Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Daripada panik, sebaiknya kita menunggu setenang mungkin. - Rather than panicking, we should wait as calmly as possible.

It introduces an unfavorable alternative and means “rather than/instead of.” Here it contrasts the option of panicking with the recommended action of waiting calmly: “Rather than panicking, …”

Is it daripada or dari pada?

Use daripada (one word) for comparisons and “rather than/instead of.” Writing dari pada (two words) is not standard in this function and is generally considered incorrect in modern Indonesian.

Can I move the daripada phrase to the end?

Yes. Both are natural:

Daripada panik, sebaiknya kita menunggu setenang mungkin.
Sebaiknya kita menunggu setenang mungkin daripada panik. Fronting it (version 1) puts emphasis on what to avoid.

Why is there a comma after daripada panik?

Because the daripada phrase is fronted, a comma marks the pause before the main clause. If you place the daripada phrase at the end, no comma is needed.

What exactly does sebaiknya mean, and how strong is it?

Sebaiknya means “it’s advisable/one should.” It gives polite advice rather than a command. Compared with related words:

lebih baik = “better/it would be better” (very common, slightly more neutral and flexible)
sebaiknya = advisory tone, often at the start of a suggestion
seharusnya = “ought to/should (ideally),” can sound more prescriptive or critical

Can sebaiknya move in the sentence?

Yes. These are equivalent:

Sebaiknya kita menunggu setenang mungkin.
Kita sebaiknya menunggu setenang mungkin.

Why kita and not kami?

Kita = “we” including the listener. Kami = “we” excluding the listener. Using kita invites the listener to follow the advice together with the speaker. If the advice is for the speaker’s group only (excluding the listener), use kami.

What does setenang mungkin mean, and how does the pattern work?

It means “as calm as possible.” The pattern is se- + adjective + mungkin = “as [adj] as possible,” e.g.:

secepat mungkin (as fast as possible)
seaman mungkin (as safe as possible)
sesederhana mungkin (as simple as possible)

Is mungkin here the same as “maybe/perhaps”?

No. Mungkin has two functions:

As an adverb: “maybe/perhaps” (e.g., Mungkin dia datang = Maybe he’ll come).
In the pattern se- + adj + mungkin: “as [adj] as possible,” where mungkin means “possible,” not “maybe.”

Do I need dengan before setenang mungkin?

It’s optional. Both are used:

menunggu setenang mungkin (very common, concise)
menunggu dengan setenang mungkin (a bit more formal-sounding) Without dengan is perfectly natural here.

Could I just say dengan tenang instead of setenang mungkin?

You can, but it’s slightly different:

dengan tenang = “calmly.”
setenang mungkin = “as calmly as possible” (stronger emphasis on maximum calmness).

Is panik a verb, adjective, or noun in Indonesian?

Panik can function as a predicate (verb-like or adjective-like): Saya panik (“I’m panicking/I’m panicked”). The noun is kepanikan (“panic” as a state/event). In this sentence, panik behaves like “panicking.” Saying daripada kepanikan would sound unnatural; you’d say daripada panik or use a verb phrase like daripada mengalami kepanikan.

Can I say daripada kita panik?

Yes: Daripada kita panik, sebaiknya menunggu setenang mungkin. Adding kita in the daripada phrase explicitly balances the subject across both options. It’s optional and a matter of style.

Does menunggu need an object?

Not necessarily. Menunggu can take an object (menunggu bus = wait for the bus) or stand alone when the object is generic/understood (menunggu = wait).

What’s the difference between menunggu and menanti?

Both mean “to wait,” but:

menunggu = the everyday, neutral choice.
menanti = slightly more formal/literary and can feel more patient/poetic in tone. Either could work here.

Are there natural synonyms for this whole sentence?

Yes, for example:

Alih-alih panik, sebaiknya kita menunggu setenang mungkin. (more formal/literary)
Ketimbang panik, sebaiknya kita menunggu setenang mungkin. (colloquial)
Lebih baik kita menunggu setenang mungkin daripada panik. (using lebih baik)

Can I drop kita to make it a general suggestion?

Yes: Daripada panik, sebaiknya menunggu setenang mungkin. This sounds like impersonal advice (“one should…”).

How would I turn this into a firmer instruction?

Use an imperative and prohibition:

Jangan panik; tunggu setenang mungkin. (“Don’t panic; wait as calmly as possible.”)

Is setenang-tenangnya also possible?

Yes. se- + adj + -nya (often with reduplication) expresses “to the utmost/utterly [adj]”: setenang-tenangnya ≈ “as calm as can be.” It’s more emphatic than setenang mungkin, but both convey a maximal degree.