Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Kami rindu berkumpul di ruang tamu.

Kami = “we” (listener is excluded).
Kita = “we” (listener is included).
If you want to include the person you’re talking to, say: Kita rindu berkumpul di ruang tamu.
Grammar stays the same; only the social meaning changes.

Is rindu a verb or an adjective, and how do I use it?

In practice, rindu works like a stative verb meaning “to miss/long for.”
Common patterns:
- rindu + (pada/akan) + noun: Kami rindu pada keluarga.
- rindu + verb (activity): Kami rindu berkumpul.
- Colloquial: rindu kamu (more formal: rindu padamu).
Related forms:
- merindukan + noun: Kami merindukan keluarga.
- dirindukan (passive): Dia dirindukan semua orang.
- kerinduan (noun): kerinduan kami.

Why isn’t there untuk before berkumpul? Can I say rindu untuk berkumpul?

After rindu, an activity verb can come directly: rindu berkumpul (very natural).
Rindu untuk berkumpul is also used and acceptable, but often feels a bit heavier/more formal. Most speakers simply omit untuk here.

Can I say Kami merindukan berkumpul di ruang tamu?

Not natural. Merindukan normally takes a noun as its object, not a bare verb.
Say instead:
- Kami merindukan momen/saat-saat berkumpul di ruang tamu.
- Or keep it simple: Kami rindu (untuk) berkumpul di ruang tamu.

What’s the difference between rindu, kangen, and merindukan?

rindu: neutral/standard; fits most contexts.
kangen: informal/colloquial. Example: Kami kangen kumpul di ruang tamu.
merindukan: transitive, more formal; needs a noun object. Example: Kami merindukan suasana ruang tamu.

What does the prefix ber- add in berkumpul?

ber- often makes an intransitive verb meaning “to do/be in a state of X.”
kumpul (root) → berkumpul = “to gather (people gather themselves).”
Related forms:
- mengumpulkan + object = “to gather/collect something.”
- Colloquial intransitives: ngumpul, or casual kumpul-kumpul (“hang out”).

Why is it di and not ke?

di = location (at/in/on). di ruang tamu = “in the living room.”
ke = movement/direction (to/toward). You’d use ke with verbs like pergi: pergi ke ruang tamu.
Here we’re talking about the activity’s location, not moving there, so di is correct.

Is ruang tamu the same as ruang keluarga or kamar tamu?

ruang tamu = living room (traditionally where guests are received).
ruang keluarga = family room/den (where the family hangs out).
kamar tamu = guest bedroom.
In real life, ruang tamu often doubles as the family gathering space, but if you mean the family room specifically, ruang keluarga is clearer.

How do I show tense/aspect with this sentence?

Indonesian doesn’t conjugate verbs for tense; use time words/adverbs:
- Ongoing desire: Kami sangat rindu berkumpul di ruang tamu sekarang.
- Past habit vs now: Dulu kami sering berkumpul di ruang tamu; sekarang kami rindu.
- “Again”: Kami rindu berkumpul lagi/kembali di ruang tamu.
- Not having done it for a while: Kami sudah lama tidak berkumpul di ruang tamu.

Can I drop the subject and just say Rindu berkumpul di ruang tamu?

Yes, Indonesian allows subject omission when context is clear, especially in casual speech/text.
Rindu berkumpul di ruang tamu. or Kangen kumpul di ruang tamu. are natural informally.
In careful or standalone writing, keep Kami (or Kita) for clarity.

Why is di written separately in di ruang tamu?

As a preposition (location), di is written separately: di rumah, di kantor, di ruang tamu.
As a passive prefix, di- attaches to the verb: dibuka, ditulis.
Rule of thumb: if it’s followed by a place noun, it’s separate; if it’s a verb in passive, it’s attached.

How can I emphasize the feeling, like “We really miss getting together in the living room”?

Neutral/formal: Kami sangat rindu berkumpul di ruang tamu. / Kami rindu sekali berkumpul di ruang tamu.
Informal: Kita kangen banget kumpul di ruang tamu. (use kita if you include the listener; otherwise kami)
You can also add a time nuance: Kami sudah lama rindu berkumpul di ruang tamu.