Saya bertanya soal jadwal rapat.

I ask about the meeting schedule.

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.
  • Saya menanyakan jadwal rapat (kepada sekretaris).
• menanyai = to ask someone (transitive). Direct object is the person.
  • Saya menanyai sekretaris tentang jadwal rapat.
• tanya/nanya = base/colloquial forms. In everyday speech, nanya often behaves transitively:
  • Saya nanya jadwal rapat ke Budi. (colloquial)

How do I include the person I asked?

Use:

• With bertanya: bertanya kepada/pada [person] (kepada is preferred; pada is also common).
  • Saya bertanya kepada Budi soal jadwal rapat.
• With menanyakan: menanyakan [thing] kepada [person].
  • Saya menanyakan jadwal rapat kepada sekretaris.
• With menanyai: menanyai [person] tentang [thing].
  • Saya menanyai sekretaris tentang jadwal rapat. In casual speech, ke often replaces kepada: nanya ke Budi.

If I meant I asked for the schedule (requested it), not just asked about it, how should I say that?

Use a request verb:

• Saya meminta jadwal rapat (kepada sekretaris).
• Saya minta dikirim jadwal rapat.
• Formal: Saya mohon jadwal rapatnya. This implies you wanted the schedule itself, not just information about it.

How do I show past tense? Indonesian doesn’t mark tense, right?

Correct—no grammatical tense. Use time words/aspect markers:

• Already: sudah / telah — Saya sudah bertanya soal jadwal rapat.
• Just now: baru saja/barusan — Saya barusan bertanya.
• Earlier today: tadi — Tadi saya bertanya.
• Yesterday: kemarin — Kemarin saya bertanya.

Why is it jadwal rapat and not rapat jadwal? What’s the noun order rule?

In Indonesian, the head noun comes first, then the modifier. Jadwal (schedule) is the head, rapat (meeting) modifies it. So jadwal rapat = meeting schedule. Saying rapat jadwal would be incorrect for that meaning.

Is rapat the same as pertemuan or the English word meeting?

• rapat = a meeting, typically formal/work-related (board meeting, staff meeting).
• pertemuan = a meeting/encounter in a broader sense (parent–teacher meeting, a meetup). Both can translate as meeting, but rapat sounds more organizational/formal.

Is agenda the same as jadwal?

No:

• jadwal = schedule/timetable (times and order of events).
• agenda = agenda (list of topics to discuss).
  So jadwal rapat (when it happens) vs agenda rapat (what will be discussed).

How do I make it clear I mean the specific schedule, like the meeting’s schedule?

Use -nya to mark definiteness/specificity:

• Saya bertanya soal jadwal rapatnya. (the meeting’s schedule, assumed known in context)

Can bertanya take a clause like when/if…? For example, I asked when the meeting is.

Yes, bertanya can take an indirect question:

• Wh-clause: Saya bertanya kapan rapatnya.
• Yes/no with apakah: Saya bertanya apakah rapatnya ditunda. You don’t need soal before these clause complements.

What’s a more polite or formal way to say this?

• Permisi, boleh saya bertanya mengenai jadwal rapat?
• Mohon informasi jadwal rapatnya.
• Saya ingin menanyakan jadwal rapat. These sound polite/professional in emails or at the office.

Should I use Saya or Aku here? What about Gue?

• Saya = neutral/formal; safest in work or with people you don’t know well.
• Aku = casual/intimate; with friends/family.
• Gue/Gua = very informal Jakartan slang. In an office context, Saya is preferred.

Does rapat also mean tight/close? Could that cause confusion?

Yes, rapat can be an adjective meaning tight/close (e.g., pintu rapat). In your sentence it’s clearly a noun meaning meeting; context prevents confusion.

Any quick pronunciation tips for these words?

• saya: two syllables, sa-ya.
• soal: two syllables, so-al (pronounce the o and a separately).
• jadwal: jad-wal (the dw cluster is smooth).
• rapat: ra-pat (final t is a clear t, often unreleased).