Now that you can form a wide range of verbs, let's learn how to use them to give instructions. The imperative form in Malay is used for commands, requests, and invitations, with different levels of politeness.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
The simplest way to give a command is to use the root verb. This is very direct and is usually only used with close friends, children, or in situations requiring urgency. It can sound harsh otherwise.
In most situations, you will use a "command word" in front of the verb to be polite.
| Word | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Sila | A general, formal "please" for instructions. | Sila masuk. (Please come in.) |
| Jemput | A warm, hospitable "please," especially for food/drink. | Jemput makan. (Please, eat.) |
| Tolong | "Please help" - used when asking for a favor or assistance. | Tolong tutup pintu itu. (Please close that door.) |
To tell someone *not* to do something, you always use the word `jangan` (don't).
As you've seen before, the `-lah` particle is a powerful tool for politeness. Adding it to a command makes it sound much friendlier and less like a harsh order. It's extremely common in spoken Malay.
Combining a command word with `-lah` is a great way to sound natural and polite: `Jemputlah minum.` (Please do have a drink.)
Master these command words and structures.
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Choose the most appropriate word (`Sila`, `Jemput`, `Tolong`, `Jangan`) for each situation.
Translate the following phrases into polite Malay.
A host welcoming a guest into their home for Hari Raya.
Tuan Rumah (Host): Selamat Hari Raya! Jemputlah masuk! (...juhm-poot-lah mah-sook!)
Tetamu (Guest): Terima kasih. Wah, cantiknya rumah awak! (tuh-ree-mah kah-seh...)
Tuan Rumah: Terima kasih. Sila duduk. Jangan segan-segan. Anggap macam rumah sendiri. (...see-lah doo-dook. jah-ngahn suh-gahn-suh-gahn. ahng-gahp mah-chahm roo-mah sun-dee-ree.)
Tuan Rumah: Jemputlah minum dan makan kuih ini. (juhm-poot-lah mee-noom dahn mah-kahn koo-eeh ee-nee.)
Tetamu: Baiklah, tolong hulurkan kuih itu. (bah-eek-lah, toh-long hoo-loor-kahn koo-eeh ee-too.)
Host: Happy Hari Raya! Please do come in!
Guest: Thank you. Wow, your house is beautiful!
Host: Thank you. Please sit. Don't be shy. Consider it like your own home.
Host: Please do drink and eat this cake/pastry.
Guest: Okay, please pass that cake.
Cemerlang! You can now give instructions politely and effectively. You've learned how to form individual sentences and commands. The next logical step is to connect them. In Chapter 33, we will learn about Kata Hubung (Conjunctions) like 'and', 'or', and 'but', which allow you to build longer, more complex, and more interesting sentences.