B1 Idiom Neutral 3 min de lectura

सब्र का फल मीठा होता है

Fruit of patience is sweet

Literalmente: Patience (sabr) of (ka) fruit (phal) sweet (meetha) happens (hota hai)

Use this to encourage someone (or yourself) when a long wait promises a great reward.

En 15 segundos

  • Patience leads to a better and sweeter outcome eventually.
  • Use it to calm someone who is feeling restless or anxious.
  • A blend of Persian and Hindi reflecting a calm worldview.

Significado

This phrase is a gentle reminder that being patient leads to better results. It suggests that the reward at the end of a long wait is much more satisfying than something rushed.

Ejemplos clave

3 de 6
1

Encouraging a friend waiting for exam results

Chinta mat karo, sabr ka fal meetha hota hai.

Don't worry, the fruit of patience is sweet.

🤝
2

Waiting for a slow but famous street food order

Bhaiya, jaldi kijiye! Waise pata hai, sabr ka fal meetha hota hai.

Brother, hurry up! Although I know the fruit of patience is sweet.

😄
3

A boss talking to an employee about a promotion

Aap mehnat karte rahiye, sabr ka fal meetha hota hai.

Keep working hard, the fruit of patience is sweet.

💼
🌍

Contexto cultural

The word 'sabr' comes from Arabic and is a core virtue in many Eastern philosophies, emphasizing spiritual endurance. In India, it became a household proverb used across all religions and regions to encourage resilience. It gained massive popularity through 20th-century Hindi cinema and literature as a moral teaching.

💡

The 'Sabr' Pronunciation

The 'z' sound in 'Sabr' is subtle. Try to keep the 'r' short and crisp at the end. It should rhyme slightly with the English word 'rubber' but without the 'u' sound.

⚠️

Don't use it for laziness

People might roll their eyes if you use this to justify being late or lazy. It's for waiting for things you *can't* control, not things you *should* be doing.

En 15 segundos

  • Patience leads to a better and sweeter outcome eventually.
  • Use it to calm someone who is feeling restless or anxious.
  • A blend of Persian and Hindi reflecting a calm worldview.

What It Means

Think of this as the ultimate comfort phrase. It tells you that waiting isn't just a delay. It is an investment. In Hindi, sabr means patience or endurance. When you work hard or wait long, the outcome feels better. It is like waiting for a mango to ripen. If you pick it early, it is sour. If you wait, it is honey-sweet.

How To Use It

You use this as a standalone sentence or a concluding remark. It works perfectly when someone is getting restless. You can say it to a friend waiting for a job offer. You can say it to yourself while stuck in traffic. It acts as a verbal pat on the back. It shifts the focus from the frustration of waiting to the joy of the reward.

When To Use It

Use it when the delay is outside of someone's control. It is great for long-term goals like learning Hindi. Use it when a friend is complaining about a slow delivery. It fits perfectly in emotional moments where hope is needed. Even in professional settings, it shows you are calm and composed. It is the go-to line for elders giving advice to younger people.

When NOT To Use It

Do not use this if someone is facing an emergency. If a pipe is leaking, don't tell them sabr ka fal meetha hota hai. They will not find the water sweet! Avoid it when quick action is actually required. It can sound dismissive if used for serious, time-sensitive problems. Also, don't use it if you are the one causing the delay. That just feels like a bad excuse!

Cultural Background

This phrase has deep roots in South Asian culture. It blends Persian-origin words like sabr with pure Hindi. It reflects a worldview that values persistence over instant gratification. In India, life can be chaotic and slow at times. This idiom is the cultural glue that helps people stay calm. It is often heard in Bollywood movies during dramatic turning points. It is more than a phrase; it is a philosophy of life.

Common Variations

Sometimes people just say sabr rakho which means 'have patience'. You might also hear intezar ka phal meetha hota hai. This swaps 'patience' for 'waiting'. Both mean essentially the same thing. In very poetic settings, people might use more complex Urdu couplets. But for daily life, this classic version is the undisputed king. It is simple, rhythmic, and everyone understands it instantly.

Notas de uso

The phrase is very safe and versatile. It sits in the 'neutral' register, making it appropriate for both a tea-stall conversation and a semi-formal office meeting. Just ensure you aren't using it to dismiss someone's genuine urgent needs.

💡

The 'Sabr' Pronunciation

The 'z' sound in 'Sabr' is subtle. Try to keep the 'r' short and crisp at the end. It should rhyme slightly with the English word 'rubber' but without the 'u' sound.

⚠️

Don't use it for laziness

People might roll their eyes if you use this to justify being late or lazy. It's for waiting for things you *can't* control, not things you *should* be doing.

💬

The Mango Connection

In India, this phrase is often mentally linked to the mango season. Waiting all year for the summer heat to ripen the mangoes is the ultimate cultural example of this idiom.

Ejemplos

6
#1 Encouraging a friend waiting for exam results
🤝

Chinta mat karo, sabr ka fal meetha hota hai.

Don't worry, the fruit of patience is sweet.

Classic use to provide emotional support during a stressful wait.

#2 Waiting for a slow but famous street food order
😄

Bhaiya, jaldi kijiye! Waise pata hai, sabr ka fal meetha hota hai.

Brother, hurry up! Although I know the fruit of patience is sweet.

A lighthearted way to acknowledge the wait while nudging the cook.

#3 A boss talking to an employee about a promotion
💼

Aap mehnat karte rahiye, sabr ka fal meetha hota hai.

Keep working hard, the fruit of patience is sweet.

Used to encourage long-term commitment in a professional setting.

#4 Texting a sibling who is annoyed by a long queue
😊

Line lambi hai par sabr ka fal meetha hota hai!

The line is long but the fruit of patience is sweet!

Short and effective for casual digital venting.

#5 Comforting someone after a long period of struggle
💭

Aakhirkaar tumhe naukri mil gayi, sabr ka fal meetha hota hai.

Finally you got the job, the fruit of patience is sweet.

Validating that the long struggle was worth it.

#6 Talking about a slow-cooked traditional dish
🤝

Yeh khana banne mein waqt lagega, par sabr ka fal meetha hota hai.

This food will take time to cook, but the fruit of patience is sweet.

Literal and metaphorical use combined.

Ponte a prueba

Choose the correct word to complete the idiom.

Sabr ka ___ meetha hota hai.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Phal

The word 'phal' means fruit, which is the standard metaphor used in this idiom.

When would you most likely say this phrase?

Someone is ___ and you want to calm them down.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Impatient

The phrase is specifically designed to address impatience and encourage waiting.

🎉 Puntuación: /2

Ayudas visuales

Formality Spectrum

Informal

Used with friends and siblings.

Sabr kar yaar, phal meetha hoga!

Neutral

Standard daily use with anyone.

Sabr ka fal meetha hota hai.

Formal

Used in speeches or literature.

Dhairyavand vyakti ke liye sabr ka fal sadaiv meetha hota hai.

Where to use 'Sabr ka fal meetha hota hai'

Patience is Sweet
💼

Career Growth

Waiting for a promotion

🍲

Cooking

Waiting for slow-cooked Biryani

❤️

Relationships

Waiting for the right partner

📚

Learning

Mastering a new language

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

While 'sabr' is a significant concept in Islam, the phrase itself is secular and used by everyone in India regardless of faith.

Yes, but keep it for less urgent matters. For example, 'We are waiting for the market to turn, and as they say, sabr ka fal meetha hota hai'.

There isn't a direct opposite idiom, but people might say jaldi ka kaam shaitaan ka hota hai (Haste is the devil's work).

It is better to let elders say it to you. If you say it to an elder, it might sound like you are lecturing them unless the mood is very light.

In this context, yes, but it also metaphorically means 'result' or 'consequence' in Hindi.

Yes, people often just say sabr ka phal... and leave the rest implied with a smile.

Yes, the idiom is fixed. You wouldn't say the fruit is 'bada' (big) or 'acha' (good); it is always 'meetha' (sweet).

You can simply say sabr rakho or dheeraj rakho.

Extremely! It is a classic trope for a hero or mother figure to say this during the 'struggle' phase of a movie.

Sabr is Urdu-origin and feels a bit more poetic, while dheeraj is Sanskrit-origin. Both are used interchangeably in this context.

Frases relacionadas

धीरज का फल मीठा होता है

The fruit of patience is sweet (Sanskrit-origin version)

जल्दी का काम शैतान का

Haste is the devil's work

अंत भला तो सब भला

All's well that ends well

सब्र रखना

To have patience

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