di mana (bukan lokatif)
Avoiding Nonlocative Di Mana
Di mana has ordinary location-question and embedded-location uses. Standard editing guidance discourages using it as a general relative connector, particularly for nonlocative relationships; choose a structure that states the intended relationship clearly.
How It Works
The use of di mana as a relative pronoun is a calque (loan translation) from European languages. In Bahasa Indonesia Baku (Standard Indonesian), ordinary question and embedded-location uses must be distinguished from its use to link a noun to a descriptive clause (e.g., 'the situation where...'). This often occurs because Indonesian lacks a direct structural equivalent to English constructs like 'in which' or 'at which'. The ordinary relative marker yang does not directly reproduce English preposition + which patterns, so speakers default to di mana to bridge the gap. This rule also applies to the entire family of mana relative pronoun calques, including yang mana, dalam mana, and dari mana. To avoid this calque in abstract or nonlocative contexts (like situations, processes, or decisions), you should restructure the sentence. For abstract concepts, the standard fix is often to use saat/ketika (e.g., situasi ketika...), bahwa, or simply drop the connector entirely. For physical locations, use bare tempat directly preceding the clause without yang (e.g., kota tempat saya lahir), when identifying the place where an activity occurs. A place noun can also be the subject of a relative clause, as in rumah yang roboh, or a patient in a transitive relationship. This often involves adding an -i suffix to locative verbs (e.g., rumah yang saya tinggali), but can also involve inherently transitive verbs (e.g., rumah yang saya beli). While considered non-standard in strict formal grammar, you will frequently encounter this usage in Bahasa Jurnalistik (Journalistic Indonesian), academic writing, and legal documents. To become proficient in formal Indonesian, use these standard alternatives:
- yang: For general descriptions.
- tempat: For physical locations (without yang).
- saat/ketika: For time-related or abstract situational contexts.
- bahwa: To introduce a content clause.
- yang ... [preposition]-nya: For inanimate objects where tempat or ketika doesn't make sense (e.g., meja yang di atasnya ada buku).
Examples (4)
- Kita menghadapi situasi di mana harga pangan naik.
We are facing a situation where food prices are rising. (Nonstandard)
Word by Word: We face situation where price food rise.
This deliberately illustrates a nonlocative di mana link found in actual usage and discouraged by standard editing guidance. Saat or ketika can frame the situation temporally; another explicit clause structure may be needed if a different relationship is intended.
- Ini adalah buku yang penulisnya sangat terkenal.
This is a book whose author is very famous. (Standard)
Word by Word: This is book that author-its very famous.
Instead of saying 'buku di mana...', standard Indonesian uses 'yang' to link the description.
- Perusahaan tempat dia bekerja sudah bangkrut.
The company where he/she works has gone bankrupt. (Standard)
Word by Word: Company place he/she work already bankrupt.
Tempat identifies the workplace relationship. It is a clear standard alternative to a locative relative di mana construction; the company need not be treated only as a physical building.
- Masa saat kita sukses telah tiba.
The time when we are successful has arrived. (Standard)
Word by Word: Time when we success already arrive.
For time-related 'where/when' clauses, use 'saat' or 'waktu' rather than 'di mana'.
Common Mistakes
Spelling 'di mana' as one word ('dimana').
Saya tidak tahu dimana dia.Saya tidak tahu di mana dia.The preposition 'di' must always be separated from the word 'mana' by a space, regardless of the context.
How It Connects
Learn This First
This pattern is a stylistic correction for advanced learners. To understand why 'di mana' is often used incorrectly as a nonlocative connector, a learner must first be familiar with its standard locative function and the correct Indonesian mechanisms for connecting clauses, such as 'yang' for relative clauses and 'bahwa' for content clauses.
- di manaWhere with Di Mana
Learners must first understand the standard locative use of 'di mana' as a question word for 'where' before learning to avoid its nonstandard use as a relative connector.
Level 1 - bahwaContent Clauses with Bahwa
Understanding content clauses with 'bahwa' provides the correct alternative for many instances where English speakers might mistakenly use 'di mana' to connect ideas.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- yangRelative Clauses with Yang
The standard way to form relative clauses in Indonesian, often replacing the nonstandard 'di mana'.
Level 2 - tempat yang ...Relative Clauses After Place Nouns
Bare tempat can express the location relationship in kota tempat saya lahir. Tempat yang... describes a place in a different relative construction, so do not mechanically insert or delete yang.
Level 3 - diLocation with Di
The base preposition used in 'di mana'; understanding its locative nature helps avoid nonlocative errors.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
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