1001 Peribahasa Indonesia

" 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. " 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. " 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! " Pucuk dicinta ulam tiba ." Meaning: To get something one silently expects/wishes for.

Omongan saja tidak akan menyelesaikan masalah! (Pikiran-pikiran cemerlang dalam meeting tidak banyak artinya jika tidak diwujudkan dalam tindakan nyata!)

"Nasi telah menjadi bubur." The rice has become porridge Meaning: Describe, usually with regret, something that has already happenned and is irreversible .

" Malu bertanya, sesat di jalan ." Embarrassed to ask will result in getting lost. Meaning: Asking question is the only way to learn " 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) Also: "Gugur satu tumbuh seribu." The word 'gugur' means similar as 'mati' (die), but it usually relates only with dead leaves (when a leaf dries it will fall from its tree) or somebody who dies in honour, like the heroes. Thus, "Gugur satu tumbuh seribu" sounds more patriotic than "Mati satu tumbuh seribu." " Memancing di air keruh ." Fishing in a murky water. Meaning: Taking advantage of a murky/confusing situation. " Memang lidah tidak bertulang ." 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. ...

" 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. " 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. " Lebih baik satu burung ditangan dari pada sepuluh burung dipohon ." Better one bird in the hand than 10 birds on the tree. Meaning: Better something than nothing. " Lempar batu sembunyi tangan ." Throw a stone but hide the hand. Meaning: Someone who doesn't want to be responsible for his/her doing. " Luka di kaki, sakit seluruh badan ." A pain in the feet, the whole body feels it. Meaning: To describe a unity of a society

" Kacang lupa kulitnya ." 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.) " Kalah jadi abu, menang jadi arang ." 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. " 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. " Kalo di hutan tak ada singa, beruk rabun bisa menjadi raja ." If there were no lion in the jungle, a blind monkey can be king. " Karena mulut badan binasa ." Because of the mouth the body is destroyed. " 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...

" Jadilah kumbang, hidup sekali di taman bunga, jangan jadi lalat, hidup sekali di bukit sampah ." 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 orang pandai bagai padi yang merunduk ." 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 .