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Sebelum ujian, saya menenangkan diri dengan menarik napas dalam-dalam.

Sebelum ujian, saya menenangkan diri dengan menarik napas dalam-dalam.
Before the exam, I calm myself down by taking a deep breath.
FromLesson 67inHardcore Indonesian
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Questions & Answers about Sebelum ujian, saya menenangkan diri dengan menarik napas dalam-dalam.

Why is there a comma after Sebelum ujian?

The comma marks a fronted time phrase (Sebelum ujian) before the main clause. It’s optional in many cases, but common and helpful for readability. You can also write it without a comma:

  • Sebelum ujian saya menenangkan diri dengan menarik napas dalam-dalam.
Does sebelum have to be followed by a noun? Can it introduce a clause?

Sebelum can be followed by:

  • a noun phrase: sebelum ujian = before the exam
  • a clause (often with sebelum
    • verb): sebelum ujian dimulai = before the exam starts Both are correct; the noun phrase is just shorter.
Why does it say saya instead of aku?
Saya is more neutral/formal and common in school/work contexts. Aku is more casual and intimate. In this sentence (about an exam), saya fits naturally.
How does menenangkan relate to tenang?

Tenang = calm (adj.)
With the prefix meN- and suffix -kan, it becomes a causative verb:

  • menenangkan = to calm (something/someone), literally to make calm.
What does menenangkan diri mean exactly? Is it reflexive?

Yes, it’s effectively reflexive/idiomatic:

  • menenangkan diri = to calm myself / to compose myself
    Here diri functions like oneself. It’s a common collocation.
What’s the difference between diri and sendiri?
  • diri = self (often in set phrases): menenangkan diri, mengenal diri, mengendalikan diri
  • sendiri = self/alone (emphasis or “by oneself”): saya sendiri = I myself; sendirian = alone You typically say menenangkan diri, not menenangkan sendiri.
What does dengan mean here, and can it be replaced?

Dengan here means by / through (doing something), introducing the method:

  • menenangkan diri dengan menarik napas... = calm myself by taking breaths... Common alternatives (depending on style):
  • melalui (more formal): melalui menarik napas... (less natural)
  • or just omit it and rephrase: Saya menarik napas dalam-dalam untuk menenangkan diri.
Why is it menarik napas (literally “pull breath”)? Is that normal Indonesian?

Yes. menarik napas is the standard phrase for to inhale / to take a breath. Another common verb is:

  • mengambil napas = to take a breath
    Both are used; menarik napas is very common.
What does dalam-dalam mean, and why is it repeated?

That’s reduplication for emphasis/intensity:

  • dalam = deep
  • dalam-dalam = deeply (really deep)
    So menarik napas dalam-dalam = take deep breaths / inhale deeply.
Why is dalam-dalam hyphenated?
In standard Indonesian spelling, reduplication is written with a hyphen: dalam-dalam, pelan-pelan, baik-baik. In informal texting you may see it without a hyphen, but the hyphen is the norm.
Is napas the only spelling? I’ve seen nafas too.
Both appear, but napas is the standard spelling in modern Indonesian. Nafas is an older/variant spelling influenced by Arabic transliteration and is still seen.
Where is the past/future tense? Does this mean “Before the exam, I calmed myself…” or “I calm myself…”?

Indonesian doesn’t mark tense on the verb the way English does. This sentence is time-framed by Sebelum ujian and context. It can translate as:

  • Before the exam, I calmed myself… (most natural)
  • Before an exam, I calm myself… (habitual, if the context is general) If you want to force “habitual,” you could add biasanya: Sebelum ujian, saya biasanya menenangkan diri...

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