Prefix men- with suffix -kan / Awalan men- dan akhiran -kan

Hello, Sorry for not being able to update this blog here for some time . But as promised, when there are people who find this blog useful, I will keep on blogging.

Today, let's talk about words that are formed by the prefix me- and suffix -kan. E.g: Menggunakan (to use) , membesarkan (to enlarge), etc.

The me- form will change according to the first letter of the root word. So, before you continue, read this post about words formed by the prefix me- or imbuhan me-.

Words with prefix me- and suffix -kan is used to change any forms of words including non verb words into verbs - such as nouns, adverbs and adjectives.

Like the word "Cantik" - "beautiful" is an adjective. When we add me- and -kan, "mencantikkan".

E.g - Dia sedang mencantikkan rumahnya. - He is beautifying his house.

NOTE: when using words with these prefix and suffix, they are usually followed by a noun. If not, the sentence would appear unfinished.

More examples below:



Adjective = Bersih (clean)- Membersihkan (cleaning/to clean)

e.g Anak saya sedang(use this word to indicate that the activity is done at the moment of speaking) membersihkan biliknya.
- My daughter/son is cleaning her/his room.

Noun = Gambar ( picture/photo) - Menggambarkan (to potray)

e.g Filem ini menggambarkan cara orang berfikir pada abad ke-17.

- This film potrays the way people think in the 17th century.

Adverb = Perlahan ( slow) - Memperlahankan (to slow down)

e.g Ayah memperlahankan kereta dahulu sebelum berhenti.

-Dad slows down the car before stopping.

Basic Vocabularies (FEELINGS)

Feel-Rasa (Taste also means Rasa)

Feelings-Perasaan

Happy-Gembira
Sad-Sedih
Shocked-Terkejut
Fear/Afraid-Takut
Angry/Mad-Marah
Good/Fine-Baik
Bored-Bosan
Confused-Keliru
Regret-Kesal
Suspicious-Curiga
Irritated/Annoyed-Sakit Hati
Stressed-Tertekan
Love-Cinta/Sayang
Like-Suka
Jealous-Cemburu
Hate-Benci
Regret-Kesal
Worried-Bimbang
Hungry-Lapar
Thirsty-Dahaga
Full-Kenyang
Tired-Letih
Sleepy-Mengantuk
Give up-Putus Asa/

Lesson 7/Pelajaran Tujuh: Singular or plural and classifiers.

Singular or Plural.


Malay language is a very easy language. There are not much difference in singular and plural. There are only a few exceptions.

Say, we want to say :


She has a pencil. - Dia ada pensel. (singular)
She has many pencils. - Dia ada banyak pensel. (plural)

Notice the difference ? banyak means many or a lot of. The noun doesn't change its form.

But if you need to indicate the amount or quantity, you need to change form of the noun and/or add classifiers.

She has 5 pencils. - Dia ada 5 batang (classifier - we will go into this later at the end of this post) pensel.



If the noun is the object then you need to change its form.

Those pencils are hers. - Pensel-pensel itu kepunyaan dia. / Pensel-pensel itu dia punya.


These houses are quite expensive. - Rumah-rumah ini agak mahal.

You double the noun. Kereta-kereta (cars), rumah-rumah (houses) etc.

Notice here there are no "verbs to be" used in the malay language.No "is" or "are".And notice also, there is no difference with "this" or "these" and "that" or "those" in the malay language. Everything is "ini" (this/these) and "itu" (that/those).


Classifiers.



Just like the English language, the Malay language also uses classifiers.

e.g:

5 helai kain - 5 pieces of cloth.


Though there are a few classifiers in the Malay language here are the commonly used classifiers, memorize these and you are good to go:

buah - literally means fruit. But you use this word as a classifier for objects that are cubicle in shape, or large.Buildings, vehicles, furniture so on.

6 buah buku - 6 books
sebuah rumah - a house
7 buah kereta - 7 cars

Ekor - literally means Tail. But you use this word as a classifier for animals and insects.

4 ekor kucing - 4 cats.
3 ekor semut merah - 3 red ants.
seekor ikan - a fish

orang - literally means person. You use this word as a classifier for people of course.

5 orang pelajar - 5 students.
11 orang pekerja - 11 employees.
20 orang askar - 20 soldiers.

Biji - literally means seed of a fruit. You use this word as a classifier for object that are sphere in shape, fruits.

sebiji epal - An apple.
2 biji bola - 2 balls.

Note: you pronounce biji as bijik. :)

Batang - litterally means stalk or stem. You use this word as a classifier for long shaped objects. Like the top example, Pencil.

Sebatang pensel - a pencil
4 batang kayu - 4 sticks. (kayu means wood but in this sense when you use the word batang you will know that it means sticks or rods)



Vocabulary you might want to know:

Pensel - Pencil
Pen - Pen
Buku - Book
Rumah - House
Kereta - Car
Kain - Cloth
ada - have
tidak ada - don't have

Basic Vocabularies (COLOR)

Warna - Color

Warna-warna - Colors
Warna-warni - Colorful

Putih - White
Hitam _ Black
Biru - Blue
Kuning - Yellow
Hijau - Green
Kelabu - Grey
Merah - Red
Merah Jambu - Pink
Jingga/Oren - Orange
Ungu - Purple
Coklat (This can also be translated as chocolate) - Brown
Perang - Brunette
Biru Muda - Light Blue/Baby Blue***
Biru Tua - Dark Blue***

*** Literally, Biru Muda is translated as young blue because MUDA means "young" while Biru Tua literally means Old Blue because TUA means "old"

Lesson Six/Pelajaran Enam

Going shopping/Pergi membeli belah.

Vocabulary/Kosa kata.

Pakaian - Clothes
Baju - a piece of clothing- usually for the top. Shirt, t-shirt, blouse, etc.
Kemeja - Shirt
Kemeja T - T-shirt
Seluar - Pants
Beli-belah - Shopping
Kasut - Shoes
Beli - Buy
Berapa harga? - How much? (price)
Terlalu/sangat - Very
Murah - cheap
Mahal - expensive
Kurang - lessen
sedikit - little (amount not size)
yang ini - this one
yang itu - that one

Conversation/Perbualan :

Shop owner/ Pemilik kedai : Boleh saya bantu? - May I help you?

Buyer/Pembeli : Ya, saya mahu membeli pakaian. - Yes, I would like/want to buy clothes.

: Boleh saya lihat kemeja itu? - May I have a look at that shirt?

Shop owner/ Pemilik kedai : Sudah tentu. - Of course.

: Yang ini? - This one?

Buyer/Pembeli : Ya, yang itu. - Yes, that one.

: Berapa harganya? - How much is it?

Shop owner/ Pemilik kedai : Dua puluh lima ringgit. - Twenty five ringgit.

Buyer/Pembeli : Terlalu/sangat mahal. Boleh murah sedikit harganya? - Very expensive. Can
lessen the price?

Shop owner/ Pemilik kedai : Baiklah. Dua puluh ringgit. Boleh? - Alright. Twenty ringgit. ***
Can?

Buyer/Pembeli : Ya, terima kasih. - Yes, thank you.

Shop owner/Pemilik kedai : Sama sama/ kembali. -You're welcome.


Note: *** You wish it's that easy to haggle with a Malaysian shop owner and get that much of a discount the first time. :p

Basic Vocabularies (BODY)

Badan - Body

Kepala -Head
Dahi - Forehead
Muka-Face
Rambut-Hair
Telinga- Ear
Mata-Eyes
Hidung-Nose
Mulut-Mouth
Pipi-Cheek
Dagu-Chin
Leher-Neck
Bahu-Shoulder
Lengan-Arm
Siku-Elbow
Tangan-Hand
Jari-Finger
Kuku-Nail
Pinggul-Hip
Lutut-Knee
Kaki-Foot
Jari kaki -Toe
Organ-Organ
Jantung-heart
Hati-Liver
Paru-paru-Lung
Buah pinggang-Kidney
Kulit-Skin
Perut-Stomach


Kesihatan-Health
Sihat-Healthy
Sakit-Ill/Pain
Demam-Fever
Batuk-Cough
Luka-Wound

Lesson Five/Pelajaran Lima

Days of the week.

Ahad - Sunday
Isnin - Monday
Selasa - Tuesday
Rabu - Wednesday
Khamis - Thursday
Jumaat - Friday
Sabtu - Saturday

Hari - Day
Hari ini- Today
Kelmarin *- Yesterday
Esok - Tomorrow
Lusa - Day after tomorrow
Minggu - Week
Minggu Lepas - Last week
Minggu Ini - This week
Minggu depan - Next week
Bulan - Month
Bulan ini - This month
Bulan depan - Next month

Setiap/tiap-tiap hari ** - everyday
Pergi - Go
Pasar - Market
Akan - will (in the future)
ke - to


Conversation/Perbualan.

Hari in hari selasa - Today is Tuesday.

Kelmarin hari Isnin - Yesterday was Monday.

Esok hari Rabu - Tommorow is Wednesday.

Bulan depan saya akan pergi ke Malaysia - Next month I will go to Malaysia.

Setiap hari Ahad saya ke Pasar - Every Sunday I go to the Market.


Note: * In the south of Malaysia, people use "semalam" for yesterday, while "kelmarin" they use for day before yesterday.

** Hari-hari also means everyday.