Learn Hardcore Malay: Selepas jamuan, saya mengemas meja makan. - After the feast, I tidy up the dining table.

In this context, selepas means “after.” It functions as a time marker (preposition/conjunction) that introduces something happening subsequently. You can use it before a noun phrase (like jamuan) or a verb phrase.

What’s the difference between selepas and setelah?

Both can mean “after.” Selepas is more common in everyday speech, especially before nouns. Setelah is slightly more formal or literary and often comes before verbs or entire clauses.

What is jamuan?

Jamuan is a noun meaning “feast,” “banquet,” or “reception.” It emphasizes a gathering with food, rather than just the act of eating.

Why is there a comma after Selepas jamuan? Is it mandatory?

The comma separates the fronted time phrase from the main clause for clarity. It’s optional in Malay—your sentence is perfectly acceptable with or without that pause.

What does mengemas mean and what’s its root?

Mengemas means “to tidy up” or “to clear up.” Its root is kemas (tidy/neat). The prefix meng- turns the adjective into a verb.

Why is the prefix meng- used instead of menge- before kemas?

Malay uses different variants of the meN- prefix depending on the initial sound of the root. Before the consonant k, you use meng-, so kemas becomes mengemas. The form menge- appears before roots that begin with a vowel.

What does meja makan mean and how is this compound formed?

Meja makan literally means “table for eating,” i.e., the dining table. It’s a compound: meja means “table” and makan (“eat”) specifies its purpose.

Why is there no article like “the” or “a” before meja makan?

Malay doesn’t use definite or indefinite articles. Whether it’s “a” or “the” depends on context. You can add itu (that) or ini (this) for clarity: meja makan itu (“the dining table”).

How do we know the tidying happened after the feast? Is there a past tense?

Malay verbs aren’t inflected for tense. The sequence is clear from selepas jamuan (“after the feast”). If you want to stress completion, you can add a time marker like sudah or telah before mengemas (e.g., sudah mengemas).

Can I rearrange the sentence to put the time phrase at the end?

Yes. You can also say Saya mengemas meja makan selepas jamuan. Malay allows flexible placement of adverbial phrases.

Is it necessary to include saya? Can it be dropped?

You can omit saya if the subject is clear from context. “Mengemas meja makan” still implies “I tidy up the dining table.”

Why choose saya instead of aku for “I”?

Saya is the polite and neutral first-person pronoun. Aku is informal or intimate, used among close friends or in casual settings. Choose based on the level of formality you want.