A1 Collocation ニュートラル 1分で読める

Cari jalan

Find the way

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use 'Cari jalan' to describe the act of finding a physical route or a creative solution to a problem.

  • Means: To look for a path or to find a way out of a situation.
  • Used in: Getting lost while driving or solving a difficult work task.
  • Don't confuse: With 'jalan-jalan', which means to go for a stroll or travel.
🔍 (Search) + 🛣️ (Road) = 💡 (Solution)

あなたのレベルに合った解説:

At this level, 'cari jalan' is a simple phrase for survival. You use it to ask for directions or say you are looking for a place. It is two basic words: 'cari' (search) and 'jalan' (road). It helps you navigate a new city or find a shop.
You start using 'cari jalan' for simple problems. For example, 'cari jalan' to finish homework or 'cari jalan' to meet a friend. You understand that it's not just about a physical road, but also about a simple plan or method.
At the intermediate level, you use the phrase in more abstract contexts, like work or social issues. You can use the formal 'mencari jalan' and the variation 'cari jalan keluar.' You understand how to use it in dialogues about overcoming obstacles.
You use 'cari jalan' to discuss strategies and complex solutions. You recognize the nuance between 'cari jalan' and 'cari akal.' You can use it in professional settings to suggest alternative routes or business strategies during discussions.
You understand the metaphorical depth of 'jalan' in Indonesian culture. You can use the phrase to discuss philosophical 'paths' or complex socio-political resolutions. You are comfortable with all grammatical variations, including passive and imperative forms in nuanced contexts.
You master the phrase as a cognitive linguistic tool. You can analyze its use in literature and political rhetoric, where 'mencari jalan' might be used to frame national progress or ideological shifts. You use it with native-level spontaneity and cultural precision.

意味

Looking for a route or path

🌍

文化的背景

In cities like Jakarta, 'cari jalan' often involves 'jalan tikus' (shortcuts). This reflects a local knowledge of the city's labyrinthine geography that GPS often misses. The phrase reflects the 'bisa diatur' (can be arranged) mentality. If a formal path is blocked, Indonesians will 'cari jalan' through networking and personal relationships. The concept of 'Mencari Jalan Kebenaran' (Searching for the Path of Truth) is a common theme in Indonesian literature and religious discourse, reflecting the spiritual journey. In conflicts, 'cari jalan tengah' (finding a middle way) is preferred over direct confrontation, aligning with the value of 'musyawarah' (consensus).

🎯

Use 'Keluar' for Problems

When you mean 'solve a problem,' always try to say 'cari jalan keluar.' It sounds much more native than just 'cari jalan.'

⚠️

Avoid 'Cari Jalan' for Objects

Never use this for lost items like keys or wallets. It only applies to routes, methods, or solutions.

🎯

Use 'Keluar' for Problems

When you mean 'solve a problem,' always try to say 'cari jalan keluar.' It sounds much more native than just 'cari jalan.'

⚠️

Avoid 'Cari Jalan' for Objects

Never use this for lost items like keys or wallets. It only applies to routes, methods, or solutions.

💬

Ask for 'Jalan Tikus'

If you're in a taxi in Jakarta and in a hurry, ask 'Bisa cari jalan tikus, Pak?' The driver will appreciate your local knowledge!

自分をテスト

Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'cari jalan'.

Saya tersesat di Jakarta, saya harus _______ ke hotel.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: cari jalan

Since the speaker is lost (tersesat), they need to find the way to the hotel.

Which sentence uses the figurative meaning of 'cari jalan'?

Choose the best option:

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: Kita harus cari jalan agar sampah tidak menumpuk.

This sentence refers to finding a solution to a waste problem, which is figurative.

Complete the dialogue.

A: 'Proyek ini sangat sulit.' B: 'Jangan khawatir, kita pasti bisa _______.'

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: cari jalan keluar

'Cari jalan keluar' is the most natural way to say 'find a solution' in a difficult situation.

Match the phrase variation to the situation.

Situation: You are stuck in a massive traffic jam and want to find a small side street.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: Cari jalan tikus

'Jalan tikus' (mouse path) refers to narrow shortcuts or back alleys used to avoid traffic.

🎉 スコア: /4

ビジュアル学習ツール

練習問題バンク

5 問題
正しい答えを選んでね Fill Blank

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解:
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'cari jalan'. Fill Blank A1

Saya tersesat di Jakarta, saya harus _______ ke hotel.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: cari jalan

Since the speaker is lost (tersesat), they need to find the way to the hotel.

Which sentence uses the figurative meaning of 'cari jalan'? Choose A2

Choose the best option:

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: Kita harus cari jalan agar sampah tidak menumpuk.

This sentence refers to finding a solution to a waste problem, which is figurative.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion B1

A: 'Proyek ini sangat sulit.' B: 'Jangan khawatir, kita pasti bisa _______.'

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: cari jalan keluar

'Cari jalan keluar' is the most natural way to say 'find a solution' in a difficult situation.

Match the phrase variation to the situation. situation_matching B2

Situation: You are stuck in a massive traffic jam and want to find a small side street.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: Cari jalan tikus

'Jalan tikus' (mouse path) refers to narrow shortcuts or back alleys used to avoid traffic.

🎉 スコア: /5

よくある質問

10 問

It's neutral. For formal contexts, use 'mencari jalan.'

Yes, 'Aplikasi ini membantu cari jalan' is very common.

Literally 'mouse path,' it means a narrow shortcut or back alley to avoid traffic.

No, for that use 'cari kerja.'

No, just say 'cari jalan.' Adding 'saya' sounds like you lost your own personal road.

Yes, many Indonesian pop songs use it as a metaphor for finding love or a way forward in life.

'Cari jalan' is more metaphorical (finding a path), while 'cari cara' is more functional (finding a method).

Yes, 'mencari jalan Tuhan' (seeking God's path) is a common religious expression.

Yes, Malay and Indonesian share this phrase with almost identical usage.

Say 'Saya sudah ketemu jalannya' or 'Saya sudah dapat jalannya.'

関連フレーズ

🔗

Jalan pintas

specialized form

Shortcut

🔄

Jalan keluar

synonym

Solution / Exit

🔗

Jalan tengah

similar

Compromise / Middle ground

🔗

Buntu

contrast

Dead end

🔗

Cari akal

similar

To devise a plan

どこで使う?

🗺️

Lost in a new city

Turis: Maaf, saya cari jalan ke Monas.

Warga: Oh, lurus saja lalu belok kiri.

informal
🚗

Stuck in traffic

Supir: Macet sekali di sini.

Penumpang: Coba cari jalan tikus saja, Pak.

neutral
💼

Work problem

Bos: Anggaran kita kurang untuk proyek ini.

Staf: Saya akan mencari jalan agar biaya bisa ditekan.

formal
💔

Relationship advice

Teman A: Aku sering bertengkar dengan pacarku.

Teman B: Kalian harus cari jalan damai supaya hubungan awet.

informal
🛵

Ordering Food Delivery

Driver: Alamatnya susah ditemukan, Kak.

Pelanggan: Saya bantu cari jalan lewat telepon ya.

informal
🎤

Job Interview

Pewawancara: Bagaimana Anda menghadapi tantangan?

Kandidat: Saya selalu berusaha mencari jalan terbaik untuk setiap hambatan.

formal

暗記しよう

記憶術

Think of 'Cari' as 'Carry' and 'Jalan' as 'Lane'. You 'Carry' yourself to the right 'Lane' to find your way.

視覚的連想

Imagine a person standing at a crossroads in a lush Indonesian jungle, holding a compass and looking at different paths through the trees.

Rhyme

Cari jalan, jangan sendirian. (Find a way, don't be alone.)

Story

Budi was lost in the big city of Jakarta. He didn't have a map, so he had to 'cari jalan' by asking people. Eventually, he found a 'jalan keluar' (way out) and made it home.

In Other Languages

Similar to 'find a way' in English or 'einen Weg finden' in German. It shares the same spatial metaphor for problem-solving found in many Indo-European and Austronesian languages.

Word Web

mencarijalansolusirutearahkeluarpintastengah

チャレンジ

Next time you are using a navigation app, say 'Saya sedang cari jalan' out loud. Then, try to think of one problem in your life and say 'Saya harus cari jalan untuk ini.'

Review this phrase today, in 3 days, and in 1 week. Focus on the difference between the physical and figurative meanings.

発音

Stress Stress is usually on the penultimate syllable: CA-ri JA-lan.

The 'c' is pronounced like 'ch' in 'church'.

The 'j' is like 'j' in 'judge'. Both 'a' sounds are short like 'ah'.

フォーマル度スペクトル

フォーマル
Manajemen sedang mencari jalan untuk mengatasi defisit anggaran.

Manajemen sedang mencari jalan untuk mengatasi defisit anggaran. (Finance meeting)

ニュートラル
Kita harus cari jalan untuk masalah anggaran ini.

Kita harus cari jalan untuk masalah anggaran ini. (Finance meeting)

カジュアル
Cari jalan aja biar budget-nya cukup.

Cari jalan aja biar budget-nya cukup. (Finance meeting)

スラング
Puter otak deh biar budget-nya masuk.

Puter otak deh biar budget-nya masuk. (Finance meeting)

Derived from the Proto-Austronesian roots for 'search' and 'path'. 'Jalan' is a cognate with Tagalog 'daan' and Malay 'jalan'.

Ancient:
Colonial:
Modern:

豆知識

The word 'jalan' can be a noun (road), a verb (to walk), or even a preposition (via/through).

文化メモ

In cities like Jakarta, 'cari jalan' often involves 'jalan tikus' (shortcuts). This reflects a local knowledge of the city's labyrinthine geography that GPS often misses.

“Ojek itu cari jalan tikus supaya cepat sampai.”

The phrase reflects the 'bisa diatur' (can be arranged) mentality. If a formal path is blocked, Indonesians will 'cari jalan' through networking and personal relationships.

“Kita cari jalan lewat kenalan di kantor itu.”

The concept of 'Mencari Jalan Kebenaran' (Searching for the Path of Truth) is a common theme in Indonesian literature and religious discourse, reflecting the spiritual journey.

“Puisi itu bercerita tentang manusia yang mencari jalan kebenaran.”

In conflicts, 'cari jalan tengah' (finding a middle way) is preferred over direct confrontation, aligning with the value of 'musyawarah' (consensus).

“Mari kita cari jalan tengah agar semua pihak senang.”

会話のきっかけ

Kalau kamu tersesat di kota baru, bagaimana kamu cari jalan?

Ceritakan saat kamu harus cari jalan untuk masalah sulit di sekolah atau kantor.

Menurutmu, apa cara terbaik untuk mencari jalan damai dalam sebuah konflik?

よくある間違い

Saya cari jalan kunci saya.

Saya cari kunci saya.

wrong context
You don't 'cari jalan' for physical objects. Use 'cari' alone for things like keys, phones, or wallets.

L1 Interference

0 1

Saya mau jalan-jalan ke kantor.

Saya cari jalan ke kantor.

wrong register
'Jalan-jalan' means to stroll or travel for fun. If you are looking for the route to your office, use 'cari jalan.'

L1 Interference

0

Mencari jalan untuk masalah ini.

Mencari jalan keluar untuk masalah ini.

literal translation
While 'cari jalan' is okay, adding 'keluar' (exit) makes it much more natural when talking about problems.

L1 Interference

0

Cari jalan kebenaran.

Mencari jalan kebenaran.

wrong register
For abstract, high-level concepts like 'truth,' the formal prefix 'me-' is almost always required.

L1 Interference

0

In Other Languages

Spanish Very Similar

Buscar la manera

Indonesian uses 'jalan' for both, whereas Spanish often switches between 'camino' and 'manera'.

French moderate

Trouver un moyen

Indonesian focuses on the process of searching ('cari'), while French often focuses on the result of finding ('trouver').

German Very Similar

Einen Weg finden

The verb choice: Indonesian 'search' vs German 'find'.

Japanese Very Similar

道を探す (Michi o sagasu)

Japanese has a more spiritual/philosophical connotation with 'michi' (Do/Tao).

Arabic Partially Similar

بحث عن وسيلة (Bahatha 'an wasila)

Arabic distinguishes more clearly between a physical road and a method for solving a problem.

Chinese Different

想办法 (Xiǎng bànfǎ)

Chinese emphasizes 'thinking' (xiang) rather than 'searching' (cari) for solutions.

Korean Very Similar

길을 찾다 (Gireul chatda)

Korean uses 'chatda' which can mean both 'search' and 'find'.

Portuguese moderate

Dar um jeito

The verb 'dar' (to give) vs 'cari' (to search) changes the dynamic of the phrase.

Spotted in the Real World

🎵

(2010)

“Kita harus cari jalan keluar dari semua ini.”

A popular theme in Indonesian pop songs about breaking up or solving relationship drama.

🎬

(2008)

“Kita harus cari jalan supaya sekolah ini tidak ditutup.”

The teacher is trying to save her small school from being shut down by the authorities.

📱

(2023)

“Lagi cari jalan tikus gara-gara demo di Sudirman.”

A user complaining about traffic and looking for a shortcut.

間違えやすい

Cari jalan Jalan-jalan

Learners often think it means 'searching for a road' because of the repetition.

Remember: 'Jalan-jalan' is for fun (strolling), 'Cari jalan' is for a goal (finding).

Cari jalan Berjalan

Learners confuse the act of walking with the act of finding a path.

'Berjalan' is the physical action of walking; 'Cari jalan' is the mental or physical search for a route.

よくある質問 (10)

It's neutral. For formal contexts, use 'mencari jalan.'

grammar mechanics

Yes, 'Aplikasi ini membantu cari jalan' is very common.

practical tips

Literally 'mouse path,' it means a narrow shortcut or back alley to avoid traffic.

cultural usage

No, for that use 'cari kerja.'

common mistakes

No, just say 'cari jalan.' Adding 'saya' sounds like you lost your own personal road.

grammar mechanics

Yes, many Indonesian pop songs use it as a metaphor for finding love or a way forward in life.

cultural usage

'Cari jalan' is more metaphorical (finding a path), while 'cari cara' is more functional (finding a method).

comparisons

Yes, 'mencari jalan Tuhan' (seeking God's path) is a common religious expression.

cultural usage

Yes, Malay and Indonesian share this phrase with almost identical usage.

cultural usage

Say 'Saya sudah ketemu jalannya' or 'Saya sudah dapat jalannya.'

practical tips

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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