Welcome~
In this post, we will discuss more about affixes used in Bahasa Indonesia.
In Bahasa Indonesia, both nouns and verbs can be equipped with a variety of affixes, or what we call as imbuhan. This addition affects that word; a noun can easily change into a different-meaning noun or even a verb or adjective! The same thing can also happen to verbs.
The basic word that will be changed is called kata dasar. The concept is actually the same as when, say, the word ‘swim’, which is a verb, can be changed into ‘swimmer’, which is the doer. However, in Bahasa Indonesia, affixes play a bigger role than in English. A slight difference in the affixes used can change the meaning and nuances of that basic word into something completely different. Don’t complain first; just think of this as the replacement for not having to learn any tenses (•◡•)
I’ll give you some examples later one. For now, let us first look at the affixes.
The one we call affixes are almost always written joined with the basic word (except for some affixes and when the basic word has to be written using a capital letter, then they are separated by a dash or simply by a space). There are three ways to categorize affixes in Bahasa Indonesia: according to their positions, according to how often they are used, and according to where did they derived from.
I will only explain those that are often used, as there are already a lot to cover just for those. I will also explain more of the ones that are native and only give some examples for the ones that are derived from another language.
According to their position in relative to the basic word, affixes are further split into four types of affixes: prefixes (awalan), suffixes (akhiran), circumfixes (apitan), and infixes (sisipan).
PREFIXES (AWALAN)
Prefixes, or awalan, are, as the name suggest, the affixes which are located at the beginning of the basic word.
There are a lot of prefixes in Bahasa Indonesia. Here are some of their purposes.
To express doing something (e.g.: ber-)
To make a measurement unit (e.g.: se-, ke-, bi-)
To express the most (e.g.: maha)
To make a verb (e.g.: me-, ber-, per-)
To make a noun (e.g.: pe-, se-)
To make a verb used in a passive sentence (e.g.: di-, ter-)
To make an intransitive verb (e.g.: ke-)
To express an absence or lack of (e.g.: a-)
To express an opposite of (e.g.: anti-)
To express a former or ex (e.g.: eks-)
There’s a lot right? This just shows how much adding only prefixes in Bahasa Indonesia can affect the meaning of a word.
Now, let us move to a more detailed explanation of how and when to use prefixes, grouped if they have the same rules in usage. Note that even though the rules in usage might be the same, they might affect words differently.
Me- and Pe-
Me- » Meng- and Pe- » Peng-
If the first letter of the basic word is: a, e, g, h, i, k, o, or u.
For example: hias (decorate) » menghias (decorating) » penghias (decorator); gambar (picture/drawing) » menggambar (drawing) » penggambar (painter); ulang (repeat) » mengulang (repeating) » pengulang (repeater); asuh (foster) » mengasuh (fostering/taking care) » pengasuh (nanny/take carer)
Me- » Men- and Pe- » Pen-
If the first letter of the basic word is: c, d, or j.
For example: cari (search) » mencari (searching) » pencari (searcher); jaring (net) » menjaring (netting) » penjaring (net user, like a fisherman who uses net)
Me- » Mem- and Pe- » Pem-
If the first letter of the basic word is: b, f, or v.
For example: bakar (burn) » membakar (burning (verb)) » pembakar (arsonist); buru (go/do in a hurry) » memburu (hunting) » pemburu (hunter)
Me- » Meny- and Pe- » Peny-
If the first letter of the basic word is: s (the ‘s’ disappears and replaces by ‘y’)
For example: semir (polish) » menyemir (polishing) » penyemir (polisher)
Me- and Pe- not changing but the first letter of the basic word changes
If the first letter of the basic word is: p, t, or k, they change into m, n, or ng.
For example: parker (park) » memarkir (parking) » pemarkir (the one who parks); terima (receive) » menerima (receiving) » penerima (receiver); karang (make/compose) » mengarang (writing/composing) » pengarang (author)
Me- and Pe- not changing and the first letter of the basic word also not changes.
If the first letter of the basic word is: l, m, n, or r.
For example: laut (sea) » melaut (sailing) » pelaut (sailor); rasa (flavour/taste) » merasa (sensing (verb)) » perasa (sense (noun))
Ber- and Per-
Ber- » Be- and Per- » Pe-
If the first letter of the basic word is: r.
For example: renang (swim) » berenang (swimming) » perenang (swimmer)
Di- and Ter-
These prefixes are used when an active sentence is changed into a passive one. In the case of ter-, it implies that the action was done accidentally.
Ter- can also change an adjective into ‘the most’.
For example: Temanku membawa pensilku (My friend brought my pencil) » Pensilku dibawa temanku (My pencil is brought by my friend) » Pensilku terbawa temanku (My pencil is accidently brought by my friend); cantik (beautiful) » tercantik (the most beautiful)
Se-
This prefix signifies one.
For example: piring (plate) » sepiring (one plate); mata (eye) » semata (the only one)
Ke-
For example: luar (outside) » keluar (go outside); dua (two) » kedua (second)
SUFFIXES (AKHIRAN)
Suffixes, or akhiran, are affixes that are located at the back of the basic word.
Some examples of suffixes are: -an, -kan, -nya, -i, -man (signifies the person/occupation), -isme (like ‘–ism’ in English), -wan, -wati, -asi, -in, and -wi
For example:
Minum (drink (verb)) » minunan (drink (noun))
Bawa (bring) » bawakan (bring it (has an ordering or requesting nuance)
Datang (come) » datangi (come over)
Warta (news) » wartawan (reporter)
Sosial (social) » sosialisme (socialism)
CIRCUMFIXES (APITAN)
Circumfixes, or apitan, are affixes which are located at the beginning and the end of the basic word. In other words, they confine the basic words in-between them. The affixes in front follow the same rules as prefixes.
Some examples of circumfixes are: ke-an, pe(r)-an, ber-an, di-i, di-kan, peng-an, memper-i, memper-kan, me-kan, se-nya
For example:
Juara (champion) » kejuaraan (championship)
Salam (greet) » bersalaman (hand shaking)
Harap (hope) » pengharapan (hope, with a dramatic nuance)
Ingat (remember) » memperingati (remind/celebrate)
Cuci (wash) » mencucikan (wash for)
Masalah (problem) » mempermasalahkan (make something into a problem)
INFIXES (SISIPAN)
Infixes, or sisipan, are affixes that are located in the middle of the basic word. More precisely, they are located in the first syllable, between the first consonant and the first vowel.
Some examples of infixes are: -em-, -el-, -in-, -er-, -ah-
For example:
Getar (shake) » gemetar (shaking)
Gigi (teeth) » gerigi (serration)
Tunjuk (point) » telunjuk (fore finger)
Kerja (work) » kinerja (work performance)
Alright, now we’ve covered the affixes used in Bahasa Indonesia.
As I’ve said before, all of these affixes are almost always written conjoined with the basic word. The only exception is when the basic word starts with a capital letter, including when the word is an abbreviation. When so, the affixes and the basic word are separated by a dash.
Also, note that not every word can be attached with affixes; adding an affix might create a new word that doesn’t exist and thus won’t be understood. The only way to know what affixes can be used for which word is by actively reading or listening and increasing your vocabulary.
And sometimes, the basic word might seem to have nothing to do with the affix-added word. However, they actually always have a connection. One example is the word buru. Above, I wrote the change as: buru (go/do in a hurry) » memburu (hunting) » pemburu (hunter). Buru-buru or terburu-buru actually means doing something or going somewhere in a hurry. It has nothing to do with hunting or hunters at a glance. However, the changed words have those meanings because when you hunt, you have to do it quickly, AKA doing it (hunting) in a hurry.
So the etymology always exists, though it’s perfectly fine to remember the changed words as they are. You don’t have to remember the basic word for every words you want to say.
Aside from affixes, there are also particles. In Bahasa Indonesia, the particles often used are: -lah, -kah, pun, and per.
The particle –lah, written conjoined at the end of the basic word, can make the basic word become a command. It can also signify that something is of certainty.
The particle –kah, written conjoined at the end of the basic word, make the basic word become a question.
The particle pun has a meaning of ‘even’ as in even if or even once. It is usually written separated from the other words, except for some words like walaupun or meskipun.
The particle per is written separate and can mean by (as in one by one), every (like in every day), and starting from followed usually by a date.
Lastly, here are some examples of how affixes can change a word completely.
1. Kerja (work (verb))
Bekerja (working)
Pekerjaan (work (noun))
Mempekerjakan (hire)
Dipekerjakan (hired)
Dikerjakan (being done/worked on [passive])
Terkerjakan (accidentally being worked on [passive])
Kerjaan (informal version pekerjaan)
Mengerjai (pranking)
Dikerjai (pranked)
Kinerja (work performance)
Berpekerjaan (have employment)
(Teman) sekerja ((colleague) of the same work place)
2. Teman (friend (noun))
Berteman (being friends)
Pertemanan (friendship)
Ditemani (being accompanied [passive])
Menemani (accompany (verb)
3. Tidur (sleep (verb))
Tiduran (laid down)
Tertidur (accidently fall asleep)
Meniduri (slept on/above someone/something)
Ditiduri (being slept on [passive])
Menidurkan (put to sleep)
Ditidurkan (being put to sleep [passive])
And the conclusion of today’s lesson:
Alright, that’s it for today’s post. Now you can further improve your ability to speak and write in Bahasa Indonesia. If any of my explanation is lacking or if you want to see more example, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Thank you for reading!
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