Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Maaf, Pak, saya mau minta izin pulang lebih awal. - Sorry, Sir, I want to ask permission to go home early.

Pak is short for Bapak and is used to address an adult man politely, like “Sir” or “Mr.” Use it for teachers, bosses, older men, or anyone you want to show respect to. For women, use Bu (short for Ibu). If you know the name, you can say Pak Budi, Bu Sari, etc.

Why does the sentence have both mau and minta? Isn’t “want ask” redundant?

Stacking them is normal in Indonesian. Mau expresses intention and softens the tone; minta forms the common collocation minta izin (to ask for permission). Together (mau minta) they sound polite and natural. Without mau, it’s still fine but a bit more direct.

Can I drop mau or minta?

Yes, depending on tone:

Saya minta izin pulang lebih awal. (polite, neutral)
Saya mau izin pulang lebih awal. (common spoken shortening)
Mohon izin pulang lebih awal. (more formal)

What’s the difference between minta, meminta, and mohon?

minta: colloquial “ask for”
meminta: formal version of “minta”
mohon: formal/polite “request” Typical: minta izin (neutral), meminta izin (formal), mohon izin (very formal and compact).

Do I need untuk before pulang (e.g., minta izin untuk pulang)?

No. Both are correct. Minta izin pulang is very common; adding untuk is slightly more formal.

Should I use boleh or bisa to ask permission?

Use boleh for permission: Pak, boleh saya pulang lebih awal?
Bisa is about ability/capability, not permission. Some say bisa casually, but boleh is safer and more correct for permission.

Why start with Maaf? Would Permisi work?

Maaf softens the approach (like “Sorry/Excuse me”) and shows consideration. Permisi is also fine to get attention. In this context, both Maaf, Pak... and Permisi, Pak... are natural; Maaf feels a bit more apologetic.

Is saya necessary? What about aku?

You can drop the subject in casual speech if it’s clear: Maaf, Pak, mau minta izin.... Saya is the formal “I”; aku is informal/intimate. With a teacher or boss, stick with saya.

Why use pulang rather than pergi?

Pulang means “to go/return home” (or leave work/school to go home). Pergi just means “to go” (to some place). Since you’re asking to go home early, pulang is correct. Informally some people also say balik for “go back/home.”

Does pulang need a destination (like pulang ke rumah)?

No. Pulang alone already implies “go home.” You can add detail if needed: pulang ke rumah, pulang ke kos, etc.

What exactly does lebih awal mean? Is lebih cepat okay?

Lebih awal = earlier than the usual/scheduled time.
Lebih cepat usually means “faster” (speed), so it can sound odd for time. Alternatives: lebih dulu (earlier/before others), pulang dulu (I’ll head out now/before you), pulang duluan (colloquial).

Where can I put Pak in the sentence?

It’s a vocative; common placements:

Maaf, Pak, saya mau minta izin...
Maaf, saya mau minta izin..., Pak.
Pak, maaf, saya mau minta izin... All are natural in speech.

Is there any tense marking here? Does mau indicate future?

Indonesian has no tense inflection. Mau expresses intention (and often near future). Here it softens the request and implies you intend to ask permission now to go home soon.

Is izin the right spelling? I’ve seen ijin.

The standard spelling is izin. Ijin is a common informal variant, but in formal writing use izin.

How formal is this sentence overall?

Polite and workplace-appropriate. More formal: Maaf, Bapak, mohon izin pulang lebih awal.
More casual: Pak, izin pulang duluan ya. Choose based on relationship and setting.

Can I add ya or dong at the end?

..., ya? softens and seeks agreement (polite/friendly).
..., dong. is very casual/emphatic; avoid with superiors.

How would I address a woman?

Replace Pak with Bu: Maaf, Bu, saya mau minta izin pulang lebih awal.

Is the punctuation important?

In speech, intonation does the job. In writing, commas set off the interjection and address: Maaf, Pak, ... It’s good practice in formal writing, but people are flexible in chats.

Are there even shorter set phrases I can use?

Yes:

Pak, izin pulang dulu.
Mohon izin pulang duluan, Pak.
Pak, boleh pulang lebih awal?