Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Kami menikmati pemandangan gunung di sore hari sambil minum kopi. - We enjoy the mountain scenery in the afternoon while drinking coffee.

Kami means “we” or “us,” excluding the person you’re talking to. It’s used when the speaker refers to their own group without the listener. Kita, by contrast, means “we” including both the speaker and the listener.

Why is menikmati used here? What is its root word and how do the prefix and suffix work?

The root word is nikmat, which means “pleasure” or “delight.” The prefix me- and the suffix -i turn it into a transitive verb: menikmati (“to enjoy”). So menikmati pemandangan literally means “to enjoy the view.”

What does pemandangan gunung mean, and why is pemandangan placed before gunung?

Pemandangan means “view” or “scenery,” and gunung means “mountain.” In Indonesian, noun modifiers usually come after the head noun, so pemandangan gunung is “mountain view” (literally “view of a mountain”).

How does di sore hari work? Why is di used before a time expression?

Di can mark both place and time. Here, di sore hari means “in the late afternoon.” You could also say pada sore hari, which is slightly more formal but means the same thing.

What does sambil mean and how is it used?

Sambil means “while (doing something).” It introduces an action that happens at the same time as another. It’s always followed by a verb, for example: sambil minum kopi (“while drinking coffee”).

Why is it minum kopi and not meminum kopi?

Both are possible, but in everyday speech Indonesians usually say minum kopi. Meminum is the formal transitive verb form (prefix me- + root minum + suffix -kan/–i), whereas minum by itself works perfectly well for casual contexts.

Is the order of phrases important in this sentence?

Yes. A common order is: Subject (Kami) + Verb (menikmati pemandangan gunung) + Time (di sore hari) + Concurrent action (sambil minum kopi). Changing this order can sound awkward or change emphasis.