……
Questions & Answers about Anda sihat hari ini?
Why doesn’t this sentence use the question word apakah or the particle adakah to form a yes-no question?
Simple yes-no questions in Malay often rely on intonation alone. By raising your tone at the end of Anda sihat hari ini?, it becomes a question without needing apakah or adakah. These words are optional and more formal or emphatic.
What is the difference between Anda, awak, and kamu as pronouns for “you”?
Anda is polite and formal—common in business or with strangers. Awak is informal and friendly, used among peers. Kamu is less common in Malay (more typical in Indonesian) and can sound rude or distant in Malaysian contexts.
Why is hari ini placed at the end of the sentence instead of at the beginning?
Time expressions like hari ini can go at the start or end. Putting it at the end is more natural in everyday speech because it highlights sihat (well). You could say Hari ini Anda sihat?, but it feels slightly more formal or poetic.
Do you need the word pada before hari ini?
No. Malay usually omits prepositions when talking about days. You simply say hari ini. Adding pada (as in pada hari ini) is grammatically correct but rare in casual speech.
What does sihat mean, and is it different from Indonesian sehat?
Sihat means “healthy” or “well.” In Malay, sihat is the correct spelling; in Indonesian, it’s sehat. They share the same meaning, but you should use sihat in Malay contexts.
Is Anda sihat hari ini? commonly used to ask “How are you today?” in Malay?
It’s understandable but a bit formal and literal. The most common greeting for “How are you?” is Apa khabar? If you want to add “today,” you can say Apa khabar hari ini?
How would someone typically respond to Anda sihat hari ini?
A typical reply would be Sihat, terima kasih (“I’m well, thank you”). You can also say Saya sihat (“I am well”) or return the question: Saya sihat, awak? (“I’m well, and you?”).
Do you always need a question mark when writing Malay questions?
Yes. In writing, you use the standard question mark ? at the end. In speech, intonation alone shows it’s a question, but in text you must include ?.
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Malay grammar?”
Malay grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning MalayMaster Malay — from Anda sihat hari ini to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions