Directions

1. Di mana...?

   Where is...?

   Usage

   Most basic phrase for asking locations. Use as "Di mana toilet?" (where is the toilet?)

   Grammar Note

   "Di mana" asks about location. "Ke mana" asks about direction. Indonesian places question words at the beginning of sentences

2. Belok kanan

   Turn right

   Usage

   Used when giving directions to turn right

   Grammar Note

   "Belok kiri" is turn left. Add "tolong" (please) before the verb for politeness: "Tolong belok kanan"

3. Belok kiri

   Turn left

   Usage

   Used when giving directions to turn left

   Grammar Note

   "Kanan" (right) and "kiri" (left) are a useful pair. They are also used politically (right-wing / left-wing)

4. Lurus terus

   Go straight ahead

   Usage

   Used to instruct someone to continue straight ahead

   Grammar Note

   "Terus" means to continue or keep going, reinforcing "lurus". "Jalan terus" (keep walking) is also common. "Terus" alone can mean "go on / continue"

5. Berapa jauh dari sini?

   How far is it from here?

   Usage

   Used to ask the distance to a destination

   Grammar Note

   "Berapa" is a quantity question word. Opposite of "jauh" (far) is "dekat" (near/close). "Masih jauh?" (still far?) is a common shorter version

6. Saya tersesat

   I am lost

   Usage

   Used to tell someone you are lost and need help

   Grammar Note

   "Ter-" is a prefix indicating an unintentional state. "Sesat" means to go astray; "tersesat" = ended up lost (unintentionally)

7. Tolong tunjukkan di peta

   Please point it out on the map

   Usage

   Used when showing a map and asking someone to point to the location

   Grammar Note

   "Tolong" softens requests. "Tunjukkan" = "tunjuk" (point) + "-kan" (causative suffix). Works well when showing a phone map

8. Naik angkot atau jalan kaki?

   By angkot (minibus) or on foot?

   Usage

   Asking whether to take the local minibus or walk to the destination

   Grammar Note

   "Angkot" (short for "angkutan kota") is the shared urban minibus. Routes can be complex — asking locals is advisable. "Naik" is the general verb for boarding vehicles

9. Ada di sebelah mana?

   Which side is it on?

   Usage

   Used to clarify which side of the street or building something is on

   Grammar Note

   "Ada" is one of the most important Indonesian verbs meaning "to exist/there is". Combine with "sebelah kanan/kiri/sana" for right/left/that side

10. Ikuti jalan ini

    Follow this road

    Usage

    Used to instruct someone to follow a particular road

    Grammar Note

    "Ikuti" = "ikut" (follow) + imperative suffix "-i". "Jalan" means both "road" and "to walk" — a key polysemous word. "Jalan-jalan" means to take a stroll

11. Kanan

    Right

    Usage

    Point to this to indicate "right" to a driver or guide

12. Kiri

    Left

    Usage

    Point to this to indicate "left" to a driver or guide

13. Lurus

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    A single word to indicate "go straight" in a car or on foot

14. Putar balik

    Turn back (U-turn)

    Usage

    Show this when the driver has gone too far and needs to turn back

15. Berhenti

    Stop

    Usage

    Point to this to ask a taxi or motorbike-taxi driver to stop

16. Hotel

    Usage

    Point to this to name a hotel as your destination

17. Bandara

    Airport

    Usage

    Point to this for the airport; it is short for "bandar udara"

18. Halte bus

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Point to this for a bus stop; TransJakarta stations are also called "halte"

19. MRT

    Subway (MRT)

    Usage

    The Jakarta subway is called the MRT; the commuter rail is KRL and the elevated light rail is LRT

20. Kedutaan besar

    Embassy

    Usage

    The word for embassy on its own; the Japanese embassy is "Kedutaan Besar Jepang"

21. ATM

    Usage

    Point to this when you need cash and want help finding an ATM

22. Tempat penukaran uang

    Money changer

    Usage

    For a street money changer; the shopfront sign is usually the English "MONEY CHANGER"

23. Laundry koin

    Coin laundry

    Usage

    A self-service laundromat; the common drop-off shops charging by weight are "laundry kiloan"

24. Utara

    North

    Usage

    Use when checking a map or a compass direction

25. Selatan

    South

    Usage

    Use when checking a map or a compass direction

26. Timur

    East

    Usage

    Use when checking a map or a compass direction

27. Barat

    West

    Usage

    Use when checking a map or a compass direction

Browse all TravelPhrases languages