Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Harga promosi berlaku hanya sampai Selasa; seandainya kita cepat, kita bisa hemat. - The promotional price is valid only until Tuesday; if we hurry, we can save.

Berlaku is a verb formed with the prefix ber- on the root laku. In this context it means “to be valid” or “to apply.” So Harga promosi berlaku hanya sampai Selasa literally says “The promotional price applies (or is valid) only until Tuesday.”

What role does hanya play in hanya sampai Selasa?

Hanya means “only” or “just.” Placed before sampai Selasa, it restricts the time frame: the promotional price is valid only up to Tuesday, and no later.

Why is there a semicolon (;) between the two parts, instead of a comma or a period?

In Indonesian a semicolon can link two closely related but independent clauses where the second explains a consequence or condition. Here, the first clause states the deal’s deadline and the second adds a hypothetical result. A comma might understate the boundary between ideas, while a period would separate them too sharply.

What does seandainya mean, and how is it different from jika?

Seandainya is a conjunction meaning “if” or “suppose that,” used for hypothetical or less-likely scenarios. Jika is a more neutral “if,” used for real or likely conditions. By choosing seandainya, the speaker hints at a “what if” sense—“if only we act quickly” rather than a straightforward “if.”

How is hemat functioning in kita bisa hemat? Is it a verb or an adjective?

Hemat is originally an adjective meaning “economical” or “thrifty.” In colloquial Indonesian, after bisa it behaves like a verb phrase meaning “to save (money).” So kita bisa hemat literally means “we can be economical,” i.e. “we can save.”

Why does the sentence repeat kita in seandainya kita cepat, kita bisa hemat? Could you drop the second kita?

Repeating kita (“we/us”) clarifies that the same subject performs both actions (“act quickly” and “save”). You could say seandainya kita cepat, bisa hemat and it would still be understood, especially in speech, but including the second kita makes the structure clearer and more natural in writing.

Could you use hingga instead of sampai in hanya sampai Selasa, and would the meaning change?

Yes. Hingga also means “until” and is slightly more formal or literary. Hanya hingga Selasa means the same as hanya sampai Selasa, but sampai is more common in everyday speech.