Saying Thank You (Terima Kasih)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'Terima kasih' to say thank you and 'Sama-sama' to say you're welcome in any situation.
- Say 'Terima kasih' (Te-ree-ma Ka-seh) for general thanks.
- Add 'banyak-banyak' for 'thank you very much' in casual settings.
- Respond with 'Sama-sama' to mean 'you are welcome'.
Common Variations of Gratitude
| Type | Malay Phrase | English Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Standard
|
Terima kasih
|
Thank you
|
Everyday use
|
|
Emphatic
|
Terima kasih banyak
|
Thank you much
|
Casual/Neutral
|
|
Very Emphatic
|
Terima kasih banyak-banyak
|
Thank you very much
|
Casual
|
|
Formal
|
Ribuan terima kasih
|
Thousands of thanks
|
Letters/Speeches
|
|
Professional
|
Terima kasih atas kerjasama
|
Thanks for cooperation
|
Workplace
|
|
Refusal
|
Tak, terima kasih
|
No, thank you
|
Declining offers
|
Digital & Slang Forms
| Short Form | Full Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
|
TQ
|
Terima kasih
|
Texting/WhatsApp
|
|
tqvm
|
Thank you very much
|
English-influenced texting
|
|
Maceh
|
Terima kasih
|
Cute/Childish slang
|
|
Tqvm
|
Terima kasih banyak
|
Formal texting
|
Meanings
The standard and most polite way to express gratitude to anyone, regardless of their social status.
General Gratitude
Standard thank you used in shops, with friends, or with strangers.
“Terima kasih, cik.”
“Terima kasih banyak-banyak.”
Polite Refusal
Used to say 'No, thank you' when declining an offer.
“Tidak, terima kasih.”
“Tak apa, terima kasih.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Terima kasih
|
Terima kasih, abang.
|
|
Negative (Refusal)
|
Tidak + Terima kasih
|
Tidak, terima kasih.
|
|
Response
|
Sama-sama
|
Sama-sama, kawan.
|
|
Formal Response
|
Terima kasih kembali
|
Terima kasih kembali, Tuan.
|
|
Intense
|
Terima kasih + banyak-banyak
|
Terima kasih banyak-banyak!
|
|
Object-focused
|
Terima kasih + atas + [Noun]
|
Terima kasih atas makanan.
|
|
Verb-focused
|
Terima kasih + kerana + [Verb]
|
Terima kasih kerana datang.
|
Espectro de formalidade
Ribuan terima kasih diucapkan. (General gratitude)
Terima kasih banyak. (General gratitude)
Terima kasih banyak-banyak! (General gratitude)
Tqvm bro. (General gratitude)
The Anatomy of Gratitude
Responses
- Sama-sama You're welcome
- Kembali Return
Levels
- Banyak A lot
- Ribuan Thousands
Formal vs Informal Thanks
Exemplos por nível
Terima kasih, mak.
Thank you, mother.
Sama-sama.
You're welcome.
Terima kasih banyak-banyak.
Thank you very, very much.
Tidak, terima kasih.
No, thank you.
Terima kasih kembali.
You are welcome (formal).
Terima kasih atas hadiah ini.
Thank you for this gift.
Ribuan terima kasih kami ucapkan.
We express thousands of thanks.
Terima kasih atas perhatian anda.
Thank you for your attention.
Terima kasih daun keladi, kalau boleh hendak lagi.
Thank you (idiom), if possible I'd like more.
Kami terhutang budi atas segala bantuan.
We are indebted to your kindness for all the help.
Setinggi-tinggi penghargaan dan terima kasih dirakamkan.
The highest appreciation and thanks are recorded.
Zahirnya ucapan terima kasih, batinnya mengenang budi.
Outwardly an expression of thanks, inwardly a remembrance of kindness.
Fácil de confundir
Learners aren't sure which one to use in religious contexts.
Erros comuns
Terima.
Terima kasih.
Kasih.
Terima kasih.
Sama.
Sama-sama.
Terima kasih untuk bantuan.
Terima kasih atas bantuan.
Terima kasih banyak-banyak anda.
Terima kasih banyak-banyak.
Padrões de frases
Terima kasih atas ___.
Terima kasih kerana ___.
Real World Usage
Nasi lemak satu, terima kasih.
Tq sis!
Terima kasih atas peluang ini.
Smile while saying it
Don't say 'Sama'
Use 'Ya' for softness
Smart Tips
Add 'ya' at the end of the phrase.
Use 'Kembali' instead of 'Sama-sama' to sound more professional.
Pronúncia
The 'h' in Kasih
The final 'h' is a soft breath, almost silent, not a hard 'k' sound.
Rising-Falling
Te-RI-ma ka-SIH
Standard polite gratitude
Memorize
Mnemônico
Think of 'Tree-ma Car-see'. You are sitting in a 'Tree' and someone gives you a 'Car' that you 'See'. You receive it with love!
Associação visual
Imagine two hands coming together to receive a glowing heart. The hands are 'Terima' (receiving) and the heart is 'Kasih' (affection).
Rhyme
Terima kasih, simpan di hati. Budi baik, dikenang mati.
Story
A traveler arrives in a village. Every time they receive water, they say 'Terima kasih'. The villagers smile because they feel the 'Kasih' (love) being returned. The traveler never forgets to say 'Sama-sama' when thanked back.
Word Web
Desafio
Go to a local Malay restaurant or message a Malay friend and use 'Terima kasih banyak-banyak' for something they did.
Notas culturais
When saying thank you to an elder, it is polite to slightly bow your head.
Always end professional emails with 'Terima kasih' to maintain 'budi' (goodwill).
Derived from the Malay words 'Terima' (to accept/receive) and 'Kasih' (love/affection).
Iniciadores de conversa
Ini air untuk awak.
Boleh saya bantu angkat beg?
Temas para diário
Erros comuns
Test Yourself
Terima kasih ___.
___-sama.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Find and fix the mistake:
Terima banyak kasih.
Score: /4
Exercicios praticos
4 exercisesTerima kasih ___.
___-sama.
1. Terima kasih, 2. Sama-sama, 3. Tidak, terima kasih
Find and fix the mistake:
Terima banyak kasih.
Score: /4
Perguntas frequentes (6)
No, 'Kasih' alone means 'love' or 'to give' and is not used for 'thank you'. Always use the full phrase.
'Sama-sama' is the everyday version, while 'Kembali' is more formal, often used in professional or official settings.
Yes, it is exactly the same in Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia).
You say `Terima kasih atas makanan ini`.
Yes, it is considered polite to always acknowledge a 'Terima kasih' with a response.
Only in very casual emails to colleagues. For clients or superiors, always write 'Terima kasih'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Gracias
Malay response is a repetition of the word for 'same'.
Arigatou
Malay is less complex regarding social hierarchy for this specific phrase.
Danke
Malay 'Sama-sama' does not mean 'Please'.
Shukran
Malay 'Terima kasih' is indigenous, not borrowed from Arabic.
