Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Saya tarik tunai di ATM, lalu memeriksa saldo di layar. - I withdraw cash at the ATM, then check the balance on the screen.

A verb phrase: Saya tarik tunai di ATM = I withdraw cash at the ATM.
A noun phrase: biaya tarik tunai = cash-withdrawal fee; limit tarik tunai = withdrawal limit.

Alternatives across registers:

Neutral/informal: Saya tarik tunai di ATM.
More explicit: Saya menarik uang (tunai) di ATM.
Formal: Saya melakukan tarik tunai di ATM. / Saya melakukan penarikan tunai.

Why not say "menarik tunai"?

On its own, menarik tunai is odd. With the meN- verb, you typically need the explicit object:

Natural: menarik uang tunai (withdraw cash)
Less natural: menarik tunai (sounds like “pull cash” but “tunai” functions as “cash” more like an adjective/noun in collocation; speakers avoid this) That’s why the set phrase tarik tunai (without meN-) is so common.

Do I have to repeat the subject in the second clause? Why is it just "..., lalu memeriksa ..."?

You don’t have to repeat it. Indonesian commonly drops the subject in the second clause if it’s the same as the first:

Given: Saya tarik tunai di ATM, lalu memeriksa saldo di layar.
Also fine: Saya tarik tunai di ATM, lalu saya memeriksa saldo di layar. (more explicit, slightly heavier)

What’s the difference between lalu, kemudian, terus, and habis itu?

They all mean “then/after that,” with register/feel differences:

lalu: neutral, widely used in speech and writing.
kemudian: a bit more formal; common in writing.
terus: very conversational.
habis itu / setelah itu: informal (habis itu) vs neutral (setelah itu). All can replace each other here depending on the tone you want.

Why is it di ATM and not ke ATM?

di marks location (“at/in/on”): di ATM = at the ATM.
ke marks movement (“to/toward”): ke ATM = to the ATM. So you might say: Saya ke ATM untuk tarik tunai. Di ATM, saya memeriksa saldo. Also note: di as a preposition is separate from the passive prefix di- (e.g., ditarik = “is/was pulled/withdrawn”).

Is di layar better than pada layar or di layarnya?

di layar is the default for physical location: “on the screen.”
di layar ATM is more explicit if needed.
pada layar is more formal and less common for a literal screen.
di layarnya means “on its screen/the screen of [that device],” referring back to something already known. It adds definiteness/possession via -nya.

Should I say saldo saya? The sentence just says saldo.

Indonesian often omits possessives when context makes them obvious. memeriksa saldo here clearly implies “my balance.” To be explicit:

memeriksa saldo saya / saldoku / saldo rekening saya
memeriksa saldonya can mean “the balance” (definite) or “his/her/its balance,” depending on context.

memeriksa vs mengecek vs cek vs melihat: which should I use?

memeriksa: to examine/check (more careful/formal).
mengecek: to check (very common, neutral).
cek (verb): casual/informal, often in speech or short messages.
melihat: to look at/see (doesn’t emphasize verification). Any of these can fit, depending on tone:
Neutral: lalu mengecek saldo di layar
Casual: lalu cek saldo di layar
Careful/formal: lalu memeriksa saldo di layar

Note: mengecek is meN- + cek. Because cek is monosyllabic, the prefix becomes menge- (mengecek), not menc-.

Is the comma before lalu required?

It’s optional. Many writers place a comma before lalu/kemudian when linking two clauses to mark a pause. You’ll also see it without a comma:

Does this sentence express past or present? There’s no tense marking.

Indonesian doesn’t mark tense on the verb. Without time words, it can be:

Past: “I withdrew cash ..., then checked ...”
Habitual/sequence: “I withdraw cash ..., then check ...” Add time/aspect words if needed:
tadi / barusan (earlier/just now), kemarin (yesterday), sudah (already), akan (will), nanti (later). Example: Tadi saya tarik tunai di ATM, lalu memeriksa saldo di layar.

Can I front the location? For example, Di ATM, saya tarik tunai...

Yes. Topicalizing the location is natural:

Di ATM, saya tarik tunai, lalu memeriksa saldo di layar. Colloquially you might also hear:
Saya di ATM tarik tunai, lalu ... (informal, focus on location) The default neutral order is the original sentence.

saya vs aku vs gue: which pronoun should I use?

saya: neutral/formal; safe with strangers, service staff, at work.
aku: informal/intimate; friends, equals, casual contexts.
gue/gw: very casual, Jakarta slang. Choose based on relationship and setting. The rest of the sentence stays the same.

Does menarik also mean “interesting”? Is that related?

Yes. menarik is “to pull/withdraw/attract” and also “interesting” (attractive to attention). Different senses of the same root:

menarik uang = withdraw money
filmnya menarik = the movie is interesting Context disambiguates the meaning.

How would a passive version look?

Several options, each with a nuance:

Object-fronting (still active): Uang(‑nya) saya tarik di ATM, lalu (saya) memeriksa saldo di layar.
Passive with di-: Uang(‑nya) ditarik di ATM, lalu saldo diperiksa di layar.
You can add the agent if needed: ... ditarik oleh saya, but Indonesians often omit the agent if it’s obvious. Active voice is generally more natural in everyday speech here.

Any pronunciation tips for these words?