Equality: Sama... dengan / Se-
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'sama... dengan' or the 'se-' prefix to show that two things are equal in quality or quantity.
- Use 'sama [adjective] dengan' to compare two nouns: 'Dia sama tinggi dengan saya.'
- Use 'se-[adjective]' for a more compact, natural form: 'Dia setinggi saya.'
- Always place the subject first, followed by the comparison structure and the object.
Meanings
This grammar is used to express that two entities share the same degree of a specific quality, such as size, height, or speed.
Direct Equality
Comparing two items directly using 'sama... dengan'.
“Buku ini sama berat dengan buku itu.”
“Kereta dia sama laju dengan kereta saya.”
Compact Equality
Using the 'se-' prefix to create a concise comparative adjective.
“Dia secantik ibunya.”
“Mereka sebaya.”
Comparison Structures
| Type | Structure | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | sama + Adj + dengan | sama tinggi dengan | as tall as |
| Compact | se- + Adj | setinggi | as tall as |
| Negative | tidak + sama + Adj + dengan | tidak sama tinggi dengan | not as tall as |
| Negative Compact | tidak + se- + Adj | tidak setinggi | not as tall as |
| Question | adakah + sama + Adj + dengan | adakah sama tinggi dengan | is it as tall as? |
| Question Compact | adakah + se- + Adj | adakah setinggi | is it as tall as? |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | sama [adj] dengan | sama besar dengan |
| Compact | se-[adj] | sebesar |
| Negative | tidak sama [adj] dengan | tidak sama besar dengan |
| Negative Compact | tidak se-[adj] | tidak sebesar |
| Question | adakah sama [adj] dengan | adakah sama besar dengan |
| Question Compact | adakah se-[adj] | adakah sebesar |
Formalitätsspektrum
Beliau sama tinggi dengan saya. (Comparing height)
Dia sama tinggi dengan saya. (Comparing height)
Dia setinggi saya. (Comparing height)
Dia tinggi macam saya. (Comparing height)
Equality Comparison Map
Standard
- sama... dengan as... as
Compact
- se- as... as
Examples by Level
Buku ini sama besar dengan buku itu.
This book is as big as that book.
Dia sama tinggi dengan saya.
He is as tall as me.
Harga ini sama murah.
This price is just as cheap.
Rumah dia sama cantik.
His house is just as beautiful.
Dia setinggi saya.
He is as tall as me.
Kampung kami sejauh ini.
Our village is as far as this.
Mereka sebaya.
They are the same age.
Tidak setinggi itu.
It is not as high as that.
Projek ini sepenting projek yang lepas.
This project is as important as the previous one.
Dia sehebat ayahnya dalam sukan.
He is as great as his father in sports.
Masalah ini tidak sesukar yang disangka.
This problem is not as difficult as thought.
Dia secerdik kakaknya.
She is as clever as her sister.
Keputusan ini seberat keputusan yang dibuat tahun lalu.
This decision is as heavy/serious as the one made last year.
Kualiti produk ini sama baik dengan jenama antarabangsa.
The quality of this product is as good as international brands.
Dia tidak seberani yang saya bayangkan.
He is not as brave as I imagined.
Keadaan ini tidak semudah yang dilihat.
This situation is not as easy as it looks.
Karya ini seindah puisi klasik Melayu.
This work is as beautiful as classic Malay poetry.
Tindakannya tidak sepadan dengan kata-katanya.
His actions are not as consistent with his words.
Dia seikhlas sahabat yang paling setia.
He is as sincere as the most loyal friend.
Situasi ini tidak semendesak yang dilaporkan.
This situation is not as urgent as reported.
Pemikiran beliau setajam pisau sembilu.
His thinking is as sharp as a razor.
Kesan ini tidak sedalam yang dijangkakan oleh pakar.
This effect is not as deep as expected by experts.
Dia seanggun permaisuri dalam majlis itu.
She is as elegant as a queen at the event.
Usahanya tidak semegah hasil yang dicapai.
His efforts are not as grand as the results achieved.
Easily Confused
Learners use 'seperti' for equality, but it means 'like'.
Mixing up equality and superiority.
Using both in one sentence.
Häufige Fehler
Sama tinggi saya
Sama tinggi dengan saya
Setinggi dengan saya
Setinggi saya
Sama saya tinggi
Sama tinggi saya
Sama tinggi aku
Sama tinggi dengan aku
Sama setinggi dengan
Sama tinggi dengan
Tidak setinggi dengan saya
Tidak setinggi saya
Se-besar dengan saya
Sebesar saya
Sama penting dengan saya
Sama penting dengan projek itu
Se-hebat dengan dia
Sehebat dia
Sama suka dengan dia
Sama suka seperti dia
Se-indah dengan puisi itu
Seindah puisi itu
Sama mendesak seperti itu
Sama mendesak dengan itu
Se-mendesak dengan itu
Semendesak itu
Sama dalam seperti itu
Sama dalam dengan itu
Sentence Patterns
Subjek ___ ___ dengan Objek.
Subjek ___ Objek.
Subjek tidak ___ dengan Objek.
Subjek tidak ___ Objek.
Real World Usage
Harga ini sama murah dengan harga di kedai sebelah.
Dia setinggi saya.
Pengalaman saya sama banyak dengan calon lain.
Hotel ini sejauh stesen bas.
Wajah dia seiras dengan ibunya.
Saiz hidangan ini sama besar dengan yang biasa.
Use 'se-' for speed
Don't double up
Focus on adjectives
Sound like a local
Smart Tips
Use 'setinggi' for a quick, natural comparison.
Use 'sama... dengan' for maximum clarity.
Always put 'tidak' before the whole structure.
Use 'sama... dengan' to avoid ambiguity.
Aussprache
Se- prefix
The 'se-' prefix is pronounced like 'suh' in 'sun'.
Rising intonation for questions
Adakah dia setinggi awak? ↗
Indicates a yes/no question.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Sama-sama (together) means same, so 'sama' is the bridge for equality.
Visual Association
Imagine two identical twins standing back to back. One is 'sama' (the same) and the other is 'dengan' (with).
Rhyme
Sama tinggi dengan dia, setinggi dia juga.
Story
Ali and Budi are twins. Ali says, 'I am as tall as Budi.' He uses 'setinggi'. Budi replies, 'Yes, I am sama tinggi dengan Ali.' They are perfectly equal.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Find three objects in your room and compare their sizes using 'sama... dengan' and 'se-'.
Kulturelle Hinweise
In Malaysia, 'se-' is very common in daily speech to sound more natural.
Similar usage, but sometimes 'sama' is used more frequently than 'se-' in casual speech.
Often uses 'sama' with a slightly different emphasis in casual conversation.
The 'se-' prefix is derived from the Malay word 'satu' (one), signifying unity or equality.
Conversation Starters
Adakah rumah awak sama besar dengan rumah saya?
Siapa yang lebih tinggi, awak atau kawan awak?
Adakah projek ini sepenting projek yang lepas?
Adakah kualiti produk ini sama baik dengan jenama luar?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Dia ___ tinggi dengan saya.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Dia sama setinggi dengan saya.
Dia sama tinggi dengan saya.
Can you use 'se-' with verbs?
A: Adakah dia setinggi awak? B: Ya, dia ___.
Order: (dengan / saya / sama / tinggi / dia)
Which is the compact form?
Score: /8
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesDia ___ tinggi dengan saya.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Dia sama setinggi dengan saya.
Dia sama tinggi dengan saya.
Can you use 'se-' with verbs?
A: Adakah dia setinggi awak? B: Ya, dia ___.
Order: (dengan / saya / sama / tinggi / dia)
Which is the compact form?
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
No, 'sama' needs 'dengan' to complete the comparison.
It is correct for most adjectives, but not all. Stick to common ones like 'tinggi', 'besar', 'jauh'.
Add 'tidak' before 'sama' or 'se-'.
Yes, it is very common for comparing people's height, age, or personality.
It is more efficient and sounds more natural in daily speech.
Yes, the structure remains the same regardless of tense.
Yes, both forms are acceptable in formal writing.
Mixing 'sama' and 'se-' in the same sentence.
In Other Languages
tan... como
Spanish uses two separate words, while Malay has a prefix option.
aussi... que
French structure is strictly analytic.
so... wie
German word order can be more flexible.
onaji kurai
Japanese relies on particles like 'to' or 'no'.
mithl
Arabic grammar is highly inflectional compared to Malay.
yiyang
Chinese places the equality marker at the end of the phrase.
