Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Aturan ujian jelas dan singkat.

Indonesian normally drops a linking verb before predicate adjectives. So Aturan ujian jelas dan singkat literally reads “Exam rules clear and concise,” which in English must be “The exam rules are clear and concise.”

You usually do not use adalah before adjectives.
Use adalah when the predicate is a noun: Aturan ujian adalah pedoman bagi peserta (The exam rules are guidelines for participants).

What exactly does aturan ujian mean structurally? Which word modifies which?

It’s a noun–noun compound where the head comes first:

aturan = rule(s)
ujian = exam
Together, aturan ujian means “exam rules” (literally “rules of the exam”). Indonesian often uses noun–noun compounds instead of “of”-phrases.

How do I make it definite like “the exam rules” or “these exam rules”?

Indonesian has no articles, so use demonstratives or -nya:

Aturan ujian itu = those/the exam rules (previously mentioned or contextually known).
Aturan ujian ini = these exam rules (nearby or just introduced).
Aturannya jelas dan singkat = the rules are clear and concise (context has already identified the rules).
Aturan ujiannya jelas dan singkat = the rules of the exam (the exam is definite); by context this usually makes the whole phrase definite.

Is aturan singular or plural here?

Indonesian doesn’t mark number by default. Aturan can mean “rule” or “rules,” depending on context. To be explicit:

Singular: satu aturan (ujian) = one rule (of the exam)
Plural (emphatic): aturan-aturan (ujian) = rules (reduplication often signals plurality)
Or use quantifiers: beberapa aturan, banyak aturan.

Could I say Peraturan ujian instead of Aturan ujian? Any nuance?

Yes.

aturan = rule(s), general and neutral.
peraturan = regulation(s), more formal/official.
Another near-synonym is ketentuan (provisions/terms), common in legal or policy language.
In a formal document, Peraturan ujian is very natural.

Why is there no yang before the adjectives?

Here the adjectives are the predicate of the sentence (they describe the subject), so no yang is needed: Aturan ujian [predicate] jelas dan singkat.
Use yang when the adjectives are attributive (modifying a noun inside a larger noun phrase):

Aturan ujian yang jelas dan singkat membantu siswa. = Exam rules that are clear and concise help students.

Could I say jelas dan singkat in the other order?

Yes. Both jelas dan singkat and singkat dan jelas are natural. A set phrase you’ll often hear is singkat, padat, jelas (“brief, compact, clear”).

What’s the difference between singkat, pendek, ringkas, and padat?

singkat = brief (short in time/length of speech or text).
pendek = short in physical length/height or duration (less about conciseness).
ringkas = succinct/concise (no unnecessary words).
padat = dense/compact (a lot of content in little space/time).
In this sentence, singkat (and often ringkas) are the best choices.

Can jelas also mean “clearly” or “obviously”?

As an adjective: jelas = clear.
As an adverbial phrase: dengan jelas / secara jelas = clearly.
As a sentence adverb in informal speech: Jelas can mean “obviously/of course” (e.g., Jelas saya setuju. = Obviously I agree).

How do I add emphasis like “very clear” or “quite concise”?

Use degree modifiers:

sangat before the adjective: sangat jelas, sangat singkat.
sekali after the adjective: jelas sekali, singkat sekali.
cukup = quite/fairly: cukup jelas.
agak = rather/somewhat: agak singkat.
terlalu = too (excessive): terlalu singkat.

How do I negate the sentence?

Use tidak before adjectives:

Aturan ujian tidak jelas dan tidak singkat.
If you place just one tidak before the first adjective (tidak jelas dan singkat), it can sound like only the first adjective is negated. Repeating tidak avoids ambiguity.

What’s the word order rule here? Could I say jelas dan singkat aturan ujian?

No. In a basic clause with adjectival predicates, the order is Subject + Predicate: Aturan ujian (subject) + jelas dan singkat (predicate).
When adjectives directly modify a noun (attributive), they usually follow the noun, often with yang for clarity: aturan (yang) jelas.

Any pronunciation tips for these words?

aturan: ah-TOO-rahn (r is tapped; a as in “father”; u like “oo” in “food”)
ujian: oo-JEE-ahn (j like English j; final n pronounced)
jelas: jə-LAHS (schwa-like e in the first syllable)
singkat: SING-kaht (ng = [ŋ], as in “sing”; final t unaspirated)
Stress is light and typically falls near the end of the word.

Where do aturan and ujian come from morphologically?

Both are derived with the nominalizing suffix -an:

atur (to arrange/manage) → aturan (rule/arrangement).
uji (to test) → ujian (a test/exam).
This -an suffix commonly forms nouns from verbs or roots in Indonesian.