tidak / tak / nggak

Tidak Tak and Nggak

Level 3

Indonesian uses three main words to say 'not' with actions or qualities: tidak (standard), tak (short/poetic), and nggak (casual). They all negate verbs and adjectives, but differ in social context.

How It Works

To become proficient in Indonesian negation, you must choose the right word based on register and sentence structure:

  • Tidak: The standard neutral negation for verbs and adjectives. Use this in writing, formal speeches, or polite interactions. For prepositional phrases, tidak is the standard, neutral negation.
  • Tak: A shortened version of tidak. It appears in literary language and in other written and spoken varieties, including familiar phrases (e.g., tak acuh - indifferent, tak masuk akal - illogical). It is generally written as a separate word, except in common contractions like takkan (will not). Note that phrases like tak usah (no need) remain two separate words. Note: Do not confuse this with the Javanese-influenced first-person prefix tak- (e.g., tak-ambil meaning 'I take'), which is not a negation.
  • Nggak: The heartbeat of daily life in Java and many urban areas. In casual conversation, tidak is frequently replaced by nggak (or gak). The official dictionary spelling is enggak, and you will also frequently hear ndak as a common variant in Java.
  • Bukan: Primarily used for nouns and pronouns (e.g., bukan guru, bukan saya), rather than for ordinary verbal or adjectival predicates. For prepositional phrases, bukan can reject a proposed location or other alternative (e.g., Saya bukan di rumah, melainkan di kantor). A familiar contrast model is tidak ... tetapi ... for verbs and adjectives, while bukan ... melainkan ... is not restricted to nouns: speakers also use bukan ... melainkan ... with verbs and adjectives to express complete rejection and replacement (e.g., Dia bukan tidur, melainkan pingsan).
  • Negating whole concepts: Bukan is the standard word used to negate an entire assumption, statement, or situation, often placed at the beginning of a clause (e.g., Bukan begitu - Not like that, bukan berarti... - it doesn't mean that...).
  • Tidak ada: Used to mean 'there is no' or 'do not have' with nouns (e.g., tidak ada waktu - no time).
  • Bukan / Kan: Placed at the end of a sentence, bukan or its shortened form kan acts as a question tag meaning 'right?' or 'isn't it?'.
  • Kurang: Meaning 'less' or 'not quite', this is heavily used to soften negative statements with adjectives or verbs (e.g., kurang baik - not so good, kurang suka - don't really like).

Important Distinctions:

  • For 'not yet,' use standard belum. Regional casual speech includes forms such as Betawi belon and Medan/Langkat belom; these are regional, not a single nationwide colloquial standard.
  • For negative commands, use jangan, which is normal in both formal and casual Indonesian. Casual speech may add particles such as dong or use nggak usah + verb when the intended meaning is 'do not need/bother to'; nggak usah is not a universal replacement for every prohibition.

Examples (6)

  1. Saya tidak merokok.

    I do not smoke.

    Word by Word: I not smoke.

    Uses tidak for a standard, polite, or formal statement.

  2. Aku nggak lapar.

    I'm not hungry.

    Word by Word: I not hungry.

    Uses nggak for a casual conversation with friends.

  3. Cintaku takkan hilang.

    My love will not disappear.

    Word by Word: Love-my not-will disappear.

    Uses tak combined with akan as the common contraction 'takkan' for poetic effect.

  4. Dia tidak malas, tetapi lelah.

    He is not lazy, but tired.

    Word by Word: He not lazy, but tired.

    Tidak ... tetapi ... is a standard contrast between adjectives. Bukan can also appear in corrective contrasts, so this is not a categorical ban on it.

  5. Hal itu tak terbayangkan.

    That thing is unimaginable.

    Word by Word: Thing that not [prefix]-imagine-[suffix].

    Uses tak in a common structure with the ter- prefix.

  6. Dia nggak mau makan.

    He/she doesn't want to eat.

    Word by Word: He/she not want eat.

    A typical everyday sentence using the colloquial nggak.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'tidak' or 'nggak' to negate a noun.

    Saya tidak guru.
    Saya bukan guru.

    In Indonesian, nouns (like 'guru' / teacher) must be negated with 'bukan', not 'tidak'.

  • Misplacing the word boundary in tidak selesai.

    Laporan ini tidaks elesai.
    Laporan ini tidak selesai.

    Write tidak and selesai as separate complete words. Laporan ini nggak selesai is grammatical colloquial speech, including a casual workplace exchange; choose tidak for a standard report rather than treating every professional conversation as strictly formal.

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tidak / tak / nggakLevel 3Tidak Tak and Nggak

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