Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Tolong ambilkan botol air dari lemari. - Please get the water bottle from the cupboard.

Tolong means please (do X for me) and softens a request. It precedes a verb. Silakan invites someone to do something for themselves (e.g., Silakan duduk = please have a seat). In this sentence you need tolong, not silakan, because you’re asking someone to perform an action for your benefit.

Why ambilkan instead of ambil?

Ambilkan is ambil + suffix -kan, which adds a benefactive nuance: get/take something for someone. Tolong ambilkan... suggests please get it for me. Tolong ambil... is also acceptable but is a neutral take/get without highlighting the beneficiary.

Where is the for me in the sentence? Can I say it explicitly?

The for me is implied by -kan; by default the beneficiary is the speaker. To make it explicit:

Tolong ambilkan saya botol air dari lemari.
Tolong ambilkan botol air dari lemari untuk saya. Both are fine. Using untuk saya with -kan can feel redundant but is common for clarity, especially if the beneficiary is someone else (e.g., untuk dia).

Is ambilkan one word or two (ambil kan)?

One word: ambilkan. Writing ambil kan (two words) turns kan into a conversational tag (right?/you know), changing the meaning.

Can I use ambilkan without tolong?

Yes: Ambilkan botol air dari lemari. It’s a direct imperative and can sound firmer. Tolong softens it.

What’s the difference between botol air, sebotol air, and botol minum?

botol air: a bottle containing water; somewhat ambiguous. For a reusable water bottle (container), Indonesian usually uses botol minum or botol air minum.
sebotol air / satu botol air: one bottle of water (explicit quantity).
For commercial bottled water, you’ll hear air mineral (e.g., sebotol air mineral).

Do I need a classifier when I mean a bottle?

Use sebotol air or satu botol air to specify quantity. Sebuah botol air is possible but less idiomatic; sebotol is the natural measure word for liquids in bottles.

Why dari lemari and not di lemari?

dari = from (source/origin), used when removing something. di = at/in (location). You can say dari dalam lemari to emphasize from inside the cupboard.

Could I say daripada lemari?

In Indonesian, no. Use dari for places. Daripada is for comparisons (e.g., lebih besar daripada...) and certain other functions, but not for physical source here. (In Malaysian Malay, usage differs.)

What does lemari mean exactly? Closet, cupboard, or fridge?

Lemari is a general cupboard/cabinet/wardrobe, depending on context. For a refrigerator, say lemari es (formal) or very commonly kulkas. For a clothes wardrobe: lemari pakaian.

Where can I place dari lemari in the sentence?

Most natural is at the end. You can topicalize for emphasis: Dari lemari, tolong ambilkan botol air. That sounds marked/formal; everyday speech prefers the original order.

How can I make this more casual or more formal?

Neutral polite: Tolong ambilkan botol air dari lemari.
More casual: Bisa tolong ambilin botol air dari lemari? / Ambilin botol air dari lemari, dong.
More formal: Mohon ambilkan botol air dari lemari. / Bisakah Anda ambilkan botol air dari lemari? Notes: -in in ambilin is colloquial Jakarta Indonesian. dong softens/pleads informally.

How do I say Please don’t take/get the water bottle from the cupboard?

Tolong jangan ambil botol air dari lemari. Use jangan to negate the imperative. Avoid jangan ambilkan unless you specifically mean don’t get it for someone.

Any pronunciation tips, especially for air?

air (water) is two syllables: a‑ir, roughly ah-yeer, not like English air.
tolong ends with the velar nasal ng (as in sing).
lemari has a tapped/trilled r; the first e is a schwa-like sound (luh-MA-ree).

How do I say that water bottle or this water bottle?

Add demonstratives:

Tolong ambilkan botol air itu dari lemari. (that)
Tolong ambilkan botol air ini dari lemari. (this) You can also specify the cupboard: dari lemari itu/ini.