Learn Hardcore Malay: Guru menjelaskan bahawa latihan seterusnya bermula pada pukul lapan pagi. - The teacher explains that the next training starts at eight in the morning.

bahawa is a complementizer meaning that. It introduces the content of what was explained.
In careful or formal Malay, keeping bahawa is preferred for clarity.
In everyday speech, many speakers drop it: Guru menjelaskan latihan seterusnya bermula... (still natural), or replace it with yang (see next Q).
Without any marker, make sure the clause is clearly the thing being explained, not the direct object (e.g., compare with menjelaskan latihan = explain the exercise itself).

Can I use yang instead of bahawa?

In colloquial Malaysian Malay, yes: Guru menjelaskan yang latihan seterusnya bermula...
In formal writing, avoid using yang as “that”; use bahawa.
If you quote directly, you don’t use either: Guru menjelaskan: Latihan seterusnya bermula...

Why use menjelaskan? Could I say menerangkan or memberitahu?

menjelaskan and menerangkan both mean “to explain” and are largely interchangeable.
memberitahu/beritahu means “to tell/inform,” not necessarily to explain.
More options:
- Formal inform: memaklumkan
- Announce: mengumumkan
All can take a bahawa-clause: e.g., Guru menerangkan/memberitahu bahawa...

How is menjelaskan formed, and what are related forms?

Base: jelas (clear).
Pattern: meN- + root + -kan → menjelaskan “to make clear; to explain.”
Related words:
- penjelasan = explanation
- jelaskan = explain (imperative)
- With recipient: menjelaskan kepada [person] bahawa...

Why bermula and not mula or memulakan?

bermula = intransitive “to begin/start” (no direct object). Natural with events: Latihan bermula...
mula can also mean “start” and is common in speech: Latihan mula pukul 8 pagi.
memulakan = transitive “to start (something)” with an agent: Jurulatih memulakan latihan pada pukul 8 pagi.

Do I need pada before pukul? Could I use di?

pada is the standard preposition for time (“at”): pada pukul lapan pagi.
In everyday speech, pada is often dropped: bermula pukul lapan pagi.
Do not use di for time-of-day; di is for locations.

What’s the difference between pukul and jam when telling time?

In Malaysian Malay, use pukul for clock times: pukul 8.
jam = “hour(s)” (duration) or “clock/watch”: dua jam (two hours).
In some formal notices you may see pada jam 8.00 pagi, which is acceptable. In daily speech, pukul 8 is the norm.

How do I express other times like 8 p.m., 8:15, or 8:30?

8 p.m.: pukul lapan malam
8:15: pukul lapan lima belas (minit) or pukul lapan suku (colloquial/less formal)
8:30: pukul lapan setengah or pukul lapan tiga puluh (minit)
12 noon: pukul dua belas tengah hari
Midnight: pukul dua belas tengah malam

Does Malay mark tense here? How would I say “will start” or “has started”?

What does latihan seterusnya mean word-by-word, and where do adjectives go?

latihan = training/practice/exercise (context decides)
seterusnya = next
Adjectives and descriptors typically come after the noun in Malay, so latihan seterusnya is the normal order.

Could I say latihan yang seterusnya instead?

It’s acceptable but heavier. latihan seterusnya is the default, concise form.
yang seterusnya can be used when you’re picking out “the one that is next” among known items, or for extra emphasis.

Is seterusnya the same as berikutnya or selanjutnya?

Often interchangeable for “next,” but nuances:
- seterusnya: next in sequence/progression; very common in speech and writing.
- berikutnya: “the following,” common in lists/enumerations.
- selanjutnya: “next/further/moreover,” more formal or used in written transitions.

How do I say who the teacher explained it to?

Add kepada + recipient:
- Guru menjelaskan kepada kami bahawa... (to us)
- Guru menjelaskan kepada para pelajar bahawa... (to the students)
You can place this before or after bahawa.

If I move the time to the front—Pada pukul lapan pagi, guru menjelaskan...—does the meaning change?

Yes. Fronting the time makes it modify the explaining, not the starting time.
- Pada pukul lapan pagi, guru menjelaskan bahawa... = At 8 a.m., the teacher explained that...
- Original sentence = The teacher explained that the practice starts at 8 a.m.
To keep the time tied to the practice inside the clause, leave it after bermula (or keep it inside the bahawa clause).

Are there differences with Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) here?

Spelling: Malay bahawa vs Indonesian bahwa.
Number: Malay lapan vs Indonesian delapan.
Time word: Malay typically pukul; Indonesian commonly jam for clock time.
Verb: Malay often bermula; Indonesian commonly mulai (e.g., latihan mulai jam delapan pagi).

Which prepositions go with bermula for time, place, or “starting with”?

Time/date: bermula pada ... (e.g., bermula pada pukul 8 pagi)
Place: bermula di ... (e.g., bermula di sekolah)
“Start with (something)”: bermula dengan ... (e.g., bermula dengan pemanasan = starts with warm-up)

Any quick pronunciation tips for key words?

How would a more casual Malaysian version of the sentence sound?

Cikgu jelaskan yang latihan seterusnya mula pukul 8 pagi.
Even more casual/informative: Cikgu bagitahu latihan seterusnya pukul 8 pagi. (bagitahu = colloquial “told”)