Polite requests, formal introductions, and courtesy phrases.
Scan the QR-Code with your phone camera to unlock this phraseset in the app.
Maaf, encik.
Excuse me, sir. ('Encik' = Mr/sir; for women use 'cik' (miss) or 'puan' (madam).)
Maaf, cik.
Excuse me, miss.
Boleh tolong ambilkan air?
Can you pass me the water? ('Ambil-kan' — 'take' + '-kan' (do for someone). The suffix marks the action is for the speaker.)
Boleh tolong ambilkan garam?
Can you pass me the salt?
Boleh tolong saya sekejap?
Would you mind helping me? (Literally 'can help me a moment?' — softer than direct request.)
Saya nak segelas air.
I'd like a glass of water. ('Se-gelas' — 'one glass'; 'se-' prefix attaches to classifiers.)
Boleh tolong ambilkan gambar?
Could you take a picture for me? ('Gambar' = picture; same 'ambil-kan' pattern (take-for-me).)
Rasanya kita belum pernah jumpa. Nama saya...
I don't think we've met. My name is... ('Belum' = not yet (different from 'tidak' = not at all); 'pernah' = ever.)
Saya nak perkenalkan kawan saya.
I'd like to introduce a friend to you. ('Per-kenal-kan' — 'kenal' (know a person) + 'per-...-kan' (cause to). Same root in 'mengenali' (to recognize).)
Our Lingophant mobile app has a smart scheduling mechanism and makes it fun to record and practice phrases, wherever you are. You can download it from the App Store or the Google Play Store.
Scan the QR-Code with your phone camera to unlock this phraseset in the app.
If you have the app running on this device, open this link.