nsupa
Noun
MEANING
A gourd or calabash, also the vessel made from its shell
Example of use.
1 Alebyala insupa MEANING: He sows gourds.
2 Insupa yabwalwa MEANING: A calabash of beer.
3 Lubumbe wa nsupa,MEANING: A calabash more or less broken which has to be handed carefully.
OTHER RELATED WORDS/USES/SOURCES/FUNCTIONS.
Different kinds of gourds (vessels): cisembeele, kamapaapa, kananmukosha, kasenga, lukunku, or mukunga, mamfwete, mputu, musashi.
FIGURATIVE SPEECH/IDIOMS/PHRASES/COLLOQUIAL USE/EXPRESSIONS.
Nil.
PROVERBS.
PROVERB 1
Tabulumina (ubwalwa) nsupa nkulu.
Literal translation.
Strong beer is not found in a big pot.
Meaning.
Never judge a book by the cover: never trust appearances. Also strength does not consist in size or number.
Bemba Meaning.
Icintu nangu iciwame shani, nga calibipa ninshi calilala nacibipa.
PROVERB 2
Ine ndi nsupa nshicepa: icikulu kukonkanya.
Literal translation
I’m the small calabash; I am not too small if you continue using me.
Meaning
Quality depends less on the size but on the usefulness.
Bemba meaning
Nangu nacepa ifi, incito yena iyikulu kuti nabomba. Ako usulile, ekopa noko.
PROVERB 3
Watule nsupa akapunda: ileenda ilasuma
Literal translation
You made a hole into the calabash. Now it is leaking.
Meaning
You played your friend a bad trick. He will be to you as useless as a leaking calabash.
Bemba meaning
Mune ifi wandufyanya, capwa. Nshakatale nkwafwa nakabili
PROVERB 4
Kapokela: talumbwa nsupa.
Literal translation
He who helped you for a few minutes has no right to the beer pot.
Meaning
One should not expect remuneration for a little help. Wages are in proportion to the work done
Bemba meaning
Umuntu aalipilwa ukulingana nencito abombele. Amalipilo yalingana nemilimo ibombelwe.
PROVERB 5
Tabulumina nsupa nkulu.
Literal translation
Strong beer is not always in a big pot.
Meaning
Never trust appearance. Or: Strength consists in neither bulk nor number.
Bemba meaning
Nine cipashi citalele…Citala munshonda, mwine butala…
PROVERB 6
Ubwalwa buletika, insupa yashala.
Literal translation
The beer is spilt but the calabash remains.
Meaning
Something unfortunate has happened, but it could have been worse
Bemba meaning
Abati imfwa ya mufyashi yalibipisha ukucila pamfwa ya mwana.