di-...-kan

Passive Causative or Benefactive

Level 4

The di-...-kan pattern is the passive version of meN-...-kan. It shifts the focus to the object being acted upon, often implying the action was caused to happen or done for someone's benefit.

How It Works

The di-...-kan passive is essential for formal and standard Indonesian. It is used in five primary ways:

  • Causative: The subject is caused to be in a certain state. For example, dibersihkan (to be made clean) from bersih.
  • Benefactive: The action is performed for the benefit of the subject. For example, Adik dibelikan mainan (Little brother was bought a toy).
  • Directional/Locative: The subject is moved toward a location. For example, dimasukkan (to be put into) from masuk.
  • Instrumental/Transfer: The subject is the 'thing' moved or used. For example, Uang itu dibelikan buku (The money was used to buy a book).
  • Transitivizing: It allows intransitive roots to function as transitive passive verbs. For example, didatangkan (to be brought in) from the intransitive datang (to come).

Agent Patterns: The familiar third-person di- passive is one standard model. First- and second-person agents often use object voice, as in buku itu kami kirimkan. Di- passives with explicitly stated first- or second-person agents also occur, so do not treat person alone as a universal prohibition.

The Role of 'Oleh': The particle oleh (by) is optional if the agent immediately follows the verb. However, if an adverb or other word separates the verb and the agent, oleh must be used.

Register Note: While -kan is the standard formal suffix, in daily conversation it is frequently replaced by the colloquial -in (e.g., dibelikan becomes dibeliin).

Examples (5)

  1. Kamar tidur itu sedang dibersihkan oleh Ibu.

    The bedroom is being cleaned by Mother.

    Word by Word: Room sleep that progressive be-made-clean by Mother.

    This is a causative use. The root 'bersih' (clean) is made into a verb meaning 'to be made clean'.

  2. Adik dibelikan mainan baru oleh Ayah.

    Little brother was bought a new toy by Father.

    Word by Word: Little-brother be-bought-for toy new by Father.

    This is a benefactive use. The subject (Adik) is the person for whom the action was performed.

  3. Buku-buku itu harus dimasukkan ke dalam tas.

    Those books must be put into the bag.

    Word by Word: Books that must be-put-into to inside bag.

    This is a directional use. The suffix -kan indicates the movement of the subject (the books) into a location.

  4. Pintu itu dibukakan untuk tamu.

    The door was opened for the guest.

    Word by Word: Door that be-opened-for for guest.

    The suffix -kan indicates the door was opened specifically for someone else's benefit.

  5. Buku itu dikirimkan ke Jakarta kemarin.

    The book was sent to Jakarta yesterday.

    Word by Word: Book that be-sent to Jakarta yesterday.

    An instrumental/transfer use where the book is the object being moved.

Common Mistakes

  • Separating the passive prefix di- from the verb.

    Buku itu di kirimkan oleh kami.
    Buku itu dikirimkan oleh kami.

    Join di- to kirimkan. The object-voice alternative Buku itu kami kirimkan is also useful; first-person reference alone does not make every di- passive impossible.

  • Omitting 'oleh' when the agent is separated from the verb.

    Buku itu dikirimkan kemarin Ayah.
    Buku itu dikirimkan kemarin oleh Ayah.

    While oleh is optional when the agent immediately follows the verb, it is mandatory if any words (like the time adverb 'kemarin') come between the verb and the agent.

  • Mistaking a recipient reading for the person being sent.

    Saya dikirimkan buku. (Maksud: sayalah yang dikirim ke kantor.)
    Saya dikirimkan ke kantor.

    Saya dikirimkan buku can be understood as I was sent a book. Dikirimi also explicitly identifies the recipient. For the stated meaning where I am the person dispatched, name the destination instead; -kan is not universally restricted to inanimate moved objects.

How It Connects

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di-...-kanLevel 4Passive Causative or Benefactive

Learn This First

To understand the di-...-kan passive, you first need to be familiar with the basic passive prefix (di-) and how the -kan suffix changes a verb's meaning (causative or benefactive). Since di-...-kan is the passive form of meN-...-kan verbs, understanding the active version is a crucial step.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

di--kan