Kostum disimpan di belakang panggung.

This is a very common beginner question, because Indonesian uses di in two different ways:

• di- as a prefix on a verb = marks a passive verb
  
  • disimpan = is stored / is kept
• di as a preposition = in / at / on
  • di belakang panggung = behind the stage

So:

• disimpan → one word, because di- is attached to the verb simpan
• di belakang → two words, because di is a separate preposition

A useful rule:

• If di shows a location, write it separately.
• If di- makes a passive verb, write it attached.

Disimpan comes from the root verb simpan, which means to keep, to store, or to put away.

With the passive prefix di-, it becomes:

• disimpan = is kept
• is stored
• is put away

So the sentence gives a passive idea: the costume is in storage / is being kept somewhere.

Depending on context, English might translate it in slightly different ways:

• The costume is stored backstage.
• The costume is kept behind the stage.

Indonesian uses the passive very naturally, often more often than English.

In this sentence, the focus is on kostum rather than on who is storing it.

• Kostum disimpan di belakang panggung.
  = The costume is stored backstage.

If you wanted an active version, you would need an agent:

• Mereka menyimpan kostum di belakang panggung.
  = They store the costume backstage.

So the passive here is normal and natural because the important information is the location of the costume, not the person doing the action.

• simpan is the root word
• menyimpan is the active verb form
• disimpan is the passive verb form

Compare:

• Saya menyimpan kostum itu.
  = I store / keep that costume.
• Kostum itu disimpan di belakang panggung.
  = That costume is stored behind the stage.

So in this sentence, disimpan is used because kostum is the thing receiving the action.

By itself, kostum can mean:

• a costume
• costumes

Indonesian nouns usually do not have to show singular/plural explicitly if the context already makes it clear.

So Kostum disimpan di belakang panggung could mean:

• The costume is stored backstage
• Costumes are stored backstage

If you specifically wanted to emphasize the plural, you could say:

• Kostum-kostum disimpan di belakang panggung.

But in normal Indonesian, repeating the noun is often unnecessary unless the context really needs it.

Indonesian does not use articles like a, an, and the the way English does.

So kostum can mean:

• a costume
• the costume
• costumes
• the costumes

The exact meaning depends on context.

If you want to make it more definite, Indonesian often uses:

• itu = that / the
• a possessive suffix like -nya, depending on context

For example:

• Kostum itu disimpan di belakang panggung.
  = The costume is stored backstage.

But without itu, the sentence is still perfectly natural.

Word by word:

• di = at / in / on
• belakang = back / behind
• panggung = stage

So:

• di belakang panggung = behind the stage

In real usage, this often corresponds to English backstage, but the literal structure is behind the stage.

Yes, often you can.

• di belakang panggung literally means behind the stage
• In performance/theater contexts, a natural English translation is often backstage

So:

• Kostum disimpan di belakang panggung. can naturally become
• The costumes are stored backstage.

The Indonesian phrase is more literal than the single English word backstage, but the idea is often the same.

In Indonesian, location expressions often work differently from English.

Belakang panggung literally looks like:

• back/behind stage

But it functions as:

• the back of the stage
• behind the stage, depending on the full phrase

With di in front, the whole phrase becomes:

• di belakang panggung = at/behind the stage

This kind of structure is very common:

• di depan rumah = in front of the house
• di dalam kotak = in the box
• di atas meja = on the table

So you do not need an extra word like English of here.

Yes. Panggung commonly means a performance stage, such as in:

• theater
• concerts
• dance performances
• school shows

So di belakang panggung strongly suggests the backstage area of a performance venue.

That would not sound right for the intended meaning.

The natural expression is:

• di belakang panggung = behind the stage / backstage

Belakang here is part of a location phrase, not just an adjective modifying panggung.

So use:

• di belakang panggung

not:

• di panggung belakang for this meaning

Yes.

You could say:

• Kostum itu disimpan di belakang panggung.
  = That/The costume is stored backstage.

You might also hear:

• Kostumnya disimpan di belakang panggung.

Kostumnya can mean:

• the costume
• his/her/their costume
• the costume in question

Exactly which one it means depends on context.

So the original sentence is neutral and general, while itu or -nya can make the noun feel more specific.

One active version is:

• Mereka menyimpan kostum di belakang panggung.
  = They store the costumes backstage.

Another is:

• Panitia menyimpan kostum di belakang panggung.
  = The organizers store the costumes backstage.

Compare the two patterns:

• Passive: Kostum disimpan di belakang panggung.
• Active: Mereka menyimpan kostum di belakang panggung.

The passive is often preferred when the doer is unknown, obvious, or unimportant.

Yes, it is natural and clear.

It sounds like something you might read on:

• a notice
• stage directions
• an explanation about where props or costumes are kept
• a general statement about storage

It is concise and standard Indonesian, especially if the focus is simply on where the costumes are kept.