Saya tidak ikut rapat, soalnya saya harus menjemput Ibu.

I am not attending the meeting because I have to pick up Mother.

Breakdown of Saya tidak ikut rapat, soalnya saya harus menjemput Ibu.

• saya: I
• tidak: not
• rapat: the meeting
• harus: must
• ibu: the mother
• menjemput: to pick up
• soalnya: because
• ikut: to attend

Questions & Answers about Saya tidak ikut rapat, soalnya saya harus menjemput Ibu.

What does the phrase ikut rapat mean? Could I just say Saya tidak rapat?

Ikut rapat literally means “join/participate in a meeting,” i.e., “attend the meeting.” You can’t say Saya tidak rapat because rapat is a noun; you need a verb like ikut, hadir, or datang.

• Natural options: Saya tidak ikut rapat. / Saya tidak menghadiri rapat. / Saya tidak datang ke rapat.

Why is tidak used here, and not bukan?

Tidak negates verbs and adjectives; bukan negates nouns. Here you’re negating the verb phrase ikut (rapat), so tidak is correct.
Colloquial: nggak/enggak can replace tidak.

What exactly does soalnya mean, and how formal is it?

Soalnya comes from soal (matter/issue) + -nya, and functions like “the reason is…” or an informal “because.” It’s casual and common in speech. In neutral/formal contexts, use karena or sebab instead:

• Saya tidak ikut rapat karena saya harus menjemput Ibu.

Can I put soalnya at the beginning of the sentence?

It’s possible but sounds colloquial and a bit clunky if you make one long sentence. Better choices:

• Two sentences: Saya tidak ikut rapat. Soalnya saya harus menjemput Ibu.
• Or use karena fronted: Karena saya harus menjemput Ibu, saya tidak ikut rapat.

Why is there a comma before soalnya? Could this be two sentences?

The comma separates two clauses. You can also make them two sentences:

• Saya tidak ikut rapat, soalnya saya harus menjemput Ibu.
• Saya tidak ikut rapat. Soalnya saya harus menjemput Ibu. In formal writing, prefer karena to avoid fragment-like sentences.

What’s the difference between soalnya and jadi/makanya?

• Soalnya = “because/the reason is …” (introduces the cause).
• Jadi = “so/therefore” (introduces the result).
• Makanya = “that’s why,” informal result connector. Example:
• Cause → result: Saya harus menjemput Ibu, jadi saya tidak ikut rapat.
• Result → cause: Saya tidak ikut rapat, soalnya saya harus menjemput Ibu.
  Don’t swap them.

How strong is harus here? Could I use perlu, mesti, or harusnya?

• Harus = must/obligation (strong).
• Perlu = need (softer/practical need).
• Mesti = must (colloquial).
• Harusnya = should/supposed to (expectation, often softer or implying past duty). Examples:
• Saya mesti/harus jemput Ibu.
• Saya perlu jemput Ibu.
• Harusnya saya jemput Ibu.

Is menjemput necessary after harus, or can I say harus jemput?

Both are fine. After modals like harus/mau/bisa, Indonesian often uses the base verb in speech:

• Standard: harus menjemput Ibu
• Colloquial: harus jemput Ibu
  Grammar note: base jemput
  • prefix meN- → menjemput.

Does capitalizing Ibu mean “my mother”? Could it also mean “ma’am”?

Capital Ibu typically refers respectfully to one’s own mother, and the possessive my is understood from context. It can also be an honorific title for an older woman (like “Ma’am/Ms.”), e.g., Ibu Sari. In this sentence, it most likely means “my mother.”

Do I need to add saya to make “my mother” explicit?

Not necessary. Indonesian often omits possessives when obvious. You can make it explicit:

• Ibu saya or ibuku = my mother
• For someone else’s mother: Ibu dia, ibunya Budi

Is mengambil okay for “pick up (a person)”? Or must it be menjemput?

Use menjemput for picking up people. Mengambil is for taking/picking up objects. So say:

• Saya harus menjemput Ibu. (Correct)
• Saya harus mengambil Ibu. (Sounds wrong/odd)

What’s the nuance of rapat versus pertemuan or borrowed meeting?

• Rapat: a formal/business meeting.
• Pertemuan: a meeting/encounter in general (broader).
• Meeting/miting: English loan, common in some offices, informal.
  Here rapat is the standard choice for a work meeting.

How would I express time/tense if I mean past or future?

Add time words:

• Past: tadi, kemarin → Saya tadi tidak ikut rapat, soalnya…
• Future: nanti, besok → Saya besok tidak ikut rapat, soalnya… Indonesian doesn’t change the verb for tense.

Could you show formal vs casual rewrites?

• More formal: Saya tidak menghadiri rapat karena saya harus menjemput Ibu.
• Neutral: Saya tidak ikut rapat karena saya harus menjemput Ibu.
• Casual: Aku nggak ikut rapat, soalnya harus jemput Ibu.
• Jakarta slang: Gue gak ikut rapat, soalnya gue mesti jemput nyokap. (very informal)