The Meaning of 'Asu' as an Insult, Symbol of Loyalty, and Its Meaning in Proverbs

Kapanlagi.com - The meaning of 'asu' in Indonesian language is dog. This word is actually neutral. However, surely you already know that the word 'asu' or dog is commonly used as an expletive when someone is angry. Shouting expletives when angry is believed to be a release of pent-up emotions.

Therefore, the meaning of 'asu' as an expletive has become a common secret among Indonesian society. The word 'anjing' or 'asu' in the Indonesian version is also a frequently used expletive. However, is the meaning of 'anjing' really only functioning as a bad and rude expletive?

Turns out, no, KLovers! The bad connotations attached to it are only a reflection of a culture that considers dogs as dirty, wild, and prone to biting animals. If you are interested in discussing the meaning of 'asu' in various versions, just read the following explanation.

1. The Meaning of 'Asu' as an Insult

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The meaning of 'asu' as an insult seems to be well-known by the Indonesian society. In fact, the word is often shouted in situations filled with anger. It's no wonder that a negative connotation is attached to the word 'asu'.

The meaning of 'asu' according to the Indonesian Dictionary (KBBI) is dog. This term originates from the Javanese language. Making a dog as an insult that seems to be ingrained as a culture proves that the negative connotation towards this animal is already embedded in the Indonesian society in general.

Not to mention the use of the word 'asu' or 'anjing' as a metaphor to describe something bad in Indonesian literature. You can see this in one of the well-known proverbs:

'Anjing menggonggong kafilah berlalu' (Dogs bark as the caravan passes by)

The word 'anjing' in the proverb above is used to describe someone who likes to gossip and mock others. To know more about other meanings of the word, you can read the explanation below.

2. The Meaning of Asu or Dog as a Symbol of Loyalty

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Unlike the negative connotations attached by Indonesians, the meaning of 'asu' among Western or European societies actually carries a positive connotation. This is a natural occurrence because language is a reflection of its speakers' culture. Negative images such as drooling, wild, biting, and dirty do not apply to dogs in Europe.

If the word 'anjing' (dog) in Indonesia is used as an insult to represent bad behavior, in Europe it is a symbol of loyalty and reliability. This has been depicted in various films. One example is 'Scooby Doo', a film that tells the story of a genius dog who has a close relationship with humans.

In addition, proverbs there also use dogs as metaphors to describe positive things, such as 'a good dog deserves a good bone'. The word 'dog' is not commonly used as an insult like 'fuck', 'shit', or 'damn'. There is an insult that includes the name of a dog, namely 'dumb as dog shit' (DADS).

However, this insult refers to 'dog feces' and not to the dog itself.

3. Meaning of 'Asu' in Proverbs

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As mentioned above, the meaning of 'asu' is dog. This definition is actually neutral to refer to the animal. However, the values and customs of certain regions can create connotations associated with the language. It is understandable that 'asu' in Indonesia eventually became a curse word to express emotions, while in Europe it is used to symbolize something positive.

All of this depends on the customs and cultures of each region. To better understand the various meanings of 'asu', it is worth exploring its meanings in the following proverbs.

1. 'Asu rebutan balung' (dogs fighting over a bone)

In the proverb above, 'asu' depicts someone who refuses to give in when competing for something.

2. 'Asu belang kalung wang' (a spotted dog with a necklace of money)

Dogs have a negative image and a spotted dog has an even worse image as it is considered a greedy breed. This proverb is used to describe someone who is lowly but wealthy.

3. 'Asu marani gebuk' (a dog approaching a striking tool)

The meaning of 'asu' in this proverb is used to describe someone who is foolish and reckless for approaching the 'gebuk', which is a metaphor for a dangerous situation.

4. 'Anjing diberi makan nasi tak kan kenyang' (A dog given rice will never be satisfied)

This proverb means that a wicked person (depicted as a dog) will be in vain if given advice.

5. 'Melepaskan anjing terjepit, sudah lepas dia menggigit' (Releasing a trapped dog, it bites after being freed)

In the proverb above, a dog represents someone who is ungrateful and instead does harm to the person who helped them.

KLovers, that is an explanation of the meaning of 'asu' as a curse word, a symbol of loyalty, and its meanings in various proverbs.

(kpl/gen/ans)