Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'bukan' to negate nouns or pronouns, and 'tidak' to negate verbs or adjectives.
- Use 'bukan' before nouns: 'Bukan saya' (It is not me).
- Use 'bukan' before proper names: 'Bukan Budi' (It is not Budi).
- Use 'bukan' for identification: 'Ini bukan buku' (This is not a book).
Meanings
The particle 'bukan' is used to negate nouns, pronouns, and noun phrases in Indonesian.
Identity Negation
Negating the identity of an object or person.
“Dia bukan guru.”
“Ini bukan rumah saya.”
Negation Structure
| Subject | Negation | Noun/Pronoun | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saya | bukan | guru | I am not a teacher |
| Dia | bukan | teman | He is not a friend |
| Ini | bukan | buku | This is not a book |
| Itu | bukan | mobil | That is not a car |
| Mereka | bukan | mahasiswa | They are not students |
| Kami | bukan | orang asing | We are not foreigners |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + Noun | Saya guru (I am a teacher) |
| Negative | Subject + bukan + Noun | Saya bukan guru (I am not a teacher) |
| Question | Apakah + Subject + bukan + Noun? | Apakah dia bukan guru? (Is he not a teacher?) |
| Short Answer | Bukan + Noun | Bukan guru (Not a teacher) |
| Emphasis | Bukan + Noun + pun | Bukan guru pun (Not even a teacher) |
| Contrast | Bukan + A + melainkan + B | Bukan guru, melainkan dokter (Not a teacher, but a doctor) |
フォーマル度スペクトル
Itu bukan buku saya. (Returning a book)
Itu bukan buku saya. (Returning a book)
Itu bukan buku gue. (Returning a book)
Bukan buku w, nih. (Returning a book)
Negation Map
Bukan
- Noun Benda
- Pronoun Kata Ganti
- Name Nama
Tidak
- Verb Kata Kerja
- Adjective Kata Sifat
レベル別の例文
Saya bukan guru.
I am not a teacher.
Ini bukan buku.
This is not a book.
Dia bukan teman saya.
He is not my friend.
Itu bukan mobil.
That is not a car.
Bukan, saya bukan orang Jepang.
No, I am not Japanese.
Apakah ini bukan milikmu?
Is this not yours?
Bukan dia yang memanggil.
It wasn't him who called.
Rumah itu bukan milik pemerintah.
That house is not government property.
Bukan hanya mahal, tapi juga jelek.
It is not only expensive, but also ugly.
Masalahnya bukan uang, tapi waktu.
The problem is not money, but time.
Bukan berarti saya setuju.
It doesn't mean I agree.
Dia bukan orang yang tepat.
He is not the right person.
Bukan sekadar teori, ini adalah praktik.
It is not just theory, this is practice.
Bukan tanpa alasan dia pergi.
It is not without reason that he left.
Bukan hal yang mudah untuk dilakukan.
It is not an easy thing to do.
Bukan maksud saya untuk menyinggung.
It was not my intention to offend.
Bukanlah sebuah kebetulan jika dia terpilih.
It is not a coincidence that he was chosen.
Bukan main indahnya pemandangan ini.
How incredibly beautiful this view is.
Bukan berarti kita harus menyerah.
It does not mean we have to give up.
Bukan perkara mudah menyelesaikan ini.
It is not a simple matter to finish this.
Bukan sekali dua kali dia berbohong.
It is not just once or twice that he lied.
Bukanlah hak kita untuk menghakimi.
It is not our right to judge.
Bukan sembarang orang bisa masuk.
Not just anyone can enter.
Bukan tiada sebab, melainkan karena lelah.
It is not without cause, but because of fatigue.
間違えやすい
Learners often use them interchangeably.
Both are negative particles.
Both negate.
よくある間違い
Saya bukan makan.
Saya tidak makan.
Dia bukan senang.
Dia tidak senang.
Bukan saya pergi.
Saya tidak pergi.
Ini bukan mahal.
Ini tidak mahal.
Bukan lari.
Tidak lari.
Bukan besar.
Tidak besar.
Dia bukan tidur.
Dia tidak tidur.
Bukan bekerja.
Tidak bekerja.
Bukan malas.
Tidak malas.
Bukan sakit.
Tidak sakit.
Bukan berlari.
Tidak berlari.
Bukan indah.
Tidak indah.
Bukan menangis.
Tidak menangis.
文型パターン
Ini ___ ___.
Dia ___ ___ saya.
___ ___ saya yang memanggil.
Masalahnya ___ ___.
Real World Usage
Bukan gitu caranya!
Bukan gue.
Itu bukan keahlian saya.
Ini bukan hotel saya.
Ini bukan pesanan saya.
Ini bukan jawaban yang benar.
The Noun Test
Verb Trap
Short Answers
Politeness
Smart Tips
Think 'Bukan' immediately.
Think 'Tidak' immediately.
Think 'Tidak' immediately.
Use 'Bukan' to emphasize the correction.
発音
Stress
The word 'bukan' is usually stressed on the first syllable.
Declarative
Itu bukan buku. ↘
Falling intonation for statements.
Interrogative
Itu bukan buku? ↗
Rising intonation for questions.
暗記しよう
記憶術
Bukan is for Things, Tidak is for Actions.
視覚的連想
Imagine a 'B' in Bukan standing for 'Benda' (Thing). Whenever you see a physical thing, reach for the 'B' word.
Rhyme
For a person or a thing, use 'bukan' to give it a sting.
Story
Budi wanted to be a pilot. He told his mom, 'I am not a doctor.' He used 'bukan' because doctor is a noun. Then he started running. He said 'I am not walking' using 'tidak' because walking is a verb.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Label 5 items in your room as 'Ini bukan [item name]' in your head.
文化メモ
Using 'bukan' correctly is a sign of respect, as it shows you understand the nuances of the language.
In Jakarta, 'bukan' is often shortened or used with 'nih' for emphasis.
In business, 'bukan' is used to politely disagree with a premise.
The word 'bukan' is an Austronesian root used for negation of identity.
会話のきっかけ
Apakah Anda seorang dokter?
Apakah ini buku bahasa Inggris?
Apakah dia teman Anda?
Apakah ini milik Anda?
日記のテーマ
Test Yourself
Saya ___ guru.
Ini ___ buku saya.
Find and fix the mistake:
Saya bukan makan.
bukan / dia / guru
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Dia ___ orang Jakarta.
Itu ___ mobil saya.
Find and fix the mistake:
Dia bukan senang.
Score: /8
練習問題
8 exercisesSaya ___ guru.
Ini ___ buku saya.
Find and fix the mistake:
Saya bukan makan.
bukan / dia / guru
Match the word type to the particle.
Dia ___ orang Jakarta.
Itu ___ mobil saya.
Find and fix the mistake:
Dia bukan senang.
Score: /8
よくある質問 (8)
No, you must use 'tidak' for adjectives.
It is neutral and used in all registers.
It will sound very unnatural and incorrect.
Yes, as a short answer or for emphasis.
It is used for identity regardless of tense.
Use 'bukan' before the pronoun.
No, it is invariant.
Yes, 'bukankah' is a common way to ask 'isn't it?'.
Scaffolded Practice
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Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
no
Indonesian requires a choice based on word class.
ne...pas
Indonesian separates nominal and verbal negation.
nicht / kein
German has gender/case agreement for 'kein'.
ja nai / dewa nai
Japanese negation is suffix-based.
la / laysa
Arabic negation changes based on tense and person.
bu / mei
Indonesian 'bukan' is strictly for identity.
