Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Kopi ini kurang manis, jadi saya menambahkan gula. - This coffee is not sweet enough, so I add sugar.

It means “not sweet enough” or “insufficiently sweet.” Kurang before an adjective indicates a shortage of the quality: kurang manis, kurang asin, kurang pedas.

How is kurang manis different from tidak manis?

Kurang manis = not sweet enough (it has some sweetness, but less than desired).
Tidak manis = not sweet (it’s plain/unsweet).
Use kurang when you want more of a quality, not to negate it entirely.

Can I say tidak cukup manis instead of kurang manis?

Yes. Tidak cukup manis is perfectly understandable and a bit more literal (“not sufficiently sweet”). Kurang manis is shorter and more idiomatic in everyday speech.

How do I say “too sweet” as the opposite of “not sweet enough”?

Use terlalu manis (“too sweet”).
Pattern: terlalu + adjective vs kurang + adjective.

What does jadi mean here, and are there alternatives?

Jadi means “so/therefore,” introducing a result. Alternatives:

Makanya (colloquial): “that’s why.”
Sehingga (more formal): “so that/as a result.”
Example: Kopi ini kurang manis, sehingga saya menambahkan gula.

Could I rewrite it with “because” using karena?

Yes: Karena kopi ini kurang manis, saya menambahkan gula.
Note: Avoid the redundant pattern karena … jadi … in careful writing, though you may hear it in casual speech.

Why is it kopi ini and not ini kopi?

Kopi ini = “this coffee” (demonstrative placed after the noun, the usual way to say “this/that [noun]”).
Ini kopi = “this is coffee” (equational sentence).
So use kopi ini to refer to a specific cup in front of you.

Can I say kopinya kurang manis instead of kopi ini kurang manis?

Yes. Kopinya (with -nya) often means “the coffee” in context (the one we’re both aware of).
Nuance: kopi ini is deictic (“this coffee here”); kopinya is definite/known (“the coffee [we mean]”).

Is the comma before jadi necessary?

It’s typical and helpful because jadi introduces a result clause. In speech, you’d pause there. In informal text, you’ll also see no comma, but the comma is a good habit.

Why use menambahkan and not menambah or tambahkan?

Menambah: to add/increase (general).
Menambahkan: to add something to something (often clearer/transitive/causative nuance).
Tambahkan: imperative form (“Add …!”).
In your sentence, menambahkan gula is natural; menambah gula also works. For a request, use Tambahkan gula, ya.

How would I say “I added sugar to the coffee” explicitly?

Saya menambahkan gula ke dalam kopi (ini).
Saya menambahkan gula pada kopi (ini). (more formal)
Often Indonesians omit the destination if it’s obvious: Saya menambahkan gula.

Does saya menambahkan gula mean past or present?

Indonesian doesn’t mark tense by default. It can mean past, present, or near future depending on context. Add markers if needed:

Past/completed: sudah, tadi, barusan (e.g., Saya sudah menambahkan gula.)
Progressive: sedang (e.g., Saya sedang menambahkan gula.)
Future: akan (e.g., Saya akan menambahkan gula.)

Can I drop the subject and say … jadi menambahkan gula?

Better keep the subject. Without it, the clause sounds incomplete. Natural options:

… jadi saya menambahkan gula.
… jadi saya tambah gula.
… jadi gula saya tambahkan. (topicalizing “sugar”)

How do I make a passive version?

Passive with di-: Gula ditambahkan (ke dalam kopi).
Passive with agent: Gula ditambahkan oleh saya. (formal; everyday speech prefers other options)
Topicalized active: Gulanya saya tambahkan. (very common and natural)

Is menambahkan formal? What’s more casual?

Neutral: menambahkan/menambah.
Casual: tambah (no prefix), e.g., Kopi ini kurang manis, jadi saya tambah gula.
Very colloquial (Jakarta): nambahin (e.g., gua nambahin gula).

Any pronunciation tips for the words here?

kopi: KO-pi (open “o” like “coffee” without the diphthong)
ini: EE-nee
kurang: KOO-rang (final ng as in “sing”)
manis: MA-nees
jadi: JAH-dee (j as in English “jam”)
menambahkan: mə-NAHM-bah-kan (plain “g” in gula)
gula: GOO-lah

Are there register differences for the pronoun saya?

Yes:

saya: neutral/formal (safe default).
aku: informal, friendly.
gue/gua: colloquial Jakarta. Pick based on context: … jadi aku tambah gula (informal), … jadi saya menambahkan gula (neutral).

Could I use makanya instead of jadi?

Yes, in casual speech: Kopi ini kurang manis, makanya saya menambahkan gula. It means “that’s why.” It’s less formal than jadi/sehingga.