Learn Hardcore Malay: Saya memakai cermin mata baharu ketika memeriksa kebun tersebut. - I wore new glasses when inspecting that garden.

Cermin means “mirror/glass” and mata means “eye.” Put together as cermin mata, they form a compound noun meaning “eyeglasses.” In Malay, many compound nouns are written as two words. The phrase refers to one pair of glasses; context or a numeral (e.g., satu pasang cermin mata) tells you if you mean singular or multiple pairs.

Why is the adjective baharu placed after the noun instead of before, as in English (“new glasses”)?

In Malay, adjectives typically follow the noun they modify. So you say cermin mata baharu (literally “glasses new”). Placing the adjective after the noun is the default word order.

What’s the difference between memakai and menggunakan, especially when talking about glasses?

Memakai means “to wear” or “to put on,” and is used for clothing or accessories (e.g., glasses, hats, shoes). Menggunakan means “to use” in the sense of employing a tool or resource (e.g., using a pen, using an app). You memakai cermin mata (wear glasses) but you menggunakan kacamata pembaca only if you mean “use reading glasses” as a tool.

What does ketika mean, and can I replace it with semasa or waktu?

Ketika means “when” or “while,” introducing a time clause for simultaneous actions. You can often swap it with semasa (also “when/while,” slightly more formal). Waktu, however, is a noun meaning “time” and isn’t used as a conjunction. So ketika ⇄ semasa, but not waktu in this structure.

Why is it kebun tersebut instead of kebun itu, and what’s the nuance?

Both itu and tersebut mean “that.” Kebun itu is more common in everyday speech; kebun tersebut is more formal or written. Tersebut literally adds the sense of “aforementioned,” so it often appears in narratives or reports.

What is memeriksa, and why does periksa change to memeriksa?

Periksa is the root meaning “inspect” or “check.” To make it an active transitive verb, you add the me- prefix. Before a root starting with p, me- assimilates the p to m, resulting in memeriksa. The prefix signals that the subject is doing the action to an object (e.g., “I inspect the garden”).

How do you express “one pair of glasses” or “two pairs of glasses” in Malay, since cermin mata covers both?

Malay doesn’t mark plurals on most nouns. To specify quantity, you use numerals plus the classifier pasang (pair).

satu pasang cermin mata = one pair of glasses
dua pasang cermin mata = two pairs of glasses

Is the word order flexible? Could I start with the time clause: Ketika memeriksa kebun tersebut, saya memakai cermin mata baharu?

Yes. Malay allows you to front the time clause for emphasis or style. Both are correct:

Saya memakai cermin mata baharu ketika memeriksa kebun tersebut. (neutral)
Ketika saya memeriksa kebun tersebut, saya memakai cermin mata baharu. (emphasizes the timing first)