Рыбак рыбака видит издалека
With accent marks:
Рыба́к рыбака́ ви́дит издалека́.
Translation:
A fisherman sees a fisherman from afar.
Meaning:
Today we understand this proverb as "people with similar interests will always find a common language". In this sense, the closest English equivalent would be "birds of a feather flock together".
Although in the original version, the meaning of the proverb was much closer to the modern joke "a fisherman hates a fisherman from afar". Because in the full version, it sounded like this: "Рыбак рыбака видит издалека, потому и стороной обходит" (a fisherman sees a fisherman from afar, therefore he avoids him).
Other Russian proverbs
-
На Бога надейся, а сам не плошай
Put your trust in God, but don't make mistakes yourself
-
Каждый кулик своё болото хвалит
Each sandpiper praises its swamp.
-
Fear has big eyes.
-
Яблоко от яблони недалеко падает
The apple never falls far from the tree.
-
За двумя зайцами погонишься – ни одного не поймаешь
If you are chasing two hares at once, you won’t catch a single one.
-
When I eat I am deaf and mute.
-
Eggs don't teach the chicken.
-
Кто рано встаёт, тому бог подает
(lit.) Whoever gets up early, God gives him
Subscribe and receive notifications about new Russian proverbs in your inbox