apa pun yang ...

Free-choice Relative

Level 6

apa pun yang... = "Whatever..." / "Anything that..."
Used to create emphatic, universal statements where the specific choice doesn't matter.

How It Works

The construction apa pun yang is a sophisticated way to express universality or indifference to specific details in Malay.

1. Grammatical Structure:
It consists of three distinct parts:

  • Apa: The base question word for 'what'.
  • Pun: A particle that adds the sense of 'even' or 'ever'.
  • Yang: The relative marker that links the 'whatever' phrase to a following verb or description.

2. Orthography (Spelling):
A critical rule in standard Malaysian Malay (DBP) is that apa pun must be written as two separate words. Unlike walaupun or bagaimanapun, it is not a fixed compound.

3. Usage Contexts:

  • As a Subject: Apa pun yang berlaku... (Whatever happens...)
  • As an Object: Saya terima apa pun yang diberikan. (I accept whatever is given.)
  • Concessive Nuance: It often implies that even if the condition is extreme, the main clause holds true (e.g., 'Whatever he eats, he stays thin').

4. Register:
While common in formal writing and literature, it is also used in daily speech to show resolve or flexibility. In very casual speech, speakers might use apa-apa yang or apa sahaja yang, but apa pun yang remains the most emphatic choice.

Examples (4)

  1. Apa pun yang terjadi, kita tidak boleh berputus asa.

    Whatever happens, we must not give up.

    Word by Word: What even that happen, we not can give-up hope.

    Here, the pattern starts the sentence to set a universal condition: regardless of the event, the result (not giving up) is fixed.

  2. Saya bersedia menerima apa pun yang akan diputuskan oleh mahkamah.

    I am prepared to accept whatever will be decided by the court.

    Word by Word: I ready accept what even that will passive-decide by court.

    In this example, the pattern acts as the object of the verb 'menerima' (to accept).

  3. Apa pun yang dimakannya, dia tetap kurus.

    Whatever he eats, he remains thin.

    Word by Word: What even that passive-eat-him, he remains thin.

    This demonstrates the concessive use, implying that the amount or type of food doesn't change his weight.

  4. Pilihlah apa pun yang kau suka.

    Choose whatever you like.

    Word by Word: Choose-lah what even that you like.

    A common conversational use showing 'free choice' where the speaker is indifferent to the listener's selection.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing 'apapun' as a single word.

    Apapun yang berlaku, saya tetap di sini.
    Apa pun yang berlaku, saya tetap di sini.

    According to DBP standards, 'apa pun' must be written with a space. Only 13 specific words (like 'walaupun') are joined with 'pun'.

  • Misplacing the particle 'pun' after 'yang'.

    Apa yang pun dia buat...
    Apa pun yang dia buat...

    The particle 'pun' must immediately follow the word it modifies ('apa') to create the 'whatever' meaning.

How It Connects

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

apa pun yang ...Level 6Free-choice Relative

Learn This First

To understand 'apa pun yang ...', learners must first be familiar with the question word 'apa', how the particle 'pun' creates indefinite meanings (like 'whatever'), and how 'yang' functions to introduce relative clauses.

Words in This Pattern

pun