Tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu supaya kamu lebih tenang.

Take a deep breath first so that you feel calmer.

Breakdown of Tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu supaya kamu lebih tenang.

• adalah: to be
• kamu: you
• lebih: more
• tenang: calm
• supaya: so that
• dulu: first
• dalam-dalam: deeply
• tarik napas: to take a breath

Questions & Answers about Tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu supaya kamu lebih tenang.

Why is there no subject pronoun before tarik?

In Indonesian, imperatives (commands) normally do not need a subject pronoun.

• Tarik napas… = (You) take a breath…
  The you is understood from context.

You could add a pronoun, but it usually sounds either too strong or unnatural:

• Kamu tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu. – grammatically OK, but sounds a bit scolding or emphatic.
• More natural is to keep the verb at the start: Coba tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu. (adding coba = “try (to)” softens it).

So the lack of pronoun is normal and natural for a friendly command.

What does tarik napas literally mean, and is it a fixed expression?

Literally:

• tarik = pull
• napas = breath

So tarik napas is literally “pull breath”, but idiomatically it means “inhale / take a breath”.

It functions like a fixed expression in many contexts:

• Tarik napas. – Take a breath / breathe in.
• Tarik napas dalam-dalam. – Take a deep breath.
• Tarik napas, hembuskan pelan-pelan. – Breathe in, breathe out slowly.

It’s very common and sounds completely natural.

What is the difference between napas and nafas, and which is more correct?

They refer to the same word (“breath”), just different spellings.

• napas – the standard modern spelling in Indonesian.
• nafas – older or alternative spelling; still common in informal writing, song lyrics, older texts, and some people’s habits.

Officially (according to modern Indonesian spelling conventions), napas is preferred, especially in formal writing. In speech they sound the same.

Why is dalam repeated as dalam-dalam? What nuance does that add?

Reduplication with a hyphen (dalam-dalam) is very common in Indonesian and often:

• Intensifies the meaning, or
• Makes it sound more “thorough” or “deeply”.

Here:

• dalam = deep
• dalam-dalam = very deep / deeply

So:

• Tarik napas dalam. – “Take a deep breath.” (understandable, but not the most natural way to say it)
• Tarik napas dalam-dalam. – “Take a deep breath / breathe in deeply.” (what people usually say)

Other similar patterns:

• pelan-pelan – slowly, gently
• baik-baik – carefully, properly
• lama-lama – gradually (over time)

So dalam-dalam here is an adverb meaning “deeply”.

What is the role of dulu here, and why doesn’t it just mean “in the past”?

Dulu does literally mean “before / in the past”, but in everyday speech it also has a pragmatic use meaning:

• “first (before doing other things)”,
• “for now / to begin with”.

In this sentence:

• Tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu…
  ≈ “First, take a deep breath…” / “Take a deep breath for now…”

It:

• Suggests this is the first step before anything else.
• Softens the command and makes it sound more gentle and caring.

You could omit it:

• Tarik napas dalam-dalam supaya kamu lebih tenang. – Still correct, but slightly more direct.

So here dulu does not refer to “the past”; it’s about sequence and politeness.

What does supaya mean in this sentence, and how is it different from agar, biar, or untuk?

In this sentence, supaya introduces a purpose or desired result:

• supaya kamu lebih tenang = “so that you’ll be calmer / so you can feel calmer”.

Rough comparisons:

• supaya – neutral, common in speech and writing.
• agar – a bit more formal; often used in writing, instructions, official contexts.
• biar – more informal / colloquial; very common in casual speech.
  
  • Tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu biar kamu lebih tenang. – very natural in conversation.
• untuk – usually “for / to (do something)”; it’s not used quite the same way here.
  
  • untuk menenangkan kamu = “to calm you (down)”, different structure.

In this specific sentence, you can swap:

• supaya → agar (more formal)
• supaya → biar (more casual)

and the meaning stays basically the same.

Could you leave out supaya kamu lebih tenang and just say Tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu? Would it sound complete?

Yes, it would be complete and natural:

• Tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu. – “Just take a deep breath first.”

That version focuses on the action itself, without explicitly stating the reason. The listener will usually infer the reason (to calm down).

Adding supaya kamu lebih tenang:

• Makes the purpose explicit.
• Sounds a bit more reassuring, because it shows you care about their state of mind.

Both are fine; it depends on how explicit you want to be about the reason.

Why is kamu used here instead of Anda or another pronoun? Is it polite?

kamu is a familiar / informal “you”, used with:

• Friends
• Family
• People your own age (often)
• Children, or anyone you’re close or relaxed with

In the sentence, it sounds like the speaker is talking to someone in a warm, informal way, maybe comforting a friend or loved one.

Alternatives:

• Anda – formal, polite, a bit distant.
  
  • Tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu supaya Anda lebih tenang.
    → Suitable in formal service situations, counseling, etc.
• kalian – plural “you (all)”.
• No pronoun at all:
  
  • Tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu biar lebih tenang. – the “you” is implied.

So kamu here is polite within an informal relationship; it’s not rude in the right context.

How does lebih tenang work grammatically? Is lebih always used for “more + adjective”?

Yes. The pattern is:

lebih + adjective = more + adjective

Here:

• lebih = more
• tenang = calm
• lebih tenang = “calmer / more calm”

So supaya kamu lebih tenang = “so that you’ll be calmer”.

Other examples:

• lebih cepat – faster / more quickly
• lebih baik – better
• lebih jelas – clearer

If you want to compare explicitly:

• Dia lebih tinggi daripada saya. – He is taller than me.

So lebih tenang is just the normal comparative “more calm / calmer”.

Can the word order be changed, for example Supaya kamu lebih tenang, tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu?

Yes, that word order is perfectly correct and natural:

• Supaya kamu lebih tenang, tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu.

Putting supaya-clause at the start:

• Emphasizes the purpose first (“So that you’ll be calmer…”).
• Sounds slightly more structured or explanatory, like advice or instructions.

Both orders are fine:

1. Tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu supaya kamu lebih tenang.
2. Supaya kamu lebih tenang, tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu.

The meaning is basically the same; it’s just a difference in emphasis and flow.

Is Tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu formal, informal, or neutral? How would you soften or strengthen the command?

On its own, Tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu is:

• Neutral to informal
• Direct, but often understood as comforting or helpful, not harsh.

To soften it, you can add particles or words:

• Coba tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu. – “Try taking a deep breath first.”
• Tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu ya. – Soft, caring tone; ya can show concern.
• Tolong tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu. – Adds politeness via tolong (“please / help by…”).

To make it stronger / more urgent:

• Ayo tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu! – “Come on, take a deep breath first!”
• Tarik napas dalam-dalam dulu, cepat. – “Take a deep breath first, quickly.”

Intonation and context also strongly affect how it feels.

Are there other common ways to tell someone to take a deep breath in Indonesian?

Yes, some common variants include:

• Tarik napas yang dalam. – Take a deep breath.
• Tarik napas panjang. – Literally “take a long breath”; often used similarly to “take a deep breath”.
• Tarik napas pelan-pelan. – Take a breath slowly / breathe in slowly.
• Tarik napas, terus buang pelan-pelan. – Inhale, then exhale slowly.
• Bernapas yang dalam dulu. – Breathe deeply first. (bernapas = to breathe)

But Tarik napas dalam-dalam is one of the most natural and frequent ways to say “take a deep breath.”