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Proverbs

INDONESIAN PROVERB

Where is the smoke, there is a fire.
• "Ada asap ada api."
o Meaning: There's a cause for everything.

Where is the sugar, there are ants
• "Ada gula ada semut."
o Meaning: People tend to be attracted to what most benefits them

There is a shrimp behind the stone
• "Ada udang di balik batu."
o Meaning: There is a hidden motive behind an act

Shallow water has ripples
• "Air beriak tanda tak dalam."
o Meaning: Overly boisterous/ loud-mouthed people often don't know much. To be "all talk".

Water dripping from the roof will eventually go to the reservoir
• "Air cucuran jatuhnya ke pelimbahan juga."
o Meaning similar to "Like father like son" or "An apple never falls far from the tree"

Water minced will not separate.
• "Air dicincang tak putus."
o Meaning: Like the seaweed that clings together after each passing boat separates them, so too a family will come together with the passing of each crisis.
o See also: "Biduk lalu kiambang bertaut."

Milk is repaid with poison
• "Air susu dibalas dengan air tuba."
o Meaning: A good deed that is repaid by a bad deed

Still water runs deep
• "Air tenang menghanyutkan."
o Meaning: Never underestimate a quiet person, for he may have qualities that belie his quiet nature.

Never think that still water doesn't have crocodiles
• "Air tenang jangan disangka tiada buaya"
o Meaning: Never take for granted a peaceful outlook since danger may lurk beneath.

A child in the lap is let go, a monkey from the forest is nursed instead.
• "Anak dipangku dilepaskan, beruk di rimba disusukan."
o Meaning: Changing priorities.

Practise makes perpect
• "Alah bisa karena biasa."
o Meaning: If we practice enough, we can do really well.

The dogs are barking , the caravan moves on
• "Anjing menggonggong, kafilah tetap berlalu."
o Meaning: Useless protest, criticism or sarcasm.


From Wikiquote : http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Indonesian_proverbs"

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