Learn Hardcore Malay: Bangku kayu di taman itu selesa. - That wooden bench in the park is comfortable.

So Bangku kayu di taman itu selesa literally works as “The wooden bench in that park comfortable.”, which is how Malay expresses “is comfortable”.

Can I add adalah for “is”, like Bangku kayu di taman itu adalah selesa?

For adjectives, you normally do not use adalah in Malay.

Bangku kayu di taman itu selesa. ✅ (natural)
Bangku kayu di taman itu adalah selesa. ❌ (sounds wrong / very unnatural)

Adalah is typically used before nouns or longer descriptive phrases, not simple adjectives:

Dia adalah doktor. = He/She is a doctor.
Masalahnya adalah kekurangan masa. = The problem is the lack of time.

So for “is comfortable”, just use the adjective selesa without adalah.

What exactly does kayu mean here? Is it a noun or an adjective?

Kayu literally means “wood” (a noun), but in Malay, nouns can also function as modifiers after another noun.

So:

bangku = bench
kayu = wood
bangku kayu = wood bench / wooden bench

You don’t need an extra word like “of” or “made of”. Saying bangku kayu already implies “a bench made of wood”.

If you want to be very explicit, you can say:

bangku yang diperbuat daripada kayu = a bench that is made of wood
but that is more formal or wordy.

How do I know whether itu refers to the bench or the park?

In Malay, a demonstrative like itu comes after the noun (or noun phrase) it refers to.

In the sentence:

di taman itu
- taman = park
- itu = that

So itu clearly refers to taman, giving “that park”.

The structure is:

Bangku kayu = wooden bench
di taman itu = in that park

So the whole subject is “The wooden bench in that park…”, not “that wooden bench in the park”.

If you wanted “that wooden bench in the park”, you would say, for example:

Bangku kayu itu di taman (itu)
or Bangku kayu di taman itu plus a context that makes the bench specific.

How do I say clearly “that wooden bench in the park” instead of “the wooden bench in that park”?

To make “that wooden bench” the main “that”, put itu right after bangku kayu:

Bangku kayu itu di taman.
= That wooden bench is in the park.

If you need both “that bench” and “that park”, you can say:

Bangku kayu itu di taman itu selesa.
= That wooden bench in that park is comfortable.

Word order tells you what itu is attached to:

bangku kayu itu → that wooden bench
taman itu → that park

Does bangku here mean one bench or benches in general? How do I show plural?

By default, Malay nouns don’t mark singular or plural. Bangku kayu can mean:

a wooden bench
wooden benches
the wooden bench(es)

Context usually tells you which one is meant.
To show plural more clearly, you can:

Use a number: dua bangku kayu = two wooden benches
Use a plural word: banyak bangku kayu = many wooden benches
Sometimes reduplicate (but this sounds odd with bangku, better with things like buku-buku for “books”).

In this specific sentence, many learners interpret it as one particular bench, but it could also be understood as benches in general, depending on context.

What does selesa mean, and can I use it for people as well?

Selesa means comfortable. You can use it for:

Things / places that are comfortable:
- Sofa ini selesa. = This sofa is comfortable.
- Bilik itu sangat selesa. = That room is very comfortable.
People feeling comfortable (usually with berasa / rasa selesa):
- Saya rasa selesa di sini. = I feel comfortable here.

So Bangku kayu di taman itu selesa is saying the bench itself is comfortable to sit on.

Can I add “very” or “really” in this sentence? Where would it go?

Yes. Use sangat, amat, or begitu before or after selesa:

Bangku kayu di taman itu sangat selesa.
Bangku kayu di taman itu amat selesa.

These both mean “The wooden bench in that park is very comfortable.”

With begitu you more often say:

Bangku kayu di taman itu begitu selesa.
= The wooden bench in that park is so comfortable.

What is the function of di in di taman itu, and when do I use it?

Di is a preposition meaning “at / in / on” (for location).

di taman itu = in/at that park
di rumah = at home
di sekolah = at school

Use di for static location (where something is):

Saya di rumah. = I am at home.

Contrast this with ke (to, towards) and dari (from):

Saya pergi ke taman. = I go to the park.
Saya datang dari taman. = I come from the park.

Can di taman itu be moved to the beginning of the sentence?

Yes. You can front the location for emphasis or style:

Di taman itu, bangku kayu selesa.

This sounds like: “In that park, the wooden bench is comfortable.”
Grammatically it’s fine; you’re just changing the focus or emphasis, not the basic meaning.

Why is the order bangku kayu, not kayu bangku?

In Malay, modifiers usually come after the noun they describe.

Structure:

[Head noun] + [modifier]

So:

bangku (head noun) + kayu (modifier) → bangku kayu = wooden bench
taman
- air → taman air = water park
baju
- putih → baju putih = white shirt

Kayu bangku would sound like “the wood of the bench” in some contexts, not “wooden bench” as a normal phrase.

Is there any difference in meaning between taman and “park”? Can it also mean “garden”?

Yes. Taman can mean both:

Park (public recreational area)
- taman bandar = city park
Garden (cultivated area with plants/flowers, often next to a house)
- taman bunga = flower garden

In Bangku kayu di taman itu selesa, without more context, taman is usually understood as “park”, but it could be “garden” if the context is, for example, someone’s house garden.