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John Smith

EN

CN

2019.06.19 12:02

Learning Bahasa Indonesia has been very interesting! Most of

the time it’s been great and easy to learn, but there are some parts which don’t make sense.

I know that “apa” = what” and “siapa” = “who”. So why do we say “siapa nama kamu” when we want to ask someone’s name? If I said “apa nama kamu”, would it not make sense?
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Comments

  • Putri 2019.06.19 12:06

    ID
    EN

    nope.. we just say siapa nama kamu or nama kamu siapa?

  • sayonara 👋 2019.06.19 12:09

    ID
    CN

    who is your name? 😂

  • Nn 2019.06.19 12:11

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    Because if you said "apa" to ask someone's name it's a bit awkward (in my opinion) in indonesia "apa" is usually to asking condition or situation for example : kamu sedang apa? apa yang kamu lakukan? apa kabar? etc.

  • jusie 2019.06.19 12:14

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    'Siapa nama kamu' could be 'siapa kamu' but formally speaking 'siapa nama anda' or 'nama anda siapa'

  • Tini 2019.06.19 12:18

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    @John Smith Apa is for noun. What is this name? This is a book. Apa nama benda ini? Ini adalah sebuah buku. You can't say "siapa nama benda ini?".

  • Denny Law 羅隆興 2019.06.19 12:26

    ID
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    If I said “apa nama kamu”, would it not make sense?

    this is going to be not make sense coz we have what to say "apa" or "siapa" depends on the context. For example : what are you doing? it means "apa yang sedang anda lakukan?", what is your name? it means "siapa nama anda?" what's your hobby? it means "apa hobi anda?" except : "who is going to celebrate the birthday?" it means " siapa yang akan merayakan ulang tahun?" "who is going to come here?" it means "siapa yang akan datang kesini?"

  • KimiSa 2019.06.19 12:31

    CN
    EN

    Hello, are you interested in making a friend? Learn English from you

  • Riswan 2019.06.19 13:24

    ID
    EN

    Siapa is asking about subject person.

  • rizka 2019.06.19 14:21

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    That's because you learn bahasa Indonesia while use and impose your English mindset and in Bahasa Indonesia. In Bahasa Indonesia, "Siapa" is a question word used to ask subject or object that is person related, and also about person belonging (kepemilikan). For example; Siapa yang menutup pintu? (who is closing the door). Roti ini punya Siapa? (Whose bread it is?) Siapa yang punya roti itu? (Who has the bread) Therefore, because it is person related too, asking for name of a person also use "siapa". It also because the name is belong to that person you've asked. So it is "Siapa nama kamu." That's my own explaination. I'm trying to make sense of it. 😅 But of course the real reason is because, that is what natural to Indonesian native speakers. "Apa nama kamu" sounds weird and unnatural to Indonesian people.

  • ytaniap 2019.06.19 15:31

    ID
    DE

    We usually say “ Siapa namamu?” Or “Siapa nama kamu? Or “Namamu siapa?” 😁

  • Ben 2019.06.19 17:06

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    Sometimes i say "nama kamu apa?" and we indonesian still get it, so cheers

  • Iman Prabawa 2019.06.19 17:09

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    JP

    AR

    They will still understand you if you say to them, "Apa nama kamu?", it's okay for a foreigner saying like that, but normally we don't. 😊

  • olivialidya 2019.06.19 19:58

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    EN

    Apa for thing, siapa for people

  • widya 2019.06.19 23:22

    ID
    EN

    You can say ...Siapa nama kamu?

  • rahmad 2019.06.20 08:10

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    I think becouse indonesia and others country have difference of dialect, not all words could be direct translatting english to indonesia or vice versa, its depend on what sentence do you want to said

  • rahmad 2019.06.20 08:17

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    Its same if we asked someone how is going? In english we say " not bad" in indonesia it's means "tidak apa apa" but if wes translated this phrase to english without considering grammer become "not what what". It's sounds weird😀

  • Inggitseyo 2019.06.21 12:42

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    EN

    "Apa" sounds as shown for objects

  • Angela 2019.06.22 15:43

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    Kata tanya dalam bahasa Indonesia terbagi atas 7 jenis, antara lain : Kata tanya “Apa”Kata tanya “Siapa”Kata tanya “Kapan”Kata tanya “(Di, Ke, Dari) Mana”Kata tanya “Mengapa”Kata tanya “Bagaimana”Kata tanya “Berapa” Fungsi Kata Tanya Kata tanya “Apa” Berfungsi : untuk menanyakan benda atau sesuatu, keadaan atau perbuatan, dan segala sesuatu yang berkaitan dengan isi atau pokok bahasan. Jawaban dari pertanyaan yang menggunakan kata tanya “apa” adalah benda atau sesuatu, pengertian maupun penjelasan tentang hal yang ditanyakan. Contoh : 1. Apa yang kamu lakukan?2. Apa nama bunga ini?3. Apa kamu baik - baik saja? 4. Apa yang mereka bicarakan? Kata tanya “Siapa” Berfungsi : untuk menanyakan orang atau pihak yang terlibat. Jawaban dari pertanyaan yang menggunakan kata tanya “siapa” adalah orang atau pelaku serta pihak yang terlibat sesuatu hal yang ditanyakan. Contoh : 1. Siapa nama kamu? 2. Siapa yang datang ke rumahmu kemarin?3. Siapa yang meletakkan buku ini di atas kursi?

  • putrihrp 2019.06.23 06:27

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    @Tini excellent answer .. 💯

  • putrihrp 2019.06.23 06:33

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    @rahmad yahhh 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣

  • tina nelly 2019.06.24 10:26

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    Apa kabar teman?

  • muklisloves 2019.06.24 15:26

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    Good

  • Ian 2019.06.27 04:35

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    "Apa" is for non-human subject/object E.g : Apa nama pohon itu? What is that tree's name? "Siapa" is for human object/subject E.g : Siapa nama gadis itu? What is that girl's name? Apa nama kamu sounds weird in Indonesia although people may understand what you mean

  • Mei 2019.06.28 03:23

    ID
    EN

    'apa' is for noun 'who' is for person

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