makin ... makin ...

Conversational Linked Change

Level 6

Makin ... makin ... expresses linked changes: as one quality or activity increases, another changes with it. The relationship can be qualitative rather than an exact proportional rate.

How It Works

The makin ... makin ... structure is a staple of daily Indonesian conversation. It functions as a correlative comparative, showing a progressive relationship between two elements.

1. Usage with Adjectives
This is the most frequent usage. It describes how a change in one quality leads to a change in another.
Example: Makin kaya, makin sombong. (The richer [one gets], the more arrogant [one becomes].)

2. Usage with Verbs
It can be used with verbs that imply a process or degree.
Example: Makin dicari, makin hilang. (The more it is sought, the more it disappears.)

3. Time-based Change
To express change over time, Indonesians often use makin lama (the longer it goes) or makin hari (as days go by) in the first clause.
Example: Makin lama makin seru. (The longer it goes, the more exciting it gets.)

4. Word Order and Subjects
Clear basic models put the subject before the degree phrase, as in Ali makin besar makin pintar, or after the first degree phrase, as in Makin besar, Ali makin pintar. Other clause-level orders occur in discourse; use these compact models first rather than treating every alternative placement as ungrammatical.

5. Subject Omission
In daily conversation, the subject is frequently omitted if it is already clear from the context, making the phrase more punchy and idiomatic.

6. Register
While makin is perfect for texting and casual speech, semakin ... semakin ... is another standard option. Makin itself also occurs in formal TBBI prose and examples. For a literary or poetic tone, you may encounter kian ... kian ....

Examples (5)

  1. Makin lama makin seru.

    The longer it goes, the more exciting it gets.

    Word by Word: More long more exciting.

    This uses 'makin lama' to show a progression over time.

  2. Orang itu makin kaya makin sombong.

    That person, the richer they get, the more arrogant they become.

    Word by Word: Person that more rich more arrogant.

    Here, the subject 'orang itu' is placed at the beginning of the correlative structure.

  3. Harga bensin makin hari makin naik.

    The price of petrol increases more by the day.

    Word by Word: Price petrol more day more go-up.

    'Makin hari' is a common idiomatic way to say 'day by day' or 'increasingly every day'.

  4. Makin banyak kamu belajar, makin pintar kamu.

    The more you study, the smarter you are.

    Word by Word: More much you study, more smart you.

    This demonstrates the pattern used with a verb (belajar) and an adjective (pintar).

  5. Makin dicari, makin tidak ketemu.

    The more it's looked for, the more it's not found.

    Word by Word: More searched, more not met.

    This shows the pattern used with passive verbs to describe a frustrating process.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'lebih' instead of 'makin' for linked changes.

    Lebih banyak kamu makan, lebih gemuk kamu.
    Makin banyak kamu makan, makin gemuk kamu.

    For this basic linked-change pattern, use makin or semakin. Lebih belongs to comparative constructions and does not directly replace each makin in the given correlative sentence.

  • Joining the independent degree marker to the adjective.

    Makinbaik keadaan mereka.
    Makin baik keadaan mereka.

    Write makin separately. Makin baik is an economical model; combinations with lebih occur for emphasis or an additional comparison and should not all be labeled ungrammatical.

  • Leaving the second degree expression unfinished.

    Makin tua dia, makin.
    Makin tua dia, makin bijaksana dia.

    Supply the second quality or action. Different subject positions are possible in discourse; the error here is an incomplete second half, not every subject placed after makin.

How It Connects

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

makin ... makin ...Level 6Conversational Linked Change

Learn This First

To understand 'makin ... makin ...', learners should first be familiar with the formal version 'semakin ... semakin ...'. Additionally, since this pattern usually involves adjectives (e.g., 'the faster, the better'), understanding how adjectives function as predicates in Indonesian is essential.