Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Kami lagi rapat kecil; tolong dorong kursi sedikit agar tidak mengenai dinding. - We are in a small meeting; please push the chair a bit so it doesn’t hit the wall.

kami excludes the listener.
kita includes the listener. Using kami signals the person being addressed is not part of the meeting. If the addressee is included, say kita lagi rapat kecil.

Is lagi the right way to say “are (currently)”? How does it compare to sedang?

Yes. In everyday Indonesian, lagi marks the progressive (“currently”). Sedang is the standard/neutral equivalent:

Colloquial: Kami lagi rapat kecil.
Neutral: Kami sedang rapat kecil. Here lagi does not mean “again.”

Is rapat acting like a verb here?

Indonesian allows nouns/adjectives as predicates without “to be.” So (sedang/lagi) rapat = “(are) in a meeting.” It’s natural to say Kami lagi rapat kecil. Without a marker, Kami rapat kecil is possible but can feel abrupt; adding lagi/sedang reads smoother.

Why a semicolon (;) here? Could it be a period or a comma?

The semicolon neatly links two related independent clauses. Many writers would use a period:

Kami lagi rapat kecil. Tolong dorong kursi sedikit agar... A comma is less ideal unless followed by a linker like jadi/karena itu, but you’ll see it informally.

Why tolong dorong, not tolong mendorong or tolong didorong?

The common request pattern is tolong + base verb:

Natural: Tolong dorong kursi...
Less natural: Tolong mendorong...
More formal/impersonal (passive): Tolong kursinya didorong sedikit... (also fine, often more polite/soft).

Is dorong the best verb, or should it be geser?

dorong = push (by applying force).
geser = slide/shift (move slightly). If you mean “move it a bit so it doesn’t touch the wall,” geser is often more idiomatic:
Tolong geser kursi sedikit agar tidak mengenai dinding.

Does kursi mean one chair or multiple chairs here?

Indonesian nouns are number-neutral. kursi can be “chair” or “chairs” depending on context. To specify:

Singular/definite: kursinya / kursi itu
Plural: kursi-kursi / beberapa kursi

Where should sedikit go, and are there alternatives?

Common placements:

Tolong dorong kursi sedikit...
Tolong dorong sedikit kursinya... Both are natural. Alternatives:
sedikit saja (just a little)
Informal: dikit / dikitan
agak means “rather/somewhat,” not “a small amount,” but can work: agak maju (“somewhat forward”).

Why use agar? How do supaya, biar, and untuk compare?

All can express purpose, but register differs:

agar = formal/neutral.
supaya = neutral, very common.
biar = informal/colloquial.
untuk
- verb expresses purpose; with a negative it’s less natural here. Prefer agar/supaya/biar tidak... Examples:
...agar/supaya tidak mengenai dinding.
Colloquial: ...biar nggak kena dinding.

Why tidak and not jangan?

tidak negates statements/clauses: agar tidak mengenai... = “so that it doesn’t touch...”
jangan forms a prohibition: Jangan mengenai dinding = “Don’t touch the wall.” A soft alternative is: ...jangan sampai mengenai dinding (“don’t let it end up touching the wall”).

What does mengenai mean here?

mengenai can mean:

“to hit/touch/come into contact with” (physical) — the meaning here.
“regarding/concerning” (topic). Close options with nuance:
menyentuh = touch lightly.
kena = (to) be hit/come into contact (colloquial, patient-oriented).
menyenggol = graze, bump lightly.
menabrak = crash into, stronger impact.

Is there any difference between dinding and tembok?

dinding: wall (often interior/partition; neutral).
tembok: wall (often exterior/thick masonry; can feel bulkier/colloquial). In daily speech they’re often interchangeable; dinding fits well indoors.

Why is there no explicit “you” in the request?

Imperatives usually omit the subject. Tolong already signals a polite request to the addressee. You could add Anda/kamu for clarity or tone:

Bisa tolong dorong kursi sedikit, ya?
Formal: Mohon kursinya didorong sedikit.

Is there a more polite or softer way to say the second clause?

Yes. Options:

Bisa tolong geser kursinya sedikit, ya, supaya tidak menyentuh dinding?
Mohon kursinya didorong sedikit agar tidak mengenai dinding. Particles like ya, dong, dulu, sebentar can soften the tone.

Do we need to repeat the subject in the purpose clause (after agar)?

Not required if it’s clear from context. Both are acceptable:

Without subject: ...agar tidak mengenai dinding.
With subject: ...agar kursinya tidak mengenai dinding. Including kursinya can add clarity if ambiguity is possible.

Could I replace the whole purpose clause with a different pattern?

Yes:

...jangan sampai mengenai dinding. (preventive warning)
...biar nggak nyenggol dinding. (colloquial)
...supaya tidak meninggalkan bekas di dinding. (if you mean “so it won’t leave marks”)