A1 Collocation Neutral

Masak air

Boil water

Phrase in 30 Seconds

The essential Indonesian phrase for boiling water to make it safe for drinking or cooking.

  • Means: To heat water until it reaches a boiling point.
  • Used in: Daily kitchen routines, making coffee/tea, or preparing drinking water.
  • Don't confuse: With 'rebus air', which is correct but less common in daily speech.
🔥 + 💧 + 🫖 = Masak air

Explanation at your level:

In A1, 'masak air' is a basic phrase for daily life. It means 'to boil water.' You use it in the kitchen. For example, 'Saya masak air.' It is very easy because the words are short. You use it when you want to make tea or coffee.
At the A2 level, you use 'masak air' to describe your morning routine or to offer a drink to a guest. You can add words like 'sedang' or 'sudah.' For example, 'Ibu sedang masak air untuk tamu.' It is a common collocation in Indonesian households.
For B1 learners, 'masak air' is understood as a necessary daily task due to water quality. You can use it in more complex sentences, like 'Sebelum kita membuat kopi, kita harus masak air sampai mendidih.' You also begin to see the formal form 'memasak air' in written instructions.
At B2, you recognize the nuance between 'masak air' and 'jerang air.' You understand that 'masak' is used here because the water is being 'prepared' for consumption. You can use the phrase in passive voice ('Air sedang dimasak') and understand its role in hospitality rituals.
C1 learners appreciate the sociolinguistic importance of 'masak air.' You understand how this phrase reflects Indonesia's infrastructure and the cultural emphasis on 'tamu' (guests). You can discuss the etymological shift from 'rebus' to 'masak' and use the phrase in idiomatic 'pantun' structures.
At C2, you have a near-native grasp of the phrase's pragmatic functions. You can analyze its use in Indonesian media as a comedic trope and understand the subtle register shifts between 'masak air,' 'jerang air,' and 'mendidihkan air' in various literary and technical genres.

Bedeutung

Heating water until it boils

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

Serving a hot drink is the first duty of a host. 'Masak air' is the sound of a welcome. Boiling water is a primary health measure in Indonesia to prevent waterborne diseases. The phrase is a famous 'sampiran' (opening) in humorous rhymes. In many villages, the day begins with the smell of woodsmoke from 'masak air'.

💡

Use 'Masak' for everything

When in doubt in an Indonesian kitchen, use 'masak'. It covers boiling, frying, and steaming in casual talk.

💬

The Pantun Opening

If you hear someone shout 'Masak air!', the correct response is often 'Biar matang!' followed by laughter.

Bedeutung

Heating water until it boils

💡

Use 'Masak' for everything

When in doubt in an Indonesian kitchen, use 'masak'. It covers boiling, frying, and steaming in casual talk.

💬

The Pantun Opening

If you hear someone shout 'Masak air!', the correct response is often 'Biar matang!' followed by laughter.

⚠️

Don't say 'Rebus' for tea

While understood, 'rebus air' for tea sounds a bit like you are performing a laboratory experiment.

Teste dich selbst

Fill in the blank with the correct word.

Ibu sedang ______ air di dapur.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: masak

'Masak air' is the standard collocation for boiling water.

Which sentence is the most natural for offering tea to a guest?

Choose the best option:

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Saya masak air dulu ya.

'Masak air' is used when preparing to make a drink for a guest.

Complete the dialogue.

A: Kamu lagi apa? B: Lagi ______ air buat bikin kopi.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: masak

You need boiling water to make coffee.

Match the phrase to the situation.

Situation: You are thirsty and want to make tea.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Masak air

Tea requires boiled water.

🎉 Ergebnis: /4

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Häufig gestellte Fragen

3 Fragen

Yes, but 'masak air' is much more common and sounds more natural between friends.

Mostly, but it's also used for making noodles or any task requiring hot water.

'Masak' is the verb (to cook), 'matang' is the adjective (cooked/done).

Verwandte Redewendungen

🔗

Masak nasi

similar

To cook rice

🔗

Air matang

builds on

Boiled/potable water

🔗

Mendidih

specialized form

To boil (bubbling)

🔄

Menjerang air

synonym

To put water on to boil

Wo du es verwendest

🌅

Morning Routine

Budi: Kamu lagi apa?

Ani: Lagi masak air buat kopi.

informal
🏠

Guest Arrival

Tuan Rumah: Silakan duduk, saya masak air dulu ya.

Tamu: Eh, tidak usah repot-repot.

neutral
🍜

Cooking Indomie

Adik: Lapar nih, mau makan mie.

Kakak: Ya sudah, sana masak air dulu.

informal
🏪

At a Warung

Pembeli: Bu, pesan teh manis panas satu.

Penjual: Tunggu ya, saya baru masak air.

informal
🕯️

Power Outage

Ayah: Dispenser mati, tidak ada air panas.

Ibu: Kita masak air pakai kompor saja.

informal
🛁

Preparing a Bath

Ibu: Udara dingin sekali malam ini.

Anak: Iya, aku mau masak air buat mandi.

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Masak' as 'Mastering' the water to make it safe. You 'Masak' the water to 'Master' the germs!

Visual Association

Imagine a classic silver kettle whistling on a gas stove with steam rising in the shape of the word 'MASAK'.

Rhyme

Masak air biar matang, kalau haus jangan pantang!

Story

You are in a cozy Indonesian kitchen. A guest knocks. You immediately grab the kettle because you need to 'masak air' to show you are a good host. The water bubbles, the steam rises, and soon you are both drinking warm tea.

Word Web

DapurKomporTekoMendidihMatangPanasMinumTeh

Herausforderung

Next time you make a cup of tea, say out loud: 'Saya sedang masak air.'

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Hervir agua

Spanish focuses on the physical state (boiling), Indonesian on the preparation (cooking).

French moderate

Faire bouillir de l'eau

French requires an auxiliary verb 'faire'.

German high

Wasser kochen

Almost no difference in conceptualization.

Japanese partial

お湯を沸かす (O-yu o wakasu)

Japanese changes the noun from 'water' to 'hot water' during the process.

Arabic high

غلي الماء (Ghali al-ma')

Arabic is more focused on the heat process.

Chinese moderate

烧水 (Shāo shuǐ)

The verb 'burn' is used instead of 'cook'.

Korean high

물을 끓이다 (Mureul kkeulhida)

The verb is dedicated to boiling, unlike the multipurpose 'masak'.

Portuguese high

Ferver água

Focuses on the physical action of boiling.

Easily Confused

Masak air vs. Rebus air

Learners think 'rebus' is the only word for boil.

Use 'masak' for drinking water, 'rebus' for cooking food in water.

Masak air vs. Cuci air

Thinking you need to 'wash' water to make it clean.

You 'cook' (masak) water to clean it, you don't 'wash' (cuci) it.

FAQ (3)

Yes, but 'masak air' is much more common and sounds more natural between friends.

Mostly, but it's also used for making noodles or any task requiring hot water.

'Masak' is the verb (to cook), 'matang' is the adjective (cooked/done).

War das hilfreich?

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