ما يحكُّ لك إلا ظفرك

English translation: if you want a thing done, do it yourself

16:38 Mar 21, 2016

Arabic to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

Arabic term or phrase: ما يحكُّ لك إلا ظفرك

From a Yemeni literary text:

– تحتاجين الآن إلى مكتب سكرتيرات لإنجاز مهامك والردِّ على الرسائل والاتصالات، حبيبتي!؛ قلت لها.
– ما يحكُّ لك إلا ظفرك، في هذه البلاد، حبيبي!
– تحتاجين أيضاً إلى فرقة حرّاس!

Is this a common expression? Help with the meaning appreciated.

Arabic TR
United States

English translation:if you want a thing done, do it yourself

Explanation:
.

Selected response from:

Oz Hamdoun (X)
United States
Local time: 19:23

Grading comment

Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

5 +10

if you want a thing done, do it yourself

Oz Hamdoun (X)

5 +1

no one will help you as your own self do.

Awad Balaish

you are your own help

Biba Makouf

you are on your own

Hamza Ethelb

Answers

8 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +10

ما يحكُّ لك إلا ظفرك

if you want a thing done, do it yourself

Explanation:
.

Oz Hamdoun (X)
United States
Local time: 19:23
Native speaker of:

Arabic,

English
PRO pts in category: 44

Grading comment

Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Nada Elgadi: Yes, take care of your own business yourself

23 mins

-> Thanks ^^

agree

Morano El-Kholy: if you want a thing done well, do it yourself. http://www.a9walwahikam.com/2014/10/proverbs-english-arabe-s...

34 mins

-> شكرا أختي الفاضلة ^^

agree

Muhammad Atallah

51 mins

-> شكرا أستاذ محمد

agree

Awad Balaish: القيت نظرة على الرابط ، رعم ذلك لدى أقتراح أخر

1 hr

-> شكر أستاذ عوض ^^

agree

Spiridon: yes

2 hrs

-> Thanks ^^

agree

Brittany Jones: If you want something done right, do it yourself.

2 hrs

-> Thanks Brittany ^^

agree

Tim Friese: ^ Agreed with Brittany's version

2 hrs

-> Thanks Tim, I agree too!

agree

sktrans

3 hrs

-> Sktrans!

agree

Liliane Hatem

13 hrs

-> Chokran Liliane^^

agree

Linda Al-Bairmani

21 hrs

-> شكرا ليندا ^^

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

no one will help you as your own self do.

Explanation:
0000000000000000000

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2016-03-21 18:48:31 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

no one can help you as your own self do
can is the right word

Awad Balaish
Saudi Arabia
Local time: 02:23
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

Arabic
PRO pts in category: 65

14 hrs confidence:

you are your own help

Explanation:
although I do agree with the previous proposed traanslations

Biba Makouf
Algeria
Local time: 00:23
Native speaker of:

Arabic

1264 days confidence:

you are on your own

Explanation:
you want to get your things done, do them yourself

Hamza Ethelb
Libya
Local time: 01:23
Native speaker of:

Arabic

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ما يحكُّ لك إلا ظفرك

English translation: if you want a thing done, do it yourself

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ما يحكُّ لك إلا ظفرك

English translation: if you want a thing done, do it yourself

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