Saya butuh tidur siang sebelum rapat.

I need a nap before the meeting.

Breakdown of Saya butuh tidur siang sebelum rapat.

• sebuah: a
• saya: I
• sebelum: before
• rapat: the meeting
• butuh: to need
• tidur siang: the nap

Questions & Answers about Saya butuh tidur siang sebelum rapat.

What’s the difference between butuh, perlu, and harus?

• butuh = need (personal/practical need). Slightly more casual but very common. Example: Saya butuh tidur siang.
• perlu = need/necessary (neutral to formal; often sounds like advice or requirement). Example: Saya perlu tidur siang.
• harus = must/have to (strong obligation). Example: Saya harus tidur sebelum rapat. In your sentence, butuh expresses a personal need, not an obligation.

Can butuh be followed by something that looks like a verb, like tidur siang?

Yes. Tidur siang functions as a noun phrase (“a nap”). You’ll also hear butuh tidur, butuh istirahat. It’s natural: Saya butuh tidur siang = “I need a nap.”

Why not say perlu/ butuh untuk tidur siang?

In everyday Indonesian, untuk is usually dropped after perlu/butuh before a bare verb: Saya perlu/butuh tidur siang. Use untuk mainly when introducing a longer purpose clause, e.g., Perlu untuk disampaikan bahwa… Using butuh untuk tidur siang sounds wordy.

Does tidur siang specifically mean an afternoon nap?

Yes. Tidur siang is a midday/afternoon nap. For a nap at any time, say tidur sebentar, tidur sejenak, or simply tidur (context decides).

Is tidur siang “countable”? How do I say “a quick nap” or “one nap”?

Indonesian doesn’t use articles, and you rarely “count” naps. Say:

• tidur siang sebentar / sejenak = a quick nap
• tidur siang 20 menit = a 20‑minute nap You can say satu kali tidur siang, but that’s uncommon in casual speech.

Why is there no “the” before rapat? How do I say “the meeting” or “my meeting”?

Indonesian has no the/a. Sebelum rapat can mean “before (the) meeting.” To specify:

• “the meeting (that one)” = sebelum rapat itu or sebelum rapatnya
• “my meeting” = sebelum rapat saya (neutral/formal) or sebelum rapatku (informal)

Is sebelum rapatnya okay for “before the meeting”?

Yes, -nya can mark definiteness. Sebelum rapatnya often means “before the meeting (already known in context).” It can also mean “before his/her meeting,” so use rapat itu or rapat saya if you need to avoid ambiguity.

Can I move the time phrase to the front?

Yes. Sebelum rapat, saya butuh tidur siang. Fronting the time phrase is common; add a comma when it comes first.

When do I use sebelum vs sebelumnya?

• sebelum
  • noun/verb/clause: Sebelum rapat, … / sebelum saya tidur, …
• sebelumnya = previously/earlier (sentence adverb): Sebelumnya, saya tidur siang.

Is rapat only a noun, or can it be a verb?

It can be both. Noun: sebelum rapat (before the meeting). Verb (to have a meeting): Saya akan rapat jam tiga or Saya rapat jam tiga.

Should I use saya or aku for “I”?

• saya: neutral/polite; safe in most situations (work, strangers).
• aku: informal/intimate (friends, family). Regional colloquials exist (e.g., gue in Jakarta), but saya is the safest default.

How do I negate it?

Use tidak (or informal nggak): Saya tidak butuh tidur siang sebelum rapat.

How do I be more precise about time (e.g., “before the 3 p.m. meeting” or “later”)?

Add time words:

• sebelum rapat jam tiga
• sebelum rapat nanti (before the meeting later)
• Sebelum rapat siang ini, saya butuh tidur siang.

How can I soften it (like “a little” or “first”)?

Add sebentar/sejenak and/or dulu:

• Saya butuh tidur sebentar dulu sebelum rapat. This sounds polite and natural.

Is there a more formal alternative to butuh?

Yes: memerlukan or membutuhkan. For example:

• Saya memerlukan/membutuhkan tidur siang sebelum rapat. They’re more formal than butuh, and perlu is also a neat, neutral choice.