Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Biar saya memeriksa dokumen dahulu sebelum kita berangkat. - Let me check the documents first before we depart.

In this pattern, Biar saya ..., biar means “let (me)” or “I’ll (go ahead and) ….” It’s a way to volunteer to do something: “Let me check the documents first.” It’s not the “so that” meaning of biar; here it functions like “let/allow” in English.

Is biar formal? What are more formal or neutral alternatives?

Biar is informal to neutral, and very common in speech. More formal options:

Neutral/polite: Biar saya memeriksa dokumen dulu.
Polite/formal: Izinkan saya memeriksa dokumen terlebih dahulu.
You can also say: Biarkan saya yang memeriksa dokumen terlebih dahulu, but biarkan can sound a bit forceful if you’re speaking upward in hierarchy.

Can I use tolong instead of biar?

They’re different:

Biar saya … = “Let me …” (the speaker volunteers to do it).
Tolong … = “Please …” (you’re asking someone else to do it). So replacing biar with tolong changes who is doing the action.

Why saya and not aku?

Both mean “I,” but:

saya = neutral/polite; safe in most contexts.
aku = informal/intimate; with close friends/family. Using saya keeps the sentence broadly appropriate.

Why kita and not kami?

kita = “we” including the listener.
kami = “we” excluding the listener. Here you and the listener will depart together, so kita is correct. If the listener isn’t coming, use kami.

Why memeriksa and not periksa?

Memeriksa is the standard active transitive form (meN- prefix) for statements. Periksa is the base form, often used for imperatives or in certain focus constructions. Both are possible in speech:

Statement: Saya memeriksa dokumen dulu.
Very common spoken variant: Biar saya periksa dokumen dulu.

How does memeriksa form from periksa?

The prefix meN- attaches to the base periksa. With initial p-, p drops and the prefix becomes mem-, giving memeriksa (mem + eriksa). Compare: pakai → memakai, pesan → memesan.

Could I say cek/mengecek/ngecek instead of memeriksa?

Yes, with register differences:

Formal/neutral: memeriksa
Neutral: mengecek (meN- + monosyllabic “cek” → menge-)
Colloquial: ngecek Example: Biar saya ngecek dokumen dulu (casual).

Does dahulu mean the same as dulu?

Yes. Dulu is more common in everyday speech; dahulu can feel slightly more formal/literary. Both mean “first/for now” here. For extra formality/emphasis, use terlebih dahulu.

But doesn’t dulu/dahulu also mean “in the past”?

It can. Meaning depends on position/context:

After a verb: cek dulu = do it first/for now.
At the start or with a time frame: Dulu saya tinggal di Bali = I used to live in Bali.

Where does dulu/dahulu go in the sentence?

Most natural is after the verb phrase:

Biar saya memeriksa dokumen dulu. Other placements are possible but less common here. Don’t put it between the verb and its object in writing-heavy styles; in speech you may hear Biar saya periksa dulu dokumen but it’s less tidy.

Can I drop kita in sebelum kita berangkat?

Yes, if it’s clear who’s leaving: … sebelum berangkat. Keeping kita clarifies inclusivity (that the listener is included).

What’s the difference between sebelum and sebelumnya?

sebelum
- clause/verb/noun: “before …” (a conjunction/preposition), e.g., sebelum kita berangkat.
sebelumnya: “previously/beforehand/before that” (an adverb), e.g., Sebelumnya, saya sudah memeriksa.

Could I use agar/supaya instead of biar here?

Not with the same structure. Agar/supaya mean “so that/in order that” and introduce a purpose clause. You wouldn’t say Agar saya memeriksa … to mean “Let me check …”. You could rephrase purposefully: Agar tidak ada masalah, saya memeriksa dokumen terlebih dahulu.

Is berangkat the same as pergi?

berangkat = depart/set off (often for a trip or scheduled leaving).
pergi = go/leave in a general sense. Here berangkat fits well because it’s about setting off together. pergi would be fine but a bit more general.

How do I mark definiteness or plurality for dokumen?

Indonesian doesn’t require plural marking:

Generic/some: dokumen
Definite/specific: dokumennya (“the documents”)
Explicit plural: dokumen-dokumen or with a quantifier, e.g., semua dokumen, beberapa dokumen.

Any polite softeners I could add?

Common options:

… dulu, ya. (softening tag)
… sebentar dulu. (just a moment first)
… terlebih dahulu. (more formal) Example: Biar saya memeriksa dokumen dulu, ya, sebelum kita berangkat.

Is a comma needed before sebelum?

Not when the sebelum-clause comes after the main clause: no comma is required. If you front the sebelum-clause, use a comma:

Sebelum kita berangkat, biar saya memeriksa dokumen dulu.

Pronunciation tips for memeriksa and berangkat?

memeriksa: me-merik-sa (the cluster “rk/ks” sounds like “riks”). Stress is light; Indonesian is syllable-timed.
berangkat: be-rang-kat, with ng = [ŋ] (as in “sing”), so “rang-kat” is [raŋ-kat].