Breakdown of Ketika matahari terbenam, pemandangan gunung di belakang bandaraya kelihatan sangat indah.
sangat
very
ketika
when
kelihatan
to look
indah
beautiful
matahari
the sun
terbenam
to set
pemandangan
the view
bandaraya
the city
gunung
the mountain
di belakang
behind
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Questions & Answers about Ketika matahari terbenam, pemandangan gunung di belakang bandaraya kelihatan sangat indah.
What does the word ketika mean here, and how is it different from apabila, bila, or semasa?
ketika is a subordinating conjunction meaning when or while, used to introduce a time clause. It feels slightly more formal or literary than:
- apabila (neutral, common in speech and writing)
- bila (informal, conversational)
- semasa (also formal/written)
All of these can start the sentence equally:
- Apabila matahari terbenam, …
- Bila matahari terbenam, …
- Semasa matahari terbenam, …
How is matahari terbenam constructed and what does each part mean?
- matahari (“sun”) is a compound of mata (“eye”) + hari (“day”).
- terbenam comes from the verb benam (“to sink”) with the ter- prefix, indicating an involuntary or natural action: “to set” (of the sun).
So matahari terbenam literally means “the sun sinks”, i.e. “the sun sets.”
What is the root word of pemandangan, and how does it differ from pandangan?
- The root is pandang (“to look”).
- pemandangan = peN- (actor/result prefix) + pandang
- -an (noun suffix) → view, scenery (concrete).
- pandangan = pandang
- -an, often abstract (“opinion”, “perspective”) or general “view.”
Use pemandangan when talking about a landscape or physical sight, e.g. pemandangan gunung = “mountain scenery.”
Why is there no word for “the” before pemandangan gunung?
Malay does not use definite or indefinite articles like English the or a/an. pemandangan gunung can mean the mountain view or a mountain view, understood from context without adding an article.
How do you indicate plurality for gunung (“mountain”) in Malay?
Malay nouns do not change form for singular or plural. gunung can mean one mountain or many mountains. To specify plural you can say:
- gunung-gunung (reduplication for emphasis = “mountains”)
- beberapa gunung (“several mountains”)
Here, context suggests a single mountain behind the city.
What is bandaraya, and how does it relate to bandar and raya?
- bandar = “town”
- raya = “great, large”
Combined as bandar raya or one-word bandaraya, it literally means “large town” → city. It refers to an official city or metropolis.
Why is the preposition di used before belakang bandaraya?
di is the locative preposition in Malay meaning “in/at/on.” When expressing “behind something,” Malay uses di belakang + object = “behind [the] object.” So di belakang bandaraya = “behind the city.”
What does kelihatan mean, and what is its grammatical role?
kelihatan is derived from lihat (“to see”) with the circumfix ke-…-an, forming a passive/resultative verb meaning “to be seen” or “to appear.” In the sentence, pemandangan … kelihatan sangat indah means “the mountain scenery looked/appeared very beautiful.”
What does sangat indah convey, and are there other common intensifiers?
- sangat = “very”
- indah = “beautiful”
Together: “very beautiful.” Other intensifiers include:
- amat indah (formal/literary)
- sungguh indah
- terlalu indah (“too beautiful”)
- or you can vary the adjective: sangat cantik, sangat menawan (“charming”).