Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Setelah latihan, kami menutup keran dan membersihkan wastafel dengan deterjen. - After practice, we turn off the faucet and clean the sink with detergent.

Setelah means “after” and introduces a time clause. Sesudah is a near-perfect synonym and fully standard. Habis and usai are also used; habis is more colloquial, while usai is slightly formal/literary. All four can work here: Setelah/Sesudah/Habis/Usai latihan, …

Why is there a comma after Setelah latihan?

When a time or place phrase is fronted, Indonesian commonly uses a comma to separate it from the main clause, for readability: Setelah latihan, … Without the comma it’s not “wrong,” but the comma is the standard choice.

Is latihan a noun or a verb? How is it different from berlatih?

Latihan is a noun (“practice; training”). Berlatih is the verb (“to practice”). Both are fine depending on meaning: Setelah latihan (after the practice/training session) vs Setelah berlatih (after practicing).

What’s the nuance of kami? How is it different from kita?

Kami = “we (excluding the listener).” Kita = “we (including the listener).” Using kami here implies the listener was not part of the group that closed the faucet and cleaned the sink.

How is past time expressed? There’s no past tense marking like in English.

Indonesian doesn’t conjugate for tense. Time is shown with adverbs/context. Setelah already implies sequence. To emphasize completion you can add sudah: Setelah latihan, kami sudah menutup keran… For “earlier today,” add tadi; for “just now,” baru saja.

Is menutup keran the natural way to say “turn off the faucet”? What about mematikan keran?

Use menutup keran (“close the faucet/tap”) or memutar keran (“turn the tap [closed/open]”). Mematikan keran is not idiomatic; mematikan is used for devices you “switch off” (lights, machines).

What’s the difference between menutup and menutupi?

Menutup = to close/shut something (a door, faucet). Menutupi = to cover or conceal something (to put a cover over, to hide). So you say menutup keran, not menutupi keran.

Is it keran or kran?

Both appear; keran is the standard modern spelling, while kran is a common variant. You might also hear keran air/kran air to specify it’s a water tap.

Does wastafel mean any “sink,” or just a bathroom sink?

In everyday use, wastafel usually refers to a bathroom/hand-washing sink. For a kitchen sink, people often say bak cuci piring or just bak cuci. Context often makes it clear.

What’s going on morphologically with menutup and membersihkan?

They are meN- prefixed verbs:

tutup → menutup (meN- + tutup; with initial t, the t drops and the prefix becomes men-: t(u) → n)
bersih → membersihkan (meN- + bersih + -kan; with initial b, meN- becomes mem- and the b stays)

Why use membersihkan instead of just bersih?

Bersih is an adjective (“clean”). Membersihkan is the transitive verb “to clean (make clean)” and takes a direct object: membersihkan wastafel. There’s no verb “membersih” on its own; the -kan is required here.

What’s the function of the suffix -kan in membersihkan?

Here -kan makes the verb causative/transitive: “to make X clean.” It highlights the effect on the object (wastafel). Imperative form would be bersihkan! (“clean [it]!”). The related noun pembersih means “cleaner/cleaning agent.”

Could I say mengelap wastafel or mencuci wastafel instead?

Yes, with slight nuance:

Mengelap = wipe (typically with a cloth)
Mencuci = wash (with water/soap)
Membersihkan = clean (general/make clean) Choose the one that matches the action you mean.

Is dengan the best way to express the instrument? Could I use pakai or menggunakan?

All are fine:

… dengan deterjen (neutral/standard)
… pakai deterjen (colloquial)
… menggunakan deterjen (more formal) Meaning is the same: you’re indicating the tool/substance used.

Can I drop the second verb’s subject? Why isn’t kami repeated after dan?

Yes. When two verbs share the same subject, Indonesian typically states the subject once: kami menutup … dan membersihkan … Repeating kami is grammatical but sounds heavy in this short sentence.

What are passive or object-fronting alternatives?

Passive: Keran ditutup dan wastafel dibersihkan dengan deterjen (oleh kami).
Object-fronting (still active): Keran kami tutup dan wastafel kami bersihkan dengan deterjen. These shift focus onto the objects/actions.

Can I move the time phrase to the end?

Yes: Kami menutup keran dan membersihkan wastafel dengan deterjen setelah latihan. Fronting it (as in the original) highlights the time first; both orders are common.

Are there articles like “the/a” in Indonesian? How do I say “the sink” specifically?

Indonesian has no articles. Definiteness is inferred from context. To be explicit, add itu (“that/the” in context): wastafel itu. For “a sink,” you can say sebuah wastafel, though it’s often omitted.

Is deterjen the correct spelling?

Yes, deterjen is the standard spelling. You may see detergen, but deterjen is the recommended form.

Pronunciation tips for the key words?

Stress is usually on the second-to-last syllable:

se-ta-lah (ta)
la-ti-han (ti)
ka-mi (ka)
me-nu-tup (nu)
ke-ran (ke)
mem-ber-si-hkan (si; the h is pronounced)
was-ta-fel (ta)
de-ter-jen (ter)