Kiri / Kanan
Left / Right
Essential for giving directions to taxi and ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers!
Master "Kiri" (Left) and "Kanan" (Right) -- the two most important direction words in Indonesian. Essential for giving instructions to taxi drivers, ojek (motorcycle taxi) riders, and navigating the bustling streets of Indonesia's cities and towns.
💬Example Sentences
Belok kiri di lampu merah.
Turn left at the traffic light.
Belok kanan setelah masjid.
Turn right after the mosque.
Kiri, kiri! Di sini, Pak!
Left, left! Right here, Sir!
🏭Cultural Context
Knowing "kiri" and "kanan" is absolutely essential for getting around Indonesia, especially when using ride-hailing apps like Grab and Gojek or taking traditional taxis. Drivers will often ask "belok kiri atau kanan?" (turn left or right?). In Indonesia, traffic drives on the left side of the road (a legacy of Dutch colonial rule), so you will often hear "tepi kiri" (left side) when a driver is pulling over. Ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers are particularly reliant on your verbal directions, as looking at a phone while driving is dangerous. A clear "kiri!" or "kanan!" shouted over the engine noise can make the difference between reaching your destination and taking a wrong turn.