Ibu menyimpan beras di lemari.

Mother stores rice in the cupboard.

Breakdown of Ibu menyimpan beras di lemari.

• di: in
• ibu: the mother
• menyimpan: to store
• lemari: the cupboard
• beras: the rice

Questions & Answers about Ibu menyimpan beras di lemari.

What does Ibu mean here—“mother,” “my mom,” or “ma’am”?

• Ibu can mean “Mother/Mom,” often referring to one’s own mother (especially with a capital I). Context tells you whether it’s “Mom” or “a/the mother.”
• It’s also a respectful title for an adult woman, like “Mrs./Ms./Ma’am.”
• To make it explicit: ibu saya / ibuku = my mother; seorang ibu = a mother (someone’s mother).

Why is it menyimpan and not just simpan?

• simpan is the root “to store/keep.”
• menyimpan is the active verb with the prefix meN-, which is how Indonesian often forms active transitive verbs.
• Use the root in imperatives: Simpan berasnya! = “Store the rice!”

What happened to the initial “s” in simpan when it became menyimpan?

• With the meN- prefix, initial consonants often change. For roots starting with s, the s drops and the prefix becomes meny-: meN- + simpan → menyimpan.
• Similar patterns: meN- + sapu → menyapu (to sweep), meN- + sewa → menyewa (to rent).

What’s the difference between beras and nasi?

• beras = uncooked rice (the grains you store in a container).
• nasi = cooked rice (ready to eat).
• So you store beras, not nasi.

What does di mean in di lemari, and how is it different from ke?

• di = “in/at/on” (location). di lemari = “in the cupboard.”
• ke = “to/toward” (movement). ke lemari = “to the cupboard.”

Is di ever a prefix? How do I tell the difference?

• Yes: di- can be a passive prefix (e.g., disimpan = “is/was stored”).
• Spelling rule: when di is a preposition, it’s written separately (di lemari). As a passive prefix, it’s attached (disimpan).

Should it be di lemari or di dalam lemari?

• Both are correct. di lemari is enough for “in the cupboard.”
• di dalam lemari adds emphasis on “inside,” useful if you contrast with “on the cupboard” or “by the cupboard.”

What exactly is a lemari?

• A lemari is a cupboard/wardrobe/cabinet with doors.
• Variants:
  • lemari pakaian = wardrobe,
  • lemari es = refrigerator,
  • lemari dapur = kitchen cabinet.
• A shelf is rak; a drawer is laci.

How do I express tense? Does this sentence mean present or past?

• Indonesian has no verb tense inflections. Ibu menyimpan beras di lemari can mean present, habitual, or past, depending on context.
• Add markers if needed:
  • ongoing: sedang (Ibu sedang menyimpan…),
  • completed: sudah/telah (Ibu sudah menyimpan…),
  • future: akan (Ibu akan menyimpan…),
  • time words: tadi, kemarin, besok, etc.

What is the basic word order here?

• Standard: Subject – Verb – Object – Place.
• Here: Ibu (S) menyimpan (V) beras (O) di lemari (Place).
• You can front the place for emphasis: Di lemari, Ibu menyimpan beras.

Is there an article like “the” or “a”? Why no word for “the cupboard”?

• Indonesian has no articles. Definiteness comes from context.
• You can clarify with:
  • itu = that/the (known): di lemari itu,
  • a classifier: di sebuah lemari = in a cupboard (one cupboard),
  • quantity for mass nouns: sekilo beras, sekarung beras.

How would I make this passive?

• Formal passive: Beras disimpan di lemari (oleh Ibu).
• Colloquial: Berasnya disimpen di lemari sama Ibu.
• Note the passive prefix di- on the verb.

What’s the nuance difference between menyimpan, menaruh, and meletakkan?

• menyimpan: to store/keep (suggests putting something away for later).
• menaruh / meletakkan: to put/place (more neutral, often immediate placement, not necessarily long-term storage).
• All can fit, but menyimpan emphasizes “keeping/storing.”

Is beras countable? How do I talk about amounts?

• beras is typically uncountable. Use quantities/classifiers:
  • sekilo beras (a kilogram of rice),
  • sekarung beras (a sack of rice),
  • segenggam beras (a handful of rice).
• A single grain: sebutir beras (rare in everyday speech).

Does capitalization of Ibu matter?

• Ibu (capitalized) can function like a proper name/title (“Mother/Mom,” “Ma’am”).
• ibu (lowercase) is the common noun “mother” in general.
• At sentence start, it’s capitalized anyway, so rely on context.

How would I ask “Did Mom store the rice in the cupboard?” naturally?

• Neutral/formal: Apakah Ibu menyimpan beras di lemari?
• Colloquial yes–no: Ibu menyimpan beras di lemari? (rising intonation)
• To imply past: add sudah: Apakah Ibu sudah menyimpan beras di lemari?

Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?

• ny in menyimpan is one sound, like Spanish ñ in “señor”
• Vowels are pure; stress is typically on the second-to-last syllable: me-NYIM-pan, le-MA-ri.