Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Saya duduk di kursi kayu.

di is a general location preposition that can mean at/on/in depending on the noun and common collocations. For sitting on a chair, the natural phrase is duduk di kursi. di atas kursi literally means on top of the chair and can sound overly literal or suggest being on the top surface; use it only when you need that emphasis.

Why is it kursi kayu and not kayu kursi?

In Indonesian the head noun comes first and modifiers follow. So “wooden chair” is kursi kayu (chair made of wood). kayu kursi would read as “the wood of a chair,” which is not what you want here.

What’s the nuance difference between kursi kayu, kursi dari kayu, and kursi yang terbuat dari kayu?

All mean a chair made of wood. kursi kayu is the most concise and common. kursi dari kayu is slightly more explicit. kursi yang terbuat dari kayu is more formal/explicit (literally “chair that is made from wood”).

How do I say “the wooden chair” versus “a wooden chair”?

Indonesian has no articles. Add demonstratives for definiteness:

Definite: kursi kayu itu (that wooden chair), kursi kayu ini (this wooden chair).
Indefinite: you can add a classifier/number, e.g., sebuah kursi kayu or satu kursi kayu for “a/one wooden chair.” Without anything, kursi kayu can be generic or context-dependent.

Can I replace Saya with Aku?

Yes. Saya is more formal/neutral and polite, good for most situations. Aku is informal/intimate among friends/family. In Jakarta slang you’ll hear gue. The rest of the sentence stays the same: Aku duduk di kursi kayu.

Why is there no “am” (a verb “to be”) before duduk?

Indonesian doesn’t use a copula for verbs or adjectives in simple present statements. You just say Saya duduk (I am sitting) or Saya capek (I am tired) without any “to be.”

Is di here the same as the passive prefix di-?

No. In di kursi, di is a preposition and is written separately. The passive prefix di- attaches to verbs with no space (e.g., dibaca, read). Don’t write dikursi; that would be wrong here.

What’s the difference between kursi and bangku?

kursi is a chair (typically with a backrest). bangku is a bench or stool (often backless). So you’d say duduk di bangku for sitting on a bench/stool.

How do I show plural or count chairs?

Plural can be inferred from context or formed with reduplication: kursi-kursi (chairs). Numbers and quantifiers go before the noun:

dua kursi kayu (two wooden chairs)
beberapa kursi kayu (several wooden chairs) You can still keep the modifier order: dua kursi kayu.

Can I drop Saya?

Yes, when context makes the subject obvious. For example, answering a question about what you’re doing: Sedang duduk di kursi kayu. In neutral writing, keeping Saya is clearer.

Does duduk mean “to sit” or “to sit down”?

Usually duduk describes the state of being seated, but in everyday speech it also covers the action of sitting down. To politely invite someone to sit down, say Silakan duduk or Duduklah (the latter is a softer imperative).

Is menduduki a normal way to say “sit on (a chair)”?

No. menduduki is transitive and means occupy (a seat/position/territory), often formal or metaphorical: Dia menduduki kursi presiden. For physically sitting on a chair, use duduk di kursi. The passive diduduki means “is occupied/sat on.”

Any pronunciation tips for these words?

duduk: both u’s like the oo in “food”; final k may sound like a short, unreleased k (or a glottal stop in casual speech).
kursi: u like “food,” r is a tapped/rolled r.
kayu: a as in “father,” y like English y in “yes.”
Also, saya is commonly pronounced sa-ya (two syllables).

How would I say “I have already sat down” or “I’m in the middle of sitting”?

Completed/“already”: Saya sudah duduk.
In progress/right now: Saya sedang duduk or more colloquially Saya lagi duduk.