Defining and Explaining in Indonesian

In Brief

Indonesian uses several different tools where English often relies on “is,” “means,” or “is called.” Ask X itu apa? to find out what something is, use artinya for meaning, yaitu to identify or specify, and disebut or dinamakan to give a name. Choosing among them depends mainly on whether you are asking, interpreting, specifying, or naming.

Overview

At B1, you need more than isolated labels: you need to ask what an unfamiliar thing is, define a term, explain what a statement implies, and repair a misunderstanding. Indonesian does this with a set of short, frequent expressions rather than one all-purpose equivalent of English “to be.” These forms occur in everyday questions, classroom explanations, instructions, news reports, and academic writing.

The key is to notice the job each expression performs. Artinya explains meaning or consequence; maksudnya clarifies a speaker’s intended message; yaitu supplies exact identifying information; and disebut or dinamakan assigns a label. Meanwhile, X itu apa? turns X into the topic (what the sentence is about) and asks for an explanation of it.

This topic builds on adalah, the formal linking word used in definitions. English speakers often overuse adalah because English requires a form of “be” in sentences such as “A whale is a mammal.” Indonesian often needs no linking verb at all, and its defining expressions do not map word for word onto English punctuation or sentence structure.

How It Works

Asking what something is

Two common question patterns contain the same basic elements but organize the information differently:

Pattern	Typical use	Natural English equivalent
X itu apa?	X is already the topic; common in conversation	What is X?
Apa itu X?	asks for a definition; neutral and common in explanatory titles	What is X?
Apa arti X? / X artinya apa?	asks about the meaning of a word, sign, or statement	What does X mean?
Apa maksud X? / Maksudnya apa?	asks about an intended point or purpose	What does X mean by that? / What do you mean?

In rendang itu apa?, itu does not simply mean physical “that.” It helps mark rendang as the established topic: “As for rendang, what is it?” This topic–comment structure (first naming the topic, then saying or asking something about it) is central to natural Indonesian conversation.

Use arti, not apa itu, when asking for a lexical meaning—the meaning of a word or expression:

• “Lestari” artinya apa? — What does lestari mean?
• Apa itu energi terbarukan? — What is renewable energy?

The first asks what a word means; the second asks for a definition of a concept.

Explaining with arti, artinya, and berarti

Arti is a noun (a word for a thing or idea) meaning “meaning.” The suffix -nya in artinya can point back to something already mentioned: “its meaning,” “the meaning is,” or, more naturally in context, “that means.”

Form	Main function	Example
arti	the noun “meaning”	Apa arti kata ini? — What is the meaning of this word?
artinya	gives a meaning, interpretation, or conclusion	Artinya kamu setuju. — It means you agree.
berarti	verb meaning “to mean,” “to signify,” or “to imply”	Lampu merah berarti berhenti. — A red light means stop.

Artinya commonly comments on a complete statement:

• Kereta terakhir sudah berangkat. Artinya, kita harus naik taksi. — The last train has left. That means we have to take a taxi.

Berarti fits inside the clause as its predicate (the part that says something about the subject):

• Kata “gratis” berarti tidak perlu membayar. — The word gratis means that you do not have to pay.

In spontaneous speech, berarti can also introduce a conclusion much like artinya: Berarti besok libur? “So tomorrow is a holiday?”

Clarifying intention with maksudnya

Maksud is an intended meaning, point, or purpose. Maksudnya is therefore useful when the issue is not dictionary meaning but what someone intends to communicate.

• Saya bukan marah. Maksudnya, saya hanya khawatir. — I’m not angry. What I mean is, I’m just worried.
• Apa maksudnya? — What does that mean? / What do you mean?

English “What does that mean?” can ask either about literal meaning or intention. Indonesian makes the distinction easier to state: choose artinya apa? for meaning and maksudnya apa? for the intended point. In real conversation they can overlap, but this contrast is a reliable guide.

Identifying precisely with yaitu and yakni

Yaitu introduces information that identifies, specifies, or restates what comes before it. Depending on context, English may use “namely,” “that is,” a colon, or no separate word at all.

general statement + yaitu + exact identification or explanation

• Ada satu masalah, yaitu biaya pengiriman. — There is one problem: the shipping cost.
• Tujuan penelitian ini yaitu memahami kebiasaan pembaca. — The aim of this study is to understand readers’ habits.

Yakni has nearly the same identifying function and is especially common in careful, formal writing. Yaitu is more broadly useful and also appears in speech. Neither word is normally needed before every definition; often a plain noun phrase is enough.

A reply may begin with yaitu when the missing category is clear from the question or previous sentence:

• Apa akibatnya? Yaitu harus mengulang. — What is the consequence? That is, we have to redo it.

In an isolated sentence, Artinya, kita harus mengulang is often more natural if the point is a logical consequence rather than the identification of an item.

Giving a term with disebut and dinamakan

Disebut is the passive form of menyebut, “to call” or “to mention.” Passive means that the sentence focuses on the thing receiving the action rather than the unnamed person doing it.

thing + disebut + term

• Ini disebut batik. — This is called batik.
• Proses ini disebut fotosintesis. — This process is called photosynthesis.

Dinamakan, from nama “name,” also means “is named/called.” It often emphasizes giving something a name:

• Pulau itu dinamakan Pulau Komodo. — The island was named Komodo Island.

For terminology, disebut is usually the safest broad choice. For the naming of a person, place, project, or object, dinamakan may highlight the act of naming. In many ordinary contexts both are possible.

A common expanded pattern is yang disebut X, literally “which is called X” or “what is called X”:

• Fenomena yang disebut El Niño memengaruhi cuaca. — The phenomenon called El Niño affects the weather.

Definitions with adalah

Formal definitions often follow this pattern:

term + adalah + category or definition

• Mamalia adalah hewan yang menyusui anaknya. — A mammal is an animal that nurses its young.

Adalah is especially common in textbooks, reports, regulations, and prepared explanations. It normally links the subject to a noun phrase, not directly to an adjective or ordinary verb. Everyday Indonesian often omits it:

• Rendang itu masakan khas Minangkabau. — Rendang is a Minangkabau specialty.

Do not assume that every English “is” requires adalah. Indonesian can simply place the description after the topic.

Examples in Context

Indonesian	English	Note
Rendang itu apa?	What is rendang?	Conversational topic-first question
Apa itu kecerdasan buatan?	What is artificial intelligence?	Direct request for a definition
Kata “hemat” artinya apa?	What does the word hemat mean?	Asks for word meaning
“Hemat” artinya menggunakan sesuatu dengan hati-hati agar tidak boros.	Hemat means using something carefully so as not to be wasteful.	Explains a lexical meaning
Artinya kamu setuju.	It means you agree.	Interprets what was said
Pintu masih terkunci. Berarti mereka belum datang.	The door is still locked. So they have not arrived yet.	Draws a conclusion
Saya tidak menolak. Maksudnya, saya perlu waktu untuk berpikir.	I’m not refusing. What I mean is, I need time to think.	Clarifies intention
Ada dua pilihan, yaitu naik bus atau berjalan kaki.	There are two options: taking the bus or walking.	Introduces an exact list
Syarat utamanya yakni membawa kartu identitas.	The main requirement is to bring identification.	Formal specification with yakni
Apa akibatnya? Yaitu harus mengulang.	What is the consequence? That is, we have to redo it.	Identifies the requested consequence
Ini disebut batik.	This is called batik.	Gives a label
Dalam bahasa Indonesia, bentuk ini disebut kalimat pasif.	In Indonesian, this form is called a passive sentence.	Defines a technical term
Jalan itu dinamakan Jalan Melati.	The street was named Jalan Melati.	Emphasizes naming
Demokrasi adalah sistem pemerintahan yang melibatkan rakyat.	Democracy is a system of government that involves the people.	Formal definition
Komodo itu sejenis kadal besar dari Indonesia.	A Komodo dragon is a kind of large lizard from Indonesia.	Natural definition without adalah

Common Mistakes

Using adalah for every English “is”

• Wrong: Cuaca hari ini adalah panas.
• Right: Cuaca hari ini panas.
• Why: Indonesian normally places an adjective such as panas directly after the subject. Adalah is not a general-purpose translation of “is.”

Confusing identity with word meaning

• Awkward for word meaning: Apa itu kata “luring”?
• Better: Kata “luring” artinya apa?
• Why: When asking what a word means, use arti/artinya. Apa itu X? more naturally asks what the thing or concept X is.

Using artinya when correcting your intention

• Less precise: Artinya, saya tidak ingin ikut.
• Better: Maksudnya, saya tidak ingin ikut.
• Why: If you are reformulating what you personally intended to say, maksudnya is more precise. Artinya sounds more like an interpretation or consequence.

Treating yaitu as a universal equivalent of “is”

• Wrong: Jakarta yaitu ibu kota Indonesia.
• Right: Jakarta adalah ibu kota Indonesia.
• Also natural: Jakarta, yaitu ibu kota Indonesia, memiliki jutaan penduduk.
• Why: Yaitu introduces an identification or specification attached to surrounding information. It does not freely replace the linking word adalah in every equation-like sentence.

Adding an unnecessary active subject to disebut

• Wrong: Orang menyebut ini disebut batik.
• Right: Ini disebut batik.
• Also right: Orang menyebut kain ini batik.
• Why: Disebut is already passive. Choose either the passive pattern focused on the thing or the active pattern with orang as the caller.

Usage Notes

In conversation, X itu apa?, artinya apa?, berarti..., and maksudnya... are extremely useful. Intonation and context do much of the work. A short Maksudnya? can be a neutral request for clarification, but a sharp tone may sound challenging, just as “What do you mean?” can in English. Maksudnya bagaimana? is often a softer, fuller way to ask for an explanation.

In formal definitions, adalah, yaitu, yakni, and disebut are common, but good writing does not pile them up. A sentence such as Fotosintesis adalah proses yang disebut sebagai proses pembuatan makanan oleh tumbuhan is unnecessarily heavy if a direct definition will do: Fotosintesis adalah proses tumbuhan membuat makanan dengan bantuan cahaya.

Punctuation practices vary, especially around yaitu, yakni, artinya, and maksudnya. In learner writing, focus first on the grammatical relationship: yaitu/yakni should introduce the promised detail, while sentence-initial Artinya, ... or Maksudnya, ... comments on what came before. A comma can make that boundary easier to read.

Beyond the Basics: Framing and Style

Advanced Indonesian often combines these devices with relative structures and reporting language. Yang dimaksud dengan X adalah Y means “what is meant by X is Y” and is common in regulations, questionnaires, and academic definitions:

• Yang dimaksud dengan “peserta” adalah orang yang telah mendaftar. — What is meant by “participant” is a person who has registered.

A closely related question is Apa yang dimaksud dengan X?, a formal way to ask “What is meant by X?” It is much heavier than conversational X itu apa?, so register matters.

Disebut sebagai often translates as “is referred to/described as,” especially when the label is a role, status, or characterization rather than simply a name:

• Ia sering disebut sebagai pelopor pendidikan modern. — She is often described as a pioneer of modern education.

For a straightforward term, bare disebut remains concise: Proses ini disebut penguapan.

Writers also use a colon instead of yaitu before a list or explanation. Compare Ada tiga tahap, yaitu persiapan, pelaksanaan, dan evaluasi with Ada tiga tahap: persiapan, pelaksanaan, dan evaluasi. Both are clear; the second is especially compact in formal prose. The important skill is not inserting a marker mechanically, but showing how the explanation relates to the idea before it.

Finally, artinya can move beyond literal definition and signal an inference, while berarti can carry personal significance:

• Keputusan itu artinya proyek akan ditunda. — That decision means the project will be postponed.
• Dukunganmu sangat berarti bagi saya. — Your support means a great deal to me.

The second use of berarti means “significant/meaningful,” not simply “has the definition.” Context distinguishes the senses.

Practice Tips

1. Classify before translating. When you want to say “means” or “is,” ask what you are doing: defining a concept, explaining a word, drawing a conclusion, clarifying intention, or assigning a name. Then choose adalah, artinya/berarti, maksudnya, yaitu, or disebut.
2. Build question-and-answer pairs. Take five unfamiliar Indonesian words or cultural items. Ask X itu apa? for things and X artinya apa? for words, then answer each in one sentence.
3. Notice explanation markers in real material. In a news article, tutorial, or podcast transcript, underline yaitu, yakni, artinya, maksudnya, and disebut. Identify whether each one specifies, interprets, repairs, or labels.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Adalah (to be) — introduces formal definitions and the important fact that Indonesian often omits a linking verb.