Di pojok dapur, Ibu menyimpan gula di toples kaca.

Because Indonesian word order is fairly flexible. The sentence begins with a location phrase to set the scene:

• Di pojok dapur = in the corner of the kitchen
• Ibu = the subject
• menyimpan = the verb
• gula = the object
• di toples kaca = another location phrase

So this sentence is like:

• In the corner of the kitchen, Mother keeps sugar in a glass jar.

You could also say:

• Ibu menyimpan gula di toples kaca di pojok dapur.

That version is also natural, but it puts the subject first.

Here, di is a preposition meaning in, at, or on, depending on context.

It appears twice because there are two different location phrases:

• di pojok dapur = in the corner of the kitchen
• di toples kaca = in a glass jar

So the sentence tells you:

1. where the action happens / where the jar is
2. where the sugar is stored

Important: this di is separate from the noun that follows it.

• di pojok
• di toples

This is different from di- as a passive prefix, which is attached to a verb, like:

• disimpan = is stored

Pojok dapur literally means corner kitchen, but in natural English it means the kitchen corner or the corner of the kitchen.

Indonesian often expresses noun relationships without a separate word for of.

So:

• pojok dapur = corner of the kitchen
• toples kaca = jar of glass → glass jar

In many cases, the second noun describes or specifies the first noun.

In Indonesian, the main noun usually comes first, and the word describing it comes after.

So:

• toples = jar
• kaca = glass

Therefore:

• toples kaca = glass jar

This is the opposite of English, where the describing noun often comes before:

• glass jar

The same pattern appears in many Indonesian noun phrases:

• rumah kayu = wooden house
• meja makan = dining table
• air panas = hot water

Ibu can mean mother, but it is also a common respectful form of address for an adult woman, similar to Mrs., ma’am, or Madam, depending on context.

In a sentence like this, Ibu often means:

• Mother / Mom, if the context is family
• Mrs. / a woman, if the context is more general

So you need context to know the best translation.

Menyimpan comes from the root simpan, which means to store, to keep, or to put away.

With the prefix meN-, it becomes an active verb:

• simpan = store / keep
• menyimpan = to store / to keep

This prefix often changes shape depending on the first sound of the root word. Here:

• meN- + simpan → menyimpan

This is a very common Indonesian verb pattern.

Indonesian does not usually use articles like English a, an, and the.

So:

• gula can mean sugar, the sugar, or some sugar
• toples kaca can mean a glass jar or the glass jar
• pojok dapur can mean the corner of the kitchen

The exact meaning depends on context.

If Indonesian speakers want to be more specific, they can add other words, but often they simply leave articles out.

Here gula refers to the substance sugar, so it works like an uncountable noun in English.

It does not mean a sugar.

Depending on context, it could mean:

• sugar
• the sugar
• some sugar

If you wanted to specify a type, Indonesian could also say things like:

• gula pasir = granulated sugar
• gula merah = palm sugar / brown sugar in some contexts

The comma shows that Di pojok dapur is an introductory phrase.

It helps separate the setting from the main clause:

• Di pojok dapur, Ibu menyimpan gula di toples kaca.

This is similar to English:

• In the corner of the kitchen, Mother keeps sugar in a glass jar.

In Indonesian writing, the comma is helpful and natural here, especially when a sentence begins with a longer phrase. In casual writing, some people may omit it, but with the comma the structure is clearer.

It can potentially relate to the overall situation, so in practice it often sets the scene for the whole sentence.

Most naturally, the sentence suggests that the sugar is kept in a glass jar located in the corner of the kitchen. But grammatically, the opening phrase works as a general location for the event.

So the idea is roughly:

• In the corner of the kitchen, Mother stores sugar in a glass jar.

Indonesian often allows this kind of broad location phrase at the beginning without forcing a very strict distinction.

Yes, but the meaning changes a little.

• menyimpan = to store, to keep, to put away for keeping
• menaruh = to put, to place

So:

• Ibu menyimpan gula di toples kaca suggests an ongoing storage habit or arrangement.
• Ibu menaruh gula di toples kaca focuses more on the act of putting the sugar into the jar.

Both can be correct, but menyimpan is better if the idea is keeps/stores.

Both are possible.

• pojok = corner
• sudut = corner / angle

In everyday speech, pojok often feels very natural for a physical corner of a room. Sudut is also correct and common, and can sometimes sound a little more formal or general depending on context.

So both of these work:

• Di pojok dapur
• Di sudut dapur

It could be passive, but the original sentence is active because it focuses on Ibu as the doer of the action.

Active:

• Ibu menyimpan gula di toples kaca.
• Mother stores sugar in a glass jar.

Passive:

• Gula disimpan Ibu di toples kaca.
• The sugar is stored by Mother in a glass jar.

Indonesian uses both active and passive a lot. The active version here is simple and natural when the subject is important.

You can do a rough word-for-word breakdown:

• Di = in/at
• pojok = corner
• dapur = kitchen
• Ibu = mother / Mrs.
• menyimpan = stores / keeps
• gula = sugar
• di = in
• toples kaca = glass jar

But a natural English translation would be something like:

• In the corner of the kitchen, Mother keeps sugar in a glass jar.

A literal gloss is useful for learning structure, but not always for producing natural English.