Saya simpan kunci di lemari.

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Breakdown of Saya simpan kunci di lemari.

• di: in
• lemari: the cupboard
• simpan: to store

Questions & Answers about Saya simpan kunci di lemari.

Why is the verb simpan used here without the meN- prefix (as in menyimpan)?

In everyday spoken Indonesian, especially in informal contexts, speakers often drop the meN- prefix and use the bare root verb. So simpan is the “root” form of menyimpan.
• Formal/written: Saya menyimpan kunci di lemari.
• Colloquial/spoken: Saya simpan kunci di lemari.

How do we know di lemari is a location (in the cupboard) and not a passive-voice marker on a verb?

Indonesian uses di in two ways:

1. As a preposition meaning “in/at/on” before a place noun (with a space): di lemari = in the cupboard.
2. As a passive-voice prefix (attached to a verb without a space): disimpan = “is stored/kept.”
   In our sentence you see a space (di lemari), so it’s the location preposition, not the passive verb form.

Is di lemari the same as dalam lemari?

Mostly yes—both can mean “inside the cupboard.”
• di lemari is more common and idiomatic.
• di dalam lemari is more explicit about “inside.” You’d use di dalam if you want to stress “within.”

How do you show that kunci (“key”) is plural (keys)?

Indonesian nouns often don’t change in plural form. Context tells you if it’s singular or plural. If you really need to be explicit, you can say:• = “several keys”• = “many keys”Otherwise can mean one key or multiple keys.