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Questions & Answers about Belok kiri di gerbang sekolah.
Is there an implied subject here, or is a pronoun missing?
Yes—Indonesian often omits the subject in commands. The sentence is an imperative addressed to you (singular or plural). If you add a subject, it becomes a statement, e.g., Saya akan belok kiri di gerbang sekolah.
Why is di used here instead of ke?
di marks a static location (at/in/on), so di gerbang sekolah means “at the school gate.” ke marks movement toward a destination (to/towards). Using ke would change the meaning to going to the gate, not turning at that point.
Do I need ke after belok? What’s the difference between belok kiri and belok ke kiri?
Both are correct. Belok kiri is very common and natural in speech; belok ke kiri is slightly more explicit/formal. No real difference in meaning.
Can I say belok di kiri?
No. di kiri means “on the left side” (a location), not the action “to the left.” Use belok kiri or belok ke kiri. Example: Mobilnya ada di kiri = the car is on the left.
What does the noun phrase gerbang sekolah literally mean? Which word is the head?
Indonesian noun phrases are head-first. gerbang (gate) is the head, modified by sekolah (school): “gate of the school.” To make it specific, you can add itu or -nya: gerbang sekolah itu/gerbang sekolahnya.
If I mean “in front of the school gate,” how would I say that?
Use di depan: Belok kiri di depan gerbang sekolah. di gerbang is often understood as “at the gate area,” but di depan removes ambiguity.
How do I make the instruction more polite or softer?
Common options:
- Silakan belok kiri di gerbang sekolah. (polite invitation)
- Tolong belok kiri di gerbang sekolah. (requesting help; e.g., to a driver)
- Belok kiri, ya. (softening tag) Adding Pak/Bu (sir/ma’am) also softens: Belok kiri, ya, Pak.
How do I say “Don’t turn left at the school gate”?
Use jangan for negative imperatives: Jangan belok kiri di gerbang sekolah.
Can I use the particle -lah here?
Yes: Beloklah ke kiri di gerbang sekolah is a polite, somewhat formal/written instruction (e.g., signage). In everyday speech, people usually omit -lah.
Should I include Anda or kamu?
Normally no. Commands are given with the bare verb: Belok kiri... If you insert Anda/kamu, it tends to sound like a statement rather than a command: Anda belok kiri di gerbang sekolah describes what you do, not an instruction.
What’s the difference between di as a separate word and the prefix di-?
- di (separate) is a preposition for location: di gerbang.
- di- (attached) is a passive prefix on verbs: dibuka (is/was opened). Never write digerbang for “at the gate”; it must be di gerbang.
Any pronunciation tips for these words?
- belok: the e is a schwa (like the a in English “about”); roughly beh-lok.
- kiri: KEE-ree.
- gerbang: hard g; final ng like English sing.
- sekolah: the e is a schwa; final h is pronounced. Stress is light, usually on the second-to-last syllable.
Are there natural alternatives to belok kiri?
Yes:
- Ambil kiri di gerbang sekolah. (take a left)
- Belok ke arah kiri... (turn toward the left; a bit wordy) Avoid putar kiri unless you mean a U-turn (putar balik).
Could this be misread as a proper name, like Gerbang Sekolah?
Not here. Common nouns are lowercase in Indonesian. If it were a proper name, it would be capitalized: Gerbang Sekolah. As written, it just means the school’s gate (definiteness comes from context).
What happens if I use ke in the place phrase: Belok kiri ke gerbang sekolah?
That means “turn left toward/to the school gate” (the gate is your destination). The original with di means “turn left at the point where the gate is.”
Can I front the location phrase?
Yes, for emphasis or flow: Di gerbang sekolah, belok kiri. This is natural in both spoken and written Indonesian.
Is pada acceptable instead of di here?
No. pada is used with pronouns, time expressions, or abstract relations (e.g., pada saya, pada pukul tiga). For physical locations, use di: di gerbang sekolah.
How can I say “Turn left as soon as you reach the school gate”?
Use a timing expression: Begitu sampai di gerbang sekolah, belok kiri. Alternatives: Setibanya di gerbang sekolah, belok kiri; Pas di gerbang sekolah, belok kiri (casual).