Understanding “Tuh” and “Nih” in Bahasa Indonesia

If you’re learning Bahasa Indonesia, you’ve probably noticed that people don’t always speak exactly like the textbook. That’s because, just like in any language, Indonesians use a lot of informal words in daily conversations. Two words that are very common in spoken Indonesian—but rarely explained in beginner textbooks—are "tuh" and "nih."

I haven’t written about these two before, because I usually write based on what I hear when I watch movies. And you can’t choose what people say in movies! I have to listen, watch carefully, and take notes. If I hear someone say "tuh" or "nih", then I can use it as a real example. I want to make sure you hear how Indonesians actually use the words in real life. That’s why it takes some time.

But since these two words are very common and useful, I’ll try to explain them now with examples based on how I’ve heard them being used. Even if I don’t have direct quotes from a movie, I promise these examples are real and natural.

What Is “Tuh”?

"Tuh" is the informal version of "itu", which means “that” in English.

According to Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (the official dictionary of Indonesian), "tuh" means the same thing as "itu". The difference is that "tuh" is more casual and emotional. It gives more emphasis, especially when you're pointing something out, showing frustration, or adding drama.

Let’s look at some examples:

Example 1: Pointing something out

A: Loe liat buku gue ngga?
(Have you seen my book?)

B: Tuh, di sana!
(That one. Right there!)

You could also say, "Itu, di sana!" But "tuh" sounds more expressive, like you're really trying to get their attention or you're slightly annoyed.

Example 2: “See? I told you!”

A: Buku gue ketinggalan euy!
(I forgot my book!)

B: Tuh kan! Gue bilang juga apa? Dicatet makanya biar ngga lupa!
(See? What did I tell you? You should’ve written it down so you wouldn't forget!)

Here, “Tuh kan!” means something like “I told you so!” or “See?” It’s a very Indonesian way of reacting when you feel proven right. Sometimes, Indonesians even say it without the “h”: "Tu kan!" or just "Kan!"

Example 3: Extra emphasis

A: Itu kamar ngga loe beresin dulu sebelum kita pergi?
(Aren’t you going to clean up your room before we leave?)

B: Ngga usah, biarin aja.
(Nope, just leave it.)

A: Nah, kaya gitu itu tuh yang gue ngga bisa. Ninggalin kamar berantakan.
(That, that kind of thing I just can’t do—leaving a messy room.)

In this case, "tuh" just adds flavor. If you remove it, the sentence is still correct: "Nah, kaya gitu itu yang gue ngga bisa." But Indonesians naturally add "tuh" to make it sound more expressive, more real, more emotional.

What About “Nih”?

Now let’s talk about “nih”, which is just the informal version of “ini” = “this.” Again, the dictionary says it means the same thing, but in casual conversation, it often carries extra feeling or makes the sentence feel more direct.

Let’s look at some examples.

Example 1: Giving something

A: Nih! Buat loe.
(Here! For you.)

B: Apaan nih? Tapi, makasih ya.
(What’s this? But thanks anyway.)

You could also say "Ini! Buat loe." or "Apaan ini?" but "nih" makes it more casual, like something you'd say with a smile or a bit of surprise.

Example 2: Expressing frustration

A: Eh, jadi berangkat ngga?
(Are we going or not?)

B: Males ah! Gue mau tidur aja.
(I’m lazy. I just wanna sleep.)

A: Yang kek gini ini nih, yang gue ngga suka dari loe. Bilang berangkat, tapi akhirnya ngga jadi.
(This is what I don’t like about you. You said we’d go, but then you cancel.)

In this sentence, “nih” doesn't change the basic meaning. You can say "Yang kek gini ini," and it still makes sense. But "nih" adds emphasis and emotion—probably annoyance or disappointment.

Why Use “Tuh” and “Nih”?

These little words—"tuh" and "nih"—don’t exist in English. But they’re a big part of what makes Indonesian feel natural when spoken.

They add:

• Emotion

• Emphasis

• Casual tone

Even though they don’t change the actual meaning of the sentence, they change the feeling.

Some Quick Notes

• You don’t use “tuh” or “nih” in formal writing. These are for speaking, or very casual chat (like texting friends).

• You’ll hear them everywhere in Indonesia: on the street, in school, at home, even in movies and on TV.

• Indonesians might even say just "nih!" or "tuh!" with no sentence at all, just pointing or handing something. That’s how common they are.

Final Thoughts

So, that’s my little explanation of "tuh" and "nih". I hope it helps you understand how Indonesians really speak in everyday situations.

Don’t worry if you don’t get it perfectly the first time. Just keep listening. The more you hear native speakers talk, the more natural these words will sound.

And remember, it’s totally okay to start simple. Even if you just start by noticing when someone says "nih" or "tuh", that’s already a great first step.

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