Formal and informal question words
How do you ask questions like a native?
The table below shows the usage of question words. You can place the question words at the beginning or at the end of sentences.
| Question words (Formal) | Question words (Informal) |
|---|---|
| Apakah itu?
What is that? |
Itu apa? |
| Siapakah lelaki itu?
Who is that man? |
Lelaki itu siapa? |
| Dengan siapakah kamu pergi ke sekolah?
With whom/who you go to school? |
Kamu pergi ke sekolah dengan siapa? |
| Untuk siapakah hadiah itu?
For whom/who is that gift? |
Hadiah itu untuk siapa? |
| Bilakah awak datang ke Malaysia?
When did you came to Malaysia? |
Awak datang ke Malaysia bila? |
| Sejak bilakah anda tinggal di Malaysia?
Since when did you stay in Malaysia? |
Anda tinggal di Malaysia sejak bila? |
| Sampai bilakah keluarga anda tinggal di sini?
Until when your family stay here? |
Keluarga anda tinggal di sini sampai bila? |
| Berapakah harga buku itu?
How much (price) is that book? |
Harga buku itu berapa? |
| Berapa lamakah mereka pergi?
How long have they go(ne)? |
Mereka pergi berapa lama? |
| Berapa jauhkah rumah awak dari pejabat?
How far is your house from the office? |
Rumah awak dari pejabat berapa jauh? |
| Berapa harikah mereka tinggal di Malaysia?
How many days do they stay in Malaysia? |
Mereka tinggal di Malaysia berapa hari? |
| Berapa orangkah tinggal di rumah itu?
How many person stay in that house? |
Di rumah itu tinggal berapa orang? |
| Sudah berapa lamakah anda tinggal di Jepun?
How long have you stay in Japan? |
Anda tinggal di Jepun sudah berapa lama? |
| Mengapakah kamu datang ke sini?
Why did you come here? |
– |
| Kenapakah kamu datang ke sini?
Why did you come here? |
– |
| Di manakah kampung halaman and?
Where is your hometown? |
Kampung halaman anda di mana? |
| Ke manakah ibunya pergi?
Where is his/her mother going? |
Ibunya pergi ke mana? |
| Dari manakah mereka datang?
From where did they come from? |
Mereka datang dari mana? |
| Yang mana satukah makanan yang kamu suka?
Which one of the food do you like/prefer? |
Kamu suka makanan yang mana satu? |
| Yang manakah kereta and?
Which one is your car? |
Kereta anda yang mana? |
| Adakah anda pensyarah?
Are you a lecturer? |
– |
| Adakah saya lambat?
Am I late? |
– |
The question word does not contain the particle “kah” at the end of the sentence, which is usually used in casual conversation.
Learn Bahasa Melayu: Grammatical rules in Malay
Learn Bahasa Melayu: Grammatical rules in Malay
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