Saya mencuci tangan di kamar mandi.

I wash my hands in the bathroom.

Breakdown of Saya mencuci tangan di kamar mandi.

• saya: I
• di: in
• mencuci: to wash
• kamar mandi: the bathroom
• tangan: the hand

Questions & Answers about Saya mencuci tangan di kamar mandi.

Why is there no “my” before “tangan”?

Indonesian often omits possessive words with body parts when the possessor is obvious from context. So Saya mencuci tangan naturally means “I wash my hands.” You can add a possessive for clarity or emphasis:

• More explicit (but often unnecessary): Saya mencuci tangan saya.
• Informal: Saya mencuci tanganku.
• Topicalized and natural: Tangan saya saya cuci di kamar mandi.

What’s the difference between saya and aku here?

Both mean “I,” but register differs:

• saya: polite/neutral, safe in most situations.
• aku: informal/intimate; with friends/family. Colloquially you might hear Aku cuci tangan di kamar mandi or Jakarta slang Gue cuci tangan di kamar mandi.

Why mencuci and not just cuci?

mencuci is the standard active verb formed with the meN- prefix (+ root cuci) and is neutral/formal. In casual speech, Indonesians often use the bare root: Saya cuci tangan…, or with aspect: Saya lagi cuci tangan…. Both are correct; the meN- form sounds more formal/complete.

How do I say it in the present continuous, past, or future?

Indonesian doesn’t mark tense on the verb. Use time/aspect words:

• Present progressive: Saya sedang mencuci tangan… / informal Saya lagi cuci tangan…
• Past/completed: Saya sudah mencuci tangan…; add a time word: tadi, kemarin
• Future: Saya akan mencuci tangan… or nanti saya cuci tangan…

Is di the right preposition? What’s the difference between di and ke?

Yes. di = “at/in” (location). ke = “to/toward” (movement).

• Location: Saya mencuci tangan di kamar mandi.
• Movement: Saya pergi ke kamar mandi (untuk) cuci tangan.

Can I say di toilet instead of di kamar mandi?

Yes, with nuance:

• kamar mandi: “bathroom” (literally “bathing room,” often has shower).
• toilet/WC: the toilet/restroom.
• Polite euphemism: kamar kecil. All are common; choose based on what the place actually is and local usage.

Can I move the place to the beginning?

Yes. Word order is flexible for emphasis:

• Di kamar mandi, saya mencuci tangan.
• Saya mencuci tangan di kamar mandi. Both are natural.

Is tangan singular or plural?

It’s number-neutral; context decides. Usually both hands are implied. To be specific:

• One hand: satu tangan / tangan kanan / tangan kiri
• Both hands: kedua tangan / kedua-duanya

What’s the passive voice version, and what’s the difference between di (preposition) and di- (passive prefix)?

Passive uses the prefix di- attached to a verb (no space). The di in your sentence is a preposition (with a space).

• Passive example: Tangan saya dicuci di kamar mandi (oleh …).
• Location preposition: di kamar mandi (with a space). Remember: preposition di
  • place = spaced; passive di-
    • verb = no space.

How do I make an instruction/imperative?

Use the bare verb:

• Neutral: Cuci tangan di kamar mandi!
• Polite: Silakan cuci tangan di kamar mandi. / Tolong cuci tangan di kamar mandi.
• Negative: Jangan cuci tangan di sini.

Can I drop the subject?

Yes, when obvious from context:

• Statement (informal/progressive): Lagi cuci tangan di kamar mandi.
• Instruction/sign: Cuci tangan di kamar mandi.

How do I pronounce the words?

• Saya: SAH-yah
• mencuci: men-CHOO-chee (c is like English “ch”)
• tangan: TAHN-gahn (ng as in “sing”)
• kamar mandi: KAH-mar MAHN-dee Stress is light, typically near the last syllable; vowels are pure.

Do I need a word for “the” or “a”?

No articles in Indonesian. di kamar mandi can mean “in the bathroom” or “in a bathroom,” decided by context. To specify: di kamar mandi itu (that/the specific bathroom).

Are there synonyms for mencuci tangan?

• mencuci tangan: to wash hands (most common, with water/soap).
• membasuh tangan: to rinse/wash (more formal/literary).
• membersihkan tangan: to clean hands (generic; not necessarily with water). Use mencuci tangan for everyday hygiene.

Does cuci tangan ever have an idiomatic meaning?

Yes. cuci tangan can mean “to wash one’s hands of (responsibility),” e.g., Dia cuci tangan soal masalah itu. In your sentence, the presence of a literal place (di kamar mandi) makes it clearly literal.

How can I say I used soap or specify how?

Add a means phrase:

• Saya mencuci tangan di kamar mandi dengan sabun.
• Informal: … pakai sabun. You can also add sequence markers like dulu (first): Saya cuci tangan dulu di kamar mandi.