Phrase in 30 Seconds
The essential Indonesian habit of removing footwear before entering a home or sacred space to maintain cleanliness and show respect.
- Means: To remove your shoes or sandals from your feet.
- Used in: Entering houses, mosques, and some traditional shops or clinics.
- Don't confuse: 'Lepas' (remove) with 'Buka' (open), though both work for shoes.
Erklärung auf deinem Niveau:
Bedeutung
The act of removing footwear
Kultureller Hintergrund
The floor is a social space. People often sit on 'tikar' (mats) to eat or talk. Shoes are seen as carriers of 'najis' (impurity) or just plain mud. The 'Batas Suci' in mosques is a strict line. Crossing it with shoes is a major taboo and will likely result in someone shouting 'Eh, sepatu!' at you. In traditional Javanese homes (Joglo), there is a transition area called the 'Pringgitan' where shoes are removed before entering the 'Dalem' (inner house). When entering a 'Pura' (temple), you often remove shoes, but more importantly, you must wear a 'sarung' and 'selendang' (waist sash).
The 'Socks' Rule
It is perfectly fine to keep your socks on after removing your shoes. You don't have to be completely barefoot.
Check the Porch
If you see a pile of shoes outside a door, it's a 100% guarantee you should remove yours too.
The 'Socks' Rule
It is perfectly fine to keep your socks on after removing your shoes. You don't have to be completely barefoot.
Check the Porch
If you see a pile of shoes outside a door, it's a 100% guarantee you should remove yours too.
Don't Step on the Threshold
When you 'lepas sepatu', try not to step on the wooden or stone threshold of the door; step directly onto the floor inside.
Easy Shoes
When traveling in Indonesia, wear slip-on shoes or sandals. You will be 'lepas sepatu'-ing a lot!
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct word for 'remove'.
Tolong ____ sepatu sebelum masuk ke rumah.
'Lepas' is the correct verb for removing shoes.
Match the sign to the location.
Where would you most likely see a sign saying 'Harap Lepas Sepatu'?
Mosques (mesjid) always require you to remove shoes.
Complete the dialogue politely.
Tuan Rumah: 'Silakan masuk.' | Tamu: 'Terima kasih. Apakah saya harus ____?'
It is polite to ask if you should remove your shoes when entering.
Which sentence is the most formal?
Choose the formal version of 'Take off your shoes'.
The use of 'Mohon' and the prefix 'me-' makes it formal.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Where to Lepas Sepatu
Always
- • Houses
- • Mosques
- • Temples
Sometimes
- • Small Clinics
- • Boutiques
- • Schools
Never
- • Malls
- • Offices
- • Streets
Aufgabensammlung
5 AufgabenTolong ____ sepatu sebelum masuk ke rumah.
'Lepas' is the correct verb for removing shoes.
Where would you most likely see a sign saying 'Harap Lepas Sepatu'?
Mosques (mesjid) always require you to remove shoes.
Tuan Rumah: 'Silakan masuk.' | Tamu: 'Terima kasih. Apakah saya harus ____?'
It is polite to ask if you should remove your shoes when entering.
Choose the formal version of 'Take off your shoes'.
The use of 'Mohon' and the prefix 'me-' makes it formal.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, in Indonesia it is expected. Guests will usually do it automatically without being asked.
This is a common worry! Indonesians are generally polite and won't say anything, but keeping your socks on can help.
In small private clinics, yes. In large modern hospitals, usually no. Look for a sign or a shoe rack.
Yes, 'buka sepatu' is very common and means the exact same thing in a casual context.
It means 'loose', 'free', or 'to release'.
Only in small, traditional shops where the owner is sitting on the floor. Most modern shops are 'shoes-on'.
It's neutral. 'Melepas sepatu' is the formal version.
Just place your shoes neatly to the side of the door, out of the way of the walking path.
Yes, everyone from toddlers to the elderly follows this rule.
Yes, that is the requirement. You must remove shoes and socks are optional but allowed.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Buka sepatu
synonymTo open/remove shoes
Copot sepatu
informalTo pop off shoes
Pakai sepatu
contrastTo wear/put on shoes
Alas kaki
specialized formFootwear
Rak sepatu
builds onShoe rack
Wo du es verwendest
Visiting a friend's house
Guest: Permisi, boleh saya masuk?
Host: Silakan masuk! Eh, lepas sepatu di sana saja ya.
Entering a Mosque
Sign: Batas Suci: Harap Lepas Sepatu.
Visitor: Oh, saya harus lepas sepatu di sini.
At a traditional clinic
Nurse: Pak, tolong lepas sepatu sebelum masuk ke ruang dokter.
Patient: Baik, Sus.
Buying shoes at a mall
Shop Assistant: Mau coba ukuran ini? Silakan lepas sepatu lamanya dulu.
Customer: Oke, terima kasih.
Kindergarten drop-off
Teacher: Ayo anak-anak, lepas sepatu dan taruh di rak!
Student: Iya, Bu Guru!
Yoga or Martial Arts class
Instructor: Sebelum mulai, mohon lepas sepatu dan kaus kaki.
Student: Siap, pelatih.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
LEPAS sounds like 'Let's Pass' the shoes to the rack.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a colorful pile of flip-flops (sandal jepit) outside a wooden door with a smiling Indonesian grandmother welcoming you.
Rhyme
Lepas sepatu, masuk ke pintu.
Story
You arrive at a friend's house in Jakarta. You see a sign that says 'Harap Lepas Sepatu'. You 'release' (lepas) your shoes, feel the cool tile on your feet, and immediately feel like part of the family.
In Other Languages
Similar to the Japanese 'Kutsu o nugu' or the Middle Eastern practice of removing shoes before entering a carpeted room.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Next time you enter your own home, say out loud: 'Saya lepas sepatu sekarang' and place them neatly.
Review this phrase before your first visit to an Indonesian home or mosque.
Aussprache
The 'e' is a schwa, like the 'a' in 'about'.
The 'e' is also a schwa; 'u' is like 'oo' in 'boot'.
Formalitätsspektrum
Mohon menanggalkan alas kaki Anda. (General instruction)
Tolong lepas sepatunya. (General instruction)
Lepas sepatu, ya. (General instruction)
Copot sepatu dulu, cuy. (General instruction)
From the Proto-Malayo-Polynesian root for 'releasing' or 'untying'. 'Sepatu' itself is a loanword from the Portuguese 'sapato', showing the influence of early European traders on Indonesian footwear terminology.
Wusstest du?
Even though 'sepatu' is Portuguese, the habit of taking them off is 100% local!
Kulturelle Hinweise
The floor is a social space. People often sit on 'tikar' (mats) to eat or talk. Shoes are seen as carriers of 'najis' (impurity) or just plain mud.
“Lantainya bersih, kita bisa duduk di sini.”
The 'Batas Suci' in mosques is a strict line. Crossing it with shoes is a major taboo and will likely result in someone shouting 'Eh, sepatu!' at you.
“Jangan injak batas suci dengan sepatu!”
In traditional Javanese homes (Joglo), there is a transition area called the 'Pringgitan' where shoes are removed before entering the 'Dalem' (inner house).
“Sepatu ditaruh di pringgitan.”
When entering a 'Pura' (temple), you often remove shoes, but more importantly, you must wear a 'sarung' and 'selendang' (waist sash).
“Lepas sepatu dan pakai sarung sebelum masuk pura.”
Gesprächseinstiege
Apakah saya harus lepas sepatu di sini?
Kenapa orang Indonesia selalu lepas sepatu di rumah?
Bagaimana perasaanmu kalau ada tamu yang lupa lepas sepatu?
Häufige Fehler
Ambil sepatu
Lepas sepatu
L1 Interference
Keluar sepatu
Lepas sepatu
L1 Interference
Lepas sepatu! (to an elder)
Tolong lepas sepatunya, Pak.
L1 Interference
Membuka sepatu (in a very formal speech)
Menanggalkan alas kaki
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Quitarse los zapatos
Indonesian uses 'lepas' (release) while Spanish uses 'quitar' (remove).
Enlever ses chaussures
The French 'enlever' is very general, while 'lepas' has a specific 'detaching' nuance.
Die Schuhe ausziehen
Indonesians often go barefoot or in socks, while Germans often provide indoor footwear.
靴を脱ぐ (Kutsu o nugu)
Japanese has a specific verb 'nugu' used for clothes/shoes, similar to how Indonesian uses 'lepas'.
خلع الحذاء (Khala'a al-hidha')
The Arabic 'khala'a' is also used for 'deposing' a leader, giving it a strong sense of 'stripping away'.
脱鞋 (Tuō xié)
The cultural reasoning is often more about hygiene than the 'sacred floor' concept found in Indonesia.
신발을 벗다 (Sinbal-eul beotda)
Korean houses often have a raised floor immediately after the shoe area, a physical barrier Indonesia sometimes lacks.
Tirar os sapatos
Portuguese uses 'tirar', which is a very broad verb for 'taking' or 'removing'.
Spotted in the Real World
“Kita adalah sepasang sepatu, selalu bersama tak bisa bersatu...”
A famous song using shoes as a metaphor for a couple that is always together but can never truly 'merge'.
“Lepas sepatumu, Ikal!”
A scene where the students enter the humble schoolhouse.
“POV: You forgot to lepas sepatu in an Indonesian house.”
Common comedy skits about the 'wrath' of an Indonesian mother if you walk on her clean floor with shoes.
Leicht verwechselbar
Both use 'lepas', but this is an idiom.
Lepas tangan means 'to wash one's hands of a responsibility', not removing gloves.
Learners might think 'lepas' is only for shoes.
You can use both 'lepas' and 'buka' for clothes, but 'buka' is more common for shirts.
Häufig gestellte Fragen (10)
No, in Indonesia it is expected. Guests will usually do it automatically without being asked.
cultural usageThis is a common worry! Indonesians are generally polite and won't say anything, but keeping your socks on can help.
practical tipsIn small private clinics, yes. In large modern hospitals, usually no. Look for a sign or a shoe rack.
usage contextsYes, 'buka sepatu' is very common and means the exact same thing in a casual context.
basic understandingIt means 'loose', 'free', or 'to release'.
grammar mechanicsOnly in small, traditional shops where the owner is sitting on the floor. Most modern shops are 'shoes-on'.
usage contextsIt's neutral. 'Melepas sepatu' is the formal version.
grammar mechanicsJust place your shoes neatly to the side of the door, out of the way of the walking path.
practical tipsYes, everyone from toddlers to the elderly follows this rule.
cultural usageYes, that is the requirement. You must remove shoes and socks are optional but allowed.
cultural usage
