Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Dia bersikap tenang ketika rapat dimulai. - He/She behaves calmly when the meeting begins.

bersikap is a verb meaning “to adopt an attitude” or “to behave (in a certain way).” It comes from the noun sikap (“attitude”). By adding the prefix ber- to sikap, you turn it into an intransitive verb: you literally “have an attitude” or “take on a stance.”

Why do we say bersikap tenang instead of just tenang?

tenang is an adjective meaning “calm.” When you say dia tenang, you simply describe someone’s state: “he/she is calm.” By using bersikap tenang, you emphasize that the person behaves or conducts themselves in a calm manner, often implying a deliberate or controlled reaction during an event.

What role does the prefix ber- play in bersikap? Are there other examples?

The prefix ber- attaches to nouns to form intransitive verbs that mean “to have” or “to possess” that noun, often with the nuance “to act in accordance with” it. Examples:

berwarna (“to have color”)
berbaju (“to wear clothes”)
berbicara (“to have a talk” → “to speak”)

What does ketika mean, and how is it different from saat or waktu?

ketika is a subordinating conjunction meaning “when.” It introduces a time clause. saat can also mean “when” but is slightly more formal or literary in some contexts. waktu literally means “time” (a noun), but you can use it like “waktu rapat dimulai” (“when the meeting started”) in colloquial speech. You’ll often see:

ketika rapat dimulai
saat rapat dimulai
waktu rapat dimulai

How is dimulai formed, and why is it used instead of just mulai?

dimulai is the passive form of memulai (“to start [something]”), built with the prefix di- plus the root mulai. Although mulai can function intransitively (“to begin”), saying rapat dimulai (“the meeting is started”) is very common to mean “the meeting began.” You could also say rapat mulai in informal contexts, but dimulai is more neutral and clear when describing an event’s kickoff.

Why is dimulai placed after rapat, and could we reorder the clause?

In Indonesian the passive verb dimulai follows its subject rapat, so rapat dimulai means “the meeting is started.” You can reorder time clauses freely:

Dia bersikap tenang ketika rapat dimulai.
Ketika rapat dimulai, dia bersikap tenang.
Both are correct; the first emphasizes the action, the second the timing.

Can dia refer to both “he” and “she,” and is it formal or informal?

Yes, dia is a neutral third-person pronoun that covers “he” or “she.” It works in both formal and informal contexts. If you need to emphasize gender in a more formal text, you might use ia, but everyday speech almost always uses dia.