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Breakdown of Kami makan malam setelah kerja.
makan
to eat
kami
we
setelah
after
makan malam
dinner
kerja
the work
Questions & Answers about Kami makan malam setelah kerja.
Does this sentence tell me whether it’s past, present, or future?
Indonesian doesn’t mark tense on the verb. Context or time words do the work.
- Past: Kemarin setelah kerja, kami makan malam.
- Present (right now): Kami sedang makan malam sekarang, setelah kerja.
- Future: Nanti setelah kerja, kami akan makan malam. It can also be generic/habitual: Biasanya kami makan malam setelah kerja.
What’s the difference between kami and kita?
Both mean “we,” but:
- kami = we (not including you, the listener)
- kita = we (including you) If you’re inviting the person you’re speaking to, use kita makan malam setelah kerja.
Is makan malam one word or two, and is it a verb or a noun?
Two words. It can function as:
- A verb phrase “to have/eat dinner”: Kami makan malam.
- A noun “dinner”: Dia menyiapkan makan malam. Don’t say bermakan malam or memakan malam for “have dinner.”
Should it be setelah kerja or setelah bekerja?
Both are correct.
- setelah kerja = after work (work-time/session; common and neutral)
- setelah bekerja = after working (more explicitly verbal; a bit more formal) Meaning is essentially the same here.
Are setelah and sesudah the same?
Yes, they’re interchangeable. Other options:
- Informal: habis/sehabis kerja
- Formal/literary: usai/seusai bekerja
- Less common in Indonesian, common in Malay: selepas kerja
Can I move the time phrase to the front?
Yes. Setelah kerja, kami makan malam. When fronted, use a comma.
Can I omit the subject kami?
You can drop it if context is clear or in notes/schedules: Makan malam setelah kerja. In normal conversation, keep kami (or kita) to avoid ambiguity.
How do I negate this?
Use tidak to negate the verb phrase:
- Kami tidak makan malam setelah kerja. Use bukan to contrast or negate a noun focus:
- Bukan makan malam setelah kerja, tapi makan siang.
How do I show it’s habitual vs one-time?
Add adverbs:
- Habitual: Biasanya/Sering/Kadang-kadang kami makan malam setelah kerja.
- One-time past: Kemarin/Tadi kami makan malam setelah kerja.
- Planned future: Besok/Nanti kami akan makan malam setelah kerja.
What’s the nuance of kerja, bekerja, and pekerjaan?
- kerja = work (noun) and also colloquial verb “to work”
- bekerja = “to work” (formal/neutral verb)
- pekerjaan = a job/task/occupation (a thing) So you’d say setelah kerja/bekerja, not setelah pekerjaan (unless: setelah pekerjaannya selesai).
How do I say “after we get off work” or “after leaving the office”?
Use pulang (“to go/come home”):
- Sepulang kerja, kami makan malam.
- Sepulang dari kantor, kami makan malam. Colloquial: Pulang kerja, kami makan malam.
Do I need a preposition like di before kerja (e.g., “after at work”)?
No. Say setelah kerja. If you want a place, mention it: setelah dari kantor or setelah di kantor seharian (after being at the office all day).
How do I make it clearly future-planned?
Add akan and/or a future time:
- Kami akan makan malam nanti setelah kerja.
- Besok setelah kerja, kami akan makan malam.
How would I turn it into a yes/no question?
Use apakah, intonation, or a tag:
- Apakah kita makan malam setelah kerja?
- Kita makan malam setelah kerja? (rising intonation)
- Kita makan malam setelah kerja, ya/kan?
Is makan malam always “dinner” even if it’s early evening?
Yes. makan malam means dinner (evening meal). Time-of-day words:
- pagi (morning), siang (midday/afternoon), sore (late afternoon), malam (night). Dinner is still makan malam, not “makan sore.”
Any register differences for the whole sentence?
Neutral: Kami makan malam setelah kerja. More formal: Kami akan bersantap malam usai bekerja. More casual: Kita makan malam abis kerja, ya? (note colloquial abis for habis)
Do I need articles or plural markers with “dinner”?
No. Indonesian has no articles. makan malam is indefinite by default. To specify, use demonstratives:
- makan malam itu (that dinner), makan malam ini (this dinner).
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