Learn Hardcore Malay: Saya simpan kunci kereta di poket jaket saya supaya tidak hilang. - I keep my car key in my jacket pocket so that it does not get lost.

simpan is closer to “to keep” or “to store” rather than simply “to put.” It implies you place something somewhere for safekeeping so you can find it later.

Why didn’t we use letak instead of simpan?

letak means “to place” or “to put (down),” focusing on the action of placing. simpan emphasizes storing or keeping something safe/secure. In this context, you want to convey you’re holding onto the key so it won’t get lost.

What’s the function of di in di poket jaket saya?

di is a preposition meaning “in,” “at,” or “on” for location. Here it simply means “in my jacket pocket.”

Can I use dalam instead of di here, like dalam poket jaket saya?

Yes. dalam also means “inside.” di poket is more colloquial and common. dalam poket jaket saya is perfectly acceptable and slightly emphasizes the idea of being “inside” rather than just “at” that location.

Why is it poket jaket saya instead of jaket saya poket?

Malay compound nouns and possessive phrases put the main noun first, then the modifier. poket (pocket) is the head noun, modified by jaket saya (my jacket), so poket jaket saya literally means “the pocket of my jacket.”

Why don’t we use an article like “the” or “a” before kunci kereta?

Malay doesn’t have definite or indefinite articles like “the” or “a.” Possessive pronouns (e.g., saya, “my”) or context usually clarify specificity. So kunci kereta simply means “car key” (or “the car key” in context).

What does supaya mean, and why is it used here?

supaya means “so that” or “in order to.” It introduces a purpose clause. In this sentence, it shows the reason you keep the key in your pocket: supaya you won’t lose it.

Is there a difference between supaya and agar?

They’re near-synonyms. agar is slightly more formal or old-fashioned, whereas supaya is more common in everyday speech. Both mean “so that” or “in order to.”

How does tidak hilang work? Why is tidak used before hilang?

tidak negates verbs and adjectives. Placing tidak before hilang (to lose/be lost) means “not lose” or “won’t be lost.” There’s no object here since hilang is intransitive (it doesn’t take a direct object).

Can I drop the second saya and just say … di poket jaket supaya tidak hilang?

You could, but omitting saya might make it ambiguous whose pocket it is. Including saya clarifies it’s your jacket pocket. In casual speech, you might sometimes leave it out if the context already makes it clear.