Buku kulit lembut itu ringan.

In Malay, itu usually comes after the noun phrase it refers to.

So:

• buku itu = that book / the book
• buku kulit lembut itu = that softcover book

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

Structure here:

• buku kulit lembut = softcover book
• itu = that / the
• ringan = light

So the sentence literally follows a pattern like:

• [noun phrase] + itu + adjective

Malay often leaves out the verb to be when describing something with an adjective.

So:

• Buku itu ringan = The book is light
• literally: Book that light

This is completely normal in Malay. You do not need a word for is in sentences like this.

It can feel like either one in English, depending on context.

In this sentence, itu most literally means that:

• Buku kulit lembut itu ringan = That softcover book is light

But in natural translation, it can also function like the if the book is already known:

• The softcover book is light

So itu often marks something as specific or already identifiable.

Because in Malay, adjectives used as predicates usually come after the noun phrase they describe.

So:

• Buku itu ringan = The book is light
• Rumah itu besar = That house is big
• Kereta itu mahal = That car is expensive

In your sentence:

• Buku kulit lembut itu = the softcover book
• ringan = light

So ringan comes after the full subject.

Literally:

• kulit = skin, cover
• lembut = soft

Together, kulit lembut means soft cover, as in a paperback / softcover book.

So:

• buku kulit lembut = softcover book / paperback

This is a descriptive noun phrase, not saying the book has literal skin.

Because softcover book is more specific than just soft book.

• buku lembut would sound like a book that is physically soft
• buku kulit lembut specifically refers to the type of cover

So kulit lembut works together as a unit meaning soft cover.

Compare:

• buku kulit keras = hardcover book
• buku kulit lembut = softcover book

Yes, in compounds like this, kulit can refer to a covering or outer layer.

By itself, the more direct everyday word for cover is often sampul or kulit buku depending on context, but in set phrases like:

• buku kulit keras = hardcover book
• buku kulit lembut = softcover book

kulit is natural.

So learners should understand it here as part of a standard expression.

Yes. It works as a single noun phrase:

• buku = book
• kulit lembut = soft cover

Together:

• buku kulit lembut = softcover book

Then itu attaches to that whole phrase:

• buku kulit lembut itu = that softcover book

So you should not separate it as if itu refers only to lembut.

The pattern is:

• Noun phrase + itu + adjective

In this sentence:

• Buku kulit lembut = softcover book
• itu = that / the
• ringan = light

So the whole sentence is:

• Buku kulit lembut itu ringan.
• That softcover book is light.

A helpful breakdown is:

• Subject: Buku kulit lembut itu
• Description: ringan

Yes. Ringan normally means light in weight, or sometimes not heavy in a broader sense.

It does not usually mean light-colored. For color, Malay would use words related to color, not ringan.

So here ringan clearly means:

• easy to carry
• not heavy

Because ringan is an adjective, you normally negate it with tidak:

• Buku kulit lembut itu tidak ringan.
• That softcover book is not light.

A stronger opposite would be:

• Buku kulit lembut itu berat.
• That softcover book is heavy.

Yes, absolutely.

• Buku itu ringan = That book is light

The longer sentence just gives more information about which book you mean:

• Buku kulit lembut itu ringan = That softcover book is light

So kulit lembut is optional descriptive information, not required grammar.

Often yes, but its exact meaning depends on context.

Some common uses:

• roti lembut = soft bread
• suara lembut = soft/gentle voice
• kulit lembut = soft skin / soft cover

In this sentence, lembut helps describe the cover type, so softcover is the most natural English translation.

A simple learner-friendly pronunciation is:

• Boo-koo koo-leet lem-boot ee-too ree-ngan

A few notes:

• buku = boo-koo
• kulit = koo-leet
• lembut = lem-boot
• itu = ee-too
• ringan = roughly ree-ngan, with ng like in sing

Malay pronunciation is usually quite regular, so words are often pronounced close to how they are spelled.