Disiplin di asrama itu tegas.

The discipline in that dormitory is strict.

Breakdown of Disiplin di asrama itu tegas.

• adalah: to be
• itu: that
• di: in
• tegas: strict
• disiplin: the discipline
• asrama: the dormitory

Questions & Answers about Disiplin di asrama itu tegas.

Why is there no word for “is” in Disiplin di asrama itu tegas?

Malay usually doesn’t use a separate verb for “to be” in simple present tense sentences like this.

• Disiplin = discipline (subject)
• di asrama itu = at that dormitory (a prepositional phrase modifying disiplin)
• tegas = strict (predicate adjective)

So the structure is basically:

[Subject] + [Description]
Disiplin … tegas = The discipline … is strict

Malay just puts the adjective (tegas) after the noun phrase (Disiplin di asrama itu) without adding a word for “is.”

What does di mean here? Is it “in” or “at”?

Di is a preposition meaning “in / at / on” depending on context. Here it’s best translated as “at”:

• di asrama itu = at that dormitory / in that dormitory

Some common uses of di:

• di rumah – at home
• di sekolah – at school
• di pejabat – at the office

It always comes before the place word.

What exactly does asrama mean?

Asrama is usually translated as:

• “dormitory”
• “hostel”
• sometimes “boarding house / boarding school accommodation”

It refers to a place where people (often students) live together, usually in shared rooms, often connected to a school, college, or training center.

Examples:

• asrama pelajar – student dormitory
• tinggal di asrama – live in a dorm / hostel

What is the function of itu in asrama itu? Is it “that” or “the”?

Itu literally means “that”, but it is also commonly used to mark definiteness, similar to “the” in English.

• asrama – a dormitory / dormitories (generic)
• asrama itu – that dormitory / the dormitory (one that both speaker and listener know about)

Key points:

• Itu comes after the noun: asrama itu (not itu asrama in this meaning).
• It often means “that (specific one)” and at the same time gives a definite feeling like “the”.

Why is the word order Disiplin di asrama itu tegas and not something like Disiplin itu tegas di asrama?

The basic word order in Malay is:

Subject + (modifiers) + Predicate

Here:

• Subject: Disiplin di asrama itu (discipline at that dorm)
• Predicate: tegas (strict)

Di asrama itu is a phrase that modifies “Disiplin” (which discipline? The one at that dorm), so it stays close to Disiplin:

• Disiplin di asrama itu – the discipline (that exists) at that dorm
• tegas – is strict

So the most natural structure is:

Disiplin [modifier here] tegas

You can move di asrama itu for emphasis:

• Di asrama itu, disiplin tegas. – At that dorm, discipline is strict. (emphasizing the place)

But Disiplin di asrama itu tegas is the neutral, straightforward order.

Can I say Disiplin di asrama itu sangat tegas to mean “very strict”? How do I add “very”?

Yes. To say “very strict”, you can add a degree word like sangat:

• Disiplin di asrama itu sangat tegas.
  = The discipline at that dormitory is very strict.

Common intensifiers:

• sangat tegas – very strict
• amat tegas – very strict (a bit more formal / written)
• terlalu tegas – too strict (excessively strict)

The pattern is:

[adverb of degree] + adjective
sangat + tegas

Can I drop itu and just say Disiplin di asrama tegas? What changes?

You can say it, but the nuance changes slightly.

• Disiplin di asrama itu tegas.
  → Refers to a specific, known dorm: The discipline at that (particular) dorm is strict.

• Disiplin di asrama tegas.
  → More general or less specific. It could mean:

  • Discipline in dorms (in general) is strict, or
  • Discipline in a dorm is strict (but which dorm is not specified)

In real usage:

• If both speakers know which dorm is being discussed, itu is more natural.
• Without itu, it sounds more generic or non-specific.

Can tegas describe people too, or only rules/discipline?

Tegas can describe both people and rules/discipline.

Examples:

• guru yang tegas – a strict teacher
• ibu bapa saya sangat tegas – my parents are very strict
• peraturan yang tegas – strict rules
• disiplin yang tegas – strict discipline

When describing people, tegas usually implies:

• firm
• not easily swayed
• enforcing rules clearly

It is often neutral or even positive (firm but fair), unless the context suggests it’s excessive.

How do I turn Disiplin di asrama itu tegas into a yes–no question: “Is the discipline at that dormitory strict?”

There are a few natural ways. Two common ones:

1. Formal / neutral:

   • Adakah disiplin di asrama itu tegas?
     Literally: Is (it that) the discipline at that dorm is strict?

2. Colloquial (very common in speech, in Malaysia):

   • Disiplin di asrama itu tegas ke?
     The particle ke at the end turns it into a question.

Both mean: “Is the discipline at that dormitory strict?”

How do I say “The discipline at that dormitory is not strict”?

To negate an adjective like tegas, use tidak before it:

• Disiplin di asrama itu tidak tegas.
  = The discipline at that dormitory is not strict.

Pattern:

[Subject] + tidak + [adjective]
Disiplin … tidak tegas.

What does disiplin cover in Malay? Is it just “discipline” like rules, or also “self-discipline” and “field of study”?

Disiplin in Malay is a loanword (from English/French/Latin) and has several uses, similar to English:

1. Rules / order / behavior control

   • disiplin di sekolah – discipline at school
   • disiplin di asrama itu tegas – the discipline at that dorm is strict

2. Self-discipline

   • disiplin diri – self-discipline
   • Dia kurang disiplin. – He/She lacks discipline.

3. Field of study / branch of knowledge

   • disiplin ilmu – academic discipline / field of knowledge
   • disiplin psikologi – the discipline of psychology

So the word is quite flexible, and context tells you which meaning is intended. In your sentence, it clearly means discipline as in rules and enforcement.