Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Keranjang cucian sudah penuh, jadi saya mencuci pakaian sekarang. - The laundry basket is already full, so I am washing clothes now.

sudah means "already" and marks a change of state. Keranjang cucian sudah penuh = "The laundry basket is already full (now; it has become full)."
Without it, Keranjang cucian penuh simply states a fact: "The laundry basket is full," with no sense of "already."
Formal synonym: telah. Colloquial: udah.

Does "jadi" here mean "so/therefore"? How is it different from "menjadi" or "jadi" as a verb?

In this sentence, jadi is a connector meaning "so/therefore."
menjadi/jadi can also be a verb meaning "to become": e.g., Dia menjadi guru (He became a teacher), Air jadi es (Water becomes ice).
jadi is also a common discourse marker/filler: Jadi, gimana? (So, how is it?)

Do I need the comma before "jadi"?

It’s good style to put a comma before jadi when it links two independent clauses: …, jadi ….
You can also start a new sentence: Jadi, …
In casual writing, people sometimes omit the comma, but the pause is natural in speech.

What’s the difference between "mencuci", "cuci", and "nyuci"?

mencuci = standard/polite "to wash."
cuci = base form; in speech you’ll hear Saya cuci baju (colloquial but common).
nyuci = very colloquial (Jakarta-style) reduction of mencuci. Example: Saya lagi nyuci baju.
All mean "wash"; the difference is register/formality.

Is "mencuci pakaian" idiomatic, or should I say "mencuci baju"?

Both are fine. pakaian = "clothing" (more general/formal), baju = "clothes/shirt" (everyday, very common).
In daily conversation, cuci/nyuci baju is extremely natural. mencuci pakaian sounds a bit more formal or careful.

Do I need to say "my clothes" explicitly? How?

Not necessary if context is clear; Indonesian often omits possessives.
If you want to be explicit: pakaian saya, pakaianku (with -ku), or baju saya.
All are acceptable; -ku is informal and attaches to the noun: pakaianku.

Where can "sekarang" go in the sentence?

Common placements:
- End: Saya mencuci pakaian sekarang.
- Beginning (emphasis on time): Sekarang saya mencuci pakaian.
- After the subject: Saya sekarang mencuci pakaian.
Avoid splitting the verb and its object awkwardly: Saya mencuci sekarang pakaian sounds odd.

How do I say "I’m washing clothes right now" more explicitly?

Neutral/progressive: Saya sedang mencuci pakaian (sekarang).
Colloquial: Saya lagi nyuci baju (sekarang).
Usually you don’t need both sedang/lagi and sekarang; one marker is enough.

Can I express the cause with "karena" instead of using "jadi"?

Yes. Two natural options:
- Cause first: Karena keranjang cucian sudah penuh, saya mencuci pakaian sekarang.
- Cause last: Saya mencuci pakaian sekarang karena keranjang cucian sudah penuh.
Use …, jadi … only for “cause, so effect.” Don’t say …, karena … with the same order unless you’re putting the cause second as above.

Why "keranjang cucian" and not "cucian keranjang"? How do noun–noun compounds work?

Indonesian compounds are typically head-first: [head] [modifier].
keranjang (basket) is the head; cucian (laundry) modifies it → "basket for laundry."
cucian keranjang would mean "the laundry of the basket," which is odd.

What does the "-an" in "cucian" do?

-an nominalizes or makes a result/collective noun. cuci (wash) → cucian (laundry, things to be washed/that were washed).
Other examples: tulis → tulisan (writing), masak → masakan (cooked dish), minum → minuman (a drink).

Does "cucian" mean dirty laundry or clean laundry?

It’s context-dependent. Often it means items to be washed (dirty) or a load of laundry in general.
Specify if needed:
- Dirty: cucian kotor / baju kotor / pakaian kotor
- Clean: cucian bersih / cucian sudah kering

Does Indonesian mark tense? Is this present or near future?

Indonesian doesn’t inflect verbs for tense. Time/aspect is shown with words like sekarang (now), tadi (earlier), nanti (later), sudah (already), sedang/lagi (in progress), akan/mau (will/going to).
…, jadi saya mencuci pakaian sekarang can mean "I’m washing them now" or "I’ll go wash them now." To stress intention, say saya mau mencuci pakaian sekarang.

Are there register differences with "saya", "aku", "gue"?

saya = polite/neutral; safe with strangers or formal settings.
aku = informal/intimate; friends, family.
gue/gua = very colloquial (Jakarta); use only with people who speak that way.
The rest of your sentence should match the register you pick.

Can I drop the subject "saya"?

Indonesian is often subject-drop in context. Natural colloquial options:
- Keranjang cucian sudah penuh, jadi mau nyuci baju sekarang.
In careful or standalone sentences, keep saya/aku to avoid ambiguity.

How do I say "very full" or "too full"?

Very full: sangat penuh (neutral), penuh sekali (neutral), penuh banget (informal).
Overfilled/too full: kepenuhan. Example: Keranjang cucian kepenuhan.

How do I say "the laundry basket" (a specific one), not just "a laundry basket"?

Add itu: Keranjang cucian itu sudah penuh (that/the specific basket).
Or use -nya as a definite marker: Keranjang cuciannya sudah penuh (the laundry basket is already full). -nya can also imply a known/previously mentioned item or possession, depending on context.