Ya, Tidak, Belum: Yes, No, and "Not Yet" in Real Situations

Hook: “No” Isn’t Always “No”

If you translate directly from English to Indonesian, you will make a cultural mistake on day one. It won’t be a grammatical mistake—people will understand the words you are saying—but it will be an emotional mistake. You will sound cold, final, and perhaps a little bit rude, without ever intending to be.

Imagine this scenario: You are 35 years old. You are single. You are sitting in a living room in Yogyakarta, chatting with an Indonesian auntie you just met. She smiles warmly and asks: “Sudah menikah?” (Are you married?)

You translate “No” in your head and say: “Tidak.”

The room goes quiet. The auntie’s smile falters slightly. She looks at you with a mix of confusion and pity. Why?

Because in her mind, “Tidak” implies finality. It sounds like you have not only decided not to marry, but that you are ideologically opposed to it. It sounds like you are saying, “No. I am not married, and I never will be. Case closed.”

The correct answer—the magical answer that unlocks the warmth of the culture—is “Belum” (Not yet). “Sudah menikah?” “Belum.”

Now she smiles even wider. “Ah, belum. Semoga segera, ya!” (Oh, not yet. Hopefully soon, yes!)

Indonesian is a language of inherent optimism. It assumes that good things (eating, marrying, succeeding, visiting typical tourist spots) will happen eventually. You just haven’t done them yet. The timeline isn’t “Yes or No”; it is “Already or Not Yet.”

Today, we are going to fix your “Yes” and “No” radar. We will move you away from the binary English switch and install the more nuanced Indonesian dial. You will learn the three essential response words—and one crucial prohibition—that will get you through 90% of all questions you’ll face in your first week.

1. Ya: The Easy One

Let’s start with the easiest win. The word for “Yes” is Ya.

Pronunciation: YAH Ya

It sounds exactly like the German “Ja” or a casual English “Yeah.” It is short, sharp, and universally understood.

The Nuance: Ya vs. Iya

While Ya is perfectly acceptable, you will often hear a slightly longer, softer version: Iya.

Pronunciation: EE-yah Iya

Think of the difference like this:

• Ya: Functional, quick, standard. (Like “Yeah” or “Yes”).
• Iya: Respectful, gentle, acknowledging. (Like “Yes, I see” or “Yes, that’s right”).

If you are talking to someone older than you, or a stranger you want to be polite to, using Iya instead of a sharp Ya softens your tone instantly.

The “Acknowledgement” Trap

There is one massive cultural trap with Ya. Indonesians are active listeners. They hate dead air. To show they are paying attention, they will constantly nod and say “Ya… ya… ya…” while you are speaking.

Warning: This does not always mean they agree with you. It often just means, “I hear your voice making sounds.”

If you are negotiating a price or explaining a complex problem, do not take a series of “Ya, ya, ya” as a confirmation that they have accepted your terms. They are just being polite listeners. You still need explicit confirmation (we will practice this in Unit 0.3 conversation patterns).

When to use Ya/Iya:

1. Answering “Yes”: “Mau makan?” (Want to eat?) → “Ya.”
2. Agreeing: “Bagus kan?” (Good right?) → “Iya, bagus.”
3. Answering a call: When you pick up the phone. “Halo, ya?”

2. Tidak: The Formal No

Now for the negative. The textbook word for “No” is Tidak.

Pronunciation: TEE-dahk Tidak

As we learned in Unit 0.1, Tidak acts as the primary negator for Verbs (actions) and Adjectives (descriptions).

• Tidak mau (Do not want)
• Tidak tahu (Do not know)
• Tidak bisa (Cannot)
• Tidak enak (Not delicious / Not comfortable)
• Tidak bagus (Not good)

The Switch: Enggak / Nggak / Gak

Here is the reality of the street. Tidak is the formal word. It is what you will see on government signs: “DILARANG MEROKOK” (No Smoking) or read in formal exams.

But when you talk to a friend, a Gojek driver, or a shopkeeper, Tidak can feel a bit stiff. It’s like saying “I do not wish to proceed” instead of “Nah, I’m good.”

The word you will hear 50 times a day is Enggak, often shortened to Nggak or even just Gak. Enggak / Nggak / Gak

Pronunciation: ng-GAH (The ’ng’ is like the sound in “Singing” or “King”). It starts from the back of the throat.

The Hierarchy of No:

1. Tidak: Formal, safe, slightly robotic in casual chat.
2. Enggak: The standard spoken usage. Polite enough for almost everyone.
3. Nggak: The slightly faster version of Enggak.
4. Gak: The text-message or rapid-fire slang version.

Strategy: For Phase 0 (your first week), you can stick to Tidak. Everyone understands it, and it is never rude—just formal. But do not be confused when you hear Enggak. It just means “No.” The moment you feel brave enough to switch to Enggak, you will notice people relaxing around you.

3. The Danger Zone: “Jangan!” (Don’t!)

Before we move to “Not Yet,” we must stop you from making a critical error.

In English, we use “No” for everything.

• “No, I don’t want it.” (Fact)
• “No! Don’t touch that!” (Command)

In Indonesian, these are two completely different words.

If you see a child about to touch a hot stove, and you yell “TIDAK!”, people will still understand urgency. But it sounds less natural than a direct prohibition command.

The word for “Don’t!” (Prohibition) is Jangan.

Pronunciation: JAH-ngan (The ’ng’ is like Singer). Jangan

Think of Jangan as meaning “Do not!”.

Examples:

• Jangan marah. (Don’t be angry.)
• Jangan lupa. (Don’t forget.)
• Jangan masuk. (Don’t enter.)
• Jangan mahal-mahal. (Don’t make it too expensive — a classic bargaining phrase!)

4. Belum: The “Not Yet” Superpower

This is the most important section of this unit. If you only remember one thing from today, let it be Belum.

Pronunciation: buh-LOOM Belum

In English, “not yet” is a specific phrase we use only when we really mean it.

• “Have you finished your homework?” “Not yet.”

In Indonesian, Belum is the default negative answer to any question starting with “Have you…?” or “Did you…?”

To understand Belum, you must understand its partner: Sudah.

The Binary: Sudah vs. Belum

Indonesian time is often viewed through a simple binary lens:

• Sudah: Already done.
• Belum: Not yet done.

This pair is the engine of Indonesian small talk.

• “Sudah makan?” (Have you eaten?) → Answer: “Sudah” or “Belum.”
• “Sudah mandi?” (Have you showered?) → Answer: “Sudah” or “Belum.”
• “Sudah lama?” (Have you been here long? / Already long?) → Answer: “Sudah” or “Belum.”

The Logic of Optimism (Why “Belum” Is Better Here)

Why can’t you say “Tidak” to “Have you eaten?” Because in this pattern, “Tidak” sounds like a flat negation, while Belum matches the expected “not yet” time logic.

“Belum” implies that eating is inevitable. You are a human; you will eat. You just haven’t done it at this specific moment.

Cultural Context: The Face Saver Belum is also a polite way to deflect personal questions without giving a hard “No”.

• “Sudah punya pacar?” (Do you have a girlfriend/boyfriend?)
  • If you say “Tidak”, it highlights your single status as a permanent fact.
  • If you say “Belum”, it suggests you are simply waiting for the right moment. It is lighter. It saves face.

The “Belum” Rule: Any time the answer is “No” but the possibility remains, use Belum.

• If the question starts with Sudah, answer with Sudah or Belum.
• Use Tidak/Enggak for direct negation of actions or qualities.
• Use Belum when the action can still happen later.

5. Bukan: A Quick Preview

There is one more “No” you need to know about. We will cover this in depth in Phase A, but you need to recognize it now so you don’t sound confused.

Bukan negates Nouns (objects, people, identities). Bukan

• Tidak / Enggak negates Verbs (Actions) & Adjectives (Qualities).
• Bukan negates Nouns (Things).

Example:

• “Are you American?”
  • “Saya bukan orang Amerika.” (I am not an American).
  • NOT: “Saya tidak orang Amerika.”
• “Is this coffee?”
  • “Ini bukan kopi.” (This is not coffee).
  • NOT: “Ini tidak kopi.”

Think of it this way:

• Tidak says “It doesn’t do that” or “It isn’t like that.”
• Bukan says “It is not that thing; it is something else.”

6. The Cultural Art of the “Soft No”

Indonesians are famous for being indirect. The culture values “Rukun” (Harmony) above almost anything else. Saying a direct, flat “No” to someone’s face is considered harsh, aggressive, and disruptive to harmony.

So, how do locals say “No” when they mean “No”? They rarely use the word “Tidak.”

Instead, they use softeners.

The “Nanti” (Later) Technique

If a seller offers you a batik shirt you hate, and you say “Tidak!”, they might feel slightly offended (or just try harder). The local way to say “No” is: “Nanti ya…” (Later, okay…).

This is a polite fiction. You both know “Later” means “Never.” But it allows the interaction to end with a smile. The door wasn’t slammed shut; it was just gently closed for “later.”

The “Terima kasih” (Thank You) Refusal

Another way to say “No” is simply to say “Terima kasih” while waving your hand palm-out (fingers up) or lifting your hand slightly.

• Driver: “Taxi, Mister?”
• You: (Smile, raise hand slightly) “Terima kasih.”

This means: “Thank you for asking, but I am good.” It is the classiest way to reject a street vendor.

7. Real Situations: Respond Correctly

Let’s test your radar. How would you answer these common questions? Try to guess before clicking the reveal.

Scenario A: The Taxi Driver

Driver: “Sudah pernah ke Indonesia?” (Have you ever been to Indonesia before?) Context: This is your first time.

Scenario B: The Street Seller

Seller: “Mau jam tangan? Murah, Mister!” (Want a watch? Cheap, Mister!) Context: You definitely do not want a watch.

Scenario C: The Friendly Local

Local: “Kamu orang Australia ya?” (You are Australian, right?) Context: You are British.

Scenario D: The Warning

Context: A child is about to grab your expensive camera. You want to say “Don’t touch!”

8. Summary Table: The “No” Spectrum

You now have a complete toolkit for refusal and negation. Here is your cheat sheet:

The Mental Shift

This unit is short on vocabulary count but massive on cultural impact.

If you can replace the English “No” with the Indonesian “Belum” in the right spots, you stop sounding like a tourist and start sounding like a guest.

• Tourist: “No, I haven’t visited Borobudur.” (Fact).
• Guest: “Belum.” (Not yet - implying the journey continues).

The “Belum” mindset shows that you are open to the experience. It invites the other person to say, “Oh, you must go! It’s beautiful!” The interaction continues.

You are no longer just translating words. You are translating intent.

Rail Context: What’s Next?

You have your survival words (Unit 0.1). You have your Yes/No/Not Yet response system (Unit 0.2).

But you are still mostly reacting to people. You are answering, accepting, or refusing. Can you initiate? Can you hold a conversation for 30 seconds?

In Unit 0.3, we will string these words together into your first complete interaction. You will learn the specific scripts for a Greeting → Chat → Farewell loop. No grammar tables, just scripts you can use immediately.