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Introduction
The Indonesian preposition dengan (dəŋan) is one of the most versatile and frequently used words in the language. Corresponding to English “with,” this preposition serves multiple grammatical and semantic functions that extend beyond simple accompaniment. In Indonesian—an isolating language without case markers, verb conjugations, or grammatical gender—prepositions like dengan carry enormous functional weight, connecting ideas and specifying relationships between nouns, verbs, and other sentence elements.
The word dengan operates in three primary domains. First, it expresses accompaniment, indicating that someone or something is together with another entity: Saya pergi dengan teman saya (I go with my friend). Second, it marks instrument or means, showing how an action is accomplished: Dia menulis dengan pena (She writes with a pen). Third, and perhaps most distinctively, dengan combines with adjectives to create adverbial expressions: dengan cepat (quickly, literally “with speed”), dengan baik (well, literally “with goodness”), dengan senang hati (gladly, literally “with happy heart”).
This third function deserves special attention from English-speaking learners. While English creates adverbs by adding “-ly” to adjectives (quick → quickly), Indonesian achieves the same effect by placing dengan before an adjective. This pattern is highly productive and essential for expressing manner in Indonesian.
Indonesian spelling is largely phonetic, meaning each letter corresponds consistently to one sound. However, learners should note that the letter ‘e’ in Indonesian represents two distinct vowels: the schwa /ə/ (as in the first syllable of dengan: dəŋan) and the full vowel /e/ (as in enak, delicious). Context and memorization help distinguish between these sounds.
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FAQ: What does “dengan” mean in Indonesian?
Dengan is the Indonesian preposition meaning “with.” It expresses accompaniment (together with someone), instrument or means (using something), and manner when combined with adjectives (creating adverbs). For example: Saya makan dengan garpu (I eat with a fork), Dia berlari dengan cepat (She runs quickly).
Key Takeaways
In this lesson, you will learn to use dengan for accompaniment, instrument, and manner. You will practice the distinctive Indonesian pattern of dengan + adjective for adverbial expressions. You will encounter dengan in varied contexts from everyday conversation to literary prose. You will build vocabulary systematically while mastering this essential preposition.
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17.1a BOKO Saya (SA-ya) I pergi (pər-GI) go dengan (DƏNG-an) with ibu (I-bu) mother saya (SA-ya) my
17.1b AJAMI Saya (sa-ya) I pergi (pər-gi) go dengan (dəng-an) with ibu (i-bu) mother saya (sa-ya) my
17.2a BOKO Dia (DI-a) he/she menulis (mə-NU-lis) writes surat (SU-rat) letter dengan (DƏNG-an) with pena (PE-na) pen
17.2b AJAMI Dia (di-a) he/she menulis (mə-nu-lis) writes surat (su-rat) letter dengan (dəng-an) with pena (pe-na) pen
17.3a BOKO Anak-anak (A-nak-A-nak) children bermain (bər-MA-in) play dengan (DƏNG-an) with gembira (gəm-BI-ra) happiness-ADV
17.3b AJAMI Anak-anak (a-nak-a-nak) children bermain (bər-ma-in) play dengan (dəng-an) with gembira (gəm-bi-ra) happiness-ADV
17.4a BOKO Mereka (mə-RE-ka) they bekerja (bə-KƏR-ja) work dengan (DƏNG-an) with rajin (RA-jin) diligence-ADV
17.4b AJAMI Mereka (mə-re-ka) they bekerja (bə-kər-ja) work dengan (dəng-an) with rajin (ra-jin) diligence-ADV
17.5a BOKO Saya (SA-ya) I makan (MA-kan) eat nasi (NA-si) rice dengan (DƏNG-an) with tangan (TA-ngan) hand
17.5b AJAMI Saya (sa-ya) I makan (ma-kan) eat nasi (na-si) rice dengan (dəng-an) with tangan (ta-ngan) hand
17.6a BOKO Guru (GU-ru) teacher berbicara (bər-bi-CA-ra) speaks dengan (DƏNG-an) with murid (MU-rid) student di (di) in kelas (KE-las) class
17.6b AJAMI Guru (gu-ru) teacher berbicara (bər-bi-ca-ra) speaks dengan (dəng-an) with murid (mu-rid) student di (di) in kelas (ke-las) class
17.7a BOKO Dia (DI-a) she menyanyi (mə-NYA-nyi) sings dengan (DƏNG-an) with suara (SU-a-ra) voice yang (yang) REL indah (IN-dah) beautiful
17.7b AJAMI Dia (di-a) she menyanyi (mə-nya-nyi) sings dengan (dəng-an) with suara (su-a-ra) voice yang (yang) REL indah (in-dah) beautiful
17.8a BOKO Kami (KA-mi) we-EXCL berjalan (bər-JA-lan) walk dengan (DƏNG-an) with pelan (pə-LAN) slowness-ADV di (di) in taman (TA-man) garden
17.8b AJAMI Kami (ka-mi) we-EXCL berjalan (bər-ja-lan) walk dengan (dəng-an) with pelan (pə-lan) slowness-ADV di (di) in taman (ta-man) garden
17.9a BOKO Ayah (A-yah) father membuka (məm-BU-ka) opens pintu (PIN-tu) door dengan (DƏNG-an) with kunci (KUN-ci) key
17.9b AJAMI Ayah (a-yah) father membuka (məm-bu-ka) opens pintu (pin-tu) door dengan (dəng-an) with kunci (kun-ci) key
17.10a BOKO Mereka (mə-RE-ka) they pergi (pər-GI) go ke (ke) to Bali (BA-li) Bali dengan (DƏNG-an) with/by pesawat (pə-SA-wat) airplane
17.10b AJAMI Mereka (mə-re-ka) they pergi (pər-gi) go ke (ke) to Bali (ba-li) Bali dengan (dəng-an) with/by pesawat (pə-sa-wat) airplane
17.11a BOKO Dia (DI-a) he menyelesaikan (mə-nyə-lə-SAI-kan) completes tugas (TU-gas) task dengan (DƏNG-an) with baik (ba-IK) goodness-ADV
17.11b AJAMI Dia (di-a) he menyelesaikan (mə-nyə-lə-sai-kan) completes tugas (tu-gas) task dengan (dəng-an) with baik (ba-ik) goodness-ADV
17.12a BOKO Ibu (I-bu) mother memasak (mə-MA-sak) cooks sup (sup) soup dengan (DƏNG-an) with sayuran (sa-YU-ran) vegetables segar (SE-gar) fresh
17.12b AJAMI Ibu (i-bu) mother memasak (mə-ma-sak) cooks sup (sup) soup dengan (dəng-an) with sayuran (sa-yu-ran) vegetables segar (se-gar) fresh
17.13a BOKO Penulis (pə-NU-lis) writer itu (I-tu) that menulis (mə-NU-lis) writes dengan (DƏNG-an) with penuh (pə-NUH) full semangat (sə-MA-ngat) spirit
17.13b AJAMI Penulis (pə-nu-lis) writer itu (i-tu) that menulis (mə-nu-lis) writes dengan (dəng-an) with penuh (pə-nuh) full semangat (sə-ma-ngat) spirit
17.14a BOKO Kita (KI-ta) we-INCL harus (HA-rus) must hidup (HI-dup) live dengan (DƏNG-an) with jujur (JU-jur) honesty-ADV dan (dan) and berani (bə-RA-ni) courage-ADV
17.14b AJAMI Kita (ki-ta) we-INCL harus (ha-rus) must hidup (hi-dup) live dengan (dəng-an) with jujur (ju-jur) honesty-ADV dan (dan) and berani (bə-ra-ni) courage-ADV
17.15a BOKO Pemuda (pə-MU-da) youth itu (I-tu) that belajar (bə-LA-jar) studies dengan (DƏNG-an) with tekun (tə-KUN) diligence-ADV setiap (sə-TI-ap) every hari (HA-ri) day
17.15b AJAMI Pemuda (pə-mu-da) youth itu (i-tu) that belajar (bə-la-jar) studies dengan (dəng-an) with tekun (tə-kun) diligence-ADV setiap (sə-ti-ap) every hari (ha-ri) day
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17.1 Saya pergi dengan ibu saya. (Saya pergi dengan ibu saya.) “I go with my mother.”
17.2 Dia menulis surat dengan pena. (Dia menulis surat dengan pena.) “He/She writes a letter with a pen.”
17.3 Anak-anak bermain dengan gembira. (Anak-anak bermain dengan gembira.) “The children play happily.”
17.4 Mereka bekerja dengan rajin. (Mereka bekerja dengan rajin.) “They work diligently.”
17.5 Saya makan nasi dengan tangan. (Saya makan nasi dengan tangan.) “I eat rice with my hand.”
17.6 Guru berbicara dengan murid di kelas. (Guru berbicara dengan murid di kelas.) “The teacher speaks with a student in class.”
17.7 Dia menyanyi dengan suara yang indah. (Dia menyanyi dengan suara yang indah.) “She sings with a beautiful voice.”
17.8 Kami berjalan dengan pelan di taman. (Kami berjalan dengan pelan di taman.) “We walk slowly in the garden.”
17.9 Ayah membuka pintu dengan kunci. (Ayah membuka pintu dengan kunci.) “Father opens the door with the key.”
17.10 Mereka pergi ke Bali dengan pesawat. (Mereka pergi ke Bali dengan pesawat.) “They go to Bali by airplane.”
17.11 Dia menyelesaikan tugas dengan baik. (Dia menyelesaikan tugas dengan baik.) “He completed the task well.”
17.12 Ibu memasak sup dengan sayuran segar. (Ibu memasak sup dengan sayuran segar.) “Mother cooks soup with fresh vegetables.”
17.13 Penulis itu menulis dengan penuh semangat. (Penulis itu menulis dengan penuh semangat.) “That writer writes with full spirit.”
17.14 Kita harus hidup dengan jujur dan berani. (Kita harus hidup dengan jujur dan berani.) “We must live honestly and courageously.”
17.15 Pemuda itu belajar dengan tekun setiap hari. (Pemuda itu belajar dengan tekun setiap hari.) “That young man studies diligently every day.”
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17.1 Saya pergi dengan ibu saya.
17.2 Dia menulis surat dengan pena.
17.3 Anak-anak bermain dengan gembira.
17.4 Mereka bekerja dengan rajin.
17.5 Saya makan nasi dengan tangan.
17.6 Guru berbicara dengan murid di kelas.
17.7 Dia menyanyi dengan suara yang indah.
17.8 Kami berjalan dengan pelan di taman.
17.9 Ayah membuka pintu dengan kunci.
17.10 Mereka pergi ke Bali dengan pesawat.
17.11 Dia menyelesaikan tugas dengan baik.
17.12 Ibu memasak sup dengan sayuran segar.
17.13 Penulis itu menulis dengan penuh semangat.
17.14 Kita harus hidup dengan jujur dan berani.
17.15 Pemuda itu belajar dengan tekun setiap hari.
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These are the grammar rules for dengan:
1. Basic Function and Position
The preposition dengan always precedes the word or phrase it governs. Unlike English, which can sometimes place “with” in various positions, Indonesian maintains a strict pattern where dengan comes immediately before its complement.
2. Three Primary Meanings
Accompaniment: When dengan connects a person or entity with another, it indicates togetherness or association. Examples include dengan teman (with a friend), dengan keluarga (with family), dengan guru (with the teacher).
Instrument/Means: When dengan precedes a tool or method, it indicates the means by which an action is performed. This extends to transportation: dengan mobil (by car), dengan kereta api (by train), dengan pesawat (by plane). The word naik (to ride/board) can also express transportation but dengan emphasizes the instrumentality.
Manner (Adverbial): The construction dengan + adjective creates adverbial expressions. This is a highly productive pattern that English speakers should master early. Where English adds “-ly” to adjectives, Indonesian places dengan before them.
3. The Adverbial Pattern: Dengan + Adjective
This construction is essential for expressing how an action is performed.
Dengan cepat (quickly, with speed) from cepat (fast/quick)
Dengan baik (well, with goodness) from baik (good)
Dengan rajin (diligently, with diligence) from rajin (diligent)
Dengan pelan (slowly, with slowness) from pelan (slow)
Dengan jujur (honestly, with honesty) from jujur (honest)
Dengan berani (courageously, with courage) from berani (brave)
Dengan gembira (happily, with joy) from gembira (happy/joyful)
Dengan tekun (diligently, with perseverance) from tekun (diligent/persevering)
4. Extended Expressions
Dengan also appears in set phrases. Dengan senang hati (gladly, literally “with happy heart”) shows how dengan can govern a noun phrase. Dengan cara ini (in this way, literally “with this method”) demonstrates manner expressed through noun phrases rather than adjectives.
5. Pronunciation Notes
The word dengan is pronounced /dəŋan/ with stress on the second syllable. The first syllable contains the schwa vowel /ə/, which is a reduced, unstressed sound similar to the ‘a’ in English “about.” The ‘ng’ represents a single nasal sound /ŋ/, as in English “sing.” Final ‘n’ is clearly pronounced.
Common Mistakes
English speakers may forget to use dengan when forming adverbs, attempting to use adjectives alone in adverbial positions. Remember that Indonesian does not allow adjectives to function directly as adverbs; the dengan construction is required.
Another common error is omitting dengan when expressing accompaniment in casual speech. While very informal Indonesian may sometimes drop dengan, learners should maintain it for clarity and correctness.
Confusing dengan with dan (and) is a beginner error. Dan conjoins parallel elements; dengan expresses accompaniment, instrument, or manner.
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Frequency and Register
Dengan is among the most frequent prepositions in Indonesian, appearing in virtually every type of discourse from casual conversation to formal writing, news broadcasts to literary prose. Its versatility makes it indispensable at all proficiency levels.
In formal Indonesian (bahasa baku), dengan is consistently used. In very informal speech, speakers may occasionally abbreviate or elide it, but learners are advised to maintain standard usage until highly fluent.
Cultural Significance
Indonesian culture places high value on manner and style of action, making the dengan + adjective construction culturally significant. Describing how something is done—dengan hormat (with respect), dengan sabar (with patience), dengan ikhlas (with sincerity)—reflects the importance Indonesians place on attitude and intention.
The phrase dengan senang hati (gladly, with a happy heart) appears frequently in polite discourse, reflecting the cultural emphasis on gracious willingness in social interactions.
Historical Development
Dengan derives from Malay, the mother language of Indonesian. As Indonesia developed its national language from Malay after independence in 1945, dengan retained its central role. The word appears consistently from classical Malay texts through modern Indonesian literature.
Regional Variations
Standard Indonesian uses dengan nationwide. Regional languages (such as Javanese, Sundanese, or Balinese) have their own equivalents, but in Indonesian contexts, dengan is universally understood and used regardless of the speaker’s regional background.
Literary Usage
Indonesian literature demonstrates sophisticated uses of dengan, particularly in describing character psychology and the manner of actions. Writers like Pramoedya Ananta Toer employ dengan constructions to create vivid, nuanced descriptions of human behavior and emotion.
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Source: Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Bumi Manusia (This Earth of Mankind), 1980
“Kalau mati, dengan berani; kalau hidup, dengan berani. Kalau keberanian tidak ada, itulah sebabnya setiap bangsa asing bisa jajah kita.”
(”If you die, with courage; if you live, with courage. If courage is not there, that is why every foreign nation can colonize us.”)
F-A: Interlinear Analysis
Kalau (KA-lau) if mati (MA-ti) die dengan (DƏNG-an) with berani (bə-RA-ni) courage
kalau (ka-lau) if mati (ma-ti) die dengan (dəng-an) with berani (bə-ra-ni) courage
kalau (KA-lau) if hidup (HI-dup) live dengan (DƏNG-an) with berani (bə-RA-ni) courage
kalau (ka-lau) if hidup (hi-dup) live dengan (dəng-an) with berani (bə-ra-ni) courage
Kalau (KA-lau) if keberanian (kə-bə-RA-ni-an) courage-NOUN tidak (TI-dak) not ada (A-da) exist
kalau (ka-lau) if keberanian (kə-bə-ra-ni-an) courage-NOUN tidak (ti-dak) not ada (a-da) exist
itulah (I-tu-lah) that-EMPH sebabnya (sə-BAB-nya) reason-3SG setiap (sə-TI-ap) every bangsa (BANG-sa) nation asing (A-sing) foreign bisa (BI-sa) can jajah (JA-jah) colonize kita (KI-ta) us-INCL
itulah (i-tu-lah) that-EMPH sebabnya (sə-bab-nya) reason-3SG setiap (sə-ti-ap) every bangsa (bang-sa) nation asing (a-sing) foreign bisa (bi-sa) can jajah (ja-jah) colonize kita (ki-ta) us-INCL
F-B: Natural Text with Translation
Kalau mati, dengan berani; kalau hidup, dengan berani. Kalau keberanian tidak ada, itulah sebabnya setiap bangsa asing bisa jajah kita.
“If you die, with courage; if you live, with courage. If courage is not there, that is why every foreign nation can colonize us.”
F-C: Original Text
Kalau mati, dengan berani; kalau hidup, dengan berani. Kalau keberanian tidak ada, itulah sebabnya setiap bangsa asing bisa jajah kita.
F-D: Vocabulary and Grammar Notes
This powerful statement from Pramoedya’s masterwork uses dengan berani (with courage, courageously) twice to create a parallel structure emphasizing the necessity of courage in all circumstances. The construction dengan + adjective (berani = brave/courageous) creates the adverbial meaning “courageously.”
Note the derivation: berani (adjective: brave) → keberanian (noun: courage/bravery, with the circumfix ke-...-an that creates abstract nouns). This morphological pattern is productive in Indonesian.
The conditional kalau (if) introduces hypothetical situations. Tidak ada (not exist, there is not) expresses negation of existence. Itulah sebabnya (that is the reason why) introduces a consequence. Bisa functions as a modal verb meaning “can/able to.” Jajah (colonize) carries the historical weight of Dutch colonial rule.
F-E: Literary Commentary
Pramoedya Ananta Toer (1925-2006) is Indonesia’s most celebrated novelist, nominated repeatedly for the Nobel Prize in Literature. Bumi Manusia (This Earth of Mankind), written during his imprisonment on Buru Island, depicts Indonesian society under Dutch colonial rule at the turn of the twentieth century.
This quote encapsulates themes central to Pramoedya’s work: the importance of courage, resistance to oppression, and national consciousness. The repetition of dengan berani creates rhetorical power, insisting that manner—how one lives and dies—determines historical outcomes. The link between individual courage and national sovereignty reflects Pramoedya’s belief in personal responsibility for collective destiny.
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A conversation between a grandmother and her grandchildren about life, work, and values.
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
17.16a BOKO Nenek (NE-nek) grandmother duduk (DU-duk) sits dengan (DƏNG-an) with tenang (tə-NANG) calm-ADV di (di) in kursi (KUR-si) chair kesayangannya (kə-sa-YANG-an-nya) favorite-3SG
17.16b AJAMI Nenek (ne-nek) grandmother duduk (du-duk) sits dengan (dəng-an) with tenang (tə-nang) calm-ADV di (di) in kursi (kur-si) chair kesayangannya (kə-sa-yang-an-nya) favorite-3SG
17.17a BOKO Cucu-cucunya (CU-cu-CU-cu-nya) grandchildren-3SG datang (DA-tang) come dengan (DƏNG-an) with membawa (məm-BA-wa) bringing buah-buahan (BU-ah-BU-ah-an) fruits
17.17b AJAMI Cucu-cucunya (cu-cu-cu-cu-nya) grandchildren-3SG datang (da-tang) come dengan (dəng-an) with membawa (məm-ba-wa) bringing buah-buahan (bu-ah-bu-ah-an) fruits
17.18a BOKO Anak (A-nak) child perempuan (pə-rəm-PU-an) female berkata (bər-KA-ta) says dengan (DƏNG-an) with lembut (ləm-BUT) gentle-ADV kepada (kə-PA-da) to neneknya (NE-nek-nya) grandmother-3SG
17.18b AJAMI Anak (a-nak) child perempuan (pə-rəm-pu-an) female berkata (bər-ka-ta) says dengan (dəng-an) with lembut (ləm-but) gentle-ADV kepada (kə-pa-da) to neneknya (ne-nek-nya) grandmother-3SG
17.19a BOKO Nenek (NE-nek) grandmother tersenyum (tər-sə-NYUM) smiles dengan (DƏNG-an) with hangat (HA-ngat) warmth-ADV melihat (mə-LI-hat) seeing mereka (mə-RE-ka) them
17.19b AJAMI Nenek (ne-nek) grandmother tersenyum (tər-sə-nyum) smiles dengan (dəng-an) with hangat (ha-ngat) warmth-ADV melihat (mə-li-hat) seeing mereka (mə-re-ka) them
17.20a BOKO Anak (A-nak) child laki-laki (LA-ki-LA-ki) male duduk (DU-duk) sits dengan (DƏNG-an) with sopan (SO-pan) polite-ADV di (di) in lantai (LAN-tai) floor
17.20b AJAMI Anak (a-nak) child laki-laki (la-ki-la-ki) male duduk (du-duk) sits dengan (dəng-an) with sopan (so-pan) polite-ADV di (di) in lantai (lan-tai) floor
17.21a BOKO Nenek (NE-nek) grandmother menceritakan (mən-cə-ri-TA-kan) tells kisah (KI-sah) story dengan (DƏNG-an) with penuh (pə-NUH) full kasih (KA-sih) love sayang (SA-yang) affection
17.21b AJAMI Nenek (ne-nek) grandmother menceritakan (mən-cə-ri-ta-kan) tells kisah (ki-sah) story dengan (dəng-an) with penuh (pə-nuh) full kasih (ka-sih) love sayang (sa-yang) affection
17.22a BOKO Kakek (KA-kek) grandfather dulu (DU-lu) past bekerja (bə-KƏR-ja) worked dengan (DƏNG-an) with keras (KƏ-ras) hard-ADV di (di) in sawah (SA-wah) rice-field
17.22b AJAMI Kakek (ka-kek) grandfather dulu (du-lu) past bekerja (bə-kər-ja) worked dengan (dəng-an) with keras (kə-ras) hard-ADV di (di) in sawah (sa-wah) rice-field
17.23a BOKO Kami (KA-mi) we-EXCL hidup (HI-dup) lived dengan (DƏNG-an) with sederhana (sə-dər-HA-na) simple-ADV tapi (TA-pi) but bahagia (ba-HA-gi-a) happy
17.23b AJAMI Kami (ka-mi) we-EXCL hidup (hi-dup) lived dengan (dəng-an) with sederhana (sə-dər-ha-na) simple-ADV tapi (ta-pi) but bahagia (ba-ha-gi-a) happy
17.24a BOKO Setiap (sə-TI-ap) every pagi (PA-gi) morning kami (KA-mi) we-EXCL bangun (BA-ngun) wake-up dengan (DƏNG-an) with semangat (sə-MA-ngat) spirit
17.24b AJAMI Setiap (sə-ti-ap) every pagi (pa-gi) morning kami (ka-mi) we-EXCL bangun (ba-ngun) wake-up dengan (dəng-an) with semangat (sə-ma-ngat) spirit
17.25a BOKO Cucu (CU-cu) grandchild perempuan (pə-rəm-PU-an) female mendengarkan (mən-dəng-AR-kan) listens dengan (DƏNG-an) with penuh (pə-NUH) full perhatian (pər-ha-TI-an) attention
17.25b AJAMI Cucu (cu-cu) grandchild perempuan (pə-rəm-pu-an) female mendengarkan (mən-dəng-ar-kan) listens dengan (dəng-an) with penuh (pə-nuh) full perhatian (pər-ha-ti-an) attention
17.26a BOKO Nenek (NE-nek) grandmother berkata (bər-KA-ta) says kalian (KA-li-an) you-PL harus (HA-rus) must belajar (bə-LA-jar) study dengan (DƏNG-an) with sungguh-sungguh (SUNG-guh-SUNG-guh) seriously-ADV
17.26b AJAMI Nenek (ne-nek) grandmother berkata (bər-ka-ta) says kalian (ka-li-an) you-PL harus (ha-rus) must belajar (bə-la-jar) study dengan (dəng-an) with sungguh-sungguh (sung-guh-sung-guh) seriously-ADV
17.27a BOKO Hidup (HI-dup) live dengan (DƏNG-an) with jujur (JU-jur) honest-ADV dan (dan) and bekerja (bə-KƏR-ja) work dengan (DƏNG-an) with ikhlas (IKH-las) sincere-ADV
17.27b AJAMI Hidup (hi-dup) live dengan (dəng-an) with jujur (ju-jur) honest-ADV dan (dan) and bekerja (bə-kər-ja) work dengan (dəng-an) with ikhlas (ikh-las) sincere-ADV
17.28a BOKO Cucu (CU-cu) grandchild laki-laki (LA-ki-LA-ki) male menjawab (mən-JA-wab) answers dengan (DƏNG-an) with hormat (HOR-mat) respect-ADV ya (ya) yes Nenek (NE-nek) grandmother
17.28b AJAMI Cucu (cu-cu) grandchild laki-laki (la-ki-la-ki) male menjawab (mən-ja-wab) answers dengan (dəng-an) with hormat (hor-mat) respect-ADV ya (ya) yes Nenek (ne-nek) grandmother
17.29a BOKO Mereka (mə-RE-ka) they makan (MA-kan) eat bersama (bər-SA-ma) together dengan (DƏNG-an) with penuh (pə-NUH) full kebahagiaan (kə-ba-ha-GI-a-an) happiness
17.29b AJAMI Mereka (mə-re-ka) they makan (ma-kan) eat bersama (bər-sa-ma) together dengan (dəng-an) with penuh (pə-nuh) full kebahagiaan (kə-ba-ha-gi-a-an) happiness
17.30a BOKO Sore (SO-re) afternoon itu (I-tu) that berakhir (bər-A-khir) ends dengan (DƏNG-an) with indah (IN-dah) beautiful-ADV penuh (pə-NUH) full kenangan (kə-NA-ngan) memories
17.30b AJAMI Sore (so-re) afternoon itu (i-tu) that berakhir (bər-a-khir) ends dengan (dəng-an) with indah (in-dah) beautiful-ADV penuh (pə-nuh) full kenangan (kə-na-ngan) memories
Part B: Natural Sentences
17.16 Nenek duduk dengan tenang di kursi kesayangannya. “Grandmother sits calmly in her favorite chair.”
17.17 Cucu-cucunya datang dengan membawa buah-buahan. “Her grandchildren come bringing fruits.”
17.18 Anak perempuan berkata dengan lembut kepada neneknya. “The girl speaks gently to her grandmother.”
17.19 Nenek tersenyum dengan hangat melihat mereka. “Grandmother smiles warmly seeing them.”
17.20 Anak laki-laki duduk dengan sopan di lantai. “The boy sits politely on the floor.”
17.21 Nenek menceritakan kisah dengan penuh kasih sayang. “Grandmother tells a story with full affection.”
17.22 Kakek dulu bekerja dengan keras di sawah. “Grandfather used to work hard in the rice field.”
17.23 Kami hidup dengan sederhana tapi bahagia. “We lived simply but happily.”
17.24 Setiap pagi kami bangun dengan semangat. “Every morning we woke up with spirit.”
17.25 Cucu perempuan mendengarkan dengan penuh perhatian. “The granddaughter listens with full attention.”
17.26 Nenek berkata, “Kalian harus belajar dengan sungguh-sungguh.” “Grandmother says, ‘You must study seriously.’”
17.27 Hidup dengan jujur dan bekerja dengan ikhlas. “Live honestly and work sincerely.”
17.28 Cucu laki-laki menjawab dengan hormat, “Ya, Nenek.” “The grandson answers respectfully, ‘Yes, Grandmother.’”
17.29 Mereka makan bersama dengan penuh kebahagiaan. “They eat together with full happiness.”
17.30 Sore itu berakhir dengan indah penuh kenangan. “That afternoon ends beautifully, full of memories.”
Part C: Indonesian Text Only
17.16 Nenek duduk dengan tenang di kursi kesayangannya.
17.17 Cucu-cucunya datang dengan membawa buah-buahan.
17.18 Anak perempuan berkata dengan lembut kepada neneknya.
17.19 Nenek tersenyum dengan hangat melihat mereka.
17.20 Anak laki-laki duduk dengan sopan di lantai.
17.21 Nenek menceritakan kisah dengan penuh kasih sayang.
17.22 Kakek dulu bekerja dengan keras di sawah.
17.23 Kami hidup dengan sederhana tapi bahagia.
17.24 Setiap pagi kami bangun dengan semangat.
17.25 Cucu perempuan mendengarkan dengan penuh perhatian.
17.26 Nenek berkata, “Kalian harus belajar dengan sungguh-sungguh.”
17.27 Hidup dengan jujur dan bekerja dengan ikhlas.
17.28 Cucu laki-laki menjawab dengan hormat, “Ya, Nenek.”
17.29 Mereka makan bersama dengan penuh kebahagiaan.
17.30 Sore itu berakhir dengan indah penuh kenangan.
Part D: Grammar Notes for Genre Section
The family dialogue demonstrates additional dengan patterns in natural conversational context.
With + Verb (gerund-like construction): Example 17.17 shows dengan membawa (with bringing), where dengan combines with an active verb to indicate accompanying action. This parallels English “while carrying” or “bringing.”
Penuh + Noun constructions: Dengan penuh + abstract noun is a common intensifying pattern: dengan penuh kasih sayang (with full affection), dengan penuh perhatian (with full attention), dengan penuh kebahagiaan (with full happiness).
Reduplication: Indonesian uses reduplication for pluralization and emphasis. Cucu-cucu (grandchildren), buah-buahan (various fruits), sungguh-sungguh (truly/seriously) are examples seen in this dialogue.
Family terms: Indonesian has specific terms for family relationships. Nenek (grandmother), kakek (grandfather), cucu (grandchild) are used as both nouns and terms of address.
Pronouns: Note kami (exclusive “we,” not including the listener) versus kita (inclusive “we”). Kalian is the informal plural “you.”
Time expressions: Dulu (in the past, formerly) and setiap (every) help situate actions in time within the isolating structure of Indonesian.
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Dengan /dəŋan/
The word has two syllables: de-ngan. The first syllable contains the schwa vowel /ə/, a reduced central vowel like the ‘a’ in English “about.” The ‘ng’ represents the velar nasal /ŋ/, the same sound as at the end of English “sing.” The final syllable ‘-an’ has a clear /a/ vowel followed by an alveolar nasal /n/.
Key Indonesian Sounds for English Speakers
The schwa /ə/ vs. full /e/: Both are written ‘e’ in Indonesian. Context determines which is used. In dengan, the first ‘e’ is schwa.
The velar nasal /ŋ/ spelled ‘ng’: Unlike English ‘ng’ which often has a following /g/ sound (as in “finger”), Indonesian ‘ng’ alone is just the nasal, as in “singer.”
Unaspirated stops: Indonesian /p/, /t/, /k/ lack the puff of air found in English. They sound closer to the stops in “spy,” “sty,” “sky.”
Final /k/ as glottal stop: Word-final ‘k’ is often realized as a glottal stop [ʔ], a sharp cutoff of sound.
Audio Reference
For authentic pronunciation, consult Forvo.com’s Indonesian section or Indonesian language learning platforms like IndonesianPod101.
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✓ Lesson 17 Indonesian complete
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