Kebun binatang itu sering dikunjungi keluarga kami.

That zoo is often visited by our family.

Breakdown of Kebun binatang itu sering dikunjungi keluarga kami.

• itu: that
• keluarga: the family
• sering: often
• kami: our

Questions & Answers about Kebun binatang itu sering dikunjungi keluarga kami.

What does kebun binatang literally mean, and why is it translated as zoo?

Literally, kebun binatang is:

• kebun = garden, plantation, yard
• binatang = animal

So it literally means “animal garden” or “animal park”.

In natural English, we don’t say “animal garden”, we say zoo, so kebun binatang is the normal Indonesian word for zoo.

What is the function of itu in kebun binatang itu? Does it mean that or the?

Itu is a demonstrative that usually means “that”, but in many contexts it also works like “the” in English, pointing to something specific that both speaker and listener know.

• kebun binatang itu can be:
  • “that zoo” (if contrasting with another zoo, or pointing at it)
  • “the zoo” (the one you both already know about)

If you drop itu and just say kebun binatang, it sounds more general, like “a zoo” or “zoos” in general, not a specific one.

Why does the sentence start with kebun binatang itu if the family is the one doing the visiting?

The sentence is in passive voice (Indonesian passive type I):

• Kebun binatang itu = the thing affected (the zoo)