Rapat dimulai pukul delapan.

the meeting

Breakdown of Rapat dimulai pukul delapan.

• dimulai: to start
• pukul delapan: eight o’clock

Questions & Answers about Rapat dimulai pukul delapan.

Why is dimulai used here, and what does the prefix di- do?

dimulai is the passive form of the verb mulai (to begin). The prefix di- marks a transitive verb as passive, so dimulai literally means “is begun.” In Indonesian you often use passive constructions when the person doing the action (the agent) is unknown or unimportant. Here it simply states that the meeting starts, without saying who starts it.

Could I replace dimulai with mulai? If so, is there a difference?

Yes. Rapat mulai pukul delapan is also correct and means “The meeting starts at eight.” Using mulai (active/intransitive) is more neutral or informal, while dimulai (passive) can sound slightly more formal or impersonal. Both are common in spoken and written Indonesian.

What is pukul, and why is it used before delapan?

pukul functions like “o’clock” or “at” in English time expressions. You need pukul (or jam) before the hour to indicate it’s a time, not just the number. Thus pukul delapan = “eight o’clock.”

Can I say rapat dimulai delapan without pukul?

No. Without pukul (or jam), delapan is just the number “eight.” To specify time you must include one of those markers: pukul delapan or jam delapan.