Bedeutung
Being overly curious about others' business
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Jakarta, 'kepo' is often used as a badge of being 'socially active'. If you aren't 'kepo' about the latest trends or scandals, you might be seen as 'kudet' (kurang update/out of date). Older Javanese generations might find the word 'kepo' confusing or slightly rude because it challenges the traditional norm of 'sharing everything' within a community. Indonesian social media users are famously 'kepo'. They often work together to find the identity of someone in a viral video, a process they call 'the power of netizen'. While 'kepo' is slang, in creative industries (startups, media), it is increasingly used even between colleagues, though still rarely with the CEO.
The 'Sih' Factor
Adding 'sih' at the end (Kepo banget sih!) makes it sound more natural and less like a textbook sentence.
Watch the Tone
If said with a flat face, 'Kepo' can be quite rude. Always use a playful tone unless you are genuinely angry about a privacy breach.
Bedeutung
Being overly curious about others' business
The 'Sih' Factor
Adding 'sih' at the end (Kepo banget sih!) makes it sound more natural and less like a textbook sentence.
Watch the Tone
If said with a flat face, 'Kepo' can be quite rude. Always use a playful tone unless you are genuinely angry about a privacy breach.
Verb Usage
Use 'ngepoin' when talking about social media. It makes you sound like a local!
Deflecting Elders
If an elder is being 'kepo', it's safer to use 'Ah, Tante bisa aja' (Oh, Auntie, you're something else) instead of calling them 'kepo' directly.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the most appropriate response to a friend asking about your private text messages.
Teman: 'Eh, kamu lagi chatting sama siapa sih?'
'Ih, kepo banget deh!' is the natural, slangy way to tell a friend they are being nosy.
Fill in the blank with the correct verb form of 'kepo'.
Dia menghabiskan dua jam untuk _______ profil Instagram mantan pacarnya.
'Mengepoin' is the verb form used for the act of investigating or stalking someone online.
Match the phrase to the correct context.
Context: A formal job interview.
In a formal interview, you must use 'ingin tahu' instead of the slang 'kepo'.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
A: 'Aku dengar Budi putus sama pacarnya.' B: 'Ah, masa? Tahu dari mana?' A: 'Tadi aku ______ Facebook-nya.'
'Ngepoin' fits the casual context of checking someone's social media for gossip.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Kepo vs. Ingin Tahu
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenTeman: 'Eh, kamu lagi chatting sama siapa sih?'
'Ih, kepo banget deh!' is the natural, slangy way to tell a friend they are being nosy.
Dia menghabiskan dua jam untuk _______ profil Instagram mantan pacarnya.
'Mengepoin' is the verb form used for the act of investigating or stalking someone online.
Context: A formal job interview.
In a formal interview, you must use 'ingin tahu' instead of the slang 'kepo'.
A: 'Aku dengar Budi putus sama pacarnya.' B: 'Ah, masa? Tahu dari mana?' A: 'Tadi aku ______ Facebook-nya.'
'Ngepoin' fits the casual context of checking someone's social media for gossip.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNot exactly. It's slang. It can be a playful tease or a mild insult depending on your tone and who you are talking to.
Absolutely not. Use 'ingin tahu' or 'tertarik' instead.
'Ingin tahu' is neutral curiosity (e.g., wanting to learn math). 'Kepo' is intrusive curiosity (e.g., wanting to know your friend's bank balance).
No, that's a popular myth. It actually comes from the Hokkien word 'Kaypoh'.
You can say 'Cuma penasaran aja' or 'Cuma mau tahu'.
No, it's only used for people or their behavior.
The formal equivalent would be 'mencari tahu informasi pribadi' (finding out private information).
Because social media is built on looking into other people's lives, which is the definition of being 'kepo'.
Yes! People often say 'Aku kepo nih' (I'm curious/nosy) before asking a juicy question.
There isn't a direct slang opposite, but 'cuek' (indifferent/don't care) is often the personality contrast.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Rempong
similarFussy, complicated, or over-the-top.
Julid
similarSalty or spiteful gossip.
Ingin tahu
contrastCurious (standard/neutral).
Kudet
builds onOut of date / not updated.
Mencampuri
specialized formTo interfere.
