terlepas dari

Regardless of or Apart from

Level 5

Terlepas dari is an advanced Indonesian phrase used to isolate a factor ('regardless of') or, when negated (tidak terlepas dari), to show a causal link ('inseparable from').

How It Works

The phrase terlepas dari is a staple of formal, academic, and journalistic Indonesian. It serves two primary functions:

1. Concessive Function ('Regardless of'):
It is used to set aside a specific fact or condition to focus on the main point. It acknowledges that a factor exists but declares it irrelevant to the current argument. Syntactically, it attaches to a noun phrase. For a declarative proposition, a clear model uses a noun such as fakta bahwa (the fact that) or kenyataan bahwa. It also occurs with embedded questions such as terlepas dari apakah ... (regardless of whether ...); fakta is not obligatory before every kind of clause.

2. Causal Function ('Inseparable from'):
When used in the negative form tidak terlepas dari, the meaning shifts significantly. It indicates that one thing is the direct result of, or is closely linked to, another. This is a very common way to attribute success or cause in formal writing.

Morphology:
It consists of the ter- prefix (indicating a state) + the root lepas + the preposition dari. The dari is mandatory; omitting it is a common error.

Examples (4)

  1. Terlepas dari perbedaan pendapat, kita harus tetap bersatu.

    Regardless of the differences in opinion, we must remain united.

    Word by Word: Released from differences opinion, we must remain united.

    Here, the phrase brackets off the 'differences' to focus on the need for unity.

  2. Keberhasilan ini tidak terlepas dari kerja keras tim.

    This success is inseparable from the team's hard work.

    Word by Word: Success this not released from work hard team.

    The negative 'tidak terlepas dari' shows a direct causal link between the hard work and the success.

  3. Terlepas dari kenyataan bahwa ia masih muda, prestasinya luar biasa.

    Regardless of the fact that he is still young, his achievements are extraordinary.

    Word by Word: Released from fact that he still young, achievement-his extraordinary.

    Because 'he is young' is a clause, the noun 'kenyataan' (fact) is used to bridge the grammar.

  4. Masalah ini tidak terlepas dari kebijakan pemerintah yang lama.

    This problem is not separate from the old government policies.

    Word by Word: Problem this not released from policy government which old.

    This demonstrates the academic use of the phrase to link a current problem to a specific cause.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the mandatory preposition 'dari'.

    Terlepas masalah itu, saya tetap pergi.
    Terlepas dari masalah itu, saya tetap pergi.

    In Indonesian, 'terlepas' requires 'dari' to function as 'regardless of.' Without it, the sentence is ungrammatical.

  • Attaching the phrase directly to a verb or clause.

    Terlepas dia sakit, dia tetap bekerja.
    Terlepas dari sakitnya, dia tetap bekerja.

    The original omits dari. Use terlepas dari sakitnya for regardless of the illness, or kenyataan bahwa to introduce the full proposition. Embedded questions with apakah are another established complement; a noun bridge is not obligatory for every clause.

How It Connects

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

terlepas dariLevel 5Regardless of or Apart from

Learn This First

To understand 'terlepas dari', a learner needs to recognize the 'ter-' prefix which marks the state of being 'released' or 'detached', and the preposition 'dari' which links this state to the factor being excluded or conceded.

Words in This Pattern