Learn Hardcore Malay: Dia hampir putus asa, namun dia masih belajar dengan tekun. - He/She almost gave up, yet he/she still studies diligently.

Which one is intended (he or she) depends entirely on context, not on the word itself. In many translations you will just see he used by default, but it could also be she.

There is no was or is in the sentence. How do we know the tense?

Malay verbs do not change form to show tense. There is no conjugation like in English.

Dia hampir putus asa, namun dia masih belajar dengan tekun. can be translated depending on context as:

He almost gave up, but he still studies diligently.
He almost gave up, but he is still studying diligently.
In a narrative: He had almost given up, but he was still studying diligently.

Malay usually relies on:

Time expressions (e.g. tadi, semalam, esok)
Context (what has already been said)

to make the time clear, not on changing the verb form.

What exactly does hampir mean, and where does it go in the sentence?

Hampir means almost or nearly.

In this sentence it modifies the verb phrase putus asa (to give up / to lose hope):

hampir putus asa = almost gave up / nearly lost hope

Position:

It normally comes before the verb or adjective it modifies:
- hampir jatuh = almost fell
- hampir menang = almost won
- hampir siap = almost finished

So placing hampir before putus asa is the standard pattern.

What does putus asa mean literally, and is it one word or two?

Putus asa is a fixed phrase meaning to lose hope, to despair, or to give up.

Literally:

putus = broken, cut off
asa = hope

So putus asa is literally hope broken, which matches the idea of losing hope.

It is written as two words, but it functions together as one idea. You will also see the form berputus asa in more formal or religious contexts, but putus asa is very common and natural.

Example:

Jangan putus asa. = Do not give up / Don’t lose hope.

How is namun different from tetapi or tapi?

All three signal contrast, like but or however in English, but they differ in tone and typical use:

namun
- Similar to however / nevertheless
- More formal or literary
- Common in essays, news, written narratives
- Often appears at the start of a clause and is frequently preceded by a comma:
  - ..., namun dia masih belajar.
tetapi
- Neutral but
- Fine in both spoken and written Malay
- Slightly more formal than tapi
tapi
- Very common in everyday speech
- Informal; you might avoid it in very formal writing

You could rewrite the sentence as:

Dia hampir putus asa, tetapi dia masih belajar dengan tekun.
Dia hampir putus asa, tapi dia masih belajar dengan tekun. (more casual)

The meaning stays essentially the same.

Why is dia repeated? Could we say Dia hampir putus asa, namun masih belajar dengan tekun?

Yes, you can drop the second dia:

Dia hampir putus asa, namun masih belajar dengan tekun.

This is still correct and natural. The subject is understood to be the same person as the first dia.

Repeating dia:

Is also correct
Can add a tiny bit of emphasis or clarity, especially in longer or more complex sentences
Is quite common in writing

So both versions are acceptable; the original just makes the subject explicit again.

What does masih mean, and how is it different from lagi?

Masih means still in the sense of something continues and has not stopped.

In the sentence:

dia masih belajar = he/she still studies / is still studying

Difference from lagi:

masih
- Focuses on continuation of a state or action
- Often close in feel to still
- Example: Dia masih di sekolah. = He is still at school.
lagi
- Can mean again, more, or still, depending on context
- As still, it’s common in informal speech:
  - Dia lagi belajar. (colloquial) = He’s still studying.
- As more: Saya mahu lagi. = I want more.
- As again (with lagi sekali): Cuba lagi sekali. = Try again.

In a neutral, standard sentence like this, masih is the clearest and most standard choice.

Why is it belajar dengan tekun and not just belajar tekun?

Dengan is used here to turn the adjective tekun (diligent) into an adverbial phrase:

tekun = diligent (describing a person or attitude)
dengan tekun = diligently (describing how the action is done)

So:

belajar dengan tekun = to study diligently

You can also say:

masih tekun belajar
- Literally: still diligent in studying
- Also natural, slightly different word order, but similar meaning

Both patterns are common:

kata kerja + dengan + adjective → adverbial phrase
- bekerja dengan rajin = work diligently
adjective + kata kerja (especially in speech)
- rajin belajar = studies diligently

The original belajar dengan tekun is clear and neutral.

What exactly does tekun mean? Is it just diligent?

Tekun means diligent, persistent, steady in effort. It often carries a sense of:

Being focused
Putting in continuous, serious effort
Not being easily distracted

So belajar dengan tekun can be understood as:

study diligently
study with persistence / with steady effort

It’s generally a positive word, often used for good students or hardworking people.

Is hampir putus asa closer to almost desperate or almost gave up?

It sits between those ideas:

Literally: almost lost hope / almost had his hope broken
Natural translations:
- He almost gave up
- He nearly lost hope
- He was on the verge of despair

Almost desperate is not wrong, but almost gave up or nearly lost hope match Malay usage more closely because putus asa focuses on losing hope / giving up, not just feeling very worried.

Is this sentence formal or informal? In what context would it be used?

The sentence is neutral in style:

Vocabulary like namun, putus asa, dengan tekun fits well in:
- Stories and novels
- Essays
- Motivational writing
- Formal or semi‑formal speech

In everyday casual conversation, people might choose slightly more informal connectors (like tapi) or a more spoken rhythm, but the original sentence is perfectly natural and widely acceptable in both spoken and written Malay.