Indonesian · BIPA 1 (A1) · Chapter 20
MakananFood
Food and taste. Food: daging, ikan, sayur, telur, buah, roti. The key point: the ADJECTIVE goes AFTER the noun — "ikan enak" (delicious fish), not "enak ikan". And you use no "adalah" before an adjective: "Saya lapar" (I'm hungry), "Makanan ini pedas" (this food is spicy). English speakers often put the adjective first ("enak ikan" ✗ → "ikan enak" ✓). New words: daging, ikan, sayur, telur, buah, roti, enak, pedas, lapar, kenyang. Culture corner: The warung, nasi & eating with the right hand.
Dialogue
i
Study this section in the Bookverse app
- Spaced repetition schedules your reviews
- Practice tasks with pass tracking
- A teacher on every study screen
- Progress saved across chapters and devices — laptop and phone
- Audio playback for dialogues and words
- Speaking practice with feedback
- Search dictionaries and chat with AI, all inside the app
Sign up and start studying in the Bookverse app.
You will be asked to register first.
enak ikan? ikan enak?
- BudiMike, makanan ini bagaimana?Mike, how is this food?
- MikeEnak ikan!Delicious fish! (slip: the adjective goes after the noun — say "ikan enak")
- BudiKata sifat di belakang — "ikan enak". Benda dulu, sifat kemudian.The adjective goes after — "ikan enak". Noun first, adjective second.
- MikeOh, ikan enak! Sayur juga enak. Saya lapar sekali!Oh, the fish is delicious! The veg too. I'm very hungry!
Dialogue
i
Study this section in the Bookverse app
- Spaced repetition schedules your reviews
- Practice tasks with pass tracking
- A teacher on every study screen
- Progress saved across chapters and devices — laptop and phone
- Audio playback for dialogues and words
- Speaking practice with feedback
- Search dictionaries and chat with AI, all inside the app
Sign up and start studying in the Bookverse app.
You will be asked to register first.
Enak sekali!— So delicious!
- SariBudi, kamu lapar?Budi, are you hungry?
- BudiYa, saya lapar. Kita makan apa?Yes, I am. What shall we eat?
- SariWarung ini punya nasi goreng dan mie ayam. Keduanya enak.This warung has fried rice and chicken noodles. Both are delicious.
- BudiSaya makan nasi goreng. Ikan di sini enak sekali.I'll have fried rice. The fish here is very delicious.
Vocabulary
i
Study this section in the Bookverse app
- Spaced repetition schedules your reviews
- Practice tasks with pass tracking
- A teacher on every study screen
- Progress saved across chapters and devices — laptop and phone
- Audio playback for dialogues and words
- Speaking practice with feedback
- Search dictionaries and chat with AI, all inside the app
Sign up and start studying in the Bookverse app.
You will be asked to register first.
- daging
nounmeat
- ikan
nounfish
- sayur
nounvegetable
- telur
nounegg
- buah
nounfruit
- roti
nounbread
- enak
adjectivedelicious (after the noun)
- pedas
adjectivespicy
- lapar
adjectivehungry
- kenyang
adjectivefull (not hungry)
Grammar
i
Study this section in the Bookverse app
- Spaced repetition schedules your reviews
- Practice tasks with pass tracking
- A teacher on every study screen
- Progress saved across chapters and devices — laptop and phone
- Audio playback for dialogues and words
- Speaking practice with feedback
- Search dictionaries and chat with AI, all inside the app
Sign up and start studying in the Bookverse app.
You will be asked to register first.
Adjective after the noun (no "adalah")
Explanation
In Indonesian, the ADJECTIVE comes AFTER the noun it describes: "ikan enak" (delicious fish), "makanan pedas" (spicy food), "warung baru" (new warung). English speakers often put the adjective first like "delicious fish" → "enak ikan" ✗ → "ikan enak" ✓. When the adjective is the predicate, you need NO "adalah": "Ikan ini enak" (This fish is delicious), "Saya lapar" (I'm hungry), "Saya kenyang" (I'm full) — not "Saya adalah lapar". Add "sangat / sekali" (very): "enak sekali". Ask about feeling: "Kamu lapar?" — "Ya, saya lapar" / "Tidak, saya kenyang".
Examples
- Makanan ini enak sekali.This food is very delicious.
- Saya lapar. Saya makan nasi.I'm hungry. I eat rice.
- Ikan ini enak, sayur juga enak.This fish is delicious, the vegetables too.
- Makanannya pedas? — Sedikit pedas.Is the food spicy? — A little spicy.
Culture
i
Study this section in the Bookverse app
- Spaced repetition schedules your reviews
- Practice tasks with pass tracking
- A teacher on every study screen
- Progress saved across chapters and devices — laptop and phone
- Audio playback for dialogues and words
- Speaking practice with feedback
- Search dictionaries and chat with AI, all inside the app
Sign up and start studying in the Bookverse app.
You will be asked to register first.
Warung, nasi & makan dengan tangan kananThe warung, nasi & eating with the right hand
Eating is at the centre of Indonesian social life. From roadside warungs to the family table, rice is always there, and there are a few habits that can surprise newcomers — above all eating with the right hand.
The warung
A warung is a small stall — it can be a cart, a tent, or a tiny shop — selling cheap, fresh food. At a "warteg" (Tegal warung) you choose rice and then point at the side dishes you want: chicken, fish, egg, vegetables, tempeh. You pay for what you took. Warungs open from morning to night and are where neighbours gather. Don't be shy to point and ask "Ini apa?" (what is this?) — the owner is happy to explain.
Nasi = a meal
For many Indonesians, "makan" (to eat) means "to eat rice". If you have not eaten rice, it can feel like you haven't really eaten! A plate of food is usually white rice with a few side dishes on top. A common greeting is "Sudah makan?" (Have you eaten?) — this is not an invitation to eat, but a polite way to greet, like "Apa kabar?" (How are you?). Just answer "Sudah" (yes) or "Belum" (not yet) with a smile.
The right hand
Many Indonesians eat with their HAND — and always the RIGHT hand. The left hand is considered impolite for touching food, giving, or receiving something. Before eating, wash your hands; then use the fingers of your right hand to mix the rice with the side dishes and bring it to your mouth. In many places a spoon and fork are also available — hold the spoon in your right hand. When giving or receiving money or an item, use your right hand (or both hands) — this is an important sign of respect.
In short: find a warung, eat rice with side dishes, and use your right hand. In Indonesia, eating together is a way to show warmth and respect. Enjoy your meal — selamat makan!
Want to actually learn this — with audio, spaced repetition and progress tracking?
Study in the app →