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madu kerja

English translation: fruits of (one's) labor

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Malay term or phrase:madu kerja
English translation:fruits of (one's) labor
Entered by: Catherine Muir

05:45 Apr 5, 2012
Malay to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / early 20th Century Indonesian novel written in Malay lingua france
Malay term or phrase: madu kerja
A man asks his friend to do something for him that he should really do himself. The friend replies, "Tapi kau sendiri tahu saya tidak suka menerima yang bukan madu kerja saya sendiri."

I think he means that he does not like to get involved in the affairs of others.

I know that 'madu' means 'honey', but what does 'madu kerja' mean in this context?

Thank you.
Catherine Muir
Australia
Local time: 16:31
wages
Explanation:
Madu is the essence of a flower, or the outcome of the work of a bee. So in this context I guess, madu kerja is best translated into wages.

I think, the speaker is using reverse psychology. He don't accept anything except for what he deserved. Likewise, he is expecting his friend to understand and adhere to the same principle.

"But you're much aware, aren't you, I don't like to accept anything except for what I earned."

ps: sorry for all the slashes... forgot the html coding ;)
Selected response from:

Naim Jalil
Malaysia
Local time: 14:31
Grading comment
If you google "fruits labor" you will see references to this idiom, which is exactly what the speaker in the novel was expressing. Thank you for putting me on the right trail!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
2wages
Naim Jalil
2reward
yam2u


  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
wages


Explanation:
Madu is the essence of a flower, or the outcome of the work of a bee. So in this context I guess, madu kerja is best translated into wages.

I think, the speaker is using reverse psychology. He don't accept anything except for what he deserved. Likewise, he is expecting his friend to understand and adhere to the same principle.

"But you're much aware, aren't you, I don't like to accept anything except for what I earned."

ps: sorry for all the slashes... forgot the html coding ;)

Naim Jalil
Malaysia
Local time: 14:31
Native speaker of: Native in MalayMalay
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
If you google "fruits labor" you will see references to this idiom, which is exactly what the speaker in the novel was expressing. Thank you for putting me on the right trail!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, Naim. You have made it very clear to me. In English, 'madu kerja saya sendiri' would be 'the fruit of my own labor'. The speaker has, in fact, demonstrated the characteristic of standing on his own two feet and never accepting charity. So, I have translated the sentence (including the one before it) as "Thanks all the same, Henri, but you know very well that I don't like to accept anything that isn't the fruit of my own labor."

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9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
reward


Explanation:
that is how i understand it, in a literary sort of way.

there is a typical malay subtlety, or vagueness (if you will), there that can be taken to mean anything from bald compensation to the satisfaction of benefitting only from one's own work.

there is probably a better word to express that idea, but i cannot think of any at the moment.

yam2u
United States
Native speaker of: Native in MalayMalay, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
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