Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Alih-alih menggoreng ayam, bibi menggoreng ikan di wajan besar. - Instead of frying chicken, my aunt fries fish in a large frying pan.

Alih-alih introduces a contrast between an expected action and the actual action. The pattern is typically: Alih-alih X, Y (Instead of X, Y). It sounds slightly formal/bookish and highlights a replacement of an anticipated plan with a different reality.

Can I replace alih-alih with bukannya, daripada, or ketimbang?

Bukannya is very common in speech: Bukannya menggoreng ayam, bibi menggoreng ikan. It often feels more conversational.
Daripada/ketimbang express preference and are also natural: Daripada menggoreng ayam, bibi menggoreng ikan. In careful style you might see Lebih baik … daripada ….
Alih-alih = “instead of (what was expected)”; daripada/ketimbang = “rather than (preference)”; bukannya adds a “not X but Y” flavor.

Is the comma after the alih-alih phrase required?

Yes, it’s recommended. PUEBI guidelines put a comma after a fronted adverbial/clausal phrase: Alih-alih menggoreng ayam, …

Why is it menggoreng and not just goreng?

Menggoreng is the active verb form (meN- prefix + root). Goreng is the base form; it appears in imperatives (Goreng ayam itu!) and as an adjective/noun compound (ikan goreng = fried fish).

What’s the passive version of this?

Use the passive prefix di- on the verb and place the object first: Alih-alih menggoreng ayam, ikan digoreng bibi di wajan besar. You can add oleh: ikan digoreng oleh bibi (more formal).

How do I pronounce menggoreng?

The ng in meng- is the velar nasal (like the end of “sing”).
mengg- creates an “ngg” sound: say it as two sounds, [meŋ] + [g].
Vowels are short; the first e in meng- is a schwa-like sound; the o in goreng is a plain short “o”.

What’s the difference between bibi and tante?

Both mean “aunt.” Bibi is native Indonesian and can also be a respectful address for an older woman in some regions. Tante is a loanword (Dutch) and common in urban speech, especially when referring to an aunt by marriage or a family friend.

Should bibi be capitalized?

Lowercase in general (bibi). Capitalize when it functions as a form of address or title replacing a name: Bibi, makan dulu or Bibi Sari.

Are ayam and ikan singular or plural here?

Indonesian doesn’t mark number by default. Ayam/ikan can mean “chicken/fish” or “chickens/fish.” Specify if needed:

one animal: seekor ayam/seekor ikan
several: beberapa ekor ayam/ikan, or reduplication (ikan-ikan)
definite: ayam itu/ikan itu

What does di do here? Is it the same as the passive prefix di-?

Here di is a preposition meaning “in/at/on”: di wajan besar. The passive prefix di- attaches to a verb with no space (digoreng). Compare:

preposition: di wajan (with a space)
passive verb: digoreng (no space)

Does di wajan besar mean “in” or “with” a big pan?

Primarily “in/at/on” (location). If you want to emphasize the tool/instrument, use menggunakan/pakai/dengan:

… menggoreng ikan menggunakan wajan besar.
… menggoreng ikan pakai wajan besar.

Why is it wajan besar, not besar wajan?

In Indonesian, adjectives normally follow the noun: wajan besar (big pan). Besar wajan is ungrammatical in this attributive sense.

Could besar be modifying ikan instead of wajan?

As written, besar attaches to the closest noun (wajan). To modify the fish, say menggoreng ikan besar di wajan or menggoreng ikan yang besar di wajan.

Is wajan the same as “pan”?

Wajan is typically a wok-like pan. Other cookware:

penggorengan: general word for a frying pan
panci: pot
Informally, people say teflon for a nonstick frying pan.

Can I move the location phrase around?

Yes:

Di wajan besar, bibi menggoreng ikan. (fronted, emphasis on location)
Bibi menggoreng ikan di wajan besar. (neutral) Avoid splitting object and its modifiers unnaturally.

Can I add malah or justru for emphasis?

Yes, they strengthen the contrast:

Alih-alih menggoreng ayam, bibi malah/justru menggoreng ikan.

How do I show tense/aspect (past, ongoing, future)?

Use time/aspect markers:

past: tadi/kemarin (e.g., Kemarin bibi menggoreng…)
progressive: sedang (e.g., bibi sedang menggoreng…)
future: akan (e.g., bibi akan menggoreng…)

Is the hyphen in alih-alih necessary?

Yes. It’s a reduplicated form and standard spelling uses the hyphen: alih-alih.

Why is it menggoreng (with mengg-) before a word starting with g?

The active prefix meN- assimilates to meng- before g, yielding menggoreng. Compare:

meN- + gambar → menggambar
meN- + kirim → mengirim (the initial k drops)

Could I say Alih-alih bibi menggoreng ayam, bibi menggoreng ikan?

Yes, you can repeat the subject on both sides for clarity: Alih-alih bibi menggoreng ayam, bibi menggoreng ikan. It’s also fine (and less repetitive) to keep the first part as a non-finite phrase: Alih-alih menggoreng ayam, …

What’s the difference between menggoreng and memasak here?

Menggoreng = to fry (specific method). Memasak = to cook (general). Use memasak when the method doesn’t matter; use menggoreng when you mean frying.