How to Say 'Yes' and 'No' Like a Native in Indonesian

Hello, everyone!

Are you just starting to learn Bahasa Indonesia?
Today, we’ve prepared some simple expressions to help you enhance your conversations beyond just "yes" and "no."

With just "Ya" and "Tidak," you’ll see how easily conversations can flow.





1. Simple and Basic Expressions

Ya: This means "Yes" in Indonesian. Pronounce it as "Ya!" with enthusiasm.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFXfKjGzp2k/?igsh=cTQyamw4bWJud29l

Tidak: This means "No" in Indonesian. (In casual speech, Indonesians often say "nggak," but this "ng" sound can be tricky for Korean or English speakers.)


Example Conversations:

A: Anda suka kopi? (Do you like coffee?)
B: Ya, saya suka. (Yes, I like it.)

A: Ini buku Anda? (Is this your book?)
B: Tidak, itu bukan buku saya. (No, that’s not my book.)


See? Simple, right? Curious about how to pronounce them? Stay tuned for the upcoming pronunciation reels!





2. Making Positive and Negative Responses More Expressive

1) Upgrading "Ya" – More Polished Positive Expressions

Tentu saja!: Of course!
Ya, benar.: Yes, that’s correct.
Betul sekali.: Absolutely right!


2) Upgrading "Tidak" – More Polite Negative Responses

Tidak, terima kasih.: No, thank you.
Saya tidak tahu.: I don’t know.
Tidak masalah.: No problem.



Practical Examples

A: Kamu mau ikut ke bioskop? (Do you want to go to the cinema?)
B: Tentu saja! Saya suka film. (Of course! I love movies.)

A: Kamu suka makanan pedas? (Do you like spicy food?)
B: Tidak, saya tidak suka. (No, I don’t like it.)





3. Fun Quiz – Practice Time!

Question: Anda suka kopi? (Do you like coffee?)
Try answering this question using either a positive expression or a negative expression!





4. Real-Life Tips

Indonesians love to be generous, especially with food! But sometimes, you might want to politely decline. Use "Tidak, terima kasih." (No, thank you) to gracefully refuse.

This also works at tourist spots or airports when people persistently offer goods or services.

For food lovers, when someone offers you more, instead of just saying "Ya," try "Tentu saja!" to show excitement and confidence!





5. Confidence is Key in Bahasa Indonesia!

Now you can have simple conversations using just "Ya" and "Tidak." Mastering these basics will multiply your Bahasa Indonesia skills by tenfold! Practice them in your daily life starting today.



Coming Next: Positive and Negative Expressions – Advanced Upgrade!

Next time, we’ll build on "Ya" and "Tidak" and learn how to make them more natural and situation-specific.

Sneak Peek:

Tentu saja! (Of course!)
Tidak apa-apa. (It’s okay.)
Belum, terima kasih. (Not yet, thank you.)


Want to sound more fluent in daily conversations? Don’t miss out on the next lesson!
Sampai jumpa di pelajaran berikutnya! (See you in the next lesson!)