Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Dia kurang sabar. - He/She is not patient enough.

Dia is a gender‑neutral third‑person singular pronoun, so it can mean either he or she. Context usually makes the gender clear. To specify, add a noun:

Dia seorang pria/laki‑laki = He (a man)
Dia seorang wanita/perempuan = She (a woman)

For respectful reference, use beliau. Plural is mereka. In formal writing you may see ia (subject only) instead of dia.

Where is the verb “is”? Why can Indonesian say Dia kurang sabar without it?

Indonesian doesn’t use a verb like “to be” before adjectives. An adjective can directly function as the predicate:

Dia sabar = He/She is patient.
Dia kurang sabar = He/She is not very patient.

Use adalah only to equate nouns, e.g., Dia adalah dokter (He/She is a doctor), not before adjectives.

What exactly does kurang mean in this sentence?

Here kurang means “not enough,” “insufficient,” or “not very.” So kurang sabar = “not patient enough / not very patient.” It’s a mild/soft way to express a negative judgment.

Beyond this sentence, kurang is common:

Before adjectives/adverbs: kurang jelas (not very clear)
With nouns (short of): kurang uang (short of money), kurang tidur (not enough sleep)
With numbers/time (minus): jam tiga kurang lima (2:55), dua kurang satu = satu

What’s the difference between kurang sabar and tidak sabar?

Kurang sabar = “not patient enough / not very patient.” It’s milder and more diplomatic.
Tidak sabar = “impatient,” and in many contexts it also means “can’t wait / eager.”
- Negative impatience: Dia tidak sabar saat antre. (He/She is impatient in lines.)
- Eager: Dia tidak sabar menunggu liburan. (He/She can’t wait for the holiday.)

If you want to avoid the “eager” reading, use kurang sabar.

Is kurang sabar a polite way to criticize someone?

Yes. Kurang often softens criticism and is common in feedback:

Dia kurang sabar. (He/She isn’t very patient.)
Presentasinya kurang jelas. (The presentation isn’t very clear.)
Tindakannya kurang tepat. (The action isn’t quite appropriate.)

Note: Some fixed expressions with kurang aren’t mild, e.g., kurang ajar (very rude/ill‑mannered).

How can I express different degrees of patience?

Common degree markers:

sangat sabar / sabar sekali = very patient
cukup sabar = fairly patient
agak sabar = somewhat patient
kurang sabar = not very patient / not patient enough
tidak sabar = impatient; also “can’t wait” (context)
terlalu sabar = too patient (overly patient)

How do I say “less patient than...” or “not as patient as ...”?

Less than: Dia kurang sabar daripada/dibanding saya.
Not as ... as: Dia tidak sesabar saya.
More than (for reference): Dia lebih sabar daripada saya.

All are natural; tidak sesabar is often the smoothest for “not as patient as.”

Is sabar an adjective or a noun? What about kesabaran and bersabar?

sabar = adjective “patient”: Dia sabar.
kesabaran = noun “patience”: Kesabarannya kurang. (His/Her patience is lacking.)
bersabar = verb “to be patient”: Dia sulit bersabar. (He/She finds it hard to be patient.)

Dia kurang sabar uses the adjective.

How can I add what the person is impatient with?

Add a prepositional or verbal phrase:

With/around something: Dia kurang sabar dengan anak‑anak.
Toward (more formal): Dia kurang sabar terhadap kritik.
When dealing with: Dia kurang sabar menghadapi kemacetan.
When waiting: Dia kurang sabar saat menunggu.

How do I make it a question or soften it?

Neutral yes/no: Apakah dia kurang sabar?
Colloquial yes/no: Apa dia kurang sabar?
Soft confirmation: Dia kurang sabar, ya/kan/bukan?
Hedging: Sepertinya dia kurang sabar. (It seems he/she isn’t very patient.)

How is it pronounced?

dia: “DEE‑ah” (two syllables)
kurang: “KOO‑rang” (final ng like in English “sing”)
sabar: “SA‑bar” (light rolled/tapped r, vowels like in “father” and “bar”) Indonesian stress is light, typically near the penultimate syllable: ku‑RANG, SA‑bar.

How do I put it in the past or future?

Indonesian doesn’t mark tense on the verb/adjective; add time words:

Past: Dulu dia kurang sabar. / Tadi dia kurang sabar.
Present (general): Sekarang dia kurang sabar.
Habitual: Dia sering kurang sabar saat menunggu.
Future: Besok dia mungkin akan kurang sabar.

Is there a colloquial alternative like “impatient by nature”?

Yes, in casual speech you’ll hear Dia (ng)gak sabaran. The suffix -an here conveys a tendency/trait: “He/She tends to be impatient / can’t wait.” Use gak/enggak for casual “not,” or tidak for neutral/formal. Compared with kurang sabar, (ng)gak sabaran sounds stronger and more colloquial.