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Breakdown of Mahasiswa baru itu bertanya tentang beasiswa.
itu
that
baru
new
tentang
about
bertanya
to ask
mahasiswa
the student
beasiswa
the scholarship
Questions & Answers about Mahasiswa baru itu bertanya tentang beasiswa.
What exactly does mahasiswa mean, and how is it different from siswa or murid?
- mahasiswa: a university/college student.
- siswa: a school student (elementary through high school).
- murid: pupil/disciple; often used for school-age students, slightly more old-fashioned or teacher-centered in tone.
Examples:
- Mahasiswa itu = that/the college student
- Siswa SMA itu = that high‑school student
Why is baru placed after mahasiswa? Could baru also mean “just (now)”?
- In noun phrases, adjectives follow the noun: mahasiswa baru = new student.
- baru can also mean “just (now)” when it modifies a verb: baru bertanya = just asked.
So in the sentence, baru clearly modifies mahasiswa (new), not the verb.
What does itu do here? Is it “that” or “the”?
itu is a demonstrative placed after the noun phrase. It can mean “that” (deictic) or function like a definiteness marker (“the”) for something known/specific:
- mahasiswa baru itu = that/the new student (specific, known).
Near the speaker: ini; farther/previously mentioned: itu.
Note: Itu mahasiswa baru (with itu before the noun) is typically read as a clause meaning “That is a new student.”
Is the subject singular or plural? How do I make it explicit?
Indonesian doesn’t mark plural by default, so mahasiswa baru itu could be one person or a specific group, depending on context. To be explicit:
- Singular: seorang mahasiswa baru itu or more naturally just mahasiswa baru itu (context shows it’s one person).
- Plural: para mahasiswa baru itu, or mahasiswa-mahasiswa baru itu, or add a number: dua mahasiswa baru itu.
Generic plural without itu: para mahasiswa baru = (the) new students.
Is bertanya tentang the right way to say “ask about”? How does it differ from menanyakan or menanyai?
- bertanya (tentang X) = to ask (a question) about X; intransitive verb.
- menanyakan (X) = to ask about X (makes X the direct object); transitive. Avoid doubling the preposition: prefer menanyakan beasiswa, not menanyakan tentang beasiswa.
- menanyai (Y) = to question/interrogate Y (a person), often repeatedly.
Colloquial:
- tanya / nanya are casual forms of bertanya: nanya soal beasiswa.
How do I say “ask someone about something” with the right prepositions?
Use:
- bertanya kepada/pada [person] tentang [topic]
Example: Mahasiswa baru itu bertanya kepada dosen tentang beasiswa.
Colloquial: tanya ke/sama [person] soal [topic]
Example: Dia nanya sama petugas soal beasiswa.
Can I use something other than tentang? What’s the nuance of mengenai, soal, perihal?
Yes:
- mengenai = about/regarding (neutral–formal)
- soal = about/concerning (informal–neutral)
- perihal/ihwal = about/regarding (formal/literary)
- terkait/berkaitan dengan = related to (slightly formal)
Examples:
- bertanya mengenai beasiswa (neutral–formal)
- nanya soal beasiswa (colloquial)
What tense is this? Could it mean “asked,” “is asking,” or “will ask”?
Indonesian doesn’t inflect for tense. Context or time markers clarify:
- Past: tadi/kemarin … bertanya (earlier/yesterday)
- Progressive: sedang bertanya (is asking)
- Immediate past: baru (saja) bertanya (just asked)
- Future: akan/ nanti … bertanya (will ask)
How do I pronounce beasiswa?
Syllables: be‑a‑sis‑wa.
Approximate: bay‑ah‑SEE‑swah.
Notes:
- bea is two syllables (be‑a), not like English “bee.”
- siswa ≈ SEES‑wah.
If I want to say “ask for/apply for a scholarship,” should I still use bertanya?
No. Use:
- “apply for”: mengajukan permohonan beasiswa, mendaftar beasiswa
- “request” (formal): memohon beasiswa
- “ask for” (plain request): meminta beasiswa (can sound like directly asking to be given one)
- “look for”: mencari beasiswa
When would I use beasiswanya instead of beasiswa?
Adding -nya can mark definiteness or possession:
- beasiswanya = the scholarship (already known) / his/her scholarship.
Examples: - bertanya tentang beasiswa = ask about scholarships (in general).
- bertanya tentang beasiswanya = ask about the scholarship in question OR about his/her scholarship (context decides).
Is mahasiswa gendered? What about mahasiswi?
- mahasiswa is widely used as gender‑neutral (student at university).
- mahasiswi specifically refers to a female student; it’s still understood but many institutions prefer mahasiswa for all genders.
Can I front the topic and say “About the scholarship, the new student asked”?
Yes. Topicalization is natural:
- Tentang beasiswa, mahasiswa baru itu bertanya.
You can also front the object with menanyakan: - Beasiswa itu, mahasiswa baru itu menanyakannya. (more formal/emphatic)
Do I need itu? What changes if I drop it?
- With itu: specific/definite — mahasiswa baru itu = that/the new student.
- Without itu: often more generic/indefinite — mahasiswa baru bertanya could be “a new student asked” or “new students ask,” depending on context.
To make “a” explicit, add a numeral/classifier: seorang mahasiswa baru bertanya = a new student asked.
Does mahasiswa baru mean “freshman”?
It means a newly admitted university student (a “new student”). For “freshman/first‑year,” you can say:
- mahasiswa tahun pertama / tingkat satu / semester pertama
Campus slang: maba (from mahasiswa baru).
How would this sound in casual speech?
Colloquial variants:
- Mahasiswa baru itu nanya soal beasiswa.
- Add the addressee casually: Dia nanya soal beasiswa ke staf. / Dia nanya sama dosen soal beasiswa.
These use nanya (casual for bertanya) and soal (about) and ke/sama (to).
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