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Menurut saya, itu mungkin.

Menurut saya, itu mungkin.
In my opinion, that is possible.
FromLesson 32inHardcore Indonesian
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Breakdown of Menurut saya, itu mungkin.

adalah
to be
itu
that
saya
I
menurut
according to
mungkin
possible

Questions & Answers about Menurut saya, itu mungkin.

What does the word menurut mean, and why is it used with saya?
  • Menurut is a preposition meaning according to. With saya (I/me), menurut saya means according to me or in my opinion.
  • Examples: Menurut saya, itu mungkin.; Menurut dokter, obat ini aman.
Is the comma after menurut saya required?
  • It’s optional. Both Menurut saya, itu mungkin. and Menurut saya itu mungkin. are correct.
  • The comma simply signals a natural pause. You can also put the phrase at the end: Itu mungkin, menurut saya.
Can I drop menurut saya and just say Itu mungkin or Mungkin?
  • Yes. Itu mungkin. is a neutral statement: It’s possible.
  • Mungkin. works as a short conversational reply meaning Maybe/possibly (elliptical). In careful writing, it’s better to keep a full clause.
How formal is menurut saya? What are casual or more formal alternatives?
  • Menurut saya is neutral to formal and polite.
  • Casual: Menurutku (with the clitic -ku), or slang like menurut gue/gua (Jakarta).
  • More formal/written: Menurut pendapat saya or restructure as Saya berpendapat bahwa…
What’s the difference between menurut saya and saya pikir/saya rasa/saya kira?
  • Saya pikir: I think (reasoned/analytic).
  • Saya rasa: I feel/I think (impression-based).
  • Saya kira: I reckon/I assume (tentative).
  • Menurut saya: According to me (neutral framing). In many contexts they’re interchangeable, with small tone differences.
What exactly does itu refer to? Can I use ini or omit it?
  • Itu means that/it, pointing to something previously mentioned or not near the speaker. Ini means this (near the speaker).
  • You can say Menurut saya, ini mungkin. if you mean this one.
  • Omitting it is fine if the subject is obvious: Menurut saya, rencana itu mungkin. Without clear context, keeping itu/ini helps.
Is mungkin an adjective or an adverb? Where can it appear?
  • Both, depending on position.
    • Predicate adjective: Itu mungkin. (It is possible.)
    • Sentence adverb: Mungkin dia datang. (Maybe he/she will come.)
  • You can combine with akan for future nuance: Dia mungkin akan datang.
How is mungkin different from bisa/dapat and from bisa jadi?
  • Mungkin: possibility/probability (uncertainty).
  • Bisa/Dapat: ability/permission/feasibility (can/be able to).
  • Bisa jadi: could be/might turn out (speculative, conversational).
  • Contrast: Dia bisa datang (he can/is able) vs Dia mungkin datang (he may/might).
How do I strengthen or soften the degree of possibility?
  • Stronger: sangat mungkin, kemungkinan besar (highly likely).
  • Softer: agak mungkin, kemungkinan kecil (unlikely).
  • Casual emphasis: mungkin saja.
  • Negative: tidak mungkin, mustahil (impossible; stronger).
How do I ask Is it possible? with this vocabulary?
  • Apakah itu mungkin? (neutral/formal)
  • Mungkinkah itu? or Mungkinkah…? (more literary/rhetorical)
  • For feasibility/permission in casual speech: Bisa? / Bisa nggak?
Can I change the word order?
  • Yes, with small differences in emphasis:
    • Menurut saya, itu mungkin. (foregrounds your opinion)
    • Menurut saya itu mungkin. (same, no pause)
    • Itu mungkin, menurut saya. (states the fact first, then softens with your opinion)
Any tips on pronunciation for these words?
  • Menurut: initial me- is a schwa [mə] like a in about; u is like oo in food; tap the r; final t is unaspirated.
  • Saya: sah-yah (both a like in father).
  • Itu: ee-too (i like see, u like food).
  • Mungkin: moong-keen; ng is the single sound [ŋ] as in sing.
Is menurutku written as one word? What about other clitics?
  • Yes, attach clitics: menurutku, menurutmu, menurutnya. Don’t write menurut ku or menurut-ku in modern standard spelling.
Can I say mungkin untuk + verb (possible to …)?
  • It exists but is less natural in the affirmative. Prefer bisa/dapat or rephrase:
    • More natural: Kita bisa melakukannya.
    • Common in the negative: Tidak mungkin untuk menyelesaikan ini hari ini.
How does this compare to sepertinya or kayaknya?
  • Sepertinya (neutral) and kayaknya (casual) mean it seems/it looks like, signaling inference from evidence.
  • Menurut saya frames it as your opinion. Avoid stacking redundancy like Kayaknya mungkin…; choose one: Kayaknya dia datang or Dia mungkin datang.

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