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Questions & Answers about Kopi ini terlalu pahit.
What does ini mean in kopi ini and why does it follow kopi?
In Malay, ini means “this” and is a post-noun demonstrative. It always comes after the noun it modifies. So kopi ini literally reads “coffee this,” i.e. “this coffee.”
Why is there no word for “is” in Kopi ini terlalu pahit?
Malay typically omits the copula (to be) in simple adjectival or equational sentences. The sense of “is” is understood without an explicit verb, so you don’t need adalah or ialah here.
What role does terlalu play in the sentence?
Terlalu is an intensifier meaning “too” or “excessively.” It always precedes an adjective (or adverb) to show that something is beyond an acceptable degree. Here, terlalu pahit = “too bitter.”
Why is pahit at the end, and is it an adjective?
Yes, pahit is an adjective meaning “bitter.” In Malay, adjectives follow any intensifier (like terlalu) when used predicatively. When used attributively (modifying a noun), they still follow the noun (e.g. kopi pahit = “bitter coffee”).
How would I say “not too bitter” in Malay?
You can negate the whole predicate with tidak:
Kopi ini tidak terlalu pahit
(“This coffee isn’t too bitter.”)
Or express “less bitter” with kurang:
Kopi ini kurang pahit
(“This coffee is less bitter.”)
What’s the difference between “too bitter” and “very bitter” in Malay?
- Terlalu pahit = “too bitter” (excessively bitter)
- Sangat pahit = “very bitter” (strong degree, but not necessarily undesirable)
- Pahit sekali (colloquial) = “bitter indeed” or “very bitter”
How do I say “that coffee is too bitter” instead of “this coffee”?
Use itu for “that”:
Kopi itu terlalu pahit
(“That coffee is too bitter.”)
Can I drop ini and just say Kopi terlalu pahit?
Yes. Kopi terlalu pahit means “coffee is too bitter” in a general sense (talking about coffee overall). Adding ini specifies a particular cup (“this coffee”).
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