Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Syukurlah ATM di dekat kantor sudah dibuka pagi ini. - Thank goodness the ATM near the office has opened this morning.

Syukurlah is an exclamation expressing relief or gratitude, roughly like thank goodness. It’s neutral. Alhamdulillah is overtly Islamic, and Untunglah leans toward fortunately/luck, with less sense of giving thanks.

What does the particle -lah do in Syukurlah?

-lah is an emphatic/softening particle. Here it adds a warm, conclusive feel to syukur, making the exclamation sound natural and complete. It doesn’t change the core meaning.

Can I just say Syukur instead of Syukurlah?

Yes. Syukur! is possible, but Syukurlah! sounds more idiomatic in everyday speech. Syukur alone can sound terse or literary.

How is ATM used in Indonesian? Do people say “mesin ATM”?

People commonly say ATM for the machine/place. To be explicit you can say mesin ATM (ATM machine). The full Indonesian expansion is rarely used in conversation.

Why is it di dekat kantor and not just di kantor? What does dekat add?

di marks location and dekat means near. di dekat kantor = near the office, not at the office. You can also hear dekat kantor (dropping di) or more formal dekat dengan kantor; all are acceptable.

Do we need yang after ATM (ATM yang di dekat kantor)?

Not here. ATM di dekat kantor is already a noun followed by a locational phrase, understood as the ATM near the office. ATM yang di dekat kantor is also grammatical but more explicit, and often unnecessary.

Why isn’t there a word for “the” before ATM or office?

Indonesian has no articles. Definiteness comes from context or markers like itu (that), ini (this), a possessor, or -nya. For example: ATM itu, kantor saya, kantornya.

What does sudah add to the sentence?

sudah marks completed aspect/already. It signals that the opening has happened by the reference time. Formal telah is similar; colloquial udah is the casual form. The negative counterpart is belum (not yet).

Why use the passive dibuka instead of buka?

dibuka (prefix di-) is passive, focusing on the action done to the ATM (opened by someone). sudah dibuka emphasizes the completed opening action. sudah buka uses the base verb buka to state the current operating state (it is open).

Could I use terbuka instead of dibuka or buka?

Use terbuka for a physical/state sense (a door is open). For businesses and services, buka/sudah buka is standard for being open, and dibuka/sudah dibuka for the act of opening. So an ATM/service is typically not described as terbuka.

Can the time phrase pagi ini move to other positions?

Yes. Common options:

Syukurlah ATM di dekat kantor sudah dibuka pagi ini.
Syukurlah, pagi ini ATM di dekat kantor sudah dibuka. Placement changes emphasis slightly (time vs action) but not the core meaning.

What’s the difference between pagi ini and tadi pagi?

Both refer to this morning. tadi pagi highlights earlier today (past reference) and is preferred if the morning has already passed. pagi ini can be used while it’s still morning or to refer to this morning more generally.

Who did the opening? How do I say it?

Passive hides the agent. To name it, add oleh: … sudah dibuka oleh petugas (opened by staff). Or switch to active: Petugas sudah membuka ATM di dekat kantor.

Any spelling gotchas with di and dibuka?

Yes. The location preposition di is separate: di dekat. The passive prefix di- attaches to the verb: dibuka. Don’t write di buka for the verb.

Is ATM singular here? How do I make it plural?

Nouns aren’t marked for number by default. Use context or add words: beberapa ATM (several), banyak ATM (many), or reduplication ATM-ATM for plural emphasis.

How do I say near my/our office naturally?

Common options: di dekat kantor saya, di dekat kantor kami, or casual dekat kantorku. If the office is already known, di dekat kantornya can mean near the office in question.