Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Pengingat itu berbunyi tepat pukul tujuh; lega rasanya. - The reminder rings exactly at seven; it feels relieving.

Itu is a demonstrative meaning that/the (that specific one). In Indonesian, demonstratives follow the noun: pengingat itu = that/the reminder. Without context it’s typically “the reminder” in English. If you use ini, it means this: pengingat ini = this reminder. Placing itu before the noun (itu pengingat) doesn’t work as a normal noun phrase; it would read more like “that is a reminder.”

Would the sentence still be correct without itu?

Yes: Pengingat berbunyi tepat pukul tujuh; lega rasanya. Without itu, it’s less specific, more like “A reminder went off…” Context decides whether English uses a or the.

Is pengingat the same as alarm? Which should I use?

They overlap but aren’t identical.

pengingat = reminder (a notification that reminds you; can be silent or audible)
alarm (loanword) = alarm (something that rings) For a phone alarm that rings, natives often say alarm. Your sentence would be very natural as: Alarm itu berbunyi tepat pukul tujuh; lega rasanya.

What’s the nuance difference between berbunyi and berdering?

berbunyi = to make a sound (general; safe for alarms, bells, sirens, etc.)
berdering = to ring (more specific to ringing sounds: phones, alarms, bells) Both fit here. You could say Alarm itu berdering tepat pukul tujuh. Note: menyala means lights up/turns on (visual), not makes a sound.

Why pukul instead of jam? Are both correct?

Both are correct:

pukul is standard/formal for clock time points: pukul tujuh
jam is common in everyday speech: jam tujuh Your phrase tepat pukul tujuh is slightly more formal. Casual: pas jam tujuh.

Can tepat go after the time, like pukul tujuh tepat?

Yes. Both are natural:

tepat pukul tujuh
pukul tujuh tepat Casual synonym for tepat is pas; another is persis.

Do I need the preposition pada before pukul tujuh?

Optional. More formal with it:

berbunyi pada pukul tujuh tepat (formal)
berbunyi pukul tujuh tepat (neutral, common)

Does this sentence express past, present, or future? How would I mark tense explicitly?

Indonesian doesn’t mark tense morphologically. Context and time words do the work. Your sentence most likely refers to a past event.

Past: tadi, barusan (e.g., Pengingat itu barusan berbunyi…)
Future: nanti, besok, akan (e.g., Pengingat itu akan berbunyi nanti pukul tujuh.)

Is pukul tujuh 7 a.m. or 7 p.m.? How do I be specific?

It’s ambiguous by itself. Add a time-of-day word:

pukul tujuh pagi = 7 a.m.
pukul tujuh malam = 7 p.m. In writing you may also see the 24-hour clock: pukul 19.00 for 7 p.m.

What does lega rasanya literally mean, and who is feeling relieved?

Literally, lega rasanya = “relieved, it feels.” It’s an impersonal way to say “It felt like a relief/What a relief.” The experiencer (usually “I” or “we”) is understood from context. More explicit versions:

Aku/Saya merasa lega.
Rasanya lega sekali. Note that lega can also mean “spacious” in other contexts; here it clearly means “relieved.”

Is rasanya here the same rasanya that means it seems?

Yes, it’s the same word (rasa + -nya). Rasanya can mean:

“it feels/it tastes” (literal sensation): Pedas rasanya (It tastes spicy).
“it seems/I think” (speaker’s tentative judgment): Rasanya dia sudah pergi (I think he’s left). In lega rasanya, it’s the “it feels” usage.

Can I say rasanya lega instead of lega rasanya? Any difference?

Both are natural and mean the same. Lega rasanya slightly foregrounds the emotion “relieved,” while Rasanya lega foregrounds the experiential frame “it feels.” In practice, they’re interchangeable.

Are there more casual or more formal ways to say this?

Casual: Alarmnya bunyi pas jam tujuh; lega banget. or Wah, lega rasanya!
Neutral: your original.
Formal: Pengingat tersebut berbunyi tepat pukul tujuh; saya merasa lega. (using tersebut and an explicit subject)

Is the semicolon natural here? Could I use a period or a comma?

Yes, the semicolon is natural to link two closely related independent clauses. Alternatives:

Period: Pengingat itu berbunyi tepat pukul tujuh. Lega rasanya.
Dash: Pengingat itu berbunyi tepat pukul tujuh—lega rasanya. A comma would be less standard between two independent clauses, but you will see it in informal writing.

Any pitfalls with pukul since it also means to hit?

As a noun for clock time (pukul = o’clock), it’s different from the verb memukul (to hit). Context and form keep them apart:

Time: pukul tujuh
Verb: Dia memukul bola (He hits the ball)

Can I put the time at the beginning of the sentence?

Yes. Time adverbials are flexible:

Tepat pukul tujuh, pengingat itu berbunyi; lega rasanya.
Pukul tujuh tepat, pengingat itu berbunyi; lega rasanya.

What are the word-building pieces in pengingat and berbunyi?

pengingat: ingat (to remember) + prefix peN- → a thing/person that causes remembering = a reminder.
- Related: mengingat (to remember/recall), peringatan (warning, commemoration).
berbunyi: bunyi (sound, noun) + prefix ber- → to make a sound.