Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Maksud saya, kita fokus pada hal yang berdampak besar dulu. - I mean, we focus on the things that have a big impact first.

It’s a discourse marker meaning “I mean” or “What I mean is,” used to clarify or reframe what you just said. It’s not literally “my meaning” in a dictionary sense. Variants by register:

Polite/neutral: Maksud saya…
Casual: Maksudku…
Very casual/Jakarta slang: Maksud gue…
Neutral alternative: Yang saya maksud… or Intinya…

Why is it kita and not kami?

Both mean “we,” but:

kita = inclusive “we” (includes the listener)
kami = exclusive “we” (excludes the listener) Here, kita invites the listener to join in focusing.

Is fokus a verb in Indonesian, or do I need berfokus or memfokuskan?

All are possible, with slight differences:

kita fokus pada… = natural, predicate adjective functioning like a verb (“we focus on…”)
kita berfokus pada… = slightly more formal/literate, same meaning
kita memfokuskan … pada … = transitive/causative (“we focus [something] on [something]”) Examples:
Kita fokus pada hal …
Kita berfokus pada hal …
Kita memfokuskan upaya pada hal …

Why use pada after fokus? Can I use ke or di?

Standard collocation is fokus pada (“focus on”). Notes:

fokus pada X = correct and standard
fokus ke X = common in speech but informal
fokus di X = can work with locations/domains (e.g., fokus di pemasaran = “focus in marketing”), but for “focus on things,” pada is safest.

Is pada hal the same as padahal?

No—false friends.

pada hal = “on things/matters” (pada
- noun hal)
padahal (one word) = a conjunction meaning “whereas/though/in fact”

What does hal mean here, and how is it different from barang or masalah?

hal = “thing/matter/aspect” (often abstract or a point in discussion).

barang = a physical object/item
masalah = a problem/issue
Other near-synonyms: perkara, urusan (matter/affair), depending on context.

What is yang doing in hal yang berdampak besar?

yang introduces a relative clause: hal yang berdampak besar = “the things that have a big impact.” Structure: noun (hal) + yang + descriptor/relative clause (berdampak besar). You generally need yang to link the descriptor to the noun.

How does berdampak besar work morphologically and meaning-wise?

Root: dampak = impact
ber-
- dampak → berdampak = “to have an impact”
besar = big/great (degree) So berdampak besar = “have a big impact.” Contrast:
dampak besar = “a big impact” (noun phrase)
berpengaruh besar = “have great influence” (close synonym)

Does dulu mean “in the past” here?

No. Here dulu means “first/for now/before anything else,” marking sequence or priority. Alternatives:

lebih dulu = “first/firstly”
duluan (casual) = “first”
dahulu = more formal/old-fashioned “formerly/first” (context-dependent)

Can I move dulu earlier in the sentence?

Yes. Word order is flexible for emphasis:

Kita fokus pada hal yang berdampak besar dulu.
Kita fokus dulu pada hal yang berdampak besar.
Fokus dulu pada hal yang berdampak besar. (imperative tone) All are natural; placing dulu earlier gives it slight emphasis.

If I mean multiple things, do I need to say hal-hal?

You can, but Indonesian often leaves number unmarked. Both are fine:

hal yang berdampak besar (could be singular or plural in context)
hal-hal yang berdampak besar (explicitly plural)

How would I make this a clear “let’s …” suggestion?

Use a hortative:

Mari kita fokus pada hal yang berdampak besar dulu. (polite)
Ayo kita fokus pada hal yang berdampak besar dulu. (casual)
Or drop kita and use an imperative: Fokus dulu pada hal yang berdampak besar.

Can I specify what the impact is on, like “that have a big impact on our business”?

Yes, add a prepositional phrase:

hal yang berdampak besar pada bisnis kita
hal yang berdampak besar terhadap biaya Both pada and terhadap work; pada is more general, terhadap is slightly more formal/targeted.

Is the comma after Maksud saya necessary?

In writing, yes—you typically set off sentence-initial discourse markers with a comma: Maksud saya, … In speech, it’s just a brief pause.

Any common mistakes to avoid with this sentence?

Writing padahal when you mean pada hal
Using di where pada is expected: prefer fokus pada
Saying yang besar berdampak (wrong order). Keep it yang berdampak besar.
Overtranslating dulu as “formerly” here; it means “first/for now.”

Pronunciation tips for tricky parts?

Maksud: the ks sounds like “k-s,” and u is like “oo” in “food.”
yang: nasal ng at the end; roughly “yahng.”
fokus: stress usually on the first syllable: FO-kus.