Everyday Conversations
Master the art of Everyday Conversations
Module 2: Everyday Conversations
Skill 1: Asking "How are you?" & Responding
Being able to ask someone how they are and respond naturally is an essential skill for daily communication. In Indonesian, there are several ways to check on someone's well-being, ranging from formal to casual expressions.
In this lesson, you will learn:
- How to ask "How are you?" formally and informally.
- How to respond positively or neutrally.
- How to keep the conversation going after asking.
1. Key Vocabulary
| Indonesian | English | Usage Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apa kabar? | How are you? | Common and polite |
| Bagaimana kabarnya? | How are things? | Slightly formal |
| Gimana kabarnya? | How's it going? | Informal |
| Baik-baik saja | I'm fine | Neutral |
| Baik, terima kasih | Good, thank you | Polite |
| Lumayan | Not bad / so-so | Neutral |
| Kurang baik | Not so good | Neutral |
| Kamu sendiri? | And you? | Informal |
| Anda sendiri? | And you? | Formal |
2. Examples & Mini Dialogues
Dialogue 1 – Formal
A: Selamat sore, Pak Danu. Apa kabar?
B: Selamat sore. Baik, terima kasih. Anda sendiri?
A: Baik juga.
Dialogue 2 – Informal
A: Hai, gimana kabarnya?
B: Lumayan. Kamu sendiri?
A: Baik-baik saja.
Dialogue 3 – Neutral
A: Apa kabar?
B: Kurang baik hari ini.
A: Oh, semoga cepat membaik.
3. Practice
A. Fill in the blanks:
- Apa ______? (How are you?)
- Baik, ______ kasih. (Good, thank you)
- Kamu ______? (And you?)
B. Translate to Indonesian:
- How's it going? (informal)
- I'm fine.
- Not so good today.
4. Answer Key & Explanation
A. Fill in the blanks
- kabar
- terima
- sendiri
B. Translation
- Gimana kabarnya?
- Baik-baik saja.
- Kurang baik hari ini.
Explanation:
- Apa kabar? is the most common and polite way to ask "How are you?"
- Informal speech often shortens words (Bagaimana → Gimana).
- To continue the conversation, you can ask Kamu sendiri? or Anda sendiri? depending on formality.