“Dengan senang hati” (“with a happy heart”) is a phrase that made me smile ear to ear the first time I heard it and have been noticing lately, said by the hospitality people I encountered in Jakarta.
The first time I heard (or maybe noticed) was by the lady who took our orders in Bali Timbungan Sarinah restaurant, where our Youtuber cousin took us for dinner.
I heard it again in a Thai restaurant in Plaza Senayan when I asked for the bill. The last one, so I was from the bank teller. They replied, “dengan senang hati” with a bonus of “sehat selalu” (stay healthy) as a to my “thank you“.
I really liked this term, which, IMO is an upgrade from “Sama2” (“Same” but doubled for added respect and warmth – because, you know, Indonesian…).
“Dengan senang hati” makes me happy when I hear it. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by Indonesian creativity by coining another beautiful phrase in Bahasa.
I like “dengan senang hati” even more than Terimakasih, one of my fave phrases in Bahasa. It means thank you, but if translated literally, it implies give-and-take love.
I wonder whether I can adopt and bring “dengan senang hati” to the down under. Do you think Melbourne is ready for “with a happy heart” as a reply to “thank you”?
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