Learn Hardcore Malay: Matikan televisyen sebelum tidur malam ini. - Turn off the television before sleeping tonight.

Matikan is the imperative (“command”) form of a Malay verb meaning “turn off.” It’s built from the root mati (“to die” or “to go out/off”) plus the causative/transitive affixes ma- and -kan, literally “cause something to die/go off.” In everyday use, matikan tells someone to switch off a device or light.

Why is there no subject pronoun like “you” in the sentence?

Malay imperatives typically drop the pronoun. The verb alone implies “(you) do this.” If you want to be extra polite or clear, you can insert tolong (“please”) before the verb, but you still don’t need “you.”

Could I say TV instead of televisyen?

Yes. In informal contexts, many Malaysians and Indonesians just say TV (pronounced “tee-vee”). Televisyen is the full Malay word, often used in formal writing or to avoid English abbreviations.

What role does sebelum play here? Can I use another word?

Sebelum means “before” and introduces a time clause. It links the main command to the time frame in which you want it done. You could replace sebelum with sebelum kamu + verb, but you still need sebelum. There isn’t a single synonym in Malay that works exactly the same way.

Why is malam ini placed after tidur? Could it go somewhere else?

The phrase sebelum tidur malam ini literally reads “before [you] sleep tonight.” Here, malam ini (“this night/tonight”) modifies tidur, so it follows the verb. Putting malam ini sebelum tidur or sebelum malam ini tidur would sound awkward or ungrammatical in Malay.

Why isn’t there an article before televisyen (like “the” or “a”)?

Malay doesn’t have articles like “a” or “the.” Nouns stand alone. Context or additional words (e.g., satu for “a/an”) clarify definiteness or quantity when needed.

How would I soften or make this request more polite?

You can add a polite marker:

Tolong matikan televisyen sebelum tidur malam ini.
Sila matikan televisyen sebelum tidur malam ini.
Both tolong and sila mean “please” in slightly different registers.

Can I use another verb such as padamkan instead of matikan?

Yes. Padamkan (from padam, “to erase/extinguish”) also works for turning off lights or devices:

Padamkan televisyen sebelum tidur malam ini.
Some speakers feel matikan is more natural for electronics, while padamkan is common for lights or fires, but you’ll be understood with either.