Breakdown of Saya menolak meja rapat ke dinding.
saya
I
ke
to
meja
the table
dinding
the wall
menolak
to push
rapat
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Questions & Answers about Saya menolak meja rapat ke dinding.
What does menolak mean in this sentence? Doesn’t it also mean “to reject”?
Yes, menolak can mean both “to push” (physically) and “to reject/refuse,” depending on the object. Here, because the object is meja (table), it clearly means “to push.”
- Physical: Saya menolak meja. = I push the table.
- Abstract/refusal: Saya menolak cadangan itu. = I reject that proposal.
- Passive contrasts: Meja itu ditolak (the table was pushed) vs permohonan itu ditolak (the application was rejected).
What is rapat doing here, and what nuance does it add?
Here rapat functions adverbially, meaning “tightly/flush/closely.” It indicates the end position: the table ends up tight against the wall. Without rapat, ke dinding just expresses motion “to(ward) the wall,” but not necessarily flush against it.
Is rapat the same as dekat?
No.
- rapat = tight/flush/pressed closely (typically touching)
- dekat = near (close, but not necessarily touching) Examples:
- Letak kerusi rapat ke meja. = Put the chair tight against the table.
- Letak kerusi dekat dengan meja. = Put the chair near the table.
Can rapat go somewhere else in the sentence? Do I need words like hingga or sampai?
The most natural placement is exactly as in the sentence: …meja rapat ke dinding. Alternatives:
- Saya menolak meja hingga/sampai rapat ke dinding. (push until it’s flush)
- Saya merapatkan meja ke dinding. (focus on causing closeness, less on the action of pushing) Avoid: Saya menolak rapat meja ke dinding or …ke dinding rapat (unnatural word order).
Why ke dinding and not di dinding or pada/kepada dinding?
- ke = to/toward (movement). Hence ke dinding for motion.
- di = at/on/in (location, no movement): di dinding = on/at the wall.
- pada/kepada = to/onto/with (often for abstract relations or recipients, esp. people). Not used here.
Does rapat ke dinding mean “against the wall” or just “near the wall”?
It means “tight against the wall” (touching or flush). If you only say ke dinding, it implies movement to the wall but doesn’t emphasize “flush.” rapat adds that “pressed right up against” nuance.
What’s the difference between dinding and tembok?
- dinding = a regular wall (especially interior or partition walls). Most natural with furniture.
- tembok = a thick masonry/barricade wall (exterior/fortification). You wouldn’t usually push a table to a tembok indoors.
How do I say “the table” vs “a table”?
Malay has no articles. You mark definiteness if needed:
- “the table” = meja itu / meja tersebut (that specific table)
- “a table” (one unit) = sebuah meja Original sentence is neutral; context supplies whether it’s “the” or “a.”
Could I use merapatkan instead of menolak?
Yes, but the focus shifts:
- Saya menolak meja rapat ke dinding. = I pushed the table (action) until it was flush (result).
- Saya merapatkan meja ke dinding. = I made the table be close to the wall (causative result), with no special focus on the manner (pushing, lifting, sliding).
What’s the passive voice version?
- Meja itu ditolak rapat ke dinding. = The table was pushed tight against the wall. Adding the agent is optional: …oleh saya (by me), but it’s often omitted unless needed.
Could I use mendorong or menyorong instead of menolak?
Often, yes:
- mendorong = to push (general; can also mean “to motivate” in abstract contexts). Saya mendorong meja ke dinding is fine.
- menyorong = to push/slide something along a surface (sliding nuance). Also fine with a table.
- menolak is the most common and neutral for “push away.”
Why is it menolak and not mentolak? How does the meN- prefix work?
With the meN- prefix, initial consonants undergo changes:
- p → mem- (drop p): pakai → memakai
- t → men- (drop t): tolak → menolak
- s → meny- (drop s): apu/siap → menyapu/menyiapkan
- k → meng- (drop k): kira → mengira So tolak becomes menolak (not “mentolak”).
How can I say “a little,” “closer,” or “all the way” in this sentence?
- A little: Saya menolak meja sedikit ke dinding.
- Closer: Saya menolak meja lebih rapat ke dinding.
- All the way (flush): Saya menolak meja sampai/hingga rapat ke dinding.
Is Saya the only way to say “I”? What about informal speech?
- Formal/neutral: saya
- Informal/intimate: aku Colloquial Malay might also drop the prefix: Aku tolak meja rapat ke dinding. Keep ke for movement (avoid colloquial kat here, which corresponds to static di).
I’ve seen rapat mean “meeting” in some places. Is that the same word?
That’s Indonesian usage (noun: “meeting”). In Malaysian Malay, “meeting” is mesyuarat. In this sentence, rapat is the Malay adjective/adverb meaning “tight/close,” not “meeting.”