Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Kemejaku biru, sedangkan kemejamu putih. - My shirt is blue, whereas your shirt is white.

Indonesian doesn’t use a linking verb with adjectives. An adjective can be the predicate by itself, so Kemejaku biru literally means “My shirt blue,” i.e., “My shirt is blue.” Avoid adalah with adjectives; Kemejaku adalah biru sounds unnatural. A more formal option is Kemejaku berwarna biru (“My shirt is blue-colored”).

What do the endings -ku and -mu mean in kemejaku and kemejamu?

They are possessive clitics:

-ku = “my,” so kemejaku = “my shirt” (≈ kemeja saya).
-mu = “your (singular, informal),” so kemejamu = “your shirt” (≈ kemeja kamu). Register: -mu is informal; for polite/formal “your,” use Anda: kemeja Anda.

Can I write them separately, like kemeja ku or kemeja mu?

No. In standard spelling they attach directly to the noun with no space and no hyphen: kemejaku, kemejamu. You may see hyphens in older texts, but current norms prefer no hyphen.

Is kemeja the same as baju?

kemeja = a collared shirt (button-up, dress shirt).
baju = clothing/a top more generally (everyday word). Depending on context, people might say Bajuku biru in casual speech.

What does sedangkan add? Can I replace or omit it?

sedangkan marks a contrast (“whereas/while” in the sense of contrast) between two different subjects. You can:

Omit it: Kemejaku biru, kemejamu putih. (still fine)
Use tapi/tetapi (“but”): Kemejaku biru, tapi/tetapi kemejamu putih. This sounds more like opposition than a neutral contrast.
Don’t confuse with sementara, which focuses on simultaneity (“while [at the same time]”), often for actions.

What’s the difference between sedangkan and sedang?

sedangkan = conjunction meaning “whereas/while (in contrast).”
sedang = aspect marker meaning “in the middle of/currently” for actions (e.g., Saya sedang makan = “I am eating”). They’re unrelated functionally.

Why is there a comma before sedangkan?

Indonesian commonly places a comma before coordinating conjunctions that join independent clauses, including sedangkan. So the comma in …, sedangkan … is standard.

Is Kemejaku biru by itself a complete sentence?

Yes. Subject kemejaku + predicate adjective biru forms a complete, natural sentence.

Could I say berwarna biru instead of biru?

Yes. Kemejaku berwarna biru is perfectly correct and a bit more formal or descriptive. In everyday speech, biru alone is more common.

How do I say your white shirt (as a noun phrase) versus your shirt is white (as a sentence)?

Noun phrase (attributive): kemeja putihmu / kemeja putih kamu / kemeja putih Anda.
Sentence (predicative): Kemejamu putih / Kemeja kamu putih / Kemeja Anda putih.

Can I say biru kemejaku?

Not in normal prose. Indonesian prefers noun + adjective. Biru kemejaku would sound poetic or marked; stick with Kemejaku biru.

How do I talk about plurals like our shirts are blue, your shirts are white?

Indonesian doesn’t require plural marking; context shows number:

Kemeja kami biru, sedangkan kemeja kalian putih. Notes:
kami = “we/our” (excluding the listener); kita includes the listener.
kalian = plural “you.” For polite plural, Anda sekalian.

Is -mu too informal? What’s the polite option for your?

-mu and kamu are informal. Polite/formal “your” is Anda (capital A): Kemeja Anda putih. Avoid -mu in formal writing or with superiors/strangers.

Can I avoid repeating kemeja and just say mine/yours?

Yes:

Punyaku biru, sedangkan punyamu putih. (“Mine is blue, yours is white.”)
Or focus on the contrasted items: Yang biru punyaku, yang putih punyamu.

Where do ini/itu go if I want this/that shirt of mine?

Place ini/itu after the noun phrase:

Kemejaku ini biru = “This shirt of mine is blue.”
Kemejaku itu biru = “That shirt of mine is blue.”

How do I pronounce kemeja and sedangkan?

kemeja: roughly “kə-ME-ja” (the first e like a schwa; j as in “judge”).
sedangkan: “sə-DANG-kan” (again schwa for the first e; stress typically on the penultimate syllable).