Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Hamster kecil itu berlari di roda mainannya setiap malam. - That small hamster runs in its wheel every night.

Hamster kecil itu can be translated as:
- “that small hamster” (pointing to one you both know or can see), or
- “the small hamster” (a specific one already known in the context).

When itu comes after the noun phrase, it usually marks that the thing is specific/definite, similar to “the” or “that” in English.

Why is it hamster kecil itu and not itu hamster kecil, like English “that small hamster”?

In standard Indonesian, demonstratives like ini (this) and itu (that) most commonly come after the noun phrase:

kucing itu = that/the cat
buku ini = this/the book
hamster kecil itu = that/the small hamster

You can say itu hamster kecil, but it sounds more like you are emphasizing or introducing it, similar to saying “That small hamster (over there)…” at the start of a sentence, often followed by a comment:

Itu hamster kecil, lucu sekali.
“That small hamster is really cute.”

For a simple descriptive noun phrase (“the small hamster”), hamster kecil itu is the normal pattern.

Why is kecil placed after hamster, not before it like in English “small hamster”?

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

hamster kecil = small hamster
buku besar = big book
rumah baru = new house

So the pattern is:

noun + adjective
hamster + kecil → hamster kecil

Adding itu for definiteness:

hamster kecil itu = that/the small hamster

What’s the difference between hamster kecil itu and hamster itu kecil?

They mean different things grammatically:

hamster kecil itu
- Function: a noun phrase
- Meaning: “that small hamster” / “the small hamster”
- Use: referring to a specific hamster as a thing or subject/object.
hamster itu kecil
- Function: a full clause (subject + predicate)
- Meaning: “that hamster is small”
- Use: making a statement about the hamster’s size.

So:

Hamster kecil itu berlari… = The small hamster runs…
Hamster itu kecil, tapi cepat. = That hamster is small, but fast.

What is the difference between lari and berlari? Why use berlari here?

Both relate to the idea of running, but:

lari
- Base word; can be a verb (“to run”) or a noun (“a run”).
- Often used in informal speech as the verb:
  - Dia lari cepat. = He runs fast.
berlari
- Verb with the prefix ber-, more clearly and formally “to run” as an action or activity.
- Sounds a bit more complete or neutral in a sentence:
  - Dia berlari cepat. = He runs fast.

In your sentence, berlari is a natural, neutral choice:

Hamster kecil itu berlari di roda mainannya…
“The small hamster runs in its wheel…”

In casual conversation, some speakers might also say Hamster kecil itu lari di roda…, but in writing or standard Indonesian, berlari is very common.

Why is the preposition di used in di roda mainannya? Does it mean “in” or “on”?

Indonesian di is a very general location preposition and can translate as “in”, “on”, or “at”, depending on context.

di rumah = at home
di meja = on the table
di sekolah = at school
di dalam kotak = in the box (more specific: inside)

In di roda mainannya, we translate it as “in its wheel” because in English we say a hamster runs in a wheel. Indonesian doesn’t need to distinguish “in” vs “on” here; di by itself is enough, and context gives the exact nuance.

Using pada instead would sound formal or unnatural here; di is the standard choice for physical locations.

What does mainannya mean exactly? How is it formed?

Mainannya is made of:

main = to play (verb)
mainan = toy / plaything (noun from main)
mainan + -nya = mainannya

The suffix -nya can mean “his/her/its/their” when attached to a noun.

So:

mainan = toy
mainannya = its toy / his toy / her toy / their toy

In di roda mainannya, mainannya means “its toy”, so roda mainannya is “its toy wheel” or “the wheel that is its toy.” In natural English we’d just say “its wheel”.

Why is it roda mainannya and not mainan rodanya? What does the word order express?

In Indonesian, when one noun describes or modifies another, the usual pattern is:

head noun + modifier noun

So you get:

roda sepeda = bicycle wheel
roda mobil = car wheel
roda mainan = toy wheel / wheel of a toy
roda mainannya = its toy wheel (the toy wheel belonging to it)

Here:

roda = wheel (head noun)
mainannya = its toy (modifier/possessor)

Mainan rodanya would mean roughly “its toy” (a toy whose part is a wheel), and is not how you normally describe the exercise wheel a hamster runs in.

So:

roda mainannya = the wheel that is its toy (natural for “its exercise wheel”).

What role does the -nya in mainannya play, and could we say roda mainan dia instead?

The suffix -nya on a noun usually does one of two things:

Possessive pronoun: his/her/its/their
- buku = book
- bukunya = his book / her book / its book / their book
Definite marker: “the” (for a known/specific thing)
- gurunya = the teacher (already known in context)

In mainannya, -nya is possessive: its toy.

You can say:

roda mainan dia = its toy wheel / his toy wheel

Differences:

roda mainannya:
- More compact, very natural in speech and writing.
- Subject’s gender/number is understood from context.
roda mainan dia:
- Slightly more spelled out, sometimes used for clarity or emphasis on dia (he/she).
- Can sound a bit more informal or spoken.

Both are grammatical, but roda mainannya matches the original style best.

Why does di roda mainannya translate as “in its wheel” instead of “on its wheel”?

Indonesian does not distinguish “in” vs “on” with separate basic prepositions like English. Di covers both, and the image in your mind plus the usual English phrasing decide the translation:

di kursi → on the chair
di rumah → at home
di dalam kotak → in the box (more explicit “inside”)

For a hamster, English naturally says “run in a wheel”, so di roda mainannya becomes “in its wheel.” The Indonesian phrase itself doesn’t force “in” or “on”; it just says it’s at that wheel.

Can setiap malam be moved to the beginning of the sentence?

Yes. Time expressions are quite flexible in Indonesian.

Both are correct:

Hamster kecil itu berlari di roda mainannya setiap malam.
Setiap malam, hamster kecil itu berlari di roda mainannya.

The meaning is the same: “Every night, the small hamster runs in its wheel.”

Putting setiap malam at the start can give it a little more emphasis (“As for every night…”), but it’s a natural option.

How is “tense” shown here? Why isn’t there a word for “does” or a past tense like in English?

Indonesian does not change the verb form for tense (past/present/future). Berlari stays the same whether it’s “ran,” “runs,” or “will run.” Tense is shown by:

time words:
- kemarin (yesterday)
- tadi malam (last night)
- besok (tomorrow)
- setiap malam (every night)
aspect words:
- sudah (already)
- sedang (currently)
- akan (will)

Here, setiap malam (“every night”) tells us this is a habitual action in the present:

Hamster kecil itu berlari di roda mainannya setiap malam.
→ The small hamster runs in its wheel every night.

If you wanted to stress future, you might say:

Hamster kecil itu akan berlari di roda mainannya setiap malam.
“The small hamster will run in its wheel every night.”

How would you make this sentence plural, like “Every night, the small hamsters run in their wheels”?

Indonesian usually doesn’t require special plural forms, but you can mark plurality if you want to be explicit.

One natural way:

Setiap malam, hamster-hamster kecil itu berlari di roda-roda mainan mereka.

Breakdown:

hamster-hamster kecil itu = those small hamsters (reduplication marks plural)
roda-roda mainan = wheels (plural) that are toys
mereka = they / their

Often, speakers still omit the repetition and rely on context:

Setiap malam, hamster kecil itu berlari di roda mainan mereka.

Context (“they/their”) makes it clear that there is more than one hamster.