Anak itu tunduk kerana malu.

In Malay, demonstratives like ini (this) and itu (that/the) usually come after the noun.

So:

• anak itu = that child / the child
• buku ini = this book

This is different from English, where that comes before the noun.

It can mean either, depending on context.

In Malay, itu literally often means that, but in natural translation it can also function like the when referring to a specific person or thing already known in the context.

So anak itu could be understood as:

• that child
• the child

Malay often leaves this kind of distinction to context.

Tunduk usually means to bow, to lower the head, or to look down.

In this sentence, it most likely means the child lowered their head or looked down, especially because the next part says kerana malu (because of shame/embarrassment).

So it suggests a physical action that shows emotion.

Malay often does not use a verb like to be in the same way English does.

In English, you might say:

• The child was embarrassed
• The child was looking down

In Malay, sentences can often be understood without is/was/are. Time and situation are usually understood from context.

So Anak itu tunduk kerana malu does not need a separate word for was.

No, not directly.

Anak itu tunduk kerana malu does not tell you by grammar alone whether the action is:

• present: The child lowers/is lowering his head because of shame
• past: The child lowered his head because he was ashamed
• habitual: The child bows his head because of shame

Malay often leaves tense unmarked unless a time word is added, such as:

• semalam = yesterday
• sekarang = now
• tadi = earlier
• akan = will

So the time is usually understood from context.

Yes. Kerana means because.

In this sentence:

• kerana malu = because of shame / because [he/she was] embarrassed

A very common alternative in everyday Malay is sebab:

• Anak itu tunduk sebab malu.

This means the same thing in casual speech.
Kerana is often felt to be slightly more formal or standard.

Malu can cover several related meanings, including:

• shy
• ashamed
• embarrassed

In this sentence, because of tunduk (lowering the head / looking down), malu most naturally suggests:

• ashamed
• embarrassed

But the exact nuance depends on context. Malay words often cover a wider range than a single English word.

Malay often leaves out gender-specific pronouns when they are not needed.

So Anak itu tunduk kerana malu does not say whether the child is:

• a boy or a girl
• lowering his head or her head

Malay generally does not force the speaker to specify gender the way English sometimes does. Context usually tells you.

Anak most commonly means child, but it can also mean son or daughter, depending on context.

For example:

• anak itu = the child / that child
• anak saya = my child, which could mean my son or my daughter

Malay often uses one general word where English may choose a more specific one.

The sentence follows a very common Malay order:

• Anak itu = subject
• tunduk = verb
• kerana malu = reason phrase

So the pattern is basically:

Subject + Verb + Reason

That is quite similar to English:

The child lowered his head because of shame

Even though some details differ, the overall structure is fairly straightforward for an English speaker.

Yes, in other contexts tunduk can have broader meanings such as submit, yield, or bow to authority.

But in Anak itu tunduk kerana malu, the context strongly points to the physical meaning:

• lowered the head
• looked down

That is because malu describes an emotion, so tunduk here is probably body language caused by embarrassment or shame.

A common spoken version might be:

• Anak itu tunduk sebab malu.

Here, sebab replaces kerana. Both are correct, but sebab is very common in everyday conversation.

The original sentence with kerana is still completely natural and correct, especially in writing or more standard usage.