Kunci basikal tersorok dalam poket jaket saya.

The bicycle key is hidden in my jacket pocket.

Breakdown of Kunci basikal tersorok dalam poket jaket saya.

• saya: my
• dalam: in
• kunci basikal: the bicycle key
• tersorok: to be hidden
• poket jaket: the jacket pocket

Questions & Answers about Kunci basikal tersorok dalam poket jaket saya.

What does kunci basikal mean and how is it formed?

kunci means “key” and basikal means “bicycle.” In Malay you often form compound nouns by placing the main noun first (here kunci) followed by a descriptor (here basikal), so kunci basikal literally means “bicycle key.”

What does tersorok mean? What is the role of the prefix ter-?

The root sorok means “to hide (something).” Adding the prefix ter- turns it into a stative or involuntary form, so tersorok means “(is) hidden.” It describes the state of having been hidden rather than an intentional action you’re performing right now.

Does tersorok imply the hiding was accidental?

Yes, one nuance of ter- is accidental or unintentional. In context kunci basikal tersorok suggests the key ended up hidden (maybe by mistake or without your deliberate effort). However, Malay speakers often use ter- simply to state a condition (“is hidden”) without focusing on accidentality.

Why is there no word for the or a in this sentence?

Malay does not use definite or indefinite articles like “the” or “a.” Nouns stand alone, and context tells you if something is specific. If you really need “a” you can add sebuah or seekor (for animals), but it’s optional.

How is possession shown in poket jaket saya? Why does saya come at the end?

Possession in Malay follows the pattern [thing possessed] + [possessor]. So poket jaket saya means “my jacket’s pocket.” The pronoun saya always comes after the noun it owns; you wouldn’t say saya poket or jaket saya poket.

Why is it dalam poket instead of di dalam poket?

dalam itself is a preposition meaning “in.” You do not need the locative prefix di before it. (You can say di dalam for emphasis, but in everyday speech dalam poket is perfectly normal.)

How do you indicate plural in Malay (for example, “keys” instead of “key”)?

Most Malay nouns do not change form for plural. To show more than one you can:

• Use numerals (e.g. dua kunci = two keys)
• Use quantifiers like banyak (many) or beberapa (several)
• Reduplicate the noun in some contexts (more literary: buku-buku)

How would you ask “Where is the bicycle key?” in Malay?

You can say:

• Di mana kunci basikal saya? (formal)
• Mana kunci basikal saya? (colloquial, dropping di)

How would you change the sentence to active voice and say “I hid the bicycle key in my jacket pocket”?

Use the transitive form menyorok (active “hide”): Saya menyorok kunci basikal dalam poket jaket saya.