Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Di talenan kayu, saya memotong mangga; talenan itu bersih. - On the wooden cutting board, I cut a mango; that cutting board is clean.

For “on (top of) a surface,” di atas is the clearest choice. Di by itself can mean at/in/on and is sometimes used casually as a shorthand, but di atas talenan kayu is more precise and widely preferred. Example: Saya memotong mangga di atas talenan kayu.

Why is there a comma after Di talenan kayu?

It sets off a fronted locative/adverbial phrase. It’s optional but common in careful writing. Without the comma is also acceptable: Di talenan kayu saya memotong mangga…

Is the semicolon natural in Indonesian? Could I just use a period?

Yes, the semicolon is fine in formal writing to link two related independent clauses. Many people would simply use a period:

Di talenan kayu, saya memotong mangga. Talenan itu bersih. You could also use a conjunction if you want: …, dan talenan itu bersih.

What exactly does itu add in talenan itu?

itu is a post-nominal demonstrative meaning “that/the (aforementioned).” It points back to something already mentioned and marks definiteness: talenan itu = “that cutting board / the mentioned cutting board.”

Could I use ini instead of itu?

Yes, if you mean “this” (physically near or being pointed at): talenan ini. For referring back to something just mentioned in the previous clause, itu is the default choice.

Why is there no word for “is” in talenan itu bersih?

Indonesian adjectives can function as predicates without a copula. Talenan itu bersih is the natural way to say “The cutting board is clean.” Using adalah with adjectives (e.g., Talenan itu adalah bersih) is ungrammatical.

Why use saya? How would aku or other pronouns change the tone?

saya: neutral–formal; safe in most situations and in writing.
aku: informal/intimate.
Colloquial regional forms exist (e.g., gue/gua in Jakarta). The verb stays the same: Aku memotong mangga… is simply more casual.

Do I need an article before mangga? How do I say “a/one mango”?

Indonesian has no articles. mangga can mean “a mango” or “mangoes” from context. To specify one:

satu mangga
satu buah mangga (using the classifier buah)
sebuah mangga (compressed form of satu buah)

Is mangga singular or plural here?

It’s number-neutral. Use beberapa mangga (some mangoes), dua mangga (two mangoes), or reduplication mangga-mangga if you need to highlight plurality.

What’s the nuance between memotong, mengiris, and mengupas?

memotong: to cut (general), often into pieces/chunks.
mengiris: to slice thinly.
mengupas: to peel. You might mengupas a mango first, then mengiris it, or just memotong it into cubes.

How is memotong formed from potong?

By adding the meN- prefix with sound assimilation:

p + meN- → mem- and the p drops: potong → memotong Common comparisons:
tulis → menulis (t → men-)
kirim → mengirim (k → meng-, k drops)
sapu → menyapu (s → meny-, s drops)

Is talenan the right word? Could I say papan?

talenan specifically means “cutting board.” papan is just “board/plank,” not specifically for kitchen use. talenan is the natural choice here.

Why not use pada: pada talenan kayu?

pada is more formal and often used with abstract nouns, times, or set phrases. For concrete spatial location, use di (or di atas for “on top of”). Pada talenan kayu sounds bookish or odd in everyday Indonesian.

Why is kayu after talenan? Don’t adjectives go before nouns in English?

In Indonesian, modifiers typically follow the noun:

talenan kayu = wooden cutting board
baju putih = white shirt To emphasize material, you can also say talenan dari kayu (cutting board made of wood).

Is mangga with two g’s correct? Does manga mean something different?

Yes, mangga (two g’s) = mango. manga (one g) is the loanword for Japanese comics. Note: in Sundanese, mangga can be an interjection meaning “please/go ahead,” but that’s not standard Indonesian usage here.

How do I show tense or aspect (I am cutting vs I cut earlier)?

Indonesian is tenseless; use time/aspect markers:

Ongoing: sedang — Saya sedang memotong mangga.
Completed: sudah/telah — Saya sudah memotong mangga.
Past time words: tadi, kemarin, etc. — Tadi saya memotong mangga.