Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Dia bertanya apakah saya butuh air, sebaiknya saya minum sekarang. - He/She asked whether I need water; I’d better drink now.

It introduces an embedded yes/no question, like "whether." "Dia bertanya apakah ..." = "He/She asked whether ...". It’s standard and natural. In casual speech people often drop it or add a tag like nggak/ga: "Dia tanya saya butuh air (nggak)?"

Can I use "kalau" instead of "apakah" here?

Colloquially you’ll hear "Dia tanya kalau saya butuh air," but in standard/formal Indonesian this is not recommended. Use apakah for "whether/if" in indirect questions.

Can I replace "apakah" with "apa"?

In embedded questions, apakah is the standard. "Dia tanya apa saya butuh air" is common in speech but informal. For a direct question you would use Apa/Apakah at the start: "Apakah Anda butuh air?" or "Apa kamu butuh air?"

Do I need to add "atau tidak" after the embedded question?

Optional. "... apakah saya butuh air atau tidak" explicitly frames a yes/no choice and can add clarity, especially in writing.

Is "butuh" the same as "perlu" or "mau"?

butuh = need (often practical/urgent). "Saya butuh air" = I need water.
perlu = need/necessary (slightly more formal/neutral). "Saya perlu air."
mau = want. "Saya mau air" = I want water. Choose based on nuance.

Why is it "minum" and not "meminum"?

Minum is the default and can take an object: "minum air." Meminum is a transitive form that sounds more formal or emphasizes the act/object. In everyday Indonesian, "minum air" is more idiomatic than "meminum air."

Does "air" mean "air" in English? How do I pronounce it?

In Indonesian, air means "water" and is pronounced roughly "ah-eer" (two syllables: a-ir). It never means the gas you breathe.

What exactly does "sebaiknya" mean? Is it like "should"?

Yes—it's a soft recommendation: "it would be better if..." or "should (ideally)." "Sebaiknya saya minum sekarang" = "I should/it’s best that I drink now," not as strong as harus ("must").

Where can "sebaiknya" go in the clause?

Most natural at the start: "Sebaiknya saya minum sekarang." You can also say "Saya sebaiknya minum sekarang" or "Sebaiknya sekarang saya minum."

Is the comma between the two clauses correct?

In careful writing, make them two sentences or use a semicolon or a connector:

"Dia bertanya apakah saya butuh air. Sebaiknya saya minum sekarang."
"...; sebaiknya saya minum sekarang."
"...; jadi sebaiknya saya minum sekarang." Indonesian uses commas loosely in informal text, but formal style avoids a comma splice.

How do I explicitly say "He asked me whether I needed water"?

Add the addressee with kepada: "Dia bertanya kepada saya apakah saya butuh air." You can also use menanyakan: "Dia menanyakan apakah saya butuh air."

Do I need "kepada" after "bertanya"?

Only when naming who was asked: "bertanya kepada saya/dokter." When followed by a content clause (apakah ...), you don’t use tentang or kepada unless you also mention the addressee.

What’s the difference between "bertanya", "menanyakan", and "tanya/nanya"?

bertanya: intransitive "to ask (a question)"; often followed by a clause or "kepada X".
menanyakan: transitive "to ask about/pose (something)"; takes a direct object: "Dia menanyakan harga," "... apakah ...".
tanya/nanya: colloquial forms; very common in speech.

Should I say "bertanya tentang apakah..."?

No. Use "bertanya apakah..." or "menanyakan ...". tentang is redundant and sounds awkward here.

Does "dia" tell me whether it’s he or she? Can I use "ia" or "beliau"?

Dia is gender-neutral (he/she). Ia is subject-only and more literary: "Ia bertanya...". Beliau is a respectful/honorific he/she for elders or important people.

Is "saya" the right pronoun here? What about "aku"?

Both mean "I." Saya is neutral/formal; aku is informal/intimate. Pick based on context; the rest of the sentence stays the same.

Is there any tense here? How would I show past or completion?

Indonesian has no verb tense. Use time/aspect words:

Past/recent: tadi, kemarin, barusan.
Completion: sudah/telah. Example: "Dia tadi bertanya apakah saya butuh air." / "Dia sudah bertanya apakah..."

How would I say "He asked if I was thirsty" or "if I wanted water" instead?

"Dia bertanya apakah saya haus." (thirsty)
"Dia bertanya apakah saya mau air." (want water) Use haus for the physical state, mau for desire, butuh/perlu for necessity.

Is "air minum" better than just "air" here?

Not necessary. Air already means water; "air minum" specifies "drinking water" when you need to distinguish it from other types of water.