Tolong matikan kipas angin sebelum tidur.

Breakdown of Tolong matikan kipas angin sebelum tidur.

mematikan
to turn off
sebelum
before
tidur
to sleep
tolong
please
kipas angin
the fan
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Questions & Answers about Tolong matikan kipas angin sebelum tidur.

What does tolong do here? Is it just “please”?
Tolong is a polite way to ask someone to do something, literally “help (by)…”. It softens an imperative. Without it, Matikan kipas angin… can sound blunt; with tolong, it’s a courteous request. You usually put tolong before the verb: Tolong buka jendela. It’s not used to ask permission for yourself; it’s used to ask someone else to help/do something.
Why is it matikan and not mematikan or just mati?
  • mati = “to be off/dead” (state), e.g., Lampunya mati “The light is off.”
  • mematikan = active transitive “to turn off/kill” (dictionary form used in statements after modals): Kita harus mematikan kipas angin.
  • matikan = imperative form “turn off!” used for commands/requests. So, in a request/command, use matikan. In general statements, use mematikan. In passive, you’d get dimatikan: Kipas angin dimatikan sebelum tidur.
What exactly is kipas angin? Can I just say kipas?
Kipas angin literally “wind fan” = an electric fan. Kipas alone literally means “fan” and often refers to a handheld fan, but in casual speech many people also say kipas to mean an electric fan when the context is clear. If you want to be unambiguous, use kipas angin.
Why is there no subject like “you”? Who is supposed to turn it off?
Indonesian often drops the subject in imperatives/requests; it’s understood to be the listener. If needed, you can add it: Tolong kamu matikan… (casual), Tolong Anda matikan… (formal), or address by name/title: Tolong, Pak, matikan… But usually it’s omitted.
Does sebelum tidur mean “before I sleep” or “before you sleep”?
It’s intentionally vague; context decides. To be explicit, add a subject: sebelum saya tidur, sebelum kamu/Anda tidur, sebelum kita tidur. All are natural.
Can I move sebelum tidur to the front?
Yes. Sebelum tidur, tolong matikan kipas angin. This is common and natural. If fronted, put a comma after the time phrase.
How formal is the sentence? Is it okay for family, coworkers, signs?

It’s neutral and polite—fine at home or at work. For more formal or notice-like language, use:

  • Mohon kipas angin dimatikan sebelum tidur. (very polite/formal)
  • Harap matikan kipas angin sebelum tidur. (instructional/formal) Casual adds a softener like ya: Tolong matikan kipas angin sebelum tidur, ya.
What’s the passive version, and why might I use it?
Tolong kipas anginnya dimatikan sebelum tidur. Passive (dimatikan) sounds impersonal/less direct and is common in notices or group reminders. Adding -nya (kipas anginnya) points to a specific, contextually known fan (“the fan”).
What does the suffix -kan do in matikan?
It typically makes a causative/transitive verb: mati (be off) → matikan (cause to be off = turn off). With meN- you get mematikan (active), with di- you get dimatikan (passive), and the bare matikan functions as an imperative (“turn it off!”).
Could I say jangan here to make it negative, like “please don’t turn off the fan”?
Yes: Tolong jangan matikan kipas angin. If you mean “Don’t forget to turn it off,” say Jangan lupa matikan kipas angin sebelum tidur. (Jangan = “don’t,” jangan lupa = “don’t forget to.”)
Is there any difference between nyalakan and hidupkan for “turn on” (the opposite of matikan)?

Both work for a fan:

  • Nyalakan kipas angin (turn on; literally “light up/ignite,” but widely used for devices)
  • Hidupkan kipas angin (turn on; literally “make alive/on”) For lights, both are also common. For fire/flames, prefer nyalakan; for machines/devices, hidupkan is also very natural.
Can I add ya or dong at the end? What do they do?
Yes. Ya softens/turns it into a friendly tag: …sebelum tidur, ya. Dong is casual and coaxing, used with peers: Tolong matikan kipas angin dulu, dong. Avoid dong in formal contexts.
Is tidur a noun here?
It’s a verb used in a non-finite way after the subordinator sebelum. Indonesian allows a bare verb phrase there. You can also use a clause with a subject: sebelum kamu tidur.
Do I need a word for “the” in “the fan”?
Indonesian has no articles. Use context or add -nya to mark a specific/known item: kipas anginnya = “the/that fan (we both know about).” Without -nya it’s more general/not specifically singled out.
Is kipas angin always two words? Why is angin after kipas?
Yes, it’s written as two words. In noun–noun compounds, the head noun comes first and the modifier follows: kipas (head) + angin (modifier). This “modifier after head” order is normal in Indonesian.
Can I say dulu here, like “first”?
Yes, to add the idea of “first/for now”: Tolong matikan kipas angin dulu. With your original time clause it’s also possible, though a bit redundant: Tolong matikan kipas angin dulu sebelum tidur, ya. It softens the tone and suggests ordering of actions.