ingin + Verb

Neutral-formal Desire with Ingin

Level 1

Ingin + verb expresses wanting to do something. It is familiar in neutral or formal language and can express immediate wishes as well as long-term aspirations.

How It Works

The word ingin functions as an auxiliary-like verb that precedes the main action. Here are the key characteristics of its usage:

  • Register: It is neutral-to-formal. You will see it in newspapers, books, and formal speeches. In casual daily chat, Indonesians usually prefer mau.
  • Aspirations: Because it carries a sense of "wishing," it is the natural choice for long-term dreams (e.g., "I want to be a pilot").
  • Grammar Note: Unlike mau, ingin cannot be used to indicate that something is "about to happen" in an ordinary weather forecast. It normally attributes a wish to its subject; fictional personification is a separate use.
  • Transitive Usage: If you want a specific object (a noun), formal Indonesian often uses the derived verb menginginkan (e.g., Saya menginginkan mobil itu), though ingin + verb + noun is also very common.

Conversational Variety: Gue ingin pergi is grammatical in a speaker’s chosen conversational voice. Saya ingin pergi is a neutral alternative, while gue mau/pengen pergi is another colloquial choice. Pronouns and desire words do not form fixed grammatical pairs.

Examples (5)

  1. Saya ingin makan.

    I want to eat.

    Word by Word: I want eat.

    A simple, polite way to express hunger or the desire to eat.

  2. Dia ingin menjadi dokter.

    He/she wants to become a doctor.

    Word by Word: He/she want become doctor.

    Using 'ingin' here highlights a long-term life goal or aspiration.

  3. Kami ingin pergi ke Bali tahun depan.

    We want to go to Bali next year.

    Word by Word: We want go to Bali year front.

    Expressing a plan or wish for the future in a neutral tone.

  4. Saya ingin menyampaikan sesuatu.

    I would like to convey something.

    Word by Word: I want convey something.

    A formal way to start a statement in a meeting or professional setting.

  5. Apakah Anda ingin minum teh?

    Would you like to drink tea?

    Word by Word: Whether you want drink tea?

    A polite way to offer a drink to a guest using 'ingin' and the formal 'Anda'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'ingin' to mean 'about to' (future intent).

    Hari ingin hujan.
    Hari mau hujan.

    For an ordinary forecast that rain is about to start, use mau or akan. Ingin attributes desire, so Hari ingin hujan would personify the day rather than express the same neutral forecast.

How It Connects

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

ingin + VerbLevel 1Neutral-formal Desire with Ingin

Learn This First

To use 'ingin' correctly, you need to understand basic Indonesian sentence structure (SVO) and the fact that verbs do not change based on the subject. It is also helpful to understand the informal equivalent 'mau' to distinguish when to use the more formal 'ingin'.

Words in This Pattern

ingin