About the proverb "Midday market, wilted melons"

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - The Vietnamese Proverb Dictionary (Nguyen Duc Duong - Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House - 2010) explains: "The noon market, the melons wilt: The closer to noon the market is, the more likely the melons will wilt (so don't be in a hurry to act high and mighty or you'll easily lose your goods). It is often used to remind people not to be in a hurry to act high and mighty when they are young or they'll easily miss out on their chance."

I went home to urge my mother and father,

The noon market has wilted melons, so sad.

(Folk song)

The Vietnamese Proverb Dictionary (Nguyen Duc Duong - Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House - 2010) explains: "The noon market, the melons wilt: The closer to noon the market is, the more likely the melons will wilt (so don't be in a hurry to act high and mighty or you'll easily lose your goods). It is often used to remind people not to be in a hurry to act high and mighty when they are young or they'll easily miss out on their chance."

There are two things to discuss in this sentence.

Literally, it is not true that "the closer to noon the market is, the more likely the melons will wilt", but here the proverb has two parts:

- "Noon market" means the market is closed, it's late, there are no more buyers.

In the past, morning markets often opened very early and by mid-morning, the market had already begun to close. Both sellers and buyers calculated to finish their business early so they could return home, sometimes the road was very far. Only when they missed the market or the goods were slow to sell, would buyers and sellers meet at the noon market. That is why there is a folk saying, “A man who goes to the noon market meets a woman who is unsold”, meaning both sides are lucky, on time; the latecomer meets the unsold (synonymous with a woman who has missed out on meeting a widower; A sleepy woman meets a bamboo mat/ Just when her husband has left her, she meets a man standing in the middle of the road).

- “Withered melon”, the “melon” here is not watermelon or cucumber, but pickled cabbage (pickled cabbage). This type of pickled cabbage wilts very easily and once it wilts, it shrivels up, looks very little and is no longer fresh and attractive.

Figuratively, “noon market” is compared to a late, deserted scene, with few people asking and caring. “Withered melon” is compared to a scene of being past the prime of life, with faded beauty. “Noon market, withered melon” is no different from a girl’s scene of being deserted and late in love. Therefore, there is a folk saying “You go home and urge your mother and father, Noon market, withered melon, lest you be sad!” (Folk song), and the main idea of this sentence is not “reminding people not to be too hasty when they are young and easily miss out on their charm” as the Vietnamese Proverb Dictionary explains.

Man Nong (CTV)

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ve-cau-tuc-ngu-nbsp-cho-trua-dua-heo-252786.htm