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Maaf, Pak, saya belum punya izin dari guru.

Maaf, Pak, saya belum punya izin dari guru.
Sorry, Sir, I don’t yet have permission from the teacher.
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Questions & Answers about Maaf, Pak, saya belum punya izin dari guru.

What does the word in address Pak mean, and when do I use it?

Pak is a respectful way to address an adult man, similar to “Sir.” It’s a clipped form of Bapak. Use it:

  • On its own when speaking to a man: Pak, ...
  • Before a name: Pak Andi
  • For a woman, use Bu (from Ibu): Bu, ... or Bu Sari
Is Maaf the right word here, or should it be Permisi?
  • Maaf = sorry/forgive me. Use it to apologize or soften a refusal, as in this sentence.
  • Permisi = excuse me to pass by or to get someone’s attention. You could also say Mohon maaf for extra politeness/formality.
Why is belum used instead of tidak?
  • Belum means “not yet” and implies the situation might change (you expect to get permission later).
  • Tidak is a plain “not,” with no “yet” nuance. Compare:
  • Saya belum punya izin = I don’t have permission yet (but maybe later).
  • Saya tidak punya izin = I don’t have permission (no implication it will change).
What’s the nuance of punya here? Could I use memiliki or ada instead?
  • punya = have; common and neutral-colloquial: Saya belum punya izin.
  • memiliki = possess; more formal: Saya belum memiliki izin.
  • ada = there is/are; existential: Belum ada izin (dari guru) or Saya belum ada izin (colloquial). All are understandable; choose based on formality.
Is the spelling izin or ijin?
Standard Indonesian prefers izin (per KBBI). ijin is a common informal variant; stick with izin in writing or formal speech.
Why is it dari guru and not kepada/pada/dengan guru?
  • dari = from (source). You receive permission from someone: izin dari guru.
  • When asking permission, you direct it to someone: minta izin kepada/pada guru (ask permission of the teacher).
  • dengan (with) is not used for permission sources.
Does guru here mean “the teacher” or “my teacher”? How do I specify?

Indonesian has no articles. guru can mean “the teacher” in context. To be explicit:

  • “my teacher”: guru saya
  • “a teacher”: seorang guru So: ...izin dari guru saya = permission from my teacher.
Why are there commas around Pak?
Pak is a vocative (direct address). Indonesian commonly sets a vocative off with commas: Maaf, Pak, ... This mirrors a brief pause in speech.
Is saya the best pronoun here? Could I use aku or drop the subject?
  • saya is polite/neutral and fits well with Pak.
  • aku is informal/intimate; avoid it with a person you address as Pak.
  • Dropping the subject is common if context is clear: Belum punya izin dari guru.
How could I make the sentence more formal or official?

Options:

  • Mohon maaf, Pak, saya belum mendapat izin dari guru.
  • Maaf, Pak, saya belum diizinkan oleh guru.
  • Maaf, Pak, saya belum memperoleh izin dari guru. These use more formal verbs: mendapat/memperoleh (to obtain), diizinkan (to be permitted).
Can I say izin guru instead of izin dari guru?

Yes, izin guru (“the teacher’s permission”) is a concise noun phrase and is idiomatic, especially in writing. Both are fine:

  • belum punya izin guru
  • belum punya izin dari guru Using dari is slightly more explicit in speech.
Is there a natural colloquial variant?

Yes:

  • Maaf, Pak, saya belum ada izin dari guru.
  • Maaf, Pak, saya belum dapat izin dari guru.
  • With casual negation: Maaf, Pak, saya belum nggak… (Not correct—use nggak with verbs/adjectives: Saya nggak punya izin, but then it loses the “yet” nuance. For “not yet,” keep belum.)
How should I capitalize Pak?
Capitalize Pak when it’s a form of address or part of a name (Pak Budi). Use lowercase (bapak) only when referring to a father or “a man” generically in running text, not as direct address.
If the teacher is female, do I change anything in dari guru or Pak?
  • dari guru stays the same; guru is gender-neutral.
  • Pak refers to the person you’re speaking to (Sir), not the teacher. If addressing a woman, use Bu.
How do I refer to multiple teachers?

Use a plural marker if needed:

  • dari para guru (from the teachers; formal/collective)
  • dari guru-guru (teachers; neutral) Often, context alone is enough, and dari guru can refer to “the teachers” if understood.
Any notes on pronunciation or rhythm?
  • Maaf: two syllables, ma-af (glottal-ish break), not “maf.”
  • Pak: short “a,” final “k” unreleased.
  • belum: be-lum (u as in “put”).
  • punya: pu-nya (ny like “canyon”).
  • izin: i-zin (z as in “zoo”).
  • guru: gu-ru (both u like “put”). Natural pausing: Maaf | Pak | saya belum punya izin | dari guru.