Breakdown of Jangan berlebihan minum kopi sebelum tidur.
minum
to drink
kopi
the coffee
sebelum
before
tidur
to sleep
Questions & Answers about Jangan berlebihan minum kopi sebelum tidur.
What does jangan mean, and what kind of sentence is this?
Jangan means “don’t” and is used to make a negative command / prohibition.
So Jangan berlebihan minum kopi sebelum tidur is an imperative sentence, telling someone not to do something (not to overdo drinking coffee before sleeping).
- Jangan + verb / verb phrase = Don’t + verb
- Jangan pergi. = Don’t go.
- Jangan berlebihan minum kopi. = Don’t overdo drinking coffee.
Why is there no subject like you (kamu/Anda) in this sentence?
In Indonesian, imperatives normally omit the subject. It’s understood from context that you are speaking to “you”.
- English: Don’t drink too much coffee before bed.
- Indonesian literally: Don’t overdo drinking coffee before sleeping.
(Subject “you” is implied.)
You can add the subject for emphasis, but it’s not necessary:
- Kamu jangan berlebihan minum kopi sebelum tidur. (more emphatic, could sound like a scolding)
- Anda jangan berlebihan minum kopi sebelum tidur. (politer/formal)
What exactly does berlebihan mean here?