When used as an adjective, cepat means 'fast' or 'quick'. It describes the speed at which something moves or happens. For example, 'mobil cepat' means 'fast car'. It can also describe a quick action or response, like 'jawaban cepat' for a 'quick answer'. You might also hear it in phrases like 'cepat sekali' which emphasizes 'very fast' or 'very quick'.
§ Using Cepat for 'Soon'
One of the most common mistakes English speakers make with 'cepat' is using it when they actually mean 'soon'. In English, 'fast' and 'soon' can sometimes overlap in meaning, but in Indonesian, they are distinct. 'Cepat' means fast in terms of speed, while 'segera' or 'nanti' are better choices for 'soon' or 'later'.
Saya akan datang cepat (Incorrect: I will come fast/soon).
Saya akan datang segera (Correct: I will come soon).
§ Confusing Cepat with 'Early'
Another common pitfall is using 'cepat' when you mean 'early'. While both relate to time, 'cepat' describes the speed of an action or object, and 'awal' is used for something happening earlier than expected or planned. For example, if you want to say 'I woke up early', you would use 'awal', not 'cepat'.
Saya bangun cepat (Incorrect: I woke up fast).
Saya bangun awal (Correct: I woke up early).
§ Using Cepat for 'Quickly' as an Adverb
While 'cepat' can function as an adverb, directly translating 'quickly' from English might lead to awkward phrasing in Indonesian. Often, a verb with a prefix or a different construction is more natural. For instance, instead of saying something like 'Dia makan cepat' (He eats fast), it's often more natural to say 'Dia makan dengan cepat' (He eats with speed) or just let the context imply the speed if 'cepat' is used alone as an adverb after the verb.
Dia bekerja cepat (He works fast/quickly).
- Explanation
- While this is grammatically acceptable, sometimes adding 'dengan' (with) makes it sound more fluent when 'cepat' is used adverbially, especially for emphasis, or a different verb altogether might be more idiomatic.
§ Overusing Cepat
Sometimes learners overuse 'cepat' because it's one of the first words they learn for speed. However, Indonesian, like any language, has a variety of words to express different nuances of speed or promptness. Expanding your vocabulary beyond just 'cepat' will make your speech more natural and precise. For example, instead of always saying something is 'cepat', consider alternatives like 'gesit' (nimble, agile) or 'lancar' (smooth, fluent, sometimes implying quickness in process).
Cepat: General 'fast' or 'quick'.
Gesit: Refers to being quick and agile, often used for people or animals.
Lancar: Smooth and quick, often for processes or speaking.
Anaknya sangat gesit (His child is very nimble/quick-moving).
Prosesnya berjalan lancar (The process went smoothly/quickly).
By being aware of these common mistakes, you can use 'cepat' more accurately and sound more natural in your Indonesian conversations. Keep practicing, and don't be afraid to make mistakes – that's how you learn!
§ Understanding 'cepat' in Indonesian
The Indonesian word 'cepat' is a versatile adjective that translates to 'fast' or 'quick' in English. It's a fundamental word you'll hear and use often in everyday conversations. Whether you're talking about speed, promptness, or the pace of something, 'cepat' is your go-to word. Remember, Indonesian adjectives don't change their form based on gender or number, so 'cepat' works for everything.
- Meaning
- Fast, quick
Kereta itu sangat cepat.
Translation hint: That train is very fast.
Bisakah kamu bekerja lebih cepat?
Translation hint: Can you work faster?
§ Using 'cepat' in sentences
'Cepat' can describe the speed of an action, a person, or an object. It's a straightforward word to integrate into your sentences. You'll often see it modifying verbs or other adjectives. Think of it as directly translating to 'fast' or 'quick' in most contexts.
- To describe a person or animal's speed:
Pelari itu sangat cepat.
Translation hint: That runner is very fast.
- To describe the speed of a process or event:
Perkembangannya sangat cepat.
Translation hint: The development is very quick.
§ 'Cepat' as a command or instruction
You'll often hear 'cepat!' used as an exclamation to urge someone to hurry up. It's direct and commonly used, especially in informal settings.
Cepat! Kita akan terlambat!
Translation hint: Hurry up! We will be late!
§ Similar words and when to use 'cepat' vs alternatives
While 'cepat' is the most common and general word for 'fast' or 'quick,' Indonesian has other words that convey similar meanings with slightly different nuances. Understanding these differences will help you sound more natural and precise.
- Laju
- Often refers to the speed of movement, especially for vehicles or fluids. It's more about the rate of travel.
Batas laju di jalan ini 60 km/jam.
Translation hint: The speed limit on this road is 60 km/h.
You would use 'laju' when discussing speed limits or the velocity of an object. While 'cepat' could also apply, 'laju' is more technically precise for this context.
- Gesit
- Describes agility or nimbleness. Someone who is 'gesit' is quick and skillful in their movements.
Kucing itu sangat gesit saat berburu.
Translation hint: That cat is very agile when hunting.
'Gesit' implies not just speed, but also coordination and quick reflexes. Think of a nimble dancer or a quick-witted person.
- Lekas
- Means 'soon' or 'promptly,' often used in requests or commands to emphasize urgency in starting an action.
Lekas pergi dari sini!
Translation hint: Get out of here quickly/promptly!
While similar to 'cepat' in urging speed, 'lekas' often implies starting something quickly or without delay. You're telling someone to be prompt, not just generally fast.
§ When to stick with 'cepat'
For most general uses of 'fast' or 'quick,' 'cepat' remains the best choice. If you're simply describing the speed of something without needing to emphasize agility, promptness, or technical velocity, 'cepat' is clear and universally understood.
- Describing the speed of a car, plane, or other transport:
Pesawat itu terbang sangat cepat.
Translation hint: The airplane flew very fast.
- Describing how quickly someone learns or understands:
Dia belajar bahasa Indonesia dengan sangat cepat.
Translation hint: He learned Indonesian very quickly.
- Giving a general command to hurry:
Ayo cepat! Waktu sudah habis.
Translation hint: Come on, quick! Time is up.
In summary, 'cepat' is your everyday word for 'fast' or 'quick.' Use 'laju' for technical speed, 'gesit' for agile quickness, and 'lekas' for promptness in starting an action. But when in doubt, 'cepat' will almost always be correct and understood.
Famille de mots
Noms
Verbes
Teste-toi 12 questions
Pilihlah kalimat yang menggunakan kata 'cepat' dengan benar.
'Cepat' mendeskripsikan bagaimana dia berlari, yaitu dengan cepat.
Kata mana yang memiliki arti yang sama dengan 'cepat'?
'Kencang' juga berarti 'fast' atau 'rapid'.
Lengkapilah kalimat: Kereta api ini sangat ____.
Kereta api biasanya bergerak cepat.
Kalimat 'Anak itu berlari sangat cepat' berarti anak itu bergerak dengan kecepatan tinggi.
Betul, 'cepat' menggambarkan kecepatan tinggi.
Kata 'cepat' bisa digunakan untuk mendeskripsikan warna.
'Cepat' adalah kata sifat yang mendeskripsikan kecepatan, bukan warna.
Dalam kalimat 'Ayo, makan cepat!', 'cepat' berarti makan dengan tergesa-gesa.
Benar, dalam konteks ini, 'cepat' berarti melakukan sesuatu dengan segera atau tergesa-gesa.
Imagine you are trying to catch a bus that is leaving soon. Write a short paragraph describing what you do and how you feel, using 'cepat' at least once.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Saya harus lari cepat untuk mengejar bus. Saya tidak mau terlambat ke kantor. Jantung saya berdebar-debar karena terburu-buru.
You are giving instructions to a friend who needs to finish a task quickly. Write three sentences telling them to be 'cepat' in different contexts.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Kamu harus bekerja cepat kalau mau pulang tepat waktu. Selesaikan laporan ini secepatnya. Jangan buang-buang waktu lagi.
Describe a time when you had to make a 'cepat' decision. What was the situation, and what was the outcome?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Waktu itu, saya harus membuat keputusan cepat karena ada kecelakaan di jalan. Saya langsung memutar arah untuk menghindari kemacetan. Untungnya, saya sampai tujuan tepat waktu.
Mengapa Diana harus bekerja cepat?
Read this passage:
Diana ingin membuat kue untuk pesta ulang tahun adiknya. Dia hanya punya waktu satu jam. Jadi, dia harus bekerja sangat cepat. Dia mencampur bahan-bahan dengan gesit dan memanggang kue dalam oven. Akhirnya, kue itu siap tepat waktu.
Mengapa Diana harus bekerja cepat?
Teks tersebut menyatakan 'Dia hanya punya waktu satu jam. Jadi, dia harus bekerja sangat cepat.' (She only had one hour. So, she had to work very quickly.)
Teks tersebut menyatakan 'Dia hanya punya waktu satu jam. Jadi, dia harus bekerja sangat cepat.' (She only had one hour. So, she had to work very quickly.)
Apa keputusan cepat yang dibuat Budi?
Read this passage:
Pagi ini, lalu lintas sangat padat. Budi harus pergi ke bandara, tetapi taksi yang dia pesan tidak kunjung datang. Dia melihat jam, sudah hampir terlambat. Dengan cepat, dia memutuskan untuk naik ojek agar tidak ketinggalan pesawatnya.
Apa keputusan cepat yang dibuat Budi?
Teks tersebut mengatakan 'Dengan cepat, dia memutuskan untuk naik ojek agar tidak ketinggalan pesawatnya.' (Quickly, he decided to take a motorcycle taxi so he wouldn't miss his flight.)
Teks tersebut mengatakan 'Dengan cepat, dia memutuskan untuk naik ojek agar tidak ketinggalan pesawatnya.' (Quickly, he decided to take a motorcycle taxi so he wouldn't miss his flight.)
Mengapa pelari itu berlari cepat di awal perlombaan?
Read this passage:
Seorang pelari marathon sedang berusaha memecahkan rekor pribadinya. Dia berlari dengan sangat cepat sejak awal perlombaan. Meskipun dia merasa lelah, dia terus mempertahankan kecepatannya. Di putaran terakhir, dia mengerahkan semua tenaganya dan berhasil melewati garis finis lebih cepat dari yang dia duga.
Mengapa pelari itu berlari cepat di awal perlombaan?
Teks tersebut menyatakan 'Seorang pelari marathon sedang berusaha memecahkan rekor pribadinya. Dia berlari dengan sangat cepat sejak awal perlombaan.' (A marathon runner was trying to break his personal record. He ran very quickly from the start of the race.)
Teks tersebut menyatakan 'Seorang pelari marathon sedang berusaha memecahkan rekor pribadinya. Dia berlari dengan sangat cepat sejak awal perlombaan.' (A marathon runner was trying to break his personal record. He ran very quickly from the start of the race.)
/ 12 correct
Perfect score!
