Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Permisi, bolehkah saya lewat dulu? Saya mau mengejar bus. - Excuse me, may I pass first? I want to catch the bus.

Permisi is the standard way to say “excuse me” when you want to get past someone or get attention; it’s not an apology. Maaf means “sorry” and is used to apologize for an inconvenience or mistake. In a crowd, say Permisi as you pass; if you actually bump someone, add Maaf.

Why use bolehkah? How is it different from boleh or bisakah?

Bolehkah asks for permission in a polite or slightly formal way; the suffix -kah turns it into a clear yes–no question. Boleh saya lewat dulu? is equally natural in everyday speech (less formal). Bisakah saya lewat dulu? asks about ability (“is it possible for me to pass?”) and can sound off; use boleh for permission.

What nuance does dulu add in lewat dulu?

Dulu literally means “first/for now,” not “in the past” in this context. It softens the request and implies “let me go ahead just for now,” reducing imposition. It’s similar to adding “just” or “for a sec” in English.

Why lewat and not melewati?

Lewat works intransitively (“to pass by/through”), which is what you need in a crowd: Boleh saya lewat dulu?. Melewati is transitive and needs an object (e.g., melewati pintu “pass through the door”). Boleh saya melewati Anda? is grammatical but sounds stiff; people don’t usually phrase it that way in real life.

Can I drop -kah and still be polite?

Yes. Boleh saya lewat dulu? is very common and polite with the right tone. The -kah just adds formality; your intonation and context carry politeness in everyday speech.

Is Permisi, numpang lewat natural?

Yes—very natural and common, especially in busy places. Variants:

Permisi, numpang lewat ya.
Permisi, lewat dulu ya.
Ultra brief: Permisi ya.

Why use saya instead of aku?

Saya is the neutral/polite “I,” used with strangers and in public. Aku is more intimate/informal (friends, family). Regional colloquials exist (gue/gua in Jakarta, aku more common in Java), but with strangers saya is safest.

What does mau convey here? Could I use ingin or akan?

Mau expresses immediate intention (“I’m about to/I want to”), perfect for near-future actions like catching a bus now. Ingin is “want” but a bit more formal/less immediate. Akan is a neutral future marker and can sound too detached here.

Is mengejar the right form of the verb? What’s the base?

Yes. The base is kejar (“chase, pursue”); adding the prefix meN- gives mengejar. Colloquially, people often say ngejar (dropping the full prefix), especially in speech.

Can I say Saya mau kejar bus or Saya mau ngejar bus?

Both are common in speech. Saya mau mengejar bus is the standard/formal form; Saya mau kejar bus and Saya mau ngejar bus are informal but very natural.

Is bus correct, or should it be bis?

Modern standard Indonesian prefers bus (KBBI). You will still hear and see bis informally; both are understood. Pronunciation is usually like “bus” in English.

Could I omit saya and just say Boleh lewat dulu?

Yes, dropping the subject is fine and still polite in context: Permisi, boleh lewat dulu? For the second sentence, you could also shorten to Mau (ngejar) bus in casual speech after context is clear.

Is there a more indirect or softer way to ask people to make space?

Yes. Common softeners:

Permisi ya, boleh lewat dulu?
Permisi, minta jalan dulu ya.
Permisi, bisa kasih jalan sebentar? (still okay, though boleh is better than bisa for permission)

What are natural replies I should expect or use?

Typical responses:

Silakan. / Silakan lewat.
Iya, monggo. (very common in Java; polite)
Lewat, lewat. You can add Terima kasih after passing; it’s appreciated.

Does punctuation/intonation matter for the question?

Yes. Without -kah, use rising intonation: Boleh saya lewat dulu? With -kah, the sentence itself marks a question regardless of tone: Bolehkah saya lewat dulu?

Is sebentar interchangeable with dulu here?

They overlap but aren’t identical. Sebentar highlights time (“for a moment”): Permisi sebentar. Dulu highlights precedence/going first (“let me go ahead first”): Boleh saya lewat dulu? Using both together is also common: Permisi, sebentar ya, saya lewat dulu.