Learn Hardcore Malay: Sama ada dia datang awal atau lewat, pilihan kita tidak berubah. - Whether he/she comes early or late, our choice does not change.

It functions like English whether. In this kind of clause, sama ada … atau … means “whether … or …”. It can also correspond to “either … or …” in some contexts, but here “whether … or …” is the natural reading.

Is sama ada one word or two? I often see samada.

Standard Malay writes it as two words: sama ada. The one-word form samada is common informally but is nonstandard.

Do I have to include atau after sama ada?

Typically yes. The common pattern is sama ada X atau Y. You can also say sama ada X atau tidak for “whether X or not.” Using ataupun (one word) instead of atau is also correct and a bit more formal.

Is ataupun different from atau?

They mean the same (“or”). Ataupun is slightly more formal or emphatic. Don’t split it as atau pun; the standard fused form is ataupun.

Could I replace the whole structure with something like “regardless of whether”?

Yes. Good idiomatic alternatives:

Tidak kira dia datang awal atau lewat, …
Baik dia datang awal mahupun lewat, … (more formal)
Walau dia datang awal atau lewat, … (colloquial “even if/though” flavor)

Does the comma placement look right?

Yes. When the sama ada … clause comes first, put a comma before the main clause: Sama ada …, pilihan kita …. If you put the main clause first, the comma is optional: Pilihan kita tidak berubah, sama ada dia datang awal atau lewat.

Why is it dia datang awal/lewat and not dia awal/lewat datang?

The default order is Verb + adverb: datang awal/lewat. Fronting awal/lewat before the verb is unidiomatic in neutral statements.

Should there be akan to indicate future (“will come”)?

Not required. Malay often omits explicit tense marking if the timeframe is clear from context. You can add akan for clarity or emphasis: Sama ada dia akan datang awal atau lewat, …

What’s the nuance difference between awal and cepat, and between lewat and lambat?

awal = early (relative to a scheduled time).
cepat = fast/quick (speed). Don’t use it for “early” arrival.
lewat = late (after the scheduled time).
lambat = slow; also colloquially “late,” but lewat is the precise word for lateness.

What does pilihan mean precisely? Could it be keputusan instead?

pilihan = choice/option(s).
keputusan = decision (the settled outcome).
Both can fit, but pilihan suggests our choice or set of options remains as is; keputusan emphasizes the decided outcome stays the same.

Is pilihan singular or plural here?

Malay doesn’t mark number on nouns. Pilihan can mean “choice” or “choices/options,” depending on context. Here it can be read as “our choice/stance stays the same.”

Why is the negator tidak used, not bukan?

Use tidak with verbs and adjectives. Berubah (“to change”) is a verb, so tidak berubah is correct. Bukan is for nouns/pronouns or contrastive “not this but that.”

Could I say tak instead of tidak?

Yes, tak is the common informal contraction of tidak: pilihan kita tak berubah (casual). In formal writing, prefer tidak.

What’s the difference between berubah, bertukar, mengubah, and menukar?

berubah = to change (intransitive; something changes).
bertukar = to switch/turn into (often a change of state or exchange).
mengubah = to change something (transitive).
menukar = to change/replace/swap something (transitive).
Here, the intransitive berubah fits: “our choice does not change.”

Does dia mean “he” or “she”? Are there more formal options?

dia is gender-neutral: “he/she.” For respectful reference to a notable person, use beliau. Baginda is reserved for royalty.

Why is kita used? What about kami?

kita = “we/us” inclusive (includes the listener). kami = exclusive (excludes the listener). The sentence implies the listener shares the choice, so kita is appropriate.

Could I use tiba instead of datang?

Yes, with a slight nuance: tiba = “arrive” (focus on reaching the destination), often a bit more formal. Datang = “come.” Both work: dia tiba awal/lewat is fine.