B1 · Intermédiaire Chapitre 40

Idiomatic Expressions

4 Règles totales
1 min
Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

Ce que tu vas apprendre

Introduces common Indonesian idioms and metaphorical language. Covers cultural context in speech.

Conseils et astuces (4)

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The 'Hati' Rule

Whenever you see 'Hati' in an idiom, think about emotions or character. It's almost never about the physical organ.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Common Idioms
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The 'Hati' Rule

When in doubt about an emotion, look for a phrase with 'hati'. It is the source of 70% of emotional metaphors in Indonesian.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Metaphorical Language
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The 'Name' Trick

If you are unsure which title to use, use the person's name. 'Budi sudah makan?' is always safer than 'Kamu sudah makan?'
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cultural Context
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Start with 'Hati'

Mastering idioms with 'hati' (heart) will give you the most 'bang for your buck' in daily Indonesian conversation.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Idiomatic Usage

Pratique rapide (10)

Choose the correct idiom for 'scapegoat'.

Dia selalu disalahkan, dia adalah ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: kambing hitam
'Kambing hitam' is the standard idiom for someone who is blamed for others' mistakes.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Idiomatic Usage

Correct the underlined word: 'Saya membawa *tangan buah* dari Bandung.'

Find and fix the mistake:

Saya membawa tangan buah dari Bandung.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: buah tangan
The correct order is 'buah tangan' (souvenir).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Metaphorical Language

Correct the idiom in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Dia adalah tangan kiri bos saya.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tangan kanan
The idiom for a trusted assistant is 'tangan kanan', never 'tangan kiri'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Idiomatic Usage

Correct the rude sentence addressed to a teacher.

Find and fix the mistake:

Kamu sudah baca buku saya?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Bapak sudah baca buku saya?
Replacing 'Kamu' with 'Bapak' makes the sentence respectful.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cultural Context

Which idiom means 'to go bankrupt'?

Toko itu akhirnya ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: gulung tikar
Gulung tikar (rolling up the mat) is the standard idiom for bankruptcy.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Common Idioms

Fill in the blank with the correct body part.

Dia adalah ___ kanan direktur.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tangan
Tangan kanan (right hand) means a trusted assistant.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Common Idioms

Choose the correct idiom for someone who is very humble.

Meskipun dia sangat kaya, dia tetap ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: rendah hati
Rendah hati means humble, which fits the context of being rich but modest.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Common Idioms

Choose the correct metaphor for 'Humble'.

Dia orang yang sangat ___, tidak pernah pamer kekayaannya.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Rendah hati
'Rendah hati' means low heart, which translates to humble.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Metaphorical Language

You are talking to a 50-year-old male taxi driver. How do you address him?

___, berhenti di depan sini ya.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Bapak
An older male stranger should always be addressed as 'Bapak'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cultural Context

Fill in the blank with the correct body part.

Kita harus tenang dan ber___ dingin.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: kepala
'Kepala dingin' (cool head) means to stay calm.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Idiomatic Usage

Score: /10

Questions fréquentes (6)

No, the word order in Indonesian idioms is fixed. Changing it makes it literal or nonsensical.
No, it's an idiom meaning to suffer emotionally because of someone else's behavior.
It's risky! Metaphors are usually fixed expressions. If you make one up, people might take you literally. Stick to the established ones first.
In Indonesian, 'Jantung' is the physical organ that pumps blood, while 'Hati' (literally liver) is the metaphorical seat of emotions.
Yes! In this context, Bapak means 'Sir' or 'Mr.' and is a sign of respect for any adult male.
It's not 'rude', but it's 'cold'. It's like calling someone 'Citizen' instead of their name. Use it in writing, but avoid it in conversation.
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Advanced Adverbial Phrases
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