Learn Hardcore Malay: Saya berdiri dekat pintu keluar sambil menunggu bos. - I stand near the exit door while waiting for the boss.

dekat means “near/close to.” In this sentence, dekat pintu keluar = “near the exit.”
di is a general locative preposition meaning “at/in/on.”
Compare:
- di pintu keluar = at the exit (right there)
- dekat pintu keluar = near the exit (not necessarily right at it)

Can I say di dekat pintu keluar?

Yes, it’s understandable and acceptable, especially in more formal contexts or under Indonesian influence. In everyday Malaysian Malay, people often just say dekat pintu keluar without di. Alternatives include berhampiran pintu keluar or berdekatan dengan pintu keluar (more formal).

Does pintu keluar mean “exit” or literally “exit door”?

Both functionally. It’s a compound noun literally “door of exit,” but it’s the standard way to say “exit” on signs (paired with pintu masuk = entrance). Don’t use keluar alone here; keluar by itself is a verb “to go out.” If you mean “outside,” that’s luar (e.g., di luar).

Why is there no “the” before bos or pintu keluar?

Malay has no articles (“a/the”). Definiteness comes from context or can be added with:

itu (that/the mentioned): bos itu
Possessives: bos saya (my boss), bos kami (our boss)
Sometimes a classifier-like approach isn’t needed; context does the job.

Why is it menunggu bos and not menunggu untuk bos?

Menunggu is a transitive verb that directly takes its object. So you say menunggu seseorang/sesuatu. Adding untuk is ungrammatical here. Correct: menunggu bos, menunggu teksi.

What’s the difference between menunggu, tunggu, and menanti?

menunggu = to wait (neutral, standard): Saya menunggu bos.
tunggu = base form; in speech it’s common: Saya tunggu bos (informal but fine).
menanti = to await (more formal/literary): Saya menanti bos (stylistic).

What does sambil add to the sentence?

Sambil links two actions done simultaneously by the same subject. Here: you are both standing and waiting at the same time. If the subjects differ, avoid sambil and use something like sementara/ketika with explicit subjects.

Can I use sementara instead of sambil?

Yes, with a slight stylistic shift:

Saya berdiri dekat pintu keluar sementara menunggu bos. (a bit more formal; also common as a clause opener)
Or fronted: Sementara menunggu bos, saya berdiri dekat pintu keluar. Sementara can introduce a time clause and doesn’t strictly enforce the “same subject” rule the way sambil does.

Can I drop sambil and just put the verbs together?

In casual speech/writing, yes: Saya berdiri dekat pintu keluar menunggu bos. It’s understood as simultaneous. Sambil makes the relationship explicit and is preferred in careful writing.

How do I show past, present, or future? Malay has no tenses, right?

Correct—Malay is mostly tenseless. Use time/aspect markers:

Past/contextual past: tadi, semalam, baru. Example: Tadi saya berdiri…
Progressive: sedang, tengah. Example: Saya sedang berdiri… sambil menunggu…
Future: akan, nanti, time words. Example: Saya akan berdiri…
Completed: sudah/dah (done/already), but not needed here unless you want that nuance.

Is the sentence still natural if I flip the order?

Yes:

Saya menunggu bos sambil berdiri dekat pintu keluar.
Sambil menunggu bos, saya berdiri dekat pintu keluar. All are natural; choose the one that foregrounds what you want to emphasize.

Pronunciation tips?

Approximate syllables:

Saya: SA-yah
berdiri: ber-DEE-ree (the first “e” is a schwa)
dekat: de-KAT (first “e” schwa; final “t” crisp)
pintu: PEEN-too
keluar: ke-LOO-ar (first “e” schwa)
sambil: SAM-beel
menunggu: me-NOONG-goo (“ng” as in “sing”)
bos: boss (short “o”) Malay is syllable-timed; pronounce all syllables clearly.

Is Saya the right pronoun here? What about Aku?

Saya is polite/neutral and fits workplaces and most contexts. Aku is intimate/informal, used with close friends, family, or peers. In a work context talking about your boss, Saya is the safe default.

Is bos standard Malay? Are there alternatives?

Yes, bos is common and widely understood. Alternatives:

ketua (leader/head)
pengurus (manager)
majikan (employer) Pick based on the role. Majikan is specifically the legal employer, not just a supervisor.

Do I need to mark the boss’s gender?

No. Malay doesn’t mark gender in nouns or pronouns. If it matters, you can specify bos wanita or bos perempuan, but it’s usually unnecessary.

Any common pitfalls to avoid with these words?

Don’t say menunggu untuk bos (wrong). Use menunggu bos.
Don’t confuse dekat (near) with hampir (almost).
Keluar is a verb; for “outside,” use luar: di luar.
If you mean “at the exit (exactly there),” use di pintu keluar, not dekat pintu keluar.