Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Perlukah Beliau menunda acara, atau setidaknya mengubah waktunya? - Does he/she need to postpone the event, or at least change the time?

perlu means “necessary/need to.” The enclitic -kah attaches to the focused word to make a polite yes–no question: Perlukah …? = “Is it necessary to …?” It sounds formal and careful. Without -kah, you can ask more neutrally: Perlu …?

Can I say Apakah Beliau perlu … instead?

Yes. Apakah Beliau perlu menunda acara …? is fully correct and common. It’s a bit less compact than Perlukah …, but the meaning and formality are comparable.

Is it okay to say Apakah perlukah …?

No. Don’t use apakah and -kah together; choose one: Perlukah …? or Apakah … perlu …?

Why is Beliau capitalized here? Should it be lowercase?

The standard is lowercase beliau. Some writers capitalize it in formal letters or news to show extra respect, but style guides (e.g., PUEBI) don’t require it. In neutral prose, prefer lowercase unless it starts the sentence.

When do I use beliau vs dia vs ia?

beliau: respectful “he/she” for elders, superiors, officials; polite third person.
dia: everyday “he/she,” neutral but not honorific.
ia: formal/literary, mainly as a subject in writing. Using dia for a VIP can sound too casual; beliau is safer in formal contexts.

Can I address the person directly as beliau?

No. beliau is only for referring to a respected third person. To address someone directly, use Anda, or a title like Bapak/Ibu + name, or the professional title (e.g., Prof., Dokter).

Is menunda the right verb, and how is it different from similar verbs?

Yes, menunda = to postpone/delay. Related verbs: menangguhkan (to suspend; more formal/official), membatalkan (to cancel), menunda-nunda (to procrastinate repeatedly). So your sentence asks about postponing, not canceling.

What does acara mean here?

acara is a general “event/program.” For a meeting you might say rapat, for a ceremony upacara, for an activity kegiatan. acara keeps it general.

What does atau setidaknya mean? Any synonyms?

It means “or at least.” Common alternatives: atau paling tidak, atau minimal. More formal/emphatic: atau setidak-tidaknya. Colloquial: atau seenggaknya.

Is mengubah the correct form (not merubah)?

Yes, the standard form is mengubah (meN- + ubah). merubah is widespread in informal use but is avoided in careful/formal writing. For time, you can also say menggeser waktunya (shift the time), memajukan (move earlier), or memundurkan (move later).

What does -nya in waktunya do?

-nya marks possession/definiteness: waktunya = “its time/the time (for it),” where “its” refers to the acara. Without -nya (waktu) it would sound more generic. You can make it explicit as waktu acaranya.

Should it be acaranya to match waktunya?

It’s optional. menunda acara is fine because waktunya already signals which event is meant. menunda acaranya adds emphasis on that specific event; both are acceptable in context.

Why is there no space in perlukah?

Because -kah is an enclitic; it attaches directly to the word: perlukah, apakah, siapakah—never with a space.

Is the comma before atau necessary?

Not really. Standard Indonesian usually omits a comma before dan/atau joining equal parts. You can write: Perlukah beliau menunda acara atau setidaknya mengubah waktunya? A comma can be used to mark a pause, but it’s optional.

Could I say this in the passive voice?

Yes, and it often sounds very formal/polite: Perlukah acara ditunda, atau setidaknya waktunya diubah? This de-emphasizes the agent and is common in formal Indonesian.

How would this sound in casual speech?

For a relaxed tone: Perlu nggak dia nunda acaranya, atau paling nggak geser waktunya? You’ll hear dia, nggak/ga, and simpler verbs in everyday conversation.