To ask a practical question politely in Malay, open with a softener, choose the right question word, and end with thanks: Maaf, pukul berapa kedai itu buka? Terima kasih. To answer, give the fact the question word asks for, in a short, correct sentence.
This lesson builds on introducing a person and belongs to foreign-language communication foundations. Practical questions about directions, prices and times appear in almost every everyday-context task.
Which question word do I need?
Each question word asks for one kind of fact. Pick the word first, then build the sentence around it.
| Word | Asks for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| apa | a thing | Apa ini? |
| siapa | a person | Siapa guru kelas anda? |
| bila | a date or moment | Bila peperiksaan bermula? |
| di mana | a place | Di mana perpustakaan? |
| pukul berapa | a clock time | Pukul berapa kelas tamat? |
| berapa | a number or price | Berapa harga tiket? |
| bagaimana | a way or method | Bagaimana saya ke stesen? |
Learn each word together with one whole model question, so the word order comes with it.
How do I make it polite?
Add one softener at the start and thanks at the end. Choose from this short list.
- Maaf, at the start: “excuse me, sorry to ask”.
- Boleh saya tanya…? “May I ask…?”
- Tolong…, to request an action.
- Terima kasih, after the answer.
For the listener, use anda, cikgu, encik or puan in formal settings. Use kamu or the person’s name with friends your age.
Worked example
This exchange is invented. A student asks a librarian when the school library closes.
Step 1, choose the question word. The fact is a clock time, so use pukul berapa.
Step 2, add the softener. Maaf, boleh saya tanya…
Step 3, build the sentence. Maaf, boleh saya tanya, pukul berapa perpustakaan tutup?
Step 4, hear the answer and reply.
Pelajar: Maaf, boleh saya tanya, pukul berapa perpustakaan tutup? Pustakawan: Perpustakaan tutup pada pukul lima petang. Pelajar: Terima kasih, puan.
The answer repeats the subject, perpustakaan, and then gives the time. Reusing the question’s words is a reliable way to build a correct answer.
The mistake to watch for
A common error is to copy English word order for time and price questions.
Mistaken question: Berapa pukul perpustakaan tutup?
This word order sounds as if it asks “how many o’clocks”. The fact is a clock time, so the phrase is fixed as pukul berapa.
Correction: Pukul berapa perpustakaan tutup?
A second slip is to use kamu with an adult you do not know. Switch to anda, encik or puan. The facts stay the same, and the tone becomes polite.
Check yourself
Try these first, then open each answer.
1. Write a polite question asking the price of a notebook.
Show answer
One possible answer: Maaf, berapa harga buku nota ini? The price is a number, so berapa goes first, before harga.
2. Correct this question: Di mana pukul bas bertolak?
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The speaker mixed two question words. If the fact is the time, write Pukul berapa bas bertolak? If the fact is the place, write Di mana bas bertolak?
3. Answer this question in a full sentence. Question: Di mana tandas? Fact: next to the canteen.
Show answer
Tandas terletak di sebelah kantin. Terletak di is a neat frame for locations.
Where this leads next
Once questions feel steady, add times and how often things happen in expressing time and frequency. Then try the full foundations practice set. The writing revision compare view is useful for placing your first draft and your corrected draft side by side.
A teacher can also play the other speaker in a role-play, which is a core part of online one-to-one Malay tuition.