wat baten kaars en bril als de uil niet zien en wil
Dutch
Etymology
Literally, “what use are [the] candle and [the pair of] glasses if the owl doesn't want to see”.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈʋɑt ˌbaːtə(n) ˈkaːrs ɛn ˈbrɪl ɑls də ˈœy̯l nit ˈzin ɛn ˌʋɪl/
Proverb
wat baten kaars en bril als de uil niet zien en wil
- If somebody doesn't want to learn or cooperate, there's no use in helping him or her to do so
Usage notes
The second en, before wil, is the negation particle.