INDONESIAN PROVERBS
Tamarind in the mountain, salt in the sea meet in the one pot.
Meaning: Even things that are far apart can meet as one. Usually used to settle differences between two rivalries or to express a relationship from two very different entities. Or, in the context of match-making, even two persons of different backgrounds / from distant places can meet and eventually get married, etc.
"Asam di gunung, garam di laut bertemu dalam satu belanga."
Like water on a taro leaf.
Meaning: Two different things/people that do not get along.
Sometimes used for a person who does not have a firm conviction.
“Bagai air di daun talas."
Talas leaves have a thin waxy layer and therefore are quite waterproof.
Like bamboo and the river bank
Meaning: Each is dependent of the other for mutual survival.
See also: "Bagai kuku dengan isi".
“ Bagai aur dengan tebing.“
Like a kerakap leaf on a rock, unwilling to live, unwilling to die.
Kerakap is the wide leaf of sirih tree and is extraordinarily resilient and long lasting. However, as with other leaves, once plucked from the tree, it is bound to die.
"Bagai kerakap di atas batu, hidup segan mati tak mau."
Meaning: Fighting a losing battle.
Like a fingernail and the flesh beneath.
Meaning: Each is dependent on the other for mutual survival.
"Bagai kuku dengan isi."
See also: "Bagai aur dengan tebing".
As if eating Simalakama fruit.
The story goes that if one is presented with the fruit of Simalakama and eats it, his father would die, if not, mother would die instead.
Meaning: In a no-win situation where all the possible solutions have a terrible or undesirable outcome.
"Bagai makan buah simalakama."
Like obtaining a fallen durian.
Meaning: When a durian tree's fruit is ripe, many of the durians will fall to the ground. This proverb refers to someone who has suddenly gained much wealth/ good fortune.
"Bagai mendapat durian runtuh."
Like carrying a cupful of oil.
A person who is extremely cautious in doing something. Often used to describe one's love for a child.
"Bagai menatang minyak yang penuh."
Like an owl craving for the moon.
Meaning: To wish for something impossible.
"Bagai pungguk merindukan bulan."
Like an egg on the tip of a horn.
Meaning: In a very difficult/ tricky situation. The egg will soon fall and break.
"Bagai telur diujung tanduk."
Like water and oil.
Meaning: Opposite/ clash; do not go well together.
"Bagaikan air dengan minyak."
Paddle to the mouth of the river, swim down to the edge. Go through pain or hardship first, then experience fun and happiness.
Often, both couplet are cited. Sometimes just the first couplet. Rafting up the stream signifies arduous effort, swimming (downhill) is the fun and easy part.
Meaning: No pain, no gain.
"Berakit-rakit ke hulu, berenang-renang ke tepian. Bersakit-sakit dahulu, bersenang-senang kemudian."
Heavy, we carry together, light, we carry together.
Meaning: Collaboration, sharing of burden irrespective of the weight (through thick and thin).
"Berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing."
Playing with water, wet. Playing with fire, burned.
Meaning: Every action has its consequences.
"Bermain air basah, bermain api hangus."
United we stand, divided we fall
"Bersatu kita teguh, bercerai kita runtuh."
The peg is greater than the stake
In camping, pegs for the camp should be smaller than the stakes. It would be a waste if we make the pegs greater than the stakes.
Meaning: Expense is bigger than income.
"Besar pasak dari pada tiang."
Hull gets past seaweed gets together again.
Meaning: Like the seaweed that clings to each other after each passing boat separates them, so too a family will come together with the passing of each crisis.
See also: "Air dicincang tak putus"
"Biduk lalu kiambang bertaut."
Ugly face, the mirror is split.
Meaning: Blaming the wrong reason/cause or creating a scapegoat.
"Buruk muka cermin dibelah."
Where there is a will, there is a way
"Dimana ada kemauan, di situ ada jalan."
Wherever ground is stood on, the sky is hold high
Meaning: Wherever we live, we must observe the local custom.
"Dimana bumi dipijak, disitu langit dijunjung."
Where there are no eagles, I am the one, said the grasshopper.
Here's a rhyming play in the proverb. The first and second "lang" are Eagle = Elang, which rhymes with Grasshopper = Belalang.
Meaning: Where's no top dogs, underdogs will be seen as one.
"Dimana tak da lang, aku lah lang, kata belalang."
Sitting the same low, standing the same height
Meaning: Equality, emancipation
"Duduk sama rendah, tegak sama tinggi."
.
The world isn't as wide as kelor leaves.
Meaning: The opposite of It's A Small World.
Usually to comfort a broken heart, suggesting "Hey, there are still plenty of girls/guys out there."
"Dunia tak selebar daun kelor."
Elephants wage war against elephants, deers die in the midst
Meaning: When prominent persons fights, commoners would suffer.
"Gajah bertarung lawan gajah, pelanduk mati di tengah-tengah."
An elephant on the eyelid can't be seen, but an ant on the other side of the sea can.
Meaning: An egoistic person can't realize his/her own mistakes, but can always find mistakes of others
"Gajah di pelupuk mata tak tampak, semut diseberang lautan tampak."
An elephant dies leaves its tusk, a tiger dies leaves its stripes, a person dies leaves his/her name.
Meaning: Someone will be remembered by his/her accolades.
"Gajah mati meninggalkan gadingnya, macan mati meninggalkan belangnya, manusia mati meninggalkan namanya."
One fallen, thousands blossoming.
Meaning: Suggesting optimistic nature on facing struggle, the same as: "there still plenty of fish in the sea".
"Gugur satu, tumbuh seribu."
We only call our friends if we need help, and we don't help our friends in need (egoistic act)
"Habis manis sepah dibuang."
Literally: Habis = Finished, Manis = Sweet, Sepah = Tasteless, Dibuang = Thrown away.
Illustrated when someone is enjoying sugar canes: After the sweet part is finished and becomes tasteless, the cane is thrown away.
Translation: An elephant is still an elephant when flayed; a flea is still a flea if you proke at it.
Meaning: You get what you get - if you get a lot of something, then you have a lot, if you get a small amount of something, you only have a small amount.
"Hati gajah sama dilapah, hati tungau sama dicecah"
Translation: The will of the heart is to hug the mountain, but the arm is not long enough.
Meaning: This proverb is often used to illustrate a person who does not have enough resources to do/accomplish his goal/wish.
"Ingin hati memeluk gunung, apa daya tangan tak sampai."
Be a bee, lived once in a flowery garden, not a fly, lived once in heaps of garbage.
Meaning: Try to be well and useful life.
"Jadilah kumbang, hidup sekali di taman bunga, jangan jadi lalat, hidup sekali di bukit sampah."
Be a smart man, like drooping paddy.
Paddy droops more as it matures since its kernel is getting heavier.
Meaning: To be a smart man you need to be humble. Or: A smart man is usually humble. See Tong kosong nyaring bunyinya.
"Jadilah orang pandai bagai padi yang merunduk."
Translation: A nut forgets its shell
This proverb is often used to illustrate a person who forgets where he/she come from (e.g. hometown, family, heritage, etc.)
"Kacang lupa kulitnya."
Translation: Loser becomes ashes, winner becomes (burnt) coal.
This proverb is often used to illustrate a lose/lose situation, where both winner and loser gain nothing from the conflict.
"Kalah jadi abu, menang jadi arang."
If you don't want to get flooded, don't build a house next to the sea.
"Kalau tak ingin terlimbur pasang, jangan berumah di tepi laut."
If there were no lion in the jungle, a blind monkey can be king.
"Kalo di hutan tak ada singa, beruk rabun bisa menjadi raja."
Because of the mouth the body is destroyed.
"Karena mulut badan binasa."
One drop of indigo stains the whole cauldron of milk.
The word "indigo" here means something like ink.
Meaning: one ill behaviour may cause others to forget the kindness we've done.
"Karena nila setitik, rusak susu sebelanga."
The love from a child is as long as a stick, the love from a mother is as long as a road
Meaning: A mother's love is neverending
"Kasih anak sepanjang galah, kasih ibu sepanjang jalan."
Together we climb the mountain, together we climb down the hill
Meaning: Together in good and bad times
Ke gunung sama mendaki, ke lurah sama menurun."
Out from the tiger's mouth, into the crocodile's mouth.
Meaning: To describe a person who has just gotten out from a precarious situation just to get into another precarious situation.
"Keluar mulut harimau, masuk mulut buaya."
The tongue indeed has no bone.
Meaning: To describe, with disgust, a person who has no principle, who kept changing what he/she says, who is a big time liar.
Memang lidah tidak bertulang."
To describe a no win situation
Same as: Bagai makan buah simalakama.
See: Kalah jadi abu, menang jadi arang
"Menang jadi arang, kalah jadi abu."
Expecting something bigger, and we let go what we already have.
Example: A gamble who gamble away his paycheck expecting to win big but ends up with nothing.
"Mengharap burung terbang tinggi, punai di tangan dilepaskan."
Eager for the rain to fall, water already stored is thrown away.
Same as: Mengharap burung terbang tinggi, punai di tangan dilepaskan
"Mengharapkan hujan turun, air di tempayan ditumpahkan."
To punch a comrade, to cut inside a fold.
Meaning: To describe a traitor (or traitorous acts)
"Menuhuk kawan seiring menggunting dalam lipatan."
Freedom or death.
Meaning: We have to fight for our freedom as long as it takes, and we shall not mind the death following our struggle for independence.
That is a very common motto in Indonesian wars against the Dutch colonialisation, usually written "Merdeka ataoe mati", because at that time, 'u' was still written as 'oe', just like the current 'y' was 'j', the 'j' was 'dj', and the 'c' was 'tj'.
"Merdeka atau mati."
The rice has become porridge
Meaning: Describe, usually with regret, something that has already happenned and is irreversible.
"Nasi telah menjadi bubur."
The heat of the sun is felt by everybody, the heat in the heart can only be felt by oneself.
Meaning: There is no point of nurturing a contempt/hate/anger inside us. Just let it go!
"Panas mentari di kepala orang banyak, panas hati dirasa sendiri."
Whatever broken will grow back, whatever lost will be replaced.
Meaning: There will be a replacement for everything.
Usually is used to describe the undying spirit of a movement (for instance, during the struggle for independence.)
Similar to: Mati satu tumbuh seribu.
"Patah tumbuh hilang berganti."
Thinking first is an asset, regret later is useless.
Meaning: Think everything carefully before committing yourself because there is no point for regretting it later.
"Pikir dahulu pendapatan, sesal kemudian tidak berguna."
Thought is the light of the heart
Meaning: Think!
"Pikir itu pelita hati."
Meaning: To get something one silently expects/wishes for.
"Pucuk dicinta ulam tiba."
Meaning: diligence is the beginning of brilliance
"Rajin pangkal pandai."
The neighbour's lawn/grass is always greener.
Meaning: we are never satisfied with our posessions.
"Rumput tetangga selalu lebih hijau."
"Sambil menyelam minum air."
Drink water while diving
Meaning: Do two things at one go
Have an umbrella ready before the rain
Meaning: Always be prepared
"Sedia payung sebelum hujan."
No matter how bad a leader is he/she will have followers, no matter how good a leader is he/she will have enemies.
Meaning: There is always someone who loves you, and someone who hates you.
"Sejelek-jelek pemimpin pasti punya anak buah, sebaik-baik pemimpin pasti punya musuh."
Once a person cheats in an exam, forever people will distrust him.
Meaning: Once you lost the trust of someone, it is almost impossible to gain it back.
"Sekali lancung ke ujian, seumur hidup orang tak percaya."
One stroke at the paddle, two and three islands have passed.
Meaning: Do multiple tasks at one go.
"Sekali merengkuh dayung, dua tiga pulau terlampaui."
Once there is a flood, the beach will change. Meaning: A change of event such as the death of a leader, will lead to other changes.Same as: Sambil menyelam minum air. "Sekali bah, sekali pantai berubah"
No matter how good a squirrel can jump, it will fall eventually.
Meaning: No matter how smart a person is, eventually he/she will make a mistake.
"Sepandai-pandai tupai meloncat, akhirnya jatuh juga."
Like a frog trapped inside a coconut shell
Meaning: No experience, narrow minded (but acts as if he knows everything)
"Seperti katak dalam tempurung."
The story says of a frog that wants to be as big as a cow by inflating itself. In the end, its body bursts open and the frog dies.
Meaning: Someone who expect to become someone that beyond him.
Meaning: Someone who wish/expect something impossible.
Similar with: Bagai pungguk merindukan bulan
"Seperti katak hendak jadi lembu."
Like a halved pinang.
Pinang is a tree with very straight up trunk, similar to the palm tree.
Meaning: Like a twin, very similar (in appearance)
Humorous: "Seperti pinang dibelah dua dengan kapak". The literal meaning is like pinang halved with an axe. Idiomatically, it means two things that are quite different (because you can never halve a pinang with an axe neatly).
"Seperti pinang dibelah dua."
No matter how sharp a knife is, a tongue is even sharper.
Meaning: Be careful of what you say as it can hurt more (feelings) than a knife
"Setajam-tajam pisau, masih lebih tajam lidah."
No matter how high a crane flies, it will fall into the pit eventually.
Meaning: No matter how successful a person is, he/she will experience some bad things too. "Setinggi-tingginya bangau terbang, akhirnya ke pelimbahan juga."
A person slips, and a ladder falls on him.
Meaning: All the bad things seems to happen at the same time.
To describe a very unlucky person who has been having an unlucky streak.
"Sudah jatuh, tertimpa tangga pula."
Heaven is on the bottom of mother's foot.
Meaning: A person who loves/cares about their mother is doing the best deed.
This is also a reference to the saying of Prophet Mohammad of the same meaning, explaining the position of Mother in Islamic belief.
"Surga di telapak kaki ibu."
Whoever sows the wind reaps the storm.
Meaning: Your actions all have consequences. You are responsible for the bad consequences of your bad actions.
"Siapa menabur angin, akan menuai badai."
There is no ivory that is not cracked.
Meaning: Nothing is perfect in this world.
"Tak ada gading yang tak retak."
No rattans, roots will do.
Meaning: If you are desperate, you must not be choosy.
"Tak ada rotan, akar pun jadi."
Cannot dance but blame the floor as uneven.
Meaning: Blaming the wrong reason. Looking for a scapegoat.
Same as: Buruk rupa cermin dibelah.
"Tak bisa menari dikatakan lantai yang berjungkit."
An empty drum gives loud sound.
Meaning: A person who talks a lot usually is empty inside (of knowledge).
"Tong kosong nyaring bunyinya."
The Older, The Worse
Meaning: Older but instead of getting wiser, one gets naughtier.
"Tua-tua keladi, makin tua makin menjadi nakal."
Tamarind in the mountain, salt in the sea meet in the one pot.
Meaning: Even things that are far apart can meet as one. Usually used to settle differences between two rivalries or to express a relationship from two very different entities. Or, in the context of match-making, even two persons of different backgrounds / from distant places can meet and eventually get married, etc.
"Asam di gunung, garam di laut bertemu dalam satu belanga."
Like water on a taro leaf.
Meaning: Two different things/people that do not get along.
Sometimes used for a person who does not have a firm conviction.
“Bagai air di daun talas."
Talas leaves have a thin waxy layer and therefore are quite waterproof.
Like bamboo and the river bank
Meaning: Each is dependent of the other for mutual survival.
See also: "Bagai kuku dengan isi".
“ Bagai aur dengan tebing.“
Like a kerakap leaf on a rock, unwilling to live, unwilling to die.
Kerakap is the wide leaf of sirih tree and is extraordinarily resilient and long lasting. However, as with other leaves, once plucked from the tree, it is bound to die.
"Bagai kerakap di atas batu, hidup segan mati tak mau."
Meaning: Fighting a losing battle.
Like a fingernail and the flesh beneath.
Meaning: Each is dependent on the other for mutual survival.
"Bagai kuku dengan isi."
See also: "Bagai aur dengan tebing".
As if eating Simalakama fruit.
The story goes that if one is presented with the fruit of Simalakama and eats it, his father would die, if not, mother would die instead.
Meaning: In a no-win situation where all the possible solutions have a terrible or undesirable outcome.
"Bagai makan buah simalakama."
Like obtaining a fallen durian.
Meaning: When a durian tree's fruit is ripe, many of the durians will fall to the ground. This proverb refers to someone who has suddenly gained much wealth/ good fortune.
"Bagai mendapat durian runtuh."
Like carrying a cupful of oil.
A person who is extremely cautious in doing something. Often used to describe one's love for a child.
"Bagai menatang minyak yang penuh."
Like an owl craving for the moon.
Meaning: To wish for something impossible.
"Bagai pungguk merindukan bulan."
Like an egg on the tip of a horn.
Meaning: In a very difficult/ tricky situation. The egg will soon fall and break.
"Bagai telur diujung tanduk."
Like water and oil.
Meaning: Opposite/ clash; do not go well together.
"Bagaikan air dengan minyak."
Paddle to the mouth of the river, swim down to the edge. Go through pain or hardship first, then experience fun and happiness.
Often, both couplet are cited. Sometimes just the first couplet. Rafting up the stream signifies arduous effort, swimming (downhill) is the fun and easy part.
Meaning: No pain, no gain.
"Berakit-rakit ke hulu, berenang-renang ke tepian. Bersakit-sakit dahulu, bersenang-senang kemudian."
Heavy, we carry together, light, we carry together.
Meaning: Collaboration, sharing of burden irrespective of the weight (through thick and thin).
"Berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing."
Playing with water, wet. Playing with fire, burned.
Meaning: Every action has its consequences.
"Bermain air basah, bermain api hangus."
United we stand, divided we fall
"Bersatu kita teguh, bercerai kita runtuh."
The peg is greater than the stake
In camping, pegs for the camp should be smaller than the stakes. It would be a waste if we make the pegs greater than the stakes.
Meaning: Expense is bigger than income.
"Besar pasak dari pada tiang."
Hull gets past seaweed gets together again.
Meaning: Like the seaweed that clings to each other after each passing boat separates them, so too a family will come together with the passing of each crisis.
See also: "Air dicincang tak putus"
"Biduk lalu kiambang bertaut."
Ugly face, the mirror is split.
Meaning: Blaming the wrong reason/cause or creating a scapegoat.
"Buruk muka cermin dibelah."
Where there is a will, there is a way
"Dimana ada kemauan, di situ ada jalan."
Wherever ground is stood on, the sky is hold high
Meaning: Wherever we live, we must observe the local custom.
"Dimana bumi dipijak, disitu langit dijunjung."
Where there are no eagles, I am the one, said the grasshopper.
Here's a rhyming play in the proverb. The first and second "lang" are Eagle = Elang, which rhymes with Grasshopper = Belalang.
Meaning: Where's no top dogs, underdogs will be seen as one.
"Dimana tak da lang, aku lah lang, kata belalang."
Sitting the same low, standing the same height
Meaning: Equality, emancipation
"Duduk sama rendah, tegak sama tinggi."
.
The world isn't as wide as kelor leaves.
Meaning: The opposite of It's A Small World.
Usually to comfort a broken heart, suggesting "Hey, there are still plenty of girls/guys out there."
"Dunia tak selebar daun kelor."
Elephants wage war against elephants, deers die in the midst
Meaning: When prominent persons fights, commoners would suffer.
"Gajah bertarung lawan gajah, pelanduk mati di tengah-tengah."
An elephant on the eyelid can't be seen, but an ant on the other side of the sea can.
Meaning: An egoistic person can't realize his/her own mistakes, but can always find mistakes of others
"Gajah di pelupuk mata tak tampak, semut diseberang lautan tampak."
An elephant dies leaves its tusk, a tiger dies leaves its stripes, a person dies leaves his/her name.
Meaning: Someone will be remembered by his/her accolades.
"Gajah mati meninggalkan gadingnya, macan mati meninggalkan belangnya, manusia mati meninggalkan namanya."
One fallen, thousands blossoming.
Meaning: Suggesting optimistic nature on facing struggle, the same as: "there still plenty of fish in the sea".
"Gugur satu, tumbuh seribu."
We only call our friends if we need help, and we don't help our friends in need (egoistic act)
"Habis manis sepah dibuang."
Literally: Habis = Finished, Manis = Sweet, Sepah = Tasteless, Dibuang = Thrown away.
Illustrated when someone is enjoying sugar canes: After the sweet part is finished and becomes tasteless, the cane is thrown away.
Translation: An elephant is still an elephant when flayed; a flea is still a flea if you proke at it.
Meaning: You get what you get - if you get a lot of something, then you have a lot, if you get a small amount of something, you only have a small amount.
"Hati gajah sama dilapah, hati tungau sama dicecah"
Translation: The will of the heart is to hug the mountain, but the arm is not long enough.
Meaning: This proverb is often used to illustrate a person who does not have enough resources to do/accomplish his goal/wish.
"Ingin hati memeluk gunung, apa daya tangan tak sampai."
Be a bee, lived once in a flowery garden, not a fly, lived once in heaps of garbage.
Meaning: Try to be well and useful life.
"Jadilah kumbang, hidup sekali di taman bunga, jangan jadi lalat, hidup sekali di bukit sampah."
Be a smart man, like drooping paddy.
Paddy droops more as it matures since its kernel is getting heavier.
Meaning: To be a smart man you need to be humble. Or: A smart man is usually humble. See Tong kosong nyaring bunyinya.
"Jadilah orang pandai bagai padi yang merunduk."
Translation: A nut forgets its shell
This proverb is often used to illustrate a person who forgets where he/she come from (e.g. hometown, family, heritage, etc.)
"Kacang lupa kulitnya."
Translation: Loser becomes ashes, winner becomes (burnt) coal.
This proverb is often used to illustrate a lose/lose situation, where both winner and loser gain nothing from the conflict.
"Kalah jadi abu, menang jadi arang."
If you don't want to get flooded, don't build a house next to the sea.
"Kalau tak ingin terlimbur pasang, jangan berumah di tepi laut."
If there were no lion in the jungle, a blind monkey can be king.
"Kalo di hutan tak ada singa, beruk rabun bisa menjadi raja."
Because of the mouth the body is destroyed.
"Karena mulut badan binasa."
One drop of indigo stains the whole cauldron of milk.
The word "indigo" here means something like ink.
Meaning: one ill behaviour may cause others to forget the kindness we've done.
"Karena nila setitik, rusak susu sebelanga."
The love from a child is as long as a stick, the love from a mother is as long as a road
Meaning: A mother's love is neverending
"Kasih anak sepanjang galah, kasih ibu sepanjang jalan."
Together we climb the mountain, together we climb down the hill
Meaning: Together in good and bad times
Ke gunung sama mendaki, ke lurah sama menurun."
Out from the tiger's mouth, into the crocodile's mouth.
Meaning: To describe a person who has just gotten out from a precarious situation just to get into another precarious situation.
"Keluar mulut harimau, masuk mulut buaya."
The tongue indeed has no bone.
Meaning: To describe, with disgust, a person who has no principle, who kept changing what he/she says, who is a big time liar.
Memang lidah tidak bertulang."
To describe a no win situation
Same as: Bagai makan buah simalakama.
See: Kalah jadi abu, menang jadi arang
"Menang jadi arang, kalah jadi abu."
Expecting something bigger, and we let go what we already have.
Example: A gamble who gamble away his paycheck expecting to win big but ends up with nothing.
"Mengharap burung terbang tinggi, punai di tangan dilepaskan."
Eager for the rain to fall, water already stored is thrown away.
Same as: Mengharap burung terbang tinggi, punai di tangan dilepaskan
"Mengharapkan hujan turun, air di tempayan ditumpahkan."
To punch a comrade, to cut inside a fold.
Meaning: To describe a traitor (or traitorous acts)
"Menuhuk kawan seiring menggunting dalam lipatan."
Freedom or death.
Meaning: We have to fight for our freedom as long as it takes, and we shall not mind the death following our struggle for independence.
That is a very common motto in Indonesian wars against the Dutch colonialisation, usually written "Merdeka ataoe mati", because at that time, 'u' was still written as 'oe', just like the current 'y' was 'j', the 'j' was 'dj', and the 'c' was 'tj'.
"Merdeka atau mati."
The rice has become porridge
Meaning: Describe, usually with regret, something that has already happenned and is irreversible.
"Nasi telah menjadi bubur."
The heat of the sun is felt by everybody, the heat in the heart can only be felt by oneself.
Meaning: There is no point of nurturing a contempt/hate/anger inside us. Just let it go!
"Panas mentari di kepala orang banyak, panas hati dirasa sendiri."
Whatever broken will grow back, whatever lost will be replaced.
Meaning: There will be a replacement for everything.
Usually is used to describe the undying spirit of a movement (for instance, during the struggle for independence.)
Similar to: Mati satu tumbuh seribu.
"Patah tumbuh hilang berganti."
Thinking first is an asset, regret later is useless.
Meaning: Think everything carefully before committing yourself because there is no point for regretting it later.
"Pikir dahulu pendapatan, sesal kemudian tidak berguna."
Thought is the light of the heart
Meaning: Think!
"Pikir itu pelita hati."
Meaning: To get something one silently expects/wishes for.
"Pucuk dicinta ulam tiba."
Meaning: diligence is the beginning of brilliance
"Rajin pangkal pandai."
The neighbour's lawn/grass is always greener.
Meaning: we are never satisfied with our posessions.
"Rumput tetangga selalu lebih hijau."
"Sambil menyelam minum air."
Drink water while diving
Meaning: Do two things at one go
Have an umbrella ready before the rain
Meaning: Always be prepared
"Sedia payung sebelum hujan."
No matter how bad a leader is he/she will have followers, no matter how good a leader is he/she will have enemies.
Meaning: There is always someone who loves you, and someone who hates you.
"Sejelek-jelek pemimpin pasti punya anak buah, sebaik-baik pemimpin pasti punya musuh."
Once a person cheats in an exam, forever people will distrust him.
Meaning: Once you lost the trust of someone, it is almost impossible to gain it back.
"Sekali lancung ke ujian, seumur hidup orang tak percaya."
One stroke at the paddle, two and three islands have passed.
Meaning: Do multiple tasks at one go.
"Sekali merengkuh dayung, dua tiga pulau terlampaui."
Once there is a flood, the beach will change. Meaning: A change of event such as the death of a leader, will lead to other changes.Same as: Sambil menyelam minum air. "Sekali bah, sekali pantai berubah"
No matter how good a squirrel can jump, it will fall eventually.
Meaning: No matter how smart a person is, eventually he/she will make a mistake.
"Sepandai-pandai tupai meloncat, akhirnya jatuh juga."
Like a frog trapped inside a coconut shell
Meaning: No experience, narrow minded (but acts as if he knows everything)
"Seperti katak dalam tempurung."
The story says of a frog that wants to be as big as a cow by inflating itself. In the end, its body bursts open and the frog dies.
Meaning: Someone who expect to become someone that beyond him.
Meaning: Someone who wish/expect something impossible.
Similar with: Bagai pungguk merindukan bulan
"Seperti katak hendak jadi lembu."
Like a halved pinang.
Pinang is a tree with very straight up trunk, similar to the palm tree.
Meaning: Like a twin, very similar (in appearance)
Humorous: "Seperti pinang dibelah dua dengan kapak". The literal meaning is like pinang halved with an axe. Idiomatically, it means two things that are quite different (because you can never halve a pinang with an axe neatly).
"Seperti pinang dibelah dua."
No matter how sharp a knife is, a tongue is even sharper.
Meaning: Be careful of what you say as it can hurt more (feelings) than a knife
"Setajam-tajam pisau, masih lebih tajam lidah."
No matter how high a crane flies, it will fall into the pit eventually.
Meaning: No matter how successful a person is, he/she will experience some bad things too. "Setinggi-tingginya bangau terbang, akhirnya ke pelimbahan juga."
A person slips, and a ladder falls on him.
Meaning: All the bad things seems to happen at the same time.
To describe a very unlucky person who has been having an unlucky streak.
"Sudah jatuh, tertimpa tangga pula."
Heaven is on the bottom of mother's foot.
Meaning: A person who loves/cares about their mother is doing the best deed.
This is also a reference to the saying of Prophet Mohammad of the same meaning, explaining the position of Mother in Islamic belief.
"Surga di telapak kaki ibu."
Whoever sows the wind reaps the storm.
Meaning: Your actions all have consequences. You are responsible for the bad consequences of your bad actions.
"Siapa menabur angin, akan menuai badai."
There is no ivory that is not cracked.
Meaning: Nothing is perfect in this world.
"Tak ada gading yang tak retak."
No rattans, roots will do.
Meaning: If you are desperate, you must not be choosy.
"Tak ada rotan, akar pun jadi."
Cannot dance but blame the floor as uneven.
Meaning: Blaming the wrong reason. Looking for a scapegoat.
Same as: Buruk rupa cermin dibelah.
"Tak bisa menari dikatakan lantai yang berjungkit."
An empty drum gives loud sound.
Meaning: A person who talks a lot usually is empty inside (of knowledge).
"Tong kosong nyaring bunyinya."
The Older, The Worse
Meaning: Older but instead of getting wiser, one gets naughtier.
"Tua-tua keladi, makin tua makin menjadi nakal."
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