Saya hilang kunci basikal semalam.

I lost the bicycle key yesterday.

Breakdown of Saya hilang kunci basikal semalam.

• saya: I
• semalam: yesterday
• kunci basikal: the bicycle key
• hilang: to lose

Questions & Answers about Saya hilang kunci basikal semalam.

What does hilang mean and what part of speech is it?

hilang means “to lose” or “to be lost.” It functions as a verb in Malay. You can use it transitively (Saya hilang kunci – I lost a key) or intransitively (Kunci itu hilang – The key is lost).

How is past tense expressed since hilang doesn’t change form?

Malay verbs are not inflected for tense. Time is shown by context or time words like semalam (yesterday). You can also use particles such as sudah or telah before the verb to indicate completion.

Can I add sudah or telah to emphasize that it’s already happened?

Yes. Placing sudah or telah before hilang stresses that the action is completed.
Examples:
• Saya sudah hilang kunci basikal.
• Saya telah hilang kunci basikal.

Why is semalam at the end? Can I put it elsewhere?

Time adverbs are flexible. You can place semalam at the beginning, middle, or end for the same meaning:
• Semalam saya hilang kunci basikal.
• Saya semalam hilang kunci basikal.
• Saya hilang kunci basikal semalam.

Is the subject pronoun saya necessary?

No. Malay often drops pronouns when context is clear. You can simply say:
• Hilang kunci basikal semalam.
and it still means “(I) lost the bike key yesterday.”

Why is it kunci basikal and not basikal kunci?

In Malay noun-noun compounds, the head noun comes first and the modifier follows. Here kunci (head noun “key”) is specified by basikal (“bicycle”), so kunci basikal = “bicycle key.”

How would I say “I lost my bicycle lock” (the physical lock)?

For the locking device, Malay often specifies kunci rantai (“chain lock”) or uses kunci with more detail. For example:
• Saya hilang kunci rantai basikal.
• Saya hilang kunci brek basikal. (if it’s a brake lock)

What’s the difference between hilang and kehilangan?

hilang is a verb meaning “to lose” or “be lost.”
kehilangan is a noun meaning “loss.”
Example:
• Hilangkan the keys with an agent focus.
• Kehilangan kunci refers to “the loss of a key.”

Can I use a passive or different focus construction for “my bike key was lost”?

Yes. You can shift focus or make it passive:
• Kunci basikal saya hilang. (My bike key got lost.)
• Kunci basikal saya telah hilang. (More formal, “My bike key has been lost.”)