Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Termometer kecil itu saya simpan di lemari. - I keep that small thermometer in the cupboard.

In Termometer kecil itu saya simpan di lemari, the object (termometer kecil itu) is moved to the front to give it emphasis or make it the topic of the sentence. It’s like saying in English:

That small thermometer, I keep (it) in the cupboard.

So this word order is used when the speaker wants to focus on that small thermometer (for example, in answer to “Where is that small thermometer?”).

Is this sentence active or passive?

It’s usually translated as an active sentence: I keep that small thermometer in the cupboard.

Grammatically, many descriptions of Indonesian call this pattern a kind of “passive type 2”:

Termometer kecil itu (object / topic)
saya simpan (verb + agent pronoun)

You could also translate it more literally as That small thermometer is kept by me in the cupboard, but in natural English we’d normally use the active version.

For learning purposes, it’s fine to treat it as an active sentence with a fronted object for emphasis.

What’s the difference between simpan and menyimpan?

Both come from the same root and mean to store / to keep.

menyimpan = the standard meN- verb form
- Saya menyimpan termometer kecil itu di lemari.
simpan = the bare root, often used after pronouns, especially in speech
- Saya simpan termometer kecil itu di lemari.

When the object is moved to the front, you almost always see the bare form:

✅ Termometer kecil itu saya simpan di lemari. (natural)
❌ Termometer kecil itu saya menyimpan di lemari. (sounds wrong/unnatural)

So:

Saya menyimpan X… (neutral, textbook)
Saya simpan X… (very common, slightly more informal)
X itu saya simpan… (fronted object + bare verb, very natural)

What exactly does itu mean here? Is it that or the?

Itu is a demonstrative meaning that, but in real usage it often works like the when you’re talking about a specific, known thing.

In termometer kecil itu, possible nuances:

that small thermometer (the one we both know about, not a new one)
effectively the small thermometer in this context

So:

Without itu: termometer kecil = a small thermometer (non-specific)
With itu: termometer kecil itu = that / the small thermometer (specific, already known or visible)

Why is the adjective kecil after termometer, and why is itu last?

In Indonesian, the normal order is:

noun + adjective + demonstrative

So you get:

termometer kecil itu
= thermometer + small + that
= that small thermometer

You don’t say:

❌ kecil termometer itu

If you add more adjectives, they still come after the noun and before itu:

lemari kayu besar itu = that big wooden cupboard

What’s the difference between di lemari and di dalam lemari?

Both can mean in the cupboard, but there is a nuance:

di lemari
- literally: at/in the cupboard
- very common, usually understood as “inside” in this context
di dalam lemari
- literally: inside the cupboard
- emphasizes the idea of being inside more strongly

In everyday speech, di lemari is perfectly normal and natural. Use di dalam lemari if you want to be extra clear about “inside,” or for a slightly more formal/written style.

Can I drop saya and just say Termometer kecil itu simpan di lemari?

No, that sounds incomplete or wrong.

In this structure, if you front the object (Termometer kecil itu), you still need an agent (who is doing the storing):

Termometer kecil itu saya simpan di lemari. (by me)
Termometer kecil itu dia simpan di lemari. (by him/her)
Termometer kecil itu mereka simpan di lemari. (by them)

If you want to drop the subject pronoun entirely, you’d normally change the structure, for example:

Termometer kecil itu disimpan di lemari.
= That small thermometer is kept in the cupboard. (agent not mentioned)

Could I say Saya menyimpan termometer kecil itu di lemari instead? Is there any difference?

Yes, you can:

Saya menyimpan termometer kecil itu di lemari.

Meaning-wise, it’s essentially the same as:

Termometer kecil itu saya simpan di lemari.

Main differences:

Saya menyimpan…
- more neutral S–V–O order
- good as a dictionary / textbook sentence
Termometer kecil itu saya simpan…
- object moved to the front for emphasis
- sounds especially natural as an answer to a question about that thermometer

So both are correct; choose based on what you want to emphasize.

How is lemari usually translated? Cupboard, wardrobe, or closet?

Lemari is a general word for a piece of furniture with doors used for storage. The exact English translation depends on context:

lemari pakaian = wardrobe, clothes closet
lemari es = refrigerator (literally “ice cupboard”)
lemari dapur = kitchen cupboard

Alone, lemari can be translated as cupboard, closet, or wardrobe depending on what is being stored. In this sentence, if it’s in a house context, cupboard or cabinet works well.

Does this sentence mean present, past, or future? There’s no tense marker.

Indonesian verbs don’t change form for tense. Simpan here has no tense by itself. The time is understood from context or from extra words:

(Biasanya) termometer kecil itu saya simpan di lemari.
= I (usually) keep that small thermometer in the cupboard. (habitual present)
Tadi termometer kecil itu saya simpan di lemari.
= Earlier I put that small thermometer in the cupboard. (past)
Nanti termometer kecil itu saya simpan di lemari.
= Later I’ll put that small thermometer in the cupboard. (future)

Without time adverbs, the most natural interpretation here is a general habit: I keep that small thermometer in the cupboard.

How would I say I keep it in the cupboard instead of repeating termometer kecil itu?

You would replace the noun phrase with a pronoun:

Saya menyimpannya di lemari.
- menyimpan
  - -nya (attached object pronoun)
    = I keep it in the cupboard.

You don’t normally use this -nya form in the fronted-object pattern:

✅ Termometer kecil itu saya simpan di lemari.
✅ Saya menyimpannya di lemari.
❌ Itu saya simpan di lemari-nya. (wrong for “I keep it in the cupboard”)

How do I make this plural, like those small thermometers?

Indonesian often leaves plurals unmarked and relies on context, so:

Termometer kecil itu saya simpan di lemari.
could also mean I keep those small thermometers in the cupboard, if the context is clearly plural.

If you want to be explicitly plural, you can use:

Termometer-termometer kecil itu saya simpan di lemari.
(reduplication to mark plural)

But in everyday speech, people very often just say the singular form and let context show whether it’s one or more.

Is there any difference in politeness if I use saya here instead of aku?

Yes:

saya is the standard, neutral–polite pronoun for I, used in most formal and semi-formal situations.
aku is more informal/intimate, used with friends, family, or people of the same age group.

So:

Termometer kecil itu saya simpan di lemari.
= neutral / polite
Termometer kecil itu aku simpan di lemari.
= informal / friendly

Both are grammatical; choose based on who you’re talking to and the level of formality.