Bagus / Jelek
Good / Bad
'Bagus' is all-purpose praise — good, nice, great, well-done! Indonesians love to say 'bagus!' to encourage and compliment.
Learn the fundamental judgment words "Bagus" (Good/Nice) and "Jelek" (Bad/Ugly) in Indonesian. These essential Bahasa Indonesia adjectives let you evaluate, express opinions, and navigate everyday quality assessments.
💬Example Sentences
Bagus sekali! Kamu pintar!
Very good! You're smart!
Cuacanya jelek hari ini.
The weather is bad today.
Kualitasnya bagus tapi harganya mahal.
The quality is good but the price is expensive.
🏭Cultural Context
"Bagus!" is one of the most frequently heard Indonesian words — it's versatile, warm, and encouraging. Teachers say "bagus!" to students. Parents say it to children. Shop owners say "bagus pilihan!" (good choice!) to customers. It covers a range from 'good' to 'great' to 'well done.' In contrast, Indonesians tend to be indirect with negative feedback — openly calling something "jelek" (bad/ugly) can feel harsh in Indonesian social culture, which prioritizes harmony. More common negative expressions are softer: "kurang bagus" (not so good, literally 'less good') or "biasa saja" (just average, nothing special). This indirectness is a feature, not a bug — it reflects Indonesia's deeply relational communication style where preserving face and relationships matters deeply.