Traditional Indonesia Wisdom

Sedikit demi sedikit, lama-lama menjadi bukit.

“Little by little, over time it becomes a hill.”

Small, consistent efforts accumulate into great results over time.

Berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing.

“Heavy loads carried together, light loads borne together.”

Burdens and joys should be shared collectively in a spirit of mutual cooperation.

Tak ada gading yang tak retak.

“There is no ivory that is not cracked.”

Nothing and no one is perfect; every person has flaws.

Ada udang di balik batu.

“There is a shrimp behind the rock.”

There is a hidden motive or ulterior intention behind someone's actions.

Air beriak tanda tak dalam.

“Rippling water is a sign that it is not deep.”

People who talk loudly and boastfully usually have little real knowledge.

Sepandai-pandai tupai melompat, sekali waktu jatuh juga.

“However skilled a squirrel is at leaping, one day it too will fall.”

No matter how expert someone is, they can still make a mistake.

Di mana bumi dipijak, di situ langit dijunjung.

“Where the earth is stepped upon, there the sky is upheld.”

Wherever you live, you should respect and honor the local customs.

Bagai pungguk merindukan bulan.

“Like an owl longing for the moon.”

To yearn for something that is impossible or far beyond one's reach.

Gajah mati meninggalkan gading, harimau mati meninggalkan belang, manusia mati meninggalkan nama.

“An elephant leaves its tusks when it dies, a tiger leaves its stripes; a person leaves a name.”

A person's reputation and deeds outlive them, so one should leave behind a good legacy.

Bagai air di daun talas.

“Like water on a taro leaf.”

Describes a person whose stance or feelings are unstable and constantly shifting.

Karena nila setitik, rusak susu sebelanga.

“Because of a single drop of indigo dye, a whole vat of milk is ruined.”

One small wrongdoing can destroy an entire reputation built over a long time.

Bagai katak di bawah tempurung.

“Like a frog living under a coconut shell.”

Describes someone with a narrow view of the world who mistakes their small surroundings for the whole of it.

Sambil menyelam minum air.

“While diving, drink the water.”

Accomplishing two beneficial things at the same time with a single effort.

Seperti mendapat durian runtuh.

“Like receiving a durian that has fallen on its own.”

Describes sudden, unexpected good fortune that requires no effort to obtain.

Tong kosong nyaring bunyinya.

“An empty can makes the loudest sound.”

A person who talks the most or loudest often has the least real knowledge.

Bagai pinang dibelah dua.

“Like an areca nut split into two halves.”

Describes two people, often relatives, who resemble each other very closely.

Air susu dibalas dengan air tuba.

“Milk is repaid with poisoned water.”

A good deed is repaid with betrayal or evil in return.

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

“Raft upstream first, then swim leisurely to the shore; suffer first, enjoy the ease later.”

Enduring hardship and effort now leads to comfort and reward later.

Bagai kacang lupa akan kulitnya.

“Like a bean that forgets its own shell.”

Describes someone who forgets their humble origins after achieving success.

Malu bertanya, sesat di jalan.

“Too ashamed to ask, and you will lose your way on the road.”

Being too embarrassed to ask questions leads to mistakes and confusion.

Guru kencing berdiri, murid kencing berlari.

“If the teacher urinates standing, the student will urinate running.”

The bad example set by elders or leaders is often followed and exaggerated by those who look up to them.

Sekali merdayung, dua tiga pulau terlampaui.

“With a single stroke of the paddle, two or three islands are passed.”

Achieving several goals at once through a single well-planned effort.

Bagai telur di ujung tanduk.

“Like an egg balanced on the tip of a horn.”

Describes a highly precarious and dangerous situation that could collapse at any moment.

Tak kenal maka tak sayang.

“Not knowing someone means not loving them.”

You must first come to know someone or something before you can appreciate or love it.

Bagai menegakkan benang basah.

“Like trying to make a wet thread stand upright.”

Describes an attempt to do something that is essentially impossible or futile.

Buah yang manis jangan dikira tidak berulat.

“A sweet fruit should not be assumed free of worms.”

Do not judge something as flawless purely by its attractive outward appearance.

Bagai ayam bertelur di padi, mati kelaparan.

“Like a hen that lays eggs in the rice field yet dies of hunger.”

Describes someone who lives in poverty despite being surrounded by abundant resources they fail to use.

Bagai menarik rambut dalam tepung, rambut tak putus tepung tak berselerak.

“Like pulling a hair out of flour, without breaking the hair or scattering the flour.”

Handling a delicate matter with such care that the problem is resolved without anyone being hurt or offended.

Biar lambat asal selamat.

“Better slow, as long as it arrives safely.”

It is wiser to proceed carefully and arrive safely than to rush and risk failure.

Bagaikan aur dengan tebing.

“Like the bamboo and the riverbank.”

Describes a relationship of mutual dependence in which each side supports and protects the other.

Sekali lancung ke ujian, seumur hidup orang tak percaya.

“Once caught cheating in a test, a lifetime of distrust follows.”

A single act of dishonesty can destroy a lifetime of trust.

Bagai membuang garam ke laut.

“Like throwing salt into the sea.”

Describes an effort that is completely pointless because it adds nothing of value.

Air tenang menghanyutkan.

“Calm water sweeps things away unseen.”

A quiet, calm-seeming person may be deeper, cleverer, or more dangerous than they appear.

Bagai kerakap tumbuh di batu, hidup segan mati tak mau.

“Like a fern growing on a rock, too reluctant to live, unwilling to die.”

Describes a person trapped in a miserable, stagnant existence, neither thriving nor at peace.

Menang jadi arang, kalah jadi abu.

“The winner becomes charcoal, the loser becomes ash.”

In a bitter conflict, both sides ultimately lose, regardless of who is declared the winner.

Bagai mencari kutu dalam ijuk.

“Like searching for lice in coconut fiber.”

Describes a task that is extremely difficult, tedious, and nearly impossible to accomplish.

Bagai kucing dengan anjing.

“Like a cat and a dog.”

Describes two people who constantly quarrel and can never get along.

Ke bukit sama mendaki, ke lurah sama menurun.

“Climbing the hill together, descending the valley together.”

Describes partners who share both hardship and ease together through life.

Lain padang lain belalang, lain lubuk lain ikannya.

“Different fields have different grasshoppers, different pools have different fish.”

Different places have different customs, and one should respect local variation rather than assume uniformity.

Bagai api dalam sekam.

“Like fire hidden within rice husks.”

Describes a hidden danger or problem that smolders unseen until it suddenly erupts.

Datang tampak muka, pulang tampak punggung.

“Arriving, show your face; leaving, show your back.”

One should properly greet others upon arrival and politely take leave when departing.

Bagai mentimun dengan durian.

“Like a cucumber colliding with a durian.”

Describes an unequal confrontation in which the weak inevitably suffers against the strong.

Jauh berjalan banyak dilihat, lama hidup banyak dirasa.

“Travel far and much is seen; live long and much is felt.”

Wide experience and a long life bring wisdom gained through what one has witnessed and endured.

Bagai bumi dengan langit.

“Like the earth and the sky.”

Describes two things that are entirely different from one another and cannot be compared.

Bagai cacing kepanasan.

“Like a worm writhing in scorching heat.”

Describes someone restless and fidgety, often because of guilt, anxiety, or discomfort.

Sedia payung sebelum hujan.

“Prepare the umbrella before the rain falls.”

It is wise to prepare in advance for problems that may arise in the future.

Besar pasak daripada tiang.

“The peg is bigger than the pole.”

Describes spending more than one earns, living beyond one’s means.

Bagai anak ayam kehilangan induk.

“Like a chick that has lost its mother hen.”

Describes a group left confused and directionless after losing their leader or guide.

Nasi sudah menjadi bubur.

“The rice has already turned into porridge.”

What has already happened cannot be undone, so there is no use lamenting it further.

Bagai membeli kucing dalam karung.

“Like buying a cat inside a sealed sack.”

Describes acquiring or agreeing to something without inspecting it first, risking later regret.