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Bahasa Malaysia & Flowers
We are not just talking about those pretty things in the garden that attract butterflies. Question and answer is a time tested method to learn effectively. I think bunga is a lovely subject, don't you? :-)

In Bahasa Malaysia, flowers or bunga-bungaan have their different shades of meanings, how much do you know about them...?

1.Pick the word which is not the exact synonym of flower

A.Puspa
B.Kuntum
C.Kesuma

2. A teenage girl

A. Kuntum
B. Kesuma
C. Kembang

3. Loan sharks do this for a living

A. Lintah darat membungai pinjamannya.
B. Lintah darat berbunga pinjamannya.
C. Lintah darat memperbungakan pinjamannya.

4. Darling

A. Puspa hati
B. Kuntum hati
C. Bunga hati

5. You see this at a Malay funeral.

A. Bunga sirih
B. Bunga rampai
C. Bunga telur

6. Imitation of coconut blossom used in celebrations.

A. Bunga rampai
B. Bunga sirih
C. Bunga manggar

7. This flower isn't fake, it's real!

A. Bunga wang
B. Bunga api
C. Bunga kertas

8. You might be surprised this could be an immoral woman.

A. Bunga kuku
B. Bunga dedap

dedap hutan, kekabu hutan,bunga dedap

C. Bunga raya

9. A gorgeous guy...but very bad manners.

A. Bunga tak sekaki, kumbang tak seekor.
B. Laksana bunga dedap, sungguh merah berbau tidak.
C. Bunga kembang berbalik kuncup.

10.The lovely artificial flowers that decorate a Malay lady's bun.

A. Bunga kundai
B. Bunga mas
C. Bunga pending

11.Another name for the cashew nut plant, yummy.

A. Bunga kekasar
B. Bunga butang
C. Bunga teluki

12.A Malay proverb synonymous with "kera mendapat bunga" is "laksana _____ mendapat bunga sekuntum."

A. kumbang
B. katak
C. kodok

13.A man who loves his wife but detests his mother-in-law.

A. Bunga dipetik, perdu ditendang
B. Bunga dipersunting, sudahnya akan layu
C. Buang bunga ke jirat

14.Pergaduhan yang menjadi-jadi merupakan bunga penceraian pasangan itu. Here, bunga means:

A. beginning
B. result
C. sign

15.What is bunga air?

A. Sea anemone
B. Anchovy
C. Coral

Scroll to the bottom of the page for answers.

Edible Malaysia Flowers

Bunga telang -Blue pea flower, a natural blue colouring for nasi kerabu and kuih tai-tai.

bunga telang,pea flower, clitoria

bunga telang, pea flower, clitoria

Bunga kantan-The pink torch ginger flower, a must for my Penang asam laksa.
Bunga cengkih-cloves, I love to see them in my chutneys.
Bunga betik- I wonder how many actually know that papaya flowers are among the tastiest vegetable. I love mine fried with kangkung.

Bunga Rampai --Rampai means assorted. Bunga rampai is therefore an assortment of flowers.

What kind of flowers are used? Jasmine, frangipani,kesidang and ros kampung. Fragrant leaves of pandanus and rough skinned lime are shredded to mix with the flowers, and--perfume as well. All these lovely ingredients are put into a small basket made of screw pine and smoked with incense.

Bunga rampai is used in many important occasions of the Malay folks : circumcision, graduation of Koran study, shaving a baby's hair, funeral , wedding etc. In a Malay wedding, it is an essential dowry item and is smoked all night long in the nuptial chamber.

bunga rampai