Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Wisatawan asing membeli lukisan kecil sebagai oleh-oleh. - Foreign tourists buy small paintings as souvenirs.

Indonesian doesn’t use articles like English “a” or “the.” Nouns stand on their own, and whether they’re definite or indefinite is inferred from context or added words like seorang (a certain) or possessive markers.

How do you tell if a noun is singular or plural when there’s no “s” or other ending?

Indonesian nouns don’t change form for number. Plurality is shown by context or by reduplication (e.g. buku-buku “books”). In our sentence, you know it’s one painting (or a small number) because of the situation and the lack of reduplication.

Why is kecil (small) placed after lukisan (painting) instead of before?

In Indonesian, descriptive adjectives usually follow the noun they modify. So you say lukisan kecil (“painting small”) rather than kecil lukisan. Only a few adjectives like muda (young) or baru (new) can precede.

What does sebagai mean here, and could I use untuk instead?

Sebagai means “as” or “in the capacity of.” It frames the painting’s role: the tourist buys it as a souvenir. You could say untuk oleh-oleh (“for a souvenir”), but sebagai oleh-oleh is more idiomatic when talking about the painting’s function or role.

What exactly is oleh-oleh?

Oleh-oleh is an Indonesian noun for “souvenir” or “gift brought back from a trip.” It literally comes from “oleh” (by/through) repeated, but it’s fixed as the word for small presents you buy for friends or family when traveling.

Could I just say untuk oleh-oleh instead of sebagai oleh-oleh?

Yes, untuk oleh-oleh (“for souvenirs”) is understandable, but it emphasizes purpose (“in order to be souvenirs”). Sebagai oleh-oleh highlights the role or status of the item as a souvenir. The nuance is subtle; both are used colloquially.

Why is membeli used instead of just beli?

Beli is the root verb “to buy.” When you add the active verb prefix me-, it becomes membeli, which marks it as a transitive action (“to buy something”). The prefix assimilates to the first consonant (b → mb).

What does the suffix -an do in lukisan?

The suffix -an turns the verb lukis (to paint) into a noun lukisan (a painting—the result of painting). It’s a common way to form nouns from verbs in Indonesian.

What’s the difference between wisatawan, turis, and pelancong?

All three mean “tourist,” but with slight shades:

Turis is borrowed from English “tourist” and widely used.
Wisatawan is more formal/official (“visitor” or “tourist” in travel contexts).
Pelancong implies someone traveling around for leisure, often more rustic or adventurous.

Could I add seorang before wisatawan asing to show it’s one person?

Yes. Seorang + a profession or role marks exactly one individual: Seorang wisatawan asing membeli… means “A (certain) foreign tourist buys….” Without seorang, “wisatawan asing” still works and can imply one or more, depending on context.