Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Kami memutuskan menunda rapat sebentar sebab suara bor terlalu bising. - We decided to postpone the meeting for a moment because the drill noise is too loud.

In Indonesian, verbs like memutuskan can be followed directly by another verb: memutuskan menunda = “decided to postpone.” Adding untuk (memutuskan untuk menunda) is also correct and common, especially in formal writing. Both sound natural. You can also use a clause with bahwa: memutuskan bahwa rapat ditunda.

When should I use kami vs kita?

kami = we (excluding the listener).
kita = we (including the listener). The sentence uses kami, implying the listener wasn’t part of the decision.

What does sebentar mean here, and where does it go?

sebentar means “for a short while.” It modifies the action (postponing), not the meeting itself. Natural placements:

menunda rapat sebentar
rapatnya ditunda sebentar You can add saja or dulu for nuance: sebentar saja, sebentar dulu (“just for a bit,” “for now”).

Is menunda rapat sebentar ambiguous (brief postponement vs a brief meeting)?

Context usually makes it clear, but to avoid ambiguity:

If you mean “postpone for a short while”: menunda rapat sebentar saja / untuk sementara / rapatnya ditunda sebentar.
If you mean “a short meeting”: rapat singkat is clearer than rapat sebentar.

How formal is sebab? Can I use karena or soalnya?

sebab = “because,” a bit formal or written; neutral in meaning.
karena = most common “because,” neutral and very natural here.
soalnya = casual “because / the reason is,” typically in speech.
gara-gara = “because of (a negative cause),” informal and often blamey.

Is suara bor natural, or should it be suara mesin bor?

suara bor is perfectly natural and common. suara mesin bor is also fine and slightly more explicit (“the sound of the drilling machine”). You might also hear bor listrik (electric drill).

What’s the difference between bising, berisik, and ribut? And terlalu vs sangat?

bising: loud/noisy (often mechanical/environmental noise). Fits suara bor well.
berisik: noisy/chattery (people, kids, TV), casual.
ribut: noisy/rowdy; can also mean “to quarrel.”
terlalu = “too/excessively” (negative/undesirable).
sangat = “very” (neutral). Casual “very” = banget; “so (noisy)” = begitu (bising/berisik).

Could I use the passive voice instead?

Yes:

Rapat ditunda sebentar sebab/karena suara bor terlalu bising.
Rapat kami tunda sebentar sebab/karena suara bor terlalu bising. (short passive/object-fronting; bare verb tunda)

How do I show this happened earlier (past) if Indonesian has no tense?

Use time markers:

Tadi kami memutuskan… (earlier today)
Barusan kami memutuskan… (just now)
Kami sudah/telah memutuskan… (we have already decided; telah is formal)

What’s the difference between memutus and memutuskan?

memutus: to cut/sever/disconnect; in legal contexts “to adjudicate” (deliver a verdict). Colloquial mutusin = to break up (a relationship).
memutuskan: to decide/determine (the usual verb for decisions). Related nouns: putusan (verdict), keputusan (decision).

Do I need a classifier or measure word before rapat?

No. Indonesian doesn’t require classifiers. Use a numeral only if needed:

satu rapat, dua rapat, beberapa rapat. Definiteness can be shown with rapatnya / rapat itu if necessary.

Is untuk sebentar okay?

Usually you don’t use untuk with sebentar. Say menunda rapat sebentar or rapatnya ditunda sebentar. If you want “for the time being,” the idiomatic phrase is untuk sementara.

Should I add -nya to show “the” (definiteness), as in suara bor nya?

You can, but it’s optional. suara bor nya (spelled suara bor nya or more normally suara bor nya as one word: suara bornya) implies a specific, known drill noise. Without -nya is fine and general. You can also use itu: suara bor itu.

Can I move the cause clause to the front?

Yes:

Karena/Sebab suara bor terlalu bising, kami memutuskan menunda rapat sebentar. In casual speech, soalnya often comes after the main clause: Kami memutuskan… soalnya suara bor…

Is suara the best word for “noise” here? What about bunyi?

Both can work, but:

suara = general “sound/voice/noise,” very natural with machines: suara bor.
bunyi = a distinct/identifiable sound (often onomatopoeic or a single event). bunyi bor is understandable but less common than suara bor for continuous drilling noise.

What would a casual version of the sentence look like?

For informal speech:

Kita mutusin nunda rapat bentar soalnya suara bor berisik banget. Notes: kita (inclusive), mutusin (colloquial for memutuskan), nunda (menunda), bentar (sebentar), soalnya (because), berisik banget (very noisy).