Permukaan itu kasar.

In Malay, you often do not need a verb like is / am / are when linking a subject to an adjective.

So:

• Permukaan itu kasar = The surface is rough
• literally more like surface that/the rough

This is completely normal Malay sentence structure.
Malay often uses:

• noun + adjective
• noun + noun

without a separate copula verb.

Examples:

• Rumah itu besar = The house is big
• Dia sakit = He/She is sick

Itu usually means that, but in many sentences it can also function a bit like the, depending on context.

So permukaan itu can mean:

• that surface
• the surface

In natural translation, English often uses the even though the Malay word is itu.

A useful pattern:

• permukaan = surface
• permukaan itu = that surface / the surface

Malay often places itu after the noun:

• buku itu = that book / the book
• orang itu = that person

Not always. Kasar has a few related meanings depending on context.

In Permukaan itu kasar, it clearly means:

• rough
• coarse
• not smooth

But in other contexts, kasar can also mean things like:

• rude
• harsh
• crude

Examples:

• Permukaan itu kasar = The surface is rough
• Bahasanya kasar = His/Her language is rude/harsh

So the exact meaning depends on what is being described.

In this sentence, kasar is the predicate adjective. It comes after the subject:

• Permukaan itu = subject
• kasar = predicate

So the structure is:

• [subject] + [adjective]

This is normal in Malay.

Also, when an adjective directly modifies a noun inside a noun phrase, it usually comes after the noun too:

• permukaan kasar = a rough surface

So both of these are normal:

• permukaan kasar = rough surface
• permukaan itu kasar = that/the surface is rough

It can mean either one, depending on context.

• that surface is rough is a more literal reading of itu
• the surface is rough is often the most natural English translation

Malay does not always match English articles exactly, so translators choose the version that sounds most natural in context.

Permukaan means surface.

It can refer to:

• the outside of an object
• the top layer
• the visible outer part

Examples:

• permukaan meja = the surface of the table
• permukaan air = the surface of the water

So in your sentence, it refers to some physical surface that feels rough.

Yes. Permukaan is related to muka.

• muka can mean face or front
• per-...-an is a word-building pattern that can form nouns

So permukaan developed into the meaning surface, outer face, or exposed side.

You do not need to analyze it every time you use it, but it can help you remember the word.

You would usually say:

• Permukaan itu tidak kasar.

Here, tidak is used to negate adjectives and verbs.

So:

• kasar = rough
• tidak kasar = not rough

Compare:

• Permukaan itu kasar = The surface is rough
• Permukaan itu tidak kasar = The surface is not rough

There are a few common ways.

1. Intonation only
You can keep the same words and use question intonation:

• Permukaan itu kasar? = Is the surface rough?

2. With adakah
A more explicit question form is:

• Adakah permukaan itu kasar? = Is the surface rough?

Both are understandable. In everyday conversation, intonation is very common.

A simple pronunciation guide:

• Permukaan ≈ per-moo-KA-an
• itu ≈ ee-too
• kasar ≈ KA-sar

A few notes:

• Malay spelling is fairly regular.
• r is usually tapped or lightly rolled.
• Each vowel is usually pronounced clearly.
• The -an at the end of permukaan is pronounced, so don’t reduce it too much.

A rough full reading:

• per-moo-KA-an ee-too KA-sar

Yes, you can.

• Permukaannya kasar = Its surface is rough / The surface is rough

Here, -nya can refer to its, his/her, or sometimes make something sound more definite depending on context.

So:

• Permukaan itu kasar = The/that surface is rough
• Permukaannya kasar = Its surface is rough / the surface is rough

The best choice depends on what you are referring to.

Usually, no. In standard Malay, adjectives normally come after the noun.

So:

• permukaan kasar = rough surface
• not normally kasar permukaan

This is one of the basic word-order differences from English.

Compare:

• rumah besar = big house
• air sejuk = cold water
• permukaan kasar = rough surface

So if you are thinking in English order, remember to switch it in Malay.