Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Kalau rapat mendadak, mending tanya manajer dulu. - If the meeting is sudden, it’s better to ask the manager first.

It’s “if,” introducing a condition. Depending on context, kalau can also mean “when/whenever” for habitual situations. A more formal equivalent is jika. In casual writing you’ll also see kalo.

Why is there no subject? Who is supposed to ask?

Indonesian often drops the subject when it’s obvious. Here it’s an impersonal or general “you/one/we.” You can make it explicit:

Kalau rapat mendadak, mending kamu tanya manajer dulu.
Formal: … sebaiknya Anda bertanya …

Is the first clause missing a verb? Why not Kalau ada rapat mendadak?

It’s an accepted ellipsis. Kalau rapat mendadak is shorthand for either:

Kalau ada rapat mendadak (if there’s a sudden meeting), or
Kalau rapatnya mendadak (if the meeting is sudden). All three are natural; adding ada or -nya makes it a bit clearer.

What exactly does mending mean, and is it slang?

Mending means “better/it’s better to…,” giving advice or a soft recommendation. It’s colloquial. Neutral/formal alternatives:

lebih baik
sebaiknya

How do mending, mendingan, lebih baik, and sebaiknya differ?

mending / mendingan: casual; both widely used; mendingan can feel a touch more conversational.
lebih baik: neutral, OK in semi-formal.
sebaiknya: sounds advisory/formal. Note: You may hear lebih mending, but it’s redundant in careful Indonesian.

Why tanya and not bertanya or menanyakan?

They differ in transitivity and register:

tanya (bare verb): casual, can take a person directly. Example: tanya manajer.
bertanya: intransitive “to ask (a question).” Usually needs kepada for the addressee: bertanya kepada manajer.
menanyakan: transitive “to ask about [something].” Pattern: menanyakan [hal] kepada [orang].

Do I need a preposition before manajer? Is tanya manajer OK?

All are possible, with register differences:

Casual direct object: tanya manajer.
With preposition (neutral–formal): tanya ke/kepada manajer.
Very casual: tanya sama manajer. Formal writing prefers kepada.

What does dulu add here?

It means “first/before doing other things.” It’s not about the past here. A more formal equivalent is terlebih dahulu.

Where does dulu go in the sentence?

Common placements:

tanya manajer dulu (most natural)
tanya dulu ke/kepada manajer Avoid dulu manajer. Put dulu near the verb phrase.

Is rapat mendadak the same as “urgent meeting”? What if I want “urgent”?

No. mendadak = sudden/last-minute. For “urgent,” use:

rapat mendesak (urgent)
rapat darurat (emergency)

Can I say rapat tiba-tiba?

Prefer rapat mendadak or rapat dadakan. tiba-tiba is typically an adverb, not used attributively. You could say rapat yang tiba-tiba diadakan, but without a verb it’s less natural.

Could I put mendadak before the noun, like mendadak rapat?

Not as a noun modifier. mendadak before a clause/verb means “suddenly”: Mendadak, rapat diadakan. To modify a noun, use rapat mendadak or rapat dadakan.

Is manajer the correct spelling?

Yes. Indonesian uses manajer (not “manager”).

How would I say this more formally?

Examples:

Jika rapatnya mendadak, sebaiknya Anda bertanya kepada manajer terlebih dahulu.
Apabila rapat mendadak, lebih baik bertanya kepada manajer terlebih dahulu.

Is the comma after the first clause required?

It’s standard to put a comma after a fronted conditional clause: Kalau …, … In speech, you’d naturally pause there.

Is tanya manajer blunt? How can I soften it?

Bare imperatives can feel direct. To soften:

Coba tanya manajer dulu.
Tolong tanya manajer dulu.
Tanya manajer dulu, ya.
Formal: Silakan bertanya kepada manajer terlebih dahulu.

Does the sentence mean “ask the manager” or “ask your manager”?

Indonesian doesn’t mark definiteness or possession here. Context decides. To be explicit:

tanya manajermu/manager Anda (your manager)
Or name/title: tanya Pak/Ibu [Name] dulu.

Is there any nuance difference among rapat mendadak, rapat dadakan, and rapat yang mendadak?

rapat mendadak: neutral, widely used.
rapat dadakan: casual/colloquial, same idea.
rapat yang mendadak: a bit more formal or careful; often used when the noun phrase is longer.