Tiếng Việt · Proverb Attested

nhứt bất tố, nhị bất hưu

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In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

First, don't start; second, don't stop — begin nothing, or finish everything.

Literally: one: don't do; two: don't cease

Examples

Đã nhúng tay thì làm tới, nhứt bất tố nhị bất hưu.Once your hand is in, see it through — don't start, or don't stop.

Editorial example (VI sweep batch 040, illustrative)

Sources & notes

Discovered via Tục ngữ, cổ ngữ, gia ngôn (Huỳnh Tịnh Của, 1897; public domain, via vi.wikisource); retrieved 2026-08-01. Source: source ↗ Attested in Tục ngữ, cổ ngữ, gia ngôn (Huỳnh Tịnh Của, 1897). Definition is an original editorial synthesis, not copied from the source.

Common questions

What does “nhứt bất tố, nhị bất hưu” mean?

First, don't start; second, don't stop — begin nothing, or finish everything. Literally: one: don't do; two: don't cease

Is “nhứt bất tố, nhị bất hưu” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

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