Jika saya makan nasi, saya minum air.

If I eat rice, I drink water.

Breakdown of Jika saya makan nasi, saya minum air.

• saya: I
• makan: to eat
• air: the water
• minum: to drink
• nasi: the rice
• jika: if

Questions & Answers about Jika saya makan nasi, saya minum air.

What does the word ‘jika’ mean in this sentence?

The word ‘jika’ translates to ‘if’ in English. It introduces the condition in the statement, meaning the sentence is a conditional sentence.

Why is the subject ‘saya’ repeated in both clauses?

In Malay, each clause is often treated as an independent unit. Repeating ‘saya’ (which means ‘I’) in both the condition (‘jika saya makan nasi’) and the result (‘saya minum air’) clarifies that the same subject is performing both actions.

How does the sentence structure in Malay compare to English?

The structure is very similar to English. Both parts of the sentence follow a subject + verb + object order. For example, ‘saya makan nasi’ directly translates to “I eat rice,” and ‘saya minum air’ corresponds to “I drink water.”

Why are there no articles like ‘a’ or ‘the’ before ‘nasi’ and ‘air’?

Malay does not use articles in the same way as English. Nouns such as ‘nasi’ (rice) and ‘air’ (water) are used without any preceding articles. Their meanings are understood from context.

Why is a comma used between the two clauses, and is it necessary?

The comma separates the conditional clause (‘jika saya makan nasi’) from the main clause (‘saya minum air’), thereby enhancing clarity. While punctuation can sometimes be flexible, using a comma in this way is common and helps the reader clearly see the two linked ideas.

Can ‘jika’ be replaced with another word in everyday conversation?

Yes, in informal conversation, ‘kalau’ is often used instead of ‘jika’ to introduce conditions. However, ‘jika’ is generally preferred in more formal or written contexts.