The `pasar` (market) is the heart of daily life in Malaysia. This chapter will equip you with the essential vocabulary and phrases to confidently navigate a market, ask for prices, and buy fresh goods.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
| Malay | Phonetic Guide | English |
|---|---|---|
| pasar | (pah-sar) | market |
| pembeli | (pum-buh-lee) | buyer, customer |
| penjual | (pun-joo-ahl) | seller, vendor |
| murah | (moo-rah) | cheap |
| mahal | (mah-hahl) | expensive |
| segar | (suh-gar) | fresh |
| duit | (doo-eet) | money |
| duit baki | (doo-eet bah-kee) | change (money) |
| sekilo | (suh-kee-loh) | one kilogram |
| Malay Phrase | English |
|---|---|
| Berapa harga ini? | How much is this? |
| Saya nak... | I want... (casual) |
| Boleh kurang sikit? | Can you reduce (the price) a little? |
| Bagi saya... | Give me... |
| Ini sahaja. | This is all. |
In previous chapters, you learned `mahu` for "want". In everyday, informal conversation, especially at a market, it's far more common to hear and use the shortened, casual version: `nak`.
Using `nak` will make you sound much more like a local!
Master these essential market phrases and vocabulary.
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Match the Malay term to its meaning.
murah ( ) fresh
segar ( ) expensive
mahal ( ) cheap
sekilo ( ) one kilogrammurah → cheap
segar → fresh
mahal → expensive
sekilo → one kilogramHow would you say the following in Malay at a market?
One of the quintessential Malaysian experiences is the `pasar malam`, or night market. These pop up on different streets on different nights of the week, offering a huge variety of street food, fresh produce, clothes, toys, and more. It's a lively, social event where families stroll, eat, and shop. Bargaining is common, especially for non-food items, and practicing your Malay here is a fun, low-pressure way to engage with local culture and cuisine.
A simple shopping trip at a wet market (`pasar basah`).
Pembeli: Pakcik, berapa harga tomato ini? (pahk-cheek, buh-rah-pah har-gah toh-mah-toh ee-nee?)
Penjual: Tomato ini lima ringgit sekilo. Sangat segar. (toh-mah-toh ee-nee lee-mah ring-git suh-kee-loh. sah-ngaht suh-gar.)
Pembeli: Baiklah, saya nak setengah kilo. Dan bawang, berapa? (bah-eek-lah, sah-yah nahk suh-tuh-ngah kee-loh. dahn bah-wahng, buh-rah-pah?)
Penjual: Bawang tiga ringgit. (bah-wahng tee-gah ring-git.)
Pembeli: Okay, ini sahaja. Semua sekali lapan ringgit. (okay, ee-nee sah-hah-jah. suh-moo-ah suh-kah-lee lah-pahn ring-git.)
Customer: Uncle, how much are these tomatoes?
Seller: These tomatoes are five ringgit per kilo. Very fresh.
Customer: Okay, I want half a kilo. And the onions, how much?
Seller: Onions are three ringgit.
Customer: Okay, this is all. Everything together is eight ringgit.
Syabas! You're now ready to go shopping. But what if you need to find the market first? In the next chapter, we'll learn another essential real-world skill: Memberi Arah (Giving Directions). You'll learn words like 'left', 'right', and 'straight ahead' to help you navigate your way around.