When you learn Indonesian the first time, you notice that there are job titles that begin with “tukang” (pronounced “two-kung”). While at the time you also learn that there are professions and occupations equivalent to English, you also learn that it is not easy to find similar jobs of “tukang…”  For example, “tukang parkir” is “parking ranger,” and “tukang sayur” is “vegetable vendor.” How about “tukang makan”? If you search on Google, Google will give you “eater” as a translation. “Tukang makan” describes someone who has a habit of eating often, and it refers to someone who is obese.

In everyday conversation, sometimes “tukang” plus a verb has two meanings: either to describe a profession or a character. For example, “tukang pukul” means a bouncer by trade, but it is also used to describe someone’s bad character. An example of a bad character is a man who hits his wife or children.

“Tukang” plus a noun or a verb means a profession, a skilled laborer, or a craftsman.

1. Tukang masak – can be a cook or a chef; it depends on the context.
2. Tukang tagih – debt collector
3. Tukang gigi – teeth maker
4. Tukang sapu – (street) sweeper
5. Tukang kayu – carpenter
6. Tukang ledeng – plumber
7. Tukang emas – goldsmith
8. Tukang kebun – gardener
9. Tukang sayur – vegetable vendor
10. Tukang becak – pedicab driver
11. Tukang ojek – motorcycle or bike taxi driver
12. Tukang tagih – debt collector
13. Tukang lelang – auctioneer
14. Tukang sulap – wizard
15. Tukang bakso – meatball seller

Image credit: Flickr/creativecommons/Karol Franks

image credit: flickr/creativecommons/Tri Mustika Dwi Wiyoto

Image credit: flickr/creativecommons/Stephanus Riosetiawan

Image credit: Flickr/creativecommons/Phillips Brookes

When “tukang” is added to a verb, it describes an undesirable habit or a character.

1. Tukang gosip – gossipmonger or a gossiper
2. Tukang nangis – whiner
3. Tukang marah – short-tempered person
4. Tukang bohong – someone who lies as her/his characteristic or habit
5. Tukang tipu (colloquial; penipu formal), someone who has a job deceiving others for his/her financial gain
6. Tukang ngambek (colloquial) – someone who is getting upset easily

So, how can you decide which word to use?

1. If you want to describe a seller’s profession, add a word related to what the person is selling, such as “daging” which means “meat.” However, as Indonesia is a country with a majority Muslim population, this would imply that the seller is selling beef. So, we call the seller a “tukang daging,”  a “butcher” or “beef-seller.”
2. If you want to describe someone’s character, add another word after “tukang” that represents a habit that person has that you find annoying or disturbing. You can also create a “tukang plus a word” that describes a friend’s silly character trait, as a joke.

 Let’s try the following exercise.

Answer