{"id":651,"date":"2015-02-28T08:03:47","date_gmt":"2015-02-28T13:03:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/indonesian\/?p=651"},"modified":"2015-02-28T08:24:39","modified_gmt":"2015-02-28T13:24:39","slug":"question-words-in-indonesian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/indonesian\/question-words-in-indonesian\/","title":{"rendered":"Question Words in Indonesian"},"content":{"rendered":"

Constructing an interrogative sentence in Indonesian is much simpler than in English, as Indonesian does not recognize “to be” or tenses. However, sometimes you should memorize some expressions because they are\u00a0specific to Indonesian, and they would not make sense if you translated them\u00a0into English. So memorization is the best way to learn\u00a0them. Following are the Indonesian question words:<\/p>\n

Following are the Indonesian question words:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Indonesian<\/strong><\/td>\nEnglish<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nApa<\/td>\nWhat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nSiapa<\/td>\nWho<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nKenapa\/Mengapa<\/td>\nWhy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nKapan<\/td>\nWhen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nBerapa (banyak, lama, \u2026)<\/td>\nHow (much, many, long, \u2026.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nBagaimana<\/td>\nHow<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\n(di\/ke\/dari) mana<\/td>\nWhere (at\/to\/from)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Structure<\/strong><\/p>\n

In general, question sentences usually have the same word order as the\u00a0corresponding statements. The question word can be placed at the beginning or the end of the sentence, except when you attach the interrogative suffix \u2018-kah.\u2019 In addition, you can use a high intonation at the end instead of a question word to indicate an interrogative sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Indonesian<\/strong><\/td>\nEnglish<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Apa Anda (ber)bicara (bahasa) Inggris?<\/td>\nDo you speak English?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kenapa\/Mengapa Anda sedih?<\/td>\nWhy are you sad?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kapan Anda lahir?<\/td>\nWhen were you born?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Siapa nama Anda?<\/td>\nWhat is your name?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Berapa harga mangga ini?<\/td>\nHow much is the mango?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jam berapa sekarang?<\/td>\nWhat time is it?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bagaimana kabar Ibu Anda?<\/td>\nHow is your mother?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Di mana Anda tinggal?Note:<\/span> it is common to place the question word at the end of the sentence.Anda tinggal di mana? Or (tinggal di mana?\u2013 informal)<\/td>\nWhere do you live?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

APA<\/p>\n

The location of “apa” in a sentence will indicate\u00a0whether the answer is yes, no, or an open-ended answer, except when the\u00a0question\u00a0word\u00a0“apa”\u00a0is placed in front of a noun; then the answer is expected to\u00a0be open-ended.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. To expect a yes or no answer<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Sentence structure: Apa \u2026..?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Apa Bapak sudah makan?J: Ya, sudah.<\/td>\nHave you eaten yet?A: Yes, I have<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
      \n
    1. To expect an open Ended answer<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Sentence structure: \u2026.. apa?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
      Bapak mau minum apa?J:Saya mau kopi susu.<\/td>\nWhat do you want to drink?A:I want to have a cup of coffee with milk.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Anda membaca apa?J: Saya membaca majalah The Economist<\/td>\nWhat are you reading?A: I am reading The Economist<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
        \n
      1. To expect an open ended answer<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Sentence structure: Apa + noun \u2026..?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
        Indonesian<\/td>\nEnglish<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Apa warna bendera Indonesia?:J: merah dan putih.<\/td>\nWhat is the color of Indonesian flag?A: red and white.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Apa rasa jeruk?J:J: asam manis.<\/td>\nWhat does orange taste like?A: sweet and sourA: sweet and sour.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

        Except:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
        Indonesian<\/strong><\/td>\nEnglish<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Apa Anda sakit?J: Tidak or Ya<\/td>\nAre you sick?A: No, I am not or Yes, I am<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Anda sakit apa?J: saya sakit gigi.<\/td>\nWhat kind of illness do you have?A: I have a toothache.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

        Question word + suffix \u2018<\/strong>kah\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

        The suffix \u2018-kah can be added optionally to all question words to soften the tone of the question, but they can only place at the beginning of the sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
        Correct position<\/strong><\/td>\nEnglish<\/strong><\/td>\nIncorrect position <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Apakah Anda Ibu Jane?<\/td>\nAre you Mrs. Jane?<\/td>\nAnda Ibu Jane Apakah<\/span>?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Siapakah Anda?<\/td>\nWho are you?<\/td>\nAnda siapakah<\/span>?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Siapakah nama Anda?<\/td>\nWhat is your name?<\/td>\nNama Anda siapakah<\/span>?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Di manakah Anda?<\/td>\nWhere are you?<\/td>\nAnda di manakah<\/span>?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Kapankah\/mengapakah Anda menangis?<\/td>\nWhy are you crying?<\/td>\nAda menangis mengapa<\/span>?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

        BERAPA<\/p>\n

        Use a question word \u2018berapa\u2019 when you expect an answer that\u00a0is\u00a0a \u2018number\u2019.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Asking for\u00a0other than time (Berapa \u2026?)<\/li>\n
        2. Asking for time (\u2026 berapa?).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Place the \u2018berapa\u2019 question word when you ask about time. Indonesian English<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
          Indonesian<\/strong><\/td>\nEnglish<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Berapa harga mangganya?Note: Not \u201cMangganya harga berapa?<\/td>\nHow much is the mango?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Beraja jauh jarak dari New York ke Washington DC?<\/td>\nWhat is the distance from New York to Washington DC?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Berapa lama Anda pergi?<\/td>\nHow long did you go?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Berapa jam?<\/td>\nHow many hours?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Berapa umur Anda?<\/td>\nHow old are you?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Perlu uang berapa?Note: \u201cBerapa banyak Anda perlu uang\u201d (wrong)<\/td>\nHow much money do you need?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Jam berapa sekarang?<\/td>\nWhat time is it now?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

          Note<\/span>: In some cases, \u2018berapa\u2019 is better placed at the end of the sentence.<\/p>\n

          SIAPA (who, whose, whom)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
          Indonesian<\/strong><\/td>\nEnglish<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Siapa Anda?<\/td>\nWho are you?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Ruman siapa itu?<\/td>\nWhose house is that?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Anda bicara dengan siapa? Or Dengan siapa Anda bicara?<\/td>\nWith whom do you speak?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Kepada siapa dia bicara?<\/td>\nWhom did she talk to?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

          MANA<\/p>\n

          There are three kinds of question words \u2018where\u2019 to indicate a motion or station. MANA cannot be separated from the preposition (dari, ke, di), although \u2018where\u2019 is in English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
          Indonesian<\/strong><\/td>\nEnglish<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Hari Kamis kamu mau pergi ke mana?<\/td>\nWhere will you go on Thursday?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Dari mana Indonesia import beras?<\/td>\nWhere did Indonesia import rice?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Anda berasala dari mana?<\/td>\nWhere do you come from? Or where are you originally from?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Kamu tinggal di mana?<\/td>\nWhere do you live?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Di mana kota Washington DC?<\/td>\nWhere is Washington DC?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

          Note<\/span>:<\/p>\n

          Use question words \u2018dari mana\u2019 (where from) and \u2018ke mana\u2019 (where to) when you ask about a motion from and to one place. However, use \u2018di mana\u2019 (where at) when you ask about\u00a0a location or a place.<\/p>\n

          \u00a0Different expression In Indonesian but have similar meaning in English<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
          Indonesian<\/strong><\/td>\nEnglish<\/strong><\/td>\nExplanation<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Siapa nama Anda?<\/td>\nWhat is your name<\/td>\nWho<\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/span>is your name? (In English, you have to say\u00a0What<\/span><\/em>\u00a0is your name?)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Naik apa ke New York?<\/td>\nHow do you go to New York?<\/td>\nRide what<\/span><\/em> to (go) to New York? Or What kind of transportation are taking? (in English, you have to say How<\/span> do you go to New York?<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Nomor teleponnya berapa? or Nomor telepon\u00a0Anda berapa?<\/td>\nWhat is your the telephone number?<\/td>\nHow<\/span><\/em> is the telephone number (in English: What<\/span> is your telephone number)<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

           <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Constructing an interrogative sentence in Indonesian is much simpler than in English, as Indonesian does not recognize “to be” or tenses. However, sometimes you should memorize some expressions because they are\u00a0specific to Indonesian, and they would not make sense if you translated them\u00a0into English. So memorization is the best way to learn\u00a0them. Following are the…<\/p>\n

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