Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Pisau itu segera dicuci dan disimpan di samping kompor setelah dipakai. - The knife is immediately washed and stored beside the stove after being used.

itu is a post-noun demonstrative meaning “that.” In Indonesian the demonstrative often follows the noun (unlike English, where it precedes), so pisau itu literally is “knife that,” i.e. “that knife.”

Can I drop itu and just say pisau?

Yes. Saying pisau segera dicuci… makes “knife” generic or indefinite. itu specifies which knife (usually one just used or one you both know about). Without itu, you lose that demonstrative emphasis.

Why is the verb dicuci in passive form, and how does the di- prefix work?

Indonesian marks passive voice by prefixing the verb root with di-. Here cuci (wash) becomes dicuci (be washed). The passive focuses on the object (the knife), not the doer.

Why is there no agent (no “by someone”) in this sentence?

In Indonesian passive constructions, the agent is optional and often omitted when it’s obvious (the cook, the user) or not important. The focus stays on what happens to the knife.

What does segera mean, and where can it be placed?

segera means “immediately” or “at once.” It’s an adverb and usually follows the subject but can also precede the verb:
• Pisau itu segera dicuci…
• Pisau itu dicuci segera…
Both are correct; the nuance is the same.

Why are there two dis in disimpan di samping kompor?

The first di- is the passive verb prefix on simpan (“store”) → disimpan (“be stored”). The second di is a separate preposition meaning “at” or “beside.” Prepositional di always stands by itself and is not attached to the following noun.

What role does setelah dipakai play, and why is dipakai also passive?

setelah means “after” and introduces a time clause. dipakai is the passive of pakai (“use”), so setelah dipakai = “after (it) is used” or “after being used.” Again, passive focuses on the knife rather than who used it.

Is dicuci marked for past, present, or future tense? How do we know when the washing happens?

Indonesian does not inflect verbs for tense. Timing is inferred from context and time words like segera (“immediately”) or setelah (“after”). Here, “wash” happens right after use.

How else could I phrase this sentence, for example by starting with the time clause?

You can front the setelah clause:
Setelah dipakai, pisau itu segera dicuci dan disimpan di samping kompor.
This puts the “after use” idea first, but the meaning is identical.