Manners in Bali

[Shadrach]

Hello Everyone, I am wondering how to address the local People here, for everyday things. Such as, should I say Please, when I want, or need them to do something, or I want to buy something? Is it something they do, every time? I have heard one lady say Kasih Ya, when finishing a transaction with others. But do they say Please? I want to learn more Bahasa Indonesia, but it's difficult, when there are so many words that mean the same thing! And I didn't grow up with speaking this language. I like to say Saya, for myself, but do others say Aku? So if some of you out there, have any suggestions, please Tell us?
I tend to want to say everything like I would in English, but I know this language is spoken differently!

 

[jstar]

Keep it simple. And yes, for us that would sound rude. Intonation and a smile is more important than amount of words.

Forget the whole “I would like” construction. That is not understood. Don’t even try to order or ask for something starting with “Aku mau…” or “Saya ingin…” unless you can ‘soften’ that.

If you mean:
“I would like that orange juice without sugar and just a bit of ice if possible, please”
You could say:
“Jus Jeruk tanpa gula, es sedikit, ya/bisa?”

Aku = Saya
Which doesn’t only mean I or me but also mine. Mobil saya. But you don’t use it that much. Also never say you to someone, that’s rude, but use their name with the Mbak/Mbok/Ko/Mas/Dé/Ci/Bu/Pak additions! Which can be used at all times, even with people you know well. “Where are you now?” to a driver becomes “Bapak di mana?”

If you write a WA never use multiple exclamation marks!!!!!

Kasih ya is just an abbreviation for Terima kasih. Just like you would say “Pagi Pak” and not “Selamat pagi bapak”.

Benar = betul
No real difference, great words to acknowledge and agree to what someone is saying.

If you want to stimulate people to tell you more and seem polite and interested, just throw in a “Oh begitu” when they are speaking.

An afterthought: Very often nga or tidak comes across as rather rude on a question like “do you have children?”. Then it is more polite to say something as belum.

This language does not have that many rules, it is rather basic.

 

[john madden]

Saya is formal, aku more casual usually when talking to a closer acquaintance. Not really a word for please as we use it. You can use Boleh saya Minta when asking for something but it's a bit stilted. Smile and say thanks/makasih a lot.

 

[Shadrach]

Saya is formal, aku more casual usually when talking to a closer acquaintance. Not really a word for please as we use it. You can use Boleh saya Minta when asking for something but it's a bit stilted. Smile and say thanks/makasih a lot.

I have been using Tolong for Please. That's what I see on Google translate. I am wondering if the local people say please, as we do in the West? I like to also say Suksama, if I know the person is Balinese. I think it might make them happy, that I've learned som Balinese language?

 

[john madden]

Tolong implies you need help, say with a task or if you're in strife.

 

[jstar]

Tolong?

OMG. Then rather use something like mohon or selakan.

Be very very careful (mis)using a Google Translate for every day conversations. Very strange effects, often not positive.

 

[Shadrach]

Keep it simple. And yes, for us that would sound rude. Intonation and a smile is more important than amount of words.

Forget the whole “I would like” construction. That is not understood. Don’t even try to order starting with “Aku mau…”

If you mean:
“I would like the orange juice without sugar and just a bit of ice please”
You could say:
“Jus Jeruk tanpa gula, es sedikit, ya/bisa?”

Aku = Saya
Which doesn’t only mean I or me but also mine. Mobil saya. But you don’t use it that much. Also never say you to someone, that’s rude, but use their name with the Mbak/Mbok/Ko/Mas/Dé/Ci/Bu/Pak additions! “Where are you now?” to a driver becomes “Bapak di mana?”

If you write a WA never use multiple exclamation marks!!!!!

Kasih ya is just an abbreviation for Terima kasih. Just like you would say “Pagi Pak” and not “Selamat pagi bapak”.

Benar = betul
No real difference, great words to acknowledge and agree to what someone is saying.

If you want to stimulate people to tell you more and seem polite and interested, just throw in a “Oh begitu” when they are speaking.

This language does not have that many rules, it is rather basic.

Thank you, this was very informative!

 

[Shadrach]

Tolong?

OMG. Then rather use something like mohon or selakan.

Be very very careful (mis)using a Google Translate for every day conversations. Very strange effects, often not positive.

I thought Selakan was more formal, such as trying to be polite. Like when you offer someone a seat on the bus, out of respect. Selakan Masuk?

 

[Shadrach]

Tolong implies you need help, say with a task or if you're in strife.

I would use it when I need someone to do something, such as at a store, when I need them to open a Beer. Tolong Buka?

 

[jstar]

I thought Selakan was more formal, such as trying to be polite. Like when you offer someone a seat on the bus, out of respect. Selakan Masuk?

Silahkan duduk.

I always try to avoid the standalone word tolong. If you’re not careful it can become very ‘directive’. A bit like “Clean your room please”

So then (for me) the word to use or add is ‘bisakah’:
Eg. Bisa tolong buka?

 

[centurion]

“I would like the orange juice without sugar and just a bit of ice please”- Minta es jeruk, tanpa gula, es sedikit.

 

[harryopal1]

As I am not often in the situation of having a conversation in Bahasa Indonesia and as my WNI wife finds if difficult to speak slowly and prefers to speak to me in English, I use Youtube search "cerita untuk anak Kecil" and then watching and listening to children's stories I click the cc item at the bottom for sub titles.. It helps me develop my ear and pick up more when Indonesian is being spoken.

 

[Shadrach]

As I am not often in the situation of having a conversation in Bahasa Indonesia and as my WNI wife finds if difficult to speak slowly and prefers to speak to me in English, I use Youtube search "cerita untuk anak Kecil" and then watching and listening to children's stories I click the cc item at the bottom for sub titles.. It helps me develop my ear and pick up more when Indonesian is being spoken.

That is an interesting way to learn. One thing that drives me crazy here is the way Women sometimes talk in this high whinny voice , through their nose when they speak! Even when I listen to Google translate. It will say the word normally when using Bahasa English, but when I listen to the same sentence in Bahasa Indonesian, the Woman pronounces the words like a squeaky Mouse! The advertisements on YouTube have become like going to the amusement park. All bright colors, Flashing lights, and Young Korean Girls, bouncing around, or dancing Sexy! It's funny to see this because I think The Indonesian girls would like to have the Freedom to dance like this, but the Male domination here keeps them subdued!

 

[El_Goretto]

Boleh minta or boleh saya minta, literally translates to May I request, and it's very polite. I use it all the time.

 

[pantaiema]

Hello Everyone, I am wondering how to address the local People here, for everyday things. Such as, should I say Please, when I want, or need them to do something, or I want to buy something? Is it something they do, every time? I have heard one lady say Kasih Ya, when finishing a transaction with others. But do they say Please? I want to learn more Bahasa Indonesia, but it's difficult, when there are so many words that mean the same thing! And I didn't grow up with speaking this language. I like to say Saya, for myself, but do others say Aku? So if some of you out there, have any suggestions, please Tell us?
I tend to want to say everything like I would in English, but I know this language is spoken differently!

From my observation, simply making the effort to speak Indonesian as a foreigner is already a great first step.

If you want to learn polite expressions, there are many YouTube vlogs where foreigners interact with locals and try speaking Indonesian and you could observe the local reaction. One example is this guy. This is his playlist when he was visiting Indonesia

https://www.youtube.com/@fiascodagama1/playlists (his palylist)

A few examples of his video clips where he intersects with local and use Indonesians to order food, greeting people, etc. His Indonesian is actually not very good but polite, friendly and good enough to understand. See the expression of locals speaking with him in Indonesian.


Indonesian grammar and sentence structure are very different from English or other languages with Germanic origin. Trying to translate directly from English will often sound awkward. Also do not forget about the cultural differences. For example, the kind of playful banter that’s common in Western countries isn’t typically used when speaking with locals in Indonesia.

'Aku' is not very much in use in friendly conversation in many region in Indonesia.

 

[Shadrach]

A good way to start is to learn how to pronounce the alphabet. Then remember the way the language is spoken is similar to Spanish I believe? The object comes before the description. Such as Itu Rumah warna yang Merah! Which means That house which is Red. Instead of English which would be, That Red House! I use Google translate almost daily when I hear or see a new word. The nice thing about Google translate is you can make it say the sentence, or use your camera to translate Bahasa Indonesian words, into Bahasa English, or Vis Versa. A big smile always helps to open doors!

 

[Banana72]

Boleh minta or boleh saya minta, literally translates to May I request, and it's very polite. I use it all the time.

This is the most standard/natural (informal) Indonesian in my opinion. It is also quite often that native speakers don't use the 'saya' and instead they just go straight to the verb..for example: (raising hand to get server's attention) "Pak/Bu"...(saya) mau order....."

or when excusing yourself "Pak/bu permisi....(saya/kami) pulang dulu ya..."

 

[jstar]

About minta etc.: That is exactly how you learn it in your BI courses.

And when I paid attention years ago I noticed nobody in my circle of friends and family ever uses it.

But sure, they agreed it was very polite and good of me to use it. I(t) was done very fast after that.

 

[merahputih]

I use "aku" for family or friends that I know for long, "saya" for everyone else.
"Kasih ya" is short from "terima kasih" + "ya" ("ya" here is more an extra emphasis). I use "makasih" sometimes.

"Suksma" or "matur suksma" is Balinese for "thank you".

maaf ("a" as in "sofa" & twice pronounced) = sorry

permisi = excuse me, use if you want to go between two persons talking to each other, or if you want to enter someone's house or leaving

silahkan/silakan = please, giving consent (if you give someone something, or let someone enter before you)

mari... = let's... (eg. Mari makan = Let's eat!)
You can also use "mari" if you leave someone after a conversation. In this case, it means "I will go now and do whatever I please without you"

bisa pesan.../saya pesan... = i would like to order..

tanpa... = without... (eg. tanpa es batu=without ice cubes)
dengan... = with (eg. dengan gula)
gulanya dipisah ya, Pak = I would like separated sugar, please.

ambil saja kembaliannya = keep the change

"h" in the middle or end of word is often soft pronounced, may be you don't hear it but it's their in writting.

 

[jstar]

A good way to start is to learn how to pronounce the alphabet. Then remember the way the language is spoken is similar to Spanish I believe? The object comes before the description. Such as Itu Rumah warna yang Merah! Which means That house which is Red. Instead of English which would be, That Red House! I use Google translate almost daily when I hear or see a new word. The nice thing about Google translate is you can make it say the sentence, or use your camera to translate Bahasa Indonesian words, into Bahasa English, or Vis Versa

Some remarks on this;

You give a perfect example yourself why Google Translate often sucks. The way it translates to BI is never the way the people would say it. Very often it is made too complicated, too cumbersome. In this case they would just say: “Rumah warna merah”. For translating single words it’s no problem of course.

The order of noun and adjective is quite common in the Romance languages (la maison rouge) so these people could have an advantage. Also don’t forget many words are adopted from Portuguese and especially Dutch. The English speakers have as advantage that the new spelling is easier for them to pronounce.