Ask the way, and understand the answer
Asking is easy. The reply is where people freeze.
The one line to remember
Tanya sikit, MRT dekat mana?
Quick question, whereabouts is the MRT?
You’ll ask one question. The answer has four words in it — kiri, kanan, terus, depan — and everything else is filler. Learn the four and you can follow the hand.
Start with maaf or tanya sikit so the stranger knows a question is coming, not a sales pitch.
How it sounds
You and Makcik
Read it, then hide the English and play it through. Tap a bubble for the word map.
You’ve come out the wrong exit at Bugis. You stop a makcik with grocery bags.
Malay
Maaf, tanya sikit. Bugis Junction dekat mana?
English
Sorry, quick question. Whereabouts is Bugis Junction?
Note
Tanya sikit — ask a little — is how you open with a stranger. It’s the excuse me before the question.
Malay
Oh, jalan terus, lepas tu belok kiri.
English
Oh, go straight, then turn left.
Malay
Belok kiri… jauh tak?
English
Turn left… is it far?
Malay
Tak jauh. Lima minit je. Nampak 7-Eleven, dia kat sebelah.
English
Not far. Just five minutes. You’ll see a 7-Eleven, it’s right next to it.
Note
Dia usually means he or she. In speech it also stands in for it — the place, the shop, the bus.
Malay
Okay. Bas ke sana ada?
English
Okay. Is there a bus there?
Malay
Tak payah bas. Jalan kaki lagi cepat.
English
No need for a bus. Walking is faster.
Note
Tak payah = no need. You’ll use it everywhere: tak payah plastik, tak payah resit.
Malay
Okay, terima kasih makcik!
English
Okay, thank you makcik!
Note
Makcik (auntie) and pakcik (uncle) are the Malay titles for older strangers. Warm and respectful.
Malay
Sama-sama.
English
You’re welcome.
Lines to keep
Pocket these
The ones worth saying out loud on the way there.
- polite
Tanya sikit.
Excuse me, quick question.
- neutral
Toilet dekat mana?
Whereabouts is the toilet?
- neutral
Belok kiri.
Turn left.
- neutral
Belok kanan.
Turn right.
- neutral
Jalan terus.
Go straight.
- casual
Jauh tak?
Is it far?
- casual
Turun kat mana?
Where do I get off?
For the bus. Turun = get down, get off.
The six directions
Belok ___ / Kat ___
- kiri · left
- kanan · right
- depan · ahead, in front
- belakang · behind
- atas · upstairs, on top
- bawah · downstairs, below
Watch out
Three things to know
The small things that give a beginner away.
Dekat means near, and at
Dekat mana = whereabouts. Kat (the spoken short form) means at: kat sana = over there. Same word, two jobs.
Lepas tu glues the steps together
Lepas tu = after that. Every set of directions is X, lepas tu Y, lepas tu Z. Hear it and you know a new step is coming.
Terus also means straight away
Jalan terus = go straight. Terus balik = go straight home. Context tells you which.
Quick check
Three questions
No account, no score kept. Just see if it stuck.
Question 1
Makcik says: Jalan terus, lepas tu belok kanan.
Question 2
You want to know if it’s far.
Question 3
Tak payah bas means…
Try it with Aiman
Reading is the easy part. Now say it.
You’re lost near Tanjong Pagar and need the MRT. Aiman is a stranger on the street. Ask, then follow the directions.
Paste this as your first message. Aiman sets the scene, replies in Malay, and keeps English on the side.