Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Entah kereta terlambat entah tepat waktu, kami menunggu setenang mungkin di peron. - Whether the train is late or on time, we wait as calmly as possible on the platform.

It means "whether ... or ...", signaling that the speaker doesn’t know which of the two possibilities is true and that it doesn’t affect the main action. So: Entah kereta terlambat entah tepat waktu = "Whether the train is late or on time."

Can I say "entah ... atau ..." instead of repeating "entah"?

Yes. Entah kereta terlambat atau tepat waktu, ... is also natural. Repeating entah is slightly more rhetorical; using atau feels a bit more straightforward. Both are fine.

How is this different from using "apakah"?

Apakah introduces a yes–no question or an embedded question, not a stand-alone "whether" clause. You can say: Kami tidak tahu apakah kereta terlambat atau tepat waktu. But starting the sentence with Apakah kereta terlambat atau tepat waktu, kami ... is not idiomatic. To mean "regardless of whether," use entah ... (or add something like tak peduli apakah ...).

Could I use "baik ... maupun ..." here?

Be careful. Baik ... maupun ... primarily means "both ... and ...", not "whether ... or ...". Some writers use it to mean "regardless of whether," but it can imply both conditions hold, which isn’t logical here. Prefer entah ... for uncertainty.

Is "mau ... mau ..." acceptable in this sense?

Yes, colloquially. Mau terlambat mau tepat waktu, kami menunggu ... means "No matter if it’s late or on time." It’s informal.

Why is there no word for "is" in "kereta terlambat"?

Indonesian doesn’t use a copula before adjectives. Kereta terlambat literally "train late" = "the train is late." Use adalah mainly before noun phrases, not adjectives.

Why "kami" and not "kita"? What’s the difference?

Kami = "we" excluding the listener. Kita = "we" including the listener. The sentence implies the addressee wasn’t part of the group, hence kami.

Does "menunggu" need an object?

It can be transitive or intransitive. Both Kami menunggu kereta (we waited for the train) and Kami menunggu di peron (we waited on the platform) are correct. Here it’s intransitive with a location phrase.

What does "setenang mungkin" literally mean, and how do I form similar phrases?

Literally "as calm as possible." Pattern: se- + adjective/adverb + mungkin. Examples: secepat mungkin (as fast as possible), sebanyak mungkin (as much as possible), sebaik mungkin (as well as possible).

Is "mungkin" here the same as "maybe"?

No. In setenang mungkin, mungkin means "possible," not "maybe." The whole chunk means "as [adjective] as possible."

Can I say "sebisa mungkin tenang" instead of "setenang mungkin"?

Yes. Kami menunggu sebisa mungkin tenang or Kami berusaha tenang sebisa mungkin are natural. Sebisa mungkin focuses on ability/effort; setenang mungkin zeroes in on the degree of calmness. Both convey a similar idea.

Do I need "dengan": "menunggu dengan setenang mungkin"?

Generally no. Say menunggu setenang mungkin or menunggu dengan tenang. Combining dengan with se-... mungkin is less natural.

What about "setenang-tenangnya"? Is that different?

Setenang-tenangnya is an emphatic form meaning "as calm as can be," often a bit more dramatic or literary than setenang mungkin. Both are acceptable; choose based on tone.

Is "tepat waktu" a fixed expression? Are there alternatives?

Yes, tepat waktu is the standard collocation for "on time." Alternatives include tepat pada waktunya (more formal/literary) and colloquial pas waktu. Stick with tepat waktu for neutral usage.

Difference between "terlambat" and "telat"?

Both mean "late." Terlambat is neutral/standard; telat is informal/colloquial. Related noun: keterlambatan (a delay).

What exactly is "peron," and is "di" the right preposition?

Peron means a train platform (loanword from Dutch). Di peron = "on the platform" (location). Use ke peron for movement: Kami berjalan ke peron (we walked to the platform).

Can I move "di peron" or "setenang mungkin" to other positions?

Yes. Word order is flexible as long as it stays clear: Kami menunggu di peron setenang mungkin; Di peron, kami menunggu setenang mungkin. Avoid splitting them awkwardly; keep each phrase intact.

How do we know the tense? Could it also be present?

Indonesian doesn’t mark tense morphologically. Kami menunggu can be past or present; context supplies the time. Add time/aspect words if needed: tadi (earlier), sedang (in the middle of), sudah (already), waktu itu (at that time).