Learn Hardcore Malay: Beliau adalah contoh pemimpin yang baik.

Beliau is a respectful, honorific third‑person singular pronoun for people (e.g., elders, leaders, teachers, public figures). Use it in formal writing or polite speech. Dia is the normal, neutral “he/she” used in everyday conversation. Don’t use beliau for objects or animals, and don’t use it to address someone directly (that would be awak/anda/encik/puan, etc.).

Does beliau indicate gender?

No. Beliau is gender‑neutral. Malay doesn’t mark gender in third‑person pronouns. If you need to clarify, add words like lelaki (male) or perempuan (female), or titles like Encik/Tuan (Mr./Sir) and Puan/Cik (Mrs./Ms.).

Is adalah necessary here? Can I drop it?

It’s optional. Malay doesn’t need a verb “to be” in equational sentences. You can say:

Formal: Beliau ialah/ adalah contoh pemimpin yang baik.
Neutral/informal: Beliau contoh pemimpin yang baik. Using adalah sounds more formal; dropping it is common in speech.

Should it be ialah instead of adalah?

Rule of thumb in Malay (Malaysia):

ialah before a noun/noun phrase (identification): Beliau ialah contoh pemimpin yang baik.
adalah often introduces explanations or longer predicates. Many writers also use adalah before noun phrases; it’s widely accepted in practice. So both occur, but ialah is the “safe” choice here in formal Malay.

What does yang do in pemimpin yang baik?

Yang is a linker/relativizer meaning “who/that/which.” Pemimpin yang baik literally is “a leader who is good.” It ties the adjective baik to the noun pemimpin. Without yang, pemimpin baik is also possible; yang often adds clarity or a slightly more formal tone.

Can I say pemimpin baik instead of pemimpin yang baik?

Yes. Pemimpin baik is grammatical and means “a good leader.” In careful or formal writing, pemimpin yang baik is more common. The meaning difference is minimal; with yang it can feel more specifically restrictive (“the leader who is good”).

Why is there no “a” before pemimpin? How do I say “a good leader”?

Malay has no articles. To mark a single person, use the classifier seorang:

Beliau seorang pemimpin yang baik. = “He/She is a good leader.” Your original sentence is different: it says the person is an example of such a leader.

Does yang baik modify contoh or pemimpin? How do I say “a good example of a leader”?

In contoh pemimpin yang baik, yang baik modifies pemimpin (“a good leader”). To say “a good example of a leader,” move “good” to modify contoh:

Beliau ialah contoh yang baik sebagai (seorang) pemimpin. If you want “a good example for leaders,” say:
Beliau ialah contoh yang baik bagi/untuk para pemimpin.

How do I negate this sentence?

Use bukan to negate a noun‑phrase predicate:

Beliau bukan contoh pemimpin yang baik. Use tidak for verbs and adjectives (e.g., Dia tidak baik = “He/She is not good”).

Is pemimpin singular or plural? How do I say “leaders”?

Pemimpin is number‑neutral; context decides. To mark plural:

Reduplication: pemimpin‑pemimpin
Collective marker: para pemimpin (common for people) Examples:
“for leaders”: untuk para pemimpin
“good leaders”: para pemimpin yang baik

What’s the word formation of pemimpin?

Root: pimpin (“to lead”).

Verb: memimpin (“to lead”; prefix meN‑ + pimpin → nasal assimilation p → m)
Noun: pemimpin (“leader”; prefix peN‑ + pimpin → p → m) So pemimpin literally means “one who leads.”

Are there synonyms for contoh in this meaning?

Yes:

teladan (“model/exemplar”): Beliau seorang pemimpin teladan.
role model (loan/phrase): Beliau ialah role model yang baik.
ikon (icon): context‑dependent, more public‑figure branding than moral example.

How would this sound in everyday casual speech?

Very natural options:

Dia contoh pemimpin yang baik.
Dia memang contoh pemimpin yang baik. (adding memang = “indeed/definitely”) In casual contexts, speakers prefer dia and often drop adalah/ialah.

Any pronunciation tips?

beliau: [bə-li-aw] (three syllables: be-li-au)
pemimpin: [pə-mim-pin]
yang: [jaŋ] (final ng sound)
baik: [ba-ik] (two syllables; in casual speech final -k may sound like a glottal stop)

How do I express tense (is/was/will be) in Malay for this sentence?

Malay doesn’t mark tense on the verb. Add time words if needed:

Past: Dulu, beliau ialah/merupakan contoh pemimpin yang baik.
Future: Beliau akan menjadi contoh pemimpin yang baik. (use akan “will” or menjadi “become”)

Is this also how Indonesian would say it?

Yes, Beliau adalah contoh pemimpin yang baik is also fine in Indonesian. Note: Indonesian uses adalah very freely; ialah is rare there. The general meanings and structure remain the same.