Tampah
Definition & Context
Noun
A word that functions as the name of a specific object or set of objects, such as living creatures, places, actions, qualities, states of existence, or ideas.
A traditional flat circular kitchen utensil made of “woven bamboo”, primarily used for winnowing rice or as a serving tray for food.
Synonyms & Variants
nyiru
Term more commonly used in Malay and Sumatran regions
talam
Refers to the tray function but different material
tampi
The root form referring to the activity of using a winnowing tray to separate rice from its impurities.
tampir
A dialectal variation referring to a winnowing tray, commonly used in West Java and surrounding areas.
nampan bambu
Standard equivalent in Indonesian
nampan
General term for all types of trays
tempeh
Frequently used in Central Java and Yogyakarta
winnowing tray
Functional equivalent in English
Usage Notes or Etymology
The word tampah originates from Old Javanese, referring to a tool for cleaning cereals through manual aeration techniques. Culturally, it symbolizes precision in separating impurities from rice grains. In Javanese social context, the use of this tool persists because bamboo material effectively absorbs moisture from hot food. This term has been absorbed into Indonesian as an informal variant of the technical term nampan bambu.
Real-world Usage
Mbok Sarmi nggawa tampah isi tempe mendoan sing isih kemebul. (Ibu Sarmi membawa nampan bambu berisi tempe mendoan yang masih berasap panas).
English Translation
Representative of real-world usage and contextual accuracy.
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