Teman baru saya juga naik bas ke kerja.

My new friend also takes the bus to work.

Breakdown of Teman baru saya juga naik bas ke kerja.

• ke: to
• juga: also
• teman: the friend
• kerja: the work
• baru: new
• bas: the bus

Questions & Answers about Teman baru saya juga naik bas ke kerja.

Why is saya placed after teman baru rather than before them in Malay?

In Malay, possessive pronouns like saya (meaning my) generally come after the noun phrase. So instead of saying saya teman baru, Malay speakers say teman baru saya, which literally translates to friend new my but means my new friend in English.

What does juga mean, and how is it used in this sentence?

Juga means also or too. In this sentence, it emphasizes that your new friend does the same action (taking the bus to work) as someone else or as previously mentioned information. You simply put juga before the verb phrase to indicate this additional aspect.

Why do we say naik bas and not another verb?

Naik literally means to go up, but when talking about modes of transport in Malay, saying naik bas is the most natural way of expressing to take the bus. For example, you could also say naik kereta (to go by car) or naik kapal terbang (to go by airplane).

Is it common to say ke kerja, or should I say ke tempat kerja?

You can definitely say ke tempat kerja if you want to be more explicit. Tempat kerja literally translates to workplace. That said, it’s not unusual to hear ke kerja in casual daily conversation, even though ke tempat kerja is more complete and formal.

Can I use another word for teman, like kawan or rakan?

Yes. Kawan is a more casual word for friend, and rakan is more formal. Teman is fairly neutral. They’re often interchangeable, but teman can sometimes convey a slightly closer relationship or a more refined tone.