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  What it means

  Literally: “The shirt is closer to the body than the coat.” This is the longer, more explicit form of the proverb “Bliższa koszula ciału.” It adds the comparison with a kaftan — an outer garment — to make the point clearer: what is closest to you physically (and emotionally) takes priority over more distant concerns. Self-interest and loyalty to family come before obligations to outsiders or the broader community.

  English equivalent

  Charity begins at home.

  Vocabulary

  • bliższa — closer (feminine comparative of bliski)
  • koszula — shirt
  • ciału — to the body (dative of ciało)
  • niż — than
  • kaftan — kaftan, outer coat or jacket

  Grammar note

  "Niż kaftan" introduces the explicit comparison — "niż" (than) is followed by the nominative "kaftan." This makes the comparative structure fully visible: shirt [nominative subject] is closer [comparative predicate] to the body [dative] than a coat [nominative comparison term]. The verb "jest" is again omitted.

  Cultural context

  "Kaftan" is an older word for a type of outer coat, giving this form a slightly archaic or literary feel. The shorter version is more common in everyday speech, while this extended form tends to appear in writing or formal contexts. Both are fully understood by modern Polish speakers.

  Beginner

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