sejauh mana
To What Extent
Sejauh mana translates to "to what extent" or "how far." It is used in formal Indonesian to probe the limits or intensity of a situation, belief, or claim.
How It Works
The pattern sejauh mana is a sophisticated tool used primarily in academic, professional, and legal contexts. It functions in two main ways:
- Interrogative: It starts a question to ask for an evaluation of a situation.
Example: Sejauh mana kita bisa percaya padanya? (To what extent can we trust him?) - Embedded Question: It introduces a dependent question about the extent of an action or result.
Example: Hal itu tergantung pada sejauh mana Anda berusaha. (That depends on to what extent you try.)
It can introduce a full clause, or occur with a noun phrase naming the extent being queried, as in Sejauh mana pengaruhnya?. It is more abstract than berapa (how many/much) and more formal than sampai mana (until where).
Examples (4)
- Sejauh mana pemerintah bertanggung jawab atas masalah ini?
To what extent is the government responsible for this problem?
Word by Word: As-far-as where government responsible over problem this?
Here, 'sejauh mana' introduces a formal question evaluating the scope of responsibility.
- Kita perlu mengevaluasi sejauh mana program ini telah berhasil.
We need to evaluate to what extent this program has succeeded.
Word by Word: We need evaluate as-far-as where program this already succeed.
Sejauh mana introduces an embedded question: the extent of the program's success is what needs to be evaluated.
- Penelitian ini melihat sejauh mana pengaruh media sosial terhadap remaja.
This research looks at the extent of social media's influence on teenagers.
Word by Word: Research this see as-far-as where influence media social towards teenagers.
A classic academic usage where the phrase defines the scope of the research topic.
- Sejauh mana Anda setuju dengan pernyataan tersebut?
To what extent do you agree with that statement?
Word by Word: As-far-as where you agree with statement that?
Commonly used in surveys or formal debates to ask for a specific degree of agreement.
Common Mistakes
Choosing an abstract extent question when you want a simple distance measurement.
Sejauh mana rumahmu dari sini?Seberapa jauh rumahmu dari sini?For an ordinary question about the distance to a house, Seberapa jauh rumahmu dari sini? is clear. Sejauh mana often asks about scope or extent; the suggested wording clarifies a measurement rather than banning every spatial use of the phrase.
Adding 'adalah' after the phrase.
Sejauh mana adalah pengaruhnya...Sejauh mana pengaruhnya...In Indonesian, 'sejauh mana' leads directly into the clause. You do not need a copula like 'adalah' to connect it.
How It Connects
Learn This First
'Sejauh mana' is a complex interrogative phrase used to ask about degree or extent. To understand it, a learner needs to be familiar with the interrogative 'mana' and how the prefix 'se-' functions with adjectives like 'jauh' to express distance or extent.
Related Patterns
- berapaHow Many or Much with Berapa
A simpler question word for quantity, whereas 'sejauh mana' asks for a qualitative degree or extent.
Level 1 - sampaiUp to or Until with Sampai
The phrase 'sampai mana' is the informal or literal counterpart to 'sejauh mana,' often used for physical progress.
Level 1 - sedemikian rupa sehinggaTo Such an Extent That
Used to describe the result of an action that was done 'to such an extent' that something else happened.
Level 5 - se-As ... as with Se-
The prefix 'se-' in 'sejauh' is the same equative prefix used to show degree or equality.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice sejauh mana in Bubblegum
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