Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Di mana pun kita bertemu, tolong beri kabar sebelumnya. - Wherever we meet, please let me know beforehand.

Here pun attached to a question word creates an “ever/any” meaning: di mana pun = “wherever.”
The same pattern works with others: kapan pun (whenever), siapa pun (whoever), apa pun (whatever).
This is different from pun meaning “even” (e.g., Dia pun datang = “He even came.”).

Is it written di mana pun, di manapun, or dimanapun?

Standard Indonesian: di mana pun (three words).
di mana is the interrogative “where” (two words because di is a preposition), and pun is written separately.
di manapun/dimanapun appear often online but are nonstandard in formal writing.
Note: Some fixed expressions write it together (e.g., walaupun, meskipun, adapun), but for “wherever” keep it split: di mana pun.

Can I say di mana saja instead of di mana pun?

Yes. di mana saja also means “wherever/anywhere.”
Nuance: pun often emphasizes “no matter where,” while saja can feel more like “any place(s).” In most everyday contexts they’re interchangeable.

Why is there a comma after Di mana pun kita bertemu? Can I change the order?

When a subordinate/adverbial clause comes first, a comma is normally used: Di mana pun kita bertemu, ...
You can postpose it without a comma: Tolong beri kabar sebelumnya di mana pun kita bertemu. Fronting the clause often sounds crisper.

Why kita and not kami?

kita = we (including the listener); kami = we (excluding the listener).
Since you’re meeting the person you’re speaking to, kita is the right choice. kami would exclude them.

How polite is tolong? Could I use something else?

tolong politely softens an imperative in neutral–casual settings; it carries a “please help (by doing X)” sense.
More formal options: mohon (I request), harap (please/you are expected to). Example: Mohon beri kabar sebelumnya. / Harap kabari saya sebelumnya.
silakan is for giving permission/inviting, not for asking someone to inform you.

Does beri kabar need an explicit object?

Context often supplies the object, but you can be explicit:
- Tolong kabari saya sebelumnya.
- Tolong beri kabar ke/kepada saya sebelumnya.
With people as recipients, kepada is more formal than ke.

What’s the difference between beri kabar, beritahu/beri tahu, and memberitahu?

beri kabar = give notice/news (natural and common).
beritahu (one word) or beri tahu (two words) = tell/inform. Both are widely used; many style guides prefer beri tahu or the meN- form memberitahu in formal writing.
All take an object when needed: beritahu saya / beri tahu saya / memberitahu saya.

Is berikan kabar correct?

It’s grammatical but not the idiomatic choice in everyday speech.
Prefer beri kabar, kabari, beritahu/beri tahu. In very formal style, berikan kabar kepada saya is possible but sounds stiff.

What does sebelumnya do here? Any alternatives or placement rules?

sebelumnya = “beforehand/in advance.”
Common alternatives: lebih dulu (neutral), terlebih dahulu (more formal/polite), dulu (casual).
Placement is flexible: Tolong beri kabar sebelumnya / terlebih dahulu / lebih dulu.

Can I use berjumpa instead of bertemu?

Yes. berjumpa is slightly more formal/literary; bertemu is neutral. Meaning is the same.

What is the di in di mana—a preposition or the passive prefix?

It’s the preposition di (“in/at”), not the passive prefix di-.
Hence di mana is written as two words. The passive prefix attaches to verbs (e.g., diberi, dibaca).

How can I make the request softer or more casual?

Add softening particles or “first”: ya, dong, dulu.
Examples: Di mana pun kita bertemu, tolong kabari saya dulu, ya. / Di mana pun kita bertemu, kabari saya duluan, ya. (informal; duluan is colloquial)

What are common mistakes to avoid with this sentence?

Writing dimanapun in formal contexts; use di mana pun.
Using stiff choices like berikan kabar where beri kabar/kabari/beritahu are more natural.
Forgetting the recipient when needed; add saya/kami for clarity: tolong kabari saya sebelumnya.