Signification
Coming back without bringing anything.
Contexte culturel
The 'Oleh-oleh' culture is so strong that people often budget more for gifts than for their own travel expenses. In Javanese culture, returning 'tangan hampa' to elders is seen as a lack of 'unggah-ungguh' (etiquette/respect). The tradition of 'Merantau' (leaving home to seek fortune) makes 'tangan hampa' a very sensitive topic; a successful 'perantau' must return with wealth or gifts. In offices, 'tangan hampa' is avoided by using food delivery apps to send 'oleh-oleh' if one forgot to buy them during the trip.
The Power of Oleh-oleh
Even a small pack of crackers can prevent you from being 'tangan hampa'. It's the thought that counts!
Hampa vs Kosong
Use 'kosong' for physical objects (empty box) and 'hampa' for this idiom or emotional states.
Signification
Coming back without bringing anything.
The Power of Oleh-oleh
Even a small pack of crackers can prevent you from being 'tangan hampa'. It's the thought that counts!
Hampa vs Kosong
Use 'kosong' for physical objects (empty box) and 'hampa' for this idiom or emotional states.
Sports News
If you read Indonesian sports news, you will see this phrase almost every day. It's a key vocabulary word for fans.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct idiom.
Andi pergi memancing, tapi dia pulang ______ karena tidak ada ikan.
Andi returned with nothing from fishing, so 'tangan hampa' is the correct idiom.
Which sentence is the most natural use of 'tangan hampa'?
Choose the correct sentence:
Idioms are used for people returning from an effort without results.
Match the situation to the phrase.
You went to Singapore but forgot to buy chocolates for your coworkers. When you arrive at the office, you are...
Returning from a trip without gifts is the classic 'tangan hampa' situation.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Wah, kamu sudah pulang dari Bali! Mana kopinya?' B: 'Aduh, maaf banget, aku ______.'
The speaker is apologizing for not bringing the requested coffee.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Hampa vs. Kosong
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesAndi pergi memancing, tapi dia pulang ______ karena tidak ada ikan.
Andi returned with nothing from fishing, so 'tangan hampa' is the correct idiom.
Choose the correct sentence:
Idioms are used for people returning from an effort without results.
You went to Singapore but forgot to buy chocolates for your coworkers. When you arrive at the office, you are...
Returning from a trip without gifts is the classic 'tangan hampa' situation.
A: 'Wah, kamu sudah pulang dari Bali! Mana kopinya?' B: 'Aduh, maaf banget, aku ______.'
The speaker is apologizing for not bringing the requested coffee.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it's a neutral description of a situation. However, telling someone 'Jangan datang tangan hampa' can be a bit direct depending on your relationship.
Not really. Use 'tidak punya uang' or 'bokek' (slang). 'Tangan hampa' implies you went to get something and failed.
There isn't a single idiom, but you could say 'membawa hasil' (bringing results) or 'membawa buah tangan' (bringing gifts).
Yes, it is very common in newspapers and formal reports to describe failed negotiations or sports losses.
No, that makes no sense in Indonesian. The idiom is fixed to 'tangan'.
Mostly, but 'hampa' has a more poetic or 'void-like' quality than the literal 'kosong'.
It's a bit dramatic, but you could say it as a joke: 'Aku ke dapur dan pulang tangan hampa.'
Yes, many Dangdut and Pop songs use 'hampa' to describe a feeling of loss or returning without love.
Yes! 'Pencuri itu lari dengan tangan hampa' is a very common news sentence.
It depends. Use 'tangan kosong' if you want to be more literal or mean 'unarmed'. Use 'tangan hampa' for the social/failure aspect.
Expressions liées
Buah tangan
antonymSouvenirs/gifts
Tangan kosong
similarEmpty-handed or unarmed
Gigit jari
builds onTo be left disappointed
Bertepuk sebelah tangan
specialized formUnrequited love
Hampa udara
similarVacuum
