Questions & Answers about Kami berteduh di bawah pokok.
Why does the sentence use kami instead of kita?
In Malay, kami means we, but it is exclusive: it does not include the person being spoken to.
So Kami berteduh di bawah pokok means We took shelter under a tree, where we does not include you.
By contrast, kita is inclusive: it includes the listener.
So Kita berteduh di bawah pokok would mean We (including you) took shelter under a tree.
What does berteduh mean exactly?
Berteduh means to take shelter, usually from sun or rain. It often suggests standing or staying somewhere protected, such as under a tree, a roof, or a shelter.
The root idea is teduh, which relates to shade or shelter. The prefix ber- often forms an intransitive verb, so berteduh means something like to be sheltering / to take shelter.
In this sentence, it naturally means to take shelter under a tree.
Why is there a ber- prefix in berteduh?