Common Idioms
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Idioms are fixed phrases where the total meaning is different from the literal meaning of the individual words.
- Never translate word-for-word; `buah tangan` is a gift, not 'hand fruit'.
- Most Indonesian idioms use body parts like `hati`, `kepala`, or `tangan`.
- Idioms function as single units in a sentence, usually as nouns or adjectives.
Meanings
Idioms in Indonesian (Ungkapan) are groups of words that have a special meaning which cannot be understood just by looking at the individual words. They are essential for sounding natural and reaching intermediate fluency.
Character & Personality
Idioms used to describe someone's nature or behavior.
“Dia sangat `rendah hati` meskipun kaya raya.”
“Jangan jadi orang yang `besar kepala`.”
Work & Success
Idioms related to professional life, effort, and business outcomes.
“Ayah `banting tulang` demi menyekolahkan kami.”
“Perusahaan itu akhirnya `gulung tikar` karena pandemi.”
Emotions & Reactions
Idioms describing internal feelings or immediate reactions.
“Selesaikan masalah ini dengan `kepala dingin`.”
“Berita itu membuatnya `naik pitam`.”
Using Idioms in Sentences
| Type | Idiom | Function | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noun Phrase | Buah tangan | Object | Saya membawa `buah tangan`. |
| Adjective Phrase | Rendah hati | Predicate | Dia sangat `rendah hati`. |
| Verb Phrase | Gulung tikar | Predicate | Toko itu `gulung tikar`. |
| Noun Phrase | Kambing hitam | Subject | Dia menjadi `kambing hitam`. |
| Adjective Phrase | Kepala dingin | Adverbial | Bicaralah dengan `kepala dingin`. |
| Verb Phrase | Makan hati | Predicate | Ibu `makan hati` melihatnya. |
Reference Table
| Idiom | Literal Meaning | Actual Meaning | Usage Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buah bibir | Fruit of lips | Topic of conversation | Social/Gossip |
| Tangan kanan | Right hand | Trusted assistant | Professional |
| Kaki tangan | Feet hands | Henchman/Criminal assistant | Negative/Criminal |
| Banting tulang | Slam bones | Work very hard | Professional/Personal |
| Makan garam | Eat salt | Very experienced | Life/Career |
| Naik pitam | Rise dizziness | Become very angry | Emotional |
| Meja hijau | Green table | Court of law | Legal/News |
| Besar kepala | Big head | Arrogant | Personality |
フォーマル度スペクトル
Beliau bekerja keras demi keluarga. (Talking about family support)
Ayah `banting tulang` demi keluarga. (Talking about family support)
Bapak nyari duit sampe `banting tulang`. (Talking about family support)
Gue `banting tulang` parah nih. (Talking about family support)
Body Part Idioms
Hati (Heart/Liver)
- Rendah hati Humble
- Makan hati Suffer emotionally
Tangan (Hand)
- Tangan kanan Right-hand man
- Buah tangan Souvenir
Positive vs. Negative Idioms
Is it an Idiom?
Does the phrase mean exactly what the words say?
Is it a fixed expression used by locals?
Idioms by Life Category
Work
- • Banting tulang
- • Gulung tikar
- • Tangan kanan
Social
- • Buah bibir
- • Cari muka
- • Buah tangan
Personality
- • Rendah hati
- • Besar kepala
- • Keras kepala
Examples by Level
Ini `buah tangan` untuk kamu.
This is a souvenir for you.
Dia sangat `baik hati`.
He/She is very kind.
Ayo kita `makan angin`!
Let's go for a stroll!
Terima kasih banyak.
Thank you very much.
Jangan menjadi orang yang `besar kepala`.
Don't be an arrogant person.
Dia selalu `rendah hati`.
He is always humble.
Saya harus `banting tulang` setiap hari.
I have to work very hard every day.
Dia adalah `anak emas` guru itu.
He is that teacher's favorite student.
Kita harus bicara dengan `kepala dingin`.
We must talk with a cool head (calmly).
Dia menjadi `tangan kanan` bos saya.
He became my boss's right-hand man.
Aku sudah `makan hati` karena dia.
I've suffered emotionally because of him.
Masalah ini sudah menjadi `buah bibir`.
This issue has become the talk of the town.
Perusahaan itu terpaksa `gulung tikar`.
That company was forced to go bankrupt.
Kasus korupsi itu dibawa ke `meja hijau`.
That corruption case was brought to court.
Dia selalu `cari muka` di depan atasan.
He is always brown-mosing in front of the boss.
Jangan `naik pitam` hanya karena hal kecil.
Don't lose your temper just because of a small thing.
Dia hidup `sebatang kara` di kota besar.
He lives all alone (without family) in the big city.
Pencuri itu segera `angkat kaki` saat polisi datang.
The thief immediately fled when the police arrived.
Dia keturunan `darah biru` dari Yogyakarta.
He is of noble descent from Yogyakarta.
Kita tidak boleh `tutup mata` terhadap kemiskinan.
We must not turn a blind eye to poverty.
Ia sudah banyak `makan garam` dalam dunia politik.
He has a lot of experience in the world of politics.
Pasukan itu akhirnya `bertekuk lutut`.
That army finally surrendered.
Janganlah kita `mengadu nasib` tanpa persiapan.
Let's not try our luck without preparation.
Ia adalah `kaki tangan` sindikat narkoba.
He is a henchman of a drug syndicate.
Easily Confused
Both involve body parts and 'assisting' someone, but they have opposite moral connotations.
Learners often swap the word order, changing the meaning from figurative to literal.
Both involve 'Hati' and negative emotions, but the cause is different.
よくある間違い
Tangan buah
Buah tangan
Saya makan angin
Saya sedang jalan-jalan
Hati baik
Baik hati
Terima kasih hati
Terima kasih
Kepala besar
Besar kepala
Dia banting tulang-tulang
Dia banting tulang
Makan garam banyak
Banyak makan garam
Dia kaki tangan bos
Dia tangan kanan bos
Saya sakit hati (meaning physical pain)
Hati saya sakit / Liver saya sakit
Meja itu hijau
Kasus itu ke meja hijau
Mengangkat kaki
Angkat kaki
Darah merah
Darah biru
Sebatang pohon kara
Sebatang kara
Sentence Patterns
Dia adalah ___ bos di kantor ini.
Kita harus menyelesaikan masalah ini dengan ___.
Jangan jadi orang yang ___.
Ayah saya ___ demi masa depan kami.
Real World Usage
Lagi `makan angin` nih di Bandung.
Saya siap `banting tulang` untuk perusahaan ini.
Koruptor itu akhirnya dibawa ke `meja hijau`.
Duh, dia `besar kepala` banget sih!
Jangan lupa bawa `buah tangan` ya!
Dia cuma `cari muka` di depan bos.
The 'Hati' Rule
Literal Danger
Start Small
Buah tangan, Rendah hati, Banting tulang, Kepala dingin, and Makan hati. These cover 80% of daily needs.Gift Culture
buah tangan instead of oleh-oleh sounds slightly more sophisticated and warm.Smart Tips
Check if it's an idiom first before translating literally.
Use 'Banting tulang' to show you really appreciate the hard work involved.
Use 'Kepala dingin' to describe how you want to handle the situation.
Always mention 'Buah tangan' if you brought a gift.
発音
Equal Stress
In two-word idioms, both words usually receive equal stress, unlike English where the first word is often stressed.
Glottal Stop
In 'anak emas', ensure the 'k' in 'anak' is a clean glottal stop.
Rising-Falling
Dia besar kepala? (Rising on 'kepala')
Expressing disbelief about someone's arrogance.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember 'Hati' is for emotions, 'Tangan' is for actions/gifts, and 'Kepala' is for logic/ego.
Visual Association
Imagine a person literally eating a bowl of salt to remember 'Makan garam' means they have 'tasted' a lot of life (experienced).
Rhyme
Buah tangan bawa oleh-oleh, Rendah hati tak pernah boleh (sombong).
Story
A man who was the boss's 'Tangan kanan' had to 'Banting tulang' all day. When the company 'Gulung tikar', he didn't 'Naik pitam' but stayed 'Kepala dingin'.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Try to use 'Rendah hati' or 'Buah tangan' in a sentence today when talking about someone you respect or a trip you took.
文化メモ
The use of 'Hati' (Liver) as the center of emotion reflects ancient Austronesian beliefs where the liver was seen as the source of life and feeling, unlike the Western 'Heart'.
Many idioms like 'Rendah hati' reflect the Javanese cultural value of 'Alus' (refinement) and avoiding 'Sombong' (arrogance).
In Jakarta, idioms are often mixed with slang, but the core idioms like 'Cari muka' remain essential for navigating office politics.
Indonesian idioms are a blend of native Malay roots, Sanskrit influences (especially regarding 'Hati'), and Dutch colonial translations.
Conversation Starters
Apa `buah tangan` favoritmu kalau pulang dari Bali?
Siapa orang paling `rendah hati` yang kamu kenal?
Pernahkah kamu harus `banting tulang` untuk sesuatu?
Bagaimana cara menghadapi orang yang `keras kepala`?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Meskipun dia sangat kaya, dia tetap ___.
Rendah hati means humble, which fits the context of being rich but modest.Dia adalah ___ kanan direktur.
Tangan kanan (right hand) means a trusted assistant.Find and fix the mistake:
Pencuri itu angkat tangan saat polisi datang. (Meaning: The thief fled)
angkat kaki. Angkat tangan means to surrender.Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
dingin - masalah - selesaikan - kepala - dengan
kepala dingin acts as an adverbial phrase at the end.'Kaki tangan' is a positive idiom for a helpful person.
Kaki tangan has a negative connotation, usually meaning a criminal's henchman.A: 'Wah, kamu kerja sampai malam terus!' B: 'Iya, saya harus ___ demi biaya sekolah anak.'
Banting tulang means to work very hard.Toko itu akhirnya ___.
Gulung tikar (rolling up the mat) is the standard idiom for bankruptcy.Score: /8
練習問題
8 exercisesMeskipun dia sangat kaya, dia tetap ___.
Rendah hati means humble, which fits the context of being rich but modest.Dia adalah ___ kanan direktur.
Tangan kanan (right hand) means a trusted assistant.Find and fix the mistake:
Pencuri itu angkat tangan saat polisi datang. (Meaning: The thief fled)
angkat kaki. Angkat tangan means to surrender.1. Buah bibir, 2. Buah tangan, 3. Buah hati
dingin - masalah - selesaikan - kepala - dengan
kepala dingin acts as an adverbial phrase at the end.'Kaki tangan' is a positive idiom for a helpful person.
Kaki tangan has a negative connotation, usually meaning a criminal's henchman.A: 'Wah, kamu kerja sampai malam terus!' B: 'Iya, saya harus ___ demi biaya sekolah anak.'
Banting tulang means to work very hard.Toko itu akhirnya ___.
Gulung tikar (rolling up the mat) is the standard idiom for bankruptcy.Score: /8
よくある質問 (8)
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.
`Oleh-oleh` is the common word for souvenirs, while `Buah tangan` is the more formal/idiomatic version.
In Indonesian culture, the liver (`hati`) is traditionally seen as the seat of emotions, not the heart.
Avoid it! It sounds like you are calling them a criminal henchman. Use `Tangan kanan` instead.
Yes, but choose them wisely. `Meja hijau` and `Tangan kanan` are common in formal contexts.
Aim for about 20-30 of the most common ones to sound natural in daily conversations.
No, it means you are going out for fresh air or a stroll.
In Other Languages
Idioms like 'Right-hand man' or 'Scapegoat'
The anatomical center of emotion (Heart vs. Liver).
Tomar el pelo
Spanish uses 'Pelo' (hair) for teasing, Indonesian uses 'Mengerjai' or 'Bercanda'.
Avoir le cœur sur la main
French idioms are often more syntactically complex than Indonesian 2-word compounds.
Jemandem die Daumen drücken
German uses 'Thumbs' for luck; Indonesian uses 'Berdoa' or 'Semoga'.
Kao ga hiroi (Wide face)
Japanese idioms often involve 'Face' (Kao), while Indonesian uses 'Lips' (Bibir) or 'Head' (Kepala).
Kabid (Liver)
Arabic idioms are often more religious or poetic in origin.
Chengyu (4-character idioms)
Chinese idioms are strictly 4 characters; Indonesian ones are flexible in length but usually 2 words.
