Tempat ini sangat penting bagi kami.

This place is very important to us.

Breakdown of Tempat ini sangat penting bagi kami.

• ini: this
• adalah: to be
• sangat: very
• penting: important
• bagi: for
• tempat: the place

Questions & Answers about Tempat ini sangat penting bagi kami.

Why is bagi used instead of untuk in this sentence?

bagi and untuk can often both mean "for," but bagi tends to be used in more formal or conceptual contexts, emphasizing the importance or impact on someone. untuk is more general and common in everyday conversation. In this sentence, bagi highlights that the place holds significant value or meaning specifically to the speakers.

What does kami mean, and how is it different from kita?

kami is used when the speaker refers to themselves and others but excludes the person being spoken to. kita is used when the speaker includes everyone present, including the person being spoken to. In this sentence, kami indicates that the place is very important to the speaker and their group, but not necessarily including the listener.

Is ini just "this," and how do I know when to use it instead of itu?

Yes, ini means "this" in Indonesian, referring to something close to the speaker in time or place. itu is "that," referring to something farther away, either physically or conceptually. You use ini when the place or thing is near or currently relevant, and itu when it's more distant or already mentioned.

Why do we use sangat before penting? Could we say penting sekali instead?

In Indonesian, an intensifier like sangat ("very") can be placed before an adjective, while sekali ("very" or "extremely") tends to come after. Both are common and idiomatic: • sangat penting – "very important" (with sangat before the adjective)
• penting sekali – "extremely important" (with sekali after the adjective)
Both forms are acceptable and convey a similar meaning, though the nuance can differ slightly depending on context and speaker preference.

How would I say it if the place is only somewhat important, not very important?

Instead of using a strong intensifier like sangat, you could use a more moderate one or omit it entirely. For instance: • Tempat ini penting bagi kami – "This place is important to us" (standard statement)
• Tempat ini cukup penting bagi kami – "This place is fairly important to us" (more moderate emphasis)