Learn Hardcore Malay: Dia tidak mahu lepaskan peluang itu walaupun cuaca terik. - He/She does not want to let go of that opportunity even though the weather is scorching.

Dia is gender‑neutral and means he or she (third‑person singular, typically for humans). For plural, use mereka (they). Formal respectful third person is beliau (used for respected individuals, e.g., leaders, elders). The pronoun ia appears mostly in formal writing and usually for non‑human referents in Malay.

Why is it tidak and not bukan here? Can I use tak?

Use tidak to negate verbs/adjectives: tidak mahu, tidak panas.
Use bukan to negate nouns/pronouns/NPs: Dia bukan doktor, Itu bukan peluang saya.
tak is the informal/colloquial form of tidak: Dia tak nak lepaskan peluang itu... is natural in casual speech.
For emphasis you may see bukannya ... tetapi ... (not ... but ...).

Is the sentence present or past? How does Malay show tense?

Malay doesn’t inflect for tense. Dia tidak mahu ... can be present or past; context decides. You add time words or aspect markers if needed:

Past: Semalam dia tidak mahu melepaskan peluang itu.
Future: Esok dia tidak akan melepaskan peluang itu.
Present/habitual: Dia tidak mahu melepaskan peluang itu.

Do I need untuk after mahu, like “mahu untuk lepaskan”?

No. After modals/auxiliaries such as mahu/hendak/boleh/mesti, use the verb directly: mahu (me)lepaskan, not mahu untuk lepaskan. Use untuk to introduce purpose or with nouns: Datang untuk membantu, keinginan untuk belajar.

What’s the difference between mahu, hendak, nak, and ingin?

mahu: neutral standard “want.”
hendak: essentially the same as mahu; slightly more formal/literary.
nak: informal/colloquial (from hendak).
ingin: “wish/desire”; a bit more formal/polite. Related vocabulary:
enggan = unwilling/refuse (formal): Dia enggan melepaskan peluang itu.
sudi (be willing/oblige), rela (willing/accept).

Why is it lepaskan and not just lepas?

Root: lepas (“release/be free/after”). With a direct object, standard Malay uses the transitive/causative form (me)lepaskan: (me)lepaskan peluang.
Bare lepas before an object is colloquial in this sense; in careful Malay prefer melepaskan, or after a modal, lepaskan.

Can I say Dia tidak mahu melepaskan peluang itu instead?

Yes. Both are acceptable:

Dia tidak mahu lepaskan peluang itu (modal + bare verb).
Dia tidak mahu melepaskan peluang itu (modal + meN‑ verb). The second is common in formal writing. Keep one style consistent within a text.

What does the suffix -kan do here? How is it different from -i?

-kan often marks a causative/transitive action directed at an object: melepaskan sesuatu = cause something to be released/let go of something.
-i often marks action toward a location/target or repeated action. With this root there’s also melepasi (“to pass/go beyond”), e.g., melepasi garisan penamat (pass the finish line). That is different from melepaskan (“to release/let go of”).

Why is it peluang itu and not itu peluang? What does itu add?

Demonstratives follow the noun in Malay:
- peluang ini = this opportunity
- peluang itu = that/the previously mentioned opportunity
Colloquial: peluang tu. Formal: peluang tersebut.
For “an opportunity,” say satu peluang or just peluang if context is generic.

How does walaupun work? Do I need tetapi/namun in the main clause?

walaupun introduces a concessive clause (although/even though).
Position:
- Walaupun cuaca terik, dia tidak mahu (me)lepaskan peluang itu.
- Dia tidak mahu (me)lepaskan peluang itu walaupun cuaca terik.
tetapi/namun are optional contrast markers for emphasis:
- Walaupun cuaca terik, namun/tetapi dia tetap tidak mahu...
tetap = “still/nonetheless,” reinforcing the contrast.

Is walau the same as walaupun? What about meskipun/biarpun?

walaupun = walau + pun; it’s the standard fused form. In casual speech you’ll hear walau alone. Near‑synonyms: meskipun, biarpun, sekalipun (the last is more formal/emphatic).

What exactly does terik mean? Could I just use panas?

terik describes harsh, scorching heat (usually from the sun). Common collocations: panas terik, matahari terik, cuaca panas terik. Cuaca terik is understandable; many prefer cuaca panas (terik). panas is the general “hot,” so walaupun cuaca sangat panas also works.

Can I omit Dia and just say Tidak mahu (me)lepaskan peluang itu walaupun cuaca terik?

In conversation, yes—subjects are often dropped when clear from context. In careful writing, keep Dia (or a name) to avoid ambiguity.

What is the pun in walaupun? Is it the same pun that means “even/also”?

Yes, it’s the same particle. In walaupun, pun is an enclitic that intensifies the concessive sense of walau; the fused form walaupun is standard. Stand‑alone pun can mean “even/also/at all” depending on context (e.g., sebarang bantuan pun tiada = there was no help at all).