kedok

Kedok is a term in Indonesian and Malay that refers to a mask or a disguise. It can denote an actual face covering used to conceal identity or to perform, as well as a figurative appearance meant to hide one’s true nature or intentions. In everyday language, kedok is often used to describe deception or pretense, a false front that hides reality.

In cultural contexts, kedok relates to masks used in traditional Southeast Asian performing arts. In Indonesia, masks feature prominently in forms such as topeng, a masked theater tradition where performers wear carved or painted masks to represent different characters. The physical kedok serves as both costume and symbol, while the performer’s movements and expressions convey the narrative.

In modern Indonesian usage, kedok also appears in idioms such as membuka kedok or menyingkap kedok, meaning to reveal the truth or uncover hidden information. The word carries a sense of unveiling deceit or exposing real circumstances behind a facade.

Etymology: kedok is a native Malay-Indonesian word, long used to describe masks and the act of masking. It remains common in everyday speech as well as in literary and media contexts.