Meaning
Something that requires a lot of money.
Cultural Background
Weddings are a major social obligation. Families often save for years because a 'proper' wedding is expected to 'makan biaya' to show respect to the guests. In big cities like Jakarta, 'makan biaya' is often used to describe the high cost of living, especially for housing and private schools. Public discourse often uses 'memakan biaya' to criticize or question the efficiency of state-funded infrastructure. Modifying cars or motorcycles is a popular hobby that is famously 'makan biaya'.
Use it for empathy
When a friend complains about a high bill, saying 'Wah, makan biaya ya' shows you understand their struggle.
Avoid for small stuff
Don't say a cup of coffee 'makan biaya' unless it's a gold-plated coffee that costs $100.
Meaning
Something that requires a lot of money.
Use it for empathy
When a friend complains about a high bill, saying 'Wah, makan biaya ya' shows you understand their struggle.
Avoid for small stuff
Don't say a cup of coffee 'makan biaya' unless it's a gold-plated coffee that costs $100.
Formalize it
In a professional email, always use 'memakan biaya' instead of 'makan biaya'.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct phrase.
Membangun gedung pencakar langit itu sangat _______.
Building a skyscraper requires a lot of money, so 'makan biaya' is the correct choice.
Which sentence is the most natural for a business report?
Pilih kalimat yang paling tepat untuk laporan bisnis:
The prefix 'me-' and the word 'signifikan' make it appropriate for a formal report.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Kenapa kamu tidak jadi beli mobil tua itu? B: Wah, perbaikannya nanti _______.
The context is about car repairs, which involve money.
Match the situation to the phrase.
Situation: A government building a new airport.
Large infrastructure projects are the classic example of 'makan biaya'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesMembangun gedung pencakar langit itu sangat _______.
Building a skyscraper requires a lot of money, so 'makan biaya' is the correct choice.
Pilih kalimat yang paling tepat untuk laporan bisnis:
The prefix 'me-' and the word 'signifikan' make it appropriate for a formal report.
A: Kenapa kamu tidak jadi beli mobil tua itu? B: Wah, perbaikannya nanti _______.
The context is about car repairs, which involve money.
Situation: A government building a new airport.
Large infrastructure projects are the classic example of 'makan biaya'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it's a neutral idiom. It's perfectly fine to use in most social and professional settings.
Yes, adding 'banyak' (a lot) is very common to emphasize the high cost.
'Mahal' means expensive (adjective). 'Makan biaya' is a phrase that describes the act of consuming resources (verb phrase).
No, for time you must use 'makan waktu'.
Yes, though slang often uses even more colorful terms like 'bikin bokek' (makes me broke).
No, you cannot say a person 'makan biaya' unless you mean they are expensive to take care of (like a child or a dependent).
It's not necessarily more polite, just more formal/grammatically complete.
Usually, it's better for things that feel like a process or have multiple costs, but it can be used for a single large purchase too.
Slightly, as it implies a drain on resources, but it can also be a neutral statement of fact.
You can say 'Tidak makan biaya banyak' or 'Biayanya kecil'.
Related Phrases
Makan waktu
similarTo take a long time
Makan tempat
similarTo take up space
Menelan biaya
specialized formTo swallow costs (massive expense)
Makan hati
contrastTo suffer emotionally
Banyak biaya
synonymHigh cost
