Breakdown of Kami saling membantu di rumah.
rumah
the house
di
at
kami
we
saling membantu
to help each other
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Questions & Answers about Kami saling membantu di rumah.
What does the word saling do here?
Saling marks reciprocity: it means the action happens mutually among the participants (each helps the other). It requires at least two people as the subject. It normally comes right before the verb or adjective: Kami saling membantu, Mereka saling menghormati, Kami saling kenal.
Can saling go after the verb, like Kami membantu saling?
No. Saling should precede the verb or adjective. Say Kami saling membantu, not Kami membantu saling. You can insert aspect or time words before it: Kami sedang saling membantu, Kami sering saling membantu.
Why is it kami and not kita?
Both mean “we,” but:
- Kami excludes the listener.
- Kita includes the listener. Use kami if you mean “we (not you).” If you want to include the person you’re talking to, say Kita saling membantu di rumah.
Do I need an object after membantu when I use saling?
No. Saling already implies “each other,” so no object is needed. Without saling, membantu usually takes an object, e.g., Kami membantu Ibu.
Can I replace saling with satu sama lain?
Yes. Two natural options:
- Kami saling membantu.
- Kami membantu satu sama lain. Using both together (e.g., Kami saling membantu satu sama lain) is redundant but common in speech and some writing for emphasis.
What’s the difference between membantu and menolong?
They often overlap. Nuance:
- Membantu = help/assist with tasks, support.
- Menolong = help/save, often with an urgent or compassionate tone. With saling, both work: saling membantu or saling menolong.
Is saling bantu (without the prefix) acceptable?
In informal speech, yes: Kita saling bantu sounds casual. The standard form is saling membantu. You also see set reciprocals like tolong-menolong or bantu-membantu (more formal/literary), sometimes combined with saling for emphasis: saling tolong-menolong.
How do I express time or aspect (like “are helping right now”)?
Indonesian has no tense marking. Add time/aspect words:
- Progressive: Kami sedang saling membantu di rumah.
- Habitual: Kami biasanya/sering saling membantu di rumah.
- Future: Kami akan saling membantu di rumah besok.
Where can I place di rumah in the sentence?
It can go at the end or be fronted for emphasis:
- Kami saling membantu di rumah.
- Di rumah, kami saling membantu. Fronting highlights the location.
What exactly does di rumah mean here?
Usually “at home” (the speaker’s home in general). To be explicit:
- di rumah kami = at our house
- di rumah saya = at my house
- di rumahnya = at his/her house
What’s the difference between di rumah and di dalam rumah?
- Di rumah = at home/at the house (general location).
- Di dalam rumah = inside the house (emphasizes interior vs. outside).
Is di written separately in di rumah?
Yes. Di as a preposition is separate: di rumah, di sekolah. The passive prefix di- attaches to verbs (e.g., dibantu). Don’t write dirumah.
Can I omit the subject and just say Saling membantu di rumah?
In context (when it’s clear who “we” is), yes—spoken Indonesian often drops known subjects. In careful writing or standalone sentences, keep Kami/Kita for clarity.
Why is it membantu and not something like menbantu?
The prefix is meN-, which assimilates to the initial consonant of the root. With a root starting with b (bantu), it becomes mem- + bantu → membantu (not menbantu).
How can I say “we all help each other”?
Add semua after the subject:
- Kami semua saling membantu di rumah.
- If including the listener: Kita semua saling membantu di rumah.
Is there a cultural term related to mutual help?
Yes, gotong royong refers to communal mutual cooperation. You might see sentences like Kita menjunjung tinggi semangat gotong royong. It’s a broader community value beyond just helping at home.