100 Proverbs (Peribahasa)

Anak dipangku dilepaskan, beruk di rimba disusukan

A child on the lap is let go, a monkey from the forest is nursed instead / changing priorities

Luka di kaki, sakit seluruh badan

A pain in the feet, the whole body feels it. Meaning: To describe a unity of a society.

Sudah jatuh, tertimpa tangga pula

A person slips, and a ladder falls on him. Meaning: All the bad things seems to happen at the same time. Comparable to "When it rains, it pours". To describe a very unlucky person who has been having an unlucky streak.

Kemarau dicecah dihapuskan hujan sehari

A year of drought is erased by a day of rain Meaning: A long dispute has been forgoten by love, or sometimes a long time of goodness has been forgotten by one badness

Gajah mati meninggalkan gadingnya, harimau mati meninggalkan belangnya, manusia mati meninggalkan namanya

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 di pelupuk mata tak tampak, semut diseberang lautan tampak

An elephant on the eyelid can't be seen, but an ant on the other side of the sea can. Meaning: An egotistic person can't realize his/her own mistakes, but can always find mistakes of others

Tong kosong nyaring bunyinya

An empty drum gives loud sound. Meaning: A person who talks a lot usually is empty inside (of knowledge).

Bagai makan buah simalakama

As if eating Simalakama fruit. The story goes that if a person is presented with the fruit of Simalakama and eats it, his father will die, if not, his mother will die instead. Meaning: In a no-win situation where all the possible solutions have a terrible or undesirable outcome.

Jadilah kumbang, hidup sekali di taman bunga, jangan jadi lalat, hidup sekali di bukit sampah

Be a bee, living in a flowery garden, not a fly, living in heaps of garbage. Meaning: Try to live a useful life.

Jadilah orang pandai bagai padi yang merunduk

Be a smart man, like drooping rice. Rice 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.

Karena mulut badan binasa

Because of the mouth the body is destroyed.

Lebih baik satu burung ditangan dari pada sepuluh burung di pohon

Better one bird in the hand than 10 birds on the tree. Meaning: Better something than nothing.

Tak bisa menari dikatakan lantai yang berjungkit.

Cannot dance but blame the floor as uneven. Meaning: Blaming the wrong reason. Looking for a scapegoat. Same as: Buruk rupa cermin dibelah.

Lain ladang lain belalang, lain lubuk lain ikannya

Different fields have different insect, different ponds have different fish. Meaning: Different people have different personality. Meaning: Different background means different thinking. Meaning: Different culture means different custom.

Sambil menyelam minum air

Drink water while diving Meaning: Do two things at one go

Mengharapkan hujan turun, air di tempayan ditumpahkan

Eager for the rain to fall, water already stored is thrown away. Same as: Mengharap burung terbang tinggi, punai di tangan dilepaskan

Gajah bertarung lawan gajah, pelanduk mati di tengah-tengah

Elephants wage war against elephants, deer die in the midst Meaning: When prominent persons fights, commoners will suffer.

Malu bertanya, sesat di jalan

Embarrassed to ask will result in getting lost. Meaning: Asking questions is the only way to learn

Memancing di air keruh

Fishing in a murky water. Meaning: Taking advantage of a murky or confusing situation.

Merdeka atau mati

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.

Sedia payung sebelum hujan

Have an umbrella ready before the rain Meaning: Always be prepared

Kepala boleh panas, tetapi hati harus tetap dingin

Head can be heated but heart must stay cool. Meaning: No matter how stressed or angry we are, we have to solve a problem with rationale. Meaning: A dispute can only be resolved by discussing the problem openly and coolly

Berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing

Heavy, we carry together, light, we carry together. Meaning: Collaboration, sharing of burden irrespective of the weight (through thick and thin).

Biduk lalu kiambang bertaut

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"

Kalau di hutan tak ada singa, beruk rabun bisa menjadi raja

If there were no lions in the jungle, a blind monkey could be king.

Kalau tak ingin terlimbur pasang, jangan berumah di tepi laut

If you don't want to get flooded, don't build a house next to the sea.

Kasih hati, minta jantung

If you give your liver, they ask for your heart. Meaning: If someone did a favor, they will request a bigger one in the future; taking advantage of kindness.

Bagai kuku dengan isi

Like a fingernail and the flesh beneath. Meaning: Each is dependent on the other for mutual survival. See also: "Bagai air dengan tebing".

Seperti katak dalam tempurung

Like a frog trapped inside a coconut shell Meaning: No experience, narrow minded (but acts as if he knows everything)

Seperti pinang dibelah dua

Like a halved pinang. Pinang is a tree with very straight up trunk, similar to the palm tree or also commonly called as beetle nut 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).

Bagai kerakap di atas batu, hidup segan mati tak mau

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. Meaning: Fighting a losing battle. Living without a purpose.

Bagai telur diujung tanduk

Like an egg on the tip of a horn. Meaning: In a very difficult/ tricky situation. The egg will soon fall and break.

Bagai pungguk merindukan bulan

Like an owl craving for the moon. Meaning: To wish for something impossible.

Bagai air dengan tebing

Like bamboo and the riverbank / Each is dependent on the other for mutual survive

Bagai menatang minyak yang penuh

Like carrying a cupful of oil. Meaning: A person who is extremely cautious in doing something. Often used to describe one's love for a child.

Bagai mendapat durian runtuh

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.

Bagaikan air dengan minyak

Like water and oil. Meaning: Opposite/ clash; do not go well together.

Bagai air di daun talas

Like water on a taro leaf / Talas leaves have a thin waxy layer and therefore are quite waterproof Meaning: Two different things/people that do not get along

Kura-kura dalam perahu, pura-pura tidak tahu

Literally means the turtle in the boat, pretending not to know. Meaning: People say it to imply that somebody knows more than he or she is letting on.

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. Meaning: We only call our friends if we need help, and we don't help our friends in need.

Nasi telah menjadi bubur

Meaning: Describe, usually with regret, something that has already happenned and is irreversible. Comparable to "It's no use crying over spilled milk"

Mengharap burung terbang tinggi, punai di tangan dilepaskan

Meaning: 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.

Menang jadi arang, kalah jadi abu

Meaning: To describe a no win situation. Same as: Bagai makan buah simalakama. See: Kalah jadi abu, menang jadi arang

Pucuk dicinta ulam tiba

Meaning: To get something one silently expects/wishes for.

Rajin pangkal pandai

Meaning: diligence is the beginning of brilliance

Air susu dibalas dengan air tuba

Milk is repaid with poison / A good deed that is repaid by a bad deed

Air tenang jangan disangka tiada buaya

Never think that still water doesn't have crocodiles / Never take for granted a peaceful outlook since danger may lurk beneath

Sejelek-jelek pemimpin pasti punya anak buah, sebaik-baik pemimpin pasti punya musuh

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.

Sepandai-pandai tupai meloncat, akhirnya jatuh juga

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.

Setinggi-tingginya bangau terbang, akhirnya ke pelimbahan juga

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.

Setajam-tajam pisau, masih lebih tajam lidah

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

Tak ada rotan, akar pun jadi

No rattans, roots will do. Meaning: If you are desperate, you must not be choosy. In positive ways, it usually means: using the available resources.

Sekali lancung ke ujian, seumur hidup orang tak percaya

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 bah, sekali pantai berubah

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.

Mati satu tumbuh seribu

One dead replaced by one thousand. Used to describe the undying spirit of a movement (for instance during the struggle for independence)

Karena nila setitik, rusak susu sebelanga

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

Gugur satu, tumbuh seribu

One fallen, thousands blossoming. Meaning: Suggesting optimism in the face of struggle, the same as: "There still plenty of fish in the sea".

Sekali merengkuh dayung, dua tiga pulau terlampaui

One stroke at the paddle, two and three islands have passed. Meaning: Do multiple tasks at one go.

Keluar mulut harimau, masuk mulut buaya

Out from the tiger's mouth, into the crocodile's mouth. Comparable to "Out of the frying pan into the fire." Meaning: To describe a person who has just gotten out from a precarious situation just to get into another precarious situation.

Berakit-rakit ke hulu, berenang-renang ke tepian. Bersakit-sakit dahulu, bersenang-senang kemudian

Paddle upstream, swim down to the edge. Go through pain or hardship first, then experience fun and happiness. Often, both couplets 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.

Bermain air basah, bermain api hangus

Playing with water, wet. Playing with fire, burned. Meaning: Every action has its consequences.

Alah bisa karena biasa

Practise makes perfect / If we practice enough, we can do really well

Air beriak tanda tak dalam

Shallow water has ripples / Overy boisterous or loud-mouthed people often don't know much. They're "all talk"

Duduk sama rendah, tegak sama tinggi

Sitting the same low, standing the same height Meaning: Equality, emancipation.

Air tenang menghanyutkan

Still water runs deep / Never underestimate a quiet person, for he may have qualities that belie his quiet nature

Asam di gunung, garam di laut bertemu dalam satu belanga

Tamarind on the mountain, salt in the sea meet in the one pot. Tamarind and salt are two of the most important and frequently used spices in Indonesia. Meaning: Even things that are far apart can meet as one.

Tua-tua keladi, makin tua makin menjadi nakal

The Older, The Worse Meaning: Older but instead of getting wiser, one gets naughtier.

Anjing menggonggong, kafilah tetap berlalu

The dogs are barking, the caravan moves on / Useless protest, criticism or sarcasm

Kepala sama hitam, isi hati siapa tahu

The hair is all colored the same (black in this case), but no one will know the inside of one's heart Meaning: A different way of thinking in every person

Panas mentari di kepala orang banyak, panas hati dirasa sendiri

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!

Kasih anak sepanjang galah, kasih ibu sepanjang jalan

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

Rumput tetangga selalu lebih hijau

The neighbour's lawn/grass is always greener. Meaning: we are never satisfied with our posessions.

Besar pasak dari pada tiang

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.

Bersakit-sakit dahulu bersenang-senang kemudian

The second couplet of "Berakit-rakit ke hulu, berenang-renang ke tepian." Meaning: No pain no gain.

Seperti katak hendak jadi lembu

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

Guru kencing berdiri, murid kencing berlari

The teacher urinates while standing, the pupil urinates while running. Meaning: A junior will always mimic what the senior does.

Memang lidah tidak bertulang

The tongue indeed has no bone. Meaning: To describe, with disgust, a person who has no principles, who keeps changing what he/she says, who is a liar.

Dunia tak selebar daun kelor

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."

Ada udang di balik batu

There is a shrimp behind the stone / There is a hidden motive behind an act

Tak ada gading yang tak retak

There is no ivory that is not cracked. Meaning: Nothing is perfect in this world.

Pikir dahulu pendapatan, sesal kemudian tidak berguna

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 itu pelita hati

Thought is the light of the heart Meaning: Think!

Lempar batu sembunyi tangan

Throw a stone but hide the hand. Meaning: Someone who doesn't want to be responsible for his/her doing.

Menuhuk kawan seiring menggunting dalam lipatan

To punch a comrade, to cut inside a fold. Meaning: To describe a traitor (or traitorous acts)

Ke gunung sama mendaki, ke lurah sama menurun

Together we climb the mountain, together we climb down the hill Meaning: Together in good and bad times

Hati gajah sama dilapah, hati tungau sama dicecah

Translation: An elephant is still an elephant when flayed; a flea is still a flea if you poke at it. Meaning: You get what you're given whether that be a lot or a little

Kalah jadi abu, menang jadi arang

Translation: Loser becomes ashes, winner becomes coal. This proverb is often used to illustrate a lose/lose situation, where both winner and loser gain nothing from the conflict.

Ingin hati memeluk gunung, apa daya tangan tak sampai

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 accomplish his goal.

Buruk muka cermin dibelah

Ugly face, the mirror is split. Meaning: Blaming the wrong reason/cause or creating a scapegoat.

Bersatu kita teguh, bercerai kita runtuh

United we stand, divided we fall

Air cucuran jatuhnya ke pelimbahan juga

Water dripping from the roof will eventually go to the reservoir / Like father like son / The apple doesn't fall far from the tree

Air dicincang tak putus

Water minced will not separate / 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

Lancar kaji karena diulang, lancar jalan karena ditempuh

We spell fluently because we keep repeating it. We know the route because we pass it often. Meaning: Be dilligent in learning.

Patah tumbuh hilang berganti

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.

Dimana tak da lang, aku lah lang, kata belalang

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 ada kemauan, di situ ada jalan

Where there is a will, there is a way

Ada asap ada api

Where there is smoke, there is fire / There's a cause for everything

Ada gula ada semut

Where there is sugar, there are ants / People tend to be attracted to what most benefits them

Dimana bumi dipijak, disitu langit dijunjung

Wherever ground is stood on, the sky is hold high Meaning: Wherever we live, we must observe the local custom.

Siapa menabur angin, akan menuai badai

Whoever sows the wind reaps the storm. Meaning: Your actions all have consequences. You are responsible for the bad consequences of your bad actions.