Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Anak kecil itu belajar menjadi mandiri. - That small child learns to be independent.

that little child (if you want to keep the demonstrative flavor), or
the little child (if the context is clearly about a specific child already known in the conversation).

In Indonesian, itu is used both for pointing (that) and for marking something as specific/definite (like the). The exact English translation depends on context more than on strict grammar.

Could I leave out itu and just say Anak kecil belajar menjadi mandiri? How would the meaning change?

You can leave out itu, but the nuance changes:

Anak kecil itu belajar menjadi mandiri.
→ Refers to a specific child, known to both speaker and listener.
“That little child / The little child is learning to be independent.”
Anak kecil belajar menjadi mandiri.
→ More general or indefinite; could mean “A little child is learning to be independent” or even “(In general) little children learn to be independent,” depending on context.

So itu adds the idea of a particular, identifiable child, not just any child.

Why is the adjective kecil after anak instead of before it, like in English?

In Indonesian, adjectives usually come after the noun they describe.

Pattern:

noun + adjective

Examples:

rumah besar = big house
kucing hitam = black cat
baju baru = new shirt

So:

anak kecil = small child / little child

Putting the adjective before the noun, like kecil anak, would be ungrammatical in standard Indonesian (except in certain fixed expressions or poetic language). So anak kecil is the normal, correct order.

Where is the word “is” in this sentence? Why doesn’t Indonesian use “is” here?

Indonesian usually does not use a separate verb for “to be” (is/are) in simple present-tense sentences like this.

In English we say:

“That little child is learning …”

In Indonesian:

Anak kecil itu belajar …

The verb belajar already carries the idea of an action happening; you don’t need an extra “is”. Indonesian doesn’t require a linking verb between the subject and the main verb.

If you want to emphasize the ongoing nature (like “is currently learning”), you can add an aspect marker like sedang or lagi:

Anak kecil itu sedang belajar menjadi mandiri.
Anak kecil itu lagi belajar menjadi mandiri. (more colloquial)

But there is still no separate word that corresponds exactly to English “is” here.

What exactly does belajar mean here? Can it mean both “study” and “learn”?

Belajar means to learn / to study. The English translation depends on context:

belajar matematika = study/learn math
belajar berenang = learn to swim
belajar menjadi mandiri = learn to become independent

In your sentence, belajar clearly has the sense of “is learning (how)”.

Related words:

ajar = base root related to teaching/learning
belajar = to learn / to study (focus on the learner)
mengajar = to teach (focus on the teacher)
pelajar = student

So yes, belajar can cover both “study” and “learn” in English; you choose the smoother English verb based on context.

Why do we need menjadi here? Could I just say Anak kecil itu belajar mandiri?

Menjadi means to become.

belajar menjadi mandiri
= learn to become independent (as a person; gain independence as a life skill)
belajar mandiri
is a different, very common phrase that means to study independently, i.e., without help from a teacher or others (self-study).

So:

Anak kecil itu belajar menjadi mandiri.
→ The child is learning how to become an independent person in general life.
Anak kecil itu belajar mandiri.
→ Sounds more like: “That child studies by himself/herself (without help).”

In your sentence, menjadi is important to express the idea of a change of state (“to become independent”) rather than how the studying is done.

What is the difference between mandiri and sendiri? Both seem related to “self” or “alone”.

They are related but not interchangeable.

Mandiri:

Means independent, self-reliant, autonomous.
Emphasizes ability to manage on one’s own (financially, emotionally, practically, etc.).
Example:
- Dia sudah mandiri. = She is already independent.

Sendiri:

Means alone / by oneself / on one’s own / itself.
Often focuses on being physically alone or doing something personally.
Examples:
- Dia di rumah sendiri. = He is at home alone.
- Saya sendiri yang mengerjakan ini. = I did this myself / I did this on my own.

So in your sentence:

belajar menjadi mandiri is about developing independence as a life skill,
not simply about being physically alone or doing something by oneself in that moment (which would be more sendiri-like).

Grammatically, is mandiri an adjective or a verb in this sentence?

Functionally, mandiri is acting like an adjective in this sentence.

Structure:

belajar (to learn)
menjadi (to become)
mandiri (independent)

So the pattern is similar to English:

“learn to become independent”

In Indonesian grammar, words like mandiri can be viewed as adjectives (describing a state) or stative verbs (expressing “to be X”). But in practical terms here, you can think of mandiri as the adjective complement of menjadi, just like “independent” is the complement of “become” in English.

Can I change the word order to Belajar menjadi mandiri anak kecil itu?

In standard Indonesian, that word order is not natural and would confuse listeners.

The normal structure is:

Subject – Verb – (Object/Complement)
→ Anak kecil itu (subject) belajar menjadi mandiri (predicate)

If you say:

Belajar menjadi mandiri anak kecil itu,

it sounds like you started with the verb phrase “learn to become independent” and then randomly added “that little child” at the end, without a clear grammatical link.

If you really want to front the verb phrase for emphasis, you typically need something like yang, or a different structure, e.g.:

Anak kecil itu yang belajar menjadi mandiri.
(“It is that little child who is learning to be independent.”)

But for a simple, neutral sentence, Anak kecil itu belajar menjadi mandiri is the correct and natural order.

What are some common patterns with belajar that I should know?

Common patterns include:

belajar + noun (subject or field)
- belajar matematika = study/learn math
- belajar bahasa Indonesia = study Indonesian
belajar + verb (activity)
- belajar berenang = learn to swim
- belajar membaca = learn to read
belajar + menjadi + noun/adjective
- belajar menjadi dokter = learn to become a doctor
- belajar menjadi mandiri = learn to become independent
belajar di + place
- belajar di rumah = study at home
- belajar di sekolah = study at school

Recognizing these patterns will help you quickly understand and build many belajar sentences.

How would this sentence change in very casual spoken Indonesian?

The original is already fairly neutral, but in casual conversation people often:

add lagi for “is currently …”
slightly tweak the noun phrase, or drop itu if the context is clear

Common casual versions:

Anak kecil itu lagi belajar mandiri.
Dia lagi belajar mandiri. (if it’s clear who “he/she” is)
Si kecil lagi belajar mandiri. (very colloquial, affectionate; si kecil ≈ “the little one”)

Note: in casual speech, belajar mandiri is often used, and context decides whether that means studying independently or learning to be independent. If you want to be very clear about becoming independent as a person, keep menjadi:

Anak kecil itu lagi belajar menjadi mandiri.

How do I say “The little children are learning to be independent” using this pattern?

You can make anak plural by reduplication:

anak-anak = children

So:

Anak-anak kecil itu belajar menjadi mandiri.
= “The little children are learning to be independent.”

Breakdown:

anak-anak = children
kecil = small / little
itu = those / the (specific group you’re talking about)
belajar menjadi mandiri = are learning to become independent

Optionally, to stress that it’s happening now:

Anak-anak kecil itu sedang belajar menjadi mandiri.
Anak-anak kecil itu lagi belajar menjadi mandiri. (more colloquial)