rich people instead of the material riches that lie in the country. Especially when you are meeting important figures, such quotes will help build your image.
2. You Don’t Have To Cut A Tree Down To Get At The Fruit
Translation: អ្នកមិនចាំបាច់កាប់ដើមឈើដើម្បីបានផ្លែទេ។
Uttered by a soul belonging to the land of Cambodia, the quote អ្នកមិនចាំបាច់កាប់ដើមឈើដើម្បីបានផ្លែទេ។, pronounced as Neak Min Cham Bach Kab Daeum Chheu Daeumbei Ban Phlae Te gives out the truth of life. It holds that to achieve your goal, you do not have to ruin your path and everything that comes on way. Cambodian people are hardworking and always appreciate being faithful to one’s work without harming others or destroying their needs!
3. He Who Makes No Mistakes, Makes Nothing
Translation: អ្នកដែលមិនមានកំហុស គឺជាអ្នកដែលមិនធ្វើអ្វីទាំងអស់។
The quote អ្នកដែលមិនមានកំហុស គឺជាអ្នកដែលមិនធ្វើអ្វីទាំងអស់។- Neak Dael Min Mean Kamhos Kueu Chea Neak Dael Min Thveu Avei Teang As is another everyday Khmer saying that almost every parents use it on their kids and every master uses on their student. It beautifully wraps the reality of failure and the modesty of learning from it. No human on this planet would succeed without facing mistakes. We should always accept and learn from our errors.
4. Love Your Children Much! Love Your Grandchildren Much More!
Translation: ស្រឡាញ់កូនមួយតៅ ស្រឡាញ់ចៅមួយថាំង
The Cambodian saying ស្រឡាញ់កូនមួយតៅ ស្រឡាញ់ចៅមួយថាំង- Sralanh Koun Muoy Tau Sralanh Chau Muoy Thang talks about loving your grandchildren much more than you love the children of your own. Tau is a unit of measurement, and one Thang equals two Taus. So, it indirectly asks to give one’s grandchildren the love they give to their own kids.
5. Let Your Parents Eat While Their Throat Is Still Standing
Translation: បញ្ចុកឪពុកម្តាយ អ្នកទាន់ពេលដែលបំពង់ករបស់ពួកគាត់នៅឈរ
The khmer quote បញ្ចុកឪពុកម្តាយ អ្នកទាន់ពេលដែលបំពង់ករបស់ពួកគាត់នៅឈរ- Banhchok Aupok Mday Robos Neak Toan Pel Dael Bampongka Robos Puok Koat Nov Chhou talks about giving love to your parents. You must take care of your parents and live the time with utmost love and sincerity because life has its own game. Nobody stays here forever, so cherish their presence till you can.
6. Do Good, Get Good! Do Bad, Get Bad!
Translation: ធ្វើល្អបានល្អ ធ្វើអាក្រក់បានអាក្រក់
One of the most used khmer quotes ធ្វើល្អបានល្អ ធ្វើអាក្រក់បានអាក្រក់- Thveu L’or Ban L’or Thveu Akrak Ban Akrak is a saying that talks about karma. If you do good to others, you will also receive the good; if the opposite happens, there is no saying otherwise.
7. Long Eel, Long Pot
Translation: អង្ទង់វែង ឆ្នាំងវែង
The quote អង្ទង់វែង ឆ្នាំងវែង- An Tong Veng, Chhnang Veng is a typical Cambodian saying that is used to mock someone who is not very clever. It actually comes from an ancient Cambodian story where the husband fetches an eel for the wife to cook, but she is unaware and is looking for a long pot. So, it talks about cleverness. Quite witty, if you use this, locals will be astounded by your insights.
Motivational Khmer Quotes
Now, here is a list of motivational quotes in Khmer with proper English translations that you can use to make your day as well as your local mates. Please give them a good read.
| English | Khmer | Pronunciation |
| The best way out is always through | មធ្យោបាយល្អបំផុតគឺតែងតែជោគជ័យ | Mothyobay L’a Bamphot Kueu Taeng Tae Chouk Chey |
| If there is no struggle, there is no progress | បើគ្មានការតស៊ូក៏គ្មានការរីកចម្រើនដែរ។ | Baeu Kmean Kar Tasu Ka Kmean Kar Rik Chamraeun Dae |
| A year from now you will wish you had started today | មួយឆ្នាំចាប់ពីពេលនេះទៅ អ្នកនឹងប្រាថ្នាថាអ្នកចាប់ផ្តើមថ្ងៃនេះ | Muoy Chhnam Chabpi Pelnih Tov Neak Nueng Brathna tha Neak Chabphdaeum Thngainih |
| You can’t claim heaven as your own if you are just going to sit under it | អ្នកមិនអាចទាមទារយកឋានសួគ៌ជារបស់អ្នកបានទេ ប្រសិនបើអ្នកគ្រាន់តែអង្គុយនៅក្រោមវា។ | Neak Min Ach Teamtear Yok Thansuo Chea Robos Neak Ban Te Brasen Baeu Neak Krean Tae Angkuy Nov Kraom Vea |
| I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done | ខ្ញុំចង់ស្ដាយអ្វីដែលខ្ញុំបានធ្វើ ជាជាងស្ដាយអ្វីដែលខ្ញុំមិនបានធ្វើ | Khnhom Chang Sday Avei Dael Khnhom Ban Thveu Chea Cheang Sday Avei Dael Khnhom Minban Thveu |
| All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them | ក្តីស្រមៃរបស់យើងទាំងអស់អាចក្លាយជាការពិតបាន ប្រសិនបើយើងមានភាពក្លាហានក្នុងការដេញតាមពួកគេ។ | Kdei Sramai Robos Yeung Teangos Ach Klaychea Karpit Ban Brasenbaeu Yeung Mean Pheap Klahan Knong Kar Denh Tam Vea |
| Smart people learn from everything and everyone, average people from their experiences, and stupid people already have all the answers | មនុស្សឆ្លាតរៀនពីអ្វីៗគ្រប់យ៉ាង និងមនុស្សគ្រប់គ្នា មនុស្សជាទូទៅរៀនពីបទពិសោធន៍ ហើយមនុស្សល្ងង់មានចម្លើយគ្រប់យ៉ាង | Mounus Chhlat Rien Pi Avei Avei Krobyang Nueng Mounus Krobknea Mounus TuTov Rean Pi Batpisaoth Haeuy Mounus Lngong Mean Chamlaeuy Krob Yang |
| Whatever you are, be a good one | ទោះអ្នកជាអ្វីក៏ដោយត្រូវធ្វើជាមនុស្សល្អម្នាក់ | Tuoh Neak Chea Avei Kadaoy Trov Thveuchea Mounus L’a Mneak |
| Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great | កុំខ្លាចក្នុងការលះបង់របស់ល្អ ដើម្បីទៅរកភាពអស្ចារ្យ | Kom Khlach Knong Kar Leahbang Robos L’a Daeumbei Tov Rouk Pheap Aschar |
Love Quotes And Khmer Sayings
Love quotes will become your best buddy if you have found your partner in Cambodia! So, to help save you time from googling love phrases, here is a list of love quotes in Khmer that will sweeten your day!
| English | Khmer | Pronunciation |
| Thinking of you keeps me awake. Dreaming of you keeps me asleep. Being with you keeps me alive | ការគិតអំពីអ្នកធ្វើឱ្យខ្ញុំស្វាងគំនិត។ សុបិន្តឃើញអ្នកធ្វើឱ្យខ្ញុំដេកលក់។ ការនៅជាមួយអ្នកធ្វើឱ្យខ្ញុំមានជីវិត។ | Kar Kit Ampi Neak Thveu Aoy Khnhom Svang Komnit. Soben Kheunh Neak Thveu Aoy Khnhom Dek Lok . Kar Nov Cheamuoy Neak Thveu Aoy Khnhom Mean Chivit |
| Loved you yesterday, love you still, always have, and always will | ស្រលាញ់អ្នកកាលពីម្សិលមិញ នៅតែស្រលាញ់អ្នក តែងតែស្រលាញ់អ្នក និងបន្តស្រលាញ់អ្នក | Sralanh Neak Kal Pi Mselmenh Nov Tae Sralanh Neak Taeng Tae Sralanh Neak Nueng Bontor Sralanh Neak |
| Women are meant to be loved, not to be understood | មនុស្សស្រីសមតែទទួលក្ដីស្រលាញ់ មិនមែនដើម្បីស្វែងយល់ទេ | Mounus Sam Tae Totuol Kdei Sralanh Min Men Daeubei Svaeng Yol Te |
| There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment | គ្មានពេលវេលា ឬទីកន្លែងសម្រាប់ស្នេហាពិតនោះទេ។ វាកើតឡើងដោយចៃដន្យ នៅក្នុងចង្វាក់បេះដូង ក្នុងមួយរំពេច លោតញាប់ | kmean pelvelea ryy tikanleng samreab snehea pit noh te . vea kaetlaeng daoychaidany nowknong changveak behdaung knong muoyrompech lot nheab |
| Love is so short, forgetting is so long | ស្នេហាខ្លីណាស់ បំភ្លេចយូរ | snehea khlei nasa bamphlech your |
| Love is the magician that pulls man out of his own hat | ស្នេហាគឺជាបុរសលេងប៉ាហីដែលទាញបុរសចេញពីមួករបស់គាត់។ | snehea kuchea borsa leng ba hei del teanh borsa chenhpi muok robsa keat |
| It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not | ការស្អប់អ្វីដែលខ្លួនមានគឺល្អប្រសើរជាងការស្រឡាញ់ចំពោះអ្វីដែលខ្លួនមិនមាន | kar saab avei del khluon mean ku la brasaer cheang kar sraleanh champoh avei del khluon min mean |
Sad Khmer Quotes
Sometimes speaking through words helps lighten your heavy heart. So, for times when you want to express your sorrow and let your friends know about your feelings, the quotes below will help you out!
| English | Khmer | Pronunciation |
| It is sad not to love, but it is much sadder not to be able to love | សោកស្តាយដែលមិនបានស្រឡាញ់ ប៉ុន្តែវាសោកស្តាយជាងដែលមិនអាចស្រឡាញ់បាន។ | saok sta y del min ban sraleanh bonte vea saok sta y cheang del min ach sraleanh ban |
| Some people are going to leave, but that’s not the end of your story. That’s the end of their part in your story | មនុស្សមួយចំនួននឹងចាកចេញ ប៉ុន្តែនោះមិនមែនជាទីបញ្ចប់នៃរឿងរបស់អ្នកទេ។ នោះហើយជាចុងបញ្ចប់នៃផ្នែករបស់ពួកគេនៅក្នុងរឿងរបស់អ្នក។ | mnoussa muoychamnuon nung chakchenh bonte noh minmen cheatibanhchob nei rueng robsa anak te . noh haey chea chongobanhchob nei phnek robsa puokke nowknong rueng robsa anak |
| Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn’t stop for anybody | អ្វីៗផ្លាស់ប្តូរ។ ហើយមិត្តភក្តិចាកចេញ។ ជីវិតមិនឈប់សម្រាប់នរណាម្នាក់ទេ។ | avei phlasa btau r . haey mitt phokte chakchenh . chivit minochhb samreab norna mneak te |
| You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness | អ្នកមិនអាចការពារខ្លួនពីភាពសោកសៅដោយមិនបានការពារខ្លួនអ្នកពីសុភមង្គលនោះទេ។ | anak min ach karpar khluon pi pheap saoksaw daoy min ban karpar khluon anak pi sophomongkol noh te |
| To have felt too much is to end up feeling nothing | ការមានអារម្មណ៍ខ្លាំងពេកគឺមិនមានអារម្មណ៍អ្វីសោះ | kar mean arommo khlang pek ku min mean arommo avei saoh |
| Life’s under no obligation to give us what we expect | ជីវិតមិនមានកាតព្វកិច្ចផ្តល់ឱ្យយើងនូវអ្វីដែលយើងរំពឹងទុកនោះទេ។ | chivit min mean katapvokechch phtal aoy yeung nouv avei del yeung rompung touk noh te |
| Sometimes you’ve got to be able to listen to yourself and be okay with no one else understanding | ពេលខ្លះអ្នកត្រូវចេះស្តាប់ខ្លួនឯង ហើយមិនអីទេ ដោយគ្មានអ្នកណាយល់ | pelokhleah anak trauv cheh stab khluoneng haey min ei te daoy kmean anaknea yl |
| Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live | ការស្លាប់មិនមែនជាការបាត់បង់ដ៏ធំបំផុតក្នុងជីវិតនោះទេ។ ការបាត់បង់ដ៏ធំបំផុតគឺអ្វីដែលស្លាប់នៅក្នុងខ្លួនយើងខណៈពេលដែលយើងរស់នៅ | kar slab minmen chea karbatbng da thom bamphot knong chivit noh te . karbatbng da thom bamphot ku avei del slab nowknong khluon yeung khn pel del yeung rsanow |
More Khmer Proverbs And Quotes
| English | Khmer | Pronunciation |
| Don’t let an angry man wash dishes; don’t let a hungry man guard rice | កុំឱ្យបុរសខឹងលាងចាន។ កុំអោយបុរសឃ្លានបាយ | komaoy borsa khoeng leangchan . kom aoy borsa khleanbay |
| Sit in the basket, lift up yourself | អង្គុយក្នុងកន្ត្រកលើកខ្លួនអ្នក | Angkuy leu chang eh, leuk khluon eng |
| One mountain never has two tigers | ភ្នំមួយមិនដែលមានខ្លាពីរទេ។ | Phnom muoy men ach mean khla pi |
| The tiger depends on the forest; the forest depends on the tiger | ខ្លាអាស្រ័យព្រៃ; ព្រៃពឹងផ្អែកលើខ្លា | khla asry prei; prei pungophaek leu khla |
| You learn from studying, you have wealth from working | អ្នករៀនពីការសិក្សា អ្នកមានទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិពីការងារ | anak rien pi karseksaea anak mean tropyosambotte pi karngear/ Cheh mok pi rean, mean mok pi rok |
| Active hands, full bellies | ដៃសកម្ម ក្បាលពោះពេញ | dai sakamm kbalpoh penh |
| When your health is better, you offer only a chicken egg | នៅពេលដែលសុខភាពរបស់អ្នកកាន់តែប្រសើរ អ្នកផ្តល់តែស៊ុតមាន់ប៉ុណ្ណោះ។ | nowpel del sokhpheap robsa anak kante brasaer anak phtal te saoutmean bonnaoh |
| Children think of their mother as the Buddha who turns his back | កូនគិតថាម្ដាយជាព្រះពុទ្ធដែលបែរខ្នង | kaun kit tha mdeay chea preahpoutth del ber khnang |
Wrapping Up!
Did you enjoy learning the above quotes and sayings? Reading these give you a new experience of life and enlightens you with messages that are better said in an extraordinary manner. Creative words and phrases best tell things that cannot be expressed directly. So, now that you have all the Khmer quotes ready for different occasions, you will undoubtedly make the best out of your trip and have conversations that will be worth remembering. If you want to learn more about old Khmer sayings and other grammatical features of the Cambodian language, download the Ling app from App Store or Play Store and read all you want for free!
Learn Khmer With Ling
Ling app is one of the most accessible language learning apps. It is an app dedicated sincerely to providing quality language content in 60+ languages on various topics such as Khmer jokes, pronunciations, Introduction in Khmer, and more. All you need to do is access such articles and learn more with the help of the AI interactive chatbot that the app features. The chatbot lets you get into a conversation, improves your communication skills, and helps you easily retain your lessons. Moreover, you can opt for any language apart from Khmer without any hassle. So, what are you waiting for? Download Ling now and start learning Khmer today!
