Celana saya kebesaran.

My pants are too big.

Breakdown of Celana saya kebesaran.

• adalah: to be
• saya: my
• celana: the pants
• kebesaran: too big

Questions & Answers about Celana saya kebesaran.

Why is there no word like “are” in the sentence?

Indonesian usually doesn’t use a linking verb with adjectives. The predicate adjective just follows the subject:

• Dia cantik = She is beautiful.
• Celana saya kebesaran = My pants are too big. The word adalah is generally used before nouns in formal contexts (e.g., Dia adalah guru), not before adjectives like kebesaran.

What exactly is kebesaran, and how is it formed?

• Base adjective: besar = big.
• Circumfix: ke- … -an creates a “too X/excessively X” meaning when used predicatively with many adjectives.
• So kebesaran = too big/oversized (especially for clothing). Note: kebesaran can also be a noun meaning “greatness” or “majesty,” depending on context (e.g., kebesaran Tuhan).

Is there a difference between kebesaran and terlalu besar?

Both mean “too big,” but:

• kebesaran is very common and idiomatic for clothes not fitting.
• terlalu besar is neutral and works in all contexts. In clothing shops, both are fine. Some speakers feel terlalu besar can sound slightly stronger or more literal, while kebesaran highlights the mismatch/fit.

How is Celana saya besar different from Celana saya kebesaran?

• Celana saya besar: My pants are big (a description, not necessarily a problem).
• Celana saya kebesaran: My pants are too big (they don’t fit).

Is celana singular or plural?

Indonesian doesn’t mark plural on nouns. Celana refers to one pair of pants by default, but context can make it plural (pants in general). If you need to emphasize plurality, you can use words like banyak (many) or context; reduplication (celana-celana) is possible but not necessary in everyday speech.

How do I count pants in Indonesian?

• One pair: satu (buah) celana (everyday speech often just satu celana).
• Two pairs: dua celana. Classifiers like buah are optional; sepasang celana is understood but less common because celana is already a single item.

How do I express possession differently: “my pants,” etc.?

• celana saya = my pants (neutral/polite).
• celanaku = my pants (informal, using the enclitic -ku).
• saya punya celana yang kebesaran = I have pants that are too big.
• More formal/literary: celana milik saya (pants belonging to me).

How do I say “these/that pants are too big”?

• Celana ini kebesaran = This pair of pants is too big.
• Celana itu kebesaran = That pair of pants is too big. If you truly mean multiple pairs: Celana-celana ini kebesaran, though often context alone signals plurality.

How do I say “too big for me”?

Add untuk or buat + pronoun:

• Celana ini kebesaran untuk saya (neutral).
• Celana ini kebesaran buat saya (more casual). Both mean “This pair of pants is too big for me.”

What are other handy “too X” forms for clothing fit?

• kekecilan = too small
• kepanjangan = too long
• kependekan = too short
• kesempitan = too tight
• For “too loose,” people typically say terlalu longgar (rather than a ke-…-an form) Examples:
• Sepatunya kekecilan.
• Lengannya kepanjangan.
• Celana ini terlalu longgar.

How do I pronounce the sentence naturally?

• c is “ch” as in church: celana → “cheh-LAH-nah”
• The e in ke- is a schwa (uh): kebesaran → “kuh-buh-SAR-ahn”
• Indonesian r is tapped/trilled.

Can I make it more informal or more colloquial?

Yes:

• Informal pronoun: Celana aku kebesaran.
• Jakarta slang: Celana gue kegedean. (uses gede = big; kegedean = too big, colloquial) Neutral/polite: Celana saya kebesaran.

Could kebesaran mean something else?

Yes. Outside the clothing/fit context, kebesaran can mean “greatness/majesty,” e.g., kebesaran Tuhan (the greatness of God), or in phrases like pakaian kebesaran meaning ceremonial regalia.

How do I say the opposite or that something fits?

• Negative: Celana saya tidak kebesaran.
• Fits well: Celana saya pas.
• Fits perfectly: Celana saya pas banget. (informal)

How could I use this in a shop?

• Celana ini kebesaran. Ada ukuran yang lebih kecil?
• Boleh tukar ke ukuran yang lebih kecil?
• Casual with a common loanword: Ada size yang lebih kecil?