Language/Indonesian/Grammar/Give-your-Opinion

Indonesian Grammar - Give your Opinion

Hi Indonesian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on how to give your opinion in Indonesian. But before we dive into the topic, let's talk about the importance of culture in language learning.

1. 1. The Role of Culture in Language Learning

Learning a language is not just about memorizing words and grammar rules. Culture plays an important role in language learning as well. By understanding the culture of the language you are learning, you can better understand its grammar, vocabulary, and even pronunciation.

For example, did you know that Indonesians tend to speak more indirectly than Westerners? In Indonesian culture, being too direct can be seen as impolite. Therefore, when expressing opinions, Indonesians tend to use more subtle language to avoid offending others. Understanding this cultural difference can help you interpret Indonesian conversations more accurately.

To learn more about Indonesian culture and language, you can use resources such as the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

1. 1. Basic Opinion Vocabulary

Before giving your opinion, you need to know some basic Indonesian opinion vocabulary. Here are some words and phrases that you can use:

Indonesian	Pronunciation	English
Saya pikir	SA-ya PEE-keer	I think
Menurut saya	meh-NOO-root SA-ya	According to me
Bagi saya	BAH-gee SA-ya	For me
Menurut pendapat saya	meh-NOO-root pen-DA-pat SA-ya	In my opinion

1. 1. Giving Your Opinion

When giving your opinion in Indonesian, there are several ways you can do it. To soften your opinion, you can use the following words and phrases:

• Memang - indeed
• Mungkin - possibly
• Sebenarnya - actually
• Saya rasa - I feel

For example:

• Saya rasa cuaca hari ini sedikit panas. (I feel the weather today is a little bit hot.)
• Mungkin kamu bisa mencoba warna lain. (Possibly you can try another color.)

To express a stronger opinion, you can use:

• Sangat - very
• Benar-benar - really
• Sekali - extremely

For example:

• Saya sangat setuju dengan pendapatmu. (I totally agree with your opinion.)
• Dia benar-benar cerdas dalam memecahkan masalah. (He is really smart in solving problems.)

1. 1. Expressing Agreement or Disagreement

When responding to someone's opinion, you can use these phrases to express agreement or disagreement:

• Setuju - agree
• Tidak setuju - disagree
• Menurutku/Ikut setuju - I agree

For example:

A: Menurutku, Indonesia punya budaya yang kaya. (I think Indonesia has a rich culture.) B: Setuju sekali! (Totally agree!)

A: Bagaimana kalau kita menonton film action malam ini? (How about we watch an action movie tonight?) B: Hmm, maaf aku tidak setuju. Bagaimana kalau kita nonton drama saja? (Hmm, sorry I disagree. How about we watch a drama instead?)

1. 1. Exercise: Express Your Opinion

Let's practice giving opinions in Indonesian! Imagine you are trying to choose a place to eat with your friend. Use the vocabulary and phrases we just learned to express your opinion.

• Person 1: Kamu ingin makan di restoran Jepang atau restoran Italia? (Do you want to eat at a Japanese restaurant or an Italian restaurant?)
• Person 2: Menurutku, makan di restoran Jepang lebih enak. (I think eating at a Japanese restaurant is better.)
• Person 1: Bagi saya, makan di restoran Italia lebih romantik. (For me, eating at an Italian restaurant is more romantic.)
• Person 2: Mungkin kamu benar, tetapi menurut saya, sushi enak sekali. (Possibly you are right, but in my opinion, sushi is very delicious.)

1. 1. Conclusion

Giving your opinion in Indonesian can be tricky if you're not familiar with Indonesian culture. By understanding the nuances of the language, you can more effectively give your opinion and engage in meaningful conversations.

Don't forget to practice with native speakers on the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions. 😊

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➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Other Lessons

• Imperative Tense
• Pronouns
• Conditional Mood
• Plurals
• Possessive Cases in Indonesian
• Verbs in Indonesian
• Negation
• Prepositions
• Past Tense
• Gender

Sources

• Indonesian language - Wikipedia
• Learn Indonesian — The Fast, Easy & Fun Way | Babbel
• Common Questions in Indonesian & How to Answer Them