Learn Hardcore Malay: Saya berasa kek itu agak masin, mungkin kerana garam tertumpah tanpa sengaja. - I feel that cake is somewhat salty, perhaps because salt was spilled accidentally.

In this sentence, berasa means "to feel" or "to think," expressing the speaker’s personal opinion. Although it can refer to physical sensations in other contexts, here it translates to “I feel” or “I think” the cake is a bit salty.

Why is the cake described as agak masin, and what role does agak play in modifying masin?

The word agak means “a bit” or “somewhat.” It softens the adjective masin (salty) to indicate that the cake isn’t extremely salty but has a noticeable hint of saltiness. This nuance suggests a moderate quality rather than an overpowering one.

What does the word kek refer to in this sentence?

Kek is the Malay term for “cake.” It is a loanword from English and is commonly used in Malay to denote cakes or similar desserts.

How is the word tertumpah formed, and what does it indicate in this context?

Tertumpah comes from the root verb tumpah, which means "to spill." The prefix ter- is used to signify that an action happened unintentionally or by accident. Thus, garam tertumpah means that salt was spilled accidentally.

What does tanpa sengaja mean, and why is it included in the sentence?

Tanpa sengaja translates as “without intention” or “accidentally.” It emphasizes that the salt spilling wasn’t done deliberately, reinforcing the idea that the cake’s saltiness was the result of an unintentional mishap.