Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Saya membawa botol air mineral ke rapat. - I bring a bottle of mineral water to the meeting.

Mengambil = to take/pick up (from somewhere).
Mengantar = to take/escort (usually a person) to a place.
Membawakan = to bring something for someone (benefactive), or “to present/host” (e.g., a show).
Base form bawa is the root; membawa is the standard/formal form with the meN- prefix (which becomes mem- before b).

Does the sentence tell me past, present, or future? How do I add tense/aspect?

Indonesian doesn’t inflect for tense. Saya membawa… can be past, present, or future depending on context. Add time/aspect words:

Past/completed: tadi, kemarin, sudah (already). Example: Tadi saya membawa…
Ongoing: sedang. Example: Saya sedang membawa… (I am in the process of bringing—rare; usually you'd say “on my way.”)
Future: akan, time words. Example: Besok saya akan membawa…

Do I need “a/the”? How do I say “a bottle” vs “the bottle”?

Indonesian has no articles. Use other markers:

Indefinite “a”: just botol, or emphasize “one” with sebotol.
Definite “the/that”: itu after the noun phrase or -nya.
- botol air mineral itu = that/the bottle of mineral water.
- botol air mineralnya = the bottle of mineral water (previously known) or his/her bottle (context decides).

Should it be sebotol air mineral instead of botol air mineral?

Both are fine:

Botol air mineral = a bottle of mineral water (quantity not emphasized).
Sebotol air mineral = one bottle of mineral water (explicit “one”).
Sebuah botol air mineral is acceptable but emphasizes the container as an object; sebotol is more idiomatic for liquids.

What does air mineral mean exactly? Is it just “water”?

Air means “water” (not English “air”). Air mineral is “mineral water,” typically bottled. Other common terms:

Air putih = plain water (literally “white/clear water”).
Air minum = drinking water.

How does the noun phrase botol air mineral work without “of”? What about adjectives?

Indonesian stacks nouns: head noun first, then the “of” part. So botol air mineral = “bottle (of) mineral water.” Adjectives follow the noun phrase:

botol air mineral besar = a big bottle of mineral water. You can add yang for clarity/emphasis: botol air mineral yang besar.

Is ke rapat the right preposition? When do I use ke, di/pada, or kepada?

ke = to/toward a place or event: ke rapat (to the meeting), ke ruang rapat (to the meeting room).
di = at/in: di rapat (at the meeting).
pada = “at/on” in formal contexts, often for time/abstract: pada rapat kemarin (at yesterday’s meeting).
kepada = to (a person/recipient): kepada ketua rapat (to the meeting chair). Not used with places/events.

What’s the nuance of rapat vs pertemuan (and the loanword “meeting”)?

Rapat = a formal/organizational meeting with an agenda (work, committee).
Pertemuan = a meeting/encounter more generally (can be formal or informal).
English loan meeting is common in offices, informal: ke meeting. Neutral/formal choice: rapat.

Is Saya always appropriate, or can I use Aku/Gue?

Saya = polite/neutral and safe in most settings.
Aku = informal/intimate (friends, equals).
Gue/Gua = very informal Jakarta slang. Choose based on relationship and setting. The rest of the sentence stays the same.

Can I say Saya/Aku bawa… instead of membawa?

Yes. In everyday speech, the root verb is common: Aku bawa botol air mineral ke rapat. It’s more casual. Membawa is standard/formal and preferred in writing or formal speech.

How do I refer back to “the bottle” with “it”?

Use -nya as a clitic pronoun:

Saya sudah membeli botolnya. Besok saya membawanya ke rapat. = I’ve bought the bottle. Tomorrow I’ll bring it to the meeting. Attach -nya to the last word of the object phrase or to the verb (when the object is understood).

Any pronunciation pitfalls here?

air = two syllables [a-ir], like “AH-eer,” not English “air.”
membawa = mem-BA-wa (the b is clear; final -a as in “father”).
rapat = RA-pat (final t is crisp, unaspirated).
mineral = mi-ne-ral (Indonesian stress is light; keep clear vowels).