Saya mendengar musik pada malam hari.

I listen to music at night.

Breakdown of Saya mendengar musik pada malam hari.

• saya: I
• malam hari: the night
• mendengar: to listen
• musik: the music
• pada: at

Questions & Answers about Saya mendengar musik pada malam hari.

Why is mendengar used in this sentence instead of mendengarkan?

Indonesian verbs can carry subtle nuances based on their affixes. Mendengar typically means "to hear" or "listen" in a general sense, referring to the perception of sound without necessarily implying focused attention. Conversely, mendengarkan tends to suggest a deliberate or active act of listening. In this sentence, mendengar is used to state that the speaker experienced music, without stressing intentional concentration.

What is the function of the preposition pada in this sentence?

The word pada functions as a preposition indicating time or place. Here, in the phrase pada malam hari, it specifies when the action occurs—namely, at night. This is similar to using "at" or "on" in English when referring to a specific time frame.

Why is the phrase malam hari used instead of just malam?

Although malam alone means "night," the expression malam hari is an idiomatic phrase in Indonesian that emphasizes the time period more naturally. Adding hari solidifies the context, making the phrase more complete and commonly used in everyday conversation to mean "at night."

Does the sentence follow the typical Indonesian sentence structure?

Yes, the sentence follows the standard structure. It begins with the subject Saya (I), followed by the verb mendengar (hear/listen), then the object musik (music), and concludes with the adverbial phrase pada malam hari (at night), which specifies when the action occurs. This mirrors the familiar Subject-Verb-Object order, with an added time modifier.

Is it acceptable to rearrange the sentence without changing its meaning?

Absolutely. Indonesian often allows flexibility with word order. For example, placing the adverbial phrase at the beginning as in Pada malam hari, saya mendengar musik is equally correct and natural. However, the original order is commonly used and generally easier for learners to follow.

Is the word musik borrowed from English?

Yes, musik is a loanword that is used in Indonesian much like "music" in English. It is widely recognized and understood, providing a familiar point of reference for learners transitioning between the two languages.