Jangan lupa janji itu.

that

Breakdown of Jangan lupa janji itu.

• lupa: to forget
• jangan: do not
• janji: the promise

Questions & Answers about Jangan lupa janji itu.

What does jangan mean, and why is it used instead of tidak?

Jangan is the negative word used for commands and requests. It means “don’t” (as in “Don’t do X”).

• Jangan lupa = Don’t forget
• Jangan pergi = Don’t go

Tidak is used to negate statements, not commands:

• Saya tidak lupa. = I don’t forget / I didn’t forget.

So you use:

• jangan → when telling someone not to do something.
• tidak → when saying that something is not the case.

In Jangan lupa janji itu., you are giving a command (“Don’t forget”), so jangan is the correct choice.

Is janji here a noun or a verb?

In Jangan lupa janji itu., janji is a noun meaning “promise”.

• lupa = forget
• janji itu = that promise

So literally: “Don’t forget that promise.”

However, janji can also be a verb meaning “to promise” in other sentences:

• Dia janji akan datang. = He/She promises (promised) to come.

Why is itu at the end of janji itu instead of before, like in English “that promise”?

In Malay, demonstratives like ini (this) and itu (that) usually come after the noun:

• janji itu = that promise
• rumah itu = that house
• budak ini = this child

So the normal structure is:

noun + ini/itu

Putting itu before the noun (itu janji) is possible in some contexts, but it usually changes the structure or emphasis (for example, as a separate topic: Itu janji saya. = That is my promise.). In the sentence given, janji itu is just a straightforward noun phrase: “that promise”.

Why is there no word for “you” in the sentence?

Malay often drops the subject pronoun when it’s obvious from context.

Jangan lupa janji itu. literally is:

• Jangan = don’t
• lupa = forget
• janji itu = that promise

English needs “you” (“Don’t you forget that promise”), but Malay doesn’t require it; it’s understood that you are talking to the listener.

If you want to include “you” explicitly, you can:

• Jangan lupa janji kamu itu.
• Jangan lupa janji awak itu.
• Jangan lupa janji anda itu. (more formal, like “sir/ma’am” or customer)

What is the difference between janji itu and janji kamu / janji kamu itu?

• janji itu = that promise / the promise (the promise already known in context)
• janji kamu = your promise
• janji kamu itu = that promise of yours / that particular promise you made

So:

• Jangan lupa janji itu.
  Don’t forget that promise (we both know which one).

• Jangan lupa janji kamu.
  Don’t forget your promise (more generally “your promise”).

• Jangan lupa janji kamu itu.
  Don’t forget that specific promise of yours (more pointed/explicit).

Could I also say Jangan lupa akan janji itu? What does akan do?

Yes, Jangan lupa akan janji itu. is grammatically correct.

• akan here is a preposition used with certain verbs (like ingat, lupa) to mark what you remember/forget.
• It sounds more formal or literary, and is more common in formal writing or speeches.

In everyday speech, most people just say:

• Jangan lupa janji itu. (no akan)

Meaning-wise, both are essentially the same: “Don’t forget that promise.”

What’s the difference between lupa and lupakan? Could I say Jangan lupakan janji itu?

You can say Jangan lupakan janji itu., and it is correct.

Differences:

• lupa
  Common, everyday verb “forget”.
  Used very widely:

  • Saya lupa nama dia. = I forgot her name.

• lupakan
  A transitive form (with the prefix meN- plus suffix -kan), which often has a slightly more deliberate or complete sense: to forget, to put out of mind, to let go of.

In many contexts, both are interchangeable:

• Jangan lupa janji itu.
• Jangan lupakan janji itu.

Both mean “Don’t forget that promise.”
Jangan lupa… is more neutral and more common in everyday speech; Jangan lupakan… can sound a bit more emphatic or formal.

How formal or informal is Jangan lupa janji itu.? Can I use it with elders or in polite situations?

Jangan lupa janji itu. is neutral in formality. It’s fine in most situations, but tone of voice matters.

To make it softer or more polite, especially to elders or in a respectful context, you could add softening particles or honorific address:

• Jangan lupa janji itu, ya.
• Jangan lupa janji itu, ya, pakcik. (uncle/older man)
• Jangan lupa janji itu, mak. (mum / older woman)

With a boss or customer, you might use anda and a softer tone:

• Jangan lupa janji itu, ya, encik.
• Jangan lupa janji itu, puan.

How would I say “Don’t forget your promise” more explicitly?

You can make “your” explicit by adding a possessive:

• Jangan lupa janji kamu. (neutral “you”)
• Jangan lupa janji awak. (common informal “you” in Malaysia)
• Jangan lupa janji anda. (more formal/polite “you”)

If you want both “your” and “that (specific promise)”, you can say:

• Jangan lupa janji kamu itu.
• Jangan lupa janji awak itu.
  = Don’t forget that promise of yours.

Can Jangan lupa be used on its own, without janji itu?

Yes. Jangan lupa by itself is very common and means “Don’t forget” in a general sense. The object is then understood from context or stated afterwards:

• Jangan lupa, esok ada mesyuarat.
  Don’t forget, there’s a meeting tomorrow.

• Jangan lupa bawa buku.
  Don’t forget to bring the book.

So Jangan lupa janji itu. is just the version where the thing not to forget (janji itu) is stated explicitly.