Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Pakaian kerjanya terlalu formal untuk rapat keluarga. - His/Her work clothes are too formal for the family meeting.

It usually refers to what you typically wear for your job (officewear, uniform, business clothes, etc.), not clothes that you physically work on (like laundry).
It’s a bit more neutral/formal than baju kerja.
- Pakaian kerja = more general, can sound a bit more formal or written.
- Baju kerja = everyday, casual speech.

In this sentence, pakaian kerjanya is best understood as his/her work clothes or their work outfit.

What does the suffix -nya in pakaian kerjanya mean? Is it his/her, or the?

The suffix -nya is very flexible in Indonesian. In pakaian kerjanya, it most naturally means his/her/their (third-person possessive). So:

pakaian kerja = work clothes (in general)
pakaian kerjanya = his/her/their work clothes

However, -nya can also act like a definite marker, similar to the in English, when the context is clear. So depending on context, pakaian kerjanya could also be understood as the work clothes (we’re talking about).

In a neutral, context-free translation, people usually read it as his/her work clothes.

Why is the -nya attached to kerja and not to pakaian?

Indonesian often attaches -nya to the last word of the noun phrase, but its scope can cover the whole phrase.

So in:

pakaian kerja = work clothes
pakaian kerjanya = his/her work clothes

Even though -nya is on kerja, it’s understood as modifying the complete phrase pakaian kerja.

Other similar patterns:

rumah sakitnya = his/her hospital / the hospital (we talked about)
guru bahasa Inggrisnya = his/her English teacher / the English teacher

So it’s not that kerja alone is possessed; pakaian kerja as a unit is considered possessed/definite.

Could I say pakaian kerja saya instead of pakaian kerjanya? What’s the difference?

Yes, you can say pakaian kerja saya. Both are correct but with different subjects:

pakaian kerjanya
- usually means his/her/their work clothes (third person)
- subject is someone else (not the speaker)
pakaian kerja saya
- means my work clothes (first person)
- clearly says the clothes belong to the speaker

Other options with different levels of formality:

pakaian kerjaku = my work clothes (informal, spoken, friendly)
pakaian kerja beliau = his/her work clothes (very polite, respectful)

What does terlalu mean here? Is it always negative like too in English?

Terlalu generally means too in the sense of excessive:

terlalu formal = too formal
terlalu mahal = too expensive
terlalu cepat = too fast

Usually, it has a negative or problematic nuance, just like English too.
In the sentence:

Pakaian kerjanya terlalu formal untuk rapat keluarga.
- It suggests this level of formality is not appropriate for a family meeting.

Occasionally, in casual speech, terlalu can be used in a positive, exaggerating way (like so or totally), but in neutral language, it’s mostly about something being excessive.

How is terlalu different from sangat or begitu?

All three relate to degree, but they are used differently:

terlalu = too (excessive, often a problem)
- terlalu formal = too formal (not suitable)
sangat = very (strong, but not necessarily excessive)
- sangat formal = very formal (could be good or bad, depending on context)
begitu = so / that (often with a comparative or descriptive feel)
- begitu formal ≈ so formal (often used when describing or reacting)

So:

Pakaian kerjanya sangat formal. = His work clothes are very formal.
Pakaian kerjanya terlalu formal. = His work clothes are too formal (for something).

What does untuk do in terlalu formal untuk rapat keluarga? Why untuk and not something else?

In this structure, untuk means for, expressing suitability or purpose:

terlalu formal untuk rapat keluarga
= too formal for a family meeting

Pattern:

terlalu + adjective + untuk + noun phrase
- terlalu besar untuk anak-anak = too big for children
- terlalu sulit untuk pemula = too difficult for beginners

You could also sometimes hear buat instead of untuk in casual speech:

terlalu formal buat rapat keluarga (more informal)

Untuk is the neutral, standard choice here.

What exactly does rapat keluarga mean? Is it like a family party, or more like a serious meeting?

Rapat keluarga literally means family meeting.

Nuance:

rapat is used for meetings (often structured, with a purpose or agenda: office meeting, committee meeting, etc.).
So rapat keluarga suggests a family gathering with a specific purpose:
- discussing finances
- deciding about property or inheritance
- planning a wedding
- resolving a family issue

If you just mean a casual family get-together or party, Indonesians often say:

acara keluarga (family event)
kumpul keluarga (family get-together)
makan malam keluarga (family dinner)

So pakaian kerjanya terlalu formal untuk rapat keluarga implies:
Even for this more organized family meeting, his/her office clothes are still too formal.

Why is there no word for is/are in pakaian kerjanya terlalu formal?

Indonesian usually does not use a separate word for “is/are” before adjectives.

Structure:

subject + adjective
- pakaian kerjanya formal = his/her work clothes are formal
- baju itu mahal = that shirt is expensive
- rumah ini besar = this house is big

In this sentence, the pattern is:

pakaian kerjanya (subject) + terlalu formal (predicate adjective)

You only use adalah in specific situations, mainly:

before a noun phrase, not an adjective:
- Dia adalah dokter. = He/She is a doctor.
or in certain formal/written styles.

So pakaian kerjanya terlalu formal is completely normal and natural Indonesian.

Is kerja here a verb or a noun? How can it follow pakaian like this?

In pakaian kerja, kerja behaves like a noun meaning work.

Indonesian words are often flexible between verb and noun roles, depending on position:

kerja as a verb:
- Saya kerja di Jakarta. = I work in Jakarta.
kerja as a noun modifier (like work-related):
- pakaian kerja = work clothes
- teman kerja = workmate / colleague
- jam kerja = working hours

So pakaian kerja is like saying work clothing or work attire.

Can I replace formal with an Indonesian-origin word like resmi? What’s the difference?

Yes, you can say:

Pakaian kerjanya terlalu resmi untuk rapat keluarga.

Differences:

formal
- A loanword from English.
- Very common in everyday Indonesian, especially in cities.
- Used for style, manner, or attire: gaya formal, suasana formal, pakaian formal.
resmi
- Native/older word, also common.
- Often used for official or legally recognized things:
  - surat resmi = official letter
  - acara resmi = official ceremony
  - pakaian resmi = formal/official attire

In this sentence, both formal and resmi are acceptable.
Formal focuses more on style/dress code; resmi can sound slightly more official or ceremonial, depending on context.

Is there a more casual way to say this sentence in spoken Indonesian?

Yes, a more casual, everyday version might be:

Baju kerjanya terlalu formal buat rapat keluarga.

Changes:

pakaian → baju (more casual)
untuk → buat (colloquial for in speech)

Meaning remains the same:
His/her work clothes are too formal for a family meeting.