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˦˧˥]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [caː˧˧ mɛ˨˩˨ ʂɨn˧˧ kɔŋ˧˧ ʈəːj˨˩ ʂɨn˧˧ tɨn˦˥] ~ [caː˧˧ mɛ˨˩˨ sɨn˧˧ kɔŋ˧˧ ʈəːj˨˩ sɨn˧˧ tɨn˦˥]
• Phonetic spelling: cha mẹ sinh con trời sinh tính

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.