Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Saya bertanya kepada petugas tentang arah ke perpustakaan. - I ask the staff about the direction to the library.

“Kepada” marks a recipient (usually a person). “Ke” marks movement toward a place. So bertanya kepada petugas = ask a staff member; using ke petugas is nonstandard in formal Indonesian (though you may hear tanya ke petugas in casual speech).

Is “kepada” necessary after “bertanya”?

Yes. Bertanya is intransitive, so the person asked must be introduced by a preposition: bertanya kepada/pada/sama [person]. Saying Saya bertanya petugas (without a preposition) is ungrammatical.

What’s the difference between “kepada” and “pada” here?

Both work with people after verbs like bertanya: bertanya kepada/pada petugas. “Kepada” is more specifically “to (a person)” and slightly more formal; “pada” is broader and also used with time/abstract nouns. In casual speech, sama often replaces both: tanya sama petugas.

Why use “tentang” before “arah ke perpustakaan”?

With bertanya, the topic is typically introduced by tentang: bertanya tentang X (“ask about X”). Here, tentang arah ke perpustakaan = “about directions to the library.” Without “tentang,” the sentence sounds off unless you change the verb (see below).

Can I drop “tentang”?

If you keep bertanya, keep tentang. To drop it, switch to a transitive verb: Saya menanyakan arah ke perpustakaan kepada petugas. In casual speech you can also say: Saya tanya arah ke perpustakaan sama/kepada petugas.

What’s the difference between “bertanya,” “menanyakan,” and “menanyai”?

Bertanya: intransitive “to ask (a question).” Person via kepada/pada/sama, topic via tentang.
Example: Saya bertanya kepada petugas tentang arah…
Menanyakan: transitive; the thing asked is the direct object.
Example: Saya menanyakan arah… kepada petugas.
Menanyai: transitive; the person is the direct object, often implying multiple questions.
Example: Saya menanyai petugas tentang arah…

Is using bare “tanya” (without “ber-”) okay?

Yes, in informal speech. Saya tanya sama petugas arah ke perpustakaan. It’s natural in conversation; bertanya is more neutral/formal.

What exactly does “petugas” mean?

A general “staff member/attendant/official on duty.” It does not necessarily mean “police officer.” For a librarian, pustakawan is more precise; pegawai is a generic “employee.”

Could I use “pegawai,” “polisi,” or “satpam” instead of “petugas”?

Yes, if appropriate to the context:

kepada pegawai (an employee),
kepada polisi (a police officer),
kepada satpam (a security guard).

What’s the nuance of “arah ke perpustakaan” versus other options?

arah ke perpustakaan = directions/which way to go.
lokasi/letak perpustakaan = the location.
rute ke perpustakaan = the route.
Choose based on whether you want directions, a route, or a location.

Is “arah menuju perpustakaan” acceptable?

Yes. Arah menuju perpustakaan is fine and slightly more formal or written in tone. Arah ke perpustakaan is simpler and very common.

Can I just ask “Where is the library?” How would I say that?

Common, polite options:

Permisi, perpustakaan di mana ya?
Permisi, di mana perpustakaan?
Bagaimana cara ke perpustakaan? (How do I get to the library?)

How do I address someone politely when asking?

Use a polite opener and an address term:

Permisi, Pak/Bu, saya bertanya tentang arah ke perpustakaan. “Pak” (sir) and “Bu” (ma’am) are safe. Regionally you may hear Mas/Mbak, Bang/Kak.

Is “kepada” one word?

Yes. Write kepada as one word. Don’t split it as “ke pada.” By contrast, ke is a separate preposition for places (e.g., ke perpustakaan).

Can I use a pronoun instead of “petugas”?

Yes: Saya bertanya kepadanya tentang… or Saya bertanya kepada dia tentang… (both acceptable; kepadanya is more compact/formal). Casual: Saya tanya sama dia… Using ke dia is common informally but not standard in formal writing.

Any passive or fronted alternatives?

Yes, more formal/literary:

Arah ke perpustakaan saya tanyakan kepada petugas. Fronting for emphasis is also fine:
Saya bertanya tentang arah ke perpustakaan kepada petugas.

When do I use “saya” versus “aku”?

Saya is neutral and polite; safe with strangers and in writing. Aku is informal/intimate (friends, family). Other region-specific forms include gue/gua (Jakarta) and ane (Betawi).

Are there synonyms for “tentang”?

Yes:

mengenai (formal/neutral),
soal (casual),
perihal (very formal).
Example: Saya bertanya kepada petugas mengenai/soal/perihal arah ke perpustakaan.

Do I need “ke” after “arah”?

Usually yes when specifying a destination: arah ke [place]. Without ke, arah [noun] is used in set expressions like arah barat (westward) but arah perpustakaan sounds odd; use arah ke perpustakaan.

Is “menanyakan tentang …” redundant?

Often considered redundant because menanyakan already means “to ask about.” Prefer Saya menanyakan arah ke perpustakaan… rather than menanyakan tentang arah… in careful/formal writing.