Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Ubin kamar mandi licin; pasang karpet tipis dulu, dong. - The bathroom tiles are slippery; put down a thin carpet first, please.

The particle dong softens a request and adds friendly emphasis, like “come on/please.” It can make the command sound coaxing rather than bossy. It’s informal and fine among friends/family; avoid it in formal contexts. It has no relation to any English slang.

What does dulu mean here? Is it “used to”?

Here dulu means “first/for now/before anything else,” not “used to.” Example: Saya mandi dulu = I’ll take a shower first. It often implies “let’s do this first, then we’ll do other things.”

Why is there no word for “is” in Ubin kamar mandi licin?

Indonesian doesn’t use a copula with adjectives; adjectives can be the predicate. So Ubin kamar mandi licin literally “Bathroom tiles slippery.” For definiteness, add itu or -nya: Ubin kamar mandi itu licin / Ubin kamar mandinya licin.

Why is there no subject “you” in pasang karpet tipis dulu?

Imperatives normally drop the subject; “you” is understood. To be explicit or more polite: Tolong pasang…, Bisa pasang…, Silakan pasang…, or add a pronoun (Kamu/Anda pasang…). Passive is often polite: Tolong dipasang karpet tipis dulu.

Is pasang the best verb here? What about taruh, pakai, or gelar?

pasang = install/put in place; common for carpets/mats, neutral here.
taruh/letakkan = put/place; natural for a mat: Taruh keset dulu.
pakai = use; works if the idea is “use a mat”: Pakai keset dulu.
gelar/hampar = spread out; descriptive for rugs/mats: Gelar karpet dulu.

Should it be karpet or keset for a bathroom?

For a bath mat, keset (kamar mandi) is more typical. Karpet suggests a larger rug or wall‑to‑wall carpet. A more natural safety request is Pasang keset anti-slip dulu, dong.

Why is tipis after karpet?

Adjectives usually follow nouns: karpet tipis, ubin licin, kamar mandi bersih. Before the noun only with intensifiers (e.g., sangat tipis, terlalu licin) or in predicate position: Karpetnya tipis.

Can I say Ubin di kamar mandi licin instead?

Yes. Ubin kamar mandi licin treats it as the compound “bathroom tiles,” while Ubin di kamar mandi licin highlights the location (“tiles in the bathroom”). Both are natural; the nuance is minimal.

Is the semicolon normal?

In speech it’s just a pause. In casual writing you’d more often see a comma or period: Ubin kamar mandi licin, pasang… or Ubin kamar mandi licin. Pasang… To show cause-effect, add jadi or makanya: …, jadi pasang… / Makanya, pasang… Semicolons are less common in everyday Indonesian.

How can I make the request more polite?

Add tolong/mohon: Tolong pasang keset dulu, ya.
Use bisa/boleh: Bisa pasang keset dulu?
Use passive: Tolong dipasang keset dulu.
Avoid slangy particles; prefer ya over dong in formal settings.

How do I intensify or soften licin?

Stronger: sangat licin, licin sekali, licin banget (very colloquial).
Softer: agak licin, lumayan licin, cukup licin.
Overly much: terlalu licin.

Pronunciation tips?

ubin: OO-been (stress penultimate).
kamar mandi: KAH-mar MAHN-dee.
licin: LEE-chin (c = ch).
karpet: KAR-pet.
dulu: DOO-loo.
dong: “dong” with final ng as in “song,” no hard g.

What’s the difference between licin and halus?

licin = slick/slippery (safety risk). halus = smooth/fine/refined (texture or manners) and not necessarily slippery. A surface can be halus without being licin.

How do I say “Don’t put a thin rug yet” or “Please don’t”?

Use jangan for negative imperatives:

Jangan pasang karpet tipis dulu.
Softer: Jangan dulu pasang karpet, ya.

Can I use adalah here?

No. adalah links to a noun phrase (e.g., Dia adalah guru), not typically to an adjective. Don’t say Ubin kamar mandi adalah licin; just Ubin kamar mandi licin.

How do I mark “the” tiles more clearly?

Use demonstratives or -nya:

Ubin kamar mandi itu licin.
Ubin kamar mandinya licin. Both convey definiteness (“the bathroom tiles”).

Any alternative ways to show cause and suggestion?

Yes:

Ubin kamar mandi licin, jadi pasang keset dulu, dong.
Ubin kamar mandi licin. Makanya, pasang keset dulu.
Karena ubin kamar mandi licin, pasang keset dulu, ya.