A1 Expression Neutro

Apa itu?

What is that?

Significado

Asking to identify an object far from the speaker

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Contexto cultural

Avoid pointing with your index finger. Use your thumb to point while asking 'Apa itu?'. When asking about offerings (Canang Sari) on the ground, be respectful and don't step over them. The slang 'Apaan tuh?' became a national catchphrase thanks to the comedian Jaja Mihardja. Asking 'Apa itu?' is a great way to start a conversation. Indonesians value 'ramah tamah' (friendliness).

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The 'Ya' Softener

Add 'ya' at the end ('Apa itu ya?') to sound more polite and less like you are demanding an answer.

⚠️

People are not 'Apa'

Always use 'Siapa' for people. Using 'Apa' can be seen as very dehumanizing.

Significado

Asking to identify an object far from the speaker

💡

The 'Ya' Softener

Add 'ya' at the end ('Apa itu ya?') to sound more polite and less like you are demanding an answer.

⚠️

People are not 'Apa'

Always use 'Siapa' for people. Using 'Apa' can be seen as very dehumanizing.

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Word Order

If you forget 'Apa itu', 'Itu apa' is 100% correct and understood.

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The Thumb Point

In Java, point with your thumb to be extra polite when asking this question.

Teste-se

You see a strange bird in a tree far away. How do you ask your friend what it is?

...

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: Apa itu?

Since the bird is far away, you use 'itu'. Since it's an animal/object, you use 'Apa'.

Complete the dialogue at the market.

Buyer: Permisi, ___ itu? Seller: Itu buah naga, Pak.

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: apa

The buyer is asking 'What' is that fruit.

Match the phrase to the correct situation.

1. Apa ini? 2. Apa itu? 3. Siapa itu?

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: 1-B, 2-C, 3-A

'Ini' for near, 'itu' for far, 'siapa' for people.

Choose the most natural slang response for a friend.

A: (Points to a weird car) B: Wah, ___?

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: Apaan tuh

'Apaan tuh' is the most common casual/slang version of 'Apa itu?'.

🎉 Pontuação: /4

Recursos visuais

Near vs Far

Near (Ini)

Apa ini? What is this? (In hand)

Far (Itu)

Apa itu? What is that? (On table)

Banco de exercicios

4 exercicios

You see a strange bird in a tree far away. How do you ask your friend what it is? Choose A1

...

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: Apa itu?

Since the bird is far away, you use 'itu'. Since it's an animal/object, you use 'Apa'.

Complete the dialogue at the market. Fill Blank A1

Buyer: Permisi, ___ itu? Seller: Itu buah naga, Pak.

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: apa

The buyer is asking 'What' is that fruit.

Match the phrase to the correct situation. situation_matching A2

1. Apa ini? 2. Apa itu? 3. Siapa itu?

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: 1-B, 2-C, 3-A

'Ini' for near, 'itu' for far, 'siapa' for people.

Choose the most natural slang response for a friend. dialogue_completion B1

A: (Points to a weird car) B: Wah, ___?

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: Apaan tuh

'Apaan tuh' is the most common casual/slang version of 'Apa itu?'.

🎉 Pontuação: /4

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

No. 'Apa adalah itu' is grammatically incorrect in spoken Indonesian. Just say 'Apa itu?'.

'Apa itu' is for speaking. 'Apakah itu' is for formal writing.

Yes! It means both 'What is that?' and 'What are those?'.

You can say 'Apa namanya itu?' (What is its name?).

The most common slang is 'Apaan tuh?'.

Yes, 'Apa itu?' is perfect for identifying a mysterious noise.

Not at all, as long as you aren't pointing at a person.

You still use 'itu'. Indonesian doesn't have a separate word for 'over there' like Japanese 'are'.

Put the category first: '[Category] apa itu?'. Example: 'Kucing apa itu?' (What kind of cat is that?).

Yes! 'Bau apa itu?' (What smell is that?).

Frases relacionadas

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