You've learned about prefixes and suffixes separately. Now, we'll see their true power when they work together as a single unit called a **circumfix** (`apitan`). This is how many of the most useful and descriptive words in Malay are formed.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
This is arguably the most common circumfix. It combines the active `me-` prefix with the causative `-kan` suffix to create a standard transitive verb (a "doing" verb that requires an object).
| Root | Circumfix Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| jelas (clear) | menjelaskan | to explain (something) |
| hantar (send) | menghantarkan | to deliver (something) |
| selesai (finished) | menyelesaikan | to complete/solve (something) |
This combines the active `me-` prefix with the locative `-i` suffix. It often means to apply an action to a person or place.
| Root | Circumfix Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| sakit (sick/pain) | menyakiti | to hurt (someone's feelings or body) |
| dekat (near) | mendekati | to approach (someone/something) |
| jauh (far) | menjauhi | to stay away from (someone/something) |
This circumfix implies a reciprocal action (done to each other) or an action done by a group of people, often in a continuous or scattered way.
| Root | Circumfix Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| salam (greeting) | bersalaman | to greet/shake hands with each other |
| maaf (sorry) | bermaaf-maafan | to forgive each other |
| lari (run) | berlarian | running around (plural, scattered) |
This is a very important circumfix used to create abstract nouns from root words (usually adjectives or verbs). It describes the "state" or "quality" of the root word.
| Root | Circumfix Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| cantik (beautiful) | kecantikan | beauty |
| sihat (healthy) | kesihatan | health |
| baik (good) | kebaikan | goodness, kindness |
| datang (come) | kedatangan | the arrival |
Practice recognizing and understanding these common circumfixes.
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For each word, identify the root and the circumfix used.
Create the correct circumfix word based on the root and the meaning needed.
A story about a community cleaning event (`gotong-royong`).
Pada hari Sabtu, kami mengadakan gotong-royong untuk membersihkan taman kami. Kedatangan semua orang sangat dialu-alukan. (...kuh-dah-tah-ngahn suh-moo-ah oh-rahng sah-ngaht dee-ah-loo-ah-loo-kahn.)
Kanak-kanak berlarian sambil mengutip sampah. Orang dewasa pula menanam pokok-pokok bunga. (kah-nahk-kah-nahk bur-lah-ree-an sahm-beel muh-ngoo-teep sahm-pah...)
Pada penghujung hari, kami semua bersalaman. Kami gembira kerana kebaikan semua, taman kami kini bersih dan cantik. (...kur-ah-nah kuh-bah-eek-ahn suh-moo-ah, tah-mahn kah-mee kee-nee bur-seh dahn chahn-teek.)
On Saturday, we held a community work event to clean our park. The arrival of everyone was very much welcomed.
The children were running around while collecting rubbish. The adults, meanwhile, were planting flower trees.
At the end of the day, we all shook hands. We were happy because of everyone's kindness, our park is now clean and beautiful.
Tahniah! You have now seen how the entire system of `imbuhan` works together. You have the most important tools for understanding and creating thousands of Malay words. Now that we've covered statements, questions, and different verb forms, it's time to learn how to give instructions. In the next chapter, we'll learn about Kata Perintah (The Imperative / Commands).