Learn Hardcore Malay: Saya gagal memasak nasi sedap untuk makan malam. - I failed to cook delicious rice for dinner.

gagal literally means “to fail” or “to not succeed.” In this sentence, gagal indicates that the speaker did not manage to cook the rice so it tasted good.

Why is it memasak instead of just masak?

memasak is the active verb form created with the me- prefix. It’s the standard way to say “to cook” in a sentence with a subject (Saya). masak by itself is the root word and can appear in casual speech or imperative commands (e.g., “Masak nasi!”).

Why is the adjective sedap placed after nasi rather than before it?

In Malay, adjectives generally follow the noun they describe. So you say nasi sedap (“rice tasty”) instead of “tasty rice.” This word order is typical for most noun–adjective combinations.

Can I say Saya gagal masak nasi sedap untuk makan malam in informal contexts?

Yes. In everyday conversation, speakers often drop the me- prefix and say masak. So Saya gagal masak nasi sedap untuk makan malam would be perfectly natural in casual speech.

Is untuk necessary before makan malam?

Yes, untuk (“for”) indicates purpose or intended use—here, “for dinner.” Without untuk, the phrase would sound clipped or ungrammatical: Saya gagal memasak nasi sedap makan malam would be confusing.

Could I use bagi instead of untuk?

Not here. bagi can mean “for” in some contexts (e.g., bagi saya = “for me”), but when expressing purpose—“for dinner”—you use untuk.

What’s the difference between memasak and menyediakan?

memasak focuses on the cooking process (heating, stirring, etc.). menyediakan means “to prepare” or “to provide,” which can include cooking but also setting the table or arranging ingredients. If you only want to say “prepare a meal” more broadly, you might use menyediakan.

Could I replace gagal with tidak berjaya?

Yes. tidak berjaya also means “did not succeed.” The sentence Saya tidak berjaya memasak nasi sedap untuk makan malam is equally correct but slightly more formal.