I am learning Bahasa which is Indonesian based from DuoLingo, however I want to learn for Malaysia purposes. Can you help clarify for me the basic formal and informal for the following:

I
You
He/She
We
You (plural)
They

Thank you!

1 Oct 2022

Malay

Don't use kamu to someone elder or superior than you. Use their title instead.

Formal:

Encik - Mister
Tuan - Sir
Cik - Miss
Puan - Madam

Informal:

Pakcik - Uncle
Makcik - Aunty
Abang / bang - Elder brother
Kakak / kak - Elder sister
Adik / dik - Younger brother / sister

Anda also means 'you', but it is more for news, speeches, announcements and written articles.

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isa_xcv

1 Oct 2022

English (UK)
Malay

@TryingToLearnMalay

In local Malay conversations, it is very seldom to use the following pronouns as they sound a little bit bookish ;

1. kami (we)
2. anda (you singular/plural)
3. kamu (you)
4. mereka (they)

And instead of these, we use :

1. kita orang (first plural)
2. awak semua/ kau orang/ korang (second plural)
3. awak/ kau (second singular)
4. dia orang/ dorang (third plural)

It is pretty common for people from the Borneo island to use “kamu” for second singular pronoun.

However all these pronouns are all informal. And as mentioned by @nwazq , it is better to address someone older or superior than you with their respective titles

Most of the time we use “nenek” to refer to a very old lady.

nenek = grandma (regardless she is biologically related to you or not)
datuk = grandpa (use only for biologically related/ adopted ones)

When we want to address a very old pak cik with more friendly and casual manner, you can call him “tok”, we never use “datuk”.

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12 Oct 2022

English (US)

@nwazq @isa_xcv thanks so much very helpful!

For daily use , Could you teach me how to say these?

(1) excuse me, can you help me? (Walking to a shop, hawker, market)
(2) can I have one teh ais to go?

Thanks 🙏🏻

12 Oct 2022

English (US)

@isa_xcv thanks for the additional context for what’s used in daily conversations! I’d like to learn this for sure.

Can you let me know if these would be correct? (Based on using what you suggested)

(1) we are from Canada = Kita orang dari Canada

(2) you (guys) are from Malaysia? = kau orang dari Malaysia?

(3) are you from Penang? = kau dari Pinang?

(4) they are from UK. = dia orang dari UK.

Thank you! 🙏🏻

12 Oct 2022

Malay

@TryingToLearnMalay

1) Maaf ganggu. Boleh tolong saya?
2) Tolong bagi saya satu teh ais bungkus ikat tepi

Below is the image.

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English (US)

@nwazq thanks a lot! Maybe twice a week I get this teh ais in a bag and it’s tied up each time, is it needed to say “bungkus ikat tepi”?

Or is there a natural local way to just say “to go”?

Tolong bagi saya satu teh ais “to go”?

Also can I ask you, I always always find too ice, but I never ask for less. Do people ask for less ice? As I didn’t notice that, it’s always so much ice and I drink it within 5 mins and so much ice remains. Why so they give so much ice?

English (US)

@nwazq can I also ask you one more thing, when I am picking up my son from school, there are parking lot attendants and security guards, what can I say to get their attention? To start my sentence, I’d like to get their attention with bahasa)

I guess the equivalent “excuse me …..”

Would it be just “maaf? Google translate gives me “maafkan saya” as excuse me. This is commonly used? Natural?

Thanks a lot 🙏🏻 again

Malay

@TryingToLearnMalay

You know, as a local I'm baffled too about the ice thing haha. But maybe to cool the tea faster since they made it hot. Lesser ice won't get the job done effectively. Just a theory. And I'm baffled to why they loooveee to put so much condensed milk. A can of condensed milk isn't cheap these days. Don't worry, you can ask for whatever you want. Kurang ais - less ice, kurang manis - less sweet, kurang pedas - less spicy. They may mumble, but they won't hit you. Haha kidding.

There is another type of bungkus; bungkus ikat mati (image below). This type is harder to open and is meant for larger amount of tea to drink at home. If an outlet staff already know what you want, just say bungkus will do. But bungkus ikat tepi sounds cuter further if a foreigner says it. You might even get a discount. No promises though.

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Malay

@TryingToLearnMalay

Maafkan saya is more polite but either one will do, no worries.

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14 Oct 2022

English (US)

@nwazq extremely helpful! Certainly Will say anything to help get a discount maybe! 😂 I’ve also recently learned about Cham C! That’s so bad for you, but so good!

Thanks for these phrases, certainly can use it a few times a week. Esp kurang pedas.

In case asking for NOT spicy, would that be “bukan pedas? Or tidak pedas”?

Thanks again 🙏🏻😺

14 Oct 2022

Malay

@TryingToLearnMalay

It's more natural to say taknak pedas - (I) don't want spicy (food). But don't put too much hope as they will be using the same pan or "wok" with traces of chillies. Unless if it's a kid's meal, then I think they will do it more carefully.

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17 Oct 2022

English (US)

@nwazq got it thanks! 😺

So for NOT spicy- I should use “taknak pedas” Right?

Less spicy, less ice. = kurang xxx

But how about for “no vegetables , no beansprouts?”

For my kuay teow yesterday I ordered and added “bukas taugeh”, I also said it in English to be extra clear.

Should it be bukas? Tidak? Google also shows “tiada”

Which Is most natural when requesting “no mushrooms, no beansprouts, etc.”?

Thanks 🙏🏻

17 Oct 2022

Malay

@TryingToLearnMalay

Bukan is used in situations where another option is present, like "not this, but that". So it's not suitable here.

You can say taknak so and so, or jangan letak (don't put in) so and so.

Example:
Taknak taugeh
Jangan letak taugeh

Taknak sayur
Jangan letak sayur

Taknak pedas / cili
Jangan letak cili

Taknak manis / gula
Jangan letak gula

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