tidak se-...
Negative Equality
The pattern tidak se- + [adjective] is the standard way to make negative comparisons of equality in Indonesian. It indicates that the first subject has less of a quality than the second entity.
How It Works
In Indonesian, comparisons of degree are often handled through prefixes. The prefix se- attached to an adjective creates an 'equative' form (meaning 'equal to'). When you negate this with tidak, you are stating that the equality does not exist, specifically that the first item is 'less' than the second.
Structure:
[Subject] + tidak + se-[Adjective] + [Comparison Target]
Key Characteristics:
- Morphology: The prefix se- is attached directly to the root adjective (e.g., besar becomes sebesar).
- Syntax: Unlike some other comparisons, you do not need a preposition like dengan or daripada after the adjective. The noun being compared to follows immediately.
- Register: This is the standard form. In formal writing, you might see tak instead of tidak. In casual conversation, speakers often use nggak or gak.
- Nuance: Compare tidak se- with kurang ... daripada (less than). Either can express a lower degree; no construction guarantees politeness when evaluating a person.
Examples (4)
- Mobil ini tidak semahal mobil itu.
This car is not as expensive as that car.
Word by Word: Car this not as-expensive car that.
Here, 'se-' is attached to 'mahal' (expensive) to compare the price of two cars.
- Ternyata ujiannya tidak sesulit yang saya bayangkan.
As it turns out, the exam wasn't as difficult as I imagined.
Word by Word: Turns-out exam-the not as-difficult which I imagine.
The comparison target here is a clause ('yang saya bayangkan') rather than a simple noun.
- Rumah barunya tidak sebesar rumah yang lama.
His new house is not as big as the old house.
Word by Word: House new-his not as-big house which old.
This compares the size (besar) of two different houses.
- Kota ini tidak seramai Jakarta.
This city is not as crowded as Jakarta.
Word by Word: City this not as-crowded Jakarta.
A common way to compare locations using the adjective 'ramai' (crowded/busy).
Common Mistakes
Writing the equative prefix se- separately.
Rumah ini tidak se besar rumah itu.Rumah ini tidak sebesar rumah itu.Join se- to the adjective: sebesar. In an ordinary degree negation, bukan is not the model to copy; use tidak. Bukan has separate corrective-contrast uses, so it is not universally limited to nouns.
Adding 'daripada' after the adjective.
Tidak setinggi daripada ayahnya.Tidak setinggi ayahnya.Learners often confuse this with the lebih ... daripada (more than) pattern. In equality patterns (se-), the target noun follows the adjective directly without 'daripada'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'tidak se-...', you first need to know how to form the basic equative using the 'se-' prefix (meaning 'as... as'). You also need to understand how 'tidak' is used to negate adjectives and how 'yang' is used to define the specific noun or quality being compared.
- se-As ... as with Se-
The 'tidak se-...' pattern is the negative form of the 'se-' equative prefix, which expresses equality (as... as).
Level 3 - tidakNegating Verbs and Adjectives with Tidak
The pattern uses 'tidak' to negate the equative state, so understanding basic negation of adjectives is essential.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- lebih ... daripadaComparative with Lebih
The standard comparative ('more than'), which is the logical alternative to negative equality.
Level 2 - kurang ... daripadaLower Degree with Kurang
Kurang ... daripada expresses a lower degree; tidak se- frames it as not matching another degree. Politeness depends on the statement and relationship.
Level 2 - sama ... denganEquality with Sama ... Dengan
Another way to express equality ('the same as'), often used with nouns or general qualities.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice tidak se-... in Bubblegum
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