Chapter 35: Simpulan Bahasa (Common Idioms)

Selamat datang ke Level 4: Pakar (Expert)! Now we move beyond literal language into the colorful world of idioms. `Simpulan Bahasa` are short, fixed phrases (usually two words) whose meanings are figurative, not literal. Understanding them is key to appreciating the richness of Malay culture and expression.

Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

Define `Simpulan Bahasa` and differentiate it from literal phrases.
Recognize and understand several common and useful idioms.
Use these idioms in appropriate contexts to sound more natural.

Common `Simpulan Bahasa`

The key is to remember that the literal translation is often strange or funny. You must learn the actual, intended meaning.

Idiom	Literal Meaning	Actual Meaning
makan angin	eat wind	to go for a walk, travel, or go on holiday
anak emas	golden child	a favorite child, a darling
berat tulang	heavy bone	lazy
ringan tulang	light bone	hardworking, helpful
kaki bangku	bench leg	someone who is bad at football/soccer
otak udang	prawn brain	stupid, dim-witted (prawns have small heads)
buah tangan	fruit of the hand	a gift or souvenir brought back from a trip
ada hati	have a heart/liver	to have feelings for someone; to desire something
pasang telinga	install ears	to eavesdrop, listen intently

Idioms are Fixed Phrases

An important characteristic of `simpulan bahasa` is that they are fixed. You cannot change the words or their order and expect the meaning to be understood.

You must say `berat tulang` (heavy bone), not `tulang berat` (bone that is heavy). The first is an idiom for "lazy," while the second is a literal description of a heavy bone.
You must say `makan angin` (eat wind). Saying `makan bayu` (eat breeze) would just sound strange, even though `bayu` is another word for breeze.

Practice Activities

Recognition Practice:

Exercise 1: Match the Meaning

Match the idiom to its actual meaning.

 ringan tulang    ( ) to travel
 buah tangan      ( ) lazy
 makan angin      ( ) hardworking
 berat tulang     ( ) souvenir

ringan tulang → hardworking
buah tangan → souvenir
makan angin → to travel
berat tulang → lazy

Production Practice:

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blank

Choose the correct idiom to complete the sentence.

Dia tidak pandai bermain bola, dia _____. (He isn't good at playing football, he is _____.)
Setiap kali dia balik dari kampung, dia bawa _____. (Every time she returns from her village, she brings _____.)
Cuti sekolah nanti, kami sekeluarga akan _____ di Pulau Pinang. (This school holiday, my family will _____ in Penang.)

kaki bangku
buah tangan
makan angin

Cerita Pendek (Short Story)

A mother talking about her two sons.

Dua Orang Anak (Two Sons)

Saya ada dua orang anak lelaki. Yang sulung, Azman, sangat ringan tulang. Dia selalu menolong saya di dapur dan di kebun. Dia memang anak emas saya. (...ah-zmahn, sah-ngaht ring-ahn too-lahng...)

Adiknya, Amir, pula sangat berat tulang. Dia hanya suka bermain permainan video sepanjang hari. (...ah-meer, poo-lah sah-ngaht buh-raht too-lahng...)

Saya selalu menasihati Amir. Saya harap suatu hari nanti dia akan berubah. (sah-yah slah-loo muh-nah-see-hah-tee ah-meer...)

Two Sons (Translation)

I have two sons. The eldest, Azman, is very hardworking. He always helps me in the kitchen and in the garden. He is truly my favorite child.

His younger brother, Amir, on the other hand, is very lazy. He only likes to play video games all day long.

I always advise Amir. I hope one day he will change.

Looking Ahead

Bagus! You've taken your first step into the figurative world of Malay. `Simpulan Bahasa` are like short, punchy expressions. Next, we will explore their longer, more formal cousins: Peribahasa (Proverbs). These are complete sentences that contain wisdom and cultural values, similar to "The early bird gets the worm."

Previous Chapter: Complex Conversations Next Chapter: Proverbs