televisi in 30 Seconds
- Televisi is the formal Indonesian word for television, referring to both the device and the medium.
- Commonly abbreviated as 'TV' in casual speech, but 'televisi' is essential for formal and professional contexts.
- Used with verbs like 'menonton' (watch), 'menyalakan' (turn on), and 'mematikan' (turn off).
- Plays a central role in Indonesian household culture and national media landscape.
The word televisi is the standard Indonesian noun for 'television.' While in daily conversation Indonesians frequently shorten it to the acronym TV (pronounced 'te-ve'), the full form televisi remains the essential term for formal writing, news broadcasting, technical manuals, and academic discussions. It refers to both the physical electronic device used for receiving broadcast signals and the broader medium of telecommunication used for transmitting moving images and sound.
- Formal Usage
- In official documents or news reports, you will hear: 'Pemerintah mengatur regulasi siaran televisi digital.' (The government regulates digital television broadcast regulations.)
- Technical Context
- When discussing hardware: 'Layar televisi ini menggunakan teknologi OLED terbaru.' (This television screen uses the latest OLED technology.)
Keluarga kami biasanya berkumpul di depan televisi setiap malam minggu untuk menonton film bersama.
Historically, television has played a massive role in Indonesian national identity. The state-owned station, TVRI (Televisi Republik Indonesia), was the sole provider for decades, acting as a tool for national unification and education across the vast archipelago. Because of this, the word carries a sense of a shared national experience. Even with the rise of the internet and streaming services like YouTube or Netflix, the term televisi still dominates the vocabulary when referring to scheduled broadcast media.
Jangan duduk terlalu dekat dengan televisi, nanti matamu sakit.
In social settings, the act of watching television is often a communal activity known as nonton bareng (nobar). Whether it is a football match or a popular soap opera (sinetron), the televisi serves as the centerpiece of the living room (ruang tamu or ruang keluarga). Understanding this word is fundamental for A1 learners because it appears in basic daily routines and household descriptions.
- Media Industry
- Journalists often use the term 'insan televisi' to refer to people working in the television industry.
Banyak anak-anak sekarang lebih suka menonton YouTube daripada siaran televisi konvensional.
Using televisi in a sentence is straightforward as it functions as a standard noun. It can be the subject of a sentence, the object of a verb, or part of a prepositional phrase. Because it is a loanword, it does not change form for plurality; instead, you use context or reduplication (though 'televisi-televisi' is rare, usually 'banyak televisi' is preferred).
Saya mematikan televisi sebelum tidur.
Common verbs associated with televisi include menonton (to watch), menyalakan (to turn on), mematikan (to turn off), and memperbaiki (to repair). In Indonesian grammar, when you want to say 'on TV,' you use the preposition di, resulting in di televisi.
- As an Object
- 'Ayah sedang menonton berita di televisi.' (Father is watching the news on television.)
- As a Subject
- 'Televisi itu sudah rusak sejak kemarin.' (That television has been broken since yesterday.)
Acara favorit saya ditayangkan di televisi setiap jam tujuh malam.
In more complex sentences, televisi can be modified by adjectives or other nouns to create compound terms. For example, televisi berwarna (color television), televisi kabel (cable TV), or televisi berlangganan (subscription/pay TV). In the modern era, the phrase siaran televisi digital has become very common due to the nationwide transition from analog signals.
- Prepositional Phrases
- 'Dia muncul di televisi nasional.' (He appeared on national television.)
Teknisi itu sedang memperbaiki kabel televisi yang putus.
When speaking informally, you might drop the full word: 'Nyalain TV-nya dong!' (Turn on the TV, please!). But in a classroom or a speech, always stick to televisi. It sounds more educated and precise. For example, a teacher might say, 'Televisi adalah salah satu media massa yang paling berpengaruh.' (Television is one of the most influential mass media.)
You will encounter the word televisi in various professional and public environments across Indonesia. While the living room is the most common place to see the object, the word itself is ubiquitous in the public sphere. If you are watching the news on channels like MetroTV or TVOne, the anchors will consistently use the word televisi when referring to their industry or the broadcast itself.
'Selamat datang kembali di program berita televisi kami,' kata pembawa acara itu.
In electronics stores (like Electronic City or Hartono), sales assistants will use televisi to describe the specifications of the products. You will see signs that say 'Promo Televisi LED' or 'Diskon Televisi Pintar' (Smart TV Discount). In these contexts, using the full word conveys a sense of professional product description. Similarly, in advertisements in newspapers or magazines (like Kompas), the full word is preferred over the abbreviation.
- In Government & Law
- The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI - Komisi Penyiaran Indonesia) uses 'televisi' in all its regulations regarding content standards and censorship.
Industri televisi di Indonesia sedang mengalami transisi besar ke sistem digital.
Education is another place where this word is common. In textbooks, students learn about the history of communication and the invention of the televisi. Teachers might ask, 'Apa dampak positif dari menonton televisi?' (What are the positive impacts of watching television?). In academic papers discussing media studies, the word is used to analyze social behaviors and cultural trends in Indonesia.
- In Literature & Media
- Movie critics often compare 'layar lebar' (big screen/cinema) with 'layar televisi' (television screen).
Lastly, you will hear it in the workplace, specifically in the creative and marketing sectors. 'Kita harus memasang iklan di televisi,' (We must place an advertisement on television) is a standard sentence in a marketing meeting. Even though digital marketing is growing, televisi remains a primary channel for reaching the mass market in Indonesia's diverse regions.
One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with televisi is spelling. Because the English word is 'television' (ending in -sion), learners often try to write 'televisyen' (the Malay/Malaysian spelling) or 'televisiun.' In standard Indonesian (KBBI), the only correct spelling is televisi, ending with an 'i'. Another common error is using the wrong verb for 'watching.' While 'melihat' means 'to see,' you should always use menonton for watching shows or movies on a televisi.
Salah: Saya melihat televisi.
Benar: Saya menonton televisi.
Another mistake involves word order in compound nouns. As mentioned before, Indonesian uses the Noun + Adjective/Noun order. Learners often translate 'TV remote' as 'televisi remote,' but the correct term is remote televisi or simply remot TV. Similarly, 'television station' is stasiun televisi, not 'televisi stasiun.'
- Spelling Confusion
- Avoid writing 'telefisi' or 'televisye'. The 'v' and 's' are fixed in Indonesian orthography for this word.
Learners also sometimes confuse the word with its related terms. For example, siaran refers to the 'broadcast' itself, while televisi is the medium or device. If you say 'Televisinya bagus,' you are praising the physical TV set. If you want to say the show is good, you should say 'Acaranya bagus' or 'Siarannya bagus.'
- Pluralization
- Avoid saying 'televisi-televisi' unless you are specifically referring to many different types of TV sets. To say 'many TVs,' use 'banyak televisi.'
Salah: Ada banyak televisi-televisi di toko itu.
Benar: Ada banyak televisi di toko itu.
Finally, be careful with the pronunciation of the letter 'v'. In Indonesian, 'v' is often pronounced like 'f' by older speakers or in certain regional accents (e.g., 'telefisi'). While this is common in speech, as a learner, you should strive to pronounce the 'v' clearly as /v/ to sound more standard and clear.
While televisi is the primary term, several alternatives and related words exist depending on the context. The most obvious is the abbreviation TV, which is used in 90% of casual conversations. Understanding when to use which is key to sounding natural.
- TV (Te-Ve)
- Informal and very common. 'Nonton TV yuk!' (Let's watch TV!). It is acceptable in almost all spoken contexts.
- Pesawat Televisi
- Very formal/technical. Used in legal documents, manuals, or by older generations to refer to the physical machine.
Dia bekerja di sebuah stasiun televisi swasta di Jakarta.
Other related words include layar (screen), monitor, and box (slang/metaphor). In creative writing or older journalism, you might see the phrase kotak ajaib (the magic box) used as a metaphor for television, though this is now somewhat dated. For the content on the TV, we use tayangan (show/broadcast) or acara (program).
- Layar Kaca
- Literally 'glass screen'. This is a common poetic or journalistic synonym for television. 'Bintang layar kaca' means a TV star.
In the digital age, Smart TV is often used without translation, or referred to as televisi pintar. When discussing the provider, you might hear TV kabel (cable TV) or TV satelit (satellite TV). If you are referring to the act of broadcasting, the word penyiaran is the formal term used alongside televisi.
Sejak ada internet, banyak orang meninggalkan televisi konvensional.
Summary of choices: Use televisi for formal/technical writing, TV for speaking, layar kaca for creative flair, and stasiun televisi for the organization. This variety allows you to adapt your Indonesian to different social and professional settings effectively.
- Media Massa
- This is the umbrella term for mass media, including 'televisi', 'radio', and 'surat kabar' (newspapers).
Examples by Level
Saya menonton televisi.
I watch television.
Simple Subject-Verb-Object structure.
Ini televisi baru.
This is a new television.
Use of 'ini' as a demonstrative pronoun.
Di mana televisi itu?
Where is that television?
Basic question using 'di mana'.
Televisi itu mati.
That television is off.
Using an adjective/state to describe a noun.
Ada televisi di kamar.
There is a television in the room.
Using 'ada' to show existence.
Ayah beli televisi.
Father buys a television.
Simple present tense (implied).
Televisi ini kecil.
This television is small.
Noun + demonstrative + adjective.
Saya suka televisi.
I like television.
Expressing preference.
Saya menonton berita di televisi setiap pagi.
I watch the news on television every morning.
Adding time adverbs like 'setiap pagi'.
Adik sedang menonton film kartun di televisi.
Little sibling is watching a cartoon on television.
Use of 'sedang' for continuous action.
Tolong matikan televisi itu.
Please turn off that television.
Imperative sentence using 'tolong'.
Televisi di ruang tamu sangat besar.
The television in the living room is very big.
Prepositional phrase 'di ruang tamu' modifying the noun.
Kami tidak punya televisi di dapur.
We don't have a television in the kitchen.
Negative sentence using 'tidak'.
Berapa harga televisi ini?
How much is the price of this television?
Question about price using 'berapa'.
Jangan menonton televisi terlalu dekat.
Don't watch television too closely.
Negative imperative using 'jangan'.
Televisi itu berwarna hitam.
That television is black.
Describing color.
Acara televisi favorit saya ditayangkan setiap Sabtu malam.
My favorite television show is aired every Saturday night.
Passive voice 'ditayangkan'.
Dulu, televisi hanya memiliki satu saluran pemerintah.
In the past, television only had one government channel.
Using 'dulu' for past habits/states.
Saya lebih suka menonton film di bioskop daripada di televisi.
I prefer watching movies in the cinema rather than on television.
Comparison using 'lebih suka... daripada'.
Banyak iklan di televisi yang sangat menarik.
There are many advertisements on television that are very interesting.
Relative clause using 'yang'.
Ibu sedang sibuk, jadi dia tidak sempat menonton televisi.
Mother is busy, so she doesn't have time to watch television.
Conjunction 'jadi' (so).
Televisi kabel menyediakan banyak pilihan film luar negeri.
Cable television provides many choices of foreign movies.
Compound noun 'televisi kabel'.
Apakah kamu sering menonton televisi saat makan malam?
Do you often watch television during dinner?
Question using 'apakah' and 'saat'.
Kualitas gambar televisi ini sangat jernih.
The image quality of this television is very clear.
Noun phrase 'kualitas gambar'.
Pemerintah telah mewajibkan migrasi dari televisi analog ke digital.
The government has mandated the migration from analog to digital television.
Use of 'telah' for completed action and technical terms.
Pengaruh televisi terhadap perilaku anak harus diawasi oleh orang tua.
The influence of television on children's behavior must be monitored by parents.
Abstract noun 'pengaruh' and passive 'diawasi'.
Stasiun televisi itu mendapatkan teguran dari Komisi Penyiaran Indonesia.
That television station received a warning from the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission.
Formal vocabulary like 'teguran' and 'komisi'.
Sebagian besar pendapatan stasiun televisi berasal dari iklan komersial.
Most of the television station's revenue comes from commercial advertisements.
Complex subject phrase.
Televisi pintar memungkinkan kita untuk mengakses internet secara langsung.
Smart televisions allow us to access the internet directly.
Verb 'memungkinkan' (to allow/make possible).
Debat politik di televisi semalam sangat memicu kontroversi.
The political debate on television last night sparked a lot of controversy.
Describing abstract events.
Meskipun ada internet, televisi tetap menjadi media informasi utama di desa.
Despite the internet, television remains the main information medium in villages.
Conjunction 'meskipun' (although/despite).
Perusahaan itu meluncurkan produk televisi layar lengkung terbaru.
The company launched the latest curved screen television product.
Complex noun phrase 'televisi layar lengkung'.
Fenomena 'sinetron' di televisi mencerminkan realitas sosial masyarakat kita.
The 'sinetron' phenomenon on television reflects the social reality of our society.
Sociological analysis vocabulary.
Konvergensi media menyebabkan batas antara televisi dan internet semakin kabur.
Media convergence causes the boundary between television and the internet to become increasingly blurred.
High-level terminology 'konvergensi'.
Kritikus berpendapat bahwa kualitas konten televisi nasional kian menurun.
Critics argue that the quality of national television content is increasingly declining.
Reporting verbs like 'berpendapat'.
Televisi seringkali dijadikan alat propaganda oleh pihak-pihak tertentu.
Television is often used as a propaganda tool by certain parties.
Passive frequentative 'seringkali dijadikan'.
Representasi kaum minoritas di televisi masih sangat terbatas dan stereotipikal.
Representation of minorities on television is still very limited and stereotypical.
Abstract social justice vocabulary.
Layar kaca telah melahirkan banyak pesohor yang memiliki pengaruh politik besar.
The 'glass screen' (TV) has given birth to many celebrities who have great political influence.
Metaphorical use of 'layar kaca'.
Efektivitas iklan televisi dalam menjangkau audiens pedesaan tidak tertandingi.
The effectiveness of television ads in reaching rural audiences is unrivaled.
Formal business/marketing language.
Evolusi teknologi televisi dari tabung ke LED mengubah cara kita mengonsumsi media.
The evolution of television technology from tube to LED changed the way we consume media.
Technical/historical analysis.
Degradasi nilai-nilai edukatif dalam siaran televisi komersial menjadi perhatian serius para pakar komunikasi.
The degradation of educational values in commercial television broadcasts has become a serious concern for communication experts.
Highly formal, academic syntax.
Eksistensi televisi di era disrupsi digital dipertanyakan seiring dengan dominasi platform video sesuai permintaan.
The existence of television in the era of digital disruption is questioned along with the dominance of video-on-demand platforms.
Complex passive and abstract concepts.
Hegeimoni budaya yang disebarkan melalui televisi global dapat mengikis kearifan lokal.
Cultural hegemony spread through global television can erode local wisdom.
Advanced sociological terminology.
Kebijakan Analog Switch Off (ASO) merupakan tonggak sejarah dalam digitalisasi penyiaran televisi di Indonesia.
The Analog Switch Off (ASO) policy is a milestone in the digitalization of television broadcasting in Indonesia.
Nuanced political/technical description.
Televisi tidak lagi sekadar kotak informasi, melainkan ruang kontestasi ideologi dan kepentingan ekonomi.
Television is no longer just an information box, but a space for the contestation of ideology and economic interests.
Correlative conjunction 'tidak lagi... melainkan'.
Semiotika televisi memberikan pemahaman mendalam tentang bagaimana makna dikonstruksi melalui gambar dan suara.
The semiotics of television provides a deep understanding of how meaning is constructed through images and sound.
Academic/theoretical language.
Dinamika kepemilikan media televisi di Indonesia seringkali bersinggungan dengan kepentingan politik praktis.
The dynamics of television media ownership in Indonesia often intersect with practical political interests.
Advanced political science vocabulary.
Narasi yang dibangun oleh televisi mampu memengaruhi persepsi kolektif masyarakat terhadap suatu isu krusial.
The narrative built by television is able to influence the collective perception of society towards a crucial issue.
Sophisticated subject-predicate structure.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— To appear on TV (as a guest or news subject).
Dia bangga sekali karena wajahnya masuk televisi.
— To subscribe to a TV service (cable/satellite).
Berapa biaya berlangganan televisi kabel di sini?
— The shortened, very common way to say 'watching TV'.
Ayo kita nonton televisi sebentar.
Summary
The word 'televisi' is a versatile noun used across all levels of Indonesian society. Whether you are talking about the physical device in your living room or the complex industry of national broadcasting, this term is your foundation. Example: 'Jangan lupa mematikan televisi sebelum tidur.' (Don't forget to turn off the TV before sleeping.)
- Televisi is the formal Indonesian word for television, referring to both the device and the medium.
- Commonly abbreviated as 'TV' in casual speech, but 'televisi' is essential for formal and professional contexts.
- Used with verbs like 'menonton' (watch), 'menyalakan' (turn on), and 'mematikan' (turn off).
- Plays a central role in Indonesian household culture and national media landscape.
