What does it mean word for word?
Literally, senang berkenalan denganmu means "happy to get to know you", composed of senang (happy), berkenalan (to get to know/become acquainted) and denganmu (with you).
Which one should you use?
While senang berkenalan specifically implies the process of becoming acquainted for the first time, the phrase senang bertemu Anda is more general and can be used when meeting someone you already know.
How does it change in a sentence?
Replacing the informal suffix -mu with the formal pronoun Anda makes the phrase more polite and suitable for professional or respectful settings, as seen in senang berkenalan dengan Anda.
When do people say it?
To say 'nice to meet you too', add the word juga (also/too) to the end of the phrase, such as senang berkenalan dengan Anda juga.
Did you know?
- In Indonesian culture, the phrase is often accompanied by a slight nod or a hand over the heart to show sincerity, which adds a layer of non-verbal politeness beyond the words themselves.
- Indonesians may avoid using the direct 'you' implied in denganmu when speaking to elders, opting instead for kinship terms like Bapak (father) or Ibu (mother) to show respect.
- The word senang in your phrase originally meant 'easy' in Malay. It eventually shifted from describing a state of being 'at ease' to describing the emotional state of being 'happy' or 'pleased'.
Examples in context
- Ketua, senang bertemu dengan Anda.Chairman, nice to meet you.
- Selamat sore, Pak Teguh. Saya sangat senang berkenalan dengan Anda.Good afternoon, Mr. Teguh. I'm very pleased to meet you.
- Bapak Presiden, saya merasa terhormat bisa bertemu dengan Anda.Mr. President, I feel honored to meet you.
- Halo, Maria. Senang berjumpa denganmu.Hello, Maria. Nice to meet you.
- Wah, Andi. Asyik ketemu kamu nih!Wow, Andi. It's fun to meet you!
- Bro, gue seneng kenal lo!Dude, nice to meet you!
- Saya senang berkenalan denganmu hari ini.I am happy to meet you today.
- Senang berkenalan denganmu secara langsung.Nice to meet you in person.
Example conversation
Maya and Budi meet for the first time at a social event.
- IndahHalo, saya Maya.Hello, I am Maya.
- AdiHalo Maya, saya Budi.Hello Maya, I am Budi.
- IndahSenang berkenalan denganmu, Budi.Nice to meet you, Budi.
- AdiSenang berkenalan denganmu juga.Nice to meet you too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries senang, CC BY-SA 4.0.
