sehubungan dengan

In Connection with

Level 5

sehubungan dengan is a high-level formal connector used in official letters, academic papers, and professional communication to link a statement to a previous context or specific subject.

How It Works

In formal Malay (Bahasa Melayu Baku), sehubungan dengan serves as a logical bridge. It is most frequently used in two ways:

  • As a sentence starter: To reference a previous event or document (e.g., 'Sehubungan dengan itu, ...'). Note: When used as a sentence-starting discourse marker (penanda wacana), it must be followed by a comma.
  • As a mid-sentence connector: To show that an action is being taken because of a specific circumstance.

Unlike the general word tentang (about), sehubungan dengan implies a formal, procedural, or administrative link. It is strictly formal; in casual speech, Malaysians would typically use pasal or tentang instead. A common formal synonym often used interchangeably in mid-sentence positions is berhubung dengan.

A critical grammatical rule from the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) is that the word dengan must follow sehubungan when linking to a noun or the pronoun itu. Omitting dengan is a common error even among native speakers in media contexts, but it is considered incorrect in standard written Malay.

Examples (4)

  1. Sehubungan dengan itu, pihak kami memohon maaf atas segala kesulitan.

    In connection with that, we apologize for any inconvenience.

    Word by Word: In-connection with that, side our request apology for all difficulty.

    This is a standard formal closing or transitional phrase in official correspondence.

  2. Sehubungan dengan permohonan tuan, sukacita dimaklumkan bahawa ia telah diluluskan.

    With reference to your application, we are pleased to inform you that it has been approved.

    Word by Word: In-connection with application sir, happy informed that it already was-approved.

    Here, the phrase introduces the specific subject (the application) being addressed in the letter.

  3. Keputusan ini dibuat sehubungan dengan perubahan dasar syarikat.

    This decision was made in connection with the change in company policy.

    Word by Word: Decision this made in-connection with change policy company.

    The phrase is used mid-sentence to provide the administrative reason for the decision.

  4. Sila hubungi kami sehubungan dengan perkara di atas.

    Please contact us regarding the matter above.

    Word by Word: Please contact us in-connection with matter at top.

    A common phrase used at the end of formal documents to invite further communication on a specific topic.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the preposition 'dengan'.

    Sehubungan itu, mesyuarat akan ditangguhkan.
    Sehubungan dengan itu, mesyuarat akan ditangguhkan.

    In standard Malay, the noun 'hubungan' requires the preposition 'dengan' to link to the following object or pronoun. 'Sehubungan itu' is considered grammatically incomplete.

  • Using it in casual conversation.

    Sehubungan dengan makan malam nanti, awak nak makan apa?
    Pasal makan malam nanti, awak nak makan apa?

    Using 'sehubungan dengan' in a casual setting sounds unnaturally stiff and robotic. Use 'pasal' or 'tentang' for daily topics.

How It Connects

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

sehubungan denganLevel 5In Connection with

Learn This First

To understand 'sehubungan dengan', learners need to be familiar with the preposition 'dengan' (with) and how the prefix 'se-' functions to create relational terms. It also requires knowledge of the noun 'hubungan' (connection/relationship) which forms the core of this formal transitional phrase.

Words in This Pattern

hubungan