tentang
About with Tentang
tentang = about / concerning / regarding.
It is a preposition used to link a verb or noun to its specific topic.
How It Works
The word tentang is a kata sendi nama (preposition) used to introduce a topic.
1. Basic Usage
It is placed directly before the noun that represents the subject matter. For example: cerita tentang hantu (a story about ghosts). Highly frequent chunks include tentang hal... or tentang perkara..., which mean 'about the matter of'. It can also appear at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a theme: Tentang hal itu, saya tidak pasti. (Regarding that matter, I am not sure).
2. Register and Style
- Standard/Formal: tentang is the standard choice for writing. While some strict traditionalists prefer to avoid mengenai as a preposition, modern Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) officially accepts it as meaning 'about', though tentang is often preferred stylistically. In formal contexts, you can also use berkenaan dengan, berkaitan dengan, or berhubung dengan.
- Informal: In casual conversation, tentang can sound formal; speakers often use pasal instead (e.g., Cakap pasal apa?).
3. Grammatical Constraints
Do not use tentang directly after any active transitive verb (verbs that take a direct object). For example, mengkaji sejarah is correct, not mengkaji tentang sejarah. This mistake is especially common with verbs ending in the -kan suffix (like membincangkan, menceritakan, or melaporkan). The suffix makes the verb transitive, meaning it must be followed directly by an object, not a preposition like tentang. Instead, use tentang with intransitive verbs, such as ber- verbs like berbincang.
4. The Root 'Tentang' and Verb Forms
Learners should note that the physical root meaning of tentang is 'directly facing', 'exactly at', or 'directly above'. This explains why it is used to form certain verbs: menentang means 'to oppose' or 'to face', while bertentangan means 'opposite' or 'in conflict'. Context will help you distinguish between the preposition 'about' and these verb forms.
5. Tentang vs Terhadap
While tentang refers to a general topic, terhadap is used when expressing an attitude or action directed 'towards' a specific object or person (e.g., rasa cinta terhadap negara - feeling of love towards the country).
6. Not for Approximations
Do not use tentang to mean 'approximately' or 'around' with numbers (e.g., 'about 50 people'). For numbers and approximations, use kira-kira or lebih kurang instead.
Examples (5)
- Saya berfikir tentang masa depan.
I am thinking about the future.
Word by Word: I think about time front.
Here, 'tentang' connects the action of thinking to the specific topic (the future).
- Buku ini bercerita tentang sejarah Malaysia.
This book tells about the history of Malaysia.
Word by Word: Book this tell about history Malaysia.
The verb 'bercerita' (to tell/narrate) is intransitive and requires 'tentang' to introduce the topic.
- Tentang permohonan itu, kami akan mempertimbangkannya.
Regarding that application, we will consider it.
Word by Word: About application that, we will consider-it.
Tentang can be used at the start of a sentence to introduce a theme, similar to 'Regarding' or 'As for' in English.
- Dia tidak tahu apa-apa tentang hal ini.
He doesn't know anything about this matter.
Word by Word: He not know anything about matter this.
Used here to show the scope of someone's knowledge or lack thereof.
- Kami sedang berbincang tentang projek itu.
We are discussing that project.
Word by Word: We in-progress discuss about project that.
The verb 'berbincang' is intransitive, so it requires 'tentang' to introduce the topic being discussed.
Common Mistakes
Using 'tentang' directly before a verb.
Saya mahu bercakap tentang makan.Saya mahu bercakap tentang cara pemakanan.'tentang' must be followed by a noun. To talk about an action, you must turn that action into a noun phrase (e.g., 'the way of eating' instead of just 'eating').
Redundancy with -kan verbs.
Kami membincangkan tentang masalah itu.Kami membincangkan masalah itu.Verbs like 'membincangkan' are transitive verbs, meaning they must be followed directly by an object without needing a preposition. Adding 'tentang' after them is grammatically incorrect in formal Malay. You should either drop 'tentang' or use the intransitive verb 'berbincang' with 'tentang'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The pattern 'tentang topic' is a straightforward prepositional usage. To use it effectively, a learner only needs to understand basic Malay sentence structure (SVO) to correctly position the topic phrase after verbs of communication or thought.
Related Patterns
- tentang / mengenaiTopic Prepositions
While some traditionalists prefer 'tentang', modern DBP officially accepts 'mengenai' as a preposition meaning 'about', though 'tentang' is often preferred stylistically in formal writing.
Level 3 - untukFor with Untuk
While tentang marks the topic, untuk marks the purpose or the intended recipient.
Level 1 - denganWith with Dengan
Dengan (with) is another common preposition used to show how or with whom an action is performed.
Level 1 - ber-Basic Activity Verbs with Ber-
Many verbs that use 'tentang' (like berbincang or berfikir) use the ber- prefix to indicate an ongoing activity.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice tentang in Bubblegum
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