Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Dia bekerja paruh waktu di kantor kecil dekat kampus. - He/She works part-time at a small office near the campus.

di kantor kecil can mean: at a small office or at the small office, depending on context.
di sebuah kantor kecil is also correct and emphasizes at a (certain) small office, focusing a bit more on “one office” rather than “the office in general”.

Both are grammatical; Indonesians often just say di kantor kecil unless they need to be very specific.

What is the literal meaning of paruh waktu and how common is it?

Literally:

paruh = half
waktu = time

So paruh waktu = half-time / part-time.

It’s a very common and standard expression for part-time (jobs, study, etc.). In everyday speech, you might also hear kerja sambilan (side job) or kerja part-time, but paruh waktu is correct and natural.

Can paruh waktu go before the verb, like in English “He part-time works…”?

No. In Indonesian it sounds natural after the verb:

✅ Dia bekerja paruh waktu…
❌ Dia paruh waktu bekerja… (sounds awkward and unnatural)

Typical pattern:
[subject] + [verb] + [adverb / time expression]

So bekerja paruh waktu = works part-time.

What is the difference between bekerja and kerja?

Both are related to work, but there’s a nuance:

bekerja = the full verb to work (more neutral/formal)
- Dia bekerja di kantor. = He/She works at an office.
kerja can be:
- a noun: work / job (e.g. banyak kerja = a lot of work)
- or a more casual verb in speech: Dia kerja di kantor.

In standard written Indonesian, bekerja is preferred. In conversation, kerja as a verb is very common and natural.

How is the word order in kantor kecil different from English?

English: small office (adjective before noun)
Indonesian: kantor kecil = office small (adjective after noun)

This is a general rule:
[noun] + [adjective]

Examples:

rumah besar = big house
mobil baru = new car
kantor kecil = small office

So the sentence literally orders it as:
He/She works part-time at office small near campus.

What is the function of di and dekat? Why not just di kampus?

di is a basic preposition meaning at / in / on.
- di kantor = at the office
- di kampus = on/at campus
dekat means near / close (to).

In this sentence:

di kantor kecil = at a small office
dekat kampus = near the campus

So di kantor kecil dekat kampus = at a small office near the campus, not at the campus itself. If you said di kampus, the meaning would change to “on/at the campus.”

Is dekat kampus missing a preposition like “to”? Should it be dekat dengan kampus?

Both are accepted:

dekat kampus (very common, short, informal–neutral)
dekat dengan kampus (slightly more formal or explicit)

In everyday speech and most writing, people simply say dekat [place], so dekat kampus is perfectly natural.

Where is the tense marker? How do I know if bekerja means “works”, “worked”, or “is working”?

Indonesian verbs generally do not change for tense. Bekerja by itself is neutral:

Dia bekerja paruh waktu di kantor kecil dekat kampus.
Depending on context, it could mean:
- He/She works part-time…
- He/She worked part-time…
- He/She is working part-time…

Time is shown by time words, not verb changes, e.g.:

Kemarin dia bekerja paruh waktu… = Yesterday he/she worked part-time…
Sekarang dia bekerja paruh waktu… = Now he/she is working / works part-time…
Besok dia akan bekerja paruh waktu… = Tomorrow he/she will work part-time…

Can I drop dia and just say Bekerja paruh waktu di kantor kecil dekat kampus?

Yes, in context you can. Indonesian often drops the subject if it’s clear from situation or previous sentences.

If someone asks:
Dia ngapain sekarang? (What is he/she doing now?)
You could answer:
Bekerja paruh waktu di kantor kecil dekat kampus.

But as a standalone sentence with no context, Dia bekerja… is clearer, especially for learners.

What’s the difference between dia and ia? Could this sentence use ia?

Both are third-person singular pronouns, but usage differs:

dia
- Very common in speech and writing
- Neutral, works almost anywhere
ia
- Mostly used in formal written style, especially as a subject
- Rare in casual conversation

You could write:

Ia bekerja paruh waktu di kantor kecil dekat kampus.
Grammatically correct, but sounds more formal/literary. For everyday use, Dia bekerja… is more natural.

Is kampus different from universitas?

Yes, they’re related but not identical:

kampus = campus (the physical area/buildings of a university or college)
universitas = university (the institution)

So:

dekat kampus = near the campus area
dekat universitas = near the university (usually similar in meaning, but focuses on the institution’s location)

In practice, dekat kampus is the more common way to say “near campus.”

Could the sentence be reordered, like Dia paruh waktu bekerja di kantor kecil dekat kampus?

That order is grammatically possible but not natural. Native speakers strongly prefer:

Dia bekerja paruh waktu di kantor kecil dekat kampus.

The typical pattern is:
[subject] + [verb] + [manner/time/place]

So keep bekerja directly after dia, then add paruh waktu, then the place.

Is there any plural marking here? How would I say “They work part-time…”?

In this sentence, there is no explicit plural marking.

To say They work part-time at a small office near campus, change only the subject:

Mereka bekerja paruh waktu di kantor kecil dekat kampus.
- mereka = they (plural)

Everything else in the sentence stays the same; nouns and verbs don’t change form for number.

Is paruh waktu ever written with a hyphen, like paruh-waktu?

The standard modern spelling is paruh waktu (two separate words, no hyphen).

You might see paruh-waktu in older texts or informal writing, but paruh waktu is the form that follows current spelling rules (EYD / PUEBI).