Saya terfikir tentang jawapan itu.

Terfikir usually suggests that a thought came to mind, often a bit spontaneously or unintentionally.

• fikir = to think
• terfikir = to happen to think of, to suddenly think of, to have the thought occur to you

So Saya terfikir tentang jawapan itu is not just neutral I think about that answer. It often carries the feeling of I found myself thinking about that answer or that answer came to mind.

In this sentence, ter- gives terfikir a less deliberate feeling.

With ter-, the action often feels:

• unplanned
• spontaneous
• something that happened rather than something you actively decided to do

So terfikir is different from a fully intentional form like memikirkan, which sounds more like deliberate, focused thinking.

Tentang means about or regarding.

So:

• terfikir tentang jawapan itu = thought about that answer / had that answer on my mind

Malay often uses tentang after verbs of thinking when you want to introduce the topic. It works a lot like English about.

Yes, but the nuance changes.

• Saya terfikir tentang jawapan itu = the answer came to mind; I found myself thinking about it
• Saya memikirkan jawapan itu = I was thinking about the answer more deliberately

So memikirkan sounds more intentional and active.
Terfikir sounds more like the thought arose on its own.

Yes, and it is understandable, but it is a bit different.

• Saya fikir tentang jawapan itu can mean I think about that answer
• Saya terfikir tentang jawapan itu suggests a thought that occurred to you

In everyday use, fikir is broad and common, but terfikir is often better if you want that sense of it crossed my mind.

In Malay, demonstratives like ini and itu usually come after the noun.

So:

• jawapan itu = that answer
• buku ini = this book

This is normal Malay word order.
English says that answer, but Malay says answer that.

Most directly, jawapan itu means that answer.

But depending on context, it can also function a bit like the answer, especially if both speaker and listener already know which answer is being discussed.

So itu often points to something specific and already identifiable.

No. Malay verbs usually do not change form for tense the way English verbs do.

So Saya terfikir tentang jawapan itu could mean different things depending on context, such as:

• I thought about that answer
• I was thinking about that answer
• I happened to think of that answer

If you want to make time clearer, Malay usually adds time words such as:

• semalam = yesterday
• tadi = earlier
• sekarang = now
• sudah = already
• sedang = in the middle of

Yes, it is natural and grammatical.

It sounds like something a speaker would say when a certain answer came to mind or when they found themselves thinking about it.

Depending on context, other natural alternatives could also be:

• Saya terfikir akan jawapan itu
• Saya memikirkan jawapan itu

But your sentence is perfectly fine.

Both can appear with verbs of thinking, but they are not always exactly the same in tone.

• tentang = about, regarding
• akan can be used in somewhat more formal or literary styles after certain verbs

So:

• terfikir tentang jawapan itu sounds very straightforward and common
• terfikir akan jawapan itu may sound a little more literary or stylistically marked

For most learners, tentang is the safer and more common choice.

Sometimes, yes, if the subject is already clear from context.

For example, in conversation, someone might simply say:

• Terfikir tentang jawapan itu.

This can sound natural in casual speech if it is obvious that the speaker means I.

But in full, clear sentences, especially for learners, keeping Saya is best.

Not exactly.

Terfikir means something like:

• to think of
• to have something occur to you
• to find yourself thinking about something

Remember in Malay is usually closer to:

• ingat

So terfikir is about a thought arising, not simply recalling something from memory.

A simple pronunciation guide is:

• saya ≈ sah-yuh
• terfikir ≈ ter-fee-keer
• tentang ≈ tuhn-tahng
• jawapan ≈ jah-wah-pan
• itu ≈ ee-too

A helpful note: the r in ter- is usually lightly pronounced, and Malay pronunciation is generally quite consistent compared with English.