Kanak-kanak nakal itu berlari.

This is called reduplication, and it is very common in Malay.

Kanak by itself is not normally used in everyday modern Malay to mean child. The full reduplicated form kanak-kanak is the standard word meaning children or child/children depending on context.

So here, the repetition is not just for style; it is part of the normal dictionary form of the word.

It can depend on context.

In Malay, reduplication often marks plurality, so kanak-kanak often means children. However, in real usage, some nouns can still be interpreted more generally, and number is often left to context.

In this sentence, many learners will naturally understand it as the naughty children ran/are running, but context could make it refer to a child group or children in general. Malay does not force number marking as strictly as English does.

In Malay, adjectives usually come after the noun they describe.

So:

• kanak-kanak nakal = naughty child/children
• literally: child/children naughty

This is different from English, where adjectives usually come before the noun.

Itu here works like that or the one(s) in question.

In noun phrases, itu usually comes at the end:

• kanak-kanak nakal itu = that naughty child / those naughty children / the naughty child(ren)

So the order is:

• noun
• adjective
• itu

This is a very common Malay pattern.

Because Malay structures noun phrases differently from English.

English:

• that naughty child

Malay:

• kanak-kanak nakal itu

A useful basic pattern is:

noun + adjective + itu/ini

Examples:

• rumah besar itu = that big house
• kereta baru ini = this new car

So itu is not misplaced; it is exactly where Malay normally puts it.

Berlari means to run or run.

It comes from the root lari = run.
The prefix ber- often forms intransitive verbs, especially actions done by the subject.

So:

• lari = run / to run
• berlari = to run, to be running, ran (depending on context)

In beginner terms, you can think of ber- here as helping make lari into a normal verb meaning to run.

Malay often does not use a verb like is/are in the same way English does.

Also, this sentence is an action sentence, so the main verb is already berlari.

Malay does not need an extra helping verb here:

• Kanak-kanak nakal itu berlari.
• literally: The naughty child/children run / ran / are running.

This is completely normal Malay grammar.

Malay verbs usually do not change form for tense the way English verbs do.

So berlari can mean:

• runs
• ran
• is running
• was running

The exact time usually comes from context or time words such as:

• semalam = yesterday
• sekarang = now
• esok = tomorrow

Without extra context, the sentence is just a general statement about the action of running.

Malay does not have articles that work exactly like English a/an/the.

Whether something is definite or indefinite is usually understood from context, or from words like itu and ini.

Here, itu helps make the noun phrase sound definite/specific:

• kanak-kanak nakal itu = that/the naughty child(ren)

Without itu, kanak-kanak nakal would sound more general:

• naughty child/children

Not always.

Nakal often means naughty, mischievous, or cheeky, especially for children. It can describe someone who behaves badly in a playful or troublesome way, not necessarily someone who is seriously bad.

So depending on context, nakal may feel softer than some English words like bad.

Sometimes, yes, but they are not always identical in tone.

• kanak-kanak is a standard, neutral word for children
• budak can also mean child/kid, but it is often more informal

So:

• Kanak-kanak nakal itu berlari. sounds neutral and standard.
• Budak nakal itu berlari. sounds more like That naughty kid ran/is running.

Both can be correct, but they may give a slightly different tone.

The structure is:

Subject + verb

More specifically:

• kanak-kanak nakal itu = the subject noun phrase
• berlari = the verb

Inside the subject noun phrase, the order is:

• kanak-kanak = noun
• nakal = adjective
• itu = determiner/demonstrative

So the full pattern is:

noun + adjective + itu + verb

A simple learner-friendly pronunciation is:

kah-nahk kah-nahk nah-kahl ee-too buhr-lah-ree

A few helpful points:

• r in Malay is usually pronounced, not silent
• vowels are generally clearer and more consistent than in English
• berlari is pronounced smoothly, with all syllables heard

If you say each syllable clearly, you will already be quite understandable.