Meaning
A person who doesn't feel embarrassed.
Cultural Background
The concept of 'Malu' (shame) is a pillar of social harmony. Being called 'muka tembok' is a sign that you have broken this social contract. In Javanese culture, 'muka tembok' is related to the concept of 'ora duwe isin' (not having shame), which is considered a very negative trait for a person's character. In the fast-paced life of Jakarta, 'muka tembok' is sometimes seen as a survival skill for those in sales or street vending. Batak culture is often perceived as more direct and bold. However, 'muka tembok' is still used to describe someone who crosses the line of decency.
Be Careful!
Calling someone 'muka tembok' can start a fight if you aren't close friends.
Use with 'Si'
Adding 'Si' (Si muka tembok) makes it sound more like a nickname for a specific person.
Meaning
A person who doesn't feel embarrassed.
Be Careful!
Calling someone 'muka tembok' can start a fight if you aren't close friends.
Use with 'Si'
Adding 'Si' (Si muka tembok) makes it sound more like a nickname for a specific person.
The Power of Malu
Remember that Indonesians value 'malu'. Use this idiom to understand what behaviors are considered socially unacceptable.
Persistence vs Shamelessness
If you want to praise someone's persistence, use 'gigih' instead of 'muka tembok'.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct idiom.
Dia tetap meminta makan meskipun sudah kenyang. Benar-benar ____.
Someone who keeps asking for things without shame is called 'muka tembok'.
Which situation is best described as 'muka tembok'?
Which of these people is 'muka tembok'?
Asking for an unreasonable discount requires a lack of embarrassment, which is 'muka tembok'.
Match the Indonesian phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are common personality descriptors in Indonesian.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Budi pinjam uang lagi?' B: 'Iya, padahal hutangnya banyak. Dia memang ____.'
Borrowing money repeatedly without paying back is a classic 'muka tembok' behavior.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Persistence vs. Shamelessness
Practice Bank
4 exercisesDia tetap meminta makan meskipun sudah kenyang. Benar-benar ____.
Someone who keeps asking for things without shame is called 'muka tembok'.
Which of these people is 'muka tembok'?
Asking for an unreasonable discount requires a lack of embarrassment, which is 'muka tembok'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are common personality descriptors in Indonesian.
A: 'Budi pinjam uang lagi?' B: 'Iya, padahal hutangnya banyak. Dia memang ____.'
Borrowing money repeatedly without paying back is a classic 'muka tembok' behavior.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt's not a swear word, but it is an insult. It's like calling someone 'shameless' in English.
Yes, you can say 'Saya harus muka tembok' (I have to be thick-skinned) when you are about to do something brave but embarrassing.
The opposite is 'pemalu' (shy) or 'mudah malu' (easily embarrassed).
No, it's almost exclusively for spoken Indonesian or informal writing like social media.
Mostly, yes. But 'muka tembok' is often more negative, implying the person is rude.
Yes, if a child is being very naughty and doesn't listen to their parents, they might be called 'muka tembok'.
You can say 'bermuka tembok', but it's less common than just 'muka tembok'.
Because a wall doesn't react or change when you hit it, just like a shameless person doesn't react to social pressure.
Only if you are describing a skill like sales, and even then, be very careful. It's better to use 'tahan banting'.
Yes, it is understood throughout the country.
Related Phrases
Tebal muka
synonymThick-faced
Muka dua
similarTwo-faced / Hypocrite
Tidak tahu malu
synonymDoesn't know shame
Malu-malu kucing
contrastPretending to be shy
