A simpulan bahasa is a short idiom, usually two words, whose meaning cannot be worked out from the words themselves. Ringan tulang is literally “light bones” but means hard-working; buah tangan, “fruit of the hand”, is a gift brought on a visit.
What your child will learn
- Give the meaning of common idioms
- Choose the idiom that fits a sentence
- Tell praise from criticism
Words that mean something else
Many idioms use parts of the body: ringan tulang (hard-working), berat tulang (lazy), panjang tangan (light-fingered), besar kepala (big-headed), mulut murai (chatterbox).
Others use animals and things: kaki bangku (hopeless at football), cakar ayam (scrawly handwriting), ulat buku (bookworm), anak emas (favourite child).
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. “Buah tangan” bermaksud…
🎁- buah yang masak
- tangan yang cedera
- hadiah yang dibawa ketika melawat
- buah yang dipetik dengan tangan
Show answer
Answer: hadiah yang dibawa ketika melawat. “Buah tangan” bermaksud hadiah yang dibawa ketika melawat.
2. “Mulut murai” bermaksud…
- pendiam
- suka bercakap banyak
- suara yang merdu
- burung murai
Show answer
Answer: suka bercakap banyak. “Mulut murai” bermaksud suka bercakap banyak.
3. “Besar kepala” bermaksud…
- kepala yang besar
- sakit kepala
- sangat pandai
- sombong dan tidak mahu mendengar nasihat
Show answer
Answer: sombong dan tidak mahu mendengar nasihat. “Besar kepala” bermaksud sombong dan tidak mahu mendengar nasihat.
Tips for grown-ups
- Draw an idiom literally, then talk about what it really means.
- Use one idiom a day at home: “Wah, ringan tulang betul kamu hari ini!”