Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Silakan ambil kue manis di meja. - Please take the sweet cake on the table.

Silakan ambil kue manis… = Feel free to take the sweet cake(s)…
Tolong ambilkan… = Please take … (for me). It’s a request for help.
Mohon is very formal/polite, common in notices: Mohon tidak merokok (Please do not smoke).

Is Silahkan (with an H) correct?

The standard spelling is silakan (no H). You’ll see silahkan often, but it’s nonstandard. Prefer silakan, especially in writing.

Why is the verb ambil and not mengambil? Can I say Silakan mengambil?

Imperatives use the bare verb: ambil. Mengambil is the active form used in statements (e.g., Dia mengambil kue = He/She takes the cake).

Silakan ambil… is the most natural in speech.
Silakan mengambil… appears in signs/instructions and sounds more formal; it’s acceptable but less conversational.

Does kue manis mean one cake or several?

Indonesian doesn’t mark a/the or singular/plural by default. Kue manis can mean a sweet cake, the sweet cake, or sweet cakes, depending on context. Use numbers or quantifiers if you need to be specific.

How do I say a specific amount like a piece or some cakes?

Use classifiers/quantifiers:

sepotong kue manis = a piece/slice of sweet cake
sebuah kue manis = one (whole) sweet cake
dua potong kue manis = two slices of sweet cake
beberapa kue manis = some sweet cakes

Why is the adjective after the noun (why kue manis, not manis kue)?

Attributive adjectives follow the noun in Indonesian: kue manis, buku baru, rumah besar. As a sentence, the adjective can stand as the predicate: Kue itu manis (That cake is sweet).

Should it be di meja or di atas meja for on the table?

Both are possible.

di meja commonly means on the table in everyday speech.
di atas meja explicitly means on top of the table and is unambiguous or more careful/precise.

Should it be di meja or dari meja?

Ambil … di meja identifies the item by its location (the one that’s on the table).
Ambil … dari meja emphasizes the movement from the table (take it from the table). Both are natural; choose the focus you want.

Where is the subject you? Is it okay to add Anda or kamu?

Imperatives normally omit the subject; it’s understood as you. You can add a pronoun for emphasis, but it’s often unnecessary:

Silakan Anda ambil… (formal, a bit stiff)
Silakan kamu ambil… (casual emphasis)

How can I soften or strengthen the instruction?

Softer/more inviting: Silakan ambil…, Ambillah kue…, Ambil kue…, ya, Ambil saja kue… (saja = just).
More direct: Ambil kue… (no silakan, firmer tone).
Very casual Jakarta style adds dong: Ambil dong… (only with close friends).

How do I say Please get it for me?

Use tolong plus the benefactive suffix -kan on the verb:

Tolong ambilkan kue manis di meja. Very casual colloquial: Tolong ambilin kue manis di meja.
-kan shows doing the action for someone’s benefit.

Is there a polite passive version?

Yes, use the passive di- form to make it impersonal and polite:

Kue manis di meja silakan diambil.
Silakan diambil kue manisnya.
Note: preposition di is separate (di meja), while passive di- attaches to the verb (diambil).

Do I need yang (e.g., kue yang manis)?

Not normally. Kue manis already means sweet cake(s). Use yang to single out or contrast:

Ambil kue yang manis di meja = Take the one(s) that are sweet (not the savory ones).

What exactly does kue cover? Is roti ever used here?

Kue is a broad term for cakes, cookies, pastries, and many traditional sweets. Roti means bread. For cake/pastry, use kue, not roti.

Any quick pronunciation tips?

Silakan: see-LAH-kahn (stress on LA).
ambil: AHM-beel.
kue: KOO-eh (often heard as one syllable, like KWÉ).
meja: MAY-jah.

Can Silakan move around in the sentence?

Yes:

Silakan ambil kue manis di meja. (neutral)
Ambil kue manis di meja, silakan. (afterthought invitation)
As a standalone invitation with a gesture: Silakan.