Lebih baik simpan dompet di tas daripada di saku belakang.

Indonesian often leaves out the subject when it is obvious from context.

So Lebih baik simpan dompet di tas daripada di saku belakang can be understood as advice to you even though kamu is not stated.

This is very natural in Indonesian, especially in:

• advice
• instructions
• warnings
• everyday conversation

If you added the subject, you could say:

• Kamu lebih baik simpan dompet di tas daripada di saku belakang.

But that sounds a bit heavier and less natural in many situations. The version without kamu is smoother.

In this sentence, simpan works like a short, direct verb form used in advice. It feels close to keep/put in English.

With lebih baik, Indonesian often allows this kind of bare verb:

• Lebih baik simpan dompet di tas...
• Lebih baik bawa payung.
• Lebih baik tunggu dulu.

This structure sounds like practical advice.

You may also hear:

• Lebih baik menyimpan dompet di tas daripada di saku belakang.

That version is also correct, but it sounds a bit more neutral or formal, more like it is better to store/keep... rather than direct advice.

So:

• simpan = more direct, advice-like
• menyimpan = more neutral or formal

Lebih baik literally means more good, but in natural English it usually means:

• better
• it’s better to...
• you’d better... depending on context

In this sentence, it introduces advice:

• Lebih baik simpan dompet di tas... = It’s better to keep your wallet in a bag...

It is a very common expression for recommendations and suggestions.

Examples:

• Lebih baik berangkat sekarang. = It’s better to leave now.
• Lebih baik jangan terlambat. = You’d better not be late.

Daripada means than in comparisons.

So the structure is:

• lebih baik X daripada Y
• better X than Y

In your sentence:

• simpan dompet di tas = keep the wallet in a bag
• daripada di saku belakang = rather than in the back pocket

So daripada links the two alternatives being compared.

You can think of it as:

• Lebih baik A daripada B
• Better A than B

This is one of the most common uses of daripada.

Because Indonesian, like English, often omits repeated information when it is already understood.

Full version:

• Lebih baik simpan dompet di tas daripada simpan dompet di saku belakang.

But that sounds repetitive.

So Indonesian shortens it to:

• Lebih baik simpan dompet di tas daripada di saku belakang.

English does the same:

• Better to keep your wallet in a bag than in your back pocket.

The verb simpan and object dompet are understood in the second part.

Both are possible, but they are slightly different in feel.

• di tas = in the bag / in a bag
• di dalam tas = inside the bag

In everyday Indonesian, di tas is often enough and sounds natural. People understand that the wallet is being kept in the bag.

Di dalam tas is more explicit and emphasizes the inside of the bag.

So:

• simpan dompet di tas = very natural, everyday
• simpan dompet di dalam tas = also correct, slightly more explicit

It literally means:

• saku = pocket
• belakang = back

So saku belakang = back pocket

Usually this refers to the back pocket of pants or jeans.

Related words:

• saku depan = front pocket
• kantong can also mean pocket in some contexts, but saku is the most straightforward word here

Indonesian often leaves possession unstated when it is obvious.

In this sentence, listeners naturally understand:

• di tas = in your bag / in a bag
• di saku belakang = in your back pocket

If needed, Indonesian can make possession explicit:

• di tasmu
• di saku belakangmu

But in general advice, leaving it out sounds normal and natural.

So the sentence is not vague in practice. Context fills in the missing possession.

Dompet is a general word for a wallet or small money holder.

Depending on context, it can refer to:

• a wallet
• a purse-like money pouch
• a billfold

If the learner’s translation says wallet, that is a very good match here.

If you want to be more specific, Indonesian may use extra words, but dompet by itself is the normal everyday word.

It is neutral and natural. It works well in everyday speech, advice, safety tips, and simple written Indonesian.

What affects the tone most is the use of simpan instead of menyimpan:

• Lebih baik simpan dompet di tas... = practical, direct, everyday
• Lebih baik menyimpan dompet di tas... = slightly more formal or explanatory

So the given sentence is not slang, but it does sound conversational and natural.

Yes, in many contexts you can.

• Lebih baik simpan dompet di tas ketimbang di saku belakang.

This has the same basic meaning: better ... than ...

However:

• daripada is the more standard and common general choice
• ketimbang can sound a bit more conversational or stylistically marked depending on region and speaker

For learners, daripada is the safest default.

Yes, that is a good way to think about it.

Compare these:

• Lebih baik simpan dompet di tas daripada di saku belakang.

  • direct advice
  • natural spoken recommendation

• Lebih baik menyimpan dompet di tas daripada di saku belakang.

  • a bit more formal
  • more like a general statement

Both are correct. The original sentence sounds like someone giving practical advice, which is probably why simpan was chosen.