Menurut saya, terlambat lima menit itu wajar.

In my opinion, being five minutes late is reasonable.

Breakdown of Menurut saya, terlambat lima menit itu wajar.

• adalah: to be
• itu: that
• saya: I
• terlambat: late
• menurut: according to
• menit: the minute
• lima: five
• wajar: reasonable

Questions & Answers about Menurut saya, terlambat lima menit itu wajar.

What does menurut saya literally mean, and is it natural to use?

Literally, menurut saya means “according to me.” While that phrasing sounds odd in English, it’s completely natural and common in Indonesian to introduce a personal opinion. It’s neutral and polite.

You’ll often see a comma after it: Menurut saya, … because speakers usually pause there. The comma isn’t “mandatory,” but it’s standard and helps readability.

How is menurut saya different from saya pikir, saya rasa, saya kira, or menurutku?

• menurut saya: “in my view/according to me,” neutral and polite; great in speech and writing.
• saya pikir: “I think” (reasoned thought/opinion); slightly more cognitive.
• saya rasa: “I feel/I think” (impression/intuition); a bit softer.
• saya kira: “I suppose/I guess” (tentative).
• menurutku: same as menurut saya but with aku/ku (more informal/intimate; avoid in formal settings).

What role does itu play in terlambat lima menit itu wajar? Can I drop it?

Itu here functions like a demonstrative/topic marker turning the preceding phrase into a clear subject: “That (thing)—being five minutes late—is normal.” It makes the sentence sound natural and complete.

• With itu: Menurut saya, terlambat lima menit itu wajar. (most natural)
• Without itu: Menurut saya, terlambat lima menit wajar. (understandable; a bit more clipped/informal) You generally can’t move itu to the front in this sentence.

Why not say terlambat lima menit adalah wajar?

In Indonesian, adalah is most natural between two nouns (or a noun phrase and its description). With adjectives like wajar, adalah often sounds stiff or off unless you add a noun like hal:

• Natural: Menurut saya, terlambat lima menit itu wajar.
• Also natural/formal: Menurut saya, keterlambatan selama lima menit adalah hal yang wajar.
• Less natural: Terlambat lima menit adalah wajar.

What nuance does wajar have? Are there synonyms?

Wajar means “normal,” “reasonable,” or “acceptable” within expectations or norms. Close alternatives, with nuances:

• biasa saja: nothing special; just ordinary.
• masuk akal: makes sense; logically acceptable.
• tidak apa-apa / tidak masalah: it’s okay; no problem.
• pantas: fitting/appropriate (different angle; not the same as “normal”).

Here, wajar implies social acceptability: five minutes late is within what’s commonly tolerated.

Why use terlambat and not lambat? What about telat?

• terlambat: “late” (missed the expected time).
• lambat: “slow” (speed), not “late.”
• telat: colloquial form of terlambat; fine in casual speech/writing. So say terlambat lima menit, not lambat lima menit.

Is lima menit correct by itself, or should it be selama lima menit?

Both can work:

• terlambat lima menit: the default, concise way (“late by five minutes”).
• terlambat selama lima menit: adds an explicit sense of duration; slightly more formal/emphatic.

Can I change the word order to Menurut saya, wajar terlambat lima menit?

It’s possible and understandable, especially in speech, but the original topic–comment pattern (… itu wajar) is more typical and polished. You could also say:

• Menurut saya, wajar kalau terlambat lima menit.
• Menurut saya, wajar terlambat lima menit saja.

Can I replace itu with yang?

Not in the same way. Yang introduces a relative clause or turns something into a modifier (e.g., “that/which …”). Saying yang terlambat lima menit wajar is ungrammatical as a standalone statement. Correct options:

• Terlambat lima menit itu wajar.
• Terlambat lima menit adalah hal yang wajar.
• Keterlambatan lima menit adalah hal yang wajar.

How formal is the sentence? How would it sound in casual or very formal contexts?

• Neutral/polite (your sentence): Menurut saya, terlambat lima menit itu wajar.
• Casual: Menurut gue, telat 5 menit mah wajar. (Jakarta flavor with gue/mah)
• Very formal: Menurut saya, keterlambatan selama lima menit masih tergolong wajar.

Any pronunciation tips for these words?

• menurut: the first e is a schwa (like the ‘a’ in “about”): mə-NU-rut.
• terlambat: ter- has a schwa; roll or tap the final r lightly.
• wajar: j like English “j” in “judge”; final r tapped/rolled.
• lima menit: stress tends to be near the end of words in Indonesian, but overall stress is lighter than in English.

Do I need plural marking or an article for menit?

No. Indonesian doesn’t mark plural on nouns or use articles like “a/the.” The numeral lima already signals plurality. Just say lima menit (not “menit-menit”).

What does the ter- prefix do in terlambat?

Generally, ter- can form stative adjectives or indicate something accidental/unintentional. Terlambat is a lexicalized form meaning “late” (state of being late). Similar stative examples: terkenal (famous), terbuka (open).

Can I add saja/aja for nuance?

Yes. Saja (formal/neutral) or aja (colloquial) softens it to “just/only,” implying it’s no big deal:

• Menurut saya, terlambat lima menit itu wajar saja.
• Menurut gue, telat lima menit mah wajar aja.

How could I rephrase this to use a clearer noun subject?

Use a noun like keterlambatan or add hal:

• Menurut saya, keterlambatan lima menit adalah hal yang wajar.
• Menurut saya, terlambat lima menit itu merupakan hal yang wajar.