kurang ... daripada

Lower Degree with Kurang

Level 2

The pattern kurang [adjective] daripada [noun] is the standard way to say something is 'less' of a certain quality than another thing.

How It Works

The pattern kurang ... daripada is used for comparisons of inequality, specifically to indicate a lower degree.

1. Structure with Adjectives:
The word kurang (less) is placed before an adjective, followed by daripada (than) and the object of comparison.
Example: Mobil ini kurang cepat daripada mobil itu. (This car is less fast than that car.)

2. Usage with Numbers and Quantities:
This pattern is frequently used to express 'less than' or 'fewer than' with cardinal numbers and quantities. In this context, kurang dari is the most common form.
Example: Ada kurang dari sepuluh orang di sini. (There are less than ten people here.)

3. Nuance and Preference:
In Indonesian, kurang often implies that something is 'not [adjective] enough'. Because of this, speakers often prefer to use lebih with the opposite adjective. For example, instead of 'less expensive' (kurang mahal), it is more common to say 'cheaper' (lebih murah).

4. Register:
In formal writing, daripada is the standard form. In casual conversation, this is often shortened to dari.

5. Use with Verbs as a Softener:
When used with 'feeling' verbs like suka (to like), kurang acts as a softener to mean 'not really' or 'not quite'. Note that for this softening effect, daripada is omitted.
Example: Saya kurang suka film itu. (I don't really like that movie.) If you include daripada, it becomes a strict comparison: Saya kurang suka film ini daripada film itu.

Examples (3)

  1. Mobil saya kurang mahal daripada mobil Kardi.

    My car is less expensive than Kardi's car.

    Word by Word: Car my less expensive than car Kardi.

    This compares the price of two cars, indicating the speaker's car has a lower price.

  2. Kue ini kurang manis daripada kue yang kita beli kemarin.

    This cake is less sweet than the cake we bought yesterday.

    Word by Word: Cake this less sweet than cake which we bought yesterday.

    Here, 'kurang' modifies the adjective 'manis' (sweet) to show a lower intensity.

  3. Metode ini kurang efektif daripada metode sebelumnya.

    This method is less effective than the previous method.

    Word by Word: Method this less effective than method before-its.

    In formal or technical contexts, this pattern is used to compare the efficiency or quality of systems.

Common Mistakes

  • Misplacing kurang in a numerical comparison.

    Ada kurang sepuluh daripada orang di sini.
    Ada kurang dari sepuluh orang di sini.

    For fewer than ten, use the model kurang dari sepuluh, keeping kurang before the comparison phrase. Kurang ... daripada also compares qualities or preferences, including kurang suka; it is not restricted to adjectives.

  • Placing 'kurang' after the adjective.

    Kopi ini manis kurang daripada teh.
    Kopi ini kurang manis daripada teh.

    In Indonesian, the modifier 'kurang' must always precede the adjective it is modifying.

How It Connects

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

kurang ... daripadaLevel 2Lower Degree with Kurang

Learn This First

To understand 'kurang ... daripada' (less ... than), you first need to know how adjectives function as predicates in Indonesian. It is also helpful to understand the basic preposition 'dari' and the standard comparative structure 'lebih ... daripada', as 'kurang' simply replaces 'lebih' to indicate a lower degree.

Words in This Pattern

kurangdaripada