Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Tolong bagikan kue manis kepada tamu di ruang tamu. - Please share the sweet cakes with the guests in the living room.

Tolong
- verb is a polite request meaning “please (help by) ….” It asks someone to do something for you: Tolong bagikan ….
Silakan invites or gives permission: Silakan duduk = “please have a seat.” It’s less natural for assigning a task, though you might hear Silakan bagikan… in service contexts.
Mohon is more formal/official: Mohon (untuk) membagikan… or passive Mohon kue manisnya dibagikan…

Why is it bagikan and not bagi or membagikan?

Root: bagi = divide/share.
membagikan = active verb “to distribute (something).” Example: Ia membagikan kue.
Imperatives typically drop the meN- prefix, so the command form is Bagikan …!
Bagi …! also exists but often means “divide” (e.g., bagi dua = divide in two). Bagikan is the natural choice for “distribute to people.”

What’s the difference between bagikan and berbagi?

bagikan/membagikan = distribute something to recipients; object + recipient with kepada. Example: Bagikan kue kepada tamu.
berbagi = (to) share (intransitive). Use berbagi (sesuatu) dengan [person]: Berbagi kue dengan para tamu.

Why use kepada? Can I say ke, untuk, or sama?

kepada is the standard preposition for recipients (people): bagikan … kepada para tamu.
ke is fine in informal speech: bagikan … ke para tamu.
sama is very colloquial: bagiin … sama tamu (Jakarta-style).
untuk means “for (the benefit of).” bagikan … untuk para tamu is possible, but when the idea is “hand to them,” kepada is safest.

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

In Indonesian, descriptive adjectives normally follow the noun: kue manis (sweet cake), baju baru (new clothes). To emphasize or make it more descriptive, you can use a relative clause: kue yang manis.

How do I show plural “guests/cakes”? Does tamu already mean “guests”?

Indonesian doesn’t require plural marking:

tamu can mean “guest” or “guests” from context.
To make it clearly plural for people, use para: para tamu = the guests (plural).
Reduplication is also possible: tamu-tamu, kue-kue, but para tamu is preferred for people in formal style.
You can also add quantifiers: banyak tamu (many guests), beberapa tamu (several guests).

How do I say “the guests” or “the sweet cakes” (definiteness)?

Use demonstratives or the enclitic -nya:

para tamu itu / tamu-tamu itu = the guests.
kue manis itu / kue-kue manis itu = the sweet cakes.
kue manisnya often means “the sweet cake(s) already known in context.”

Do I need a measure word like “slice” for cake?

Only if you want to be specific:

A slice: sepotong kue; several slices: beberapa potong kue.
A whole cake: sebuah kue (acceptable), or specify type/size.
If you’re handing out individual pastries, kue-kue manis works well.

Does di ruang tamu modify the guests or the action location? Is there ambiguity?

It can be read either way:

Place of action (most common): “Please distribute (there) in the living room.”
Guests-who-are-in-the-living-room: clarify with a clause: kepada para tamu yang ada di ruang tamu.
To front the location: Di ruang tamu, tolong bagikan kue manis kepada para tamu.

Should it be di or ke with ruang tamu?

di = at/in (static location): di ruang tamu (in the living room).
ke = to/toward (movement): bawa kue ke ruang tamu (take the cake to the living room). You can combine: Bawa kue ke ruang tamu lalu bagikan di sana.

Is kepada tamu okay without para?

Yes. kepada tamu is grammatical and can mean “to the guest(s)” depending on context. Use para if you want to highlight plurality and a slightly more formal tone: kepada para tamu.

What’s the most polite or formal way to phrase this request?

Make it passive and/or use formal request words:

Mohon kue manisnya dibagikan kepada para tamu di ruang tamu.
Harap kue manisnya dibagikan kepada para tamu di ruang tamu. Adding -lah is also formal-softening: Bagikanlah kue manis…

Is ruang tamu definitely “living room”? Are there related room terms I should know?

ruang tamu = living room (where you receive guests).
ruang keluarga = family room.
kamar tamu = guest bedroom.
lobi = lobby; aula = hall. The repetition tamu in kepada tamu di ruang tamu is normal because ruang tamu is a fixed phrase.

Does bagikan also mean “share” online, like a social media button?

Yes. Bagikan is the standard label for “Share” on Indonesian interfaces. In this sentence, the object kue makes it clearly about physical distribution, not a post.

Is there a difference between bagikan and bagaikan?

Yes—different words:

bagikan (from bagi) = distribute/share out.
bagaikan (from bagai) = “like/as if.” Example: Dia cantik bagaikan bidadari (She is as lovely as an angel).