Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Saya menaruh pasta gigi dan handuk di lemari pakaian karena rak kamar mandi penuh. - I put the toothpaste and towels in the wardrobe because the bathroom shelf is full.

Saya menaruh buku di meja. = I put the book on the table. Use ke when the verb itself expresses movement toward a destination (e.g., pergi, membawa, memasukkan):
Saya membawa buku ke meja. = I brought the book to the table.
Saya memasukkan buku ke dalam lemari. = I put/inserted the book into the wardrobe.

Can I use meletakkan or menyimpan instead of menaruh? What’s the nuance?

menaruh: neutral, very common “to put/place” anywhere (on/in/at).
meletakkan: often “to put down” onto a surface; a bit more deliberate/careful, but widely interchangeable with menaruh in everyday use.
menyimpan: “to store/keep (for later).” Emphasizes keeping something to be used later. All three work here, but the nuance changes slightly:
Saya menaruh/meletakkan pasta gigi dan handuk di lemari pakaian. = I put/placed them in the wardrobe.
Saya menyimpan pasta gigi dan handuk di lemari pakaian. = I stored them in the wardrobe.

Does di lemari pakaian mean “in the wardrobe” or “at the wardrobe”? Do I need di dalam?

With container-like nouns (e.g., lemari), di lemari is normally understood as “in the wardrobe.” If you want to be explicit, use di dalam:

di lemari = in the wardrobe (default reading)
di dalam lemari = inside the wardrobe (explicit)

Why is there no word for “is” before penuh? Why not adalah?

Indonesian doesn’t need a linking verb before adjectives. Rak kamar mandi penuh literally reads “bathroom shelf full,” and that is the normal way to say “the bathroom shelf is full.” The word adalah is used mainly to link nouns (e.g., Dia adalah guru), not before adjectives. So:

Correct: Rak kamar mandi penuh.
Wrong/unnatural: Rak kamar mandi adalah penuh.

How are the noun strings like pasta gigi, lemari pakaian, and kamar mandi formed?

Indonesian places the head noun first, then the modifier:

pasta gigi = paste [for] teeth → toothpaste
lemari pakaian = wardrobe [for] clothes
kamar mandi = room [for] bathing → bathroom
rak kamar mandi = shelf [of/for] the bathroom → bathroom shelf

Do I need to mark “the” or “a/an,” or show plurals?

Indonesian has no articles and doesn’t obligatorily mark plural. Context does the work. If needed:

“the”: add itu (that) → rak kamar mandi itu = the bathroom shelf.
“a/an”: you can add a classifier or sebuah (generic) → sebuah lemari = a wardrobe.
plurals: use a number (dua handuk), beberapa (some), banyak (many), or reduplication (handuk-handuk) when you must be explicit.

Why is it menaruh, not mentaruh? What happened to the letter t?

The prefix meN- triggers sound changes. With roots starting with t, the t drops and the prefix becomes men-:

tulis → menulis, taruh → menaruh Other common patterns:
p drops → mem- (e.g., pakai → memakai)
k drops → meng- (e.g., kirim → mengirim)
s drops → meny- (e.g., sapu → menyapu)

Can I just say Saya taruh … without meN-?

Yes, in everyday informal speech you’ll often hear Saya taruh… or Aku taruh…. In careful or formal writing, prefer menaruh (or meletakkan).

Is di here the preposition or the passive prefix di-? How can I tell?

It’s the preposition di (separate word) because it’s followed by a noun phrase (lemari pakaian). The passive prefix di- attaches directly to a verb: ditaruh (is/was placed).

How would I say this in the passive?

Two natural options:

Passive with no agent: Pasta gigi dan handuk ditaruh di lemari pakaian karena rak kamar mandi penuh.
Colloquial “passive-type” fronting the object with an explicit agent: Pasta gigi dan handuk saya taruh di lemari pakaian karena rak kamar mandi penuh.

When do I use penuh versus penuh dengan?

penuh = full (no need to specify content). Example: Rak itu penuh.
penuh dengan X = full of X. Example: Rak itu penuh dengan handuk.

Is pasta gigi one word or two? Any synonyms?

It’s two words: pasta gigi. A very common colloquial synonym is odol (originally a brand, now generic in many areas). Don’t confuse pasta gigi (toothpaste) with sikat gigi (toothbrush).

What exactly is lemari pakaian? Any other ways to say it?

Lemari pakaian is a wardrobe/closet for clothes. You’ll also hear lemari baju (very common). Lemari alone is a general cupboard/cabinet; context tells you the type (e.g., lemari es = refrigerator).

What’s the difference between rak and lemari?

rak = shelf (an exposed surface for placing items).
lemari = cupboard/cabinet/wardrobe (usually enclosed, with doors). So rak kamar mandi is a bathroom shelf; lemari kamar mandi would be a bathroom cabinet.

Could I say rak di kamar mandi instead of rak kamar mandi?

Yes. Subtle difference:

rak kamar mandi: a bathroom shelf (type/category or associated-with).
rak di kamar mandi: the shelf that is in the bathroom (explicit location). In many contexts they overlap.

Where can I put the karena-clause? Do I need a comma?

You can place karena… after or before the main clause:

Main clause first (no comma needed in the middle): Saya menaruh … di lemari pakaian karena rak kamar mandi penuh.
Reason first (use a comma after it): Karena rak kamar mandi penuh, saya menaruh … di lemari pakaian.

How do I say “so” instead of “because”?

Use jadi (therefore/so):

Rak kamar mandi penuh, jadi saya menaruh pasta gigi dan handuk di lemari pakaian. Other options: makanya (colloquial), sehingga (more formal/ literary).

What are other words for “because”: karena, sebab, soalnya?

karena: neutral, standard.
sebab: more formal or literary than karena.
soalnya: colloquial, roughly “because/the thing is…” All can work, but karena is the safest default.

Any pronunciation tips for tricky words here?

gigi: hard g both times (gee-gee), not like English soft g.
penuh: the first e is a schwa (like the a in about): pə-NUH; u like oo in food.
pakaian: pa-KAI-an; ai like eye.
rak: rolled or tapped r; short a as in father; final k unreleased.
kamar mandi: stress tends to fall on the penultimate syllable (KA-mar MAN-di).