Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Kecuali Anda sakit, seharusnya Anda ikut latihan singkat; kalau butuh bantuan, beri kabar. - Unless you are ill, you should join the short practice; if you need help, let me know.

At the start of a clause (Kecuali Anda sakit, ...), kecuali corresponds to unless. When it precedes a noun phrase (kecuali Rina, kecuali hari Minggu), it means except (for). Both uses are common.

Why is there a semicolon, and is that normal in Indonesian?

Semicolons are used like in English to link closely related independent clauses, so it’s fine here. In everyday writing many people would just write two sentences or use a comma: ... seharusnya Anda ikut latihan singkat. Kalau butuh bantuan, beri kabar. Also note the comma after a fronted subordinate clause is standard: Kalau butuh bantuan, ...

What does ikut mean here? Is it “follow”?

Here ikut means “to join/attend/take part,” not “to follow.” Examples: ikut latihan, ikut rapat, ikut datang. Related choices: mengikuti is a more formal/explicit transitive form; hadir focuses on being present; bergabung is “join a group/team,” not just attend an event.

What’s the nuance difference among seharusnya, harusnya, harus, and sebaiknya?

harus = must/obligation (strong).
seharusnya = ought to/ideally; expectation or mild reproach; can be counterfactual depending on context.
harusnya = colloquial shortening of seharusnya.
sebaiknya = it’d be better if; softer advice.

Why is Anda capitalized? Can I use kamu or Bapak/Ibu instead?

Anda is a formal second-person pronoun and is conventionally capitalized in writing. Use kamu with friends/peers (informal). For very polite address to older/higher-status people, Indonesians often use Bapak/Ibu (+ name/title). Choose based on relationship and register.

Why is the subject missing in kalau butuh bantuan? Should it be kalau Anda butuh bantuan?

Subject drop is common when the subject is obvious; here it’s still “you,” so it’s omitted. Adding Anda is fine and slightly more formal or explicit: Kalau Anda butuh bantuan, ...

Is beri kabar idiomatic? How does it compare to beri tahu/beritahu/kasih tahu?

Beri kabar is a common set phrase meaning “let (someone) know / give an update.” Beri tahu (two words) and memberi tahu mean “tell/inform”; beritahu is widely used, though some style guides prefer beri tahu or memberi tahu. Kasih tahu is colloquial. In practice there’s overlap, but kabar hints at a status update rather than detailed information.

Do I need to say who to inform after beri kabar?

If the recipient isn’t obvious, add it: kabari saya/kami, beri kabar ke/kepada saya, or tolong beri tahu saya. Avoid beri kabar saya by itself, which can sound ambiguous; include ke/kepada or use kabari with a direct object.

Can I say kecuali kalau Anda sakit?

Yes. Kecuali + kalau before a clause is common in speech and informal writing and sounds a bit more casual. Plain kecuali already covers the “unless” meaning and is slightly tighter in formal prose.

Does seharusnya mean “should have” (regret) or just “should” (advice)?

Both are possible depending on context. With past-time cues it expresses a missed expectation (regret), but without them it reads as present/future advice or expectation.

What’s the difference between latihan, pelatihan, and berlatih?

latihan: practice/exercises or a practice session.
pelatihan: training program/course (organized, often longer).
berlatih: to practice (the activity). Thus ikut latihan = attend a practice; mengikuti pelatihan = attend a training program.

Is singkat the same as sebentar?

Both imply shortness, but singkat is an adjective for something brief in duration or length (a brief meeting/session). Sebentar is an adverb meaning “for a moment/a little while”: latihan sebentar = practice for a bit; latihan singkat = a brief practice session.

How formal is kalau compared to jika or apabila?

Kalau is the most common and neutral in conversation. Jika is more formal/neutral in writing. Apabila is formal/bureaucratic. All can express conditional “if/when.”

Could I use mengikuti, hadir, or bergabung instead of ikut?

mengikuti latihan is fine and a bit more formal/explicit than ikut latihan.
hadir emphasizes presence: Anda seharusnya hadir.
bergabung is for joining a group/team, not just attending a session, so it’s not ideal with latihan unless you add the group: bergabung dengan tim.

What’s the nuance difference among butuh, perlu, and membutuhkan?

All relate to needing. butuh is casual and direct: butuh bantuan. perlu is slightly more formal/neutral and also means “necessary”: perlu bantuan, perlu hadir. membutuhkan is the formal verb “to need/require”: membutuhkan bantuan (often with a noun object).

How can I make beri kabar sound more polite or softer?

Add polite markers or soften the imperative: tolong kabari saya, tolong beri kabar, ya, harap beri kabar (formal notice), kalau bisa, kabari saya. You can also use the particle -lah in writing for a gentle tone: berilah kabar (formal/literary), though everyday speech more often uses tolong or ya.