Malay Proverbs

In the Malay language, the proverbs are known as simpulan bahasa.

* Ada air, adalah ikan
o Literal translation: Where there is water, there is fish.


* Ada aku dipandang hadap, tiada aku dipandang belakang


* Ada angin, ada pokoknya
o Literal translation: Where there is wind, there are trees.


* Ada batang, cendawan tumbuh
o Literal translation: Where there is a branch, mushrooms grow.
o Wherever we are there is to gain.

* Ada batang mati, adalah cendawan tumbuh
o Literal translation: Where there is dead branch, there grow mushrooms.
o Wherever we are there is to gain.

* Ada beras, taruh dalam padi


* Ada biduk, serempu pula


* Ada bukit, ada paya
o Literal translation: Where there are hills, there are swamps.


* Ada gula, ada semut
o Literal translation: Where there is sugar, there are ants.


* Ada hari, ada nasi
o Literal translation: Where there is a day, there is rice.


* Ada hujan ada panas, ada hari boleh balas'
o Literal: There is rain, there is shine, there will be a day for retribution --RedQueen 20:17, 29 May 2010 (UTC)
o With the passing of time comes the opportunity for payback. --RedQueen 20:17, 29 May 2010 (UTC)


* Ada jarum, hendaklah ada benangnya
o Literal translation: Where there is needle, there is thread.


* Ada kerak, ada nasi


* Ada laut, ada perampok


* Ada nasi di balik kerak


* Ada nyawa, ada rezeki


* Ada padang, ada belalangnya
o Literal translation: Where there is field, there are grasshoppers.


* Ada padi, segala menjadi
o Literal translation: Where there is paddy, everything works.


* Ada padi masak, adalah pipit


* Ada padi, semua kerja jadi; ada beras, semua kerja deras


* Ada persembahan, ada kurnia


* Ada rotan, ada duri
o Literal translation: Where there is rattan, there are thorns.


* Ada rupa, ada harga


* Ada seperti tampaknya apung-apung


* Air dicincang tidak akan putus
o Literal translation: Water that is being 'chopped' will not be cut.


* Air di daun keladi
o Literal translation: Water on the leaf of a yam plant.
o Advises 'fly' into an ear and 'fly' out from another: Used to describe someone ignoring advises.


* Air pun ada pasang surutnya


* Air sama air, sampah ke tepi juga
o Literal translation: Water and water, rubbish moves aside.
o Do not get involved in a sibling or family dispute because when they get back together, one will be left out.


* Alah bisa tegal biasa

* Alah membeli, menang memakai
o Literal Translation: Lose at buying, win at wearing.


* Alah sabung, menang sorak
o Literal translation: Lose at fighting, win at cheering.


* Alang-alang menyeluk pekasam, biar sampai ke pangkal lengan
o Literal translation: Since you happen to put your hand in a container full of pickles, might as well dip your whole arm in the container.
o If you are going to do something, you might as well go all the way. This comes from the fact that the ripest pickles sink to the bottom, thus if a person is putting their hand in the jar, they might as well go all the way and take the best from the bottom of the jar. Compare to in for a penny, in for a pound.


* Anjing itu, meskipun dirantai dengan rantai emas, nescaya berulang-ulang juga ia ke tempat najis


* Anjing menyalak di ekor gajah
o Literal translation: Dog barking at elephant's tail.
o A weakling trying to challenge a person with power.


* Anjing terpanggang ekor
o Literal translation: Dog mis-roasted his tail.


* Api dalam sekam


* Arang itu, jika dibasuh dengan air mawar sekalipu