Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Rasa sop itu asam, tetapi enak dimakan dengan nasi hangat. - That soup tastes sour, but it’s delicious to eat with warm rice.

Sop itu rasanya asam, tetapi… (most common in everyday speech; literally “its taste is sour”)
Sop itu asam, tetapi… (shorter and fine; simply “the soup is sour”)
Rasanya asam, tetapi… (if the context already makes it clear you’re talking about the soup)

All are grammatical; using rasa/rasanya explicitly frames the statement as being about taste.

What does itu in sop itu do? Is it “that soup” or “the soup”?

Itu can mean “that,” but very often it just marks definiteness (“the”). In this sentence it likely refers to a specific soup already known in the context:

sop itu = that/the soup (previously mentioned or visible)
sop ini = this soup Without a determiner, Indonesian can sound generic; itu/ini (or -nya, as in sopnya) helps mark a specific referent.

Is there a difference between sop and sup?

Both mean “soup” and both are accepted. Usage tendencies:

sop often appears in Indonesian-style dishes: sop buntut, sop iga.
sup often appears for Western-style soups: sup krim jagung. There is overlap; either form will be understood.

Does asam mean “sour” or “tamarind”? What about masam or asem?

asam (adjective) = sour/tart.
asam (noun) can mean “acid” or “tamarind” (especially in compounds): asam jawa = tamarind.
masam is a Malay/regionally colored variant; in standard Indonesian asam is more common for “sour.”
asem is a Javanese-influenced colloquial form you’ll hear in speech. Note fixed expressions: asam urat (gout), asam lambung (stomach acid).

Why use tetapi instead of tapi or namun?

They all express contrast, with register/position differences:

tetapi = “but,” neutral–formal; commonly used after a comma within the same sentence.
tapi = informal tetapi.
namun = “however,” often sentence-initial: Namun, …
akan tetapi = very formal “however/but.” In speech, tapi is frequent; in writing, tetapi or namun is preferred.

What does enak dimakan literally mean, and why the passive di- form?

Literally “tasty to be eaten.” Dimakan is the passive of makan (“eat”). Indonesian often uses the passive to talk about how something is consumed without naming the eater:

Kue ini enak dimakan hangat-hangat. (This cake is tasty eaten warm.) An active like enak makan dengan… is less idiomatic here; the passive keeps the focus on the food.

Can I say enak untuk dimakan instead of enak dimakan?

Yes, but there’s a nuance:

enak dimakan is more idiomatic and compact.
enak untuk dimakan adds a sense of purpose (“good for eating”), slightly more evaluative or careful-sounding. Both are correct.

Why dengan? Could I use sama or pakai?

All can mean “with,” differing in tone:

dengan = neutral–formal, suitable in writing: dimakan dengan nasi hangat.
pakai = “using/with,” common in speech: dimakan pakai nasi hangat.
sama = very colloquial “with”: dimakan sama nasi hangat. Choose based on formality.

Does nasi hangat mean “warm rice” or “hot rice”? Is nasi panas okay?

hangat = warm; suggests comfortably warm/freshly cooked.
panas = hot; can imply very hot. For rice, nasi hangat is the common, natural collocation. Nasi panas is understood but can sound like it’s too hot to eat.

Is the comma before tetapi required?

It’s standard to place a comma before tetapi when it links two contrasted parts of a sentence. You’ll commonly see: …, tetapi …. It aids clarity and matches formal punctuation norms.

What other natural ways can I express the same idea?

Sop itu rasanya asam, tetapi enak dimakan dengan nasi hangat.
Rasanya asam, tetapi enak dimakan dengan nasi hangat.
Sop itu asam, tapi enak dimakan dengan nasi hangat. (informal)
Walaupun asam, sop itu enak dimakan dengan nasi hangat. All are acceptable; pick one to match your formality and context.

Can I say dimakan bersama nasi hangat instead of dengan?

Yes. Bersama (“together with”) is slightly more formal/literary. Meaning is the same:

… enak dimakan dengan nasi hangat. (neutral)
… enak dimakan bersama nasi hangat. (a bit more formal)

How do I pronounce the key words?

Approximate guide (Indonesian vowels are pure):

rasa: RAH-sah (penultimate stress)
sop: sop (like “sawp” without the w; never “soap”)
itu: EE-too
asam: AH-sum (both a’s like “father”)
tetapi: tə-TAH-pee (first e like a schwa)
enak: ə-NAHK (first e like a schwa)
dimakan: dee-MAH-kahn
nasi: NAH-see
hangat: HAH-ngat (ng = the “ng” in “singer”)

Are there synonyms for enak? When would I use them?

lezat: “delicious,” more formal/advertising.
sedap: “tasty,” common in Malay and also used in Indonesian; slightly formal/culinary.
gurih: “savory/umami,” specifically for rich, salty, MSG-like savoriness. In this sentence, enak is the most natural general word.