Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Di kantor cabang baru, suasana pagi biasanya sepi. - At the new branch office, the morning atmosphere is usually quiet.

Di kantor cabang baru = a fronted location phrase (topic: where).
suasana pagi = subject (the morning atmosphere).
biasanya = frequency adverb (usually).
sepi = predicate adjective (quiet).
Indonesian often fronts time or place as a topic, then comments on it.

What does di do here, and how is it different from the prefix di-?

di (separate word) is a preposition meaning at/in/on. Example: di kantor.
di- (attached) is a passive-voice prefix on verbs. Example: dibuka (is opened).
Keep the space for the preposition, no space for the verb prefix.

Why is there a comma after the location phrase? Is it required?

It’s common (and stylistically neat) to put a comma after a fronted time/place phrase like Di kantor cabang baru, but it’s not strictly required. Without the comma it’s still correct; the comma just helps readability.

What exactly does kantor cabang mean? Why not cabang kantor?

Kantor cabang is the fixed compound for branch office (literally office branch). Indonesian noun–noun compounds typically put the head first, modifier second. So:

kantor cabang = branch office
tiket pesawat = plane ticket
nomor telepon = phone number
Cabang kantor would sound odd or suggest something else.

Does baru modify the branch or the office? How can I be explicit?

In kantor cabang baru, baru modifies the whole compound, so it means a new branch office. To be extra explicit:

If you mean a newly opened branch: cabang baru, kantor cabang yang baru (dibuka).
If you mean a newly renovated office of an existing branch: kantor cabang itu yang baru direnovasi.
Context usually clarifies it; the original phrasing is natural.

How do I say “the new branch office” vs “a new branch office”?

Indonesian has no articles. Use:

Indefinite (a): just kantor cabang baru, or sebuah kantor cabang baru if you want to stress one.
Definite (the): kantor cabang baru itu (that specific new branch office).

How do I make it plural (new branch offices)?

Common options:

Reduplication of the head: kantor-kantor cabang baru.
Quantifier: banyak kantor cabang baru.
Reduplication marks plurality; quantifiers are often simpler and more natural.

Is suasana pagi the only way to express “in the morning”? Can I say pagi hari or pagi-pagi?

suasana pagi = morning atmosphere (focus on ambience).
pagi hari = in the morning (neutral).
pagi-pagi = early in the morning (earlier, more casual).
You can also say di pagi hari (colloquial) or more formally pada pagi hari.

Where can I put biasanya?

Most natural positions:

Biasanya, suasana pagi … sepi.
Suasana pagi biasanya sepi.
Di kantor cabang baru, suasana pagi biasanya sepi.
Placing it after the predicate (sepi biasanya) sounds awkward.

Do I need adalah (is) before sepi?

No. With predicate adjectives, Indonesian normally drops a copula. So suasana pagi (itu) sepi is correct. Adalah is used mainly before a noun phrase, not before an adjective.

What nuance does sepi have? How is it different from sunyi, tenang, or ramai?

sepi = quiet, not busy, possibly empty (places).
sunyi = silent/deserted, stronger and more literary.
tenang = calm/tranquil (mood or environment, not necessarily empty).
Opposite: ramai = busy/crowded/lively.
For feelings of loneliness, use kesepian (a person feels lonely), not sepi.

Can I move the location phrase to the end?

Yes. Options with similar meaning:

Suasana pagi di kantor cabang baru biasanya sepi.
Biasanya, suasana pagi di kantor cabang baru sepi.
If you say Kantor cabang baru biasanya sepi di pagi hari, the subject shifts to the office, but the idea stays close.

Should I use pada instead of di for time expressions?

For time, formal Indonesian prefers pada (e.g., pada pagi hari). In everyday speech, di pagi hari is also common and acceptable. Your sentence avoids this by using suasana pagi, which is natural.

Can I say both di and a time expression together, like “at the office in the morning”?

Yes, just keep place and time in separate phrases:

Di kantor cabang baru, pagi hari biasanya sepi.
Pagi-pagi di kantor cabang baru biasanya sepi.
Avoid stacking di twice in a row for different roles in the same slot.

What’s the difference between di and ke if I change the sentence?

di = at/in/on (location, static).
ke = to/toward (movement).
Your sentence is about a state at a place, so di is correct. Use ke only if someone is going to the office (movement).

How can I intensify or soften sepi?

Stronger: sangat sepi, cukup sepi, benar-benar sepi.
Softer/hedged: agak sepi, cenderung sepi, lumayan sepi.
Example: Di kantor cabang baru, suasana pagi biasanya agak sepi.