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  1. Topics
  2. Old Indonesian / Malay
  3. Kerdja

Kerdja

/id/
Source Language: The language or dialect this term originates from (ID).
Indonesian•1 meaning found
1
Verified
This definition has been reviewed by linguists and community consensus for accuracy.
neutral
Tone: neutral. Indicates the emotional nuance or social context of the word.
Old Indonesian / Malay
Topic: Old Indonesian / Malay. The category or sphere of life where this word is used.
national
Region: national. Specifies the geographical origin or local dialect area.
Verified
This definition has been reviewed by linguists and community consensus for accuracy.

Definition & Context

Verb

Verb

A word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence.

An archaic spelling of kerja, referring to labor or work performed by an individual to earn a livelihood or fulfill daily obligations.

Synonyms & Variants

kerja

kerja

The term 'nguli' used in a social context to refer to heavy physical labor or as slang for working hard.

Synonym
profesi

profesi

Work that requires specialized expertise, higher education, and usually possesses a professional code of ethics.

Register Variant
mengais rezeki

mengais rezeki

A metaphorical expression for working to earn a living.

synonym
makarya

makarya

A more formal or poetic term often used in the context of service or creation.

synonym

Usage Notes or Etymology

The word kerdja is the Van Ophuijsen spelling of the modern Indonesian word kerja. The Van Ophuijsen orthographic system, introduced by Charles Adrian van Ophuijsen in 1901, was officially used in written Malay during the Dutch colonial era until it was replaced by the Republican Spelling system in 1947. In this system, the consonant cluster rj was rendered as rdj to more accurately reflect its phonetic quality. This spelling is commonly found in official colonial documents, newspapers, and Malay literary works from the 19th to early 20th century, making it a strong historical marker of that era.

Real-world Usage

Karena si Amat masi banjak kerdja, ia beloem bisa poelang. (Karena si Amat masih banyak kerja, ia belum bisa pulang.)

English Translation
Because Amat still has much work to do, he cannot return home yet.

Representative of real-world usage and contextual accuracy.

Verified Evidence1

  • Boekoe Soerat-Soerat (TH. A. Du Mosch) - Halaman 30
    Boekoe Soerat-Soerat (TH. A. Du Mosch) - Halaman 30

    Boekoe Soerat-Soerat (TH. A. Du Mosch) - Halaman 30

    Imageliterature
    Verify Context
Reviewed 3 months ago

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