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Questions & Answers about Kok lampu masih menyala?
What does kok actually mean here?
Kok is a casual sentence particle that usually maps to English how come or an incredulous why. It adds a tone of surprise, mild annoyance, or disbelief. It’s not neutral or formal; it’s emotionally colored and conversational.
Is kok polite? When should I avoid it?
It’s fine with friends, family, and peers. It can sound blunt with strangers, elders, or in formal contexts. In those cases, prefer kenapa (neutral) or mengapa (formal):
- Kenapa lampu masih menyala?
- Mengapa lampu masih menyala?
How is kok different from kenapa and mengapa?
- Kok: colloquial, shows surprise/disbelief, often a bit confrontational or playful.
- Kenapa: everyday neutral “why.”
- Mengapa: formal/written “why,” polite and detached in tone.
Can I drop kok? What changes?
Yes.
- Lampu masih menyala? = “Is the light still on?” (yes/no question; no request for a reason)
- Kenapa lampu masih menyala? = neutral “Why is it still on?”
Dropping kok removes the incredulous tone and/or the “why” meaning depending on what you replace it with.
What does masih do, and where does it go?
Masih means still (continuing state) and comes before verbs/adjectives:
- Lampu masih menyala = The light is still on.
Compare with sudah “already”: - Lampu sudah menyala = The light is already on.
What’s the nuance of belum vs masih belum?
- Belum = not yet.
- Masih belum = still not yet (adds persistence/ongoingness).
Examples: - Lampu belum menyala. = The light isn’t on yet.
- Lampu masih belum menyala. = The light is still not on (even now).
Why menyala and not nyala? And what about menyalakan?
- Menyala (intransitive) = be on, be lit.
- Nyala is the colloquial root used informally: Lampunya masih nyala?
- Menyalakan (transitive) = to turn on: Tolong menyalakan lampu.
How do I say “turn off” or “the light is off”?
- Turn off: mematikan lampu (most common), also memadamkan (more like extinguish).
- State: Lampu mati/padam. = The light is off/out.
Commands: Matikan lampu, ya.
Does lampu mean “lamp” or “light”?
Both. Lampu is the general word for electric lights (fixtures, bulbs, room lights, even traffic lights: lampu merah). For the bulb specifically: bohlam or bola lampu.
How do I say “the light” specifically?
Indonesian has no articles. Use:
- Lampunya (clitic -nya marks specific/known item): Lampunya masih menyala?
- Lampu itu (that light): Lampu itu masih menyala?
Note: -nya can also mean “his/her/its,” but often just signals “the.”
Can I change the word order?
Typical order: Subject + masih + Verb.
- Kok lampu masih menyala?
Variations: - Kok lampunya masih menyala? (very natural)
- Kok masih menyala lampunya? (afterthought, focusing on “still on”)
Avoid ending with bare lampu; use lampunya if you move it.
Is there a “to be” verb in this sentence?
No. Indonesian doesn’t use a copula before adjectives/verbs in this way. Menyala is the verb “to be on,” so there’s no equivalent of “is.”
What’s a more formal or softer way to ask this?
- Neutral/polite: Kenapa lampu ini/itu masih menyala?
- Formal: Mengapa lampu ini/itu masih menyala?
Softeners: Maaf, …, Tolong jelaskan, … (but don’t use apakah with “why”).
How does intonation and tone work with kok?
Use a slightly incredulous or complaining tone, often with a falling or level end. The question can be rhetorical; kok signals the speaker expected the opposite (that the light would be off). Adding sih heightens exasperation: Kok lampu masih nyala, sih?
Can kok appear elsewhere or stand alone?
Yes.
- After the subject: Lampu kok masih menyala? (focus on the subject)
- Alone: Kok? = “How come?” (prompting an explanation)
In statements it marks puzzlement: Aku kok nggak paham. = “I oddly don’t get it.”
How do I talk about multiple lights?
Plural isn’t required; context handles it. If needed:
- lampu-lampu (plural form)
- semua lampu (all the lights)
- Lampunya can mean “the light(s)” depending on context.