cha mẹ sinh con, trời sinh tính

Vietnamese

Alternative forms

• (Northern Vietnam) cha mẹ sinh con, giời sinh tính
• (Southern Vietnam) cha mẹ sanh con, trời sanh tánh

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕaː˧˧ mɛ˧˨ʔ sïŋ˧˧ kɔn˧˧ t͡ɕəːj˨˩ sïŋ˧˧ tïŋ˧˦]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕaː˧˧ mɛ˨˩ʔ ʂɨn˧˧ kɔŋ˧˧ ʈəːj˦˩ ʂɨn˧˧ tɨn˦˧˥] ~ [t͡ɕaː˧˧ mɛ˨˩ʔ sɨn˧˧ kɔŋ˧˧ ʈəːj˦˩ sɨn˧˧ tɨn˦˧˥]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [caː˧˧ mɛ˨˩˨ ʂɨn˧˧ kɔŋ˧˧ ʈəːj˨˩ ʂɨn˧˧ tɨn˦˥] ~ [caː˧˧ mɛ˨˩˨ sɨn˧˧ kɔŋ˧˧ ʈəːj˨˩ sɨn˧˧ tɨn˦˥]

Proverb

cha mẹ sinh con, trời sinh tính

1. (literal) parents may be the ones who birth their children, but it's heaven who gives them their personality
2. (figurative) personality/character isn't biologically inherited from parents

   Thằng cu con em lì lắm, nói mấy cũng không nghe !
   Cha mẹ sinh con, trời sinh tính.

   My son is so stubborn, my words can't get through to him!
   I suppose you can't pass down obedience.