Repetitive '-i'
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the '-i' suffix or repetition to show an action happens repeatedly or to multiple objects.
- Add '-i' to transitive verbs to indicate repetitive action: 'memukul' (to hit) -> 'memukuli' (to beat up/hit repeatedly).
- Use reduplication for intensity: 'lari' (run) -> 'lari-lari' (running around aimlessly).
- Combine both for specific nuances: 'menjahiti' (to sew repeatedly/many things).
Meanings
The '-i' suffix (akhiran -i) transforms a base verb into a transitive verb that denotes repetitive, intensive, or distributive action.
Repetitive Action
The action is performed multiple times.
“Dia memukuli pintu itu.”
“Mereka melempari saya dengan bola.”
Distributive Action
The action is performed on multiple objects or people.
“Ibu menjahiti baju-baju itu.”
“Dia menanami kebun dengan bunga.”
Locative/Directional
Focuses on the location where the action is applied.
“Dia menduduki kursi itu.”
“Mereka menaiki tangga itu.”
Verb Conjugation with '-i'
| Root | Prefix | Suffix | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| pukul | me- | -i | memukuli |
| tanya | me- | -i | menanyai |
| jahit | me- | -i | menjahiti |
| tanam | me- | -i | menanami |
| duduk | me- | -i | menduduki |
| hadiah | me- | -i | menghadiahi |
| buang | me- | -i | membuangi |
| nasihat | me- | -i | menasihati |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subjek + me[verb]i + Objek | Dia memukuli meja. |
| Negative | Subjek + tidak + me[verb]i + Objek | Dia tidak memukuli meja. |
| Interrogative | Adakah + Subjek + me[verb]i + Objek? | Adakah dia memukuli meja? |
| Passive | Objek + di[verb]i + oleh + Subjek | Meja itu dipukuli oleh dia. |
| Imperative | me[verb]i + Objek + lah | Pukuli meja itu! |
| Continuous | sedang + me[verb]i + Objek | Dia sedang memukuli meja. |
| Perfect | telah + me[verb]i + Objek | Dia telah memukuli meja. |
| Future | akan + me[verb]i + Objek | Dia akan memukuli meja. |
طیف رسمیت
Beliau memukuli meja tersebut. (Describing an angry person)
Dia memukuli meja itu. (Describing an angry person)
Dia pukul-pukul meja tu. (Describing an angry person)
Dia tibai meja tu. (Describing an angry person)
The '-i' Suffix Functions
Repetition
- memukuli hit repeatedly
Distribution
- menjahiti sew many items
Location
- menduduki occupy a seat
'-i' vs '-kan'
Examples by Level
Dia memukuli meja.
He hits the table repeatedly.
Saya menanyai guru.
I ask the teacher repeatedly.
Ibu menjahiti baju.
Mother sews the clothes.
Dia menaiki bas.
He boards the bus.
Mereka melempari saya.
They throw things at me.
Jangan menanyai saya lagi.
Don't ask me repeatedly anymore.
Dia menanami kebun itu.
He plants the garden.
Guru membagikan buku.
The teacher distributes books.
Dia menduduki jawatan itu.
He occupies that position.
Mereka menghadiahi pemenang.
They reward the winners.
Jangan membuangi sampah di sini.
Don't litter here.
Dia menasihati saya.
He advises me.
Pihak berkuasa meninjaui kawasan itu.
The authorities inspect the area.
Dia menuruti perintah itu.
He follows the order.
Mereka mengulangi kata-kata itu.
They repeat the words.
Dia meminati bidang sains.
He is interested in science.
Beliau mempengerusi mesyuarat itu.
He chairs the meeting.
Dia mengamati pergerakan itu.
He observes the movement.
Mereka mendalami ilmu itu.
They deepen their knowledge.
Dia menyusuri jalan itu.
He follows the path.
Dia menelusuri sejarah bangsa.
He traces the nation's history.
Mereka mengawasi keadaan itu.
They monitor the situation.
Dia mendampingi pesakit itu.
He accompanies the patient.
Dia mengakhiri ucapan itu.
He ends the speech.
Easily Confused
Both are common verbal suffixes.
Both indicate repetition.
Learners forget the prefix.
اشتباهات رایج
Dia memukul-i meja.
Dia memukuli meja.
Dia memukulkan meja.
Dia memukuli meja.
Dia memukul meja-i.
Dia memukuli meja.
Dia memukuli-kan meja.
Dia memukuli meja.
Saya tiduri di katil.
Saya tidur di katil.
Dia menanyai-kan saya.
Dia menanyai saya.
Mereka melemparkan saya.
Mereka melempari saya.
Dia menduduki kerusi itu untuk saya.
Dia mendudukkan saya di kerusi itu.
Dia menanami pokok itu.
Dia menanam pokok itu.
Dia meminati-kan subjek itu.
Dia meminati subjek itu.
Dia mengakhiri-kan ucapan.
Dia mengakhiri ucapan.
Dia mengamati-kan situasi.
Dia mengamati situasi.
Dia menyusuri-kan jalan.
Dia menyusuri jalan.
Sentence Patterns
Dia ___ ___ itu.
Jangan ___ saya!
Dia ___ kawasan itu dengan bunga.
Beliau ___ mesyuarat itu dengan baik.
Real World Usage
Jangan tanya-tanya saya!
Saya pernah mendalami bidang ini.
Dia menaiki bas ke sana.
Dia menghantari makanan.
Ramai yang meminati gambar ini.
Kajian ini mendalami isu tersebut.
Check Transitivity
Avoid Double Suffixes
Use for Nuance
Formal vs Informal
Smart Tips
Use '-i' instead of just the base verb.
Use '-i' to show you are 'at' or 'on' something.
Use '-i' to show the action affects many things.
Use 'menasihati' for a more professional tone.
تلفظ
Suffix -i
The '-i' is pronounced clearly as an 'ee' sound.
Statement
Dia memukuli meja. ↘
Falling intonation for facts.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember: '-i' is for 'I' (me) doing it again and again.
Visual Association
Imagine a person hitting a drum repeatedly. The drum is the object, and the person is adding '-i' to the action of hitting.
Rhyme
Add an '-i' to the end of the verb, to show the action happens again and again, my friend.
Story
Ali was angry. He started 'memukuli' (hitting repeatedly) the table. His teacher 'menasihati' (advised) him to stop. Ali then 'menduduki' (sat on) his chair and calmed down.
Word Web
چالش
Write 3 sentences using '-i' verbs to describe your morning routine.
نکات فرهنگی
Used in formal education and media.
Often replaced by reduplication (pukul-pukul).
Similar usage, but '-i' is even more productive.
The '-i' suffix is an Austronesian inheritance, common in many Malayic languages.
Conversation Starters
Apa yang dia sedang memukuli?
Adakah anda pernah menanami kebun?
Siapa yang menasihati anda?
Bagaimana anda mendalami ilmu itu?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Dia ___ (pukul) meja itu.
Find and fix the mistake:
Dia memukuli-kan meja.
Dia ___ (occupy) kerusi itu.
Dia menanam pokok.
Can you use -i with intransitive verbs?
A: Kenapa dia marah? B: Dia ___ meja.
Dia / menasihati / saya.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
تمرینهای عملی
8 exercisesDia ___ (pukul) meja itu.
Find and fix the mistake:
Dia memukuli-kan meja.
Dia ___ (occupy) kerusi itu.
Dia menanam pokok.
Can you use -i with intransitive verbs?
A: Kenapa dia marah? B: Dia ___ meja.
Dia / menasihati / saya.
memukuli vs menduduki
Score: /8
سوالات متداول (8)
No, only transitive verbs that take an object.
No, -i is for repetition/location, -kan is for causation.
That is the informal way to express repetition.
No, it only changes the aspect/nuance.
You usually add a buffer consonant like 'k' or 'g'.
Yes, it is very common in formal and academic Malay.
Yes, e.g., 'Meja itu dipukuli'.
It's straightforward once you grasp the difference from -kan.
In Other Languages
Repetitive verbs (e.g., golpear)
Malay uses morphology; Spanish uses lexical choice.
Adverbs (e.g., frapper plusieurs fois)
Malay is synthetic; French is analytic.
Prefixes (e.g., be-)
Malay uses suffixes for aspect.
Verb stems (e.g., -tsuzukeru)
Malay uses affixation.
Form II/IV verbs
Malay uses fixed suffixes.
Reduplication (e.g., 看看)
Malay uses both reduplication and suffixes.
