Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Tolong lengkapi formulir ini sebelum rapat dimulai. - Please complete this form before the meeting starts.

Tolong literally means help (as a verb or noun), but at the start of a sentence like Tolong lengkapi formulir ini… it functions as a polite request marker, roughly please.

Nuances:

Tolong = “please (help by doing X)”. It implies you’re asking for someone’s help, not giving an order.
It’s neutral and widely used in both spoken and written Indonesian.
Slightly more urgent/appealing than English please; it can sound like “please, do help with this”.
More formal alternatives:
- Harap lengkapi formulir ini… – very formal, like “Kindly complete this form…”
- Mohon lengkapi formulir ini… – also formal, often used in official written announcements.

So tolong is polite and perfectly acceptable, especially in semi-formal contexts and everyday situations.

Why is there no word for you (like Anda or kamu) in this sentence?

Indonesian often omits the subject, especially in imperatives (commands/requests).

English: Please complete this form…
→ must have an understood subject you.
Indonesian: Tolong lengkapi formulir ini…
→ the subject you is implied and normally dropped.

You could say:

Tolong Anda lengkapi formulir ini… – grammatically possible but sounds a bit stiff/awkward.
Tolong lengkapi formulir ini, Pak/Bu. – adding a title (sir/ma’am) to show respect.

In practice, leaving out you is the natural and default way to make requests like this in Indonesian.

What exactly is lengkapi, and how is it different from melengkapi or isi?

The base word is lengkap = complete (as an adjective).

melengkapi = to complete / to make something complete
- Active verb: Saya melengkapi formulir ini. – I complete this form.
In an imperative, Indonesian usually drops the meN- prefix:
- melengkapi → lengkapi (imperative)
  So lengkapi formulir ini literally means “complete this form”.

Compare with isi:

isi = fill / fill in / contents
- Tolong isi formulir ini. – Please fill in this form.
lengkapi puts emphasis on making it complete (all fields filled), not just writing something.
In everyday speech, isi formulir ini is more common and sounds more casual.
Lengkapi formulir ini sounds slightly more formal, like written instructions.

So:

lengkapi = imperative of melengkapi (complete it).
melengkapi = normal active verb (to complete).
isi = fill in (more colloquial for forms).

Why is it formulir ini and not ini formulir? Does the word order change the meaning?

Yes, the word order changes the structure and meaning:

formulir ini = this form (a noun + demonstrative)
- Used exactly like this form, that book, those people, etc.
ini formulir = this is a form (a sentence: ini as subject, formulir as predicate)
- Similar to Ini buku. – This is a book.

In your sentence:

Tolong lengkapi formulir ini… = Please complete this form…
You need formulir ini, because it’s a noun phrase functioning as the object of the verb lengkapi.

So formulir ini is correct and natural here; ini formulir would be a different sentence entirely (“this is a form”).

What does formulir mean, and is it different from the English loanword form used in Indonesian?

Formulir is the standard Indonesian word for form (like an application form, registration form, etc.).

formulir – more standard and neutral, common in written and formal contexts.
form (pronounced closer to English) – also used, especially in offices or informal speech, but it’s an English loan.

Examples:

Silakan isi formulir pendaftaran. – Please fill in the registration form.
Tolong kumpulkan formulir besok. – Please submit the forms tomorrow.

In your sentence, formulir ini is entirely natural and sounds appropriate for workplace/official use.

What is the function of sebelum in sebelum rapat dimulai, and how is it used generally?

Sebelum means before and can be used in two main ways:

Before + noun/event
- sebelum rapat – before the meeting
- sebelum makan – before eating / before the meal
Before + clause
- sebelum rapat dimulai – before the meeting starts/begins
- sebelum kamu pergi – before you go

In your sentence:

sebelum rapat dimulai = before the meeting is started / before the meeting starts

So sebelum works very similarly to English before and can be followed either by just a noun (an event) or by a full clause with a verb.

What does rapat mean exactly? Is it the same as meeting, and are there other common words for “meeting”?

Rapat means a formal meeting, usually in an office, organization, committee, or official context.

Common related words:

rapat – a formal meeting (staff meeting, board meeting, team meeting).
pertemuan – a broader word for meeting or gathering, not necessarily formal.
meeting (English loan) – often used in offices, more casual/business jargon.

Examples:

Besok ada rapat penting. – There is an important meeting tomorrow.
Kami mengadakan pertemuan keluarga. – We are having a family gathering.

In sebelum rapat dimulai, rapat naturally translates to the meeting.

Why is it rapat dimulai instead of just rapat mulai? What does dimulai show here?

Dimulai is the passive form of the verb memulai (to start/begin something).

Base verb: mulai – to start
Active: memulai rapat – to start the meeting
Passive: rapat dimulai – the meeting is started / the meeting begins

Using passive di- here:

Makes the sentence more impersonal (no need to mention who starts the meeting).
Sounds more formal and typical for schedules/announcements.

So:

sebelum rapat dimulai = before the meeting is started / before the meeting begins
You could also hear:
- sebelum rapat mulai – more casual, using mulai intransitively (before the meeting starts).
- sebelum rapatnya mulai – very colloquial.

In formal instructions like the original sentence, rapat dimulai is a natural, neutral choice.

Can I say sebelum rapat mulai instead of sebelum rapat dimulai? Is that wrong?

It’s not wrong; it’s just a bit more casual and slightly different in feel.

sebelum rapat dimulai
- More formal/neutral.
- Uses the passive dimulai, suitable for written instructions, announcements, emails.
sebelum rapat mulai
- More conversational and simple.
- Treats mulai as intransitive (the meeting starts).

For an official notice or form instruction, sebelum rapat dimulai is safer and more standard.
Talking with colleagues informally, sebelum rapat mulai would be perfectly fine.

Could I move the time phrase to the front and say Sebelum rapat dimulai, tolong lengkapi formulir ini? Does that change anything?

Yes, you can, and the meaning is essentially the same.

Tolong lengkapi formulir ini sebelum rapat dimulai.
Sebelum rapat dimulai, tolong lengkapi formulir ini.

Both mean: Please complete this form before the meeting starts.

Differences:

Putting Sebelum rapat dimulai at the front slightly emphasizes the timing (“Before the meeting starts, …”).
Both orders are natural and grammatical; Indonesian word order is flexible with time phrases like this.

So yes, Sebelum rapat dimulai, tolong lengkapi formulir ini is a very natural variant.

How formal or informal does the whole sentence sound? Would it be appropriate in a workplace or official context?

Tolong lengkapi formulir ini sebelum rapat dimulai. is neutral to semi-formal, and quite appropriate for workplace use, especially in spoken instructions or relatively informal written notes.

tolong – polite but not extremely formal.
lengkapi – slightly formal; more formal than isi.
formulir – neutral/formal vocabulary.
sebelum rapat dimulai – neutral/formal phrasing for “before the meeting starts”.

For very formal written instructions (e.g., on an official letter or a form header), you might see:

Harap lengkapi formulir ini sebelum rapat dimulai.
Mohon lengkapi formulir ini sebelum rapat dimulai.

For casual speech to a colleague/friend:

Tolong isi formulir ini sebelum rapat mulai, ya.

Your original sentence fits well in most professional but not ultra-formal contexts.

How do I pronounce rapat, formulir, and dimulai correctly? Anything tricky for an English speaker?

Pronunciation tips:

rapat
- ra like “rah” (short a, not a diphthong)
- pat with a clear p and a final t that is usually unreleased (tongue touches but doesn’t explode).
- Stress is often on the first syllable: RA-pat.
formulir
- for like “for” in English, but shorter.
- mu like “moo” but shorter.
- lir with a tapped/flapped r at the end; don’t drop the final r like in many English accents.
- Stress: for-MU-lir or FOR-mu-lir (stress isn’t as strong as in English).
dimulai
- di like “dee”.
- mu like “moo” (short).
- lai like “lie” in English (“lai”).
- Roughly: dee-moo-LIE; stress tends to fall on -lai: di-mu-LAI.

Main challenges for English speakers:

Final consonants like t are not heavily released.
r is usually tapped or lightly rolled, not silent.