Tulislah

Tulislah is the Indonesian imperative form of the verb menulis, meaning “to write.” It functions as a direct command or exhortation, directing the listener to perform the act of writing. The form is created by taking the base verb tulis (write) and adding the discourse particle -lah. The -lah particle is a common Indonesian device used to emphasize a request or command, or to shape tone depending on context. In everyday speech, the simpler imperative Tulis is more common, but Tulislah appears in formal, instructional, or literary contexts where emphasis or formality is desired.

Usage and nuance: Tulislah is typically employed in written instructions, educational materials, sermons, or formal discourse. It can stand alone as a complete directive: “Tulislah!” or accompany an object: “Tulislah surat itu,” “Tulislah laporanmu sejelas mungkin.” It may be followed by time adverbs such as sekarang to indicate immediacy: “Tulislah sekarang.” The sentence remains present-focused, as Indonesian verbs generally do not convey tense through inflection.

Examples: Tulislah laporan itu sekarang. Tulislah pengalamanmu dengan jelas. Tulislah surat untuk orang tuamu.

Variations and related forms: Other verbs form similar imperatives with -lah, such as bacalah (read) and bukalah (open). Compared with Tulis, Tulislah carries greater force or formality; softer or more neutral alternatives include Tulis saja.