What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tidak ada apa-apa literally breaks down to tidak (not), ada (exist/there is) and apa-apa (anything/whatever).
Which one should you use?
While tidak ada is a shorter way to say that there is none or that nothing exists, tidak ada apa-apa provides more emphasis on the emptiness or the lack of any specific thing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In daily conversation, you will often hear the colloquial version nggak ada apa-apa.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word apa is reduplicated into apa-apa to indicate an indefinite anything within a negative context. Additionally, adding the suffix -nya to the end of the phrase to create tidak ada apa-apanya changes the meaning from the simple absence of things to expressing that something is of no importance or special value.
Did you know?
- The word tidak shares a linguistic ancestor with the word tsy in Malagasy, a language spoken on the island of Madagascar, thousands of miles away from Indonesia.
- Because ada means both 'to exist' and 'to have', saying tidak ada apa-apa can mean either 'there is nothing' or 'I have nothing' depending on the context.
- While tidak ada and tidak ada apa-apa both mean 'nothing', the latter is used to emphasize a void. Using the shorter version when the longer one is expected can make a speaker sound abrupt or blunt.
Examples in context
- Tidak ada apa-apa di TV.There's nothing on TV.This sentence is useful for saying there is nothing on TV using tidak ada apa-apa.Tatoeba #10969815 by HAGNi, translation #7797175 by shekitten
- Dia tidak ada apa-apanya.He is nothing.This sentence is useful for saying he is nothing using tidak ada apa-apa.Tatoeba #1509265 by menyo, translation #1388967 by marcelostockle
- Tidak ada apa-apa di televisi.There's nothing on television.This sentence is useful for saying there is nothing on television using tidak ada apa-apa.Tatoeba #10969821 by HAGNi, translation #7814248 by shekitten
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Budi asks Putri why she is looking into an empty cupboard.
- BudiPutri, kamu sedang mencari apa?Putri, what are you looking for?
- PutriAku mencari camilan, tapi tidak ada apa-apa di sini.I'm looking for snacks, but there is nothing here.
- BudiOh, mungkin kita harus pergi ke toko.Oh, maybe we should go to the store.
- PutriIde bagus, Budi.Good idea, Budi.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ada, apa-apa, tidak, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
