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 ...