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A1 pronoun 10 min de lecture

yang

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces yang en 30 secondes

Explication yang in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should think of 'yang' as a way to point at things. Its primary use is to say 'the [adjective] one'. For example, if you are at a market and see many shirts, you say 'yang merah' to mean 'the red one'. It helps you identify specific objects. You will also see it in very simple questions like 'Yang mana?' (Which one?). At this stage, don't worry about complex grammar; just use it to pick out specific items based on their color, size, or location. It acts as a shortcut so you don't have to repeat the noun. If someone asks 'Do you want the big book or the small book?', you can simply answer 'Yang besar' (The big one). This makes your Indonesian sound much more natural even with a limited vocabulary. You will also encounter it in the phrase 'Yang ini' (This one) and 'Yang itu' (That one).

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'yang' to link people and things to simple actions. This is where it starts to function like 'who' or 'that' in English. For example, 'Orang yang makan' (The person who eats). You are moving beyond simple adjectives to simple verbs. You also use 'yang' to form superlatives using 'paling' (most). For example, 'yang paling enak' (the most delicious). You will start to notice 'yang' in daily conversations more frequently, especially when people are describing their family or their belongings. It becomes a tool for adding a layer of detail to your sentences. You should also be comfortable using 'yang' to nominalize adjectives frequently, such as 'Saya suka yang pedas' (I like the spicy one) when talking about food. This level is about building the foundation for more descriptive speech.

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At the B1 level, you use 'yang' to create more complex relative clauses that include time markers and multiple descriptors. For example, 'Buku yang saya beli kemarin' (The book that I bought yesterday). You also start to use 'yang' in 'cleft sentences' to provide emphasis: 'Yang saya cari adalah kunci saya' (What I am looking for is my keys). This allows you to control the focus of your sentences. You should also understand the difference between 'yang' as a relative pronoun and 'bahwa' as a conjunction, as this is a common area for mistakes at this level. You are now using 'yang' to describe not just physical objects, but also abstract concepts like 'hal yang penting' (an important thing) or 'sesuatu yang menarik' (something interesting). Your ability to provide detailed explanations and narratives depends heavily on your mastery of 'yang' at this stage.

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At the B2 level, 'yang' is used fluently in formal writing and academic contexts. You will encounter it in passive relative clauses, which are very common in Indonesian: 'Masalah yang sedang dibicarakan' (The problem that is being discussed). You also understand how 'yang' can be used to create formal titles and honorifics. You are able to use 'yang' to link long, complex clauses without losing the grammatical thread of the sentence. At this level, you also recognize the nuanced difference between using 'yang' for emphasis versus omitting it for a general description. You might use it in legal or professional contexts to define specific terms, such as 'pihak yang bersangkutan' (the party concerned). Your use of 'yang' should feel intuitive, and you should be able to identify and correct errors in its usage in more complex literary or news texts.

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At the C1 level, you appreciate the stylistic nuances of 'yang'. You can use it to create rhythmic and balanced sentences in speeches or creative writing. You understand its role in classical Indonesian literature and how it can be used to evoke a specific tone. You are comfortable with 'yang' in complex structures involving prepositions, such as 'tempat di mana...' (which is often simplified or altered using 'yang'). You also understand the use of 'yang' in philosophical or highly abstract discussions, where it helps to define categories of existence or thought. You can distinguish between the functional use of 'yang' and its use as a stylistic filler or a way to slow down the pace of a sentence for dramatic effect. Your command of 'yang' allows you to navigate the most sophisticated levels of Indonesian discourse with ease.

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At the C2 level, your mastery of 'yang' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. You understand its historical evolution and its relationship to similar structures in other Austronesian languages. You can use 'yang' in archaic or highly formal registers, such as in the titles of nobility or in legal documents from different eras. You are aware of regional variations in its usage and how it might be influenced by local dialects in informal speech. You can analyze the use of 'yang' in the most complex poetry and prose, understanding how it contributes to the overall architecture of the text. At this level, 'yang' is no longer a grammar rule but a flexible instrument that you use to achieve precise rhetorical effects, whether in a high-level academic paper, a political speech, or a masterpiece of literature.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

yang en 30 secondes

Yang is the primary relative pronoun in Indonesian, equivalent to who, which, or that.
It acts as a linker between a noun and its descriptive quality or action.
It can turn any adjective into a noun, meaning 'the [adjective] one'.
It is used to form superlatives (the most) and to ask 'which one' (yang mana).

The word yang is arguably the most versatile and frequently used word in the Indonesian language. At its core, it functions as a relative pronoun, serving as the bridge between a noun and a descriptor or a clause. In English, we often translate it as 'which', 'that', 'who', or 'whom', but its utility extends far beyond these simple translations. It acts as a structural glue that allows speakers to define specific attributes of a subject without needing complex verb conjugations. Because Indonesian does not use a 'to be' verb (like am, is, are) in the same way English does, yang often steps in to clarify that we are talking about a specific item defined by a certain quality.

The Identifier: When you want to point out a specific object among many, you use yang. For example, if there are three cars and you want the red one, you say 'mobil yang merah'. Without the yang, you are just saying 'red car' (mobil merah) as a general concept, but with it, you are emphasizing 'the one that is red'.

Saya mau membeli sepatu yang biru itu.

Translation: I want to buy those shoes which are blue (the blue ones).

Beyond identification, yang is used to form the superlative degree. When you want to say something is the 'most' or 'best', you combine yang with paling or the suffix -ter. For instance, 'yang paling besar' means 'the biggest one'. This makes the word indispensable for comparisons and expressing preferences. In daily conversation, you will hear it constantly in markets, restaurants, and social gatherings as people specify exactly what they are referring to.

The Nominalizer: It can turn adjectives into nouns. 'Kecil' means small, but 'yang kecil' means 'the small one'. This is incredibly useful when the noun has already been mentioned and you don't want to repeat it.

Ada dua pilihan: yang mahal atau yang murah?

Translation: There are two choices: the expensive one or the cheap one?

Furthermore, yang is used in formal titles and honorifics. For example, 'Yang Mulia' is used to address someone as 'Your Excellency' or 'Your Honor'. It elevates the adjective 'Mulia' (Noble) into a formal title. This demonstrates that the word is not just a grammatical tool but also carries cultural weight in how respect and hierarchy are expressed in Indonesian society.

Relative Clauses: In complex sentences, yang connects a noun to a whole action. 'Orang yang sedang makan' means 'The person who is currently eating'. It functions exactly like 'who' in this context.

Rumah yang berdiri di atas bukit itu sangat tua.

In summary, whether you are picking out a fruit at a stall, describing a friend, or writing a formal letter, yang is the tool you will use to specify, describe, and connect ideas. Its simplicity in form belies its massive importance in the structural integrity of the Indonesian language.

Using yang correctly is the first major step toward sounding natural in Indonesian. The most basic pattern is [Noun] + yang + [Adjective]. This structure is used to distinguish the noun from others. While you can say 'kucing hitam' (black cat) to describe a cat, saying 'kucing yang hitam' implies 'the cat that is black'—often used when comparing it to cats of other colors.

Basic Adjective Linker: Use it to emphasize a quality. 'Saya suka kopi yang manis' (I like coffee that is sweet). This is different from 'Saya suka kopi manis' which is just a general preference for sweet coffee.

Buku yang tebal itu sangat berat.

The book that is thick is very heavy.

The second major pattern is [Noun] + yang + [Verbal Clause]. This is where yang acts as 'who', 'which', or 'that' in English relative clauses. For example, 'Orang yang bekerja di sini' (The person who works here). Note that the verb following yang does not change its form, regardless of whether the subject is singular or plural.

Relative Clause Connector: It links a person or thing to an action. 'Film yang kita tonton kemarin' (The movie that we watched yesterday). It defines the movie specifically by the action associated with it.

Anak yang sedang berlari itu adalah adik saya.

A more advanced usage is the 'Cleft Sentence' structure, where yang starts the sentence to provide focus. 'Yang saya butuhkan adalah waktu' (What I need is time). This is a powerful way to emphasize the object of your needs or desires. It effectively turns the phrase 'what I need' into the subject of the sentence.

Focus and Superlatives: When combined with 'paling' (most), it identifies the extreme. 'Gunung yang paling tinggi' (The mountain that is the highest). It isolates the subject as the unique holder of that quality.

Yang mana favoritmu?

Which one is your favorite?

Finally, yang is used in questions to ask 'which one'. The phrase 'yang mana' is the standard way to ask for a choice between options. Whether you are choosing a shirt or a career path, 'yang mana' is your go-to phrase. Understanding these patterns—Adjective Linker, Relative Clause, Nominalizer, and Focus Marker—will give you a comprehensive command of Indonesian sentence structure.

In the bustling markets (pasar) of Jakarta or the quiet villages of Bali, the word yang is omnipresent. In a marketplace, you don't just ask for 'apples'. You ask for 'yang merah' (the red ones) or 'yang manis' (the sweet ones). Vendors will hold up a piece of fruit and ask, 'Yang ini?' (This one?), and you might reply, 'Bukan, yang itu' (No, that one). Here, yang acts as a vital tool for transactional precision.

Daily Transactions: In restaurants, when the waiter brings the wrong dish, you might say 'Bukan yang ini yang saya pesan' (This isn't the one I ordered). It clarifies the specific object of the conversation.

Pilih yang mana saja, semuanya bagus.

Choose whichever one, they are all good.

In Indonesian media and news broadcasts, yang is used to provide detailed descriptions of events and people. News anchors use it to link subjects to their actions: 'Presiden yang baru saja tiba...' (The President who just arrived...). In these formal settings, the word helps maintain a flow of information while being grammatically precise. It is also found in every headline, often used to shorten descriptions efficiently.

Social Media & Slang: On Instagram or TikTok, you'll see captions like 'Yang lagi viral' (The one that's currently viral). In texting, it's often shortened to 'yg' to save time, showing how fundamental it is even in digital shorthand.

Cari yang murah tapi berkualitas.

In traditional literature and songs, yang is used to create poetic descriptions. Song lyrics are filled with phrases like 'Kau yang terindah' (You who are the most beautiful). It adds a layer of romanticism and focus on the beloved. Whether in the most mundane transaction or the most elevated poetry, yang is the word that defines Indonesian communication.

One of the most common mistakes for English speakers is using yang to mean 'that' when it is a conjunction, rather than a relative pronoun. In English, we use 'that' for both: 'I know that you are here' and 'The book that I read'. In Indonesian, these are different. For 'I know that...', you must use bahwa. Using yang here is a major grammatical error.

Yang vs. Bahwa: Mistake: Saya pikir yang dia lelah. (Incorrect)
Correct: Saya pikir bahwa dia lelah. (I think that he is tired).

Dia bilang bahwa dia akan datang, bukan yang.

Another frequent error is omitting yang when it is necessary for clarity. While Indonesian is often flexible, leaving out yang in a relative clause can change the meaning or make the sentence sound like a list of unrelated words. For example, 'Orang makan' means 'People eat', but 'Orang yang makan' means 'The person who eats'. If you want to describe a specific person, the yang is mandatory.

Overuse with Adjectives: Beginners often put yang before every adjective. 'Mobil yang merah' is fine, but if you are just describing a car in general, 'mobil merah' is more natural. Only use yang when you need to specify or emphasize.

Saya punya kucing kecil (General description). Saya mau kucing yang kecil (Specific choice).

Lastly, learners often struggle with 'yang mana' vs 'mana'. 'Mana' usually means 'where', but 'yang mana' means 'which one'. If you ask 'Buku mana?', it sounds like 'Where is the book?'. If you want to ask 'Which book?', you must say 'Buku yang mana?'. Keeping these distinctions in mind—conjunctions vs pronouns, and general vs specific descriptions—will help you avoid the most common 'yang' pitfalls.

While yang is unique, there are words that perform similar functions in specific contexts. Understanding the differences between yang, bahwa, and siapa is crucial for advanced fluency. Each of these words connects parts of a sentence, but they do so for different grammatical reasons.

Yang vs. Bahwa: As mentioned before, yang is a relative pronoun (the thing that...), while bahwa is a conjunction (I know that...). They are never interchangeable. 'Bahwa' introduces a fact or a statement, while 'yang' introduces a description.

Berita bahwa dia menang itu benar. Berita yang saya baca itu benar.

Notice the difference: The news 'that' he won (fact) vs. The news 'which' I read (description).

Another word often confused with yang in questions is siapa. In English, we use 'who' for both relative clauses ('The man who...') and questions ('Who is he?'). In Indonesian, you use yang for the relative clause and siapa for the question. You cannot start a relative clause with siapa.

Yang vs. Siapa: Question: Siapa yang datang? (Who is coming?) Relative Clause: Orang yang datang... (The person who is coming...). You cannot say 'Orang siapa datang'.

Siapa yang mengambil kunci yang ada di meja?

Lastly, compare yang with adalah. While both can be used to define things, adalah is a copula (like 'is') used for definitions: 'Kucing adalah binatang'. Yang is used for descriptions: 'Kucing yang lapar'. Understanding these boundaries—fact vs description, question vs clause, and definition vs attribution—is the key to mastering the complex web of Indonesian connectors.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

Because 'yang' is so common, it is often the first word Indonesian babies learn to use for pointing things out, right after 'mama' and 'papa'.

Guide de prononciation

UK /jaŋ/

US /jɑŋ/

Single syllable word; no specific stress.

Rime avec

bang kang lang mang pang rang sang tang

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing it like 'yang' in 'Yankee' (with an 'æ' sound). It should be a deep 'ah' sound.
Adding a hard 'g' at the end (yan-ge). It should be a smooth nasal 'ng'.
Pronouncing the 'y' as a 'j' sound.
Making it two syllables (ya-ng).
Nasalizing the 'a' too much.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 1/5

Very easy to recognize as it appears in almost every sentence.

Écriture 2/5

Slightly harder because you must remember not to use it as a conjunction (bahwa).

Expression orale 1/5

Very natural to use once you learn the basic Noun+Yang+Adj pattern.

Écoute 1/5

Clear and distinct sound, easy to hear in conversation.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

ini itu saya ada mana

Apprends ensuite

bahwa paling siapa dengan untuk

Avancé

nan adalah ialah yakni yaitu

Grammaire à connaître

Relative Clause Formation

Noun + yang + [Verb/Adj]

Superlative Degree

Yang + paling + Adjective

Nominalization

Yang + Adjective (e.g., Yang merah)

Clefting for Emphasis

Yang + Clause + adalah + Focus

Passive Relative Clauses

Noun + yang + di-Verb

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Exemples par niveau

Saya mau yang ini.

I want this one.

'Yang' here makes 'ini' (this) into a noun 'this one'.

Mobil yang merah itu besar.

That red car is big.

'Yang' links the noun 'mobil' to the adjective 'merah'.

Buku yang mana?

Which book?

'Yang mana' is the standard way to ask 'which one'.

Saya suka yang manis.

I like the sweet one.

'Yang' turns the adjective 'manis' into a noun meaning 'the sweet one'.

Anak yang kecil itu lucu.

That small child is cute.

'Yang' emphasizes the quality of being small.

Rumah yang biru.

The blue house.

Simple identification using color.

Pilih yang besar.

Choose the big one.

Imperative sentence using 'yang' for selection.

Kucing yang hitam.

The black cat.

Specifying a cat by its color.

Orang yang makan itu teman saya.

The person who is eating is my friend.

'Yang' acts as 'who' connecting the person to the action of eating.

Ini adalah gunung yang paling tinggi.

This is the highest mountain.

'Yang paling' is the structure for the superlative 'the most'.

Saya mencari tas yang hilang.

I am looking for the bag that is lost.

Relative clause describing the status of the bag.

Kopi yang panas enak sekali.

Hot coffee is very delicious.

Specifying coffee that is hot.

Dia adalah guru yang baik.

He is a good teacher.

Using 'yang' to attribute a quality to a person.

Sepatu yang saya pakai baru.

The shoes that I am wearing are new.

Relative clause with a subject (saya) and verb (pakai).

Toko yang buka sampai malam.

A shop that is open until night.

Describing a shop by its operating hours.

Pekerjaan yang sulit.

A difficult job.

Identifying a task by its difficulty.

Yang saya inginkan adalah kebahagiaan.

What I want is happiness.

Cleft sentence where 'yang' starts the sentence for focus.

Film yang kita tonton kemarin sangat sedih.

The movie that we watched yesterday was very sad.

Complex relative clause involving a specific time (kemarin).

Ada sesuatu yang ingin saya katakan.

There is something that I want to say.

'Yang' links 'sesuatu' (something) to a desire to speak.

Dia adalah orang yang tidak pernah menyerah.

He is a person who never gives up.

Relative clause with a negative adverb (tidak pernah).

Rumah yang dibangun kakek saya masih berdiri.

The house that my grandfather built is still standing.

Relative clause with a passive-leaning structure (dibangun).

Pilihlah jalan yang paling aman.

Choose the safest path.

Superlative used in a piece of advice.

Hanya mereka yang belajar akan lulus.

Only those who study will pass.

'Yang' defines the specific group of people.

Mobil yang diparkir di sana adalah milik saya.

The car parked there is mine.

Relative clause using a passive verb (diparkir).

Masalah yang sedang kita hadapi sangat rumit.

The problem we are currently facing is very complex.

Formal relative clause with continuous aspect (sedang).

Faktor yang paling menentukan adalah waktu.

The most decisive factor is time.

Abstract noun modified by a superlative relative clause.

Pihak yang bersangkutan harus hadir.

The parties concerned must be present.

Formal legalistic phrase 'pihak yang bersangkutan'.

Buku yang diterbitkan tahun lalu itu populer.

The book published last year is popular.

Relative clause with a passive verb and time reference.

Yang menjadi perhatian utama kami adalah keamanan.

What becomes our main concern is security.

Cleft sentence structure for formal emphasis.

Dia adalah pemimpin yang sangat dihormati.

He is a leader who is highly respected.

Relative clause with a passive respected verb (dihormati).

Informasi yang Anda berikan sangat berguna.

The information that you provided is very useful.

Relative clause in a professional communication context.

Keputusan yang diambil sangat berani.

The decision taken was very brave.

Abstract noun with a passive relative clause.

Segala hal yang telah kita capai adalah hasil kerja keras.

Everything that we have achieved is the result of hard work.

Universal pronoun 'segala hal' linked by 'yang'.

Fenomena yang terjadi belakangan ini cukup mengkhawatirkan.

The phenomenon occurring lately is quite worrying.

Academic register using 'fenomena' and relative clause.

Dialah orang yang kepadanya saya berutang budi.

He is the person to whom I owe a debt of gratitude.

Complex relative clause with a prepositional link (kepadanya).

Yang tersisa hanyalah kenangan pahit.

What remains are only bitter memories.

Poetic cleft sentence using 'yang' as a nominalizer.

Inilah argumen yang paling mendasar dalam teori ini.

This is the most fundamental argument in this theory.

Superlative relative clause in an academic context.

Kebenaran yang hakiki sulit untuk ditemukan.

The ultimate truth is difficult to find.

High-level abstract noun with a specifying relative marker.

Barang siapa yang melanggar aturan akan dihukum.

Whoever violates the rules will be punished.

Archaic/legalistic 'barang siapa yang' meaning 'whoever'.

Sesuatu yang nampaknya sepele bisa berakibat fatal.

Something that seems trivial can have fatal consequences.

Relative clause with the verb 'nampaknya' (seems).

Yang Maha Kuasa senantiasa melindungi kita.

The Almighty always protects us.

Theological use of 'Yang' as a capitalized title.

Hakekat yang terkandung dalam puisi ini sangat dalam.

The essence contained in this poem is very deep.

Literary analysis using passive relative clause (terkandung).

Tiada yang lebih indah daripada kedamaian hati.

There is nothing more beautiful than peace of heart.

Philosophical negation 'tiada yang' (nothing which).

Kebijakan yang diambil pemerintah menuai kritik tajam.

The policy taken by the government reaped sharp criticism.

High-level political discourse structure.

Yang menjadi titik tolak pemikiran beliau adalah keadilan.

What became the starting point of his thought was justice.

Complex cleft sentence used in intellectual biography.

Segala yang ada di dunia ini bersifat fana.

Everything that exists in this world is ephemeral.

Metaphysical statement using 'yang' as a universal connector.

Yang bersangkutan telah memberikan klarifikasi resmi.

The person in question has provided an official clarification.

Formal bureaucratic/legal terminology.

Inilah realitas yang harus kita telan bulat-bulat.

This is the reality that we must swallow whole.

Idiomatic expression within a relative clause structure.

Collocations courantes

Yang mana?

Yang paling...

Yang terpenting

Yang satu lagi

Yang lain

Yang bersangkutan

Yang Mulia

Yang terhormat

Yang baru

Yang benar?

Phrases Courantes

Yang mana saja

— Whichever one; any of them.

Pilih yang mana saja.

Yang benar saja!

— You must be joking! / Be serious!

Harganya satu juta? Yang benar saja!

Apa yang terjadi?

— What happened? / What is happening?

Beri tahu saya apa yang terjadi.

Siapa yang tahu?

— Who knows?

Siapa yang tahu masa depan?

Ada yang bisa dibantu?

— Is there anything I can help with? (Can I help you?)

Selamat datang, ada yang bisa dibantu?

Yang penting...

— The important thing is... / As long as...

Yang penting kamu selamat.

Bukan yang itu

— Not that one.

Ambilkan tas saya, bukan yang itu.

Yang sudah-sudah

— The past; things that have already happened.

Jangan ingat yang sudah-sudah.

Yang lalu biarlah berlalu

— Let bygones be bygones.

Sudahlah, yang lalu biarlah berlalu.

Yang ada

— What is available; what exists.

Pakai saja yang ada.

Souvent confondu avec

yang vs bahwa

Bahwa is a conjunction (I know that...), Yang is a relative pronoun (The thing that...).

yang vs mana

Mana means 'where', Yang mana means 'which one'.

yang vs siapa

Siapa is for 'who' in questions, Yang is for 'who' in descriptions.

Expressions idiomatiques

"Yang dikejar tidak dapat, yang dikendong berciciran"

— To lose what one has while chasing something else; greedy for more and losing everything.

Jangan terlalu ambisius, nanti seperti yang dikejar tidak dapat, yang dikendong berciciran.

Proverb

"Yang patah tumbuh, yang hilang berganti"

— What is broken will grow back, what is lost will be replaced (life goes on).

Jangan sedih, yang patah tumbuh, yang hilang berganti.

Poetic/Encouraging

"Yang tajam balik bertumpul"

— The sharp becomes blunt (power or intelligence fading with age).

Dia sudah tua, yang tajam balik bertumpul.

Proverb

"Yang rebah ditindih"

— To kick someone when they are down.

Kasihan dia, sudah jatuh, yang rebah ditindih pula.

Proverb

"Yang disangka tidak menjadi"

— What was expected did not happen.

Rencana kita gagal, yang disangka tidak menjadi.

Neutral

"Yang buta peniup lesung"

— Someone who is given a job they can actually do despite limitations.

Meskipun dia difabel, dia tetap bekerja, yang buta peniup lesung.

Proverb

"Yang pekak pembakar meriam"

— The deaf person is the one who fires the cannon (fitting a person's limitations to a specific task).

Dia sangat fokus, seperti yang pekak pembakar meriam.

Proverb

"Yang rendah ditinggikan, yang tinggi direndahkan"

— To make things equal; a reversal of fortune.

Roda kehidupan berputar, yang rendah ditinggikan.

Philosophical

"Yang muda yang bercinta"

— The young are the ones who fall in love (youth is for romance).

Nikmatilah masa mudamu, yang muda yang bercinta.

Informal

"Yang empunya"

— The owner; the one who possesses.

Kita harus minta izin kepada yang empunya.

Neutral

Facile à confondre

yang vs bahwa

Both translate to 'that' in English.

'Bahwa' introduces a statement or fact, while 'yang' describes a noun.

Saya dengar bahwa dia sakit. (I heard that he is sick).

yang vs mana

Both involve choices or locations.

'Mana' is a question word for location, 'yang mana' is a question word for selection.

Di mana bukunya? vs Buku yang mana?

yang vs siapa

Both translate to 'who' in English.

'Siapa' is used to ask for an identity, 'yang' is used to describe a person's action/quality.

Siapa dia? vs Orang yang lari itu.

yang vs apa

Both can translate to 'what'.

'Apa' is a question word or for objects, 'yang' is a relative pronoun.

Apa itu? vs Apa yang kamu lihat?

yang vs adalah

Both link parts of a sentence.

'Adalah' is for defining what something is, 'yang' is for describing a quality.

Dia adalah guru. vs Dia guru yang baik.

Structures de phrases

Noun + yang + Adjective

Buku yang biru.

Yang + Adjective

Mau yang besar.

Noun + yang + Verb

Orang yang lari.

Yang + paling + Adjective

Yang paling enak.

Noun + yang + Subject + Verb

Buku yang saya baca.

Yang + Clause + adalah + Noun

Yang saya mau adalah kopi.

Noun + yang + di-Verb

Masalah yang dibahas.

Noun + yang + Prepositional Phrase

Orang yang kepadanya saya bicara.

Famille de mots

Apparenté

bahwa

mana

siapa

apa

itu

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Extremely High (Top 3 most used words in Indonesian).

Erreurs courantes

Saya tahu yang dia datang. → Saya tahu bahwa dia datang.
You used 'yang' as a conjunction. You must use 'bahwa' for 'I know that...'.
Orang siapa makan... → Orang yang makan...
You used 'siapa' (who) in a relative clause. In Indonesian, only 'yang' can link a person to an action.
Buku mana kamu mau? → Buku yang mana kamu mau?
Without 'yang', 'mana' usually means 'where'. 'Yang mana' is required for 'which'.
Saya yang guru. → Saya adalah guru.
You cannot link two nouns with 'yang'. Use 'adalah' or no linker at all.
Mobil yang merah itu saya punya. → Mobil yang merah itu punya saya.
The word order for possession is 'punya [owner]'.

Astuces

Specifying vs Describing

Use 'yang' when you need to be specific. 'Kucing hitam' is a black cat. 'Kucing yang hitam' is THE black cat (not the white one).

Superlatives

Always use 'yang' before 'paling' to say 'the most'. Example: 'Yang paling mahal' (The most expensive).

Which one?

Memorize 'yang mana' as a single unit. It's the only way to ask 'which one' in Indonesian.

Formal Letters

Start formal letters with 'Kepada Yang Terhormat' (To the Respected...). It's the standard professional greeting.

Nominalizing

If you forget the word for an object, just say 'yang' + its color or size. People will understand you are referring to 'the [color] one'.

The 'yg' sound

In casual speech, 'yang' can be very short. Listen for the 'ng' nasal sound to catch it.

Don't confuse with 'bahwa'

Never use 'yang' after 'saya pikir' or 'dia bilang'. Use 'bahwa' for those conjunctions.

Respect

Use 'Yang Mulia' when referring to God or high-ranking officials to show proper cultural respect.

Past Tense

Use 'yang lalu' to refer to things in the past, like 'minggu yang lalu' (last week).

Point and Speak

Think of 'yang' as a verbal pointer. If you are pointing at it, you probably need to use 'yang'.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'Yang' as 'Young'. The 'Young' one is 'the one' you are talking about. Yang = The one.

Association visuelle

Imagine a pointing finger. Every time you say 'yang', you are mentally pointing at a specific object.

Word Web

Relative Pronoun Which That Who The one Nominalizer Superlative Identification

Défi

Go through your room and name 10 items using the pattern 'Noun + yang + Adjective' (e.g., Meja yang besar).

Origine du mot

Derived from Proto-Austronesian origins. It has been a stable part of the Malay-Indonesian linguistic family for centuries.

Sens originel : A marker of relation or identity.

Austronesian / Malayo-Polynesian.

Contexte culturel

Be careful with 'Yang Mulia'—it is only for very high officials or judges.

English speakers often struggle because they expect different words for people (who) and things (which). In Indonesian, 'yang' covers it all.

Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (The concept of 'that which is') Yang Maha Esa (The Almighty in the Pancasila) Film 'Yang Muda Yang Bercinta' (A famous Indonesian movie)

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Shopping

Yang mana?
Yang ini.
Yang paling murah.
Ada yang lain?

Describing People

Orang yang tinggi.
Teman yang baik.
Dia yang mulai.
Siapa yang datang?

Giving Directions

Jalan yang lurus.
Gedung yang besar.
Belok di yang kedua.
Rumah yang pojok.

Expressing Opinions

Yang saya suka...
Yang penting adalah...
Yang benar itu...
Hal yang menarik...

Formal Letters

Yang terhormat...
Pihak yang terkait...
Data yang terlampir...
Hal yang dimaksud...

Amorces de conversation

"Yang mana favoritmu, yang merah atau yang biru?"

"Apa yang biasanya kamu lakukan di akhir pekan?"

"Siapa orang yang paling kamu kagumi dalam hidup?"

"Makanan Indonesia apa yang menurutmu paling enak?"

"Tempat mana yang ingin kamu kunjungi musim panas ini?"

Sujets d'écriture

Tuliskan tentang tiga hal yang membuatmu merasa bahagia hari ini.

Siapa orang yang paling berpengaruh dalam hidupmu dan mengapa?

Gambarkan rumah impianmu menggunakan banyak struktur 'yang'.

Apa tantangan yang paling sulit yang pernah kamu hadapi?

Tuliskan tentang film yang baru saja kamu tonton.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Yes, unlike English which uses 'who' for people and 'which' for things, Indonesian uses 'yang' for both without any change. For example: 'Orang yang makan' (The person who eats) and 'Buku yang merah' (The book which is red).

No. You can say 'mobil merah' (red car) for a general description. You use 'mobil yang merah' (the red car) when you want to specify or emphasize a particular car among others.

It means 'which one'. It is used when you have to choose between two or more options. For example: 'Ada dua tas, kamu mau yang mana?' (There are two bags, which one do you want?)

You use 'yang paling' followed by the adjective for good (baik or bagus). So, 'yang paling baik' or 'yang terbaik' both mean 'the best'.

Yes, in cleft sentences used for emphasis. For example: 'Yang saya butuhkan adalah bantuanmu' (What I need is your help).

'Yang' is a relative pronoun (the book that...), while 'bahwa' is a conjunction (I think that...). They are not interchangeable. 'Bahwa' follows verbs of thinking, saying, or knowing.

It is used to turn adjectives into formal honorifics. 'Yang Mulia' means 'The Noble One' (Your Excellency), and 'Yang Terhormat' means 'The Respected One' (Dear/Honored).

No, Indonesian words generally do not have plural forms that change the word itself. You just repeat the noun if necessary: 'Anak-anak yang rajin' (The diligent children).

Yes, it is extremely common. In texting, it is almost always shortened to 'yg' to save time and space.

Yes, 'yang' acts as a nominalizer. 'Saya mau yang itu' literally means 'I want the that one' or 'I want that one'.

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