Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Saya menyalin dokumen penting sebelum rapat dimulai. - I copy an important document before the meeting starts.

menyalin: to copy something exactly (by hand or digitally, e.g., copy/paste).
memfotokopi: to photocopy (use a machine).
menggandakan: to duplicate, usually to make multiple copies.
menulis ulang: to rewrite (not necessarily identical).
menjiplak: to plagiarize/trace (negative connotation).

Examples:

Saya menyalin teks ke dokumen baru. = I copied the text to a new document.
Saya memfotokopi dokumen ini. = I photocopied this document.
Tolong menggandakan lima rangkap. = Please make five copies.

Why is penting placed after dokumen?

In Indonesian, adjectives normally follow the noun. So dokumen penting = important document(s). Putting penting before dokumen is ungrammatical in standard Indonesian.

Is dokumen singular or plural here? How do I make it explicit?

Indonesian doesn’t mark plural by default; context decides. To be explicit:

Singular: sebuah dokumen penting (an important document)
Some: beberapa dokumen penting
Plural (emphasis): dokumen-dokumen penting
Definite: add itu (that/those) → dokumen penting itu (that/the important document(s))

How do I show past, ongoing, or future time in this sentence?

Use time words and aspect markers:

Completed: Saya sudah/telah menyalin dokumen penting sebelum rapat dimulai.
Ongoing: Saya sedang menyalin dokumen penting…
Future: Saya akan menyalin dokumen penting… Time adverbs help: tadi, kemarin, nanti, etc.

What does rapat dimulai literally mean? Could I say rapat mulai instead?

rapat dimulai = the meeting is started (passive; agent not stated). More formal.
rapat mulai = the meeting starts (intransitive active). Also correct, a bit simpler/colloquial. You can add time: Rapat dimulai/mulai pukul 9.

Can I move the time clause to the front? Do I need a comma?

Yes. Fronting is common, and you should use a comma:

Sebelum rapat dimulai, saya menyalin dokumen penting.

Why not say sebelum memulai rapat?

You can, but it changes the focus/subject.

Sebelum rapat dimulai: before the meeting starts (agent unspecified).
Sebelum memulai rapat, saya…: before starting the meeting, I… (implies I’m the one starting it).

Is sebelum rapat (without dimulai) also okay?

Yes:

Saya menyalin dokumen penting sebelum rapat. = before the meeting (in general).
…sebelum rapat dimulai focuses on the start time specifically. Both are fine; the second is a bit more precise.

Where do I put sudah, belum, or tidak?

Place them before the verb:

Saya sudah menyalin… (already)
Saya belum menyalin… (not yet)
Saya tidak menyalin… (did not/do not) Use belum (not yet) instead of tidak when the action is expected but hasn’t happened.

Should I use Saya, Aku, or Gue?

Saya: polite/formal/neutral (safe in work contexts).
Aku: informal but neutral among friends.
Gue/Gua: very informal Jakarta slang. Example: Saya/Aku/Gue menyalin dokumen penting…

Does dokumen refer to paper or a computer file?

Both. For digital contexts, you’ll also hear:

berkas (more formal for file)
file (borrowed, very common)
arsip (archive/record) Example: Saya menyalin berkas ke folder itu.

What is the root of menyalin, and why is it spelled with ny?

Root: salin (copy). With the meN- prefix, initial s drops and the prefix assimilates to meny- → menyalin.
Related words: salinan (a copy), menyalin ke… (copy to…).

How do I say copy the document to a USB or into a folder?

Use ke (to/into):

Saya menyalin dokumen itu ke flashdisk.
Saya menyalin dokumen ke folder proyek.

How would I say this in passive voice focusing on the document?

Dokumen penting itu disalin sebelum rapat dimulai. (disalin = passive of menyalin) Agent can be added with oleh, but it’s usually omitted.

Can I say dokumen yang penting? Is there a nuance?

Yes, but it’s slightly different:

dokumen penting: important document(s) (descriptive).
dokumen yang penting: the document(s) that are important (restrictive, selecting from a larger set). Also note the fixed phrase yang penting = the important thing is… (e.g., Yang penting, rapatnya lancar.)

Is sebelumnya the same as sebelum?

No:

sebelum: subordinator before (takes a noun or clause) → sebelum rapat dimulai
sebelumnya: adverb previously/before that (often sentence-initial) → Sebelumnya, saya menyalin dokumen penting.

What’s the difference between rapat, pertemuan, and sidang?

rapat: meeting (work/organizational), very common.
pertemuan: meeting in general, broader and more neutral.
sidang: formal session/hearing (e.g., court, parliament, thesis defense).

Is memulakan correct in Indonesian?

In standard Indonesian, use memulai (active) and dimulai (passive). Memulakan is Malaysian usage.