Learn Hardcore Malay: Saya memasukkan sayur ke dalam periuk di dapur. - I put vegetables into the pot in the kitchen.

Memasukkan is the transitive form meaning to put something into something. The me-…-kan pattern turns masuk into a causative verb: to cause something to go in. That is why we say memasukkan sayur ke dalam periuk – to put the vegetables into the pot.

Masukkan (without me-) is most often used as an imperative, like Masukkan sayur ke dalam periuk! – Put the vegetables into the pot!

Why use memasukkan instead of a simpler verb like letak?

Memasukkan focuses on movement into an enclosed space: putting something into a container.

Letak means to put / to place somewhere, without the idea of “inside”.

Saya memasukkan sayur ke dalam periuk. – I put the vegetables into the pot.
Saya meletakkan sayur di atas meja. – I put the vegetables on the table.

So memasukkan … ke dalam … is natural when you’re talking about containers like pots, boxes, bags, etc.

Does memasukkan always need an object?

Yes. Memasukkan is a transitive verb here and normally requires a direct object: you must say what you are putting in.

Natural: Saya memasukkan sayur ke dalam periuk.
Unnatural: Saya memasukkan ke dalam periuk. (We don’t know what you’re putting in.)

If you don’t want to mention the object, you would more likely use just masuk or another verb, depending on context.

What tense is memasukkan? Does this sentence mean “I put”, “I am putting”, or “I will put”?

The form memasukkan itself is not marked for tense. Malay usually does not change the verb for past, present, or future.

The exact English tense depends on context or on time words you add:

Saya memasukkan sayur ke dalam periuk di dapur tadi. – I put the vegetables into the pot in the kitchen earlier.
Sekarang saya memasukkan sayur ke dalam periuk di dapur. – I am putting the vegetables into the pot in the kitchen now.
Nanti saya akan memasukkan sayur ke dalam periuk di dapur. – I will put the vegetables into the pot in the kitchen later.

Is sayur singular or plural here? How do I say “vegetable” vs “vegetables”?

Sayur is not marked for number, so it can mean vegetable, vegetables, or vegetable(s) in general, depending on context.

To be more specific:

sayur – vegetable / vegetables (general)
sayur-sayuran – various kinds of vegetables
beberapa jenis sayur – several kinds of vegetables
sayur itu – that/the vegetable(s) (definite)

In your sentence, sayur will usually be understood as vegetables.

What is the difference between sayur, sayuran, and sayur-sayuran?

Sayur: the basic word; can be singular or plural; neutral.
Sayuran: often means vegetable dishes or vegetable-based food, and can also mean “vegetables” in a more general/collective way.
Sayur-sayuran: emphasizes a variety or assortment of vegetables.

In cooking instructions like this sentence, sayur or sayur-sayuran are both common, depending on whether you want to stress variety.

Why do we have both ke and dalam in ke dalam periuk? Could I just say ke periuk or dalam periuk?

ke = to / towards (direction)
dalam = in / inside (location)

Ke dalam periuk combines both ideas: into the pot, emphasizing movement from outside to inside.

Alternatives:

ke periuk – to the pot (towards the pot; not clearly “inside”)
dalam periuk – in the pot (location, not movement)

So memasukkan … ke dalam periuk is the clearest way to express put(ting) … into the pot.

Can I say Saya memasukkan sayur dalam periuk and drop ke?

Yes, in everyday speech many people say memasukkan … dalam periuk without ke, and it is widely understood as into the pot.

However, ke dalam is a bit more careful/formal and clearly shows direction. In writing or formal contexts, ke dalam periuk is often preferred.

What exactly does periuk mean? Is it the same as a pan?

Periuk usually means a pot (a deeper vessel, often for boiling or making soup).

A frying pan / wok is normally kuali. So:

periuk – pot
kuali – pan/wok

In a sentence about putting vegetables in something to cook (especially to boil or make soup), periuk is the natural choice.

Does di dapur describe where I am, or where the pot is? Is the sentence ambiguous?

Grammatically, di dapur is a location phrase and can be understood as:

where the action happens
and/or
where the pot is

So it can mean:

I am in the kitchen putting vegetables into the pot, or
I put the vegetables into the pot that is in the kitchen.

In real conversation, context usually makes it clear, and both ideas often overlap anyway (both you and the pot are in the kitchen).

Can I change the word order, for example Di dapur, saya memasukkan sayur ke dalam periuk?

Yes. Malay allows you to move the location phrase for emphasis:

Di dapur, saya memasukkan sayur ke dalam periuk.
Focus on in the kitchen (contrast with other places).
Saya di dapur memasukkan sayur ke dalam periuk.
Still acceptable; sounds like “I, who am in the kitchen, am putting the vegetables into the pot.”

The most neutral/basic order is the original: Saya memasukkan sayur ke dalam periuk di dapur.

Can I omit saya and just say Memasukkan sayur ke dalam periuk di dapur?

You can omit saya in context, especially in instructions, notes, or when it’s obvious who is acting. But then the sentence can feel like:

a fragment (Putting vegetables into the pot in the kitchen)
or an instruction/command if you change the verb form: Masukkan sayur ke dalam periuk di dapur.

For a normal complete statement about yourself, you would keep Saya.

What is the difference between saya and aku here?

Both mean I / me, but they differ in politeness and formality:

saya – polite, neutral, suitable for most situations (speaking to strangers, elders, formal contexts).
aku – informal, used with close friends, family, or in casual speech; can sound rude if used with the wrong person.

So Saya memasukkan sayur ke dalam periuk di dapur is a safe, polite sentence.