Learn Hardcore Malay: Saya tunggu sekejap sambil cari gerai minuman. - I wait for a moment while looking for a drink stall.

Colloquial/natural: Saya tunggu sekejap sambil cari gerai minuman.
More explicit: Saya tunggu sekejap sambil saya cari gerai minuman. (grammatical but a bit redundant)
Formal: Saya menunggu sebentar sambil mencari gerai minuman.

What’s the difference between tunggu and menunggu?

They mean the same thing (to wait), but the register differs.

tunggu: base form, very common in speech and informal writing; also used for imperatives (e.g., Tunggu sekejap!).
menunggu: with the meN- prefix, more formal/standard, preferred in careful writing. Both can take objects (e.g., tunggu saya / menunggu saya), but imperatives normally use the base form.

Should I use cari or mencari after sambil?

Both are fine; the choice is about formality.

Everyday speech: sambil cari
More formal/natural in writing: sambil mencari

Is sekejap the same as sebentar or seketika?

They all mean “a moment/a short while,” but the tone differs.

sekejap: very common in Malaysia; neutral–informal.
sebentar: neutral–formal; works well in writing or polite speech.
seketika: a bit literary/formal.
Very casual clip: kejap; texting: jap. Note: sekejap lagi means “in a short while/soon.”

When should I use sambil instead of sementara or ketika/semasa?

sambil: two simultaneous actions by the same subject. Example: Saya menunggu sambil mencari gerai minuman.
sementara: “while/whereas”; can take different subjects. Example: Sementara saya menunggu, dia mencari gerai minuman.
ketika/semasa: “when/during” (time setting), not necessarily emphasizing doing two things at once. Example: Ketika saya mencari gerai minuman, telefon saya berbunyi.

Do I need a preposition like di or untuk before cari here?

No. cari directly takes its object. Add a preposition only if you add a place or purpose:

Location: cari gerai minuman di pasar
Purpose: singgah untuk cari minuman (stop by to look for drinks)

Where does sekejap go? Can I move it around?

Default after the verb: tunggu sekejap.
As a discourse marker at the start (to ask someone to wait): Sekejap, saya…
Avoid Saya sekejap tunggu; it sounds odd.
Another natural reshuffle: Sambil menunggu, saya cari gerai minuman. (more formal than Sambil tunggu)

Do I need a classifier like sebuah with gerai minuman?

Not in everyday speech. Malay doesn’t require an article for “a/the.” Use a classifier for emphasis or counting:

Emphasis on quantity: sebuah gerai minuman (one drinks stall)
Specific “the”: gerai minuman itu (that/the drinks stall)

What’s the nuance difference between gerai, kedai, and warung?

gerai: stall/booth, often small or semi-temporary (e.g., in hawker areas, food courts).
kedai: shop/store; also used for eateries (e.g., kedai makan, kedai minuman).
warung: small, basic eatery; very common in Indonesia; understood in Malaysia but less neutral than kedai/gerai.

Why minuman, not minum? Could I say gerai air?

minum = “to drink” (verb).
minuman = “drink/beverage” (noun; verb + -an makes a noun). So gerai minuman = “beverage stall.” In Malaysia, air (literally “water”) is also used to mean “drinks,” so gerai air is very common and natural.

How would I make this more formal or more casual?

More formal: Saya menunggu sebentar sambil mencari gerai minuman. You can add aspect/tense markers if needed: sedang (currently), akan (will).
More casual: Saya tunggu kejap sambil cari gerai air. Even more casual/texting: Sy tunggu jap sambil cari gerai air.

Is it natural to say you’re “waiting” while also “looking for” something?

Yes. Tunggu sekejap often works like “Hold on a sec” in conversation. The sentence is idiomatic for situations like being on a call or with someone and briefly pausing the conversation while you look for a drinks stall. It signals “Give me a moment” rather than literally standing still and doing nothing.