Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Dia suka bercanda di kelas, tetapi tetap sopan. - He/She likes to joke in class, but remains polite.

Dia is gender-neutral: it can mean either “he” or “she.” Context supplies gender.
Register: dia is neutral and common in speech and writing. More formal subject form is ia (rare in speech). For respectful reference to an older/important person, use beliau.

Should I repeat dia in the second clause, or omit it like in the sentence?

Both are correct:
- Without repetition (as given): Dia suka bercanda di kelas, tetapi tetap sopan.
- With repetition for clarity/emphasis: Dia suka bercanda di kelas, tetapi dia tetap sopan.
Indonesian often drops the repeated subject in the second clause when it’s obvious from context.

Why is it suka + verb (suka bercanda) instead of something like menyukai?

Suka + verb = “like to do [verb].” Example: suka makan, suka membaca.
Menyukai is transitive and used with nouns: Dia menyukai lelucon (“He/She likes jokes”), not with verbs.
Suka untuk + verb is possible but sounds less natural than suka + verb in everyday Indonesian.

Does suka bercanda mean “likes to joke” or “often jokes”?

Primarily “likes to joke” (preference). In everyday usage, it can imply a habitual tendency.
If you want to highlight frequency, use sering: Dia sering bercanda di kelas (“He/She often jokes in class”).
You can also combine: Dia suka bercanda dan sering melakukannya di kelas (more explicit).

What exactly is bercanda? Is it a special verb form?

Bercanda is an intransitive verb meaning “to joke (around), to kid.”
Root: canda (“joke/banter”). The prefix ber- often forms intransitive verbs meaning “to do/engage in [root].”
Related words:
- Nouns: candaan (informal “a joke”), lelucon (more standard “a joke”).
- Synonyms: bergurau (to jest), melawak (to perform/comic).
- Transitive “to joke about/tease [someone]”: mencandai [orang] (standard).

Why is it di kelas? How is di different from ke, dalam, or pada?

Di + place = “at/in/on” (location): di kelas = “in class/at class.”
Ke + place = “to/toward” (movement): ke kelas = “to (the) class/classroom.”
Dalam emphasizes “inside/within”: dalam kelas = “inside the classroom” (physical interior).
Pada isn’t used for physical location like this; use it for time or targets (e.g., pada jam tiga, pada seseorang; for “to someone,” prefer kepada).

Do I write di kelas as one word?

No. As a preposition, di is always separate: di kelas, di rumah.
One-word di- is a passive prefix on verbs: dibeli, ditulis. Don’t confuse the two.

Does kelas mean “class” (session), “classroom,” or “grade”?

Kelas can mean:
- A class session or course context: di kelas (“in class,” during lessons).
- The classroom as a place (by context): di kelas can mean “in the classroom.”
- A grade level: kelas 5 (“5th grade”).
- Context clarifies which sense is intended.

What are the differences between tetapi, tapi, namun, and akan tetapi?

Tetapi = “but” (neutral/formal). Suits writing.
Tapi = casual tetapi; very common in speech.
Namun = “however”; often starts a sentence or clause: Namun, ... It doesn’t directly join two clauses like tetapi does.
Akan tetapi = a more formal/emphatic “but/however.”

Is the comma before tetapi necessary?

Yes, it’s standard to place a comma before tetapi when joining two independent clauses: ..., tetapi ...
In casual writing, you may see it omitted, but the comma is recommended.

What does tetap add here, and how is it different from masih?

Tetap = “remain/stay (in a certain state),” often with an “even so/nevertheless” nuance. It fits contrasts: likes to joke, yet stays polite.
Masih = “still (continuing from before),” without the “in spite of” sense.
- Contrast: Dia suka bercanda, tetapi tetap sopan. vs Dia masih sopan (“He/She is still polite,” no contrast implied).

Is the word order fixed? Could I say sopan tetap or move tetap?

Tetap comes before what it modifies: tetap sopan, tetap tenang, tetap belajar.
Sopan tetap is ungrammatical.
You can write the second clause as a full sentence: Dia tetap sopan.

How would I negate parts of this sentence correctly?

Negate verbs/adjectives with tidak:
- “doesn’t like to joke”: Dia tidak suka bercanda di kelas.
- “not polite”: Dia tidak sopan.
Bukan negates nouns/pronouns, not used with suka/bercanda/sopan:
- Wrong: ❌ Dia bukan sopan. Right: ✅ Dia tidak sopan.

Is there a more casual and a more formal way to say the sentence?

Casual: Dia suka bercanda di kelas, tapi tetap sopan.
More formal: Ia suka bercanda di kelas, tetapi tetap sopan. Or: Ia suka bercanda di kelas; namun, ia tetap sopan. (slightly heavier style)

Any quick pronunciation tips for the tricky parts?