Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Handuk bersih disimpan di lemari pakaian; kok bukan di kamar mandi? - Clean towels are stored in the wardrobe; why not in the bathroom?

Kok is a colloquial particle meaning roughly “how come…?” or “why (surprisingly)…?”. It conveys mild surprise, doubt, or a subtle challenge. It’s fine with friends or in casual speech, but can sound a bit confrontational or too informal with strangers or in formal situations. In neutral/formal language, use kenapa or mengapa instead: for example, “Kenapa …?” or “Mengapa …?”

Why is it bukan and not tidak?

In general, tidak negates verbs, adjectives, and prepositional phrases; bukan negates nouns and is used for contrastive corrections.
Here, even though di kamar mandi is a prepositional phrase (which would normally take tidak), speakers often use bukan to signal a contrast or an expectation being contradicted: “Not in the bathroom (as expected), but somewhere else.”
Compare:
- “Kenapa tidak di kamar mandi?” = neutral “Why not in the bathroom?”
- “Kenapa/Kok bukan di kamar mandi?” = implies contrast/expectation: “Why isn’t it in the bathroom (as it should be)?”

Is the semicolon natural here? Could I use a period instead?

Yes, the semicolon is acceptable because it links two closely related clauses, the second being a question/comment on the first. In everyday writing, a period is more common: “Handuk bersih disimpan di lemari pakaian. Kok bukan di kamar mandi?” A comma would be wrong between two independent clauses.

What is disimpan grammatically?

It’s the passive voice: di- + simpan (to store/keep) → disimpan (“is/are kept/stored”). The agent is omitted. Active voice would be: Ibu menyimpan handuk bersih di lemari pakaian (“Mother keeps…”). Alternatives:

ditaruh/ditaruh or diletakkan = “put/placed” (more neutral, less “for safekeeping” than simpan).
disimpan suggests purposeful storing for later use.

Why is di written together in disimpan but separate in di lemari pakaian?

Two different “di”:

di- (no space) is a verb prefix marking passive voice: disimpan.
di (with a space) is a preposition meaning “at/in/on”: di lemari pakaian. A quick check: if you can replace it with ke (to) or dari (from), it’s the preposition and must be separate.

Why is it handuk bersih and not bersih handuk?

In Indonesian, adjectives usually follow the noun: handuk bersih = “clean towel(s).” Putting the adjective before the noun is generally wrong (though a few set adjectives like mantan, seluruh, para appear before nouns, but bersih does not).

Does handuk bersih mean one towel or many towels?

It’s number-neutral. It could mean “a clean towel” or “clean towels.” To specify:

Singular: satu handuk bersih (or sebuah/sehelai handuk bersih).
Plural: handuk-handuk bersih, beberapa handuk bersih, semua handuk bersih. For definiteness, you can add itu/ini: handuk bersih itu = “the clean towel(s).”

Can I say di dalam lemari pakaian instead of di lemari pakaian?

Yes. Di dalam lemari pakaian explicitly emphasizes “inside the wardrobe.” Di lemari pakaian already implies “in the wardrobe,” so it’s usually enough. Use ke for movement: ke lemari pakaian (“to the wardrobe”).

How can I mention who stores the towels?

Active: Ibu menyimpan handuk bersih di lemari pakaian.
Passive with agent: Handuk bersih disimpan (oleh) Ibu di lemari pakaian. (oleh is optional in many contexts)
“Short passive”: Handuk bersih Ibu simpan di lemari pakaian. (common in speech; base verb without di-/me-)

Is kok always at the start? Where can it go?

It typically sits at the start of the clause it comments on: Kok bukan di kamar mandi? After a semicolon or period, it naturally starts the new clause/sentence. Mid-clause use is uncommon and can sound awkward.

What’s the difference between lemari pakaian, lemari baju, and just lemari?

Lemari pakaian = wardrobe/closet for clothes (neutral/formal).
Lemari baju = same thing, more casual/colloquial.
Lemari alone = a cupboard/cabinet/closet in general; context needed to know what it’s for.

How does tense work here? Is it present or past?

Indonesian verbs don’t change form for tense. Disimpan can be present, past, or habitual. Time/aspect adverbs clarify:

Habitual: Biasanya, handuk bersih disimpan…
Past: Tadi, handuk bersih disimpan…
Completed: Handuk bersih sudah disimpan…

Could I use tersimpan instead of disimpan?

Yes, but nuance differs:

Disimpan (passive) focuses on the action of someone storing them.
Tersimpan is stative/resultative: “are in a stored state/are stored,” often without highlighting an agent. It can sound a bit more formal or descriptive.

Is there any style/register issue with this whole sentence?

Only kok is notably informal and can feel confrontational. For neutral/formal tone, use a period and a neutral question word:

“Handuk bersih disimpan di lemari pakaian. Mengapa tidak di kamar mandi?”