Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Tukang itu bilang kabel lampu longgar, sebab lampu sering berkedip. - The worker said the lamp cable is loose, because the light often blinks.

Tukang is a general word for a tradesperson/manual worker. Without a modifier it often means handyman/repairman, but context decides. With a modifier:

tukang listrik = electrician
tukang ledeng = plumber
tukang bangunan = construction worker
tukang sayur = vegetable vendor

Why is itu after tukang and not before it like in English?

Indonesian demonstratives follow the noun. tukang itu = that/the handyman; orang ini = this person. itu often signals a specific, known referent (like English the or that), not only physical distance.

Is bilang correct here, or should it be berkata or mengatakan?

All are possible, but register differs:

bilang: very common, informal/conversational.
berkata: neutral, a bit more formal or written.
mengatakan: formal; often used in news/writing. Example alternatives: Tukang itu berkata…; Beliau mengatakan… (more formal/polite).

Do I need bahwa after bilang?

No. In speech, you usually omit it: Tukang itu bilang kabel lampu longgar. bahwa (that) is optional and more formal/explicit: … bilang bahwa kabel lampu longgar. With mengatakan/berkata, bahwa is common but still optional.

Why is there no word like “is” before longgar?

Indonesian has no linking verb for adjectives. You just say kabel lampu longgar = the lamp cable is loose. Avoid adalah with adjectives. Use adalah to equate two nouns (e.g., Masalahnya adalah kabel longgar).

Should there be yang before longgar, as in kabel lampu yang longgar?

Not here. yang makes a noun phrase (the lamp cable that is loose). In your sentence you need a full clause. Use kabel lampu itu longgar or keep the original. kabel lampu yang longgar is fine when it modifies another noun: kabel lampu yang longgar itu berbahaya.

Is kabel lampu the same as kabel lampunya or kabel lampu itu?

kabel lampu: lamp cable (definiteness inferred from context).
kabel lampu itu: that/the specific lamp cable.
kabel lampunya: its lamp cable / the lamp’s cable; -nya can mark possession or definiteness.
All are possible; choose based on how specific you want to be.

Could I say lampu kabel instead?

No. In noun–noun compounds, the head comes first, the modifier second. kabel lampu = cable of the lamp. lampu kabel would mean cable-lamp, which isn’t what you want.

What’s the difference between sebab, karena, and soalnya? Which fits best?

All mean because, but register varies:

sebab: because/since; a bit formal or bookish.
karena: the default because in speech and writing.
soalnya: very colloquial (literally the reason is).
Natural options: …, karena lampu sering berkedip. (most common), or casual …, soalnya lampunya sering berkedip.
Note: makanya means that’s why/therefore (result), not because.

Is the comma before sebab required?

Not strictly. A comma is commonly used to separate the main statement and the reason: …, sebab …. You’ll also see it without a comma in informal writing. Both are acceptable.

Where should sering go? Can I put it elsewhere?

Place sering before the verb: lampu sering berkedip. You can also say lampunya sering berkedip or lampu itu sering berkedip. lampu berkedip sering is unnatural in neutral style.

Is berkedip the best verb for lights, or should I use kedap-kedip or kelap-kelip?

berkedip works for both eyes and lights. For nuance:

berkedip-kedip: repetitive blinking.
kedap-kedip: on–off flicker (often for faulty lights).
kelap-kelip/berkelap-kelip: twinkling/blinking (festive lights).
Your sentence could also be … karena lampu sering kedap-kedip if you want to stress a faulty flicker.

How do I show singular vs plural with lampu?

Number is usually unmarked. Context tells you. To be explicit:

singular: sebuah lampu, satu lampu, lampu itu
plural: beberapa lampu, banyak lampu, lampu-lampu (reduplication, more formal/literary)

How would I say he told me, not just he said?

Add an indirect object:

Informal: Dia bilang ke saya / Dia bilang sama saya …
Neutral/formal: Dia berkata kepada saya … / Dia mengatakan kepada saya bahwa …

Is mixing bilang (informal) with sebab (somewhat formal) okay?

Yes. Indonesians often mix registers in speech. For fully casual, you might use bilang + soalnya. For fully formal, Beliau mengatakan bahwa kabel lampu itu longgar, karena lampu itu sering berkedip.

Does longgar only mean physically loose? Are there synonyms?

longgar = loose/slack; also figuratively lax (e.g., aturan longgar = lenient rules). Synonyms:

kendur/kendor (colloq.): slack/loose (belts, screws).
lepas: detached/off.
For wiring, kabel longgar or konektor longgar are natural.

Any quick pronunciation tips for words here?

tukang: final ng is the velar nasal [ŋ], not an English hard g.
bilang: stress tends to fall near the end; both a’s are like the a in father.
berkedip: the e is a schwa (ə), like the a in about.
longgar: g is always hard; r is tapped/flapped.
Vowels are pure and consistent; pronounce every syllable.