If `simpulan bahasa` are short, punchy idioms, then `peribahasa` are the wise, complete sentences that convey deeper truths and cultural values. They are the equivalent of English proverbs like "A penny saved is a penny earned" and are used to give advice or make a point in a more profound way.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
Proverbs often use metaphors from nature and daily life to illustrate a point.
| Proverb | Literal Meaning | Actual Meaning | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air dicincang tidak akan putus. | Water, when chopped, will not break. | Family ties will never be broken, even after a quarrel. | Blood is thicker than water. |
| Di mana ada kemahuan, di situ ada jalan. | Where there is a will, there there is a way. | If you truly want something, you will find a way to achieve it. | Where there's a will, there's a way. |
| Sediakan payung sebelum hujan. | Prepare an umbrella before it rains. | Be prepared for problems before they happen. | Prevention is better than cure. |
| Seperti katak di bawah tempurung. | Like a frog under a coconut shell. | Someone with a very limited worldview, who doesn't know about the outside world. | To live in a bubble. |
| Bagai aur dengan tebing. | Like the bamboo and the riverbank. | A relationship of mutual help and cooperation; inseparable. | (None exactly, but embodies teamwork) |
You won't hear proverbs in everyday casual chat. Their use is reserved for more specific situations:
Your goal as a learner is primarily to recognize them and understand the wisdom they convey, rather than trying to use them in daily conversation yourself.
Memorize these common and insightful proverbs.
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Which proverb best fits the following situations?
A grandfather (`datuk`) gives advice to his grandson, Hafiz.
Hafiz: Datuk, saya bergaduh dengan abang saya semalam. Saya sangat marah. (...sah-yah bur-gah-dooh duh-ngahn ah-bahng sah-yah suh-mah-lahm...)
Datuk: Sabarlah, Hafiz. Kamu berdua adik-beradik. Ingat, air dicincang tidak akan putus. (sah-bar-lah, hah-feez. ... eeng-at, ah-yeer dee-cheen-chahng tee-dahk ah-kahn poo-toos.)
Hafiz: Tapi datuk, saya rasa susah untuk memaafkannya. (tah-pee dah-took, sah-yah rah-sah soo-sah oon-took muh-ma-ahf-kahn-nyah.)
Datuk: Datuk faham. Tapi, hubungan keluarga itu penting. Dalam hidup ini, kita mesti sentiasa tolong-menolong, bagai aur dengan tebing. (...keen-tah mus-tee sun-tee-ah-sah toh-long-muh-noh-long, bah-gai owr duh-ngahn tuh-beeng.)
Hafiz: Grandpa, I fought with my older brother yesterday. I am very angry.
Grandpa: Be patient, Hafiz. You two are siblings. Remember, family ties will never be broken.
Hafiz: But grandpa, I feel it's difficult to forgive him.
Grandpa: I understand. But family relationships are important. In this life, we must always help each other, like bamboo and the riverbank.
Cemerlang! You've now explored the deep, figurative side of Malay through its idioms and proverbs. Let's return to grammar to build even more sophisticated sentences. In the next chapter, we will learn about Ayat Majmuk (Compound Sentences), which involves combining multiple simple sentences into one longer, more complex sentence using advanced conjunctions.