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Breakdown of Kami duduk di lorong sekolah sambil mengobrol.
di
in
kami
we
sambil
while
mengobrol
to chat
duduk
to sit
lorong sekolah
the school hallway
Questions & Answers about Kami duduk di lorong sekolah sambil mengobrol.
When should I use Kami instead of Kita?
Use kami when the listener is NOT included in “we.” Use kita when the listener IS included.
- Kami duduk... = we (not you) sat/are sitting...
- Kita duduk... = we (including you) sat/are sitting...
Does duduk mean “to sit” or “to be sitting / to sit down”?
Both, depending on context. Indonesian doesn’t mark tense or aspect by default:
- Without markers, duduk can mean a state (“be sitting”) or an action (“sit/sit down”).
- Context or time words (e.g., tadi, kemarin, sekarang) clarify if it was past or present.
Do I need sedang to show an ongoing action?
Not required. Sedang highlights that the action is in progress:
- Kami (sedang) duduk di lorong sekolah sambil mengobrol. Because sambil already implies simultaneity/ongoing, sedang is optional here and adds emphasis rather than meaning.
How exactly does sambil work?
Sambil links two actions done by the SAME subject at the same time.
- Correct: Dia membaca sambil mendengarkan musik.
- Not with different subjects: ✗ Sambil saya makan, dia membaca. Use sementara for different subjects: Sementara saya makan, dia membaca.
Can I use ngobrol instead of mengobrol?
Yes. Ngobrol is the everyday colloquial form; mengobrol is more standard/formal. Both mean “to chat.” In writing or formal speech, prefer mengobrol; in casual speech, ngobrol is very common.
What’s the difference between mengobrol, berbicara, bercakap-cakap, and berbincang?
- mengobrol / ngobrol: casual chatting.
- berbicara: to speak/talk (neutral to formal).
- bercakap(-cakap): to converse (sometimes sounds slightly formal or regional).
- berbincang / berbincang-bincang: to discuss/chat (often a bit more formal or purposeful).
Why is it di lorong sekolah and not di sekolah lorong?
In Indonesian, the head noun comes first and the modifier follows. Lorong sekolah = “the school’s corridor” (literally “corridor [of] school”). Saying sekolah lorong is ungrammatical. You could also say lorong di sekolah, but that emphasizes location (“a corridor located at the school”) rather than the possessive-type link.
Is there any difference between lorong, koridor, and gang?
- lorong: hallway/corridor/aisle (general, inside buildings or narrow passageways).
- koridor: corridor (more technical/formal inside buildings).
- gang: a narrow alley between houses (outdoors), not a hallway inside a school.
Why is it di (at/in) and not ke (to)?
Di marks location; ke marks movement/direction.
- Location: Kami duduk di lorong sekolah.
- Movement: Kami berjalan ke lorong sekolah.
Why is di written separately here? I’ve seen di- attached to words too.
When di is a preposition meaning “at/in/on,” it is written separately: di lorong. When di- is a passive prefix on a verb, it attaches to the verb: dibaca, ditulis. So:
- Preposition: di sekolah, di meja (spaced)
- Passive prefix: ditanya, dikerjakan (attached)
Can I move the sambil phrase to the front or change the order?
Yes. All are natural, with slight shifts in emphasis:
- Kami duduk di lorong sekolah sambil mengobrol.
- Kami duduk sambil mengobrol di lorong sekolah.
- Sambil mengobrol, kami duduk di lorong sekolah. (use a comma when fronted)
Do I need a comma before sambil?
No comma is needed when sambil sits inside the clause. Use a comma if the sambil phrase is fronted:
- No comma: Kami duduk di lorong sekolah sambil mengobrol.
- Comma when fronted: Sambil mengobrol, kami duduk di lorong sekolah.
Can I use reduplication like duduk-duduk to mean “sit around/hang out”?
Yes. Reduplication often conveys a casual, leisurely, or repeated action:
- Kami duduk-duduk di lorong sekolah sambil mengobrol. (we were just hanging out)
How do I make “the corridor/hallway” definite in Indonesian?
Indonesian has no articles; use demonstratives or possessives:
- di lorong sekolah itu = in that specific school hallway (definite)
- di lorong sekolah kami = in our school’s hallway
- di lorong sekolahnya = in his/her/their school’s hallway (or “the school’s hallway” previously known)
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