Ọkùnrin jẹ́jẹ́ a-bìwà-kunkun.
Character, appearance and the judgement of others
Ìpilẹ̀
Ọkùnrin jẹ́jẹ́ a-bìwà-kunkun.
Ìtumọ̀ ọ̀rọ̀-sí-ọ̀rọ̀
- Ọkùnrin jẹ́jẹ́ a-gentle man a-bìwà-kunkun one-with-hard-character.
Ìtumọ̀ Gẹ̀ẹ́sì
"An easygoing man's gentle mien hides a strong disposition."
Orísun náà kò dárúkọ ẹni tí ó túmọ̀ rẹ̀.
Ohun tí ó túmọ̀ sí
A mild manner is not evidence of a mild character.
Ìgbà tí a ń lò ó
Owomoyela: "The quiet type is often a tough customer" A warning against underestimating someone.
Àkíyèsí lórí ìtumọ̀
The epithet a-bìwà-kunkun, one-who-has-hard-character, is again an oríkì-style formation, and here it functions as a title rather than a description. Kunkun is hard in the sense of unyielding, used of dried clay and stubborn people alike.