Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Latihan pernapasan singkat membuat aliran oksigen ke tubuh lebih baik. - Short breathing exercises make the oxygen flow to the body better.

“pernafasan” is still seen (and many Indonesians use it), but according to the official dictionary (KBBI), the correct standard form is pernapasan.

Reason (simplified):

The base word is napas.
The prefix-suffix pattern per- + napas + -an → pernapasan.
There is no f in napas, so the derived form keeps p, not f.

So in careful or formal writing, pernapasan is preferred.

What exactly does “pernapasan” mean compared to “napas” or “bernapas”?

These are related but have different grammatical roles:

napas = breath (noun)
- Tarik napas dalam-dalam. = Take a deep breath.
bernapas = to breathe (verb)
- Dia bernapas dengan pelan. = He/She breathes slowly.
pernapasan = breathing, respiration (noun, often more “process” or “system”)
- Latihan pernapasan = breathing exercises
- sistem pernapasan = respiratory system

In your sentence:

Latihan pernapasan singkat = short breathing exercises
(literally: short “breathing-practice”)

Why is the adjective “singkat” placed after “latihan pernapasan”, not before, like in English?

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

English: short breathing exercises
Indonesian: latihan pernapasan singkat

Pattern:

Noun + Adjective
- buku baru = new book
- rumah besar = big house
- latihan pernapasan singkat = short breathing exercise(s)

Putting “singkat” in front (e.g. singkat latihan pernapasan) would sound wrong or ungrammatical.

How does “membuat” work here? Is it literally “to make” something?

“Membuat” literally means “to make” or “to create”, but in this structure it works like English “make [something] [adjective]”.

Pattern:

membuat + [object] + [adjective/state]

Examples:

Kopi ini membuat saya lebih segar.
= This coffee makes me feel fresher.
Berolahraga membuat tidurmu lebih nyenyak.
= Exercising makes your sleep sounder.

In your sentence:

membuat = makes
aliran oksigen ke tubuh = the flow of oxygen to the body
lebih baik = better

So:
Latihan pernapasan singkat membuat aliran oksigen ke tubuh lebih baik.
= Short breathing exercises make the flow of oxygen to the body better.

What is the structure of “aliran oksigen ke tubuh”? Which word is modifying which?

The head of the phrase is “aliran” (flow).

Structure:

aliran = flow (noun)
oksigen = oxygen (noun modifying aliran → “flow of oxygen”)
ke tubuh = to the body (prepositional phrase showing direction/target)

So:

aliran oksigen = flow of oxygen
aliran oksigen ke tubuh = flow of oxygen to the body

Indonesian typically places the head noun first, then the modifier:

aliran oksigen = flow of oxygen
rumah sakit = hospital (literally “sick house”)
latihan pernapasan = breathing exercise(s)

Why is the preposition “ke” used in “ke tubuh”? Could I use “untuk tubuh” instead?

“ke” and “untuk” are not interchangeable here.

ke = to, toward (shows direction/movement or destination)
- Pergi ke sekolah. = Go to school.
- Aliran darah ke otak. = Blood flow to the brain.
untuk = for (shows purpose, benefit)
- Obat untuk sakit kepala. = Medicine for a headache.
- Latihan ini baik untuk tubuh. = This exercise is good for the body.

In “aliran oksigen ke tubuh”, we’re talking about movement/direction of oxygen, so “ke” is correct.

“aliran oksigen untuk tubuh” would sound more like:

“oxygen flow for the body” (emphasizing benefit/purpose rather than literal flow into/toward the body), and is not natural in this specific context.

What does “lebih baik” mean here exactly, and how does the comparative work?

“Lebih” means “more” and “baik” means “good”. Together:

lebih baik = more good → better

This is how comparatives are usually formed in Indonesian:

lebih + adjective
- lebih besar = bigger
- lebih cepat = faster
- lebih penting = more important

In your sentence:

lebih baik describes “aliran oksigen ke tubuh”
It implies: better than before / than without those exercises, even if the “than X” is not stated.

You can make it explicit:

Latihan pernapasan singkat membuat aliran oksigen ke tubuh lebih baik daripada sebelumnya.
= Short breathing exercises make the flow of oxygen to the body better than before.

Could I say “menjadi lebih baik” instead of using “membuat … lebih baik”?

Yes, but the structure changes slightly.

Current structure:

Latihan pernapasan singkat membuat aliran oksigen ke tubuh lebih baik.
→ Short breathing exercises make the oxygen flow to the body better.

Alternative:

Dengan latihan pernapasan singkat, aliran oksigen ke tubuh menjadi lebih baik.
→ With short breathing exercises, the flow of oxygen to the body becomes better.

Differences:

membuat X lebih baik = make X better (X is object)
X menjadi lebih baik = X becomes better (X is subject)

Both are natural; the original emphasizes the causal action (“make”), the alternative emphasizes the change of state (“become”).

Is “latihan pernapasan” singular or plural? How would I say “a breathing exercise” vs “breathing exercises”?

Indonesian usually does not mark singular/plural on the noun itself. “Latihan pernapasan” can mean:

a breathing exercise
breathing exercises
breathing practice (uncountable sense)

Context tells you which one is meant.

If you really want to be explicit:

satu latihan pernapasan = one breathing exercise
beberapa latihan pernapasan = several breathing exercises
latihan-latihan pernapasan = breathing exercises (plural, using reduplication)

In your original sentence, “latihan pernapasan singkat” is best understood as a general statement: “short breathing exercises / short breathing practice” in general, not one specific instance.

There is no tense marking in the sentence. How do I know if it’s present, past, or future?

Indonesian verbs generally do not change form for tense. Context or time expressions show when the action happens.

Your sentence by itself is timeless / general:

Latihan pernapasan singkat membuat aliran oksigen ke tubuh lebih baik.
→ Short breathing exercises make the flow of oxygen to the body better.
(a general fact, like a health tip)

You can add time markers if needed:

Tadi pagi, latihan pernapasan singkat membuat aliran oksigen ke tubuh lebih baik.
= This morning, short breathing exercises made the flow of oxygen to the body better.
Besok, latihan pernapasan singkat akan membuat aliran oksigen ke tubuh lebih baik.
= Tomorrow, short breathing exercises will make the flow of oxygen to the body better.

The verb “membuat” itself does not change; only context or extra words show time.