Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Pagi ini saya kedinginan di perpustakaan karena AC terlalu kuat. - This morning I was feeling cold in the library because the AC was too strong.

In Indonesian, demonstratives like ini (this) typically follow the noun: pagi ini = this morning. Ini pagi would read as "this is morning," which isn’t how you say "this morning." Similarly, perpustakaan ini = this library, while ini perpustakaan = this is a library.

Can I say "tadi pagi" or "pagi tadi" instead of "pagi ini"? What’s the difference?

pagi ini: this morning (often used while it’s still morning, or in narrative).
tadi pagi / pagi tadi: earlier this morning (definitely in the past; preferred if it’s already afternoon/evening).
Both tadi pagi and pagi tadi are natural; tadi pagi is a bit more common.

Can the time phrase move? Could I place "pagi ini" later in the sentence?

Yes. Time adverbials are flexible. For example:

Pagi ini saya kedinginan di perpustakaan karena AC terlalu kuat.
Saya kedinginan di perpustakaan pagi ini karena AC terlalu kuat. Fronting pagi ini simply emphasizes the time.

Why use "kedinginan" instead of just "dingin" or "merasa dingin"? Do I need any "to be" word?

kedinginan means you feel uncomfortably cold (you’re suffering from it).
dingin is "cold" (a quality). Saya dingin sounds odd (or like "I’m a cold person" emotionally).
merasa dingin ("feel cold") is correct but more neutral/formal; kedinginan is what people typically say for physical discomfort. Indonesian doesn’t need a "to be" verb here: Saya kedinginan is complete; avoid saya adalah kedinginan.

What does the affix ke- -an do in "kedinginan"?

With many roots, ke- -an means "to experience/suffer from X" or "too X":

kedinginan (too cold), kepanasan (overheated), kehujanan (caught in the rain), kelaparan (starving), kehausan (thirsty), kebesaran/kekecilan (too big/small). It also forms abstract nouns (e.g., kebaikan "kindness"), but here it’s the "experiencing" meaning.

Is "AC terlalu kuat" natural? What would Indonesians usually say?

More idiomatic options specify what’s excessive:

Temperature: AC(-nya) terlalu dingin, suhunya terlalu rendah.
Airflow: angin AC(-nya) terlalu kencang, hembusannya terlalu kencang. Kuat isn’t wrong but it’s vague; dingin (temperature) or kencang (airflow) is clearer.

What does "-nya" in "AC-nya" do? Do I need the hyphen?

-nya can mark definiteness ("the/that"), possession ("its/his/her"), or topicalization. AC-nya terlalu dingin ≈ "the AC (there) is too cold."
With acronyms like AC, use a hyphen: AC-nya. With ordinary words, attach it directly: bukunya (the book/his book).

How do you pronounce "AC" in Indonesian? Are there other terms?

Indonesians say AC as the letter names in Indonesian, roughly a-ce (ah-cheh). A formal alternative is pendingin ruangan ("room cooler"), but AC is the everyday term.

Do I need a comma before "karena"?

Main clause first: no comma needed. Saya kedinginan ... karena AC terlalu kuat.
Reason clause first: put a comma after it. Karena AC terlalu kuat, saya kedinginan di perpustakaan.

Why "di perpustakaan" and not "ke perpustakaan"?

di = at/in (location): di perpustakaan.
ke = to/toward (movement): ke perpustakaan.
dari = from (origin): dari perpustakaan.

I see "di" both written separately and attached to words. What’s the rule?

di as a preposition ("at/in") is written separately: di perpustakaan.
di- as a passive prefix attaches to verbs: dibaca (is/was read), ditutup (is/was closed).

Does "di perpustakaan" mean "at a library" or "at the library"? How do I show definiteness?

It can mean either; Indonesian has no articles. To be explicit:

di perpustakaan itu/ini = at that/this library.
di perpustakaannya = at the library (definite via -nya).

Should I use "saya" or "aku" here?

saya: neutral/formal; safe with strangers, at school/work, in public.
aku: informal/intimate; friends/family, casual chats. Colloquial regional options exist (e.g., gue/gua in Jakarta). Saya is a safe default.

How is past time expressed? Do I need "sudah"?

Indonesian doesn’t inflect for tense. Time words usually suffice: pagi ini, tadi pagi, kemarin, etc. sudah marks completion ("already"), not past by itself. You don’t need it in this sentence.

Are there informal alternatives to "karena"?

Yes:

soalnya (because, informal): ... soalnya AC-nya terlalu dingin.
gara-gara (because/owing to, often negative nuance): ... gara-gara AC-nya terlalu dingin. Related but different: makanya = "that’s why/therefore," not "because."

What’s the difference between "terlalu," "sangat," and "sekali/banget"?

terlalu = too/excessively: terlalu dingin ("too cold").
sangat = very (formal/neutral, placed before): sangat dingin.
sekali (after adjective) / banget (colloquial, after adjective) = very: dingin sekali, dingin banget.
Only terlalu implies an excessive level.