A1 Time Expressions 1 min read Facile

Asking 'What time?': Pukul berapa

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To ask 'What time is it?' or 'At what time?', simply use the phrase 'Pukul berapa'.

  • Use 'Pukul berapa' to ask for the time: 'Pukul berapa sekarang?' (What time is it now?)
  • Use 'Pada pukul berapa' for specific events: 'Pada pukul berapa kelas bermula?' (At what time does class start?)
  • The phrase 'Pukul berapa' can be placed at the beginning or end of the sentence.
Pukul + berapa + [Event/Time]?

Time Inquiry Structure

Type Structure Example
Direct
Pukul berapa + [Subject]?
Pukul berapa awak sampai?
Formal
Pada pukul berapa + [Event]?
Pada pukul berapa mesyuarat?
Statement
[Event] + pukul berapa?
Bas bertolak pukul berapa?
Current
Pukul berapa + sekarang?
Pukul berapa sekarang?
Future
Pukul berapa + [Action]?
Pukul berapa kita jumpa?
Past
Pukul berapa + [Action] + tadi?
Pukul berapa dia balik tadi?

Common Shortened Forms

Full Shortened
Pukul berapa
Pukul brapa
Pada pukul berapa
Pukul berapa

Meanings

Used to inquire about the specific hour or time of an event or the current time.

1

Time Inquiry

Asking for the current time or a scheduled time.

“Pukul berapa sekarang?”

“Pukul berapa awak sampai?”

Reference Table

Reference table for Asking 'What time?': Pukul berapa
Form Structure Example
Question
Pukul berapa + [X]?
Pukul berapa sekarang?
Formal
Pada pukul berapa + [X]?
Pada pukul berapa mesyuarat?
Ending
[X] + pukul berapa?
Kelas tamat pukul berapa?
Past
Pukul berapa + [X] + tadi?
Pukul berapa dia sampai tadi?
Future
Pukul berapa + [X] + nanti?
Pukul berapa kita makan nanti?
Answer
Pukul + [Number]
Pukul dua

Spectre de formalité

Formel
Pada pukul berapakah sekarang?

Pada pukul berapakah sekarang? (General inquiry)

Neutre
Pukul berapa sekarang?

Pukul berapa sekarang? (General inquiry)

Informel
Pukul berapa?

Pukul berapa? (General inquiry)

Argot
Pukul brapa?

Pukul brapa? (General inquiry)

Time Inquiry Map

Pukul Berapa

Current

  • Sekarang Now

Future

  • Nanti Later

Past

  • Tadi Earlier

Exemples par niveau

1

Pukul berapa sekarang?

What time is it now?

2

Pukul berapa kita makan?

What time do we eat?

3

Pukul berapa awak balik?

What time do you return?

4

Pukul berapa filem ini?

What time is this movie?

1

Bas bertolak pukul berapa?

What time does the bus depart?

2

Pada pukul berapa kelas bermula?

At what time does class start?

3

Awak sampai pukul berapa nanti?

What time will you arrive later?

4

Kedai ini tutup pukul berapa?

What time does this shop close?

1

Pada pukul berapa mesyuarat akan diadakan?

At what time will the meeting be held?

2

Boleh saya tahu pukul berapa anda akan tiba?

May I know what time you will arrive?

3

Pukul berapa penerbangan anda dijadualkan?

What time is your flight scheduled?

4

Adakah anda tahu pukul berapa dia keluar?

Do you know what time he left?

1

Sila maklumkan pada pukul berapa kami perlu berkumpul.

Please inform us at what time we need to gather.

2

Pukul berapa sebenarnya acara itu bermula?

What time does the event actually start?

3

Saya tertanya-tanya pukul berapa dia akan menelefon.

I wonder what time he will call.

4

Pada pukul berapa anda menjangkakan ketibaan tetamu?

At what time do you expect the guests' arrival?

1

Adalah penting untuk menetapkan pada pukul berapa sesi ini berakhir.

It is important to set at what time this session ends.

2

Pukul berapa pun anda datang, saya akan sedia menunggu.

Whatever time you come, I will be ready to wait.

3

Beliau bertanya pada pukul berapa kami akan bertolak.

He asked at what time we would depart.

4

Pukul berapa agaknya mereka akan sampai?

What time do you suppose they will arrive?

1

Pada pukul berapa jua anda tiba, pintu sentiasa terbuka.

At whatever time you arrive, the door is always open.

2

Pukul berapa pun, dia tetap akan bekerja.

No matter what time it is, he will still work.

3

Persoalan utama ialah pada pukul berapa kita harus memulakan proses ini.

The main question is at what time we should start this process.

4

Pukul berapa sahaja dia akan datang, saya tidak kisah.

Whatever time he comes, I do not mind.

Facile à confondre

Asking 'What time?': Pukul berapa vs Pukul berapa vs Bila

Learners use 'bila' for clock time.

Asking 'What time?': Pukul berapa vs Pukul berapa vs Berapa jam

Learners use 'berapa jam' for clock time.

Asking 'What time?': Pukul berapa vs Pukul berapa vs Berapa harga

Learners use 'berapa' for both.

Erreurs courantes

Apa masa?

Pukul berapa?

Literal translation of 'what time' doesn't work in Malay.

Berapa jam?

Pukul berapa?

'Berapa jam' means 'how many hours' (duration).

Bila pukul?

Pukul berapa?

Incorrect word order.

Pukul berapa masa?

Pukul berapa?

Redundant use of 'masa'.

Pukul berapa awak pergi?

Pukul berapa awak bertolak?

While 'pergi' is okay, 'bertolak' is better for scheduled travel.

Pada berapa pukul?

Pada pukul berapa?

Incorrect word order.

Berapa pukul?

Pukul berapa?

Inverted order.

Bila mesyuarat?

Pada pukul berapa mesyuarat?

Too vague; 'bila' is for dates.

Pukul berapa dia sampai tadi?

Pukul berapa dia sampai?

Tense markers are often implied; 'tadi' is okay but sometimes redundant.

Pukul berapa itu?

Pukul berapa sekarang?

Needs a temporal marker.

Pukul berapa jua dia datang

Pada pukul berapa jua dia datang

Needs the preposition for formal structure.

Pukul berapa pun dia datang

Pada pukul berapa pun dia datang

Formal register requires 'pada'.

Pukul berapa sahaja

Pada pukul berapa sahaja

Formal register requires 'pada'.

Structures de phrases

Pukul ___ sekarang?

Pada ___ berapa kelas bermula?

Awak sampai ___ berapa?

___ berapa kita jumpa nanti?

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Pukul berapa jumpa?

Travel very common

Bas bertolak pukul berapa?

Job Interview common

Pada pukul berapa saya perlu hadir?

Food Delivery common

Pukul berapa makanan sampai?

Cinema occasional

Filem mula pukul berapa?

School very common

Kelas habis pukul berapa?

💡

Keep it simple

Don't overthink the grammar. Just say 'Pukul berapa' and you will be understood.
⚠️

Avoid 'Apa masa'

It sounds unnatural to native speakers. Always use 'Pukul berapa'.
🎯

Use 'Pada' for formal events

Adding 'pada' makes you sound professional and polite.
💬

Regional differences

In Indonesia, 'jam berapa' is the standard equivalent.

Smart Tips

Add 'pada' to sound more professional.

Pukul berapa mesyuarat? Pada pukul berapa mesyuarat?

Put 'pukul berapa' at the end for a casual vibe.

Pukul berapa kita jumpa? Kita jumpa pukul berapa?

Always add 'sekarang' to be clear.

Pukul berapa? Pukul berapa sekarang?

Add 'tadi' to specify the past.

Pukul berapa dia sampai? Pukul berapa dia sampai tadi?

Prononciation

/pu-kul/

Pukul

The 'u' is short, like 'book'.

/bə-ra-pa/

Berapa

The 'e' is like the 'a' in 'about'.

Rising

Pukul berapa? ↗

Standard question intonation.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Pukul (Strike) the clock, Berapa (How many) hours?

Association visuelle

Imagine a giant clock striking a bell. Every time it strikes, you shout 'Pukul berapa!' to the person next to you.

Rhyme

Pukul berapa, time to go, ask the clock, don't be slow.

Story

Ali is late for his flight. He runs to the information desk. He gasps, 'Pukul berapa penerbangan saya?' The clerk smiles and points to the clock. Ali now knows to always use 'Pukul berapa' for time.

Word Web

PukulBerapaSekarangMasaJamWaktu

Défi

Ask three different people today 'Pukul berapa sekarang?' and note the time they say.

Notes culturelles

In Malaysia, 'pukul berapa' is used in all contexts. It is polite and standard.

In Indonesia, 'jam berapa' is more common than 'pukul berapa', though both are understood.

Similar to Malaysia, 'pukul berapa' is the standard form.

Derived from the Malay word 'pukul' (to strike/hit), referring to the striking of a bell or clock.

Amorces de conversation

Pukul berapa sekarang?

Pukul berapa awak bangun pagi?

Pada pukul berapa mesyuarat bermula?

Pukul berapa agaknya dia akan sampai?

Sujets d'écriture

Write about your daily schedule.
Describe a time you were late.
Plan a meeting with a friend.
Reflect on the importance of time.

Erreurs courantes

Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

___ berapa sekarang?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Pukul
Pukul berapa is the correct phrase.
Choose the correct question. Choix multiple

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Pukul berapa sekarang?
Pukul berapa is the standard Malay phrase.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Bila sekarang?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Pukul berapa sekarang?
Bila is for dates, not current time.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pukul berapa sekarang
Standard word order.
Translate to Malay. Traduction

What time is it?

Answer starts with: Puk...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Pukul berapa?
Pukul berapa is the direct translation.
Match the question to the context. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Work
Mesyuarat means meeting.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use 'pukul berapa' and 'makan'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Pukul berapa kita makan?
Natural word order.
Select the formal version. Choix multiple

Which is more formal?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Pada pukul berapa?
Adding 'pada' increases formality.

Score: /8

Exercices pratiques

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

___ berapa sekarang?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Pukul
Pukul berapa is the correct phrase.
Choose the correct question. Choix multiple

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Pukul berapa sekarang?
Pukul berapa is the standard Malay phrase.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Bila sekarang?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Pukul berapa sekarang?
Bila is for dates, not current time.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

sekarang / pukul / berapa

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pukul berapa sekarang
Standard word order.
Translate to Malay. Traduction

What time is it?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Pukul berapa?
Pukul berapa is the direct translation.
Match the question to the context. Match Pairs

Pukul berapa mesyuarat?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Work
Mesyuarat means meeting.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use 'pukul berapa' and 'makan'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Pukul berapa kita makan?
Natural word order.
Select the formal version. Choix multiple

Which is more formal?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Pada pukul berapa?
Adding 'pada' increases formality.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

Yes, 'jam berapa' is common in Indonesia, but 'pukul berapa' is preferred in Malaysia.

No, it is used for any time-related inquiry, past or future.

It makes the question more formal and precise, like saying 'at what time'.

Yes, it is perfectly natural in informal speech.

'Bila' is for dates/days, 'pukul berapa' is for the hour.

No, it is a standard and polite way to ask for time.

No, use 'berapa lama' for duration.

Simply say 'Pukul' followed by the number, e.g., 'Pukul dua'.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish high

¿Qué hora es?

Spanish uses the verb 'ser', while Malay uses no verb.

French high

Quelle heure est-il?

French requires a verb and subject pronoun.

German moderate

Wie spät ist es?

German focuses on 'lateness', Malay focuses on the 'striking' of the clock.

Japanese high

Nan-ji desu ka?

Japanese uses a copula 'desu ka' at the end.

Arabic high

Kam al-sa'ah?

Arabic uses 'al-sa'ah' (the hour) as the noun.

Chinese high

Jǐ diǎn?

Chinese is more concise.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Was this helpful?
Pas encore de commentaires. Soyez le premier à partager vos idées !