Language/Indonesian/Vocabulary/Directions

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Indonesian Vocabulary → Travel and Transportation → Directions

As a traveler, asking for and giving directions is an essential skill to learn. In Indonesia, locals are usually happy to help a lost traveler. In this lesson, we will learn some essential words and phrases related to asking for and giving directions in Indonesian. The vocabulary covered in this lesson is very basic and will not require any prior knowledge of Indonesian.

After mastering this lesson, these related pages might interest you: Camping & Shapes.

Vocabulary

Here is a list of basic vocabulary words and phrases related to asking for and giving directions in Indonesian:

Indonesian	Pronunciation	English
ke kanan	kuh kuh-nun	right
ke kiri	kuh kee-ree	left
lurus	loo-roos	straight ahead
di mana	dee mah-nuh	where
ke	kuh	to

Asking for Directions

When asking for directions in Indonesia, it's essential to be polite and use the proper pronouns, especially if you're speaking to someone older than you or in a position of authority.

Here are some phrases you can use to ask for directions:

Permisi, saya mau tanya, di mana...? (Excuse me, I would like to ask, where is...?)
Maaf, boleh tanya, bagaimana caranya ke...? (Excuse me, can I ask, how do I get to...?)
Tolong tunjukkan jalan ke...? (Could you please show me the way to...?)

Here are some responses you may receive:

Ke kanan di pertigaan, nanti ada lampu merah. (Turn right at the intersection, there will be a red light.)
Jalan terus sampai nanti ketemu pertigaan, belok kiri. (Go straight ahead until you reach an intersection, then turn left.)
Belok kanan di gang samping warung, di ujung gang belok kiri. (Turn right at the alley beside the warung, then turn left at the end of the alley.)

Giving Directions

When giving directions in Indonesia, it's helpful to use landmarks and well-known locations instead of street names. Here are some phrases you can use to give directions:

Belok kanan/ke kiri/lurus terus. (Turn right/left/continue straight ahead.)
Di pertigaan belok kiri/kanan. (At the intersection, turn left/right.)
Di sana ada toko besar, belok kiri di toko itu. (There is a big store there, turn left at that store.)
Warung Mbah Jenggot ada di sebelah kanan. (Warung Mbah Jenggot is on the right side.)

It's common for locals to use their body language when giving directions, such as pointing their hand in the direction they're talking about. It's also essential to thank the person for their assistance.

Practice

Here are some practice exercises to reinforce your knowledge of the vocabulary:

Translate these phrases from English to Indonesian:
- Turn left:
- Go straight ahead:
- Excuse me, where is the post office?
- I'm lost, can you show me the way to the station?
- Thank you for your help.
Translate these phrases from Indonesian to English:
- Ke kanan di pertigaan, nanti ada taman kecil.
- Warung Mbak Ani ada di sebelah kiri.
- Permisi, boleh tanya. Di mana ada ATM?
- Belok kiri di pertigaan, jalan terus sampai ada traffic light.
- Terima kasih banyak.

Sources

Table of Contents - Indonesian Course - 0 to A1

Course Presentation

Pronouns and Greetings

Basic Grammar

Daily Life

Sentence Structure

Indonesian Culture

Travel and Transportation

Verb Tenses

Shopping and Bargaining

Indonesian Arts

Modal Verbs

Colors and Shapes

Comparative and Superlative

Indonesian Traditions

Emergencies

Indirect and Direct Speech

Jobs and Professions

Indonesian Holidays

Other Lessons

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