meN-...-kan / meN-...-i

Valency Contrast in Derived Verbs

Level 4

-kan and -i can change a verb’s meaning and the role of its object. In common transfer or location pairs, -kan takes the moved item and -i the target. This is a useful pattern, not a rule for every derived verb.

How It Works

At an upper-intermediate level, it is vital to become proficient in how these suffixes reassign semantic roles.

1. Causative Function
A common use of -kan is to transform adjectives or intransitive verbs into causative transitive verbs. This indicates that the subject causes the object to enter a state or perform an action. When attached to adjectives, -kan often makes a concept clear or causes a state (e.g., menerangkan: to explain/make clear), whereas the corresponding -i verb in this pair applies the quality to a location (e.g., menerangi: to illuminate a place).

  • Membersihkan kamar: To make the room clean (from bersih).
  • Mendudukkan tamu: To seat the guest / make the guest sit (from duduk).

2. Movement and Direction
In common movement contrasts, -kan indicates the object is the thing being moved (Theme). -i indicates the object is the place the movement is directed toward (Goal). The -i verb may describe action directed at a target or across a surface, but neither complete affectedness nor physical immobility follows automatically from the suffix.

  • Melemparkan batu: Throwing the stone (the stone moves).
  • Melempari pohon: Pelting the tree (the tree is the stationary target).
  • Menikamkan keris: Stabbing with a kris (the kris is moved into the target).

3. Benefactive (-kan)
The suffix -kan can introduce a beneficiary. In the standard model with two following noun phrases, the beneficiary is the object immediately after the verb and the item is its complement. TBBI also allows omission of a contextually understood beneficiary, as in Ida membelikan buku. Do not turn this model into a universal ban on untuk with every -kan verb.

  • Membelikan ibu sepatu: Buying shoes for mother (Beneficiary ibu follows the verb directly).

4. Transfer and Communication
In established transfer and teaching pairs, -kan focuses on the item transferred, while -i focuses on the recipient.

  • Mengajarkan matematika: Teaching mathematics (the subject matter is transferred).
  • Mengajari siswa: Teaching the student (the student is the recipient).

5. Locative and Preposition Dropping (-i)
The suffix -i is used when the object is a location or when applying a substance to a target. In some established pairs, a noun that follows a preposition with the base verb becomes the direct object of the -i verb. This is not a mechanical rule for deleting a preposition after any verb.

  • Memasuki ruangan: Entering a room (replaces masuk ke ruangan).
  • Menggarami sup: Salting the soup (Applying a substance).

6. Iterativity (Repetition)
The suffix -i often carries a nuance of repeated action or intensity. Compare memukul (to hit, without itself specifying the number of blows) with memukuli (to hit repeatedly), or mencium (to kiss) with menciumi (to kiss repeatedly or all over).

7. Privative (Removal) Function (-i)
With certain established noun bases, the -i suffix indicates the removal of that object from the target.

  • Menguliti ayam: To skin the chicken (removing the kulit).
  • Membului burung: To pluck the bird (removing the bulu).
  • Menguliti majalah: To cover the magazine (adding a cover). The same derivative can have different senses with different objects; -i alone does not dictate adding versus removing.

8. Psychological and Emotional Verbs (-kan)
The suffix -kan is frequently used with emotional or psychological roots to direct an emotion toward an object, often replacing the preposition akan (about/for).

  • Mengharapkan bantuan: To hope for help (from harap).
  • Merindukan keluarga: To long for family (from rindu).

9. Interaction with the Passive Voice
These suffixes dictate which noun becomes the subject of a passive sentence. The object of the active verb becomes the subject of the di- passive verb. Compare Ibu dibelikan sepatu (Mother was bought shoes: beneficiary as subject) with Sepatu dibeli untuk ibu (Shoes were bought for mother: item as subject with membeli/dibeli). In the TBBI two-noun benefactive analysis, sepatu is a complement, so do not simply promote it as though it were a second direct object.

Note on Register: In casual speech, particularly in Jakarta, both suffixes are frequently replaced by the -in suffix (e.g., bersihin, beliin).

Examples (6)

  1. Dia memasukkan kunci ke dalam saku.

    He/she put the key into the pocket.

    Word by Word: He/she [active]-enter-kan key to inside pocket.

    Here, -kan is used because the 'key' (the object) is the thing being moved into the pocket.

  2. Dia memasuki ruangan itu dengan diam-diam.

    He/she entered the room quietly.

    Word by Word: He/she [active]-enter-i room that with quietly.

    In this established pair, ruangan itu is the place entered. The location contrast does not mean that every -i object must be physically motionless.

  3. Ibu membelikan adik sepatu baru.

    Mother bought my younger sibling new shoes.

    Word by Word: Mother [active]-buy-kan younger-sibling shoe new.

    This is a benefactive use of -kan. The action of buying is done 'for' the sibling.

  4. Polisi melempari demonstran dengan gas air mata.

    The police pelted the protesters with tear gas.

    Word by Word: Police [active]-throw-i protesters with gas water eye.

    The suffix -i is used because the protesters are the target/goal of the throwing action.

  5. Guru itu mengajarkan sejarah Indonesia.

    That teacher teaches Indonesian history.

    Word by Word: Teacher that [active]-teach-kan history Indonesia.

    Using -kan focuses on the subject matter (history) being transferred to the students.

  6. Saya sedang mengajari anak saya membaca.

    I am teaching my child to read.

    Word by Word: I [progressive] [active]-teach-i child my read.

    Using -i focuses on the child as the recipient of the instruction.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'meniduri' to mean 'putting a child to sleep'.

    Saya mau meniduri anak saya.
    Saya mau menidurkan anak saya.

    'Menidurkan' is causative (to make someone sleep). 'Meniduri' is locative (to sleep on/with something) and often carries a sexual connotation.

  • Using -kan for the recipient of a story.

    Dia menceritakan saya tentang liburannya.
    Dia menceritai saya tentang liburannya.

    For the intended recipient reading, menceritai saya or bercerita kepada saya is the standard model. Menceritakan saya can instead mean telling about me, so the suffix changes the participant’s role rather than making every person object impossible.

How It Connects

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meN-...-kan / meN-...-iLevel 4Valency Contrast in Derived Verbs

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meng- -kanmeng- -i-kan-i