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Chapter Three

Body Language

From head to tongue to toe, body parts reveal a lot about how Indonesians feel and think.

Muka (Face)

Setor muka

Deposit face = Show your face. Drop by. Pop in.

“I don’t feel like going to my boss’s party, but if it’s only a short one, I’ll go,” says the party pooper.

Saya malas pergi ke pesta bos saya, tapi kalau hanya setor muka, ayolah.

The expression is popular in Jakarta. Setor usually refers to depositing money in a bank (setor uang di bank).

Carmuk (acronym)

Look for face = To suck up/butter up.

Ambil muka (take face) also refers to the act of seeking someone’s favor.

Buruk muka, cermin dibelah

Ugly face, break the mirror = A bad workman blames his tools.

It’s easier to assign blame than to accept your own faults. Indonesians often just say the first half of the expression, and drop the rest. Buruk muka…

Muka tembok

Wall face. A thick-skinned person, impervious to curses, insults and admonitions.

Another term is muka badak (rhino face).

Kepala batu (stone head) is a stubborn person.

Arang di muka

Charcoal on the face = Shamed. Insulted. Disgraced.

Don’t humiliate others in public, whatever the circumstances. Humiliation tarnishes “face,” or honor, like a smear of charcoal.

Many Indonesians think a daughter who gets pregnant out of wedlock has smeared her family’s face with charcoal.

Jangan coreng mukaku (Don’t smear my face) means: Don’t humiliate me.

Malu means shy or ashamed or embarrassed, and implies a loss of face.

“I am so ashamed. I’ve lost face. Were could I put my face?” whimpers a husband whose wife has embarrassed him in front of his boss.

Saya malu. Saya kehilangan muka. Muka saya mau taruh di mana?

Mupeng (acronym)

MUka PENGen

Wanting face = Horny. Turned on.

Young people use this expression to indicate sexual desire.

Nowadays, mupeng refers to desire for anything, including inanimate objects:

“Look at him and that latest WiFi laptop. He has such a wanting face.”

Lihat dia dan laptop wifi terbaru. Mupeng banget.

Mata (Eyes)

Main mata = Eye playing. Flirting/checking out/winking.

Mata ijo are green eyes, a sign of yearning. Indonesians associate green with greed. The term combines Indonesian (mata; eyes) and Javanese (ijo; green), an example of how ethnic languages mix with the national language.

A more common expression for greed is mata duitan (money eyes). It describes a man or woman who seeks a rich lover or spouse.

Mata gelap (dark eyes) indicate violent anger, or possession by an evil spirit. Mata hati is heart’s eye, or conscience.

Someone who ogles an object of desire, often sexual, is mata keranjang (basket eyes). He shops with his eyes, just as a shopper with a basket peruses market produce. The term suggests that the basket-sized eyes of the beholder can hold lots of people in their gaze.

The expression sounds like mata ke ranjang (from the eyes to the bed), a possible reference to the come-hither look that lures sexual partners into the sack.

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A troll with a voracious appetite in folktales on Java and Bali is Buto Ijo, green giant in Javanese.

Three kinds of buto symbolize the ills of the world: Buto Ijo represents thievery and corruption, Buto Kala (time giant) stands for lust, and Buto Cakil (fanged giant) is a symbol of rage.

Buto Ijo is a villain in a folktale about a girl called Timun Mas (Golden Cucumber). The giant gave a magical cucumber seed to an old couple, telling them it would yield a baby girl if planted. The giant bestowed the gift on the condition that he could eat the girl when she turned 17 years old. The couple planted the seed, and it grew into a big cucumber. Out popped Timun Mas.

When Buto Ijo returned for his prize 17 years later, the couple urged their beautiful girl to flee, and gave her a small bag to assist her escape.

With the giant in pursuit, Timun Mas drew a handful of salt from the bag and flung it, turning hard ground into water. The giant floundered across. Then the teenager tossed chili pepper seeds from the bag, and a thorny bush briefly entangled the giant. Timun Mas hurled some cucumber seeds, and a cucumber field sprouted instantly.

Tired and hungry, the giant sat down to chew on the cucumbers. Soon he gave chase again, and Timun Mas lobbed terasi (shrimp paste) from the bag. The paste turned the ground into quicksand that swallowed up Buto Ijo.

Timun Mas returned to her parents and lived happily.

Each ethnic group in Indonesia has its own set of monsters in its own language, and Buto Ijo goes by different names elsewhere.

Another giant, Buto Kala, overheard the gods talk about amerta, the elixir of immortality. He disguised himself as a god and joined the gods as they sipped the holy water. After Buto Kala tasted the magic water, a god realized he was an impostor and cut off his head. The immortal, empowered head fell in love with the moon goddess, Dewi Ratih. She refused him, and Buto swallowed her in a jealous rage. Ratih escaped through Buto’s severed neck, but the stubborn giant wouldn’t give up, and he chases the goddess to this day. Balinese and Javanese say an eclipse of the moon signals that he has swallowed her, but not for long.

Buto Cakil, a giant with fangs that jut from a protruding lower jaw, makes regular appearances in traditional puppet shows. A typical performance features a battle between a knight and giants led by Buto Cakil. The good knight slaughters Buto Cakil in a triumph of good over evil.

Mata tidur bantal terjaga

Eyes asleep, the pillow awakes = When the cat’s away, the mice will play.

The expression refers to a husband or wife who has an affair while the spouse is off guard. The saying was originally meant for a wife who cheated on her husband, but now it applies to both genders.

Hilang di mata, di hati jangan

Lost in the eyes, don’t lose in the heart.

Hopefully, absence makes the heart grow fonder. This expression warns against the dangers of out of sight, out of mind.

“Don't forget me, sweetheart,” singers croon.

Hilang di mata, di hati jangan, sayang.

The expression is old. A more up-to-date version is jauh di mata, dekat di hati (far from the eyes, close to the heart).

Hidung (Nose)

Potong hidung, rusak muka = Cut nose, ruin face.

Shame your family, and you shame yourself. The nose is similar to your family: one is in the center of your face, and the other is in the center of your life.

“Like having a child with big nose” (seperti beranak besar hidung) means you are conceited because you’re always flaunting what you have.

Many Indonesians worry that their noses are small and flat. Some mothers pinch their babies’ noses upwards so they don’t suffer the fate of kids deemed to have ugly, flat noses.

—————

Haji Djedje, a 60-year-old paranormal with blow-dried hair and a love of colorful shirts, turned the flat noses of his clients into Roman ones. Supposedly aided by special powers, he massaged a nose with the tips of his fingers over the course of several visits to his clinic. He also applied a nose clip padded with two rolls of cotton wool. Djdje claimed the result—a pointed, assertive nose—needed a touchup after two years. He also sold lotion that lightens the skin. His client base included many transvestites, who made him the guest of honor at a cross-dressing show in Jakarta in 2002.

West Javanese believed the nose indicated character, saying:

“You are how your nose is.”

Jalma mah kumaha irungna.

West Javanese traditional puppets are divided into broad-nosed giants who are mean and evil, and pointy-nosed knights who personify goodness.

At a mass prayer in West Java during parliamentary elections in 2004, Indonesian Muslim preachers asked God to curse the anfun kabir, Arabic for si hidung besar (big nose)—those who will lead Indonesians astray. The preachers appeared to refer to abstract evil, rather than an individual or group.

Mulut (Mouth)

Mulut manis mematahkan tulang = A sweet mouth breaks bones.

Gentle persuasion does more to sway people than hammering them over the head with a tirade. So turn on the charm. Mulut manis (sweet mouth) isn’t always positive. It can imply empty promises:

Mulut manis jangan percaya, lepas dari tangan jangan diharap.

“Don’t believe in sweet mouth. Don't hope once you let go of hands.”

Clasp your sweetheart’s hands, or twist an adversary’s arm, and you might get a promise. But once you turn your back or part company—let go of hands—all bets are off.

“Cheap in mouth, expensive on the scales” (Murah di mulut, mahal di timbangan) refers to someone who makes promises easily but doesn’t carry them out.

“Different in mouth, different in the heart” denotes dishonesty. Lain di mulut, lain di hati.

Mulut bocor (leaking mouth) or mulut ember (bucket mouth) means you can’t keep a secret. Mulut gatal (itchy mouth) is a chatterbox. Jadi buah bibir (become lip-fruit) is to become a subject of gossip or conversation.

Lidah (Tongue)

Bersilat lidah.

Tongue fighting, or tongue kung fu.

Argue.

—————

Silat is a term for the hundreds of Indonesian martial arts. Many are associated with mystical powers and heavily influenced by Chinese, Indian and Persian fighting styles. Silat schools across Indonesia teach students how to fight with sticks, knives, swords and rope. Some practitioners emulate the tiger, crouching as they poise to strike. Fighters ensure an opponent is down for good with repeated blows that seem excessive to an unschooled observer.

The Merpati Putih (White Dove) school of martial arts relies heavily on tenaga dalam (inner energy). Students at the school, some in their early teens, punch dozens of blocks of ice, wood and concrete until their bruised knuckles turn crimson. The goal is to shatter a target with one blow, a helpful skill in hand-to-hand combat. Silat alleviated one student’s asthma, possibly by building strength in her lungs.

Indonesian silat were once so secretive that no foreigners were allowed to learn them. Today, they are commercial enterprises. Traditionalists complain about efforts to turn silat into a competitive sport.

Lidah tak bertulang (Minangkabau)

Tongue with no bones = Silvery tongue.

Someone who promises easily but doesn’t follow through. The tongue bends or changes easily because it is boneless.

Panjang lidah (long tongue) is a gossipmonger.

Jadi penyambung lidah

Become a tongue extension = Become a mouthpiece, or spokesman.

The term can be derogatory because it implies the “tongue extension” is a lackey. But it was also used to praise President Sukarno, a hero of the independence movement during Dutch rule, as a voice for all Indonesians:

“Brother Karno is the spokesman/tongue extension of the people.”

Bung Karno adalah penyambung lidah masyarakat.

Menelan air ludah

To swallow one’s spit = Take back what you say or preach. Eat humble pie.

“What a hypocrite! He has to lick his own spit. How dare he say wives have to remain loyal to their husband, while he himself commits adultery!”

Dasar munafik! Dia harus menelan ludah sendiri. Beraninya dia berkhotbah istri harus setia dengan suami tapi sendirinya menyeleweng!

Menelan ludah also describes the helplessness of someone who pines for something unattainable, but can only stand and gulp.

A person whose boss rebukes him can’t do much but swallow saliva.

Menjilat air liur is to lick saliva. It means to praise something that was previously despised. Opportunists do this a lot.

Unjuk gigi

Show teeth = A show of force. Prove one’s worth. Get one’s back up.

Dogs, cats and tigers bare their fangs to show ferocity. The phrase implies guts and verve. A junior basketball player gets his chance to show teeth after spending most of his team’s games on the bench.

“Only have teeth and tongue left” (tinggal gigi dengan lidah saja) is to have nothing left. Not even the shirt on your back.

“Sometimes teeth bite the tongue” (gigi dengan lidah ada kala bergigit juga) is an old-fashioned way of saying allies, spouses or relatives sometimes argue.

Odol

Toothpaste.

Odol, a German brand of toothpaste, was once so popular in Indonesia that it became a generic name for toothpaste, just as the brand name Xerox is synonymous with photocopy. Odol is no longer available in Indonesia.

In the old days, there were two kinds of dentifrice: Odol and Gibbs of Britain. The latter took the form of a cake that had to be scraped onto a toothbrush. Odol succeeded because it was hygienic and easier to use.

The literal term for toothpaste is pasta gigi. It’s rarely used in conversation, but it shows up in advertisements and written Indonesian.

Other brands that became generic names for products in Indonesia include Honda (motorcycle), Softex (sanitary napkins), and Aqua (bottled mineral water).

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Old Indonesian literature describes a beautiful woman in the following ways:

Bibirnya seperti buah delima,

Her lips are like pomegranates,

Rambutnya seperti mayang mengurai,

Her hair is like the tips of a palm blossom,

Alisnya seperti semut beriring,

Her brows are like ants walking in a line,

Dagunya seperti lebah bergantung,

Her chin is like honey hanging down,

Betisnya seperti paha balalang,

Her shins are like the thighs of a cricket,

Lengan bagai lilin dituang,

Her arms are like molded candles,

Kulit seperti sawo matang.

Her skin is like the ripe sawo fruit.

The sawo fruit has a sweet taste similar to that of a pear. Its skin is usually brown.

Older Indonesian men relish these images, but the phrases are a relic of a bygone age for the younger set. Today, the glut of skin whitening lotions on the market suggests soft white skin (kulit putih halus) is more popular than the darker shade of old. Long, shiny, straight black hair is in, though many women dye or highlight their locks.

Dia bertangan dingin

He is cold-handed = He has a knack for success. He’s a real pro.

One theory about the origin of this expression is that the nerves in a cold hand are numb, allowing their owner to take unpopular steps without hesitation. An executive fires workers to make his business successful. Bertangan dingin suggests an uncanny talent for making money or succeeding in any endeavor.

Paling jempol

The best thumb = First rate. Great. Number one.

An old-fashioned term used to describe places, objects and people. As in other cultures, Indonesians also stick up their thumbs (acung jempol) to indicate approval.

Hendak menggaruk, tak berkuku

Want to scratch, have no nails = You want to do something, but are powerless.

“Have no nails yet, but want to scratch,” is a variation. Belum berkuku hendak menggaruk.

This means you’re out of your league. You’re a deluded upstart.

“Give nails, want to grab,” means you’re greedy. Diberi kuku hendak mencekam. The more power you have, the more corrupt you become.

Bagai inai dengan kuku

Like henna with nails = Fast friends. Like lips and teeth.

This old-fashioned expression mostly applies to platonic friendships.

Henna is an earthy pigment made from shrubs that is used to color nails, hands, feet, hair and beards. Its use in religious ceremonies and other celebrations of many cultures goes back centuries. The swirling, intricate patterns associated with henna in other parts of the world are rare in Indonesia, where the pigment is mostly used on nails. It is popular among unmarried, conservative Muslim women in villages who don’t use nail varnish. They believe Muslim custom only allows henna because it is natural, and allows the nails to “breathe.” Ablution waters can touch the nails before prayer.

Other sayings such as bagai empedu lekat di hati (like a gall bladder close to the heart) can be used for friendship and lovers. A less common saying is bagai aur di tebing (like bamboo near cliffs). Most of the expressions show that rural Indonesians associate nature and body parts with friendship.

Banting tulang

Smashing bones = Do all in one’s power, make every effort.

The phrase implies a continuous, even endless struggle.

If you exert yourself to the fullest, even your bones ache. This applies to a single parent who works and raises a child at the same time.

Buah hati, cahaya mata

Fruit of my heart, light of my eyes = Sweetheart.

Hati means liver, but translates as heart in an emotional context. Jantung hati (heart’s heart) is also the object of one’s affection, or a child.

Buah hati is a lyrical, whimsical way for Indonesian parents to describe their children:

“My darling children, the fruit of my heart,” they say. Anakanakku sayang, buah hatiku.

Panas hati (hot heart) means angry, or jealous.

“My heart grows hot listening to the gossip,” she fumes.

Panas hatiku mendengar gossip itu.

In some restaurants, menus knock off the “h” in hati to clarify that a dish contains liver rather than heart. Ati ayam, for example, is chicken liver.

Lari terbirit-birit

Running very fast = Running like the wind. Helter-skelter.

The Malay word birit rarely surfaces on its own in Indonesia these days, but the expression lari terbirit-birit survives. The ter- suffix suggests a repetitive, compulsive action. The expression evokes an image of a person with diarrhea dashing to the toilet for relief, though it applies to anyone who rushes around frantically.

Burung

Bird = Penis.

In Indonesian villages, little boys used to wander around freely with naked bottoms. Their mothers scolded them:

“Put your bird away, zip it up or it will fly away.”

Masukin burungmu, tutup retsletingnya. Nanti burungmu bisa terbang.

Hancur badan di kandung tanah, budi baik dikenang jua

Though the body rots in the dirt, good deeds will be remembered.