Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Setelah makan siang, dia merasa kenyang dan tenang.

Past: Setelah makan siang tadi/kemarin, dia merasa...
Habitual: Setelah makan siang, dia biasanya merasa...
Future: Setelah makan siang nanti, dia akan merasa... Without extra markers, it can be read as either a specific past event or a general/habitual statement.

What’s the difference between setelah and sesudah?

They are near-perfect synonyms meaning after.

Setelah is extremely common and neutral.
Sesudah is also standard; some feel it’s a tad more formal or traditional, but both are interchangeable. Other options:
Casual: habis/sehabis
Formal/literary: usai/seusai
Sequencer: setelah itu (after that), setelahnya (afterwards)

Is makan siang a verb or a noun?

It can function as either.

Verb phrase: makan siang = to have lunch. In Setelah makan siang, it’s understood as after eating lunch.
Noun: makan siang = lunch (the meal). Context usually makes it clear. You can also say setelah dia makan siang to make it a full clause.

Can I move the time phrase to the end?

Yes. Word order is flexible:

Do I need the comma after the introductory phrase?

Recommended but not strictly required. A comma is standard when a time clause comes first:

Setelah makan siang, ... If the time phrase is at the end, no comma is needed.

Does dia mean he or she?

Both. Dia is gender-neutral third person singular. For plural, use mereka.

Formal respectful singular (for elders, VIPs): beliau
More formal/written subject form: ia (e.g., Setelah makan siang, ia merasa...). Don’t use ia as an object.

Can I drop dia?

Sometimes, if the subject is obvious from context, but be careful. This exact pattern without a subject sounds odd:

Less natural: Setelah makan siang, merasa kenyang dan tenang. More natural alternatives:
Setelah makan siang, aku/saya merasa kenyang dan tenang.
Setelah makan siang, kenyang dan tenang rasanya. (literally, it feels full and calm)

Do I need merasa? Could I just say Dia kenyang dan tenang?

Both are correct, with a nuance difference:

Dia kenyang dan tenang. = He/She is full and calm (stating a condition).
Dia merasa kenyang dan tenang. = He/She feels full and calm (emphasizes subjective feeling). With feelings or bodily states, both patterns are common.

Can I say Dia adalah kenyang?

No. Adalah links nouns (equatives), not adjectives.

Correct: Dia adalah orang yang tenang.
For adjectives, just use the adjective: Dia tenang. or Dia merasa tenang.

What exactly does kenyang mean? How is it different from penuh or puas?

kenyang: full after eating (for people/animals). Example: Saya kenyang.
penuh: full for containers/places. Example: Botolnya penuh.
puas: satisfied/content (with a result or experience). Example: Saya puas makan di sana.

What does tenang mean, and how is it different from santai or damai?

tenang: calm, tranquil (inner state or environment). Example: Hatinya tenang.
santai: relaxed/casual, laid‑back (tone/activity). Example: Suasananya santai.
damai: peaceful (absence of conflict, harmony). Example: Negeri itu damai; hati saya damai.
Related: kalem (calm/composed), hening (silent/serene).

How can I make it stronger, like very full or very calm?

Use intensifiers:

Before adjective: sangat (formal/neutral). Example: sangat tenang
After adjective: sekali (formal/neutral), banget (casual). Example: kenyang sekali / kenyang banget Other useful words: agak (rather), lumayan (quite), lebih (more), paling (most).

Are there pronunciation tips for kenyang, tenang, and siang?

kenyang: the ny is a single sound [ɲ], like the ñ in Spanish “niño.” Roughly “kə-nyang.”
tenang: the final ng is [ŋ], as in English “sing.” Roughly “tə-nang.”
siang: two vowels “si-ang,” often gliding to “syang.” Final ng is again [ŋ].
The letter e in setelah/tenang is a schwa [ə], like the a in “about.”

Does siang mean afternoon? When is makan siang?

Siang is late morning to early afternoon (roughly 11 a.m.–3 p.m.). Makan siang is lunch, typically around midday. Related:

Can setelah be followed by a noun or do I need a verb?

It can be followed by a verb phrase, a clause, or a noun/time expression:

Verb phrase: Setelah makan siang, ...
Clause: Setelah dia makan siang, ...
Noun/time: Setelah hujan, ...; Setelah itu/Setelahnya, ... (after that/afterwards)