Questions & Answers about Saya memesan lauk ayam di kantin sekolah.
What does the verb in bold, memesan, mean here? Could I use pesan or membeli instead?
- memesan = to order (food/drinks) or to book/reserve. It’s slightly more formal/neutral.
- pesan (without the prefix) is very common in everyday speech: Saya pesan lauk ayam…
- membeli = to buy. It focuses on the purchase, not the act of telling someone what you want. At a canteen both are possible, but:
- memesan suggests placing an order.
- membeli suggests buying a ready-made item. Examples:
- Saya memesan lauk ayam. I ordered a chicken dish.
- Saya pesan lauk ayam. (colloquial) I order/ordered a chicken dish.
- Saya membeli lauk ayam. I bought a chicken dish.
What exactly does lauk mean? Is lauk ayam natural?
- lauk = “side dish” eaten with rice; the protein/vegetable dishes that accompany rice.
- lauk ayam = a chicken side dish. It’s natural, especially in canteen/warteg contexts where people talk about types of lauk (e.g., lauk ayam, lauk ikan, lauk tempe).
- In casual ordering, many people just name the item (e.g., ayam goreng, “fried chicken”).
How do I say “a portion/piece of chicken” in this context?