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  What it means

  Literally: “The shirt is closer to the body.” The proverb means that one’s own interests and the welfare of those closest to you — family, friends — naturally come before obligations to strangers or wider society. It is used when someone prioritizes themselves or their inner circle over outsiders, sometimes as a justification, sometimes as a mild criticism. The logic is simple and physical: the shirt touches your skin, so it matters more to you than any outer garment.

  English equivalent

  Charity begins at home.

  Vocabulary

  • bliższa — closer (feminine comparative of bliski)
  • koszula — shirt
  • ciału — to the body (dative of ciało)

  Grammar note

  "Bliższa" is the feminine nominative comparative of "bliski" (close/near), agreeing with "koszula" (feminine). "Ciału" is the dative of "ciało" — Polish uses the dative to express the reference point of comparison (closer *to* the body). The copula "jest" is omitted, as is common in proverbs.

  Cultural context

  This is the shorter and more commonly used form of the proverb. It is widely understood across all registers and generations. The tone can be neutral or mildly critical depending on context — sometimes used to explain apparently selfish behavior, sometimes simply to acknowledge human nature.

  Beginner

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