Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Tolong setrika kemeja putih itu sebelum rapat. - Please iron that white shirt before the meeting.

Tolong literally means “help,” but before a verb it works like “please” to soften a request.
Tolong setrika... = “Please iron...”
You can drop tolong for a blunter command (Setrika kemeja putih itu...), or make it more formal with Mohon disetrika...
Silakan is different: it invites someone to do something for their own benefit, not a favor to you (e.g., Silakan duduk = “Please have a seat”). For requests, use tolong or mohon.

Is setrika a verb or a noun?

Both. Setrika can be:
- a noun: “an iron (appliance),”
- a verb: “to iron.”
The formal active verb is menyetrika (meN- prefix). In everyday imperatives, the bare root is common: Tolong setrika...

Which is more natural here: setrika or menyetrika?

In an imperative/request, Tolong setrika... is very natural and common.
In a full sentence with a subject, use the meN- form: Saya sedang menyetrika kemeja.

What about the passive form Tolong disetrika?

Tolong disetrika kemeja putih itu... is also correct and often more politely indirect, because it focuses on the task rather than on “you” doing it.
This style is common in service or office contexts.

Can I say setrikakan? What’s the difference?

Setrikakan (root + -kan) is a transitive/causative form: “iron (it) for [someone]/get (it) ironed.”
Imperative: Tolong setrikakan kemeja saya.
Active meN- form exists too: menyetrikakan.
Nuance: setrika is perfectly fine; setrikakan can sound a bit more formal or emphasize doing the action to/for the object.

Why is it kemeja putih and not putih kemeja?

In Indonesian, adjectives follow the noun: kemeja putih = “white shirt,” rumah besar = “big house.”
Putting the adjective first is ungrammatical in this structure.

What does itu add in kemeja putih itu? Is it “that” or “the”?

Itu can mean “that” (demonstrative) or function like a definiteness marker (“the/that one we both know”).
kemeja putih itu = “that white shirt” or “the white shirt (we have in mind).”
ini is the proximal counterpart (“this”).

Can I say itu kemeja putih to mean “that white shirt”?

No. Itu kemeja putih reads as “That is a white shirt.”
For “that white shirt,” put itu after the noun phrase: kemeja putih itu.
With a relative clause, itu goes at the very end: kemeja putih yang kamu beli itu.

What changes if I drop itu?

Tolong setrika kemeja putih sebelum rapat is more generic/indefinite: “Please iron a white shirt...”
Adding itu makes it definite/specific.

Could I use -nya instead of itu for definiteness?

Yes: kemejanya can mean “the shirt” or “his/her shirt,” depending on context. It’s definite but can imply possession.
kemeja putih itu is definite without implying possession. Use -nya only if the context makes the reference clear.

What about kemeja putih yang itu?

yang itu adds contrast: “that specific white shirt (as opposed to the other white one).”
Use it when selecting among similar items.

Does sebelum need -nya? What’s the difference between sebelum and sebelumnya?

sebelum is a preposition/conjunction meaning “before” and must be followed by a noun or clause: sebelum rapat, sebelum rapat dimulai.
sebelumnya is an adverb meaning “previously/earlier” or “the previous one”: Sebelumnya, kami sudah bertemu.
Don’t use sebelumnya directly before a noun to mean “before [noun].”

Is sebelum rapat complete, or do I need to say sebelum rapat dimulai?

sebelum rapat is perfectly natural and commonly used to mean “before the meeting (starts).”
You can add dimulai for explicitness: sebelum rapat dimulai.

Can I move the time phrase to the front?

Yes. Sebelum rapat, tolong setrika kemeja putih itu. Fronting time expressions is common; a comma is optional but helpful.

Do I need to say Anda or kamu?

No. Imperatives normally omit the subject: Tolong setrika...
To address politely, you can add a name/title: Pak/Bu/Mas/Mbak, tolong setrika...
Avoid Tolong Anda setrika...; it’s unusual.

Is this polite enough? How else can I soften it?

Tolong... is polite in most contexts.
Softer variants:
- Bisa tolong setrika kemeja putih itu sebelum rapat?
- Add particles: Tolong setrika..., ya.
- Passive: Mohon/harap disetrika kemeja putih itu... (more formal/notice-like).

What’s the difference between kemeja, baju, and kaos?

Does rapat differ from meeting or pertemuan?

rapat: standard word for a formal work/organizational meeting.
meeting: English loan, widely used in offices, a bit informal.
pertemuan: a meeting/encounter more generally; not necessarily a formal work meeting.
sidang: a formal session/hearing (e.g., court, parliament).

How does Indonesian show tense here? How do we know it’s future?

Indonesian has no verb tense. Time is inferred from context and time phrases.
sebelum rapat sets the time in the future relative to the meeting. You could add nanti (later) if needed: Tolong setrika... nanti sebelum rapat.

Any small natural additions I could make?

Adding dulu (“first”) is very natural: Tolong setrika kemeja putih itu dulu sebelum rapat.
Ending with ya softens it: ..., ya.

Pronunciation tips?