Learn Hardcore Malay: Tolong buka jendela di ruang tamu. - Please open the window in the living room.

Tolong buka jendela. → Please open the window. / Help (by) opening the window.
Without tolong: Buka jendela. → Open the window. (more direct, less polite)

You can think of tolong + verb as please + verb. It sounds polite but also slightly informal and friendly.

Why is there no word for you in this sentence?

Malay often omits the subject you when giving commands or requests, especially with tolong.

So:

Tolong buka jendela di ruang tamu.
Literally: Help open the window in the living room.
Implied subject: (you)

If you really want to include you, you can say:

Tolong kamu buka jendela di ruang tamu.
Tolong awak buka jendela di ruang tamu. (common in Malaysia)
Tolong saudara / saudari buka jendela di ruang tamu. (more formal)

But in everyday speech, people usually just say Tolong buka … and the you is understood from context.

What is the difference between buka and membuka?

Buka is the base verb: to open.
Membuka is the same verb with the prefix meN-, which often makes it sound a bit more formal or is used when the verb is not directly an imperative.

Use buka:

in commands/requests: Tolong buka jendela.
in many informal sentences: Saya buka pintu. (I open the door.)

Use membuka:

more in writing or formal style: Saya membuka pintu.
in certain fixed expressions.

In everyday spoken Malay, buka is very common and completely natural here.
Tolong membuka jendela is grammatical but sounds more formal or bookish.

Why is it buka jendela and not jendela buka?

Malay basic word order for verbs and objects is just like English: Verb + Object.

buka jendela → open (the) window
makan nasi → eat rice
baca buku → read a book

Putting it as jendela buka would usually sound wrong here, like window open, not open the window.

Does jendela mean window everywhere? I’ve also seen tingkap.

Both jendela and tingkap can mean window, but usage varies by region and style:

jendela
- Common in Indonesia.
- Also understood in Malaysia, tends to sound a bit more formal/literary.
tingkap
- Very common in Malaysian everyday speech.

In a Malaysian context, people might more naturally say:

Tolong buka tingkap di ruang tamu.

In an Indonesian context, jendela is the usual everyday word.

What does di do in di ruang tamu? Is it like in or at?

Di is a location preposition, roughly in / at / on depending on context.

di rumah → at home
di sekolah → at school
di meja → on the table
di ruang tamu → in the living room

You generally need di before a place noun:

di ruang tamu (correct)
ruang tamu (by itself) just means the living room, not in the living room.

What exactly is ruang tamu? Is it the same as living room?

Yes. Ruang tamu literally breaks down as:

ruang = space / room (as an area)
tamu = guest

So ruang tamu is guest room / guest area, which corresponds to the living room in a typical house: the front room where guests are received.

Some related words:

bilik tidur = bedroom
bilik air = bathroom
dapur = kitchen

How polite is Tolong buka jendela di ruang tamu? Could it be rude?

Tolong buka jendela di ruang tamu is generally polite and acceptable in most everyday situations, especially among family, friends, or coworkers.

To soften it further, you can add polite particles or modal words:

Tolong buka jendela di ruang tamu, ya.
Tolong buka jendela di ruang tamu sekejap. (for a moment)
Boleh tolong buka jendela di ruang tamu? (Could you please open the window in the living room?)

Shouting Buka jendela di ruang tamu! without tolong or any softening can sound like a direct order and might feel rude depending on your tone and relationship.

How would I say Please open the windows in the living room (plural)?

You can show the plural in a few natural ways:

Reduplication:
- Tolong buka jendela-jendela di ruang tamu.
  (literally: please open the windows in the living room.)
Using semua (all):
- Tolong buka semua jendela di ruang tamu.
  = Please open all the windows in the living room.
Using a number:
- Tolong buka dua jendela di ruang tamu.
  = Please open two windows in the living room.

Malay doesn’t require plural marking, so even:

Tolong buka jendela di ruang tamu.
might refer to one or more windows, depending on context. If number matters, add semua, a number, or plural -plural form.

How is tense expressed? How do we know this means open (now)?

Malay verbs do not change form for tense. Buka can mean open, opened, or will open, depending on context.

Here, the sentence is an imperative/request, so the meaning is (Please) open now.

If you want to be explicit about time, you add time words:

Tolong buka jendela di ruang tamu nanti.
→ Please open the window in the living room later.
Tadi saya buka jendela di ruang tamu.
→ I opened the window in the living room earlier.

The verb buka itself stays the same.

Is there a more formal way to say this, for example to a stranger or in an office?

Yes, you can make it more formal or indirect:

Boleh tolong buka jendela di ruang tamu?
→ Could you please open the window in the living room?
Boleh saya minta tolong buka jendela di ruang tamu?
→ May I ask for your help to open the window in the living room?
Very formal (e.g. written notice):
- Mohon buka jendela di ruang tamu.
  (I/we request that you open the window in the living room.)

Tolong buka jendela di ruang tamu is still polite, but sounds more neutral/informal.

How do you pronounce ruang and tamu?

Pronunciation tips:

ruang
- ru like roo in room (shorter)
- ang like the ng in sung (a nasal ng sound), with a as in father
- Put together: roo-ang with a smooth transition, not two completely separate syllables.
tamu
- ta with a as in father
- mu like moo in moon
- Stress is fairly even: TA-mu (not strongly on one syllable like in English).

Malay pronunciation is quite regular: each vowel is usually pronounced clearly, and ng is a single sound.

Could I say Sila buka jendela di ruang tamu instead of Tolong?

You can, but the nuance is different:

Tolong buka jendela …
→ Please (help by) opening the window…
Feels like a personal request, common in conversation.
Sila buka jendela …
→ Please open the window…
Feels more like a polite instruction or invitation, often used in announcements, signs, or very polite/formal speech.

For everyday spoken Malay, Tolong buka jendela di ruang tamu is more typical. Sila is very common in formal contexts, customer service, or written notices.