Learn Malay with Adlan

Mari  can be used in the following ways: Verb:  Come (here) Mari can be used to call the listener to your side. When used before a verb, it is to invite the listener to do something. When used after a verb or after the preposition ke , it expresses movement to the speaker's location. Examples : 1. Mari sini. Come here! 2. Mari makan. Come eat! 3. Bawa mari bungkusan itu. Bring the package here (to my side). 4. Jangan datang ke mari. Don't come here (to my side). Mari (kita) (Imperative) Verb:  Let us Mari  can also be used to invite the listener to do something together. Jom which is more colloquial can be used interchangeably. However, jom can be used by itself to urge the listener. Examples : 1. Mari pergi ke kedai itu. Let's go to that store! 2. Jom keluar jalan-jalan. Let's go hang outside! 3. Mari kita mulakan mesyuarat sekarang. Let us start the meeting now! 4. Jom masuk acara larian itu. Let's join that running event! Try writing your own sentences in the com

-lah  can be used in the following ways: (Imperative Softener) Particle:  (can you) please..., I beg you... -lah  is a very flexible particle that can be attached to any clause of the sentence. In formal writing, it is always attached directly after a word, but in casual writing, it may be separated. -lah  has many functions. In this post, it might not cover all the uses but the main ones. The most basic function of -lah  is to soften an order or a request by attaching it to the imperative verb. With -lah , there is a nuance of inviting, pursuading even so far as begging/urging when the syllable is lengthened. Examples : 1. Jomlah keluar. Bosan di rumah.   Let's go out! {begging} It's boring at home.  2. Makanlah sikit, nanti lapar.  Eat a little bit or you might get hungry later! {pursuading}  3. Masuklah ke rumah dan buatlah macam rumah sendiri.   Please come in and make yourself like home. {inviting}  4. Tolonglah, saya dah penat ni. Ceraikanlah sa(ha)ja saya.   I beg you, I

Payah   can be used in the following ways: Adjective:  dfficult, effortful, bothersome Payah can be used to describe that a certain action is rather difficult to be done due to it requiring a lot of effort. It is used when the speaker is annoyed or frustrated. Examples : 1. Belajar bahasa Melayu tak payah. It's not tough to learn Malay.    2. Payah sangatkah nak dengar cakap?  Is it so hard to listen to my words? 3. Kena pecat tiba-tiba mesti payah, kan. It must be hard to be fired suddenly, right? 4. Hidup ini tak sepayah yang kita sangka. This life isn't as tough as we thought. Tak payah  (Imperative/Auxiliary) Verb: no need, don't have to Tak payah can come before a verb to express that there is no need to do the action. Use with a soft tone, it is comparable with tak perlu , in which the speaker's intention is merely to state that something is not needed as opposed to what the listener expects. When used in a harsh tone, it is rather sarcastic, as if telling the lis

Jemput  can be used in the following ways: (Transitive) Verb:  to invite, to pick (somebody) up, to welcome Jemput  is used to describe the action of inviting somebody to a certain programme or event. As a primary verb,  (meN)jemput --> menjemput receives the invited person as a direct object. In some cases, jemput can also mean to pick somebody up though this is only used in special occasions like picking somebody up from the airport as if inviting them into the country. Examples :  1. Saya menjemput rakan sekerja ke rumah.   I invited my coworker to my house.  2. Dia menjemput ramai orang ke kenduri perkahwinannya.   He invited a lot of people to his wedding reception.  3. Sila jemput tetamu bila sampai rumah.   Please welcome the guests when they arrive at home.  4. Bos menyuruh mereka menjemput pelabur yang datang dari luar negara di lapangan terbang. Boss ordered them to pick up the investor who's coming from overseas at the airport. (Imperative) Verb:  please {inviting, we

Harap  can be used in the following ways: (Intransitive) Verb:  to hope that, to expect Harap  is used to describe the action of hoping something to happen. As a primary verb,  (ber)harap --> berharap is often followed with agar which further assert that the event following it is not within the speaker's control. In speech, agar can be dropped and usually replaced with a short pause before continuing the sentence. When the English word 'expect' is used to mean something similar as hoping someone to do something, harap is used. Examples :  1. Saya (ber)harap agar esok tak hujan.     I hope that tomorrow doesn't rain.     2. Dia (ber)harap peperiksaan kali ini tidak berapa susah.   He hopes that the exam this time won't be that difficult.  3. Daripada hanya berahap, ambillah tindakan.   Rather than just wishing, take some actions!  4. Orang Asia berharap agar anak-anak berkahwin dan berkeluarga.   Asians expect children to marry and build a family. (Imperative) Ver

Suruh  can be used in the following ways: (Causative) Verb:  to order, to command, to ask Suruh  is used to describe the action of ordering others to perform some actions. As a primary verb,  (meN)suruh --> menyuruh  comes before the indirect object which is the person asked to perform the action. If the indirect object is clear from the context, it can be ommitted and suruh  is then followed directly by the action asked to be done. Examples :  1. Dia suruh saya kemaskan bilik dia.      He ordered me to clean up his room.      2. Mak suruh basuh pinggan (se)lepas makan.     Mother asked (you/me) to wash the plates after eating.  3. Daripada buat sendiri, Alia suka menyuruh orang.   Rather than doing it herself, Ali likes to order people around.  4. Jangan buat sesuatu hanya sebab ada orang suruh.   Don't do something just because others asked you to.  5. Siapa suruh main hujan? Tengok, sekarang sudah selesema.  Who asked you to play in the rain? See! Now you got a cold. (Imperat

Jangan   can be used in the following ways: (Imperative) Verb:  do not Jangan is specially used in order to form a negative imperative in Malay. It is placed before the verb to ask the listener to not do something. Examples : 1. Jangan makan di stesen. Don't eat at the station!     2. Jangan tinggalkan saya.  Don't leave me! 3. Awak jangan buat dia marah. Do not make her angry! 4. Kalau nak balik, jangan buat bising. If you want to go back, don't make any noise!  Try writing your own sentences in the comment below...

Minta   can be used in the following ways: (Causative) Verb:  to ask, to request Minta  is used to describe the action of requesting someone for something. As a primary verb,  (meN)minta --> meminta  comes before the indirect object which is the person requested by the subject. The indirect object can be ommitted when it is clear from the context.  Minta  is then followed with the action requested or the object requested. Examples : 1. Dia selalu minta tolong saya.      He always asks for my help.      2. Adik minta ibu (meN)tandatangan(i) borang itu.      My younger sibling asked mother to sign that form.  3. Mereka meminta sedikit masa lagi.   They requested for a little bit more time.  4. Awak sudah minta cuti belum?   Have you requested for an off-day?   (Imperative) Verb:  please / give (me) Minta is another polite way to make a request which can be translated to 'please' in English. However, based on the meaning of minta , it can be understood that the request will ben

Sila   can be used in the following ways: (Imperative) Verb:  please {instructions/commands} Sila  is used to form a polite way of giving instructions to others in formal situations or with strangers. Sila  has to be followed by the primary verb and subject is not required in this sentence. Be cautious that there are many situations where the English 'please' is used, but sila  is only used to give instructions. Examples : 1. Sila berhati-hati di jalan raya.   Please be careful while on the road!     2. Sila tunggu sebentar.  Please wait for a moment! 3. Sila pakai pelitup muka semasa di dalam tren. Please wear the face mask while on the train! 4. Sila isikan borang ini. Please fill in this form!   Silakan (Imperative) Verb:  go ahead, you may Silakan is used to politely invite someone to do something. Silakan  is followed by primary verbs and the sentence is usually not more than three words. Silakan  can also be used to respond to a person's request which means allowing t

Tolong  can be used in the following ways: (Causative) Verb:  to help Tolong is used to describe the action of helping. As a primary verb, (meN)tolong --> menolong  comes before the indirect object which is the receiver of the help. If the indirect object is the speaker, it can be ommitted when tolong is followed with the action being done. Examples : 1. Dia selalu (meN)tolong saya.      He always helps me.      2. Maaf, saya tak boleh (meN)tolong awak esok.     Sorry, I can't help you tomorrow.  3. Hana tolong (meN)angkat beg itu.   Hana helped (me) carry that bag.  4. Encik Ramli ada tolong mak di dapur?   Did you help my mum in the kitchen?   (Imperative) Verb:  please / help (me) This way,  tolong  is used to get someone to help you. If the indirect object [receiver of the action] is the speaker, it can be ommited. Tolong can be preceded by boleh to form a polite request. Examples : 1. Tolong saya!    Help me!     2. Tolong ulang sekali lagi.  Please repeat (one more time)!