meskipun

Concession with Meskipun

Level 2

Meskipun (although) is used to connect two ideas where the second part happens despite the first part. It is common in both formal writing and polite speech.

How It Works

The word meskipun is a staple of standard Indonesian grammar. It functions as a subordinating conjunction, meaning it creates a dependent relationship between two parts of a sentence.

1. Sentence Structure
You can place the meskipun clause at the start or the end of the sentence:

  • Meskipun [Condition], [Main Action].
  • [Main Action] meskipun [Condition].

Note: If you start with meskipun, it is standard to use a comma before the main clause. Also, note that meskipun is always written as a single word; the suffix -pun is fused to the root.

2. What follows 'meskipun'?
It usually precedes a full clause (Subject + Verb), but in context, it can also precede an adjective or a noun phrase directly.
Example: Meskipun lelah... (Although tired...)

3. Register and Variants

  • Meskipun: The standard, neutral-to-formal form.
  • Meski: A shorter version often found in news headlines or literature.
  • Meskipun demikian / Meskipun begitu: Fixed phrases meaning 'nevertheless' or 'even so.' When these are used to start a new sentence, they must be followed by a comma (e.g., Meskipun demikian, ...) to comply with formal Indonesian spelling rules (EYD V).

Examples (4)

  1. Meskipun hari sudah malam, anak-anak masih bermain di luar.

    Although it is already night, the children are still playing outside.

    Word by Word: Although day already night, children still play at outside.

    The concession (it is night) is introduced first, followed by the unexpected action (playing outside).

  2. Dia tetap berangkat ke kantor meskipun hujan deras.

    He still went to the office even though it was raining heavily.

    Word by Word: He stay/still go to office although rain heavy.

    Here, 'meskipun' is used in the middle of the sentence to connect the main action with the condition.

  3. Meskipun lelah, dia tetap tersenyum.

    Although tired, she kept smiling.

    Word by Word: Although tired, she stay/still smile.

    In this example, 'meskipun' is followed directly by an adjective ('lelah'), which is common when the subject is the same as the main clause.

  4. Saya tidak lapar. Meskipun demikian, saya akan makan sedikit.

    I am not hungry. Nevertheless, I will eat a little.

    Word by Word: I not hungry. Although like-that, I will eat little.

    This shows the fixed phrase 'meskipun demikian' used as a transition between two separate sentences.

Common Mistakes

  • Using both 'meskipun' and 'tetapi' in the same sentence.

    Meskipun dia kaya, tetapi dia tidak sombong.
    Meskipun dia kaya, dia tidak sombong.

    In formal Indonesian, you should not use a subordinating conjunction (meskipun) and a coordinating conjunction (tetapi) together. It is redundant.

  • Using 'meskipun' at the end of a sentence without a following clause.

    Saya suka film itu meskipun.
    Saya suka film itu meskipun ceritanya sedih.

    Unlike the English 'though' which can sometimes hang at the end of a sentence in casual speech, 'meskipun' must always introduce a condition or be part of a fixed phrase like 'meskipun begitu'.

How It Connects

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

meskipunLevel 2Concession with Meskipun

Learn This First

To use 'meskipun' (although), you need to be able to construct complete clauses using standard word order and understand how to link two ideas that contrast with each other.

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Words in This Pattern

meskipun