Breakdown of Saya menonton film Indonesia dengan subtitel bahasa Inggris dan mencoba membuat terjemahan sendiri.
Questions & Answers about Saya menonton film Indonesia dengan subtitel bahasa Inggris dan mencoba membuat terjemahan sendiri.
Menonton specifically means to watch something like a movie, TV, show, performance, etc. It implies you are following it as entertainment.
Melihat means to see / to look at in a more general sense (to see a bird, to see a car, to see someone).
- Saya menonton film Indonesia = I watch an Indonesian movie.
- Saya melihat film Indonesia is grammatically possible, but it sounds more like I saw an Indonesian movie (I happened to see it / came across it), not necessarily “I sat down and watched it as a show.”
For actively watching a movie, menonton (or the informal nonton) is more natural.
In Indonesian, the typical order is:
noun + modifier
So:
- film Indonesia = Indonesian film / movie
- film (noun) + Indonesia (modifier meaning “Indonesian”)
- orang Indonesia = Indonesian person
- makanan Indonesia = Indonesian food
You do not reverse it like in English. You wouldn’t say Indonesia film or Indonesia makanan.
On its own, film Indonesia is ambiguous; it could mean:
- A film from Indonesia (Indonesian production), or
- A film in the Indonesian language.
Usually, people understand it as “Indonesian film” in the cultural/national sense (made in Indonesia or by Indonesians). If you want to be explicit about the language, you can say:
- film berbahasa Indonesia = a film in Indonesian (language)
- film Indonesia dengan subtitel bahasa Inggris = an Indonesian film with English subtitles
(this still mainly suggests origin, but context makes it clear enough for learners).
Dengan means with.
In this sentence:
- dengan subtitel bahasa Inggris = with English subtitles
So the structure is:
- menonton film Indonesia (watch an Indonesian movie)
- dengan subtitel bahasa Inggris (with English subtitles)
You are describing how you watch the film: with English subtitles.
Both are possible:
- subtitel bahasa Inggris = subtitles in the English language
- subtitel Inggris = English subtitles
Indonesian often uses the pattern:
bahasa + [language name]
for language names:
- bahasa Inggris = English (language)
- bahasa Indonesia = Indonesian (language)
- bahasa Jepang = Japanese (language)
So subtitel bahasa Inggris is literally “subtitles (in the) English language” and is very clear and common.
Subtitel Inggris is shorter and also natural, especially in casual speech.
The pattern for languages in Indonesian is:
bahasa + country/people name
Examples:
- bahasa Indonesia = Indonesian (language)
- bahasa Inggris = English
- bahasa Jerman = German
- bahasa Korea = Korean
We do not reverse this.
Inggris bahasa would be incorrect; the fixed phrase is bahasa Inggris.
Dan means and.
Here, it links two actions that share the same subject (Saya):
- (Saya) menonton film Indonesia dengan subtitel bahasa Inggris
- (Saya) mencoba membuat terjemahan sendiri
So the full idea is:
I watch an Indonesian movie with English subtitles AND (I) try to make my own translation.
The subject (Saya) is only stated once at the beginning but applies to both verbs menonton and mencoba.
In Indonesian, it is very common (and natural) to say:
- mencoba + [verb]
So:
- mencoba membuat terjemahan = try to make a translation
- mencoba belajar bahasa Indonesia = try to study Indonesian
Mencoba untuk + verb also exists, but it is often more formal or less necessary in everyday speech.
In this sentence, mencoba membuat terjemahan sendiri is the most natural version.
Sendiri can mean own or by oneself (without help), depending on context.
Here:
- terjemahan sendiri = my own translation / a translation I made myself
Position:
- It usually comes after the noun or phrase it modifies:
- rumah sendiri = my own house
- pekerjaan sendiri = my own work
- terjemahan sendiri = own translation
So membuat terjemahan sendiri = to make my own translation (by myself).
Indonesian has no articles (no direct equivalent of a/an/the).
- film Indonesia can mean:
- a(n) Indonesian film
- the Indonesian film
Which one is meant depends on context, not on a specific word.
If you want to be more explicit, you can use other words:
- sebuah film Indonesia = an Indonesian film (one Indonesian film)
- film Indonesia itu = that Indonesian film / the Indonesian film (already known or specific)
Indonesian verbs do not change form for tense.
Menonton can mean:
- I watch (habitually / right now)
- I watched (in the past)
- I will watch (future), if the context indicates it
To make tense/time clearer, Indonesians often add time words:
- tadi saya menonton… = earlier I watched…
- kemarin saya menonton… = yesterday I watched…
- besok saya akan menonton… = tomorrow I will watch…
In your sentence, the time is understood from context. On its own, it’s closest to a general statement:
I watch Indonesian movies with English subtitles and try to make my own translation.
Yes. Indonesian often drops the subject pronoun when it’s clear from context.
Your shortened version is still grammatically correct and natural, especially in spoken Indonesian or informal writing, where the subject is understood:
- (Saya) menonton film Indonesia… dan (saya) mencoba…
However, including Saya is helpful for learners and in contexts where you want to emphasize that you are the one doing it.
You will see a few variations in real life:
- subtitel – an Indonesianized spelling of subtitle; used, but not as common in everyday speech.
- subtitle – English spelling; also widely recognized, especially in media/tech contexts.
- teks bahasa Inggris / teks Inggris – literally English text, but commonly used to mean subtitles.
All are understood. In everyday conversation, many people will just say:
- nonton film Indonesia pakai subtitle Inggris
- nonton film Indonesia pakai teks Inggris
Your version dengan subtitel bahasa Inggris is clear and correct in standard Indonesian.