Breakdown of Saya bertanya soal jadwal rapat.
saya
I
jadwal rapat
the meeting schedule
bertanya
to ask
soal
about
Questions & Answers about Saya bertanya soal jadwal rapat.
What does the word soal mean here, and does it have other meanings?
Here soal means about/regarding (the topic of your question). It can also mean problem/issue or test item in other contexts, as in soal ujian (exam questions). In this sentence, it’s a neutral, everyday way to introduce the topic you asked about.
Can I replace soal with tentang or mengenai? Any nuance differences?
Yes:
- tentang = neutral and common in both speech and writing.
- soal = neutral but slightly more colloquial in tone.
- mengenai = a bit more formal or written. Very formal written options include perihal and terkait (related to).
Why can’t I just say Saya bertanya jadwal rapat without soal/tentang?
Because bertanya is intransitive; it doesn’t take a direct object. To name the topic, use a preposition-like word (soal/tentang/mengenai), or switch to a transitive verb:
- Saya bertanya soal/tentang jadwal rapat.
- Saya menanyakan jadwal rapat. (transitive)
What’s the difference between bertanya, menanyakan, menanyai, and tanya/nanya?
- bertanya = to ask (intransitive). Add topic with soal/tentang and add person with kepada/pada.
- menanyakan = to ask about something (transitive). Direct object is the thing/topic.