Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Pemilik usaha itu memakai dasi hitam, sedangkan istrinya memakai gaun merah. - The owner of that business wears a black tie, while his wife wears a red dress.

Itu is the demonstrative “that/the,” and in Indonesian it typically follows the noun phrase. Pemilik usaha itu means “that/the business owner.” Without itu, pemilik usaha is more generic (“a business owner”). A more formal option is pemilik usaha tersebut. Note the different pattern Itu pemilik usaha = “That is the business owner.”

Why use sedangkan instead of dan or sementara?

sedangkan = “whereas,” highlighting contrast between two different subjects.
dan = “and,” just adds information with no contrast.
sementara = “while,” focuses on simultaneous time rather than contrast. Here, sedangkan is preferred to show contrast (black tie vs red dress). Padahal exists too, but it implies “even though” (contradiction to expectation), which is not needed here.

Do I need the comma before sedangkan?

Yes, it’s standard to place a comma before sedangkan because it starts a contrasting clause, much like “whereas” in English.

What does the -nya in istrinya mean, and who does it refer to?

-nya is a clitic meaning “his/her/their” or sometimes a definite “the (aforementioned).” In this sentence, it naturally refers back to the previously mentioned owner: istrinya = “his wife.” You don’t add itu after istrinya. Write it solid (no hyphen): istrinya.

Can istrinya ever mean “the wife” rather than “his wife”?

Yes. -nya can mark a previously known/definite noun, so context can make istrinya mean “the wife.” Here, though, the parallel with the owner makes “his wife” the natural reading. If you want to force the definite meaning without possession, use istri tersebut, sang istri, or si istri.

Why do the color words come after the nouns (as in dasi hitam, gaun merah)? Can I say hitam dasi?

In Indonesian, adjectives come after the noun. So dasi hitam (“black tie”) and gaun merah (“red dress”) are correct. Hitam dasi is incorrect.

Should it be dasi yang hitam instead of dasi hitam? When do I use yang?

Use yang to create a relative-clause-like restriction or to emphasize the descriptor: dasi yang hitam = “the tie that is black” (restrictive). For simple noun + color, dasi hitam is most natural.

Why repeat memakai in both clauses? Can I drop the second verb?

You need a verb in the second clause. ..., sedangkan istrinya gaun merah is ungrammatical. Keep a verb: ..., sedangkan istrinya memakai gaun merah. Alternatively, switch to a ber- form: ..., sedangkan istrinya bergaun merah.

Can I use pakai or mengenakan instead of memakai?

Yes:

memakai = neutral/formal “to wear/use”
pakai = casual “wear/use” (common in speech)
mengenakan = slightly more formal “to put on/wear” Avoid menggunakan for clothing; it means “to use” in a general sense and sounds odd with garments.

Are berdasi and bergaun good alternatives?

Yes. ber- can mean “to be wearing/with”:

Pemilik usaha itu berdasi hitam, sedangkan istrinya bergaun merah. Berdasi is very common; bergaun is also acceptable, especially in writing.

What tense is this? Does it mean they’re wearing them now or generally?

Indonesian doesn’t mark tense by verb forms. It’s context-dependent. Add time/aspect words if needed:

now/progressive: sedang memakai
past: tadi memakai, sudah memakai
future: akan memakai

Is pemilik usaha the same as pemilik bisnis or pemilik perusahaan?

They’re close but with nuances:

pemilik usaha = owner of a business (any size; very common)
pemilik bisnis = owner of a business (colloquial, from English)
pemilik perusahaan = owner of a company/corporation (sounds larger/more formal)

Why not say pemilik dari usaha itu?

Possession is usually expressed by placing nouns together. Pemilik dari... is often redundant or awkward. Prefer pemilik usaha itu.

Does sedangkan require different subjects on both sides?

Typically yes. Sedangkan contrasts two clauses with different subjects: A ..., sedangkan B .... If the subject is the same, use dan or restructure.

How do I pronounce tricky parts like sedangkan, -nya, and gaun?

ng in sedangkan is like “ng” in “sing” [ŋ].
ny in -nya is like “ny” in “canyon” [ɲa].
gaun is two syllables: ga-un (a-u pronounced separately). Indonesian vowels are pure, and the r is tapped.

Do I need a word for “a,” like sebuah (as in “a black tie”)?

No article is needed. Dasi hitam can mean “a/the black tie” by context. If you must count, use a numeral: satu dasi hitam, satu gaun merah. The general classifier buah is sometimes used, but for clothing most people just use the numeral.

Does the sentence imply the owner is male?

Yes, because istrinya means “his wife.” If the owner were female and you wanted to mention her spouse, you’d use suaminya (“her husband”).

Could I use sementara itu instead of sedangkan?

Sementara itu (“meanwhile”) usually connects sentences: Pemilik usaha itu memakai dasi hitam. Sementara itu, istrinya memakai gaun merah. It’s fine, but it reads more like narrative sequencing than a direct contrast.