Lengan baju itu terlalu labuh.

A word-by-word breakdown is:

• lengan = arm / sleeve
• baju = shirt, clothes, top
• itu = that / the
• terlalu = too, overly
• labuh = long in the sense of hanging too low or too far down

So the sentence literally looks something like the shirt sleeve(s) too long/downward, and naturally means that the sleeves are too long.

In Malay, lengan baju is a normal expression for the sleeve of a shirt/clothing.

Literally, it is:

• lengan = arm
• baju = shirt/clothing

But together, lengan baju means sleeve. This is very natural in Malay. English also does similar things sometimes, like shirt collar or coat pocket.

So even though lengan by itself often means arm, in lengan baju it refers to the sleeve part of the clothing.

Because in Malay, demonstratives like ini (this) and itu (that) usually come after the noun phrase.

So:

• baju itu = that shirt / the shirt
• lengan baju itu = the sleeve(s) of that shirt / that shirt’s sleeves

This is different from English, where we say that shirt with that before the noun.

It can feel like either, depending on context.

Strictly speaking:

• itu usually means that
• but in natural translation, it can sometimes sound more like the

So lengan baju itu could be understood as:

• the sleeves of that shirt
• or simply the sleeves are..., if the shirt is already understood from context

Malay often relies more on context than English does.

Malay often does not use a copula in simple sentences with adjectives.

In English, we say:

• The sleeves are too long

In Malay, you can simply say:

• Lengan baju itu terlalu labuh

There is no need for a separate word meaning are. This is completely normal in Malay.

This is a very common learner question.

Both labuh and panjang can relate to length, but they are not always used in exactly the same way.

• panjang = long, in a general sense
• labuh = long in the sense of hanging low, too far down, lower than expected

For clothing, labuh is often more natural when something extends too far downward, such as:

• sleeves
• hems
• pants legs
• skirts

So terlalu labuh suggests the sleeves hang too low. That is why it sounds especially suitable here.

You might be understood, but labuh is more natural here.

Panjang is more general and can describe length in many situations. But for clothing parts that hang down, Malay often prefers labuh.

So:

• terlalu panjang = too long
• terlalu labuh = too long / too low-hanging

In this sentence, labuh is the more idiomatic choice.

This is an important difference.

• terlalu = too, excessively
• sangat = very

So:

• terlalu labuh = too long
• sangat labuh = very long

If the meaning is that the sleeves are a problem because they are longer than they should be, then terlalu is the right choice.

Malay often does not mark plural nouns unless it is necessary.

So lengan baju itu can mean:

• the sleeve of that shirt
• or the sleeves of that shirt

In real context, people usually understand the intended meaning immediately. With clothing, English often says the sleeves, but Malay may leave the number unmarked.

If needed, Malay can mark plurality in other ways, but it often does not bother to.

Yes, that is a good way to understand it.

The structure is basically:

• lengan baju = sleeve(s)
• itu = that

So lengan baju itu refers to the sleeve(s) of that shirt or that shirt’s sleeve(s).

Malay does not use an apostrophe like English shirt’s, so possession and close noun relationships are often shown simply by putting nouns together.

The structure is:

• Lengan baju itu = subject / topic
• terlalu labuh = predicate

So the pattern is basically:

[noun phrase] + [adverb + adjective]

That is a very common Malay pattern for sentences with adjectives.

Examples of the same type:

• Rumah itu sangat besar = The house is very big.
• Seluar ini terlalu ketat = These pants are too tight.

Yes.

• Lengan baju itu terlalu labuh = The sleeves of that shirt are too long.
• Lengan baju ini terlalu labuh = The sleeves of this shirt are too long.

So the only difference is distance:

• ini = this
• itu = that

It is neutral and natural Malay.

It is suitable for everyday conversation, such as when talking about clothes in a shop, at a tailor’s, or at home.

It is not especially slangy or especially formal. It is just a normal, standard way to say it.

Yes. That would be a very natural extension.

It means:

• The sleeves of that shirt are too long for me

Adding untuk saya makes the sentence more personal and specific. Without it, the sentence simply states that the sleeves are too long, presumably by normal expectation or by the speaker’s needs.