Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Dalam survei kelas, kami menulis pendapat dan keterangan singkat. - In the class survey, we write opinions and a brief explanation.

bold di = at/in (physical location). bold Di kelas = in the classroom (physically).
bold di dalam = inside (explicitly inside something). Often used for literal space or in formal writing: bold Di dalam penelitian ini….
bold pada = at/on/in (more formal/neutral, often for time, recipients, topics). You may see bold Pada survei ini in formal prose, but bold Dalam survei ini is more idiomatic.

What exactly does bold survei kelas mean? Is it “class survey” or “survey class”?

It’s “class survey” (a survey of/for the class). In Indonesian noun–noun compounds, the first noun is the head: bold survei (head) + bold kelas (modifier). It does not mean “survey class” (a course). For a “survey course,” you’d say something like bold mata kuliah pengantar.

Why is bold kami used instead of bold kita?

bold kami = we (excluding the listener).
bold kita = we (including the listener). The sentence assumes the listener wasn’t part of the class, so bold kami fits. If the listener was part of the class, use bold kita.

Could I say bold mengisi survei instead of bold menulis?

Yes, depending on the focus.

bold mengisi survei = to fill out a survey (complete the form).
bold menulis = to write (focus on producing text). Your sentence highlights writing opinions/notes, so bold menulis is natural.

What’s the difference between bold menulis and bold menuliskan?

Both work. bold menulis is the common, neutral “to write.” bold menuliskan can:

Emphasize writing something down for someone/some purpose, or
Sound a bit more formal. Examples:
bold Kami menulis pendapat. (neutral)
bold Kami menuliskan pendapat kami pada formulir. (slight emphasis on the result/target)

Do I need to mark plural for bold pendapat? How do I say “opinions”?

Plural marking is optional. bold pendapat can mean one or many. To make plurality explicit:

Reduplication: bold pendapat‑pendapat
Quantifiers: bold berbagai pendapat, banyak pendapat, beberapa pendapat In your sentence, bold pendapat naturally reads as plural.

Does bold singkat describe both bold pendapat and bold keterangan, or only bold keterangan?

As written, bold singkat most naturally modifies only bold keterangan: “opinions and a brief explanation.” To make both short, rephrase:

bold …menulis pendapat singkat dan keterangan singkat.
bold …menulis pendapat dan keterangan, keduanya singkat.

What’s the nuance difference between bold keterangan and bold penjelasan?

bold keterangan: information/clarifying details; often short, factual, label‑like (e.g., bold kolom keterangan on a form, bold keterangan foto for a caption).
bold penjelasan: explanation; more discursive and developed. In your sentence, bold keterangan singkat suggests a brief note/remark. If you mean a brief explanation, bold penjelasan singkat is also fine.

Why bold singkat and not bold pendek or bold sebentar?

bold singkat = short/brief in text length or duration of an event.
bold pendek = physically short (height/length); not used for texts. Not bold keterangan pendek.
bold sebentar = for a short time (adverb). Not used to modify nouns.

Is the comma after bold Dalam survei kelas necessary?

Optional. Indonesian often uses a comma after a fronted adverbial phrase for clarity, especially if it’s long. Both are acceptable:

bold Dalam survei kelas kami menulis…
bold Dalam survei kelas, kami menulis… (clearer)

Can I put the bold Dalam… phrase at the end instead?

Yes. Word order is flexible:

bold Kami menulis pendapat dan keterangan singkat dalam survei kelas. Fronting bold Dalam survei kelas puts the context first; meaning stays the same.

Where do adjectives go? Why bold keterangan singkat and not bold singkat keterangan?

Adjectives usually follow the noun:

bold keterangan singkat, rumah besar, baju baru Putting the adjective first sounds poetic or odd in everyday prose.

Is bold survei the standard spelling? I sometimes see bold survey.

Standard Indonesian uses bold survei (per KBBI). You’ll see bold survey in informal contexts influenced by English, but it’s nonstandard in formal writing.

Could I say bold di dalam survei kelas instead of bold dalam?

Possible but heavier. bold di dalam literally means “inside” and is common in formal prose to mean “within” (e.g., bold Di dalam penelitian ini…). In everyday style, plain bold Dalam survei kelas is more natural.

How formal is this sentence? Any casual or more formal variants?

Neutral. Variants:

Casual: bold Di survei kelas, kami nulis pendapat dan keterangan singkat. (colloquial bold nulis)
More formal: bold Dalam survei kelas ini, kami menuliskan pendapat serta keterangan singkat. (bold ini, bold menuliskan, bold serta)

How do I say “the/this/that class survey”?

Indonesian has no articles; use demonstratives:

bold survei kelas ini = this class survey
bold survei kelas itu = that/the class survey (already known) Example: bold Dalam survei kelas ini, kami menulis…