Salawikain at Sawikain: Filipino Proverbs and Idioms for the CSE

The Verbal Ability part of the Civil Service Exam is given in English and Filipino, and Filipino items often include salawikain (proverbs) and sawikain (idioms). Even native speakers sometimes miss these, because the exam asks for the precise meaning, not a loose impression. This guide explains the difference between the two, gives the most common examples, and shows a simple method for answering.

Salawikain and sawikain: what is the difference?

• A salawikain is a short saying, usually a complete sentence, that gives advice or a lesson about life. Many rhyme. Example: Kapag may tiyaga, may nilaga.
• A sawikain (also called idyoma) is a phrase whose meaning is figurative, often describing a person or situation. Example: nagbabanat ng buto.

Neither should be read literally. A question about butas ang bulsa is not about a torn pocket.

Common salawikain and their lessons

Salawikain	Meaning
Kapag may tiyaga, may nilaga.	Perseverance brings reward.
Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa paroroonan.	Remember and value where you came from.
Daig ng maagap ang masipag.	Being prompt and prepared beats hard work alone.
Habang maikli ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot.	Live within your means.
Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga.	Children often take after their parents.
Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa.	Pray, but also work for what you want.
Ang sakit ng kalingkingan, damdam ng buong katawan.	The suffering of one is felt by all.
Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo.	Help that comes too late is useless.
Ubos-ubos biyaya, bukas nakatunganga.	Spend everything today and you will have nothing tomorrow.
Bato-bato sa langit, ang tamaan huwag magagalit.	Whoever is hit by a general remark should not take offence.

Common sawikain and their meanings

Sawikain	Meaning
nagbabanat ng buto	working hard to earn a living
anak-pawis	labourer, working class
bukas ang palad	generous
balat-sibuyas	easily hurt, sensitive
butas ang bulsa	out of money
nagbibilang ng poste	unemployed
kumukulo ang dugo	very angry
nagtataingang-kawali	pretending not to hear
ibaon sa hukay	to forget, to bury the past
alog na ang baba	old
malikot ang kamay	inclined to steal
kapit-tuko	clinging tightly, unwilling to let go
tulog-mantika	a very deep sleeper
itaga sa bato	a firm promise, to remember
ilaw ng tahanan	mother
haligi ng tahanan	father
kabiyak ng dibdib	spouse
makapal ang mukha	shameless

A method for answering

1. Do not translate word for word. Ask: what quality, situation or lesson is being described?
2. Picture the image. Kapit-tuko pictures a gecko clinging to a wall, so it means holding on tightly. Balat-sibuyas pictures thin onion skin, so it means easily hurt.
3. Eliminate literal options. Exam distractors often take the words literally, such as “a person who cooks” for nagtataingang-kawali.
4. Think of a real situation. When would someone say Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo? When help arrives too late. That situation points to the meaning.

Why these expressions matter beyond the exam

Salawikain carry values that also appear in public service. Daig ng maagap ang masipag echoes the duty to act promptly on requests. Habang maikli ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot reflects the norm of simple living in RA 6713. Ang sakit ng kalingkingan, damdam ng buong katawan captures the spirit of bayanihan and community.

How to study

• Learn five expressions a day using the tables above, and say each one in a sentence of your own.
• Group sawikain by topic: family (ilaw ng tahanan, haligi ng tahanan), money (butas ang bulsa, bukas ang palad), character (makapal ang mukha, balat-sibuyas).
• Test yourself with our Salawikain at Sawikain set and Talasalitaan at Sawikain, where each answer is explained in Filipino.