sama ... dengan
Equality with Sama ... Dengan
The pattern sama + [adjective] + dengan is the standard way to say two things are equal in a specific quality, like height, price, or beauty.
How It Works
In Indonesian, comparing two things that are equal is straightforward but requires specific markers.
1. Standard Neutral Structure:
A common standard form is sama + Adjective + dengan; it is neutral rather than inherently informal.
Example: Dia sama tinggi dengan saya (He is as tall as I am).
2. Standard and Formal Alternatives:
The most concise and standard way to express equative comparison is using the se- prefix attached to the adjective (e.g., Saya setinggi Ali). Another standard alternative uses a topic-comment structure with sama + Adjective + -nya + dengan. Adding the suffix -nya nominalizes the adjective.
Example: Saya sama tingginya dengan dia (I am as tall as him/her).
3. Standard Inequality:
Negating equality with tidak sama + adjective + dengan says that the degree differs; it does not by itself specify which item has the greater degree. For the lower-degree reading not as...as, use tidak se- followed by the adjective.
4. Noun and Math Comparison:
If you are stating that two physical objects or concepts are identical, comparing a specific attribute that is already a noun (like price or color), or performing math, use sama dengan directly.
Example: Buku ini sama dengan buku itu (This book is the same as that book). For formal math: Satu ditambah satu sama dengan dua (One plus one equals two).
5. Modifying a Noun ('The Same Noun'):
To say 'the same [noun]' (e.g., 'the same book'), you must use the relativizer yang after the noun: Noun + yang + sama. Do not say 'sama buku'.
Example: Kita membaca buku yang sama (We are reading the same book).
6. Grouped Subjects:
If the two items being compared are grouped together as the subject, dengan is not needed.
Example: Tinggi mereka sama (Their height is the same).
7. Common Phrases and Colloquial Use:
Casual speech may replace formal dengan with another sama or with kayak, as in Dia sama tinggi sama/kayak saya. When the compared items form one grouped subject, sama-sama + adjective means that both share the quality (e.g., Mereka sama-sama tinggi). The high-frequency reduplicated form sama-sama can also mean 'together' (e.g., Kita pergi sama-sama), 'you're welcome,' or 'likewise'. Additionally, in colloquial Indonesian, sama is heavily used as a multi-purpose preposition. It can mean 'with' (replacing dengan), 'and' (replacing dan only when connecting nouns or pronouns), or replace prepositions like kepada, pada, oleh, and dari when interacting with people.
Examples (5)
- Buku ini sama menariknya dengan filmnya.
This book is as interesting as the movie.
Word by Word: Book this same interesting-ness with movie-the.
In this third-person comparison, '-nya' is added to the adjective 'menarik' (interesting) to create a precise comparison of quality.
- Rumah saya tidak sama besar dengan rumah Anda.
My house is not the same size as your house.
Word by Word: House my not same big with house you.
Tidak sama besar denies equal size without saying which house is larger. Compare tidak se- for a lower-degree comparison; the two negative constructions are not interchangeable in every context.
- Kamera ini sama dengan kamera itu.
This camera is the same as that camera.
Word by Word: Camera this same with camera that.
When stating that two physical objects or concepts are identical, 'sama dengan' is used directly without an adjective.
- Dua ditambah dua sama dengan empat.
Two plus two equals four.
Word by Word: Two added-with two same with four.
In formal mathematical contexts, 'sama dengan' means 'equals', and operations use passive verbs like 'ditambah' (added with).
- Dia sama tinggi dengan kakaknya.
He is as tall as his older sibling.
Word by Word: He same tall with older-sibling-his.
Sama tinggi dengan expresses equal height. Adding -nya or using se- gives other standard forms; the choice is not dictated by a simple formal versus informal split.
Common Mistakes
Omitting dengan in the standard formal comparison pattern.
Dia sama tinggi saya.Dia sama tinggi dengan saya.In standard formal Indonesian, use dengan to connect the quality to the comparison target. Casual speech also permits sama or kayak in this slot.
Using 'daripada' for equality.
Mobil ini sama cepat daripada mobil itu.Mobil ini sama cepat dengan mobil itu.Daripada is used for lebih (more) or kurang (less) comparisons. For equality in standard writing, use dengan.
Using 'seperti' when comparing a specific degree of quality.
Dia sama tinggi seperti saya.Dia sama tinggi dengan saya.In standard writing, sama tinggi dengan saya is the usual pattern for comparing a measurable quality like height or weight. Seperti is mainly for general resemblance, though you may hear it used here in speech.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'sama ... dengan', you need to understand how to use the preposition 'dengan' to connect ideas and how adjectives function as predicates in Indonesian without needing a copula verb.
- denganWith with Dengan
The pattern 'sama ... dengan' uses the preposition 'dengan' to link the two entities being compared.
Level 1 - Adjectives can be predicates
This pattern typically functions as a predicate where an adjective (the property of equality) is placed between 'sama' and 'dengan'.
Level 1 - yang + AdjectiveSelecting by a Property
Understanding how adjectives function as descriptors or selectors helps in structuring the equality comparison.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- se-As ... as with Se-
Se- gives a concise standard equative; sama ... dengan is also standard.
Level 3 - lebih ... daripadaComparative with Lebih
Used for comparative 'more than' instead of equality.
Level 2 - sepertiSimilarity with Seperti
Used for similes and general resemblance ('like') rather than equal degree of a quality.
Level 2 - -nya (nominalisasi)Adjective Nominalization with -nya
This suffix is often added to the adjective in the 'sama... dengan' pattern to nominalize the quality.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice sama ... dengan in Bubblegum
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