balintataw
balintatáw with stress marks
pupil of the eye
Usage Note
Balintataw is the traditional Tagalog term for the pupil of the eye and is also used in literary and poetic language to mean something or someone held dearest — as in the phrase 'ikaw ang balintataw ng aking mata' (you are the apple of my eye). It appears frequently in classical literature and love songs.
Examples
" Maitim ang balintataw ng mata niya. "
Natural Translation
The pupil of her eye is dark.
Literal Translation
Dark the pupil of eye her.
" Malaki ang balintataw ng kanyang mata. "
Natural Translation
The pupil of his/her eye is large.
Literal Translation
Big the pupil of his/her eye.
" Sa tula ng makata, tinawag niyang balintataw ng kanyang mata ang minamahal na hindi na niya makakapiling muli. "
Natural Translation
In the poet's verse, he called the beloved he could no longer be with the apple of his eye.
Literal Translation
In poem of poet, called he pupil of his eye the beloved that not anymore he can-be-with again.
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