Verb transitive

MEANING 1

 

To treat someonekindly, or speak kindly to someone

 

Example of Use

Twati tupumwe ne filwani nomba fyatutemba MEANING We were nearlybeaten by thugs but they decided to let us go

 

Yakutembafye ulya; nafulwa saana MEANING Speak nicely to him; he is very angry.

 

SYNONYM/SIMILAR WORD/COMPARE/CONTRAST

Nakilila, temuna

 

MEANING 2

Verbintransitive

To bekind, sweet tempered, meek

 

SYNONYM/SIMILAR WORD/COMPARE/CONTRAST

 Teekanya, fuuka

 

MEANING 3

To flow slowly (of river)

 

MEANING 4

To be setting

 

Example of use

Cilyaakasuba katemba MEANING when thesun is setting

Twaiminelilya akasuba katemba, MEANING westarted off when the sun was setting

 

SYNONYM/SIMILARWORD/COMPARE/CONTRAST

Fuuka

 

MEANING 5

Town Bemba.To gang up against one person.

Exampleof Use

Fipondo fitatu fyacimutemba MEANING therewere three thugs who ganged up against him.

 

SYNONYM/SIMILARWORD/COMPARE/CONTRAST

Town Bemba –tengamina

 

OTHER RELATED WORDS/USES/SOURCES/FUNCTIONS

Derivate- mutembo

Passive: tembwa

Alatembwa ku mfumu, MEANING he is treated kindly by the chief

Applicative: tembela

FIGURATIVESPEECH/IDOMS/PHRASES/COLLO QUIAL USE/ EXPRESSION

 

PROVERBS

Tembenshiku, nshiku nasho shikutembe

 

Literaltranslation

Count your days well and the dayswill also count you well

 

Meaning

Behave well and life will treat youwell and bring you happiness.

 

Bembameaning

1.Icaalo nga wacilanga ubupete, naco kuti cakunakila

 

 

SIMILARPROVERBS

1.Temba fulwe, ngo mukake ukulu

2.Kunaka apapilwe mu mpapa ya nkalamo

3.Ukupoka cinsenda ku nkoko kunakilila

4.Konke mfumu umushi tauliwa

5.Butembele ngo bulile

6.Lembalemba aipeye nkalamo mukunakilila

7.Ukufutula umukulu kunakilila

 

 

2. Butembele, ngo buliile (cf.ubufumu or busano).

Literaltranslation

Be humble so that you caneat something

Meaning

Treatthe chief well if you want to get something out of him.

Bembameaning

Ubukulupabantu kano ube nomutembo, imilele isuma, lyena kuti bakutemwa, walamonanokusansamuka pabukulu bobe.

 

Similar proverb

Ukupoka icinsenda ku nkoko, kunakilila

3.Mupandi ntemba, nainenkakutemba.

Literaltranslation

Mupanditreat me kindly and I will treat you kindly

Meaning

Someone who helps you,deserves help from you in future

Bembameaning

Uulekubombelaifisuma, naiwe ukamubombela ifisuma. 'Butaata kuutaatana'.