Directions

1. Di mana Menara Kuala Lumpur?

   Di ma-na Me-na-ra Kua-la Lum-pur?

   Where is the Kuala Lumpur Tower?

   Usage

   Asking for the location of a landmark or attraction

   Grammar Note

   "Di mana" = where (location). "Ke mana?" = where to (direction). A useful pair to know.

2. Belok kiri

   Be-lok ki-ri

   Turn left

   Usage

   Instruction to turn left when giving or following directions

   Grammar Note

   Pair with "belok kanan" (turn right) and "jalan terus" (go straight) for a complete toolkit.

3. Jalan terus

   Ja-lan te-rus

   Go straight

   Usage

   Telling someone to go straight ahead

   Grammar Note

   "Jalan" means both "road" and "to walk". "Terus" implies continuity — keep going forward without turning.

4. Berapa jauh dari sini?

   Be-ra-pa ja-uh da-ri si-ni?

   How far is it from here?

   Usage

   Checking the distance to a destination

   Grammar Note

   "Berapa jauh" = how far. Typical replies: "Dekat saja" (very close), "Kira-kira 10 minit berjalan kaki" (about 10 min walk).

5. Boleh tunjukkan pada peta?

   Bo-leh tun-juk-kan pa-da pe-ta?

   Could you show me on the map?

   Usage

   Asking someone to point out a location on a map

   Grammar Note

   "-kan" suffix makes verbs causative or directive. "Tunjuk" (show) + "-kan" = direct request to show something.

6. Di mana stesen LRT yang terdekat?

   Di ma-na ste-sen LRT yang ter-de-kat?

   Where is the nearest LRT station?

   Usage

   Finding the nearest LRT station in Kuala Lumpur's transit network

   Grammar Note

   "Ter-" prefix creates superlatives: "tertinggi" (tallest), "terbesar" (largest). KL's LRT is operated by Rapid KL.

7. Saya sesat

   Sa-ya se-sat

   I am lost

   Usage

   Letting someone know you have lost your way

   Grammar Note

   "Sesat" is an adjective meaning lost/astray. Combine with "Saya tidak tahu di mana saya berada" (I don't know where I am).

8. Bagaimana nak pergi ke KLCC?

   Ba-gai-ma-na nak per-gi ke KLCC?

   How do I get to KLCC?

   Usage

   Asking for directions to KLCC (Petronas Twin Towers area), a famous KL landmark

   Grammar Note

   "Nak" is the informal short form of "hendak" (want to). Very common in daily speech. Formal: "Bagaimana hendak pergi".

9. Adakah tanda jalan di sini?

   A-da-kah tan-da ja-lan di si-ni?

   Are there road signs here?

   Usage

   Asking if there are signs to help navigate

   Grammar Note

   Malaysian road signs are typically bilingual (Malay and English). Signs to major tourist sites are usually readable in English.

10. Di mana jambatan itu?

    Di ma-na jam-ba-tan i-tu?

    Where is that bridge?

    Usage

    Using a bridge as a landmark when asking for directions

    Grammar Note

    "Ini" (this/these) vs "itu" (that/those) are basic Malay demonstratives. "Jambatan ini" = this bridge.

11. Kanan

    Right

    Usage

    One word the driver can read while moving; "belok kanan" = turn right

12. Kiri

    Left

    Usage

    One word the driver can read while moving; "belok kiri" = turn left

13. Terus

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Tells a driver to keep going straight; outside a travel context the same word also means "directly / carry on"

14. Patah balik

    Turn back

    Usage

    Tells the driver to turn around and go back; Malaysians also say "pusing balik", but "pusing" means "dizzy" in Indonesian, so this wording avoids the confusion

15. Berhenti

    Stop (here)

    Usage

    Show it to have the vehicle pull over; point at the spot as you do

16. Utara

    North

    Usage

    For matching highway signs and map bearings

17. Selatan

    South

    Usage

    For matching highway signs and map bearings

18. Timur

    East

    Usage

    For matching highway signs and map bearings

19. Barat

    West

    Usage

    For matching highway signs and map bearings

20. Hotel

    Usage

    Name your destination; show your booking slip alongside it

21. Lapangan terbang

    Airport

    Usage

    Airport as a destination; Malaysia says "lapangan terbang" — Indonesian "bandara" is not used here

22. Perhentian bas

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Ask where the bus stop is; Malaysia says "perhentian bas" (Indonesian says "halte bus")

23. LRT / MRT

    Metro (LRT / MRT)

    Usage

    Kuala Lumpur's urban rail is signposted by these abbreviations; nobody locally says "kereta api bawah tanah"

24. Kedutaan

    Embassy

    Usage

    Ask the way to an embassy — needed if you lose your passport

25. ATM

    Usage

    Ask where an ATM is; local signage reads "mesin ATM"

26. Pengurup wang

    Money changer

    Usage

    Find a money changer; shopfronts read "PENGURUP WANG BERLESEN" (licensed money changer)

27. Dobi layan diri

    Self-service laundry

    Usage

    Find a laundromat; "dobi" alone is a drop-off laundry shop

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