A1 Expression Neutre

Sedih sekali

Very sad

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A simple yet powerful way to express deep sadness or sorrow in Indonesian.

  • Means: To be very or extremely sad.
  • Used in: Funerals, breakups, or hearing bad news.
  • Don't confuse: The word order is Adjective + Adverb (Sedih + Sekali).
😢 + 🌊 = Sedih sekali

Explanation at your level:

In A1, 'sedih sekali' is a basic building block. 'Sedih' means sad. 'Sekali' means very. You put 'sekali' after 'sedih'. Use it to tell people how you feel when you are unhappy. It is very easy to remember because the words don't change.
At the A2 level, you learn that 'sekali' is one of many intensifiers. You can compare 'sedih sekali' with 'sangat sedih'. You start using it in simple stories, like describing why a character in a book is crying or why you missed a party.
Intermediate learners use 'sedih sekali' to express empathy. You can use it in letters or emails to friends. You understand that 'sekali' is more common in spoken Indonesian than in very formal academic writing, where 'sangat' might be preferred. You can also link it to causes using 'karena' (because).
Upper-intermediate learners recognize the nuance between 'sedih sekali' and 'sedih banget'. You understand the register shift. You can use the phrase to discuss social issues or news events, and you can modify it with auxiliary verbs like 'merasa' (to feel) or 'kelihatannya' (it looks like).
At C1, you analyze 'sedih sekali' within the broader context of Indonesian emotional vocabulary. You compare it to more specific terms like 'masygul' or 'berduka'. You understand how the placement of 'sekali' affects the rhythm and emphasis of a sentence in rhetorical speech.
Near-native mastery involves understanding the prosodic features of 'sekali'—how lengthening the final syllable ('sedih sekaliiii') adds an informal, hyperbolic layer of meaning. You can dissect its usage in classical versus contemporary literature and understand its role in the 'aesthetic of melancholy' in Indonesian arts.

Signification

Expressing a high level of sadness.

🌍

Contexte culturel

In Javanese culture, there is a concept called 'nrimo', which means accepting one's fate. Even when someone is 'sedih sekali', they might not show it outwardly to maintain social balance. Batak culture is known for being more expressive with emotions. During funerals, it is common to hear loud lamentations (mangandung) that express 'sedih sekali' very openly. Young people in Jakarta often use the term 'galau' to describe a specific type of 'sedih sekali' related to romance or confusion about the future. In Bali, while grief is acknowledged, religious ceremonies like Ngaben (cremation) are often seen as a celebration of the soul's release, so 'sedih sekali' is balanced with spiritual hope.

💡

The 'Sekali' Rule

Remember: Adjective first, 'sekali' second. It's like adding an exclamation point at the end of the word.

⚠️

Don't Overuse

If you say 'sedih sekali' for everything, people might think you are being dramatic. Save it for real emotions.

Signification

Expressing a high level of sadness.

💡

The 'Sekali' Rule

Remember: Adjective first, 'sekali' second. It's like adding an exclamation point at the end of the word.

⚠️

Don't Overuse

If you say 'sedih sekali' for everything, people might think you are being dramatic. Save it for real emotions.

🎯

The 'Banget' Switch

If you want to sound like a local in Jakarta, swap 'sekali' for 'banget'. You'll sound instantly more natural.

💬

Showing Empathy

When someone tells you bad news, 'Sedih sekali mendengarnya' is the perfect, polite response.

Teste-toi

Choose the correct word order to say 'I am very sad'.

Saya ____ ____.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : sedih sekali

In Indonesian, 'sekali' must follow the adjective 'sedih'.

Fill in the blank with the appropriate intensifier for a casual conversation.

Aduh, kucingku hilang. Aku sedih ____.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : banget

'Banget' is the most natural choice for an informal, casual context like losing a pet.

Complete the dialogue with the most empathetic response.

A: Nenekku masuk rumah sakit tadi malam. B: ________.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Sedih sekali mendengarnya

This is the standard way to express sympathy for bad news.

Match the phrase to the correct situation.

When would you say 'Saya sedih sekali'?

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Losing your wallet

Sadness is the appropriate response to loss.

🎉 Score : /4

Aides visuelles

Sekali vs. Sangat

Sedih Sekali
After adjective
Neutral/Spoken
Sangat Sedih
Before adjective
Formal/Written

When to use 'Sedih Sekali'

👤

Personal

  • • Losing a pet
  • • Failing a test
🌍

Social

  • • Natural disasters
  • • Bad news
🎬

Media

  • • Sad movies
  • • Tragic books

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

It's grammatically redundant but people do say it for extreme emphasis. It's like saying 'very very very sad'.

It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.

'Sedih' is the general word for sad. 'Duka' is a more formal word specifically for grief and mourning.

You can say 'Saya tidak terlalu sedih'.

No, in this context it only means 'very'. To say 'sad one time', you would need more context, but it's not a common phrase.

Yes, if you are expressing sympathy for a colleague's personal loss.

'Banget' is the informal/slang version of 'sekali'. It's very popular in pop culture and daily life.

Not necessarily. It describes the internal feeling, though it often leads to crying.

Yes! 'Film itu sedih sekali' is a very common sentence.

'Senang sekali' or 'Bahagia sekali'.

Expressions liées

🔄

sangat sedih

synonym

Very sad

🔄

sedih banget

synonym

Really sad

🔗

sayang sekali

similar

What a pity

🔗

turut berduka cita

specialized form

Deepest condolences

🔗

kecewa

contrast

Disappointed

🔗

bahagia sekali

contrast

Very happy

Où l'utiliser

💔

Hearing about a breakup

Budi: Aku baru saja putus dengan Sinta.

Ani: Aduh, sedih sekali mendengarnya. Kamu oke?

informal
⚱️

At a funeral

Tamu: Saya sedih sekali atas kepergian beliau.

Keluarga: Terima kasih atas doanya.

formal
🐕

Losing a pet

Anak: Ibu, anjing kita hilang.

Ibu: Iya nak, Ibu juga sedih sekali.

neutral
📝

Failing an exam

Siswa A: Nilai matematikaku jelek banget.

Siswa B: Wah, sedih sekali. Padahal kamu sudah belajar keras.

informal
🎬

Watching a sad movie

Rina: Bagaimana filmnya?

Dito: Bagus, tapi ceritanya sedih sekali. Aku sampai menangis.

neutral
📱

Social media comment

User1: (Posting a photo of a dry forest)

User2: Sedih sekali melihat bumi kita seperti ini. 😢

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Sedih' as 'Shedding' tears, and 'Sekali' as 'So-cal-ly' (so totally). Shedding tears so totally!

Visual Association

Imagine a single, giant raindrop falling on a small, lonely flower. The raindrop represents the 'sekali' (the big emphasis) on the 'sedih' (the flower).

Rhyme

Sedih sekali, air mata di pipi.

Story

A little boy lost his balloon. He felt 'sedih'. Then he realized it was his only balloon, so he felt 'sedih sekali'. He sat on the grass until his mom bought him a new one.

Word Web

menangisdukakecewasangatbangethatipilugalau

Défi

Try to find three news headlines today that make you feel 'sedih sekali' and write them down in Indonesian.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Muy triste

Spanish 'muy' comes before, while Indonesian 'sekali' comes after.

French high

Très triste

French word order is Intensifier + Adjective.

German high

Sehr traurig

German requires the intensifier to precede the adjective.

Japanese moderate

とても悲しい (Totemo kanashii)

Japanese adjectives conjugate for tense, whereas Indonesian ones do not.

Arabic high

حزين جداً (Hazin jiddan)

Arabic has gender agreement for adjectives, Indonesian does not.

Chinese moderate

非常伤心 (Fēicháng shāngxīn)

Chinese intensifiers always precede the adjective.

Korean moderate

너무 슬퍼요 (Neomu seulpeoyo)

Korean requires different politeness levels (honorifics) which Indonesian 'sedih sekali' handles via context.

Portuguese high

Muito triste

Word order is the only major structural difference.

Easily Confused

Sedih sekali vs sayang sekali

Both use 'sekali' and express a negative feeling.

Use 'sedih' for your heart/feelings, use 'sayang' when you missed out on something (like a sale or a flight).

Sedih sekali vs kasihan sekali

Both express empathy.

Use 'kasihan' to say 'poor thing' about someone else. Use 'sedih' to describe the emotion of sadness itself.

FAQ (10)

It's grammatically redundant but people do say it for extreme emphasis. It's like saying 'very very very sad'.

It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.

'Sedih' is the general word for sad. 'Duka' is a more formal word specifically for grief and mourning.

You can say 'Saya tidak terlalu sedih'.

No, in this context it only means 'very'. To say 'sad one time', you would need more context, but it's not a common phrase.

Yes, if you are expressing sympathy for a colleague's personal loss.

'Banget' is the informal/slang version of 'sekali'. It's very popular in pop culture and daily life.

Not necessarily. It describes the internal feeling, though it often leads to crying.

Yes! 'Film itu sedih sekali' is a very common sentence.

'Senang sekali' or 'Bahagia sekali'.

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