Bola boling itu terlalu besar; kalau begitu, pilih bola lain.

Malay noun phrases usually put the main noun first and the describing noun after it.

So:

• bola = ball
• boling = bowling

Together, bola boling = bowling ball.

This is a very common pattern in Malay:

• kereta polis = police car
• bilik tidur = bedroom
• jus oren = orange juice

So English often goes modifier + noun, while Malay often goes noun + modifier.

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

So:

• bola ini = this ball
• bola itu = that ball
• bola boling itu = that bowling ball

This is different from English, where this and that come before the noun.

Terlalu means too in the sense of excessively or more than is suitable.

So:

• terlalu besar = too big
• terlalu kecil = too small
• terlalu mahal = too expensive

This is different from sangat, which means very.

Compare:

• sangat besar = very big
• terlalu besar = too big

So in this sentence, terlalu besar suggests the bowling ball is bigger than is acceptable or comfortable.

Malay often does not use a verb like is / am / are in simple descriptive sentences.

So:

• Bola boling itu terlalu besar literally looks like
  bowling ball that too big
• but naturally it means
  That bowling ball is too big

This is normal in Malay. The adjective can directly describe the noun phrase without needing a separate verb.

Other examples:

• Rumah itu besar = The house is big
• Dia penat = He/She is tired
• Bilik ini sejuk = This room is cold

Kalau begitu means something like:

• if that’s the case
• in that case
• if so
• then

It connects the first idea to the next one. Here the logic is:

• The bowling ball is too big.
• In that case, choose another ball.

It is perfectly normal and natural Malay, and it is neither especially formal nor especially casual.

You may also hear similar expressions such as:

• jadi = so / therefore
• kalau macam itu = if it’s like that / in that case
• kalau begitu = in that case

In Malay, lain usually comes after the noun when it means other / another.

So:

• bola lain = another ball / a different ball
• buku lain = another book
• cara lain = another way

So pilih bola lain is the natural word order.

It can mean either one, depending on context.

• another ball
• a different ball
• some other ball

In this sentence, the idea is clear: not this too-big bowling ball, but some other one instead.

If you want to be extra explicit, Malay can also use:

• bola yang lain = the other ball / a different ball / another one

But bola lain is already very natural here.

Yes. In this sentence, pilih is functioning as an imperative: choose.

Malay often uses the base verb directly for commands:

• Pilih bola lain = Choose another ball
• Duduk = Sit
• Tunggu = Wait
• Lihat = Look

The subject you is usually omitted when it is obvious.

So pilih bola lain really means you, choose another ball.

Malay often leaves out the subject when it is understood from context.

So instead of saying:

• kamu pilih bola lain

it is very natural to just say:

• pilih bola lain

This is especially common in instructions, commands, and conversation.

English usually needs the subject or an understood imperative subject, but Malay is even more comfortable leaving it unstated.

Yes, but the meaning changes.

• Bola boling itu sangat besar = That bowling ball is very big
• Bola boling itu terlalu besar = That bowling ball is too big

Sangat besar only describes size strongly.
Terlalu besar suggests a problem: it is bigger than desired or suitable.

Since the next clause says choose another ball, terlalu besar fits better.

Yes, besar is an adjective meaning big / large.

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

• rumah besar = big house
• baju merah = red shirt
• bola besar = big ball

But in a sentence like Bola boling itu terlalu besar, the adjective comes after the subject phrase because it is part of the predicate: That bowling ball is too big.

No, boling is a borrowed word based on English bowling, adapted to Malay spelling.

Malay has many loanwords, especially for sports, technology, and modern life.

A learner should get used to this: some Malay words may look familiar but have Malay spelling and pronunciation.

For example:

• boling = bowling
• polis = police
• teksi = taxi
• stesen = station

Sometimes, yes. Although itu literally means that, in real Malay it can sometimes help make a noun phrase feel more specific or definite, somewhat like the in English.

So depending on context, bola boling itu could be understood as:

• that bowling ball
• the bowling ball

However, if a learner is starting out, it is safest to understand itu first as that.

The semicolon separates two closely connected parts:

1. Bola boling itu terlalu besar
2. kalau begitu, pilih bola lain

The second part follows logically from the first, so the semicolon shows a strong connection.

In everyday writing, many people might also write this with a full stop or even a comma, depending on style:

• Bola boling itu terlalu besar. Kalau begitu, pilih bola lain.
• Bola boling itu terlalu besar, kalau begitu pilih bola lain.

So the punctuation is mainly a writing choice, not a special grammar rule.

The given sentence is already natural, but in casual speech, speakers might also say things like:

• Bola boling itu terlalu besar. Pilih bola lain.
• Kalau begitu, ambil bola lain.
• Bola itu terlalu besar, cuba pilih yang lain.

Here are some small differences:

• pilih = choose
• ambil = take
• yang lain = the other one / another one

So the original sentence is good standard Malay, and spoken Malay may simply shorten or rephrase it a little.