Welcome to the second major suffix, `-i`. While `-kan` often focuses on *what* is being acted upon, the `-i` suffix often focuses on *where* the action is happening or implies the action is done repeatedly or intensely.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
This is the most common function. The `-i` suffix indicates that the action of the verb is being applied directly *to* or *onto* the object, which is treated as a location.
| Root Word | Meaning | Verb with `-i` | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| duduk | sit | duduki | Mereka menduduki kerusi itu. (They occupy those seats.) |
| naik | go up | naiki | Dia sedang menaiki tangga. (He is climbing the stairs.) |
| dekat | near | dekati | Jangan dekati anjing itu. (Don't approach that dog.) |
| tanda | a sign/mark | tandai | Sila tandai jawapan yang betul. (Please mark the correct answer.) |
Sometimes, `-i` implies that an action is done repeatedly or with more intensity than the root verb alone.
| Root Word | Meaning | Verb with `-i` | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| pukul | hit | pukuli | Dia memukuli perompak itu. (He beat up that robber.) |
| bom | a bomb | bomi | Pesawat itu mengebomi bandar. (The plane bombed the city repeatedly.) |
Understanding the difference between these two suffixes is a major step. Think of it this way: `-kan` often causes movement, while `-i` implies action *at* a location.
| Root | With `-kan` (Causative/Movement) | With `-i` (Locative) |
|---|---|---|
| masuk (enter) | memasukkan (to put something into) | memasuki (to enter into a place) |
| Dia memasukkan baju ke dalam beg. (He put the clothes into the bag.) | Dia memasuki bilik itu. (He entered that room.) | |
| jauh (far) | jauhkan (to move something away) | jauhi (to stay away from something) |
| Tolong jauhkan anjing dari saya. (Please move the dog away from me.) | Kita mesti menjauhi dadah. (We must stay away from drugs.) | |
Practice the distinct functions of the `-i` suffix.
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Choose the correct suffix for the context.
Translate the bolded verb using the root word and the correct suffix (`-kan` or `-i`).
A story about a trip to a historic city.
Minggu lepas, kami sekeluarga melawati Melaka. (...kuh-loo-ar-gah muh-lah-wah-tee muh-lah-kah.)
Kami menaiki bot di sungai. Pemandangannya sangat cantik. (kah-mee muh-nah-ee-kee boht dee soong-ai...)
Ayah saya sangat mengetahui sejarah tempat itu. Dia menemani kami sepanjang masa. (ah-yah sah-yah sah-ngaht muh-nguh-tah-hoo-ee suh-jah-rah tum-paht ee-too. dee-ah muh-nuh-mah-nee kah-mee suh-pahn-jahng mah-sah.)
Pengalaman itu tidak akan saya lupai. (pung-ah-lah-mahn ee-too tee-dahk ah-kahn sah-yah loo-pah-ee.)
Last week, my family visited Malacca.
We rode a boat on the river. The scenery was very beautiful.
My father knows the history of that place very well. He accompanied us the whole time.
I will not forget that experience.
Cemerlang! You've now learned all the major prefixes (`me-`, `ber-`, `ter-`, `di-`) and suffixes (`-kan`, `-i`). You have all the individual building blocks. In the next chapter, we will learn how to put them together by Menggabungkan Imbuhan (Combining Affixes) to form complex but powerful words.