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Saya senang karena dokter menjelaskan semuanya dengan bahasa yang mudah dimengerti.

Saya senang karena dokter menjelaskan semuanya dengan bahasa yang mudah dimengerti.
I am happy because the doctor explains everything in language that is easy to understand.
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Questions & Answers about Saya senang karena dokter menjelaskan semuanya dengan bahasa yang mudah dimengerti.

Why is there no “to be” verb like “am” between saya and senang? Why not Saya adalah senang?

In Indonesian, you usually do not use a “to be” verb (like am / is / are) before adjectives.

  • Saya senang = I am happy
    Literally: I happy (this is normal and correct in Indonesian).

The word adalah is sometimes translated as “is/are”, but:

  • It is mainly used before nouns or noun phrases, not before adjectives.
    • Dia adalah dokter. = He/She is a doctor.
  • You generally do not say:
    • ✗ Saya adalah senang

So:

  • ✅ Saya senang = correct and natural
  • ✗ Saya adalah senang = unnatural/wrong in normal speech
What is the difference between senang, bahagia, and suka?

All three relate to positive feelings, but they are used differently:

  • senang

    • General “happy / pleased / glad”.
    • Can be used for temporary, everyday happiness.
    • Saya senang karena… = I’m happy because…

  • bahagia

    • Deeper, more long-term happiness (often “joyful”, “content with life”).
    • Used in more serious or formal contexts.
    • Saya bahagia dengan keluarga saya. = I’m happy (content) with my family.

  • suka

    • Means “to like”, not “to be happy”.
    • Saya suka dokter itu. = I like that doctor.
    • Not used to mean “I’m happy (because…)”.

In the sentence, saya senang is perfect because it refers to a specific reason: the doctor explained things clearly.

How does karena work here? Could the sentence start with Karena instead?

karena means “because” and introduces the reason.

In your sentence:

  • Saya senang karena dokter menjelaskan semuanya…
    = I am happy because the doctor explained everything…

You can start the sentence with Karena:

  • Karena dokter menjelaskan semuanya dengan bahasa yang mudah dimengerti, saya senang.
    = Because the doctor explained everything in language that is easy to understand, I am happy.

Notes:

  • When karena is at the beginning, you usually put a comma (,) before the main clause.
  • Word order changes, but the meaning stays the same.
Why is it just dokter, not the doctor or a doctor? Where is the article?

Indonesian does not use articles like “a/an/the” the way English does.

  • dokter can mean:
    • the doctor
    • a doctor
    • my/our doctor (from context)

If you want to be more specific, you can add words:

  • seorang dokter = a doctor (emphasizing “one doctor / a certain doctor”)
  • dokter itu = that/the doctor (previously mentioned, specific)
  • dokter saya = my doctor

In your sentence, dokter is naturally understood as “the doctor (you’re talking about)”.

What exactly does menjelaskan mean, and how is it formed?

menjelaskan means “to explain (something)”.

It is formed from the base adjective jelas (clear) with the affixes meN- … -kan:

  • jelas = clear
  • menjelaskan = to make (something) clear → to explain

Grammar:

  • menjelaskan is transitive: it needs an object.
  • In your sentence, the object is semuanya (everything):

dokter menjelaskan semuanya
the doctor explained everything

You generally do not say:

  • ✗ dokter menjelaskan (without saying what was explained) in a neutral context. Usually you add an object, even if it’s just semuanya/itu.
What is the difference between semua and semuanya here?

Both come from semua (all), but they behave differently:

  • semua

    • Usually goes before a noun:
      • semua orang = all people
      • semua pasien = all (the) patients

  • semuanya

    • Acts more like “everything / all of it / all of them” (pronoun-like).
    • Can stand alone without a noun.
    • In your sentence:
      • dokter menjelaskan semuanya
        = the doctor explained everything / it all

If you said only dokter menjelaskan semua, it would sound incomplete; listeners would expect a noun after semua. So semuanya is correct here.

Why is dengan used before bahasa? Could I use dalam instead?

Both dengan and dalam can translate to English “with / in”, but they are used differently.

In your sentence:

  • dengan bahasa yang mudah dimengerti
    literally: with language that is easy to understand
    meaning: using language that is easy to understand

Here:

  • dengan = using / by means of
  • It describes the manner or tool used to explain.

If you say:

  • dalam bahasa Indonesia = in Indonesian (as a language)
  • dalam bahasa Inggris = in English

So:

  • dengan bahasa yang mudah dimengerti focuses on how (using easy language).
  • dalam bahasa Indonesia focuses on which language (Indonesian vs English etc.).

In this sentence, dengan is the natural choice.

What does bahasa yang mudah dimengerti literally mean, and how is yang working?

bahasa yang mudah dimengerti literally:

  • bahasa = language
  • yang = that / which (relative pronoun)
  • mudah = easy
  • dimengerti = understood / to be understood

So: language that is easy to understand.

yang introduces a relative clause (like English “that / which / who”):

  • bahasa (yang) mudah dimengerti
    = language that is easy to understand

Structure:

  • bahasa → the noun being described
  • yang mudah dimengerti → the clause describing the noun

You must use yang here to link the description to bahasa.
✗ bahasa mudah dimengerti is possible in some contexts, but sounds more like a compressed phrase; the fully clear and standard form is bahasa yang mudah dimengerti.

What is dimengerti? How is it different from mengerti?

Base verb: mengerti = to understand.

  • mengerti = active voice: someone understands something

    • Saya mengerti penjelasannya. = I understand the explanation.

  • dimengerti = di- passive: to be understood

    • mudah dimengerti = easy to be understood = easy to understand

In bahasa yang mudah dimengerti:

  • The focus is on the language, which is understood (by people).
  • It doesn’t specify who understands it (general “people”).

Compare:

  • Bahasa itu mudah dimengerti.
    That language is easy to understand.
  • ✗ Bahasa itu mudah mengerti.
    Literally “That language easily understands” → wrong meaning.
Why is it mudah dimengerti, not mudah untuk dimengerti? Are both correct?

Both are grammatically correct, and both can be used:

  • mudah dimengerti

    • Very common, concise, sounds natural.
    • bahasa yang mudah dimengerti = language that is easy to understand.

  • mudah untuk dimengerti

    • Slightly more explicit / sometimes a bit more formal.
    • Literally: easy for (it) to be understood.

In everyday speech and writing, mudah dimengerti is usually preferred because it is shorter and very natural.

Could I say dengan cara yang mudah dimengerti instead of dengan bahasa yang mudah dimengerti? What’s the difference?

Yes, you can, but the nuance changes slightly:

  • dengan bahasa yang mudah dimengerti

    • Focus: the words / language choice are easy.
    • “using language that is easy to understand”

  • dengan cara yang mudah dimengerti

    • Focus: the method / way of explaining is easy to follow.
    • “in a way that is easy to understand”

Both are natural; they just highlight different aspects (the language vs the method).

How is tense shown in this sentence? How do we know it’s past (the doctor explained)?

Indonesian normally does not change the verb form for tense (past, present, future).

  • dokter menjelaskan could mean:
    • the doctor explained (past)
    • the doctor is explaining (present)
    • the doctor explains (habitually)

Tense is understood from context or from time expressions:

  • tadi = earlier, just now
  • kemarin = yesterday
  • sekarang = now
  • nanti = later, afterwards

If you wanted to make the past clear, you could say:

  • Saya senang karena tadi dokter menjelaskan semuanya…
    I’m happy because earlier the doctor explained everything…

In your original sentence, English speakers naturally interpret it as past from the situation, even though Indonesian verb form doesn’t change.

Could I drop saya and just say Senang karena dokter menjelaskan semuanya…?

Yes, in informal speech or writing, Indonesians often drop saya when the subject is obvious from context:

  • Senang karena dokter menjelaskan semuanya dengan bahasa yang mudah dimengerti.

This feels more like:

  • “(I’m) happy because the doctor explained everything…”

Notes:

  • It is common in casual messages, chats, or when the speaker is obvious.
  • In more formal contexts (e.g., writing to a doctor, an essay), Saya senang… is clearer and more standard.