Dokumen itu saya kirim barusan.

That document I sent just now.

Breakdown of Dokumen itu saya kirim barusan.

• itu: that
• saya: I
• dokumen: the document
• kirim: to send
• barusan: just now

Questions & Answers about Dokumen itu saya kirim barusan.

Why does the sentence start with Dokumen itu instead of the subject?

Indonesian often topicalizes the object to emphasize it. The pattern is:

• Object + Subject + bare verb So Dokumen itu (that document) is the topic, followed by saya (I), then the base verb kirim. It highlights the document as the thing already known in the conversation. A neutral SVO alternative is Saya mengirim dokumen itu barusan.

Why is it kirim and not mengirim?

With object-fronting in active voice, Indonesian typically uses the bare verb (no meN-). So Dokumen itu saya kirim is the patient-topicalized active. If the subject comes before the verb, you normally use meN-: Saya mengirim dokumen itu.

Is this sentence passive?

No. It’s still active because the agent saya is present. Passive would be Dokumen itu dikirim (oleh saya) barusan. Passive uses di- and de-emphasizes the agent.

Can I say Dokumen itu saya kirimkan barusan? Any difference?

Yes. It’s natural. -kan can add a benefactive nuance or sound a bit more formal/polished. Without an explicit recipient, kirim vs kirimkan are usually interchangeable in everyday use. If you name a recipient, both are fine:

• Saya mengirim(kan) dokumen itu kepada Budi. With -i, the focus shifts to the recipient: Saya mengirimi Budi dokumen itu.

What does barusan mean exactly? How formal is it?

Barusan means just now, a moment ago. Register: casual/neutral, common in speech and chat. More formal or standard equivalents:

• baru saja = just now (neutral to formal)
• tadi = earlier today (not necessarily just now)

Where can barusan go in the sentence?

It’s flexible:

• Dokumen itu saya kirim barusan.
• Barusan saya kirim dokumen itu.
• Saya kirim dokumen itu barusan.
• Dokumen itu barusan saya kirim. All are fine. Putting barusan earlier can emphasize recency; leaving it at the end is very common.

Do I need sudah with barusan?

No. Barusan already implies completion. You can add sudah for emphasis or if you drop the time adverb:

• Dokumen itu sudah saya kirim.
• Dokumen itu sudah saya kirim barusan. (redundant but common in speech)

Why use itu and not ini? What does itu add?

Ini = this (near the speaker), itu = that (farther/previously mentioned). In practice, itu also works as a definiteness marker for something known in context. Dokumen itu points to a specific, previously mentioned document. If it’s literally the one in your hand, you might use dokumen ini.

Can I drop itu and just say Dokumen saya kirim barusan?

You can. Without itu, definiteness is inferred from context. Dokumen saya kirim barusan could mean I sent a document or the document(s), depending on what’s understood. Using itu makes it explicitly specific.

What’s the most neutral way to say this?

All of these are natural:

• Saya mengirim dokumen itu barusan. (neutral active)
• Dokumen itu saya kirim barusan. (object-fronted active; very idiomatic) For formal writing, prefer:
• Dokumen tersebut baru saja saya kirim.
• Dokumen tersebut telah saya kirim.

Is Dokumen itu saya mengirim barusan correct?

No. Don’t mix object-fronting with meN- on the verb. Use either:

• Fronted + bare verb: Dokumen itu saya kirim barusan.
• Subject first + meN-: Saya mengirim dokumen itu barusan.

Can I omit saya?

Usually no, because you then lose the agent. Dokumen itu kirim barusan sounds like a fragment or an instruction. In very casual chat, people sometimes drop pronouns when context is crystal clear, but it’s better to keep saya/aku.

Can I use aku instead of saya?

Yes. Aku is informal/intimate; saya is neutral/formal. With aku, you often see base verbs too:

• Dokumen itu aku kirim barusan.
• Aku barusan kirim dokumen itu.

How do I mention the recipient?

Add a preposition:

• ke or kepada for to: Dokumen itu saya kirim ke Budi barusan.
• Formal: Saya mengirimkan dokumen itu kepada Budi. With -i: Saya mengirimi Budi dokumen itu.

Plural: what if I sent several documents?

Use reduplication or quantifiers:

• dokumen-dokumen itu (those documents)
• beberapa dokumen (several documents)
• dua dokumen (two documents) Examples:
• Dokumen-dokumen itu sudah saya kirim barusan.
• Beberapa dokumen sudah saya kirim barusan.

Difference between barusan, tadi, baru, baru-baru ini?

• barusan / baru saja: just now, a moment ago.
• tadi: earlier today; could be minutes or hours earlier.
• baru (as an adverb): just (recently), often casual: Saya baru kirim dokumen itu.
• baru-baru ini: recently (days/weeks ago), not just now.

How would I say “The document has just been sent” (no agent)?

Use passive without an agent:

• Dokumen itu baru saja dikirim.
• Casual: Dokumen itu barusan dikirim.

Is barusan appropriate in a formal email?

It’s casual. In formal emails, prefer:

• baru saja or
• telah: Dokumen tersebut telah saya kirim. If you must stress recency politely: Dokumen tersebut baru saja saya kirim.

Any synonyms for dokumen?

• berkas (file/record; admin contexts)
• file (borrowed; IT/office)
• arsip (archive/record)

What are some quick, natural confirmations?

• Barusan saya kirim.
• Sudah saya kirim.
• Very casual: Udah kirim ya.