Tonton episod ini dahulu.

Yes. Tonton here is an imperative form, so the sentence is giving an instruction or command: Watch this episode first.

In Malay, commands often use the bare verb without a subject. So there is no need to say you.

• Tonton episod ini dahulu. = Watch this episode first.
• The understood subject is you.

This is very normal in Malay.

In Malay, the prefix meN- often appears in normal active statements:

• Saya menonton episod ini. = I am watching this episode.

But in commands, Malay usually uses the base verb instead:

• Tonton episod ini dahulu. = Watch this episode first.

So:

• menonton = to watch / watching, in a regular active sentence
• tonton = the base verb, often used for commands

This is a very common pattern in Malay imperatives.

Because in Malay, demonstratives like ini and itu usually come after the noun, not before it.

So:

• episod ini = this episode
• episod itu = that episode

This is different from English, where this comes before the noun.

Compare:

• English: this episode
• Malay: episod ini

Dahulu here means first or before anything else.

So the sentence is not just Watch this episode. It specifically means:

• Watch this episode first
• Watch this episode before the others / before doing something else

It adds the idea of sequence or priority.

Yes. They mean basically the same thing in many contexts, but the tone is a little different.

• dahulu = more formal, fuller form
• dulu = more common in everyday speech, more casual

So these are both possible:

• Tonton episod ini dahulu.
• Tonton episod ini dulu.

The version with dahulu sounds a bit more careful, formal, or written.

The word order is:

• Tonton = verb
• episod ini = object noun phrase
• dahulu = adverb

So the structure is roughly:

Verb + Object + Time/sequence word

Broken down:

• Tonton = watch
• episod ini = this episode
• dahulu = first

Malay often keeps word order fairly straightforward like this.

No, it is a borrowed word, ultimately related to English episode. In Malay it is spelled episod.

A lot of modern Malay vocabulary includes borrowed words, especially for media, technology, and formal subjects.

So:

• English: episode
• Malay: episod

By itself, it is a straightforward instruction. Whether it sounds polite depends a lot on context and tone.

• Tonton episod ini dahulu. = direct but not necessarily rude
• It can sound like a neutral instruction in a guide, app, teacher’s direction, or recommendation

If you want to make it softer or more polite, Malay often adds words such as:

• Sila tonton episod ini dahulu. = Please watch this episode first.
• Tolong tonton episod ini dahulu. = Please watch this episode first.

So the original sentence is fine, but it is more direct than a version with sila or tolong.

Yes, but usually it is not necessary in commands.

For example:

• Awak tonton episod ini dahulu.

This is possible, but it can sound more marked because Malay often leaves out the subject when it is obvious.

In most situations, the shorter version is more natural:

• Tonton episod ini dahulu.

Malay frequently omits subjects when the meaning is clear from context.

A normal statement would usually include a subject, and often the verb would appear as menonton.

For example:

• Saya menonton episod ini dahulu. = I will watch this episode first.
• Dia menonton episod ini dahulu. = He/She watches this episode first.

So the imperative:

• Tonton episod ini dahulu.

is different from a statement because:

1. it uses the base verb
2. it usually omits the subject
3. it functions as an instruction or command, not a description