A1 Expression Neutral

Dingin sekali

Very cold

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use 'Dingin sekali' to express that the temperature is very cold, whether it's the weather, a drink, or a room.

  • Means: It is very cold (literally 'cold once/extremely').
  • Used in: Complaining about AC, describing mountain weather, or iced drinks.
  • Don't confuse: Don't put 'sekali' before the word; it always follows the adjective.
❄️ + 🧊 = Dingin sekali

Explanation at your level:

At this level, 'Dingin sekali' is a simple building block. 'Dingin' means cold, and 'sekali' means very. You put them together to describe the weather or a drink. It's one of the first phrases you learn to survive the intense air conditioning in Indonesia!
You can now use 'Dingin sekali' to compare environments. You understand that 'sekali' follows the adjective. You can use it in short dialogues, like ordering an 'Es Teh' and commenting on its temperature, or telling a friend why you need a jacket.
At the intermediate level, you start to distinguish between 'dingin sekali' (very cold) and 'sejuk' or 'adem' (pleasantly cool). You can describe your travel experiences to the Indonesian highlands and explain how the temperature affected your plans using this phrase in more complex sentences.
You understand the nuance of intensifiers. You can choose between 'sangat dingin,' 'dingin sekali,' and 'dingin banget' based on who you are talking to. You also begin to recognize the metaphorical use of 'dingin' in literature to describe a tense or unfriendly atmosphere.
You can analyze the pragmatic force of 'sekali' as an enclitic-like intensifier. You understand how its placement affects the rhythm of a sentence and can use it to express subtle degrees of hyperbole or sarcasm in social commentary regarding Indonesia's climate or urban planning.
At this level, you possess a near-native grasp of the semantic bleaching of 'sekali.' You can discuss the historical transition of 'sekali' from a frequentative adverb to a degree intensifier and how 'dingin sekali' fits into the broader Austronesian linguistic framework of temperature-based metaphors for social harmony.

Bedeutung

Describing a very low temperature.

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

The concept of 'Masuk Angin' (Entering Wind) is a local illness believed to be caused by cold air or drafts. People will say 'Dingin sekali' as a warning to avoid getting sick. Malls and offices in Jakarta are often kept at extremely low temperatures (16-18°C) as a sign of prestige and modern infrastructure. These highland areas are the 'refrigerator' of Java. Visiting them to experience 'dingin sekali' is a popular weekend activity for city dwellers. Indonesians love 'Es' (Ice). A drink that is 'dingin sekali' is considered the best accompaniment to spicy food.

💡

The 'Banget' Rule

If you want to sound like a local in Jakarta, swap 'sekali' for 'banget'. It's the most common way to intensify adjectives in daily life.

⚠️

Don't say 'Saya dingin'

If you are shivering, say 'Saya kedinginan.' Saying 'Saya dingin' makes you sound like a cold-hearted villain in a movie!

Bedeutung

Describing a very low temperature.

💡

The 'Banget' Rule

If you want to sound like a local in Jakarta, swap 'sekali' for 'banget'. It's the most common way to intensify adjectives in daily life.

⚠️

Don't say 'Saya dingin'

If you are shivering, say 'Saya kedinginan.' Saying 'Saya dingin' makes you sound like a cold-hearted villain in a movie!

💬

Complimenting Drinks

Saying 'Dingin sekali!' when served a drink is a great way to show appreciation for the refreshment in the tropical heat.

Teste dich selbst

Complete the sentence to say 'The water is very cold.'

Air ini ____ sekali.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: dingin

'Dingin' means cold. 'Panas' means hot.

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Select the correct way to say 'Very cold'.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Dingin sekali

The intensifier 'sekali' must follow the adjective.

Complete the dialogue.

A: Kenapa kamu pakai jaket? B: Karena di sini ____.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: dingin sekali

You wear a jacket because it is very cold.

Match the phrase to the situation.

You just touched an ice cube.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Dingin sekali!

Ice cubes are cold (dingin).

🎉 Ergebnis: /4

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Häufig gestellte Fragen

5 Fragen

Yes, but it means they have a cold personality or are acting distant. It doesn't mean they are physically cold.

Meaning is the same. 'Sangat dingin' is slightly more formal. 'Dingin sekali' is more common in speech.

Yes, 'membeku' (to freeze) or 'sangat dingin sampai membeku'.

Use 'Tidak terlalu dingin' (Not too cold).

Because 20°C is considered 'dingin sekali' in a tropical climate! It's also to avoid 'Masuk Angin'.

Verwandte Redewendungen

🔗

Dingin banget

similar

Very cold (informal)

🔗

Sejuk

similar

Cool/Fresh

🔗

Beku

specialized form

Frozen

🔗

Kedinginan

builds on

To feel cold

Wo du es verwendest

🎬

In a Cinema

Andi: Kamu kenapa? Kok pakai jaket?

Budi: Di dalam bioskop ini dingin sekali!

informal
🥤

Ordering a Drink

Pelayan: Ini es jeruknya, Kak.

Pembeli: Wah, terima kasih. Dingin sekali, ya!

neutral
⛰️

Morning in Bandung

Wisatawan: Jam berapa sekarang?

Teman: Jam lima pagi. Udaranya dingin sekali di sini.

neutral
🏢

Office Complaint

Siska: Bisa tolong kecilkan AC-nya?

Rian: Kenapa? Kamu kedinginan?

Siska: Iya, di meja saya dingin sekali.

neutral
🚿

Touching a Surface

Anak: Ibu, aku tidak mau mandi!

Ibu: Kenapa? Airnya sudah hangat.

Anak: Tidak, lantainya dingin sekali!

informal
📸

Social Media Post

Follower: Wah, lagi di Jepang ya?

Influencer: Iya, di sini lagi musim salju. Dingin sekali!

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Dingin' as 'Dipping in' (like dipping into ice water) and 'Sekali' as 'So Cold!'.

Visual Association

Imagine a penguin wearing a scarf in a Jakarta shopping mall, shivering under a giant AC vent.

Rhyme

Dingin sekali, pakai baju wol di pagi hari.

Story

You are hiking up Mount Bromo. As you reach the top at 4 AM, the wind hits you. You forget your jacket. You turn to your guide and say 'Dingin sekali!' He hands you a hot ginger tea (Wedang Jahe).

Word Web

EsSaljuJaketMenggigilACMusim HujanGunungBeku

Herausforderung

Go to your fridge, touch an ice cube, and say 'Dingin sekali!' out loud three times with different emotions: surprise, annoyance, and relief.

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Hace mucho frío

Indonesian doesn't need a verb like 'hacer' to describe weather.

French moderate

Il fait très froid

The position of the intensifier is reversed.

German high

Es ist sehr kalt

Indonesian omits the 'is' (adalah/ialah) in descriptive phrases.

Japanese partial

とても寒いです (Totemo samui desu)

Indonesian is more versatile with a single word for all types of cold.

Arabic high

بارد جداً (Bārid jiddan)

The word order is identical to Indonesian.

Chinese moderate

非常冷 (Fēicháng lěng)

Standard Chinese intensifiers precede the adjective.

Korean moderate

너무 추워요 (Neomu chuwoyo)

Indonesian lacks the weather vs. object distinction.

Portuguese moderate

Está muito frio

Indonesian uses the same structure for 'The ice is cold' and 'The weather is cold'.

Easily Confused

Dingin sekali vs. Adem

Learners use 'dingin' for a nice breeze.

Use 'adem' for 'pleasantly cool' and 'dingin' for 'cold/freezing'.

Dingin sekali vs. Sangat dingin

Position of the intensifier.

'Sangat' comes BEFORE, 'sekali' comes AFTER.

FAQ (5)

Yes, but it means they have a cold personality or are acting distant. It doesn't mean they are physically cold.

Meaning is the same. 'Sangat dingin' is slightly more formal. 'Dingin sekali' is more common in speech.

Yes, 'membeku' (to freeze) or 'sangat dingin sampai membeku'.

Use 'Tidak terlalu dingin' (Not too cold).

Because 20°C is considered 'dingin sekali' in a tropical climate! It's also to avoid 'Masuk Angin'.

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