Potong Rambut di Barbershop

By Speak Indo, original reading practice from the Speak Indo course.

Getting a Haircut at a Barbershop. Explaining a haircut clearly: short, tidy, not too much off the top, and confirming the price.

The story, line by line

Everyday register: casual service. A relaxed barbershop exchange with Mas and concise requests. Everyday wording appears first; a standard reference is shown underneath when the wording differs.

1. Aku masuk ke barbershop kecil dekat kos.
   I enter a small barbershop near the boarding house.
   Standard reference: Saya masuk ke barbershop kecil dekat kos.
2. Masnya bertanya, 'Mau dipotong gimana?'
   The barber asks, 'How would you like it cut?'
   Standard reference: Mas barber bertanya, 'Mau dipotong seperti apa?'
3. Aku bilang, 'Sampingnya dirapikan aja.'
   I say, 'Just tidy up the sides.'
   Standard reference: Saya bilang, 'Sampingnya dirapikan saja.'
4. 'Atasnya jangan terlalu pendek, ya.'
   'Do not make the top too short, okay.'
5. Mas barber mengangguk dan mulai bekerja.
   The barber nods and starts working.
6. Setelah selesai, dia menunjukkan hasilnya dengan cermin.
   After finishing, he shows the result with a mirror.
7. Rambutku kelihatan lebih rapi.
   My hair looks tidier.
   Standard reference: Rambut saya terlihat lebih rapi.
8. Aku bayar dan bilang, 'Makasih, Mas.'
   I pay and say, 'Thank you, sir.'
   Standard reference: Saya bayar dan berkata, 'Terima kasih, Mas.'

Vocabulary in this story

• aku, I
• masuk, to enter
• ke, to (direction)
• kecil, small
• dekat, near
• bertanya, to ask
• mau, want; going to (everyday)
• bagaimana, how
• memberitahu, to inform / to tell
• samping, side
• saja, only
• atas, up