Setidaknya kita masih bisa belajar di perpustakaan.

At least we can still study in the library.

Breakdown of Setidaknya kita masih bisa belajar di perpustakaan.

• di: in
• belajar: to study
• bisa: can
• kita: we
• masih: still
• perpustakaan: the library
• setidaknya: at least

Questions & Answers about Setidaknya kita masih bisa belajar di perpustakaan.

What does the word setidaknya mean, and can I replace it with something else?

Setidaknya means “at least.” Common alternatives:

• paling tidak – very common and neutral
• setidak-tidaknya – a bit more formal/emphatic
• sekurang-kurangnya – formal/bureaucratic All of them work in this sentence with no change in basic meaning.

Can setidaknya go at the end of the sentence?

Yes. You can put it at the start or the end:

• Setidaknya, kita masih bisa belajar di perpustakaan.
• Kita masih bisa belajar di perpustakaan, setidaknya. Sentence-initial is most common. A comma after sentence-initial setidaknya is optional.

Why is kita used instead of kami?

Indonesian distinguishes two kinds of “we”:

• kita = we, including the listener (inclusive)
• kami = we, excluding the listener (exclusive) Here, kita implies the speaker and the listener can still study. If you said kami, it would mean “we (but not you) can still study.”

Can I drop the subject kita?

Often yes. Indonesian is pro-drop, so Setidaknya masih bisa belajar di perpustakaan can be fine if the subject is clear from context. Without kita, it could also be read as a general statement (“at least [people] can still study at the library”), so use the pronoun if you need clarity.

What does masih add? Could I leave it out?

masih means “still,” indicating continuation despite some change or obstacle. Without it, you just have “we can study at the library,” lacking the “still” nuance. Related words:

• tetap = remain/keep (often resolute: kita tetap belajar = “we keep on studying”)
• lagi = again; in colloquial use it can mean “currently,” but standard “currently” is sedang. Use masih for “still.”

Where should masih go? Is kita bisa masih belajar okay?

Put masih before the predicate or before the modal:

• Natural: Kita masih bisa belajar… or Kita masih belajar…
• Avoid: Kita bisa masih belajar… (sounds unnatural)

What’s the difference between bisa, dapat, boleh, and mampu?

• bisa: can/be able to (everyday, neutral)
• dapat: can (more formal); also “to get/obtain” depending on context
• mampu: be capable (stronger sense of capability)
• boleh: may, be allowed (permission) In this sentence, bisa expresses ability/possibility. Using boleh would change the meaning to permission: masih boleh = “still allowed to.”

Is bisa ever confused with the noun “poison”?

bisa also means “venom/poison” (e.g., snake venom), but context disambiguates it. As a modal before a verb (bisa belajar), it can only mean “can.” If you want a more formal feel (and avoid any chance of giggles), use dapat.

Does belajar mean “learn” or “study”? How is it different from mempelajari or mengajar?

• belajar = to learn/study (often intransitive): belajar di perpustakaan, belajar matematika
• mempelajari [obj] = to study/examine something in depth (formal/transitive): mempelajari biologi
• mengajar = to teach: mengajar di perpustakaan would mean “to teach at the library.”

Why is it di perpustakaan and not ke perpustakaan?

• di perpustakaan = at/in the library (location; static)
• ke perpustakaan = to the library (movement/direction) Your sentence describes the place where the studying happens, so di is correct.

Why is there a space in di perpustakaan but not in words like dimakan?

Because there are two different “di”:

• di as a preposition (location) is written separately: di perpustakaan
• di- as a passive prefix attaches to verbs: dimakan (“is/was eaten”) Never write diperpustakaan.

Does perpustakaan mean “the library” or “a library”? How do I mark plural?

Indonesian has no articles, so perpustakaan can mean “the library” or “a library,” depending on context. To make it definite, use perpustakaan itu/ini (that/this library). Plurality is usually from context or with a quantifier, e.g., banyak perpustakaan (“many libraries”); formal reduplication perpustakaan-perpustakaan is possible but often unnecessary.

How do I pronounce the key words naturally?

Approximate pronunciations:

• Setidaknya: suh-TEE-dahk-nyah (IPA: /sə-ti-dak-nja/)
• kita: KEE-tah (/kita/)
• masih: MAH-see(h) — light h at the end (/masih/)
• bisa: BEE-sah (/bisa/)
• belajar: buh-LAH-jar (/bə-ladʒar/)
• perpustakaan: pər-poos-tah-kah-ahn (/pər-pus-ta-ka-an/) — break the last two vowels: -a-an

Is the sentence formal or informal?

It’s neutral and widely usable. In more formal writing you might see dapat or setidak-tidaknya, but bisa and setidaknya are perfectly acceptable in everyday and semi-formal contexts.

How would I say “We still can’t study at the library” or “We can no longer study at the library”?

• “We still can’t study …” → Kita masih belum bisa belajar di perpustakaan. (Use masih belum, not “masih tidak.”)
• “We can no longer study …” → Kita tidak bisa lagi belajar di perpustakaan.
• For prohibition (not ability): Kita tidak boleh belajar di perpustakaan.

Can I front the location for emphasis?

Yes. Fronting highlights the place:

• Di perpustakaan, setidaknya kita masih bisa belajar. This draws attention to the location, then delivers the main claim.