Bedeutung
Asking to identify an object far from the speaker
Kultureller Hintergrund
Avoid pointing with your index finger. Use your thumb to point while asking 'Apa itu?'. When asking about offerings (Canang Sari) on the ground, be respectful and don't step over them. The slang 'Apaan tuh?' became a national catchphrase thanks to the comedian Jaja Mihardja. Asking 'Apa itu?' is a great way to start a conversation. Indonesians value 'ramah tamah' (friendliness).
The 'Ya' Softener
Add 'ya' at the end ('Apa itu ya?') to sound more polite and less like you are demanding an answer.
People are not 'Apa'
Always use 'Siapa' for people. Using 'Apa' can be seen as very dehumanizing.
Bedeutung
Asking to identify an object far from the speaker
The 'Ya' Softener
Add 'ya' at the end ('Apa itu ya?') to sound more polite and less like you are demanding an answer.
People are not 'Apa'
Always use 'Siapa' for people. Using 'Apa' can be seen as very dehumanizing.
Word Order
If you forget 'Apa itu', 'Itu apa' is 100% correct and understood.
The Thumb Point
In Java, point with your thumb to be extra polite when asking this question.
Teste dich selbst
You see a strange bird in a tree far away. How do you ask your friend what it is?
...
Since the bird is far away, you use 'itu'. Since it's an animal/object, you use 'Apa'.
Complete the dialogue at the market.
Buyer: Permisi, ___ itu? Seller: Itu buah naga, Pak.
The buyer is asking 'What' is that fruit.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
1. Apa ini? 2. Apa itu? 3. Siapa itu?
'Ini' for near, 'itu' for far, 'siapa' for people.
Choose the most natural slang response for a friend.
A: (Points to a weird car) B: Wah, ___?
'Apaan tuh' is the most common casual/slang version of 'Apa itu?'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Near vs Far
Aufgabensammlung
4 Aufgaben...
Since the bird is far away, you use 'itu'. Since it's an animal/object, you use 'Apa'.
Buyer: Permisi, ___ itu? Seller: Itu buah naga, Pak.
The buyer is asking 'What' is that fruit.
1. Apa ini? 2. Apa itu? 3. Siapa itu?
'Ini' for near, 'itu' for far, 'siapa' for people.
A: (Points to a weird car) B: Wah, ___?
'Apaan tuh' is the most common casual/slang version of 'Apa itu?'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo. 'Apa adalah itu' is grammatically incorrect in spoken Indonesian. Just say 'Apa itu?'.
'Apa itu' is for speaking. 'Apakah itu' is for formal writing.
Yes! It means both 'What is that?' and 'What are those?'.
You can say 'Apa namanya itu?' (What is its name?).
The most common slang is 'Apaan tuh?'.
Yes, 'Apa itu?' is perfect for identifying a mysterious noise.
Not at all, as long as you aren't pointing at a person.
You still use 'itu'. Indonesian doesn't have a separate word for 'over there' like Japanese 'are'.
Put the category first: '[Category] apa itu?'. Example: 'Kucing apa itu?' (What kind of cat is that?).
Yes! 'Bau apa itu?' (What smell is that?).
Verwandte Redewendungen
Apa ini?
contrastWhat is this?
Siapa itu?
similarWho is that?
Apaan tuh?
specialized formWhat's that? (slang)
Itu apa?
synonymThat is what?
Apa itu artinya?
builds onWhat does that mean?
