Rumah247.com – Over the years, Indonesia has become a preferred business destination in South East Asia. Dubbed as one of the most diverse countries in the world, Indonesia is blessed with roughly 1,331 tribes, 652 local languages, and 17,504 islands that stretch from Sabang in the west to Merauke in the east. Fortunately, the Indonesian language, simply known as Bahasa, is the only language used by all Indonesians to communicate, despite different tribes or dialects. In the other words, Bahasa is a language that unites all Indonesians.
As tenses do not exist and verbs only exist in the present tense, Bahasa is quite simple to learn. Bahasa Indonesia practitioners also do not acknowledge any distinction for masculine and feminine nouns, and there are no such singular or plural nouns. To determine the plural noun, you simply add some numbers. For expats and international tourists that barely know Bahasa Indonesia, the following are terms or expressions in Bahasa that can be useful to communicate with the local community.
Greetings, Farewell, and Wishes
The greeting is the first expression used when meeting new people. To make a polite first impression, knowing the greeting is essential. The following are basic greetings you can express in Bahasa Indonesia.
Good morning
Selamat pagi
Good morning
Good afternoon
Selamat pagi
Selamat siang
Good morning
Good evening
Selamat pagi
Selamat sore/malam
Good morning
Good night
Selamat pagi
Selamat malam (commonly to express farewell)
Good morning
How are you?
Selamat pagi
Apa kabar?
Good morning
Thank you
Selamat pagi
Terima kasih
Good morning
Sorry
Selamat pagi
Maaf
Good morning
You are welcome
Selamat pagi
Sama-sama
Good morning
Excuse me
Selamat pagi
Permisi
Good morning
Nice to meet you
Selamat pagi
Senang bertemu dengan Anda
Good morning
Congratulation!
Selamat pagi
Selamat!
Good morning
Welcome!
Selamat pagi
Selamat datang!
Good morning
Happy birthday!
Selamat pagi
Selamat ulang tahun!
Good morning
Happy wedding!
Selamat pagi
Selamat menempuh hidup baru!
Good morning
Happy Ied
Selamat pagi
Selamat Hari Natal!
Good morning
Merry Christmas!
Selamat pagi
Selamat Tahun Baru!
Good morning
Happy New Year!
Selamat pagi
Hari Raya Idul Fitri!
It is also important to acknowledge subject/object pronouns as the most basic form in language, such as:
I/me
Saya
I/me
You
Saya
Anda/kamu/kau (for singular second person), kalian (for plural second person)
I/me
He/She or him/her
Saya
Dia
I/me
We/us
Saya
Kita (including the all person) or kami (including only plural first person)
I/me
They/them
Saya
Mereka
Bear also in your mind to introduce yourself as it will help your communication. Introductory phrases include:
Hi, my name is John. I am from Australia
Hai, nama saya John. Saya berasal dari Australia.
Hi, my name is John. I am from Australia
What is your name?
Hai, nama saya John. Saya berasal dari Australia.
Siapa nama Anda?
Hi, my name is John. I am from Australia
Where do you live?
Hai, nama saya John. Saya berasal dari Australia.
Di mana Anda tinggal?
Hi, my name is John. I am from Australia
I live in Jakarta.
Hai, nama saya John. Saya berasal dari Australia.
Saya tinggal di Jakarta.
Also, do understand that because Indonesians are very friendly, you will frequently hear a phrase like “Mau kemana?” or “Dari mana?” which can roughly translated into “Where are you going?” or “Where are you from?”. These phrases may tend to violate your privacy, but it is nothing wrong to get adapted to the local community and culture.
Online Transportation Services
Multi-services and online transportation apps have been operating since around 2015 in Indonesia. Two giant apps like Go-Jek and Grab have spread out across many cities and regions throughout Indonesia. Their existence has facilitated convenience to many in providing online transportation, and goods and food delivery services. To reach somewhere using a ride-hailing service, or ordering food online sometimes requires clear communication. While these apps’ built-in chats are now bilingual (English and Bahasa), some of the following communicative phrases might be useful while having conversations directly with the drivers:
Are you Mr. Saiful?
Anda Pak Saiful?
Are you Mr. Saiful?
Take me to SCBD, please.
Anda Pak Saiful?
Tolong antar saya ke SCBD.
Are you Mr. Saiful?
Where is this place?
Anda Pak Saiful?
Di mana tempat ini?
Are you Mr. Saiful?
Can you take me to this (address)?
Anda Pak Saiful?
Bisa antarkan saya ke alamat ini?
Are you Mr. Saiful?
I’m really in a hurry, can you take the quickest route please?
Anda Pak Saiful?
Saya sedang buru-buru, bisa lewati rute tercepat?
Are you Mr. Saiful?
The rest is yours
Anda Pak Saiful?
Ambil saja kembaliannya.
Purchasing or Haggling for Things
When you walk around the neighbourhood, you will always find warung, a traditional kiosk selling various foods, snacks, cigarettes, food staples and other necessities in all areas in the cities. Going to warung will definitely invite opportunities to mix and converse with the locals. The following local vocabularies might make your conversation interesting:
Excuse me. I would like to buy (something)
Permisi. Saya mau beli (something).
Excuse me. I would like to buy (something)
How much is this?
Permisi. Saya mau beli (something).
Berapa harganya?
Other than the phrases and words mentioned above, the following few words might help you bargain in the traditional market or tourism area:
Price
Harga
Price
The price is too expensive
Harga
Harganya terlalu mahal
Price
Can you lower the price?
Harga
Bisa lebih murah?
Price
Could you give me some bonus?
Harga
Kasih bonus lah?
Price
1 – Satu ; 2 – Dua ; 3 – Tiga ; 4 – Empat ; 5 -Lima ; 6 -Enam ; 7 – Tujuh ; 8 – Delapan ; 9 – Sembilan ; 10 – Sepuluh.
Price
11
Harga
Sebelas
Price
20
Harga
Dua belas
Price
300
Harga
Tiga belas
Price
5000
Harga
Lima ribu
Price
17.000
Harga
Tujuh belas ribu
Price
55.000
Harga
Lima puluh lima ribu
Price
1 million
Harga
Satu juta
Price
13,5 million
Harga
Tiga belas setengah juta
Emergency
In case of an emergency, the following will help:
My child is missing!
Anak saya hilang!
My child is missing!
Watch out!
Anak saya hilang!
Awas!
My child is missing!
Stop!
Anak saya hilang!
Berhenti!
My child is missing!
Pickpocket!
Anak saya hilang!
Copet!
My child is missing!
My chest hurts
Anak saya hilang!
Dada saya sakit
My child is missing!
Where is the nearest police office/hospital?
Anak saya hilang!
Di mana kantor polisi/rumah sakit terdekat?
My child is missing!
I lost my wallet/passport [lit. my wallet/passport is lost].
Anak saya hilang!
Dompet/paspor saya hilang.
My child is missing!
Be careful!
Anak saya hilang!
Hati-hati!
My child is missing!
This is an emergency!
Anak saya hilang!
Ini darurat!
My child is missing!
This is my insurance card.
Anak saya hilang!
Ini kartu asuransi saya.
My child is missing!
My wife/husband/child fainted!
Anak saya hilang!
Istri/suami/anak saya pingsan!
My child is missing!
Leave me alone!
Anak saya hilang!
Jangan ganggu saya!
My child is missing!
Don’t touch/hold me!
Anak saya hilang!
Jangan pegang saya!
My child is missing!
Fire!
Anak saya hilang!
Kebakaran!
My child is missing!
My car/motorbike is missing.
Anak saya hilang!
Mobil/sepeda motor saya hilang.
My child is missing!
Call the police/doctor/ambulance!
Anak saya hilang!
Panggil polisi/dokter/ambulans!
My child is missing!
Thief!
Anak saya hilang!
Pencuri!/Maling!
My child is missing!
Robber
Anak saya hilang!
Perampok
My child is missing!
Someone hit me.
Anak saya hilang!
Saya dipukul orang.
My child is missing!
I’ve been robbed.
Anak saya hilang!
Saya dirampok.
My child is missing!
I was hit by a car/motorbike.
Anak saya hilang!
Saya ditabrak mobil/sepeda motor
My child is missing!
I want to report a missing person.
Anak saya hilang!
Saya ingin melaporkan orang hilang
My child is missing!
I want to make a report for loss of items.
Anak saya hilang!
Saya ingin membuat laporan kehilangan.
My child is missing!
I fell off the motorcycle.
Anak saya hilang!
Saya jatuh dari sepeda motor.
My child is missing!
I’ve run out of my medication.
Anak saya hilang!
Saya kehabisan obat.
My child is missing!
I got poisoned.
Anak saya hilang!
Saya keracunan.
My child is missing!
I’m calling the police now!
Anak saya hilang!
Saya panggil polisi sekarang!
My child is missing!
I’m bleeding.
Anak saya hilang!
Saya pendarahan.
My child is missing!
I need to go to the hospital/police station.
Anak saya hilang!
Saya perlu ke rumah sakit/kantor polisi.
My child is missing!
I need an interpreter/doctor.
Anak saya hilang!
Saya perlu penerjemah/dokter.
My child is missing!
I’m pregnant.
Anak saya hilang!
Saya sedang hamil.
My child is missing!
I’m pregnant.
Anak saya hilang!
Saya tersesat!
My child is missing!
I can’t get up.
Anak saya hilang!
Saya tidak bisa bangun.
My child is missing!
I can’t breathe.
Anak saya hilang!
Saya tidak bisa bernafas.
My child is missing!
I don’t have insurance.
Anak saya hilang!
Saya tidak punya asuransi.
My child is missing!
Please send a fire engine!
Anak saya hilang!
Tolong kirim pemadam kebakaran!
My child is missing!
Please help me!
Anak saya hilang!
Tolong saya!
My child is missing!
Please call my insurer.
Anak saya hilang!
Tolong telepon asuransi saya.
My child is missing!
Please call the {Australian] consulate.
Anak saya hilang!
Tolong telepon konsulat [Australia].
My child is missing!
Help!
Anak saya hilang!
Tolong!
Asking and Telling Time
The following words or phrases would help you to always remind of your own time:
What time is it now?
Pukul berapa sekarang?
What time is it now?
One o’clock
Pukul berapa sekarang?
Pukul satu
What time is it now?
Half past three
Pukul berapa sekarang?
Pukul setengah empat
What time is it now?
A quarter past ten
Pukul berapa sekarang?
Pukul sembilan lebih/lewat seperempat
What time is it now?
25 minutes to 11
Pukul berapa sekarang?
Pukul sebelas kurang dua puluh lima menit
What time is it now?
Fifteen pasf five
Pukul berapa sekarang?
Pukul lima lebih lima belas menit
What time is it now?
What time does the plane/bus/train leave?
Pukul berapa sekarang?
Pukul berapa pesawat/bis/kereta pergi?
What time is it now?
What time does the plane/bus/train arrive?
Pukul berapa sekarang?
Pukul berapa pesawat/bis/kereta sampai?
What time is it now?
What time does the shop open?
Pukul berapa sekarang?
Pukul berapa tokonya buka?
Direction
Where is the traditional market?
Di mana lokasi pasar tradisional?
Where is the traditional market?
How can I get there?
Di mana lokasi pasar tradisional?
Bagaimana cara saya ke sana?
Where is the traditional market?
Can you please show it on the map?
Di mana lokasi pasar tradisional?
Bisa tolong tunjukkan di peta?
Where is the traditional market?
Is there bus/public transportation going there?
Di mana lokasi pasar tradisional?
Apakah ada bis/angkutan umum menuju alamat itu?
Where is the traditional market?
Go straight ahead
Di mana lokasi pasar tradisional?
Jalan/lurus terus
Where is the traditional market?
Turn left/right
Di mana lokasi pasar tradisional?
belok kiri/kanan
Where is the traditional market?
Market
Di mana lokasi pasar tradisional?
Pasar
Where is the traditional market?
Embassy
Di mana lokasi pasar tradisional?
Kantor Kedutaan
Where is the traditional market?
Mosque
Di mana lokasi pasar tradisional?
Masjid
Where is the traditional market?
Church
Di mana lokasi pasar tradisional?
Gereja
Where is the traditional market?
Petrol/gas station
Di mana lokasi pasar tradisional?
Pom bensin
Where is the traditional market?
Library
Di mana lokasi pasar tradisional?
Perpustakaan
Where is the traditional market?
Restaurant
Di mana lokasi pasar tradisional?
Restoran
Where is the traditional market?
Station
Di mana lokasi pasar tradisional?
Stasiun
Where is the traditional market?
Bus terminal
Di mana lokasi pasar tradisional?
Terminal bis
All in all, whether it is business or vacation, learning Bahasa is crucial as you can express your thoughts appropriately. It can also prevent you from miscommunication that can hinder your business or vacation.
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