Lesson 3 of 618 min · 200 XP
Indonesian Idioms & Proverbs
Peribahasa & Idiom Indonesia
Master colorful expressions that reveal Indonesian culture and wisdom.
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Introduction
Indonesian has a rich tradition of peribahasa (proverbs) and idioms. Using them shows true cultural understanding and language mastery!
📝Common Indonesian Idioms
Buah tangan/boo-ah tah-ngahn/
Souvenir / Gift (lit: fruit of the hand)
Dia membawa buah tangan dari Bali. — He brought souvenirs from Bali.
Naik daun/nah-ik dah-oon/
Rising star / Becoming popular (lit: rising leaf)
Penyanyi itu sedang naik daun. — That singer is rising to fame.
Panjang tangan/pahn-jang tah-ngahn/
Thief / Thieving (lit: long hands)
Hati-hati, dia panjang tangan. — Be careful, he tends to steal.
Besar kepala/beh-sar keh-pah-lah/
Arrogant / Conceited (lit: big head)
Jangan besar kepala karena sedikit sukses. — Don't be arrogant because of a little success.
Cuci tangan/choo-chee tah-ngahn/
To wash one's hands of / Avoid responsibility (lit: wash hands)
Dia cuci tangan dari masalah ini. — He washed his hands of this problem.
Meja hijau/meh-jah hee-jow/
Court of law (lit: green table)
Kasus itu dibawa ke meja hijau. — That case was taken to court.
📝Famous Peribahasa (Proverbs)
Bagai air di daun talas/bah-gai ah-ir dee dah-oon tah-lahs/
Like water on taro leaf (things don't stick)
Nasihatnya seperti air di daun talas. — His advice is like water off a duck's back.
Tak ada gading yang tak retak/tak ah-dah gah-ding yahng tak reh-tak/
No ivory without a crack (Nobody is perfect)
Tak ada gading yang tak retak — kita semua punya kekurangan. — Nobody is perfect — we all have our flaws.
Seperti katak di bawah tempurung/seh-per-tee kah-tak dee bah-wah tem-poo-roong/
Like a frog under a coconut shell (narrow-minded / limited view)
Jangan seperti katak di bawah tempurung. — Don't be narrow-minded (ignorant of the wider world).
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