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Saya menaruh tas di bawah meja supaya tidak mengganggu.

Saya menaruh tas di bawah meja supaya tidak mengganggu.
I put the bag under the table so it doesn’t get in the way.

Breakdown of Saya menaruh tas di bawah meja supaya tidak mengganggu.

sebuah
a
saya
I
tidak
not
supaya
so that
mengganggu
to disturb
di bawah
under
menaruh
to put
tas
bag
meja
table
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Questions & Answers about Saya menaruh tas di bawah meja supaya tidak mengganggu.

Why does taruh become menaruh in this sentence?

Indonesian often turns a root word into an active verb by adding the meN- prefix.

  • Root: taruh = (to) put/place (informal base)
  • Active verb: menaruh = to put/place (something)
    The prefix changes form depending on the first sound of the root. With t, the t usually drops: meN- + taruh → menaruh.
Is there a difference between menaruh and meletakkan?

They’re very close in meaning: both mean to put/place. Common nuance:

  • menaruh: more everyday, neutral, often used in spoken Indonesian.
  • meletakkan: slightly more formal/explicit about placing an object down. In most situations like this sentence, either would sound fine.
Do I need to say the object after menaruh (like tas saya)?

You usually include an object because menaruh is transitive (it normally takes an object). Here the object is tas (bag), so it’s complete.
You can specify ownership for clarity:

  • Saya menaruh tas saya di bawah meja… = I put my bag under the table…
What does di bawah meja mean grammatically, and why is there no the?

di bawah meja is a location phrase:

  • di = in/at (location marker)
  • bawah = under/below
  • meja = table
    Indonesian doesn’t have articles like a/the, so meja can mean a table or the table depending on context.
Is di bawah one word or two, and can I write dibawah?

Standard Indonesian writes it as two words: di bawah.

  • di as a location marker is written separately.
    dibawah is commonly seen informally, but it’s considered non-standard.
Why does Indonesian use supaya here? What’s the difference between supaya, agar, and biar?

All three can mean so that / in order that, but with slightly different tone:

  • supaya: very common, neutral.
  • agar: a bit more formal/written.
  • biar: more casual; can also feel like let it… / just so… in some contexts.
    Your sentence could also be:
  • …agar tidak mengganggu. (more formal)
  • …biar tidak mengganggu. (more casual)
Why is it tidak mengganggu and not untuk tidak mengganggu?

Indonesian often uses supaya/agar + clause (a full verb phrase) to show purpose. So supaya tidak mengganggu is a natural way to express so that it doesn’t disturb.
Using untuk is possible but tends to sound different:

  • untuk is more like to / for and often pairs with nouns or more “goal-like” phrasing.
  • supaya/agar is the most straightforward for “so that + verb”.
Who/what is the subject of mengganggu? Is it I or the bag?

It’s typically understood as the bag (or the situation) not I:

  • …so that it (the bag) doesn’t disturb (anyone).
    Indonesian often leaves the subject implicit when it’s obvious from context.
Disturb whom? Why isn’t there an object after mengganggu?

mengganggu can be used:

  • transitively: mengganggu orang = disturb someone
  • intransitively/implicitly: tidak mengganggu = not be a nuisance / not get in the way
    In this sentence, the affected person(s) is left unsaid because it’s general: not to bother anyone / not to be in the way.
Can I replace tidak with bukan here?

No.

  • tidak negates verbs and adjectives: tidak mengganggu = not disturbing
  • bukan negates nouns/identity: bukan dokter = not a doctor
    Since mengganggu is a verb, tidak is correct.
Is the word order flexible? Could I say Supaya tidak mengganggu, saya menaruh tas di bawah meja?

Yes. Indonesian allows that reordering, especially in speech or writing for emphasis:

  • Saya menaruh tas di bawah meja supaya tidak mengganggu.
  • Supaya tidak mengganggu, saya menaruh tas di bawah meja.
    Both are natural; the second one highlights the purpose first.
Does this sentence sound formal or casual?

It’s neutral and very natural in everyday conversation.
To make it more formal, you might choose slightly more formal words:

  • Saya meletakkan tas di bawah meja agar tidak mengganggu.