Saya bekerja demi keluarga saya.

I work for my family.

Breakdown of Saya bekerja demi keluarga saya.

• saya: I
• keluarga: the family
• bekerja: to work
• saya: my
• demi: for the sake of

Questions & Answers about Saya bekerja demi keluarga saya.

What does demi mean in this sentence and how is it different from untuk?

Demi is a preposition meaning “for the sake of” or “in the interest of.” It carries a slightly more formal or emphatic flavor, highlighting dedication or purpose. Untuk also means “for” or “to,” but is more general and neutral.
Example:

• Saya bekerja demi keluarga saya. (I work for the sake of my family.)
• Saya bekerja untuk keluarga saya. (I work for my family.)

Why is saya repeated in Saya bekerja demi keluarga saya?

The first saya is the subject pronoun “I.” The second saya, placed after keluarga, functions as a possessive pronoun “my.” Malay uses saya for both “I” (before the verb) and “my” (after the noun).

Why does the possessive come after the noun, as in keluarga saya, instead of before like English “my family”?

Malay grammar places possessive pronouns after the noun: noun + saya. English does the opposite (“my family”). So you always say keluarga saya, buku saya (“my book”), rumah saya (“my house”).

How do you know the sentence is in the present tense when there are no tense markers?

Malay verbs do not change form for tense. Context or time adverbs clarify timing. Here, bekerja simply indicates the action “work” in a habitual sense (“I work”). If you wanted past or future, you’d add words like semalam (yesterday) or nanti (later).

What role does the prefix be- play in bekerja?

The root kerja means “work” (as noun or verb). Adding the prefix be- forms the intransitive verb bekerja, meaning “to work.” It’s a common way in Malay to turn a root into a verb.

Is demi considered formal or literary? Can I use it in everyday conversation?

Demi leans toward formal or literary usage—you’ll see it in writing, speeches, songs, or slogans. In casual speech, most Malaysians use untuk instead. However, demi is perfectly acceptable if you want to sound more emphatic or poetic.

Could I say Aku bekerja demi keluargaku instead of Saya bekerja demi keluarga saya?

Yes. Aku is the informal “I,” and -ku is a possessive suffix meaning “my.” So Aku bekerja demi keluargaku is more casual and used among friends or family, whereas Saya bekerja demi keluarga saya is neutral and polite.

Are there other ways to express “for my family” besides demi and untuk?

You could use bagi, another preposition: Saya bekerja bagi keluarga saya, though it also feels somewhat formal. In everyday speech, untuk is most common, and demi adds that nuance of purpose or sacrifice.