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)?