Basic Commands and Requests in Indonesian

In Brief

Indonesian often makes a command by using the verb without a subject: Duduk! means “Sit!” and Tunggu! means “Wait!” Add tolong for a request for help, silakan for an invitation or permission, mohon for a formal request, and jangan for “don’t.” The verb does not change according to whether you are speaking to one person or several people.

Overview

Commands tell someone to do something; requests ask them to do it. Grammatically, both can use the imperative (a sentence used to direct someone’s action), but word choice and tone determine whether the result sounds abrupt, friendly, respectful, or official. This is an A1 topic because these patterns are useful immediately: asking someone to wait, inviting a guest to sit, telling someone not to worry, or asking for help.

Indonesian has no imperative ending comparable to a special command form in some languages. In many beginner sentences, simply leave out the understood subject “you” and begin with the verb: Masuk! (“Come in!”). English also commonly omits “you” in commands, so the basic pattern will feel familiar. A key difference is that Indonesian relies heavily on particles and context to show the intended tone.

The simplest form is useful, but it can sound sharp when spoken without a friendly context. Learners should therefore master a small set of softeners early: tolong, silakan, mohon, and coba. They are not interchangeable translations of English “please”; each presents the action differently.

How It Works

1. The basic command: verb first

For many common verbs, remove the subject and use the verb directly.

Pattern	Indonesian	Meaning
verb	Duduk!	Sit!
verb + place	Ke sini!	Come here! / Over here!
verb + object	Buka pintunya.	Open the door.
verb + time expression	Tunggu sebentar.	Wait a moment.

Ke sini! literally expresses direction, “to here.” Indonesian often leaves an obvious motion verb unspoken, so this is a natural way to call someone over. Sini! is also heard in casual speech, but it can sound more abrupt.

A bare command is not automatically rude. It is natural in urgent warnings, instructions, close relationships, recipes, and situations where authority is expected. Tone matters: Duduk. said warmly to a child differs from the same word shouted angrily. With strangers or in service situations, a softener is usually safer.

2. Tolong: ask someone to help by doing something

Use tolong + verb for a practical request. Tolong is also the verb “to help,” which explains its request-like feeling.

Pattern	Example	Natural meaning
tolong + verb	Tolong tunggu.	Please wait.
tolong + verb + object	Tolong buka jendelanya.	Please open the window.
tolong + person + verb	Tolong kamu cek lagi.	Please check it again.

For a beginner, tolong + verb is the most dependable everyday pattern. It is polite, but intonation still matters. A barked Tolong cepat! can be demanding even though it contains tolong.

When tolong stands alone, it means “Help!” or “Please help!” rather than a general-purpose “please”: Tolong!.

3. Silakan: invite, offer, or give permission

Use silakan when the other person is welcome to perform the action. It suits invitations, hospitality, and permission.

Pattern	Example	Situation
silakan + verb	Silakan duduk.	Inviting a guest to sit
silakan + verb + object	Silakan ambil satu.	Offering something
silakan + place	Silakan ke dalam.	Inviting someone inside

English “please” covers both requests and invitations, but Indonesian often distinguishes them. Tolong duduk asks the listener to sit because the speaker wants or needs that action. Silakan duduk offers the listener a seat. In many situations both are possible, but the viewpoint differs.

Silakan can also mean “go ahead”: Boleh saya masuk? — Silakan. (“May I come in? — Go ahead.”)

4. Mohon: a formal or serious request

Mohon introduces a respectful request and is common in announcements, notices, customer communication, workplaces, and official language.

Pattern	Example	Meaning
mohon + verb	Mohon tunggu.	Please wait.
mohon + noun	Mohon perhatian.	Your attention, please.
mohon + passive expression	Mohon pintu ditutup.	Please keep/close the door.

In ordinary conversation with friends, mohon may sound unnecessarily formal or solemn. Use tolong for most everyday favors. The phrase mohon maaf (“I sincerely apologize” or formal “sorry”) is very common and should be learned as a fixed expression.

5. Negative commands with jangan

Put jangan before the verb or description to tell someone not to do something.

Pattern	Indonesian	Meaning
jangan + verb	Jangan pergi.	Don’t go.
jangan + verb + object	Jangan buka pintunya.	Don’t open the door.
jangan + description	Jangan khawatir.	Don’t worry.

Do not use ordinary tidak (“not”) to form a direct negative command. Jangan is the normal command word. A softener can follow it: Jangan lupa, ya (“Don’t forget, okay?”) sounds warmer than a bare warning.

6. Coba: “try” as a conversational softener

The basic meaning of coba is “try.” Before another verb, it can invite someone to try an action or soften a suggestion and make it less confrontational.

• Coba lihat. — Take a look.
• Coba ulangi. — Try saying it again.
• Coba tanya dia. — Try asking them.

It is not a direct substitute for every polite “please.” In a formal request to a customer, mohon is more suitable; when asking someone for a favor, tolong is clearer.

7. Biar saya ...: offer to do something yourself

Use biar saya + verb for “let me …” or “I’ll ….” Here saya is the subject (the person who performs the action), so this is not a command directed at the listener.

• Biar saya lihat. — Let me see.
• Biar saya bantu. — Let me help.
• Biar saya yang bayar. — Let me be the one who pays.

In casual speech, biar aku ... is common with friends and family. Saya is neutral and more broadly appropriate.

8. Objects and direction still follow the verb

Commands keep normal Indonesian word order. Add the thing affected by the action—the object (the person or thing acted on)—after the verb: Baca pesan ini (“Read this message”). Place and direction phrases also normally follow: Taruh tasnya di sini (“Put the bag here”).

Possessive -nya often makes a noun specific in instructions: pintunya can mean “the door” or “its door,” depending on context. It does not always mean the English possessive “his/her.”

Examples in Context

Indonesian	English	Note
Silakan duduk.	Please sit down.	A polite invitation
Tolong tunggu sebentar.	Please wait a moment.	Everyday request
Jangan khawatir!	Don’t worry!	Negative command or reassurance
Biar saya lihat.	Let me see.	The speaker offers to act
Masuk!	Come in!	Bare command; natural in context
Tolong tutup pintunya.	Please close the door.	Asking for a practical favor
Silakan ambil kopi.	Please have some coffee.	Offering something
Mohon antre di sini.	Please queue here.	Formal public instruction
Mohon perhatian sebentar.	Your attention, please.	Formal request with a noun
Jangan sentuh itu.	Don’t touch that.	Warning
Coba baca kalimat ini.	Try reading this sentence.	Encouragement or instruction
Ke sini dulu.	Come here first.	The motion verb is understood
Tolong bicara pelan-pelan.	Please speak slowly.	Polite request about manner
Silakan masuk kalau sudah siap.	Please come in when you’re ready.	Invitation with a condition
Biar saya yang bawa tasnya.	Let me carry the bag.	Emphasizes that the speaker will do it

Common Mistakes

Treating every English “please” as tolong

• Less natural: Tolong ambil kue. when offering cake to a guest
• Better: Silakan ambil kue.
• Why: Tolong asks the guest to perform a favor; silakan tells the guest that taking the cake is welcome.

Using tidak for “don’t”

• Wrong: Tidak buka pintu!
• Right: Jangan buka pintu!
• Why: Tidak negates statements, while jangan forms negative commands and prohibitions.

Assuming a bare verb always sounds friendly

• Risky with a stranger: Tunggu!
• Safer: Tolong tunggu sebentar.
• Why: A bare command can sound urgent or authoritative. A softener and a gentle tone make the social intention clearer.

Using silakan to ask for help

• Unnatural for the intended request: Silakan bantu saya.
• Natural: Tolong bantu saya.
• Why: Silakan grants permission or invites an action; tolong asks the listener to help the speaker.

Translating English “let” word for word

• Wrong pattern: Biar saya untuk lihat.
• Right: Biar saya lihat.
• Why: After biar saya, use the verb directly. Indonesian does not need an equivalent of English “to” before the verb.

Removing every prefix mechanically

• Wrong: Henti! for ordinary “Stop!”
• Right: Berhenti!
• Why: Some familiar commands retain part of a derived verb. Learn common command forms as complete expressions rather than stripping every prefix by rule.

Usage Notes

Politeness comes from more than one word

Pronouns, titles, voice, and small particles all affect tone. Indonesian frequently uses a name or respectful title such as Pak (“sir/Mr.”) or Bu (“ma’am/Mrs.”) instead of English “you”: Silakan masuk, Bu (“Please come in, ma’am”). This can sound warmer and more respectful than inserting kamu, which is informal and may be inappropriate with a stranger or senior.

The conversational particle ya often makes a request sound cooperative or gently reminds the listener: Tunggu sebentar, ya (“Wait a moment, okay?”). It does not make every command polite by itself, and its effect depends on intonation.

Choosing among the main words

Indonesian choice	Closest English function	Typical setting
bare verb	direct command	urgency, instructions, close relationships
tolong	please do this / help by doing this	everyday favors and requests
silakan	please, feel free / go ahead	invitations, offers, permission
mohon	kindly / we request that	formal, official, serious contexts
coba	try / have a look	suggestions, teaching, conversational softening
jangan	don’t	prohibitions, warnings, reassurance

These are tendencies, not rigid levels on a single politeness scale. Silakan is not simply “more polite” than tolong; it performs a different social job.

Beyond the Basics / Advanced Use

You do not need to master the details below at A1, but you will encounter them in speech, writing, and public notices.

The suffix -lah

Indonesian can attach -lah to an imperative: Duduklah, bacalah, ingatlah. It marks or reinforces the command and is common in written instructions, speeches, slogans, religious language, and storytelling. Depending on context, it can sound encouraging, elevated, emphatic, or literary. It is therefore misleading to memorize -lah merely as a polite ending. Everyday conversation often prefers silakan duduk, tolong baca, or a particle such as ya.

Verb affixes in commands

Many active verbs with the meN- family of prefixes appear without that prefix in direct commands: membaca (“to read”) gives Baca! (“Read!”), and mengambil (“to take”) gives Ambil! (“Take!”). However, suffixes that carry part of the intended meaning can remain:

• Masukkan kartu. — Insert the card. (-kan helps express putting something in.)
• Tulisi bagian ini. — Write on/fill this part. (-i relates the action to a location or target.)
• Bukakan pintu untuk saya. — Open the door for me. (-kan can present the action as done for someone.)

Not every prefixed verb follows one beginner rule. Forms with ber- often remain intact, as in Berhenti! (“Stop!”) and Berhati-hatilah! (“Be careful!”). Exposure to complete phrases is more reliable than mechanically deleting prefixes.

Passive-style formal instructions

Public and administrative Indonesian often uses a passive form, which presents what should be done without directly commanding a particular person:

• Harap pintu ditutup. — Please keep the door closed / Please close the door.
• Mohon formulir diisi dengan lengkap. — Please complete the form in full.
• Dilarang merokok. — Smoking is prohibited.

Harap means roughly “please be expected to” in notices, while dilarang means “prohibited.” These are useful to recognize, but tolong + verb remains easier and more natural for an A1 learner making everyday requests.

Inclusive suggestions with ayo and mari

Commands aimed at a group including the speaker use ayo or mari, similar to English “let’s”:

• Ayo pergi! — Let’s go! (conversational and energetic)
• Mari kita mulai. — Let’s begin. (neutral to formal)

This differs from biar saya pergi (“let me go”), where only the speaker performs the action.

Practice Tips

1. Sort requests by purpose. Take ten everyday actions and make two versions where possible: Tolong buka pintunya (a favor) versus Silakan buka pintunya (permission to open it). Explain why you chose each word.
2. Build positive–negative pairs. Say Masuk / Jangan masuk, Duduk / Jangan duduk, and Buka pintunya / Jangan buka pintunya. This trains jangan as a complete command pattern rather than as ordinary negation.
3. Listen for setting and tone. In shops, transport announcements, and conversations, note whether speakers use tolong, silakan, mohon, a title such as Pak/Bu, or no softener. Record the situation, not just the sentence, because context determines politeness.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Basic Verb Structure — explains why Indonesian verbs do not change for person or number and provides the basic word order used in commands.