Language/Indonesian/Vocabulary/Idiomatic-Expressions
Hi Indonesian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will be learning about Indonesian idiomatic expressions. Idioms are phrases or expressions whose meaning is not directly related to the individual words used, and they can be difficult to understand if you don't know the culture and language well. To improve your Indonesian Vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
What are idiomatic expressions?[edit | edit source]
An idiomatic expression is a phrase or a fixed expression that has a figurative, or sometimes literal, meaning. In Indonesian, idiomatic expressions are often used in conversations, and if you don't understand them, it can be difficult to follow the conversation. As a language learner, it is important to learn idioms because they give you a window into the culture and mindset of the people who use them.
Types of Idiomatic Expressions[edit | edit source]
There are several types of idiomatic expressions in Indonesian, but some of the most common types are:
Food idioms[edit | edit source]
Indonesian people love their food and as such, many idioms relate to food. Here are some examples:
| Indonesian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Jangan jadi buah simalakama | /ˈd͡ʒaŋ.ɡan ˈd͡ʒa.di bu.ah si.ma.la.ka.ma/ | Don't be like the fruit of simalakama (when faced with two choices, both of them are equally bad) |
| Pecundang seperti ayam | /pəˈt͡ʃun.daŋ ˈsepəɾ.ti aˈjam/ | As coward as a chicken |
| Katakanlah dengan hati yang lapar | /kaˈta.kan.laɦ dengan ˈhati jaŋ ˈla.pəɾ/ | Speak with a hungry heart (plead with a pitiful face because of hunger) |
| Beras ketan dua seratus daser | /bɛˈras kəˈtan dua səratʊs dasər/ | Two hundred servings of glutinous rice (used to describe someone who is excessively greedy) |
Nature idioms[edit | edit source]
Indonesia is rich in natural resources, and the beauty and power of nature is often used in Indonesian idioms. Here are some examples:
| Indonesian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Air dicincang tak akan putus | /aˈiɾ diˈt͡ʃin.t͡ʃaŋ tak akan ˈpu.tʊs/ | Water that is chopped will never disconnect (used to describe strong bonds that are unbreakable) |
| Seperti kera mendapat bunga | /səˈpəɾ.ti ˈkɛɾa mənˈda.pat ˈbu.ŋa/ | Like a monkey getting a flower (used when describing a situation when someone is unpleasantly surprised or when someone gets something they do not deserve) |
| Segalanya ada waktunya | /səˈɡa.la.ɲa ˈa.da ˈwak.tʊ.nja/ | Everything has its time (used to remind people that everything happens at the right time) |
Animal idioms[edit | edit source]
Just like nature idioms, animal idioms are also popular in Indonesian. Here are some examples:
| Indonesian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Makan hati | /ˈma.kan hati/ | Eat one's own heart (used to describe someone who is jealous) |
| Melepaskan burung dari sangkar | /mə.lɛˈpa.skən ˈbu.ɾʊŋ dari saŋˈkar/ | Letting the bird out of its cage (used to describe someone who is finally free from a restriction or to let something happen naturally) |
| Kuda-kudaan | /kuˈda kuˈda.an/ | Horse-play (used to describe any unproductive or wasted activity) |
Indonesian Idiomatic Expressions in Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Person 1: Kamu bener-bener obsesif ya dengan kuliner indonesia? (/ka.mu bəˈnɛr bəˈnɛr ɔbˈsɛsiɸ ja dengan kuˈlɪnɛr inˈdonesia/) (You are really obsessed with Indonesian cuisine, aren't you?)
Person 2: Tentu saja, kuliner Indonesia kaya akan rasa dan warisan budaya. Aku selalu berusaha mencari dan mencicipi menu-menu tradisional. (/tɛnˈtu sa.ʤa kʊˈli.nɛr in.doˈnesia ˈka.ja ʔaˈkan ˈras.a dän wa.ˈri.san buˈda.ja .a.ku ˈsɛ.la.lu bəˈru.sa menˈʧa.ri dan mənˈt͡ʃi.t͡ʃi peˈda͡ɪ menu menˈu tra.di.ˈsiɔ.nal/) (Of course, Indonesian cuisine is rich in taste and cultural heritage. I always try to find and taste traditional menus.)
Person 1: Waduh, kamu kok miskin cerita, sampai gak bisa say anything lagi? (/waˈduh ka.mu kok ˈmɪs.kin t͡ʃɛ.ri.ta səmˈpaj gak ˈbi.sa se ˈɛnɛ.ti la.ʤi/) (Oh my, are you so lack of stories that you can't say anything anymore?)
Person 2: Haha, maaf ya, saya sedang berada dalam dampak dari ujian minggu ini. (/ˈha.ha maˈaf ja sa.ja səˈdaŋ bəˈra.da dalam ˈdampak dari uˈdʒi.an miŋˈgu i.ni/) (Haha, sorry, I'm currently in the aftermath of this week's exam.)
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Idiomatic expressions are an essential part of any language. They add richness and flavor to conversations, but they can also be tricky to understand if you don't know the cultural background of the language. In this lesson, we've covered some of the most common idiomatic expressions in Indonesian, from food to nature and animals. Remember, the best way to learn idioms is to use them in context and practice with native speakers. If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Finished this lesson? Check out these related lessons: Environment & Basic Shopping Phrases.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Vegetables
- Adverbs in Indonesian
- Colors
- How to say Good Bye?
- Astronomy
- Birthday
- Asking Directions
- Animals
- Basic Phrases in Indonesian
- Days of the Week
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Tuttle Concise Indonesian Dictionary: Indonesian-English/English ...
- Mini Indonesian Dictionary: Indonesian-English ... - Amazon.com
- 10 Indonesian Idioms to Make You Smile