Saya menyimpan kancing cadangan di kotak kecil di lemari.

I keep spare buttons in a small box in the cupboard.

Breakdown of Saya menyimpan kancing cadangan di kotak kecil di lemari.

• sebuah: a
• saya: I
• di: in
• kecil: small
• cadangan: spare
• menyimpan: to keep
• kancing: button
• kotak: box
• lemari: cupboard

Questions & Answers about Saya menyimpan kancing cadangan di kotak kecil di lemari.

Why does menyimpan have the meN- prefix? Why not just simpan?

Simpan is the root (dictionary form) meaning to store/keep/save. In a normal active, formal-ish Indonesian sentence, you often use the meN- verb form:

• Saya menyimpan ... = I store/keep ... (active, standard)
• Saya simpan ... is also possible in everyday speech, but it can sound more informal or like a shortened style.

So menyimpan is the standard active verb form of simpan.

How does meN- become meny- here?

Indonesian has a spelling/sound change rule with meN-:

• meN- + simpan → menyimpan The N part adapts to the first sound of the root. With roots starting with s, the s typically drops and meN- becomes meny-.

Is there any difference between kancing cadangan and cadangan kancing?

Yes, the natural phrasing is kancing cadangan = spare button(s), where cadangan functions like “spare/extra” describing kancing.

Cadangan kancing is unusual and would more likely be interpreted as “a reserve/backup of buttons” in a less natural way. In most everyday contexts, stick with kancing cadangan.

Does kancing mean one button or buttons (plural)?

It can be either. Indonesian nouns usually don’t mark plural unless needed. So:

• kancing can mean a button or buttons, depending on context. If you want to force plural, you could say kancing-kancing (buttons) or specify a number: dua kancing.

Why is kecil placed after kotak? Can I say kecil kotak?

The default pattern is noun + adjective, so:

• kotak kecil = small box

kecil kotak is not normal word order in Indonesian.

You can also say kotak yang kecil, which is more explicit (“the box that is small”), but it’s usually unnecessary here.

Why are there two di phrases: di kotak kecil and di lemari?

Indonesian commonly stacks location phrases like this:

• di kotak kecil = in/inside the small box
• di lemari = in the cupboard/wardrobe

Together: in a small box in the wardrobe. The second di ... tells you where the box is.

Should it be di kotak or di dalam kotak?

Both can work:

• di kotak kecil is often understood as in the box from context.
• di dalam kotak kecil is more explicitly inside the box.

If you want to be very clear about “inside,” use di dalam.

What exactly does lemari mean here?

Lemari is a general word for a storage cabinet. Depending on context, it can be:

• a cupboard
• a cabinet
• a wardrobe/closet

If it’s specifically a wardrobe for clothes, people may say lemari pakaian.

Could I replace Saya with Aku?

Yes, but it changes tone:

• Saya = neutral/polite, common in formal or polite conversation
• Aku = more informal and intimate (friends, family, personal narration)

So the sentence with Aku is fine if the situation is casual.

How would this sentence look in passive voice?

A natural passive version is:

• Kancing cadangan disimpan di kotak kecil di lemari. = The spare button(s) are stored in a small box in the wardrobe.

Or if you want to mention the doer:

• Kancing cadangan disimpan oleh saya di kotak kecil di lemari. (less common unless you need emphasis)

How do you pronounce menyimpan, kancing, cadangan, and lemari?

Approximate pronunciation (Indonesian is fairly consistent letter-to-sound):

• menyimpan: men-YIM-pan (the ny is like the ny in canyon)
• kancing: KAN-ching (the c is like ch)
• cadangan: cha-DANG-an (first c = ch; ng like in sing)
• lemari: leh-MA-ree