sebagaimana

As or as Provided by

Level 5

Sebagaimana is a high-register formal word used to mean 'as' or 'in the manner that.' It is most common in legal, academic, and administrative Indonesian to refer back to specific rules, facts, or previous statements.

How It Works

In formal Indonesian, sebagaimana serves three primary functions:

  • Legal/Administrative Citation: It is used to link a statement to a specific clause or article. It is frequently paired with the passive verb dimaksud (referred to). For example: sebagaimana dimaksud dalam Pasal 5 (as referred to in Article 5).
  • Manner of Action: It describes performing an action in exact accordance with a model or instruction.
  • Validating Statements: It introduces a clause that provides context or evidence for the main statement, often translated as 'As [we] know' or 'As [it] appears.'

It often has a formal or literary tone. Speakers can also choose that tone in conversation; seperti is a simpler everyday alternative.

Examples (4)

  1. Nota kesepahaman sebagaimana dimaksud pada ayat (1) wajib ditulis dalam Bahasa Indonesia.

    The memorandum of understanding as referred to in paragraph (1) must be written in Indonesian.

    Word by Word: Note agreement as intended at paragraph (1) mandatory written in Language Indonesia.

    This is a classic legal cross-reference formula used in Indonesian laws.

  2. Lakukanlah tugas tersebut sebagaimana yang telah dicontohkan oleh instruktur.

    Perform the task in the same way as has been demonstrated by the instructor.

    Word by Word: Do-suffix task that as which already passive-example by instructor.

    Here, it indicates that the manner of the action must match the established example.

  3. Sebagaimana kita ketahui, polusi udara merupakan masalah global.

    As we know, air pollution is a global problem.

    Word by Word: As we know, pollution air is problem global.

    In this academic context, it introduces a widely accepted fact to support the argument.

  4. Rencana ini harus dilaksanakan sebagaimana mestinya.

    This plan must be implemented as it should be.

    Word by Word: Plan this must passive-implement as should-it.

    The phrase 'sebagaimana mestinya' is a fixed formal expression meaning 'properly' or 'as is appropriate.'

Common Mistakes

  • Using manner comparison when the intended meaning is someone’s profession.

    Dia bekerja sebagaimana guru. (Maksud: profesinya guru.)
    Dia bekerja sebagai guru.

    Use sebagai to state that teaching is the person’s job. Sebagaimana compares manner or refers to a model and does not itself assert the intended profession.

  • Splitting sebagaimana into two words.

    Makanlah sebagai mana aku makan.
    Makanlah sebagaimana aku makan.

    Write sebagaimana as one word. The corrected instruction can deliberately use a formal tone with friends; seperti or colloquial kayak is a simpler alternative.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

sebagaimanaLevel 5As or as Provided by

Learn This First

To understand 'sebagaimana', learners first need to be familiar with the base word 'bagaimana' (how) and the equative prefix 'se-', which together create the meaning 'in the same way as'. Knowledge of 'seperti' is also helpful as 'sebagaimana' serves a similar comparative function in more formal contexts.

Words in This Pattern

sebagaimana