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Study in the app →Indonesian · BIPA 1 (A1) · Chapter 5
Saya dari Amerika I'm from America
Where you are from, and what your nationality is. The word "dari" means "from": Saya dari Indonesia. Nationality uses NO special adjective — you use "orang + country": orang Amerika = an American, orang Jepang = a Japanese person. Language is just as simple: "bahasa + name" — bahasa Indonesia. Plus laki-laki, perempuan, anak. Mike slips once more — this time forgetting "orang". And the first culture section: how to address people respectfully (Bapak, Ibu, Mas, Mbak).
Dialogue
Kamu dari Indonesia? — Are you from Indonesia?
- Budi Sari, kamu dari Indonesia? Sari, are you from Indonesia?
- Sari Ya! Saya orang Indonesia. Kamu dari Jepang? Yes! I'm Indonesian. Are you from Japan?
- Budi Tidak, saya dari Tiongkok. Saya orang Tiongkok. No, I'm from China. I'm Chinese.
- Sari Oh! Teman saya dari Jepang. Oh! My friend is from Japan.
Dialogue
Mike lupa "orang" — Mike Forgets "orang"
- Sari Mike, kamu dari Amerika? Mike, are you from America?
- Mike Ya! Saya Amerika. Yes! I "am America". (wrong: orang dropped, should be Saya orang Amerika)
- Sari Mike, "Saya orang Amerika"! Mike, "Saya orang Amerika"! (nationality = orang + country)
- Mike Oh! Saya orang Amerika. Terima kasih! Oh! I'm American. Thank you!
Vocabulary
| 汉字 | Pinyin | POS | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| dari | prep. | from | |
| negara | n. | country | |
| bahasa | n. | language | |
| Indonesia | n. | Indonesia | |
| Amerika | n. | America | |
| Jepang | n. | Japan | |
| Tiongkok | n. | China | |
| laki-laki | n. | male, man | |
| perempuan | n. | female, woman | |
| anak | n. | child |
Grammar
"dari" — dari mana asalmu "dari" — where you are from
Kata "dari" berarti "from" dan diletakkan tepat sebelum tempatnya: Saya dari Indonesia = I am from Indonesia. Susunannya S + dari + tempat — sama seperti Inggris, jadi mudah. Untuk bertanya, ucapkan kalimat yang sama dengan nada naik di akhir: "Kamu dari Jepang?" Tidak perlu kata tanya, tidak perlu ubah urutan. Jawab "Ya" atau "Tidak" lalu beri tempat yang benar: "Tidak, saya dari Tiongkok."
The word "dari" means "from" and goes right before the place: Saya dari Indonesia = I am from Indonesia. The order is S + dari + place — the same as English, so it is easy. To ask, say the same sentence with a rising tone at the end: "Kamu dari Jepang?" No question word, no order change needed. Answer "Ya" or "Tidak", then give the correct place: "Tidak, saya dari Tiongkok."
- Saya dari Indonesia. I am from Indonesia.
- Kamu dari Jepang? (nada naik) Are you from Japan? (rising tone)
- Tidak, saya dari Tiongkok. No, I'm from China.
- Teman saya dari Amerika. My friend is from America.
Grammar
Kebangsaan dan bahasa: "orang/bahasa + nama" Nationality and language: "orang/bahasa + name"
Bahasa Indonesia tidak punya kata sifat kebangsaan terpisah (tidak ada satu kata untuk "American" atau "Japanese"). Sebagai gantinya, susun "orang + negara" = orang dari negara itu: orang Amerika, orang Jepang, orang Indonesia. Bahasa memakai pola yang sama: "bahasa + nama" = bahasa Indonesia, bahasa Jepang. Mudah dan teratur. Dan tiga kata orang: laki-laki (pria), perempuan (wanita), anak (anak kecil). Ingat: JANGAN buang "orang" — "Saya Amerika" berarti "Saya negara Amerika", bukan kebangsaan.
Indonesian has no separate nationality adjective (no single word for "American" or "Japanese"). Instead, build "orang + country" = a person from that country: orang Amerika, orang Jepang, orang Indonesia. Language uses the same pattern: "bahasa + name" = bahasa Indonesia, bahasa Jepang. Simple and regular. And three people words: laki-laki (a man), perempuan (a woman), anak (a child). Remember: do NOT drop "orang" — "Saya Amerika" means "I am the country America", not a nationality.
- Saya orang Indonesia. I am Indonesian.
- Dia orang Jepang. He/she is Japanese.
- Bahasa saya bahasa Indonesia. My language is Indonesian.
- Anak itu laki-laki. That child is a boy.
Culture
Menyebut orang dengan hormat Addressing people with respect
You have learned "kamu" and "Anda". But in daily life, Indonesians often use neither — they use address words like Bapak, Ibu, Mas, or Mbak. These words mean "you" AND show respect, and choosing the right one is a big part of being polite.
The four main words
Bapak (or just Pak) for an older or respected man — like "Mr/sir". Ibu (or Bu) for an older or respected woman — like "Mrs/ma'am". Mas for a young adult man, roughly your age or a little older — originally "older brother" in Javanese. Mbak for a young adult woman — "older sister". Mas and Mbak are most common in Java, but understood everywhere.
The address word replaces "kamu"
Here is the key: you use this word IN PLACE OF "kamu". Instead of "Kamu dari mana?" (Where are you from?), it is more polite to say "Bapak dari mana?" (lit. "Where is Bapak from?"). You can also add the name: Pak Budi, Bu Sari. Using "kamu" with an older person or a stranger can sound too familiar — an address word is both warm and respectful.
When in doubt
For an adult who is clearly older, use Pak (man) or Bu (woman) — the safest choice. For someone your own age, Mas (man) or Mbak (woman) feels friendly. Better a little too respectful than too familiar. People appreciate the effort, and saying their name correctly (Pak Budi) is always welcome.
Rule of thumb: with someone clearly older, use Pak/Bu; with someone your age, use Mas/Mbak; save "kamu" for close friends and "Anda" for formal writing or announcements. When you know the name, combine: Pak Budi, Mbak Sari.
pronunciation
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