Everyday Bahasa
for the everyday necessity and the fun
Being in a nation, which considers Malay language her national language, for more than ten years, is bound to have picked up some Bahasa words and phrases here and there. Learning a new language is usually boring and painful. But to my surprise, it was not at all that bad when I started picking up some everyday terms in Malay.
在一个以马来语为国语的国度生活了十多年，是怎么样都学会了一丁点儿常用的马来语词汇了。虽说学习一门新的语言通常是个艰难及痛苦的过程，但是我在有意无意地学会了一些简单的马来语词汇的同时，却也体会到了一些个中的乐趣。
| Malay | Translations | Remarks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Word / Phrase | Pronunciation (in IPA notation) |
English | Chinese | |
| air | /air/ | water, liquid | 水，液体 | Not “air (空气)” in English, nor is it pronounced like in English |
| ais | /ais/ | ice | 冰 | Loanword |
| ais kacang | ice kacang | 红豆刨冰 | Literally, “red bean ice” | |
| aiskrim | /aiskrim/ | ice cream | 冰淇淋，雪糕 | Loanword |
| anda | /anda/ | you | 你（不分年龄和辈份） | |
| apa | /apa/ | what | 如何，什么 | |
| Apa khabar? | How are you? | 你好吗？ | ||
| What’s up? | ||||
| api | /api/ | fire | 火 | |
| April | ? |  April  |
四月 | Loanword |
| aras | /aras/ | level | 层，级 | |
| awak | /awak̚/ | body; you | 人，身体；你 | |
| awam | /awam/ | common | 平凡，普通，一般的 | |
| awas | /awas/ | caution | 小心 | |
| ayam | /ajam/ | chicken | 鸡，禽 | |
| baba | /baba/ | male Straits Chinese | 男性土生华人，峇峇 | |
| bahasa | /bahasa/ | language, manner | 语言，言语，举止，礼貌 | |
| bahaya | /bahaja/ | danger | 危险 | |
| baik | /baik̚/ | good, well | 好，有益 | |
| bandar | /bandar/ | town, port | 市镇，海港 | |
| baru | /baru/ | new | 新的 | |
| bas | /bas/ | bus | 公共汽车，巴士 | Loanword |
| berdiri | /bɛrdiri/ | to stand, standing | 站，站立 | Root: diri (self, existence) |
| berhati-hati | /bɛrhatihati/ | careful, beware, cautious | 小心，当心，注意 | Root: hati (liver, feelings, centre) |
| berhenti | /bɛrhenti/ | stop, halt | 停，停顿，止步 | Root: henti (to stop) |
| beri | /bɛri/ | to give | 给，赐予 | |
| Beri laluan | Give way (traffic sign) | （交通标志）让道 | ||
| bersih | /bɛrsih/ | clean | 清洁，干净 | |
| besar | /bɛsar/ | big, great, large | （巨）大的，伟大的 | |
| bin | /bin/ | son of | 某某的儿子 | Usually used in names, e.g., A bin B |
| boleh | /boleh/ | be able to, can; so-so | 可以，能够；一般 | |
| botak | /botak̚/ | bald | 秃头的，光秃秃的 | |
| botol | ? | bottle | 瓶子 | Loanword |
| budaya | /budaja/ | culture | 文化，文化的 | |
| bukit | /bukit/ | hill, mountain | 小山，山冈，丘陵 | |
| buku | /buku/ | book, joint, cores | 书（本），关节，要点 | |
| counter for for soap, bread, etc. | 计算肥皂、面包等的量词 | |||
| butik | ? | boutique | 精品店，小零售店 | Loanword |
| cawan | /ʧawan/ | teacup | 茶杯 | Loanword: 茶碗 [Japanese] |
| cendol | /ʧendol/ | chendol | 珍多冰（又名浆罗、煎律、晶露等） | |
| Cina | /ʧina/ | China, Chinese | 中华，中华的，华人的 | |
| cinta | /ʧinta/ | love, affection | 爱，爱情，爱惜 | |
| coklat | /ʧoklat/ | chocolate; brown | 巧克力；深褐色 | Loanword |
| datang | /dataŋ/ | come, arrive | 来到，抵达，来临 | |
| dekat | /dɛkat/ | near, almost | 最近，接近，几乎，差不多 | |
| di | /di/ | in, at, on | 在，在内，在中，在上 | |
| prefix to passive form | （动词前缀）被，为 | |||
| dia | /dia/ | he, she, it | 他，她，它 | |
| dilarang | /dilaraŋ/ | off limits | 越界，范围外 | Root: larang (forbid) |
| Disember | ? | December |
十二月 | Loanword |
| dua | /dua/ | two |
二，两 | |
| ekspres | ? | express (fast, expedited) | 直通的 | Loanword |
| elektrik | ? | electric, electricity | 电，电气的 | Loanword |
| empat | /ɛmpat/ | four |
四 | |
| enam | /ɛnam/ | six |
六 | |
| Februari | ? | February |
二月 | Loanword |
| filem | ? | film | 软片，胶卷 | Loanword |
| foto | ? | photo | 照片，相片 | Loanword |
| goreng | /gorɛŋ/ | to fry (cook in boiling fat or oil) | 煎，炒，炸 | |
| gula | /gula/ | sugar | 糖 | |
| gunung | /gunuŋ/ | mountain | （高）山，岳 | |
| halia | /halia/ | ginger | 姜 | |
| hari | /hari/ | day, daytime, date | 日，天，白天，日期 | |
| Hari Raya | day of celebration, festival | 庆祝的日子，节日 | ||
| ikan | /ikan/ | fish | 鱼 | |
| ingat | /ingat/ | remember | 记得 | |
| Inggeris | /iŋgɛris/ | English | 英国，英国的 | |
| ini | /ini/ | this, these | 这，这个，这些 | |
| itu | /itu/ | that, those | 那，那个，那些 | |
| jalan | /ʤalan/ | road, street; way, method; walk | 道路，公路，街道；方法，手段；走路，步行 | |
| jam | /ʤam/ | hour; clock | 小时；时钟 | |
| jangan | /ʤaŋan/ | don’t | 不要，不可，不能 | |
| Januari | ? | January |
一月 | Loanword |
| jeli | ? | jelly | 果冻 | Loanword |
| jeti | ? | jetty | 防波堤，码头，埠头 | Loanword |
| jihad | /ʤihad/ | crusade, holy war | 圣战，宗教战争 | Loanword |
| Julai | ? | July |
七月 | Loanword |
| Jun | ? | June |
六月 | Loanword |
| kacang | /kaʧaŋ/ | bean, pea | 豆子，豆沙 | |
| kambing | /kambiŋ/ | goat, sheep | 羊 | |
| kamu | /kamu/ | you | 你，你们 | |
| kampung | /kampuŋ/ | village, home town | 村，乡村，家园 | |
| kasih | /kasih/ | love, affection | 爱，爱情，喜爱 | |
| kastam | ? | customs | 海关，关税局 | Loanword |
| kasut | /kasut/ | shoes, boot | 鞋子，靴，木履 | |
| kaunter | ? | counter (as in “ticket counter”) | 柜台 | Loanword |
| kaunter tiket | ticket counter (that sells tickets) | （售票的）柜台 | ||
| kawan | /kawan/ | friend, party | 朋友，群众 | |
| ke | /ke/ | to (indicate direction) | （介词）至，到，向，朝 | |
| kecemasan | ? | emergency, urgency, uneasiness | 紧急（情况），不安，忧虑 | Root: cemas (nervous, urgent) |
| kedai | /kedai/ | shop, stall | 商店，小店，小摊 | |
| kedai kopi | coffee shop | 咖啡店 | ||
| kedai makan | restaurant, food stall | 饭馆 | ||
| keluar | /keluar/ | to go out, motion outwards; exit | 出去，滚开；出口 | Root: luar (outside) |
| kereta | /kereta/ | car, vehicle, carriage | （汽）车，马（或牛）车，车辆 | |
| keretapi | /keretapi/ | train | 火车 | |
| kereta api | ||||
| khabar | /xabar/ | news | 新闻，消息 | |
| Khabar baik, terima kasih. | Fine, thank you. | 我很好，谢谢。 | ||
| klinik | ? | clinic | （私人）诊所，专科医院 | Loanword |
| kolej | ? | college | 学院，职业学校 | Loanword |
| kompleks | ? | complex | 复杂的，综合大楼 | Loanword |
| kopi | ? | coffee; copy | 咖啡；抄本，抄袭 | Loanword |
| kosong | /kosoŋ/ | empty, hollow, zero |
空（虚），无，零 | |
| kota | /kota/ | fort, city | 堡垒，炮台，城市 | |
| kristal | ? | crystal | 水晶 | Loanword |
| laluan | /laluan/ | access, alleyway, passage | 通道，走廊 | |
| lampu | /lampu/ | light, lamp | 灯，洋火 | Loanword? |
| lapan | /lapan/ | eight |
八 | |
| lembu | ? | bull, cow, ox | 牛 | |
| liga | /liga/ | league | 联盟，同盟 | Loanword |
| lima | /lima/ | five |
五，五个 | |
| lorong | /loroŋ/ | alley, lane, path | 小巷，后巷 | |
| maaf | /maʔaf/ | forgiveness, to forgive | 原谅，宽恕，赦罪 | |
| Maafkan saya | Excuse me | 劳驾，对不起 | ||
| Mac | /maʧ/ | March |
三月 | Loanword |
| makan | /makan/ | to eat, to consume | 吃，消耗 | |
| makanan | /makanan/ | food | 食品，食物 | Root: makan |
| malam | /malam/ | night, dark | 晚上，夜晚 | |
| mana | /mana/ | where | 哪里，何处 | |
| marin | ? | marine | 海的，海运的，海军的 | Loanword |
| masjid | /masʤid/ | mosque | 清真寺，回教堂 | |
| masuk | /masuk̚/ | to enter; entrance | 进入；入口 | |
| medan | /mɛdan/ | field, square | 广场，园地，场地，平原 | |
| medan kereta | car park | 停车场 | ||
| Mei | ? | May |
五月 | Loanword |
| menara | /menara/ | tower | 塔，大厦 | |
| merah | /merah/ | red | 红色的 | |
| mi | /mi/ | noodles | 面条 | Loanword: 面 [Hokkien] |
| mee | ||||
| minit | /minit/ | minute | 分（钟），会议记录 | Loanword |
| mobil | ? | mobile, moter car | （小）汽车 | Loanword |
| nama | /nama/ | name | 姓名，名字 | |
| Nama saya ... | My name is ... | 我（的名字）是…… | ||
| nasi | /nasi/ | boiled rice | （米）饭 | |
| nasi goreng | fried rice | 炒饭 | ||
| Natal | /natal/ | Christmas, Yule | 圣诞节，耶诞节 | |
| negara | /nɛgara/ | state | 国家 | |
| notis | ? | notice （as a noun) | 布告，公告；通知 | Loanword |
| November | ? | November |
十一月 | Loanword |
| nyonya | /ɲoɲa/ | female Straits Chinese; Mrs. | 女性土生华人，娘惹；夫人，太太 | |
| Ogos | ? | August |
八月 | Loanword |
| Oktober | ? | October |
十月 | Loanword |
| oleh | /oleh/ | by, because of, due to | （介词）被, 经，由，因为，由于 | |
| orang | /oraŋ/ | people, person; counter (measure word) for human | 人，人们；用作人数的量词 | |
| orang putih | caucasian, westerner | 白种人，西方人 | ||
| orang utan | Pongo, orangutan | （红毛）猩猩 | Literally, “forest people” | |
| padang | /padaŋ/ | field, plain | 操场，原野，草原，平原 | |
| pagi | /pagi/ | morning | 早上，早晨 | |
| panjang | /panʤaŋ/ | long | 长，长的 | |
| pantai | /pantai/ | beach, seashore | 海滨，海边，沙滩，沿岸 | |
| pasar | /pasar/ | market, bazaar | 市场，集市，“巴刹” | |
| pasar malam | night market | 夜市 | ||
| pasir | /pasir/ | sand, beach | 沙，沙滩，沙地 | |
| pejabat | /pɛʤabat/ | office | 办事处，部，局，署 | |
| peranakan | /pɛranakan/ | Straits Chinese, natives | 土生华人，侨生 | |
| perhentian | /pɛrhentian/ | stop, end, station | 停止，终结，车站 | Root: henti (to stop, to halt) |
| petang | /pɛtaŋ/ | afternoon, evening | 下午，午后，傍晚，黄昏 | |
| pintu | /pintu/ | door, gate | 门，栅门 | |
| pisang | /pisaŋ/ | banana | 香蕉 | |
| pisang goreng | deep fried banana | 炸香蕉 | ||
| platform | ? | platform | 站台，月台 | Loanword |
| polis | /polis/ | police | 警察，警官 | Loanword |
| politeknik | ? | polytechnic | （尤指英国的）理工学院 | Loanword |
| pos | ? | post (as in post office) | 邮政，邮件 | Loanword |
| poskod | ? | postcode | 邮政编码 | Loanword |
| promosi | ? | promotion (as in “sales promotion”) | （商品）促销活动 | Loanword |
| pulau | /pulau/ | island | 岛，屿 | |
| puluh | /puluh/ | (in groups of) ten |
（数）十 | |
| pusat | /pusat/ | navel; focus, centre, main office | 肚脐；中心，核心，枢纽，总部 | |
| putih | ? | white | 白色 | |
| Qur’an | /kurʔan/ | Koran, Muslim sacred book | 古兰经，可兰经 | Usually “al Qur’an” |
| raja | /raʤa/ | king, lord, prince | 王，太子，君主 | |
| Ramadan | /ramadan/ | Ramadan, ninth month of Islamic calendar | 斋月（回教历法的九月） | |
| raya | /raja/ | big, great | （巨）大的，伟大的 | |
| restoran | ? | restaurant | 餐馆 | Loanword |
| ruang | /ruaŋ/ | a room, chamber, space, hollow | 房间，室，空间，中空 | |
| sama | /sama/ | same, alike, equal | 相同，同样，平等 | |
| Sama-sama | You are welcome; together | 不用谢；一同 | ||
| sambal | /sambal/ | sambal (a kind of spicy condiment) | 叁峇辣酱 | |
| satu | /satu/ | one |
一 ，一个 | |
| saya | /saja/ | I, me | 我 | |
| sayang | /sajaŋ/ | love, pity | 爱，疼爱，爱惜，可惜 | |
| sekolah | ? | school | 学校 | |
| selamat | /sɛlamat/ | safety | 平安，安全 | Commonly used in greetings |
| Selamat datang | Welcome (greeting) | 欢迎（光临） | ||
| Selamat Hari Natal | Merry Christmas | 圣诞快乐 | ||
| Selamat jalan | Have a safe journey; goodbye (by the party staying) | 再见，走好；祝一路顺风 | ||
| Selamat malam | Good night | 晚上好，晚安 | ||
| Selamat pagi | Good morning | 早上好，早安 | ||
| Selamat petang | Good evening | 傍晚好 | ||
| Selamat Tahun Baru | Happy New Year | 新年好 | ||
| Selamat tengahari | Good afternoon | 下午好，午安 | ||
| Selamat tinggal | Goodbye (by the party leaving/going) | 再见，留步 | ||
| selat | /sɛlat/ | strait, straits | 海峡 | |
| sembilan | /sɛmbilan/ | nine |
九 | |
| semenanjung | ? | peninsula | 半岛 | |
| sen | /sen/ | cent | 分（十进制货币单位的百分之一） | Loanword |
| September | ? | September |
九月 | Loanword |
| seri | /sɛri/ | charm, splendour | 美丽的，崇高的，光彩 | |
| servis | ? | service (department or organization) | 政府部门，公用机构 | Loanword |
| siapa | /siapa/ | who | 谁 | |
| Siapa nama anda? | What’s your name? | 你叫什么名字？ | ||
| sila | /sila/ | please | 请 | |
| silat | /silat/ | Malay martial art | 马来武术 | |
| sudah | /sudah/ | done, ended, finished | 已经，完成 | |
| tahun | /tahun/ | year | 年 | |
| Tahun Baru | New Year’s day | 新年，元旦 | ||
| taman | /taman/ | garden, park | 花园，公园，庭园 | |
| tanah | /tanah/ | soil, land, territory | （土）地，陆地，泥土 | |
| tandas | /tandas/ | privy, toilet, restroom | 厕所 | |
| tandas awam | public toilet | 公共厕所 | ||
| tarik | /tarik̚/ | pull, drag | 拉，拖，曳引 | |
| teh | /teh/ | tea | 茶 | Loanword: 茶 [Hokkien] |
| teh halia | ginger tea | 姜茶 | ||
| teh tarik | teh tarik | 拉茶 | Literally, “pulled tea” | |
| teknologi | ? | technology | 技术，工艺 | Loanword |
| telaga | /tɛlaga/ | lake, well (shaft dug in the ground), spring | 湖，池，泉，井 | |
| telefon | ? | telephone | 电话 | Loanword |
| tengahari | /tɛŋahari/ | afternoon, noon | 下午，中午 | |
| terima | /tɛrima/ | accept, receive | 接受，承接 | |
| Terima kasih | Thank you | 谢谢 | ||
| tidak | /tidak̚/ | no, not | 不，否 | Just takcolloquially |
| tidak baik | bad | 不好 | ||
| tiga | /tiga/ | three |
三，三个 | |
| tiket | ? | ticket | 票，票据 | Loanword |
| tinggal | /tiŋgal/ | live, dwell, stay, remain | 居住，居留，遗留，保留 | |
| tingkat | /tiŋkat̚/ | floor, level, grade, tier | 楼层，层级，等级 | |
| tolak | /tolak̚/ | push away, reject, subtract | 推（开），拒绝，挡开，扣减 | |
| tolong | /toloŋ/ | help (asking for help); help | 救命；帮助，帮忙 | |
| tuan | /tuan/ | Mr, sir | 先生 | |
| tujuh | /tuʤuh/ | seven |
七，七个 | |
| universiti | ? | university | 大学 | Loanword |
| untuk | /untuk̚/ | for | （介词）为，对于，关于 | |
| utan | /utan/ | forest | 森林 | Also as hutan |
| wayang | /wajaŋ/ | shadow puppet; a show, a play | 皮影戏；电影，戏剧，舞台戏 | |
| ya | /ja/ | yes | 是，然，诺 | |
| yang | /jaŋ/ | that, which, who (as a relational pronoun or determinant) | （关系代词／限定词）乃，系……的 | |
References
- Webster’s Online Dictionary with Multilingual Thesaurus Translation. Philip M. Parker, INSEAD, 2010.
- CARI Dictionary Online. CARI Internet Sdn Bhd, 2003.
- Online Dictionary - Kamus Online.
mykamus.my, February 2010. - Guide to Pronunciation of Indonesian, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Northern Illinois University, February 2010.
- Malay Language Course by pgoh13, GPJ, 2011.
- Malay language, Wikipedia, February 2010.
- Indonesian language, Wikipedia, February 2010.
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