Learn Hardcore Malay: Kadangkala, saya fikir sup ini terlalu masam untuk ayah, tetapi dia masih menikmatinya. - Sometimes, I think this soup is too sour for Father, but he still enjoys it.

Saya means “I” and fikir means “think,” so saya fikir translates to “I think.” This construction expresses the speaker’s personal opinion and is used without auxiliary verbs, which is common in Malay.

Why is the word sup used here, and what does it tell us about Malay vocabulary?

Sup is a loanword from English for “soup.” Its inclusion shows that Malay often adopts foreign terms, especially for international foods or modern concepts, seamlessly integrating them into everyday language.

What is the meaning and structure of the phrase terlalu masam untuk ayah?

Terlalu means “too,” masam means “sour,” and untuk ayah translates as “for father.” Together, the phrase means “too sour for father.” The structure uses an intensifier (terlalu) before the adjective (masam), followed by a prepositional phrase (untuk ayah) that specifies who is affected by the quality.

What role does the conjunction tetapi play in the sentence?

Tetapi means “but” and is used to introduce a contrasting idea. In the sentence, it contrasts the notion that the soup might be too sour with the fact that father still enjoys it.

How is the suffix -nya used in menikmatinya, and what does it signify?

The suffix -nya acts as a pronoun that refers back to a previously mentioned noun (in this case, the soup). So, menikmatinya means “enjoys it.” This attachment of the pronoun to the verb is a common feature in Malay, allowing speakers to avoid repetition while clearly indicating the object of the action.