Learn Hardcore Malay: Jamuan itu lebih meriah daripada latihan biasa di dewan. - That feast is livelier than the usual practice in the hall.

jamuan means “feast,” “banquet,” or “party.” itu is a demonstrative/definite marker equivalent to “that” or “the.” So jamuan itu = “the feast” or “the party.”

Why do we use itu after jamuan? Is it necessary?

itu makes jamuan definite: “the party” instead of just “a party.” You can omit itu for a more general meaning (“Party more lively than…”) but including itu clarifies which party you’re talking about.

What does lebih meriah mean?

lebih = “more.” meriah = “lively,” “festive,” or “merrier.” Together lebih meriah = “more festive” or “merrier.”

How do you form comparatives in Malay?

Use lebih + adjective + daripada + the thing you compare. Pattern:
lebih + [adjective] + daripada + [noun phrase].
Example: lebih meriah daripada latihan biasa = “more festive than the usual practice.”

Why is it daripada and not dari before the comparison?

In comparisons, Malay uses daripada (sometimes spelled daripada) to mean “than.” dari alone generally means “from.” So for “more … than …,” you need daripada.

What does latihan biasa mean?

latihan = “training,” “practice,” or “rehearsal.” biasa = “usual” or “ordinary.” Together latihan biasa = “usual practice” or “regular training.”

Why is biasa placed after latihan?

Malay adjectives usually come after the noun they modify. So you say latihan biasa (“practice usual”) rather than biasa latihan.

What does di dewan mean, and why is di used?

di is the preposition “in” or “at.” dewan means “hall” or “auditorium.” So di dewan = “in the hall” or “at the hall.”

Can I rearrange the sentence or replace words to sound more natural?

You could say:
– Jamuan itu lebih meriah daripada latihan di dewan yang biasa. (Adds a relative clause)
– Dewan yang biasa untuk latihan, jamuan itu terasa lebih meriah. (Focus on the hall)
But the original order—Jamuan itu lebih meriah daripada latihan biasa di dewan—is clear, idiomatic, and concise.