Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Tolong bawa uang pas untuk membayar sopir angkot. - Please bring exact change to pay the minibus driver.

Tolong is a polite way to ask someone to do something for you—roughly “please,” but literally “help (by doing this).” It’s a request marker used in everyday speech.

Compared with other options:
- Mohon = “I request” (more formal, written, or official).
- Silakan = “please go ahead” (invites someone to do something for their own benefit, not a request to help you).
- Harap = “please” as an instruction on signs/notices (“kindly…”), not used in casual conversation.

Why is bawa used instead of membawa?

Bawa is the root verb and is the normal imperative (“bring!”). Indonesian often uses the bare root for commands and casual requests.

Membawa is more neutral/descriptive (“to bring”) and shows up in formal requests or notices, e.g., Harap membawa uang pas (“Please bring exact change” on a sign).
You might also see Bawalah (with -lah) in written or formal styles to soften or emphasize the command.

What exactly does uang pas mean? Is it the same as “small change”?

Uang pas means the exact amount needed—“exact change.” It’s not necessarily small denominations, just precise.

Related terms:
- Uang kecil = small denominations (“small change”), not necessarily exact.
- Uang receh = coins.
- Pecahan kecil = small bills/denominations.

Example: If the fare is Rp5.000, uang pas is exactly Rp5.000 (could be a single 5k note or smaller notes totaling 5k).

Why use untuk membayar here? Could I say buat bayar instead?

Yes. Untuk is “for/to,” and pairing it with the me- form (membayar) sounds more formal. In casual speech:

buat bayar is very common and informal.
untuk bayar (dropping me-) is also fine in neutral/casual contexts.

All are grammatical; the choice signals formality:

Formal-ish: untuk membayar
Neutral: untuk bayar
Casual: buat bayar

Can I just use bayar instead of membayar?

Yes. Bayar (root) and membayar (me- form) are both acceptable verbs. After untuk, you can use either:

Tolong bawa uang pas untuk membayar sopir angkot (more formal).
Tolong bawa uang pas untuk bayar sopir angkot (neutral/casual).

In everyday speech, the root bayar is very common.

Should it be bayar sopir angkot or bayar ke/kepada sopir angkot?

All are possible, with slight nuance:

Bayar sopir angkot: direct object pattern (“pay the angkot driver”). Very common and natural.
Bayar ke sopir angkot: emphasizes the recipient; casual/natural.
Bayar kepada sopir angkot: more formal.

In conversation, bayar sopir angkot or bayar ke sopir angkot are most typical.

Is it spelled sopir or supir?

The standard spelling is sopir (per KBBI, the official dictionary). You’ll often hear and see supir in everyday use, but in careful writing, stick to sopir. Pronunciation is the same in practice.

What is angkot exactly?

Angkot is short for angkutan kota (“city transport”): a small public minibus that runs fixed routes and picks up/drop offs along the way. Regional terms vary (e.g., mikrolet, bemo in some places). It’s different from bus (larger bus) and ojek (motorcycle taxi).

Is the sentence polite enough? How could I soften it more?

It’s polite already thanks to Tolong. To soften or make it friendlier:

Add particles: Tolong bawa uang pas, ya, untuk membayar sopir angkot.
Use a question form: Bisa tolong bawa uang pas untuk membayar sopir angkot?
More formal/written: Mohon membawa uang pas untuk membayar sopir angkot.
Very casual/friendly (to someone you know): Tolong bawa uang pas, dong. (Note: dong is colloquial and can sound pushy if used with strangers.)

Can Tolong move around in the sentence or be omitted?

Yes. Typical position is at the start, but variations are natural:

Tolong, bawa uang pas untuk membayar sopir angkot.
With an explicit subject assignment: Kamu tolong bawa uang pas untuk membayar sopir angkot.
Omit it for a bare imperative (more direct): Bawa uang pas untuk membayar sopir angkot.
Add a softener at the end: Bawa uang pas untuk membayar sopir angkot, ya.

How would this appear on a sign or notice?

Signs prefer formal/instructional wording:

Harap membawa uang pas.
Mohon menyiapkan uang pas untuk membayar ongkos angkot.
Harap sediakan uang pas.

These avoid direct second-person requests and sound institutional.

Where is “you” in the sentence? Why is there no pronoun?

Indonesian often drops the subject when it’s obvious, especially in imperatives. Tolong bawa… already implies “(you) please bring…”.

You can add a pronoun for clarity or tone:

Informal: Kamu tolong bawa uang pas…
Polite/formal: Anda mohon membawa uang pas…
Plural: Kalian tolong bawa uang pas…

How do I pronounce angkot and the ng sound?

Angkot is roughly “ANG-kot.” The ng is the velar nasal (like the “ng” in “sing”), followed by a k: “ang-kot.”
Sopir is “SO-peer” (with an “o” like in “so,” not “soo”).
Pas is “pahs.”

Can I drop untuk altogether?

Yes, in casual speech you’ll hear Tolong bawa uang pas bayar sopir angkot. It’s natural. In careful writing or formal speech, keep untuk.

What about bawakan? Would Tolong bawakan uang pas work?

Bawakan means “bring something for someone” (benefactive). If you say Tolong bawakan uang pas, it implies bringing exact change for someone’s benefit—usually you’d specify the beneficiary: Tolong bawakan saya uang pas.

If you just mean “bring exact change (with you),” stick with bawa.

Can I say ongkos instead of “pay the driver”?

Yes. Ongkos means “fare.” Natural variants include:

Tolong bawa uang pas untuk bayar ongkos angkot.
Tolong sediakan uang pas untuk ongkos angkot.
More formal: Mohon menyiapkan uang pas untuk membayar ongkos angkot.

All convey the same idea that exact change is needed for the fare.