Teman baru itu sangat penting baginya.

That new friend is very important to him/her.

Breakdown of Teman baru itu sangat penting baginya.

• adalah: to be
• itu: that
• baru: new
• teman: the friend
• sangat: very
• penting: important
• bagi: for
• nya: him/her

Questions & Answers about Teman baru itu sangat penting baginya.

Why is “itu” placed after “teman baru”?

In Indonesian, itu often works like “that” or “the” in English, and it usually comes after the noun phrase. By saying teman baru itu, you’re specifically pointing to “that/the new friend” in a definite sense.

Why do we use “baginya” instead of “untuk dia”?

Both bagi and untuk can mean “for,” but bagi feels slightly more formal or “objective,” while untuk is more casual and broadly used. Baginya also smoothly becomes a single word meaning “for him/her,” rather than two separate words (untuk dia).

Can “-nya” in “baginya” refer to both “him” and “her”?

Absolutely. In Indonesian, -nya can mean “his,” “her,” or even “its,” depending on context. You usually figure out the specific meaning from the rest of the sentence or conversation.

What role does “sangat” play here?

Sangat intensifies the adjective penting, translating to “very important.” It’s a common way to emphasize an adjective in Indonesian. Other intensifiers exist, such as sekali (placed after the adjective), but sangat is a straightforward and formal option.

Is it possible to reorder the words?

Yes. For example, you might see “Baginya, teman baru itu sangat penting.” The meaning stays the same, but moving baginya to the front puts a little extra emphasis on “for him/her.” In Indonesian, shifting words around can change the nuance slightly but won’t usually alter the core meaning.