- English translation
Marry your daughter to someone nearby, even for a dower worth only a rooster, so she will come when you call her.
- Literal wording
Marry her off for a rooster, and call to her: she will come to you.
- Meaning and lesson
This saying counsels parents choosing a husband for their daughter to favor a man living close by, accepting even a dower so small it equals the price of a rooster. Proximity outweighs the size of the groom's payment, and a nearby match is ranked above a rich suitor from far away.
The reasoning is emotional and practical. A daughter married at a distance leaves her parents lonely for her and unaware of how she is treated or what she needs. Keeping her within earshot means she can answer a summons, visit readily, and let her family see for themselves how her life is going.
- When it is used
Suited to family discussions about choosing between a modest suitor from the neighborhood and a wealthier one who would take the bride far away. It argues for the nearby match; the rooster stands for a small dower paid by the groom, not a sum provided by the bride's side.
- Register
- Colloquial
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: Marry your daughter to someone nearby, even for a dower worth only a rooster, so she will come when you call her.