The gurindam is a traditional Malay poem of advice. Each verse has just two lines that rhyme with each other (a-a). The first line sets up a condition or a cause, and the second gives the result. The best-known collection is Gurindam Dua Belas, written by Raja Ali Haji in the nineteenth century.
What your child will learn
- Recognise the two-line, a-a form
- Explain the advice in a gurindam
- Compare gurindam with pantun, syair, seloka and sajak
If this, then that
“Apabila banyak berkata-kata, / Di situlah jalan masuk dusta.” When there is too much talk, that is where lies creep in. The first line names a habit; the second names its consequence.
Unlike a two-line pantun, a gurindam has no pembayang — both lines are the message. Unlike a syair, it comes in pairs of lines rather than fours.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. Berapakah baris dalam serangkap gurindam?
📜- 2
- 4
- 3
- 6
Show answer
Answer: 2. Gurindam mempunyai dua baris serangkap.
2. Puisi yang manakah mempunyai dua baris serangkap, berima a-a dan berisi nasihat tanpa pembayang?
- gurindam
- sajak
- syair
- pantun empat kerat
Show answer
Answer: gurindam. Itulah ciri-ciri gurindam.
3. Dalam gurindam, baris pertama biasanya menyatakan…
📜- syarat atau sebab
- tajuk
- nama penulis
- pembayang tentang alam
Show answer
Answer: syarat atau sebab. Contohnya: “Apabila banyak berkata-kata…”.
Tips for grown-ups
- Read a gurindam aloud and put it in your own words.
- Write a two-line gurindam of family advice: “Jika…, …”.