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Pantuns are a window onto Malay culture. Here's a thread of pantuns I have translated into English.
[Original Malay versions are all from UKM's database] http://www.malaycivilization.com.my/
[Original Malay versions are all from UKM's database] http://www.malaycivilization.com.my/
Inai / Henna #1 https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/934396407963717632
Inai / Henna #2 https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/934395570092851200
Leave them be to prepare rebung
Where the tiny awful hairs reside
Leave those who are boastful and proud
Disaster is only a step behind pride
Biarlah orang memasang rebung
Rebung itu banyak miangnya
Biarlah orang berlagak sombong
Sombong itu banyak malangnya
Where the tiny awful hairs reside
Leave those who are boastful and proud
Disaster is only a step behind pride
Biarlah orang memasang rebung
Rebung itu banyak miangnya
Biarlah orang berlagak sombong
Sombong itu banyak malangnya
Morning glory of the water
Growing thickly in the garden.
Love of praise and pride in honors
Is not the way of the gentleman.
Batang jati kangkung
Tumbuh rapat di dalam taman
Suka dipuji gemar disanjung
Bukanlah sifat orang budiman
Growing thickly in the garden.
Love of praise and pride in honors
Is not the way of the gentleman.
Batang jati kangkung
Tumbuh rapat di dalam taman
Suka dipuji gemar disanjung
Bukanlah sifat orang budiman
Take the parang beneath the stairs
Stone will whet an edge grown dull
That faith be kept safe in prayer,
Prostrate daily five times in full
Ambil parang di bawah tangga
Kalaulah tumpul asah di batu
Agarlah iman tetap terjaga
Laksanakan solat yang lima waktu
Stone will whet an edge grown dull
That faith be kept safe in prayer,
Prostrate daily five times in full
Ambil parang di bawah tangga
Kalaulah tumpul asah di batu
Agarlah iman tetap terjaga
Laksanakan solat yang lima waktu
Noni growing beside the river
Fruit spoiled by a fox in hunger
I wait to collapse in death; my lover's
Fallen in the arms of another
Batang mengkudu di tepi sungai
Putiknya musnah dimakan musang
Abang menunggu mati terkulai
Adik lah pindah ke tangan orang
Fruit spoiled by a fox in hunger
I wait to collapse in death; my lover's
Fallen in the arms of another
Batang mengkudu di tepi sungai
Putiknya musnah dimakan musang
Abang menunggu mati terkulai
Adik lah pindah ke tangan orang
Large as papaya, small as keranji,
Break a branch and the fruit falls down
A face so lovely with manners so ugly
Like rain that's falling murky and brown
Besar betik kecil keranji
Patah dahan buahnya luruh
Muka cantik perangai keji
Bagai hujan airnya keruh
Break a branch and the fruit falls down
A face so lovely with manners so ugly
Like rain that's falling murky and brown
Besar betik kecil keranji
Patah dahan buahnya luruh
Muka cantik perangai keji
Bagai hujan airnya keruh
Rambutans hanging red and bright
A papaya tree by the fence has grown
Good men need not be taught what's right
A thorn in the jungle is sharp on its own
Batang betik di tepi pagar
Buah rambutan merah berseri
Orang baik tak payah diajar
Duri di hutan tajam sendiri
A papaya tree by the fence has grown
Good men need not be taught what's right
A thorn in the jungle is sharp on its own
Batang betik di tepi pagar
Buah rambutan merah berseri
Orang baik tak payah diajar
Duri di hutan tajam sendiri
Pulasan grows at branch’s end
Harvest keranji with a wooden rod
O Man! Do not seek to be praised
Know that all praise is due unto God
Ambil galah jolok keranji
Buah pulasan di hujung dahan
Manusia janganlah suka dipuji
Segala puji kepunyaan Tuhan
Harvest keranji with a wooden rod
O Man! Do not seek to be praised
Know that all praise is due unto God
Ambil galah jolok keranji
Buah pulasan di hujung dahan
Manusia janganlah suka dipuji
Segala puji kepunyaan Tuhan
Kemuning wrapped ’round fence’s edge
A garden of tea with a thorny hedge
Boastful talk; scanty knowledge
A great big spoon for little porridge
Kemuning melilit di tepi pagar
Pagar berduri di kebun teh
Ilmu sedikit cakap berdegar-degar
Kurang bubur sudu yang lebih!
A garden of tea with a thorny hedge
Boastful talk; scanty knowledge
A great big spoon for little porridge
Kemuning melilit di tepi pagar
Pagar berduri di kebun teh
Ilmu sedikit cakap berdegar-degar
Kurang bubur sudu yang lebih!
Kenanga flowers with a scent so strong
Watered and fed till the blossoms filled
I’ve tried so hard, worked so long
So I stand ready to accept His Will
Mekar kenanga harum baunya
Kembang mekar disiram dibaja
Puas ku cuba sudah ku usaha
Namun takdirnya ku pasrah saja
Watered and fed till the blossoms filled
I’ve tried so hard, worked so long
So I stand ready to accept His Will
Mekar kenanga harum baunya
Kembang mekar disiram dibaja
Puas ku cuba sudah ku usaha
Namun takdirnya ku pasrah saja
Coffee beans spread upon a tray
Jasmine blooms on the ledge do rest
I’ve been dreaming till break of day
My sweetheart sleeping upon my chest
Buah kopi di atas loyang
Kembang melati letak di bangku
Saya bermimpi hampirkan siang
Jantung hati tidur di pangku
Jasmine blooms on the ledge do rest
I’ve been dreaming till break of day
My sweetheart sleeping upon my chest
Buah kopi di atas loyang
Kembang melati letak di bangku
Saya bermimpi hampirkan siang
Jantung hati tidur di pangku
Branches of machang hanging so heavy
No need to eat it to know it is sweet
Your letter has come by this child’s delivery
No need to read it to begin to weep
Buah macang setangkai lebat,
Belum dimakan manis dahulu;
Budak ini menghantar surat,
Belum dibaca menangis dulu.
No need to eat it to know it is sweet
Your letter has come by this child’s delivery
No need to read it to begin to weep
Buah macang setangkai lebat,
Belum dimakan manis dahulu;
Budak ini menghantar surat,
Belum dibaca menangis dulu.
Carry a staff while in the field
With a basket to harvest your crops
O how short does this life feel
And yet how the day never stops
Simpan ubi dalam keranjang
Keluar kebun membawa tongkat
Hari terasa amat panjang
Dan hidup terlampau singkat
With a basket to harvest your crops
O how short does this life feel
And yet how the day never stops
Simpan ubi dalam keranjang
Keluar kebun membawa tongkat
Hari terasa amat panjang
Dan hidup terlampau singkat
Together take flight a flock of Jentayu
Felled by an arrow one drops from the sky
Would you care to sit for a chew
Tho my sirih has wilted, my betelnut dried
Burung jentayu terbang beriring
Mati dipanah gugur ke lumpur
Sirihku layu pinangku kering
Sudikah dimamah barang sekapur
Felled by an arrow one drops from the sky
Would you care to sit for a chew
Tho my sirih has wilted, my betelnut dried
Burung jentayu terbang beriring
Mati dipanah gugur ke lumpur
Sirihku layu pinangku kering
Sudikah dimamah barang sekapur
Over the fence there hangs much jackfruit
Knock some down with that stick for me
Of knowledge I’m newly in pursuit
So when I’m wrong please do correct me
Buah cempedak di luar pagar
Ambil galah tolong jolokkan
Saya budak baru belajar
Kalau salah tolong tunjukkan
Knock some down with that stick for me
Of knowledge I’m newly in pursuit
So when I’m wrong please do correct me
Buah cempedak di luar pagar
Ambil galah tolong jolokkan
Saya budak baru belajar
Kalau salah tolong tunjukkan
2-3 kuching berlari #pantuninggeris https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/940389300784345088
Bream Barbel Threadfin Bass.
First a liar, a thief at last.
Siakap Senohong Gelama Ikan Duri
Bercakap bohong lama-lama mencuri
#pantuninggeris
First a liar, a thief at last.
Siakap Senohong Gelama Ikan Duri
Bercakap bohong lama-lama mencuri
#pantuninggeris
@napiez's collection of #pantuninggeris: Malay Pantuns for a Global Audience.
Anda bila lagi?
https://twitter.com/napiez/status/941529797460508673
Anda bila lagi?
https://twitter.com/napiez/status/941529797460508673
Pandan Island amidst the waves
Rise Daik Mountain's peaks of three
Though the body rots within the grave
The good men do lives in memory
Pulau Pandan jauh ke tengah
Gunung Daik bercabang tiga
Hancur badan dikandung tanah
Budi baik dikenang jua
cc @masitaMZ #pantuninggeris
Rise Daik Mountain's peaks of three
Though the body rots within the grave
The good men do lives in memory
Pulau Pandan jauh ke tengah
Gunung Daik bercabang tiga
Hancur badan dikandung tanah
Budi baik dikenang jua
cc @masitaMZ #pantuninggeris
Gold bananas brought out to sea
Set to ripen upon a chest
A debt of gold is paid with ease
Debts of honor abide till death
Pisang emas di bawa belayar
Masak sebiji di atas peti
Hutang emas boleh dibayar
Hutang budi dibawa mati
debt: @napiez
#pantuninggeris
Set to ripen upon a chest
A debt of gold is paid with ease
Debts of honor abide till death
Pisang emas di bawa belayar
Masak sebiji di atas peti
Hutang emas boleh dibayar
Hutang budi dibawa mati
debt: @napiez
#pantuninggeris
When it's ready to fall the jackfruit will fall
No need to strike at the branches that way
Rest your eyes as darkness falls
Don't lay there thinking of one far away
Hendak gugur gugurlah nangka...
#pantuninggeris cc @HaziqAbu
No need to strike at the branches that way
Rest your eyes as darkness falls
Don't lay there thinking of one far away
Hendak gugur gugurlah nangka...
#pantuninggeris cc @HaziqAbu
A band of kids play with a spear
Chained to dangle within reach
If the crashing waves fill you with fear
Don't make your home beside the beach!
Budak-budak bermain tombok
Tombok diikat dengan rantai
Kalau kutakut dilambang ombak
Takku berumah di tepi pantai
cc @aufbinali
Chained to dangle within reach
If the crashing waves fill you with fear
Don't make your home beside the beach!
Budak-budak bermain tombok
Tombok diikat dengan rantai
Kalau kutakut dilambang ombak
Takku berumah di tepi pantai
cc @aufbinali
Black on black stack mangosteens
Pity the kemuning as its flowers fall
My dark-skinned beauty is sweet to behold
A light-skinned woman is no use at all
Hitam-hitam si tampuk manggis
Sayang kemuning luruh bunganya
Hitam-hitam kupandang manis
Putih kuning apa gunanya
Pity the kemuning as its flowers fall
My dark-skinned beauty is sweet to behold
A light-skinned woman is no use at all
Hitam-hitam si tampuk manggis
Sayang kemuning luruh bunganya
Hitam-hitam kupandang manis
Putih kuning apa gunanya
Young Bulbuls and young green pigeons
Building nests they swoop and rise
if even streams change riverbeds
A change of heart should not suprise
Anak punai anak merbah
terbang turun buat sarang
anak sungai pun berubah
ini pula hati orang
#pantuninggeris
Building nests they swoop and rise
if even streams change riverbeds
A change of heart should not suprise
Anak punai anak merbah
terbang turun buat sarang
anak sungai pun berubah
ini pula hati orang
#pantuninggeris
Teluk and Siam are done, off my list
but I haven't yet reached the Holiest City
I've shared an embrace and also a kiss
But I haven't yet tried holy matrimony https://twitter.com/mokciknab/status/941120561878482946
but I haven't yet reached the Holiest City
I've shared an embrace and also a kiss
But I haven't yet tried holy matrimony https://twitter.com/mokciknab/status/941120561878482946
Dragging a shield while shaking in fear
Holding a telescope and flashlight too
How can Moustache be big brother to Beard
Why is Rebung’s kid sister Bamboo?
Bawa perisai terhinggut-hinggut
Bawa teropong sambil bersuluh
Kenapa misai abangkan janggut
Mengapa rebung adiknya buluh?
Holding a telescope and flashlight too
How can Moustache be big brother to Beard
Why is Rebung’s kid sister Bamboo?
Bawa perisai terhinggut-hinggut
Bawa teropong sambil bersuluh
Kenapa misai abangkan janggut
Mengapa rebung adiknya buluh?
A farewell #pantuninggeris from @mokciknab https://twitter.com/twt_malaysia/status/970298316494749696?s=19
What's the sign of the King of the Jungle?
Travels for miles, remains all alone
What's the sign of a person most noble?
Helps all around him, remaining unknown
#pantuninggeris https://twitter.com/AliffAbdRani/status/968841009890172930?s=19
Travels for miles, remains all alone
What's the sign of a person most noble?
Helps all around him, remaining unknown
#pantuninggeris https://twitter.com/AliffAbdRani/status/968841009890172930?s=19
Subur pedada di laman nyonya,
Diperdu akasia tampak alami,
Pangkat berbeza lain panggilannya,
Budaya Malaysia sukar ku fahami
@mayomai_
The Acacia trunk looks so natural
Pedada's lush in Nyonya's yard
So many ranks, so many titles
To grasp Malay culture is so hard
Diperdu akasia tampak alami,
Pangkat berbeza lain panggilannya,
Budaya Malaysia sukar ku fahami
@mayomai_The Acacia trunk looks so natural
Pedada's lush in Nyonya's yard
So many ranks, so many titles
To grasp Malay culture is so hard
Bananas brought as we sail away
Upon a box to ripen are set
A trillion in debt we can repay
But 1MDB we shall never forget
#pantuninggeris @lordofkendal https://twitter.com/lordofkendal/status/1003281386143285249
Upon a box to ripen are set
A trillion in debt we can repay
But 1MDB we shall never forget
#pantuninggeris @lordofkendal https://twitter.com/lordofkendal/status/1003281386143285249
If a place to bathe you need
A beach will do but a river's best
If you seek the one to lead
Integrity's the one true test
#pantuninggeris
A beach will do but a river's best
If you seek the one to lead
Integrity's the one true test
#pantuninggeris
Balas pantun berantai dlm BI https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/1012904026931748865
Worms that fester in fruit turning old
will make taste disgusting even a kuini;
We have arrived at a time when children are sold
with the excuse of religion not out of poverty https://twitter.com/IDAssingkiri/status/1013292892226326528
will make taste disgusting even a kuini;
We have arrived at a time when children are sold
with the excuse of religion not out of poverty https://twitter.com/IDAssingkiri/status/1013292892226326528
Let’s cook lempah, pass me that pot
Pufferfish curry cooks up fast
I’ve told you before, have I not
Don’t waste time regretting the past
#pantuninggeris dari:
Ambik periuk memasak lempah
Ikan buntal dimasak kari
Agik dolok kamek dah madah
Jangan menyesal belakang belakang hari
Pufferfish curry cooks up fast
I’ve told you before, have I not
Don’t waste time regretting the past
#pantuninggeris dari:
Ambik periuk memasak lempah
Ikan buntal dimasak kari
Agik dolok kamek dah madah
Jangan menyesal belakang belakang hari
A band of youths by the seaside
In black pepper sauce they fry their fish.
From hand to mouth, enough to get by.
Enough to save? A distant wish!
Anak rekan pergi ka pantay
Masak ikan berkua lada
Chukop makan chukop pakay
Mau di simpan tidak kan ada
In black pepper sauce they fry their fish.
From hand to mouth, enough to get by.
Enough to save? A distant wish!
Anak rekan pergi ka pantay
Masak ikan berkua lada
Chukop makan chukop pakay
Mau di simpan tidak kan ada
#pantuninggeris Pantun Kerongsang https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/1031549318442803208
#pantuninggeris Pantun Senduduk & Pinang https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/1043770431352664067
#pantuninggeris Pantun Kelip-kelip https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/1054544581780373504
#pantuninggeris 
beras perang #riceislife https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/1061806173840502784?s=19
beras perang #riceislife https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/1061806173840502784?s=19
Pantun merpati terbang via @IDAssingkiri https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/1099839546072588288?s=19
Pantun susah senang #pantuninggeris https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/1102956545627713537?s=19
Pantun kerbau balau #pantuninggeris https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/1109375860442714112?s=19
Pantun riuh sekampung #pantuninggeris https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/1121958546772381696
Pantun bahaya kejar bayang https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/1136836028528963585?s=19
Pantun darah diraja https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/1136638724765171713?s=19
Pantun The Jeffries freeway https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/1136817032802889728?s=19
Pantun Hari Raya https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/1136156685737742342?s=19
Pantun CIA job opportunity https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/1128929673818267650?s=19
Pantun McDonalds https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/1139825701551529984?s=19
Pantun umpan timun https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/1151785813010595840
Pantun Harimau Malaya
#pantuninggeris https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/1152777590924402688?s=19
#pantuninggeris https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/1152777590924402688?s=19
Dengan segala hormatnya saya tutup bebenang ini. Tuan-tuan dan puan-puan yang dikasihi sekalian dijemput melayari bebenang baru untuk segala keperluan anda berkenaan dengan #pantuninggeris #terjemahanpantun dan #pantundwibahasa: https://twitter.com/bingregory/status/1166937781890740224
