Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Daripada menunggu lama di peron, lebih baik kita lihat-lihat buku di perpustakaan. - Rather than waiting a long time on the platform, it’s better for us to browse books in the library.

It presents a preference: Daripada introduces the option you want to avoid (rather than/instead of X), and lebih baik introduces the suggested option (it’s better to do Y). So it’s “Rather than X, it’s better we do Y.”

Can I drop the Daripada part and just say Lebih baik kita lihat-lihat buku di perpustakaan?

Yes. That becomes a stand‑alone suggestion (We’d better/Let’s browse books at the library) without explicitly contrasting it with something else.

What’s the difference between lebih baik and sebaiknya?

Both can mean “had better/it’s better (to).”

lebih baik is literally “more good/better,” and can be comparative or advisory.
sebaiknya is an advisory “it would be best/should,” often a bit more formal or neutral advice. Either works here: Sebaiknya kita lihat-lihat… is fine.

What does the reduplication in lihat-lihat mean?

Reduplication softens the verb to a casual, exploratory action: lihat-lihat = “look around/browse.” The base lihat/melihat is just “look/see.”

Is melihat-lihat more correct than lihat-lihat?

Both are correct with the same meaning. lihat-lihat is common and casual; melihat-lihat is slightly more formal. You can say lihat-lihat buku or melihat-lihat buku.

Why menunggu lama and not lama menunggu?

menunggu lama is a verb phrase: “to wait for a long time,” with lama as an adverb after the verb.
lama menunggu is a noun phrase: “a long wait” or “the length of waiting,” used as a subject/object (e.g., Lama menunggu membuat saya bosan).

What exactly is peron, and how is it different from stasiun?

peron = the train platform (where you stand to board).
stasiun = the station (the whole facility).
So di peron is “on the platform.”

Should it be ke perpustakaan since we’re going there, not di perpustakaan?

di perpustakaan states where the browsing happens. If you want to express movement, add it: Lebih baik kita pergi ke perpustakaan dan lihat-lihat buku. The original is natural because the motion is implied by the planned activity.

Why use kita and not kami?

kita is inclusive “we” (includes the listener). kami is exclusive “we” (excludes the listener). Since the suggestion includes the person you’re talking to, kita is correct.

Can I flip the order to Lebih baik kita … daripada …?

Yes: Lebih baik kita lihat-lihat buku di perpustakaan daripada menunggu lama di peron is equally natural. Starting with daripada emphasizes what you’re avoiding; starting with lebih baik emphasizes the recommendation.

Is the comma after the daripada clause required?

Yes, when the daripada clause comes first, a comma is standard: Daripada …, lebih baik …. If you reverse the order, you usually don’t need a comma.

Does buku need an article like “some” or “the”?

Indonesian has no articles. buku can be understood as “books/some books/the books” from context. If you want to make “some” explicit, use beberapa buku.

How do I say “waiting too long”?

Add terlalu: Daripada menunggu terlalu lama di peron, …

Is there a more casual/slangy way to say this?

Yes: Daripada nunggu lama di peron, mending kita lihat-lihat buku di perpustakaan.
Notes: nunggu (colloquial for menunggu), mending/mendingan (colloquial for lebih baik). You can make the invitation warmer with ayo/mari: … mending ayo kita lihat-lihat … or … mari kita … (politer).

Could I say baca-baca instead of lihat-lihat buku?

Yes, but the nuance changes:

lihat-lihat buku = browse/look around at books.
baca-baca = do some reading/skim.
Choose based on what you intend.

Is daripada here the same daripada used in comparisons like lebih cepat daripada?

Yes, same word. In comparisons it links two items (“more X than Y”). Here it links two alternative actions (“better do Y than do X”).

Why is it menunggu and not mentunggu?

The prefix meN- assimilates to the first consonant of the base. With a base starting in t (like tunggu), the t drops and the nasal becomes n: meN- + tunggu → menunggu.

Does perpustakaan mean library or bookstore?

perpustakaan = library.
If you mean bookstore, say toko buku.