Saya mahu bayar tunai di kaunter.

I want to pay in cash at the counter.

Breakdown of Saya mahu bayar tunai di kaunter.

• saya: I
• mahu: to want
• di: at
• kaunter: the counter
• bayar: to pay
• tunai: the cash

Questions & Answers about Saya mahu bayar tunai di kaunter.

What exactly does the word mahu express here—want, intention, or permission?

Mahu means want to/intend to. It states your desire or plan. It does not ask for permission. To ask permission, use boleh:

• Statement of intent: Saya mahu bayar tunai di kaunter.
• Polite request: Boleh saya bayar tunai di kaunter?

Can I replace mahu with nak, hendak, or ingin? What’s the difference?

Yes, with nuance differences:

• nak: very informal, common in speech. Saya nak bayar...
• hendak: formal/literary; also polite. Saya hendak bayar...
• ingin: polite/formal, like “would like to.” Saya ingin membayar...
• mahu: neutral and widely used.

Should I use bayar or membayar after mahu?

After modals like mahu/ingin/hendak/boleh, use the bare verb:

• Natural: Saya mahu bayar tunai...
• More formal/written: Saya ingin/hendak membayar secara tunai... Using mahu membayar is grammatical but sounds heavier; everyday speech prefers mahu bayar.

Is bayar tunai correct, or do I need dengan or secara?

Bayar tunai is natural and idiomatic. Alternatives:

• bayar dengan (wang) tunai = with cash (a bit explicit)
• bayar secara tunai = cash payment (formal/noticeboard style)

Why is it di kaunter and not ke kaunter?

• di marks location (at/in/on): bayar ... di kaunter.
• ke marks movement (to/towards): pergi ke kaunter. Example: Saya mahu pergi ke kaunter untuk bayar tunai.

Where does the place phrase go in the sentence? Can I front it?

Default word order puts place at the end: Saya mahu bayar tunai di kaunter. Fronting for emphasis is fine: Di kaunter, saya mahu bayar tunai. Avoid splitting the verb phrase unnaturally (e.g., Saya mahu di kaunter bayar tunai sounds off).

Is this polite enough to say to staff? How can I make it softer?

It’s okay as a statement of intent. To sound more polite or like a request, use:

• Boleh saya bayar tunai di kaunter?
• Saya nak bayar tunai di kaunter, boleh? (informal)
• More formal: Saya ingin membayar secara tunai di kaunter.

Can I omit di kaunter?

Yes, if the location is obvious: Saya mahu bayar tunai. Include di kaunter to contrast with other methods/places:

• Saya mahu bayar tunai di kaunter, bukan secara online.

How do I negate this?

Put tidak/tak before mahu:

• Formal/neutral: Saya tidak mahu bayar tunai di kaunter.
• Informal: Saya tak mahu bayar tunai di kaunter. Note: Saya tiada tunai means “I have no cash,” not a negation of wanting.

How do I express past or future with this sentence?

Malay uses time words/particles:

• Past intent: Tadi saya mahu bayar tunai di kaunter.
• Completed action: Saya sudah/telah bayar tunai di kaunter.
• Future: Saya mahu bayar tunai di kaunter nanti/esok.

What’s the difference between bayar, bayaran, and pembayaran?

• bayar: verb (to pay). Saya mahu bayar tunai.
• bayaran: a fee/charge or the payment (as a thing). Bayaran masuk perlu dibayar di kaunter.
• pembayaran: the act/process of payment. Pembayaran tunai dibuat di kaunter.

Pronunciation tips?

• saya: sa-ya (sah-yah; short vowels)
• mahu: ma-hu (mah-hoo)
• bayar: ba-yar (BAH-yar; r is a light tap)
• tunai: tu-nai (too-nai; nai rhymes with eye)
• kaunter: kaun-ter (like English “counter” with ow as in cow)

Is this Malay or Indonesian? How would Indonesian say it?

This is Malay (Malaysia). In Indonesian you’d say:

• Saya mau bayar tunai di kasir. Indonesian uses mau (not mahu) and typically kasir for the checkout.

Can I drop the subject saya or use casual location words?

• Dropping the subject is common in casual speech: Nak bayar tunai di kaunter.
• Casual “at” is kat (from dekat): Nak bayar tunai kat kaunter. Use di in standard/formal contexts.