
ProverbPerseverance
Russian origin
Пришла беда — отворяй ворота (Prishla beda — otvoryay vorota)
Meaning: Misfortunes never come alone; once trouble starts, more follows.
Literally: Trouble has come, so open the gates
Example: “Сначала сломалась машина, потом заболел ребёнок. Пришла беда — отворяй ворота.” — First the car broke down, then the child got sick: when it rains, it pours.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, and 5 more languages
English: Misfortunes never come alone
French: Un malheur ne vient jamais seul (literally: Misfortunes never come single)
Spanish: Las desgracias nunca vienen solas (literally: Misfortunes never come alone)
Japanese: 一難去ってまた一難 (Ichinan satte mata ichinan) (literally: One trouble leaves, and then another trouble)
German: Ein Unglück kommt selten allein (literally: A misfortune seldom comes alone)
Italian: Le disgrazie non vengono mai sole (literally: Misfortunes never come alone)
Portuguese: Uma desgraça nunca vem só (literally: A misfortune never comes alone)
Dutch: Een ongeluk komt zelden alleen (literally: A misfortune seldom comes alone)
Polish: Nieszczęścia chodzą parami (literally: Misfortunes come in pairs)
Chinese: 祸不单行 (Huò bù dān xíng) (literally: Disasters never travel alone)
Origin: Open the gates: once one misfortune has come in, others will follow it through.
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