Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Anak perempuan itu bosan, lalu tertarik ketika melihat gambar. - That girl is bored, then interested when she sees a picture.

Itu is a demonstrative meaning that/the, placed after the noun. It makes the phrase definite: Anak perempuan itu = that girl / the girl (already known or specific).
Alternatives:
- Anak perempuan ini = this girl.
- Seorang anak perempuan = a girl (introducing one, indefinite).
- Just anak perempuan can be generic or indefinite, depending on context.

Where is the verb “to be” in Anak perempuan itu bosan?

Indonesian often uses adjectives as predicates without a copula. So bosan functions like “is bored.” You do not say adalah bosan here.

Use adalah before nouns: Anak perempuan itu adalah murid (The girl is a student).
You can add nuance:
- Anak perempuan itu merasa bosan = the girl feels bored.
- Anak perempuan itu menjadi tertarik = the girl becomes interested.

What does lalu mean, and can I replace it with something else?

Lalu means then/and then, marking sequence.
Common alternatives:
- Kemudian (then/afterwards; neutral–formal).
- Terus (then/keep on; very colloquial).
- Lantas (then; somewhat literary/formal). All work here with small register differences.

Why is there no subject in ketika melihat gambar? Shouldn’t it be ketika dia melihat gambar?

It’s fine to omit the subject because it’s understood to be the same as the main clause subject (control). So the reader understands it as “when she saw the picture.”
You may include it: ketika dia/ia melihat gambar. Both are correct.
If the subject were different, you must state it to avoid ambiguity.

How is tense expressed here? How do we know if it’s past or present?

Indonesian doesn’t mark tense on verbs. Time is inferred from context or time words.

The sequence marker lalu suggests a narrative sequence (often past), but it could be present in storytelling.
To make it clearly past, add time words: tadi, kemarin, barusan, or aspect markers:
- Tadi anak perempuan itu bosan, lalu menjadi tertarik ketika melihat gambar.

What’s the difference between ketika, saat, waktu, and setelah in this kind of clause?

Ketika = when (at the time that; neutral).
Saat = when/at the moment (very common, slightly more casual).
Waktu = when (colloquial).
Setelah = after (not simultaneous; it means the interest came after finishing the seeing). Here, ketika or saat both fit well; setelah would slightly change the meaning.

What’s the difference between tertarik and menarik?

Tertarik = interested (state of the experiencer). Example: Saya tertarik pada musik (I’m interested in music).
Menarik = interesting or to attract/pull. Examples:
- Film itu menarik (That movie is interesting).
- Poster itu menarik perhatian (The poster attracts attention). Root: tarik (pull). So attractive things are menarik, people feel tertarik.

How do bosan and membosankan differ?

Bosan = bored (the feeling). Subject is the experiencer: Saya bosan (I’m bored).
Membosankan = boring (causing boredom). Subject is the cause: Film itu membosankan (That film is boring). You can also use membosankan as an adjective before nouns: acara yang membosankan (a boring show).

Does melihat gambar mean “see” or “look at”? Are there better verbs?

Melihat covers both “see” and “look at” in many contexts; melihat gambar is natural.
Nuances:
- Memandang = gaze at.
- Menatap = stare at.
- Melihat-lihat = browse/look around casually.
- Menonton = watch (something with moving images, e.g., TV). Use whichever matches the action you want to convey.

Is gambar the right word, or should it be foto or lukisan?

Gambar = picture/image/drawing (general).
Foto = photograph.
Lukisan = painting.
Ilustrasi = illustration (esp. in books/articles). If the medium matters, pick the specific term; otherwise gambar is fine.

Do I need a classifier like sebuah before gambar?

Not required. Bare gambar is fine and often preferred.

To emphasize “one,” you can use sebuah gambar (general classifier) or for a flat sheet selembar foto/gambar (a sheet/print).
To make it definite: gambar itu or gambarnya (the picture; -nya can mark definiteness/possession).
Very formal writing sometimes uses gambar tersebut (the said picture).

Could I front the when-clause or change the word order?

Yes. All of these are acceptable with tiny style differences:

Ketika melihat gambar, anak perempuan itu bosan lalu tertarik.
Anak perempuan itu bosan lalu tertarik ketika melihat gambar.
Split into two sentences for rhythm:
- Anak perempuan itu bosan. Lalu ia tertarik ketika melihat gambar.

How would I make the subject plural (the girls)?

Use reduplication or a plural marker:

Anak-anak perempuan itu bosan, lalu (mereka) tertarik ketika melihat gambar.
You can add mereka after lalu to make the change of subject number explicit.
Another natural option for human plurals is para with certain nouns: Para gadis itu… (the girls/young women). Avoid para anak, which sounds odd; use anak-anak instead.

What’s the right preposition after tertarik when I want to say “interested in X”?

Most common: tertarik pada or tertarik dengan.
- Saya tertarik pada/dengan gambar itu.
More formal/literary: tertarik akan. In your sentence, ketika introduces time, not the object of interest, so no preposition is needed there.

What’s the difference between dia and ia if I add the pronoun?

Dia: everyday, works as subject or object.
Ia: more formal/literary, typically subject-only.
Beliau: honorific third person (for respected elders/officials), not for a child. So you could write ketika dia melihat gambar (neutral) or ketika ia melihat gambar (more formal).

Any pronunciation tips for tricky words like perempuan and tertarik?

General: Indonesian stress is light and usually on the second-to-last syllable; r is tapped/trilled; e can be a schwa /ə/.
Perempuan ≈ pər-əm-PU-an (the first e is a schwa).
Tertarik ≈ tər-TA-rik.
Melihat ≈ mə-LI-hat.
Bosan ≈ BO-san.
Lalu ≈ LA-lu.
Gambar ≈ GAM-bar. Clarity matters more than perfect stress; natives are tolerant of variation.

Could I say setelah instead of ketika to mean “after seeing the picture”?

Yes, but it changes the timing:

… tertarik ketika melihat gambar = became interested at the time of seeing it.
… tertarik setelah melihat gambar = became interested after (having seen) the picture. Choose based on whether the interest arose during or after the viewing.