Signification
Persistence leads to big results
Contexte culturel
This proverb is taught to almost every Indonesian child. It reflects the national value of 'gotong royong' (communal work) in a personal sense—the idea that small contributions lead to a great whole. In Java, there is a similar philosophy called 'Alon-alon asal kelakon' (Slowly but surely). While the proverb is in Indonesian, the Javanese mindset of patience deeply influences how it is understood. The Minangkabau people are known for being successful traders. They use this proverb to emphasize the importance of starting a business from the bottom and growing it through thriftiness. In cities like Jakarta, this proverb is now used in the context of 'micro-investing' apps and digital wallets, showing how ancient wisdom adapts to fintech.
Use it for encouragement
This is the best phrase to use when a friend is feeling overwhelmed by a big goal. It sounds very supportive.
Don't over-explain
Indonesians know this phrase so well that you don't need to explain why you're saying it. Just drop it into the conversation!
Signification
Persistence leads to big results
Use it for encouragement
This is the best phrase to use when a friend is feeling overwhelmed by a big goal. It sounds very supportive.
Don't over-explain
Indonesians know this phrase so well that you don't need to explain why you're saying it. Just drop it into the conversation!
The 'Dikit-dikit' variant
In very casual Jakarta slang, people say 'Dikit-dikit jadi bukit.' Using this makes you sound very natural and 'gaul' (cool).
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing words to complete the proverb.
Sedikit demi ______, lama-lama menjadi ______.
The standard form is 'sedikit demi sedikit' (little by little) and 'menjadi bukit' (becomes a hill).
Which situation is the BEST fit for this proverb?
Budi saves 5,000 Rupiah every day for a year.
This proverb is perfectly suited for the act of consistent saving over time.
Match the Indonesian words with their English meanings in the proverb.
Match the following:
These are the core components of the proverb's literal meaning.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
A: 'Aku capek belajar bahasa Indonesia, susah banget!' B: 'Sabar ya, ________.'
The proverb is used here to encourage someone who is struggling with a long-term learning process.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesSedikit demi ______, lama-lama menjadi ______.
The standard form is 'sedikit demi sedikit' (little by little) and 'menjadi bukit' (becomes a hill).
Budi saves 5,000 Rupiah every day for a year.
This proverb is perfectly suited for the act of consistent saving over time.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are the core components of the proverb's literal meaning.
A: 'Aku capek belajar bahasa Indonesia, susah banget!' B: 'Sabar ya, ________.'
The proverb is used here to encourage someone who is struggling with a long-term learning process.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, absolutely! While it's an old proverb, young people use it frequently, especially when talking about saving money or learning new skills on social media.
Technically no, as the proverb is a fixed expression. However, people might use 'gunung' as a joke to mean an even bigger goal.
In this context, 'demi' means 'by' or 'after,' indicating a sequence (one little bit after another).
It is neutral to formal. It's safe to use with your boss, your teacher, or your friends.
No. While 'lama' can mean 'old' or 'long time,' the reduplicated form 'lama-lama' means 'eventually' or 'over time.'
Yes, people sometimes jokingly say 'Sedikit demi sedikit lama-lama menjadi habis' to describe spending money too fast.
Yes, it's a great way to talk about long-term growth or the cumulative effect of small improvements.
It's pronounced 'BOO-keet' with a very soft, almost silent 't' at the end.
The specific 'hill' metaphor is very Indonesian/Malay, but the concept exists in almost every culture.
The most common mistake is forgetting the 'demi' or changing 'bukit' to another word like 'gunung' or 'banyak'.
Expressions liées
Sehari selembar benang, lama-lama menjadi kain
similarA thread a day eventually becomes a cloth.
Besar pasak daripada tiang
contrastThe peg is bigger than the pole (spending more than you earn).
Berakit-rakit ke hulu, berenang-renang ke tepian
builds onRafting upstream first, then swimming to the shore (suffer first, enjoy later).
Alon-alon asal kelakon
similarSlowly but surely.
