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Glossary entry

Indonesian term or phrase:

Main cocok-cocok saja.

English translation:

You keep saying \'exactly\', \'exactly\', but just because the pieces seem to fit doesn\'t prove it\'s true.

Added to glossary by Catherine Muir
Mar 25, 2012 06:09
12 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Indonesian term

Main cocok-cocok saja.

Indonesian to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature early 20th Century Indonesian novel
Context: a longstanding mystery has been resolved and the people involved are just finding out about it, as a letter is being read to them. The head of the household wants absolute proof and says, "Tuan ini bagaimana? Main cocok-cocok saja. Astaga! Suratnya bagaimana bunyinya."

Please suggest a translation for 'main cocok-cocok saja' in this context.

Many thanks.
Proposed translations (English)
4 Just because the pieces seem to fit, [that] doesn't mean it's true.
5 You just carelessly say "Everything fits in with the mystery".
4 You just always say, Exactly.
3 Confirmation doesn't work like that.
3 You're only fitting the facts carelessly
3 you're assuming things prematurely
3 Don't just take things at face value.
3 that's just circumstantial evidence

Proposed translations

20 hrs
Selected

Just because the pieces seem to fit, [that] doesn't mean it's true.

The speaker is questioning the truth of the matter.
Pieces of the puzzle are being disclosed, and someone comments "Cocok, cocok "("That fits").
However, there might be another explanation-- yet to be discovered-- to solve the mystery.
Note from asker:
Thank you, Budi. Very helpful explanation.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "All of the answers were helpful but this one best captures the sense of the text. I have actually translated it as "You keep saying 'exactly', 'exactly', but just because the pieces seem to fit doesn't prove it's true.'"
56 mins

You just always say, Exactly.

Saya rasa bahwa seseorang yang disebut oleh kepala rumah tangga dengan "Tuan" itu selalu atau sering mengatakan "Cocok" atas setiap kalimat dalam surat yang dibacakan. Oleh karena itu, kepala rumah tangga tersebut mengatakan, "Main cocok-cocok saja", karena agak sebal. Ungkapan ini masih dipakai hingga waktu ini.

"Cocok" dalam hal ini berpadanan dengan 'exactly' atau 'correctly'.
Oleh karena itu, terjemahannya antara lain ialah: "You just always say, Exactly." Atau, terjemahan yang semakna dengannya.
Note from asker:
All of the suggestions are very helpful but I think you are closest to the mark. He does keep saying 'Cocok! Cocok!' repeatedly, then his wife finally says, 'Main cocok-cocok saja." I think I will use "Why do you keep saying 'Exactly! Exactly!'? For God's sake, don't jump to conclusions. What else does the letter say?"
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1 hr

Confirmation doesn't work like that.

The speaker implies that the investigators just agree that the letter matches everything they have so far investigated without checking further the message. In the later sentence the speaker demands them to check what it says.
Perhaps there is better expression for the sentence, however. Hope this helps figure out.
Note from asker:
Thank you, Ria. Yes, this does help.
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3 hrs

You just carelessly say "Everything fits in with the mystery".

I think the head of the household wanted to warn the other man that it was not easy to resolve such a longstanding mystery. Since further investigation is required, that other man could not just carelessly conclude that "everything fits in with the mystery" or "all the signs fit in with the mystery".

The full sentence of the head of the household might be: "Anda (sembarangan/asal) main (bilang) cocok-cocok saja". "Sembarangan/asal" here means "careless", "without thinking".
Reference:

http://bahasa.kemdiknas.go.id/kbbi/index.php

Note from asker:
Thank you, Rosmeilan. I appreciate your help very much.
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5 hrs

You're only fitting the facts carelessly

imho
Note from asker:
Thank you, Ikram, for your suggestion.
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7 hrs
Indonesian term (edited): main cocok-cocok saja

you're assuming things prematurely


main in this context means at will, summing up arbitrarily. The phrase is for sure used mostly in conversation, and almost always for expressing grudge or resentment.

main cocok-cocok saja then means concluding hurriedly that things fit into a theory or an opinion of the person being resented.

My translation, though, does not offer the resentment. :!
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16 hrs

Don't just take things at face value.

According the the other helpful answers, the speaker is protesting that the other man is agreeing too easily with the facts found in the letter. This would be a natural way of expressing that meaning.
Note from asker:
Thanks, David. I want to retain the sense of 'cocok, cocok'. Have a look at my reply to Pak Wiyanto. Cheers!
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18 hrs

that's just circumstantial evidence

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