Ujian ini hanya satu bahagian kecil daripada subjek sejarah.

This test is only a small part of the history subject.

Breakdown of Ujian ini hanya satu bahagian kecil daripada subjek sejarah.

• ini: this
• adalah: to be
• kecil: small
• sejarah: the history
• satu: one
• hanya: only
• bahagian: the part
• ujian: the test
• daripada: of
• subjek: the subject

Questions & Answers about Ujian ini hanya satu bahagian kecil daripada subjek sejarah.

Why is there no word for is in this sentence?

Malay usually does not use a separate verb like is / am / are to link a subject and a description or noun.

So instead of:

• Ujian ini adalah satu bahagian kecil…

it is very common and completely correct to just say:

• Ujian ini satu bahagian kecil…

The meaning is still “This test is a small part …”.
The linking idea of “is” is understood from the structure.

You can add adalah:

• Ujian ini adalah satu bahagian kecil daripada subjek sejarah.

This sounds a bit more formal or written, but it’s not necessary in everyday speech.

What is the function of ini in Ujian ini? Can it go somewhere else?

Ini is a demonstrative pronoun meaning this.
Placed after a noun, it works like this [noun]:

• ujian ini = this test
• buku ini = this book

You can also put ini at the beginning for emphasis:

• Ini ujian, bukan kerja rumah.
  This is a test, not homework.

But in your sentence, ujian ini (noun + ini) is the normal, neutral way to say this test as the subject of the sentence.

What does hanya do here, and is it the same as cuma or sahaja?

Hanya means only / merely and limits the extent of something.

In the sentence:

• Ujian ini hanya satu bahagian kecil… → This test is only a small part…

You can often replace hanya with:

• cuma
• sahaja

All three can mean only, but there are stylistic differences:

• hanya – slightly more formal or neutral, very common in writing.
• cuma – more casual, very common in speech.
• sahaja – often appears at the end of a phrase, a bit formal or polite.

Examples:

• Ujian ini hanya satu bahagian kecil…
• Ujian ini cuma satu bahagian kecil…
• Ujian ini satu bahagian kecil sahaja…

All are understandable; the core meaning is the same.

Why is it satu bahagian kecil and not just bahagian kecil?

• bahagian kecil = a small part / small section (general)
• satu bahagian kecil = one small part (more specific, with the number one)

In practice, satu here is similar to a in English:

• Ujian ini hanya satu bahagian kecil…
  → This test is only a small part…

You could also say:

• Ujian ini hanya bahagian kecil daripada subjek sejarah.

This still means the same thing in context.
Adding satu makes it just a bit more like one single small part, but Malay does not always need a word like a or one the way English does.

Is sebahagian kecil possible here, and how is it different from satu bahagian kecil?

Yes, you might also see:

• Ujian ini hanya sebahagian kecil daripada subjek sejarah.

Differences:

• satu bahagian kecil
  Literally one small part. Suggests one distinct section.

• sebahagian kecil
  Literally a small portion. Feels a bit more like a small proportion or a small share, not necessarily a single numbered part.

Both are grammatically correct in this sentence.
Many native speakers might find sebahagian kecil slightly more idiomatic when talking about parts of a subject or syllabus.

What does bahagian mean exactly in this context?

Bahagian means part, section, division.

In this sentence:

• satu bahagian kecil = one small part / one small section

So the idea is:

• The test covers only a small section of the whole history subject, not everything.

Why is it daripada and not dari in daripada subjek sejarah?

Both dari and daripada can translate as from, but they are used a bit differently.

Broad rule of thumb:

• dari – mainly for physical origin, direction, time

  • Saya datang dari London. = I come from London.
  • Dari pagi tadi, dia sibuk. = Since this morning, he’s been busy.

• daripada – mainly for comparison, source in a more abstract sense, part-of relations

  • Lebih besar daripada itu. = Bigger than that.
  • Sebahagian daripada subjek sejarah. = A part of the history subject.

In satu bahagian kecil daripada subjek sejarah, you are talking about a part of a whole, so daripada is the more natural choice.

What does subjek sejarah literally mean? Is subjek the same as subject in English?

Yes, subjek is a loanword from English subject, and sejarah means history.

So:

• subjek sejarah = the subject of history / the history subject

This refers to the school subject or academic discipline of history.

Is mata pelajaran sejarah different from subjek sejarah?

Both can mean the school subject of history, but there is a nuance:

• subjek sejarah

  • Modern, informal, influenced by English.
  • Common in everyday speech and also understood in writing.

• mata pelajaran sejarah

  • Slightly more formal and traditional Malay.
  • Often used in school, official documents, and exam-related contexts.

Meaning-wise, in this sentence they are interchangeable:

• Ujian ini hanya satu bahagian kecil daripada subjek sejarah.
• Ujian ini hanya satu bahagian kecil daripada mata pelajaran sejarah.

Both mean This test is only a small part of the history subject.

How do I make subjek plural, like subjects?

Malay usually does not change the noun form to mark plural.
The plural meaning is understood from context or added words.

Examples:

• subjek = subject / subjects (singular or plural, depending on context)
• banyak subjek = many subjects
• dua subjek = two subjects
• semua subjek = all the subjects

In your sentence, subjek sejarah clearly refers to one subject (history) because sejarah specifies it.

Can the word order be changed, for example putting hanya somewhere else?

Yes, Malay word order is somewhat flexible, and hanya can move a bit, but the nuance changes slightly.

Some possibilities:

1. Ujian ini hanya satu bahagian kecil daripada subjek sejarah.
   – Neutral, very natural. Only clearly limits satu bahagian kecil.

2. Ujian ini satu bahagian kecil sahaja daripada subjek sejarah.
   – sahaja at the end gives a similar meaning to hanya, slightly more formal/polite tone.

3. Hanya ujian ini satu bahagian kecil daripada subjek sejarah.
   – Now hanya is focusing on ujian ini, more like Only this test is a small part…
   (implying other tests might not be, etc.)

For your intended meaning (this test is only a small part of the subject),
Ujian ini hanya satu bahagian kecil daripada subjek sejarah. is the most straightforward.

Is this sentence formal, casual, or neutral?

The sentence is neutral to slightly formal:

• Vocabulary like ujian, hanya, bahagian, daripada, subjek sejarah is standard and appropriate for school, exams, and written materials.
• In casual speech, people might simplify or rephrase, but they would still fully understand this version.

You can safely use it in both spoken and written contexts related to study or exams.