bukan main

English translation: Unbelievable!

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Indonesian term or phrase:bukan main
English translation:Unbelievable!
Entered by: toba

17:39 Jan 30, 2005
Indonesian to English translations [Non-PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Indonesian term or phrase: bukan main
What is the translation of 'bukan main' in this following context?

Di meja Jaksa Anas Bisma bertumpuk surat kaleng tentang saya, antara lain yang mengatakan bahwa saya pada tanggal 30 September 1965 berada di Lubang Buaya dan membacakan kidung menjelang kematian Jenderal Ahmad Yani. Bukan main. Lubang Buaya saja saya tidak tahu. Tega-teganya orang menuduh saya dengan begitu keji.
mairawati (X)
Unbelievable!
Explanation:
I think "Unbelievable!" should work. And I think in English it would be better to include the exclamation mark (!) because "Unbelievable." with a period (.) does not sound as if the writer is really that shocked/surprised/disgusted.

Depending on how you are translating the sentences that are coming before and after "bukan main", other options could be: "They/he/she must be joking!" or "What nonsense!" or "Rubbish!"

But I think "Unbelievable!" should work.
By the way, the text you're translating sounds interesting.

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Note added at 7 hrs 40 mins (2005-01-31 01:20:05 GMT)
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Thanks yam2u & eldira. I suppose \"Preposterous!\" would work too depending on which part of the English speaking world you\'re in and what era the text was written in. If the text is set in the contemporary world, then \"Preposterous!\" might work in the UK (though I\'m not 100%sure as I\'ve never lived there), but not in the U.S. or Australia (I grew up & lived in both places but I haven\'t heard people use it). On the other hand, if the text is from the 60s, then maybe even Americans would say that -again I\'m just speculating, but that\'s my 2 cents worth on \"Preposterous!\" :)
Selected response from:

toba
Grading comment
thanks
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4Unbelievable!
toba


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
Unbelievable!


Explanation:
I think "Unbelievable!" should work. And I think in English it would be better to include the exclamation mark (!) because "Unbelievable." with a period (.) does not sound as if the writer is really that shocked/surprised/disgusted.

Depending on how you are translating the sentences that are coming before and after "bukan main", other options could be: "They/he/she must be joking!" or "What nonsense!" or "Rubbish!"

But I think "Unbelievable!" should work.
By the way, the text you're translating sounds interesting.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 hrs 40 mins (2005-01-31 01:20:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Thanks yam2u & eldira. I suppose \"Preposterous!\" would work too depending on which part of the English speaking world you\'re in and what era the text was written in. If the text is set in the contemporary world, then \"Preposterous!\" might work in the UK (though I\'m not 100%sure as I\'ve never lived there), but not in the U.S. or Australia (I grew up & lived in both places but I haven\'t heard people use it). On the other hand, if the text is from the 60s, then maybe even Americans would say that -again I\'m just speculating, but that\'s my 2 cents worth on \"Preposterous!\" :)

toba
Grading comment
thanks

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  yam2u: another alternative is "Preposterous!" and good point abt the exclamation mark.
11 mins

agree  eldira: I opt for 'preposterous'
6 hrs

agree  Will Matter
10 hrs

agree  lwijaya: setuju preposterous. Saya rasa yang penting bukan era atau negaranya, tapi the tone of the text as a whole. It won't work if the writing is more informal or casual in tone. Otherwise the word is quite common in writing (maybe less so in spoken English)
12 hrs
  -> Thanks for the explanation. It's interesting. It's a good lesson. Yes, maybe that's why I've never heard anyone say it before. Thanks again.
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