Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Tolong menandai nama tersebut di daftar resmi. - Please mark that name on the official list.

Tolong literally means “help (me)” and is the most common way to soften an imperative into a polite request, similar to “please” in English. Nuances compared to other options:

Tolong: neutral–polite, everyday requests.
Mohon: more formal and deferential (office emails, notices).
Silakan: an invitation/permission (“please go ahead”), not a request to do a task.
Harap: formal, impersonal instruction often seen on signs (“Please do X” = “Kindly do X”).

Should it be Tolong tandai or Tolong menandai? Which sounds more natural?

After tolong, Indonesian typically uses the bare imperative (no meN-), so Tolong tandai … is the most idiomatic. Tolong menandai … is not wrong and appears in careful or bureaucratic writing, but many natives still prefer the bare form. Very formal passive is also common: Mohon ditandai ….

What’s the difference between menandai, menandakan, menandatangani, and mencentang?

menandai: to mark something (physically or digitally) by putting a sign on/next to it. Focus on the target being marked.
menandakan: to signify/indicate that something is the case (abstract meaning). Example: “Ini menandakan kemajuan.”
menandatangani: to sign (one’s signature). Use this for signing a document/list.
mencentang / beri centang / beri tanda: to tick/checkmark; very common for lists.

Why is tersebut placed after nama? Could I use itu instead?

Demonstratives normally follow the noun in Indonesian. tersebut means “the aforementioned,” sounding formal and referring back to something already mentioned. itu means “that,” more general and less formal.

Formal/back‑reference: nama tersebut
Neutral: nama itu You’ll also see alternatives like nama yang dimaksud (“the intended name”).

Is di daftar resmi correct, or should it be pada or dalam?

All can be correct, with nuance:

di daftar resmi: common and natural (“on/in the list” as a location).
dalam daftar resmi: “inside/within the list,” slightly more explicit.
pada daftar resmi: more formal or written style. In everyday speech, di is the go‑to.

Could I say “Tolong menandai di daftar resmi nama tersebut”? How flexible is the word order?

Indonesian usually puts the direct object right after the verb and the location phrase later:

Most natural: Tolong tandai nama tersebut di daftar resmi. Fronting the location (di daftar resmi) before the object is possible but sounds stilted. Keep object before the locative for smoothness.

How would I say this in a passive form?

Common and very polite options:

Tolong nama tersebut ditandai di daftar resmi.
Mohon ditandai nama tersebut di daftar resmi.
Harap ditandai nama tersebut di daftar resmi. (formal notice tone) Passive avoids directly telling the listener “you,” which can be softer/formal.

What does the suffix -i in menandai do?

The suffix -i often indicates the action targets a location/goal or repeatedly affects a surface. With menandai, the focus is on the thing being marked (the name) as the target/“surface.” Contrast:

menandai X = put a mark on X
menandakan Y = signify/indicate Y (abstract result)

Why is di written separately in di daftar but attached in ditandai?

di as a preposition meaning “at/on/in” is written separately: di daftar.
di- as a passive prefix attaches to the verb: ditandai (“is/was marked”). Same spelling, different functions.

Is daftar resmi the only way to say “official list”?

No. Depending on context, you might use:

daftar resmi pemerintah (government’s official list)
daftar hadir (attendance list; add resmi if needed: daftar hadir resmi)
daftar peserta resmi (official participant list)
daftar yang resmi (more explicit but wordier) Pick the noun that best matches the list’s purpose.

If I meant “sign the official list,” how should I change it?

Use the “sign” verb:

Active: Tolong menandatangani daftar resmi.
More idiomatic with bare imperative: Tolong tandatangani daftar resmi.
Passive/formal: Mohon daftar resmi ditandatangani.

How would this sound in casual speech?

Colloquial Jakarta-style options:

Tolong tandain nama itu di daftar resmi.
Tolong centangin nama itu di daftar resmi. The suffix -in is a colloquial transitive marker. Avoid in formal writing.

Can I drop tersebut if context is clear?

Yes. Tolong tandai nama itu di daftar resmi or simply Tolong tandai namanya di daftar resmi (if “their/that name” is clear) are fine. tersebut just adds a formal, refer-back feel.

There’s no word for “the” here. How is definiteness shown?

Indonesian has no articles. Definiteness is conveyed by context and devices like:

Demonstratives: itu, ini
Back‑reference: tersebut
Possessive clitic: -nya (e.g., namanya) So nama tersebut functions like “the aforementioned name.”