Learn Hardcore Malay: Ayah saya membantu jiran yang menggunakan kerusi roda menaiki tangga depan rumah. - My father helps the neighbor who uses a wheelchair go up the front stairs.

Yang is a relative pronoun in Malay. It introduces a subordinate clause describing the neighbor. Here, jiran yang menggunakan kerusi roda means “the neighbor who uses a wheelchair.”

Why is the verb menaiki used instead of just naik?

Both naik and menaiki can mean “to go up” or “to ride.”

Naik is a general base verb (bare form).
Menaiki is formed with the prefix meN- and often emphasizes the action of boarding or climbing something (e.g. transport, stairs).
In formal or written Malay, menaiki tangga (“climbing the stairs”) sounds more precise than naik tangga, though native speakers use both.

How does membantu work with objects and infinitives?

Membantu is a meN- verb meaning “to help.” In Malay it takes a direct object and, when you want to add an action, you do not need “to” or “untuk” before the verb.
Structure: membantu + [object] + [verb base form]
In this sentence:
– membantu jiran (help the neighbor)
– menaiki tangga (to climb the stairs)
No additional marker like “untuk” is required.

Why is there no article like “the” or “a” in Malay?

Malay does not use definite or indefinite articles (the/a). Nouns stand on their own without them. Context usually tells you whether it’s definite or indefinite.
– jiran can mean “a neighbor” or “the neighbor,” depending on what you already know.

What does kerusi roda literally mean?

Kerusi roda is a compound noun.
– Kerusi = chair
– Roda = wheel
Together it means “wheelchair.”

Why is there no plural marker before kerusi roda or tangga?

Malay generally does not mark nouns for number. Plurality is inferred from context or can be emphasised by words like banyak (“many”) or reduplication (e.g. buku-buku for “books”). Here we assume only one wheelchair and one set of stairs, so no extra marker is needed.

What does tangga depan rumah mean, and why is depan placed there?

Tangga depan rumah literally is “the stairs in front of the house.”
Word order:
– tangga = stairs
– depan = front
– rumah = house
Modifiers follow the noun, so “stairs front house” = “the front stairs of the house.”

Why is there no continuous tense like “is helping” in Malay?

Malay does not require a continuous aspect. The verb form stays the same whether simple or continuous. You can add sedang for emphasis (e.g. ayah saya sedang membantu), but it’s optional. Here, membantu can mean “helps,” “is helping,” or “helped,” depending on context and time markers.

Could I say Ayah saya tolong jiran pakai kerusi roda naik tangga in casual speech?

Yes. In colloquial Malay, you might drop meN- prefixes and say:
– Tolong instead of membantu
– Pakai kerusi roda instead of menggunakan kerusi roda
– Naik tangga instead of menaiki tangga
Full casual sentence: Ayah saya tolong jiran pakai kerusi roda naik tangga depan rumah. It’s perfectly understandable in informal settings.