Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Kami memilih dua opsi, termasuk rute yang paling hemat waktu. - We choose two options, including the route that saves the most time.

Kami = exclusive “we” (excludes the listener).
Kita = inclusive “we” (includes the listener). Use kami if the person you’re talking to wasn’t part of the decision; use kita if they were.

Can I say kita here instead of kami?

Yes, if you want to include the listener in the “we.” The sentence then implies the listener helped choose the options.

Is memilih the same as pilih? Could I say Kami pilih dua opsi?

Memilih is the standard/neutral verb form with the meN- prefix; it’s preferred in writing and careful speech.
Pilih is the root. In casual speech, dropping the prefix is common, so kami pilih is fine informally. In formal contexts, stick with kami memilih.

What’s the difference between opsi and pilihan?

Opsi (loan from English) often feels technical or businesslike: listed, discrete options.
Pilihan (from pilih) can mean “options” in general or “the selection” (the thing chosen). Both work here: dua opsi and dua pilihan are acceptable. Opsi sounds a bit more “menu/list”-like.

Do I need to pluralize with reduplication? Why not dua opsi-opsi?

Never reduplicate after a numeral. Use dua opsi, not opsi-opsi. Reduplication marks general plurality when there’s no number.

Should it be dua or kedua?

Dua opsi = two options (out of many).
Kedua opsi = both options (when there are exactly two, and you chose them both). Choose based on meaning.

Do I need a classifier like buah (e.g., dua buah opsi)?

No. Dua opsi is natural and sufficient. A classifier is unnecessary here.

What does termasuk do here? Is it a verb or a preposition?

In this structure, termasuk functions like “including,” introducing an item within the chosen set. Grammatically it’s often described as a verb meaning “to be included,” but in usage it behaves preposition-like:

Kami memilih dua opsi, termasuk rute … = “We chose two options, including the route …” It can also mean “to be counted as/among,” e.g., Saya termasuk orang yang….

Is the comma before termasuk necessary?

It’s optional but helpful. The comma marks termasuk rute yang paling hemat waktu as an appositive (extra info). Without the comma it’s still correct and common.

Could I use di antaranya or antara lain instead of termasuk?

Termasuk = “including” (neutral, can introduce one or more items).
Di antaranya = “among them,” must refer to a previously defined set and usually introduces multiple items.
Antara lain = “among others,” signals examples and implies the list isn’t exhaustive. All are possible with slight nuance differences. Termasuk is the most straightforward here.

What is yang doing in rute yang paling hemat waktu? Can I drop it?

Yang turns the following words into a modifier of rute (“the route that is the most time‑saving”). You can drop yang and say rute paling hemat waktu; both are natural. With yang, the structure reads more like a full relative clause; without it, it’s a tighter noun phrase.

Why use paling? Could I use ter- (like tercepat) instead?

Paling forms the superlative with adjectives/phrases: paling hemat waktu, paling efisien.
Ter- also marks superlative but typically with single adjectives: tercepat (fastest), termurah (cheapest). Because hemat waktu is a two-word phrase, paling hemat waktu is more natural than terhemat waktu. For “fastest route,” rute tercepat is perfect.

Does hemat only mean “frugal with money”? How does it work with time?

Hemat means “economical/efficient,” and it works for both money and time. So hemat waktu = time‑saving. Related forms:

Menghemat waktu = to save time.
Penghematan waktu = time savings.

Is paling menghemat waktu correct?

Not in this adjectival slot. Menghemat is a verb, so paling menghemat waktu is awkward here. Use:

paling hemat waktu, or
a relative clause: rute yang paling banyak menghemat waktu (“the route that saves the most time”).

Does paling mean “the most of all possible routes,” or just within our options?

It’s relative to context. Paling marks the top degree within the set under discussion. Here it most naturally means “the most time‑saving among the routes considered.”

Is there a clearer way to say that one of the two options is the most time‑saving route?

Yes:

Kami memilih dua opsi; salah satunya adalah rute yang paling hemat waktu. This explicitly tells the reader that one of the two is that route. Avoid reshaping it into opsi yang termasuk rute…, which misdirects the modifier onto opsi.

Should I say rute, jalur, or jalan?

Rute = a planned/defined route (navigation, logistics); best match here.
Jalur = path/lane/track; often for lanes, train lines, or designated corridors.
Jalan = road/street or the act of walking/going; less specific for a chosen route.