Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Asap dari dapur cepat hilang; ayamnya tetap gurih. - The smoke from the kitchen quickly disappears; the chicken stays savory.

-nya can mark:
- third-person possession: ayamnya Budi = Budi’s chicken
- definiteness/anaphora: “the/that” thing already known
- a general “known/specific” reference in context
In this sentence it most naturally means “the chicken (dish we’re talking about)”, not someone’s chicken.

Why is there no verb “to be” in ayamnya tetap gurih?

Indonesian typically has no copula (“is/are”) before adjectives. An adjective can be the predicate by itself. So ayamnya gurih = “the chicken is savory.” Tetap is an adverb meaning “remains/stays,” so ayamnya tetap gurih = “the chicken remains savory.” Use adalah mainly before noun phrases, not adjectives: Ini adalah ayam (“This is chicken”).

What’s the difference between tetap, masih, and terus?

tetap = remains unchanged despite conditions; emphasizes constancy: rasanya tetap gurih (it stays savory).
masih = still (continuity up to now), often neutral about resistance: rasanya masih gurih (it’s still savory).
terus = continues/keeps on (often for actions): dia terus makan (he keeps eating). With adjectives it’s less common/formal: tetap fits better for states.

What exactly does gurih mean? Is it just “tasty”?

Gurih refers to a savory, umami-rich, often slightly salty/fatty taste, typical of broth, stock, fried foods, coconut milk, or MSG. It’s more specific than:

enak = tasty/good (broad praise)
lezat/sedap = delicious (more formal/elevated)
asin = salty (saltiness only) So gurih highlights savory-umami quality, not sweetness or spiciness.

Can I say dengan cepat instead of cepat? What’s the difference from segera?

cepat can function adverbially by itself: Asap … cepat hilang (The smoke quickly disappears).
dengan cepat = “quickly” in a slightly more explicit or formal way: Asap … hilang dengan cepat. Both are fine.
segera = “soon/immediately (in time),” not “fast in speed.” Asap segera hilang suggests it disappears soon after, not necessarily rapidly.

Why hilang and not menghilang? Are they different? What about menghilangkan or lenyap?

hilang (intransitive) = be gone/disappear: asap hilang.
menghilang (intransitive) = vanish/disappear (more eventive/dynamic): asap menghilang. Both work; nuance is slight.
menghilangkan (transitive) = make something disappear/remove: ventilasi menghilangkan asap (ventilation removes the smoke).
lenyap = vanish (literary/formal-ish synonym of menghilang): asap lenyap.

Why is it dari dapur and not di dapur?

dari = from (source/origin): asap dari dapur = smoke coming from the kitchen.
di = in/at (location): asap di dapur = smoke located in the kitchen. Here we’re talking about the smoke’s source, so dari is correct.

Is the word order cepat hilang fixed? Could I say hilang cepat?

Most natural: adverb before the predicate: cepat hilang or after with a preposition: hilang dengan cepat.
hilang cepat is heard colloquially but can sound less polished. For careful writing, prefer cepat hilang or hilang dengan cepat.

Why a semicolon (;) between the clauses? Could I use a comma or a conjunction?

The semicolon links two independent but closely related clauses and adds a concise contrast. You could also write:

…, tapi ayamnya tetap gurih. (…, but the chicken remains savory.)
…, namun ayamnya tetap gurih. (more formal) The semicolon is stylistic and fairly literary/formal.

Does ayam mean the animal or the dish here?

Context decides. In food contexts, ayam usually means “chicken (meat/dish).” If you mean the live animal, you can say ayam hidup; if you want to stress the meat, daging ayam. In this sentence, ayamnya clearly refers to the prepared chicken dish.

Is there any number or plural marking here? Could ayamnya mean “the chickens”?

Indonesian doesn’t obligatorily mark number. Ayamnya could be singular or plural depending on context. If you need to be explicit:

singular animal: seekor ayam
several animals: beberapa ekor ayam
meat/dish (uncountable): daging ayam or just ayam in food contexts Here, it’s “the chicken (dish),” quantity not specified.

Could I say Asap dari dapur cepat menghilang; ayamnya tetap enak? How would that differ?

cepat menghilang is fine and slightly more dynamic than cepat hilang.
enak is broader (“tasty/good”) and loses the specific savory/umami nuance of gurih. If the intended meaning is umami/savory, gurih is the better choice. If it’s general deliciousness, enak works.