Question Word + pun

The particle pun functions as an intensifier that creates 'free-choice' indefinites.

1. Common Compounds:

• Apa pun: Anything / Whatever
• Siapa pun: Anyone / Whoever
• Mana pun: Whichever when modifying a noun (use yang mana pun for a clear standalone choice expression; use prepositions like di for 'anywhere')
• Kapan pun: Anytime / Whenever
• Berapa pun: Any amount / No matter how much
• Bagaimana pun: No matter how / In whatever way

2. Usage with Saja and Reduplication:
These compounds express that the specific identity of the object, person, or time does not matter. While pun is often more emphatic or literary, saja is also perfectly standard and widely used in both formal and conversational positive sentences (e.g., siapa saja 'anyone'). Note that saja can also appear in negative sentences to mean 'just anything' (e.g., Saya tidak mau makan apa saja 'I don't want to eat just anything'). Conversational Indonesian often uses reduplication (e.g., siapa-siapa, apa-apa) as Negative Polarity Items in negative sentences (e.g., tidak ada siapa-siapa 'there isn't anyone'), but these reduplicated forms are also heavily used in questions (e.g., Ada apa-apa? 'Is there anything?') and conditionals (e.g., Kalau butuh apa-apa... 'If you need anything...').

3. Modifying Nouns:
These compounds frequently act as determiners placed directly after a noun to modify it (e.g., buku apa pun 'any book', alasan apa pun 'any reason').

4. Orthography (Spelling):
According to the Indonesian spelling system (EYD), pun must be written with a space when used in these indefinite compounds. This distinguishes them from a small group of lexicalized conjunctions (like walaupun, meskipun, or bagaimanapun meaning 'however/nevertheless') which are written as one word. Crucially, note the difference between the two-word bagaimana pun ('no matter how') and the one-word conjunction bagaimanapun ('however').

5. Negative Contexts and Subjects:
In formal negative sentences, pun compounds emphasize a total absence. For example, tidak ada apa pun means 'there isn't anything at all'. As noted above, conversational Indonesian prefers reduplicated question words (e.g., tidak ada apa-apa) in these negative contexts. However, an exception is mana-mana, which can be used in positive sentences to mean 'everywhere'. Note that like mana pun, mana-mana requires prepositions such as di, ke, or dari (e.g., di mana-mana 'everywhere', ke mana-mana 'to everywhere'). Do not assume that reduplicated apa-apa and siapa-siapa can simply replace free-choice subjects meaning anything or anyone; their interpretation depends on the surrounding construction. To say 'nobody' or 'nothing' in the subject position, you can use tidak seorang pun (nobody) and tidak satu pun (nothing), or use the pun compounds themselves followed by a negative predicate (e.g., Siapa pun tidak boleh masuk 'Nobody is allowed to enter'). A subject such as siapa pun does not require yang merely because it is a subject: Siapa pun boleh datang means 'Anyone may come'. Add yang when introducing a relative clause that describes or restricts that person or thing, as in Siapa pun yang melanggar aturan akan dihukum ('Whoever breaks the rules will be punished').

6. Emphasis with Juga:
These pun compounds are frequently followed by the word juga for added emphasis with no change in meaning (e.g., Siapa pun juga boleh datang 'Anyone at all may come').

7. Other Uses of Pun:
It is important to note that pun is a highly versatile particle. Beyond forming indefinites with question words, it also attaches to regular nouns and pronouns to mean 'also', 'too', or 'even' (e.g., saya pun 'I too', which is the additive pun). When meaning 'even', it is especially common in negative contexts, such as Satu orang pun tidak datang (Not even one person came) or Satu sen pun saya tidak punya (I don't have even one cent).