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  What it means

  “One needs heaven, but one also needs bread.” This version says that spiritual life matters, but practical needs on earth matter too and cannot be ignored.

  English equivalent

  Man does not live by bread alone, but he does need bread.

  Vocabulary

  • trzeba — one needs, it is necessary
  • niebo — heaven, sky
  • trza — one must (dialectal/archaic form of 'trzeba')
  • chleb — bread

  Grammar note

  The proverb uses both 'trzeba' and its dialectal variant 'trza' for rhythmic effect. Both govern the genitive: 'nieba', 'chleba'.

  Cultural context

  Using 'trza' beside 'trzeba' gives the proverb a folk and regional feel, showing how it was passed on by word of mouth.

  Intermediate

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