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  What it means

  Literally: “The shirt is closer to the body than the coat.” This longer form of “Bliższa koszula ciału” adds a kaftan, an outer garment, to make the comparison clear. What is physically and emotionally close takes priority over distant concerns. Self-interest and loyalty to family come before duties to outsiders or the wider 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" gives the comparison. "Niż" means "than" and is followed here by the nominative "kaftan." The shirt is the nominative subject, ciału is dative, and the verb "jest" is omitted.

  Cultural context

  "Kaftan" is an older word for an outer coat, so this form sounds slightly old-fashioned or literary. The shorter version is more common in everyday speech, but both are understood by modern Polish speakers.

  Beginner

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