dari segi
In Terms of
Use dari segi to focus your sentence on a specific dimension, such as cost, safety, or law. It is the standard formal way to say 'in terms of' in Malay.
How It Works
In formal Malay discourse, dari segi is essential for providing nuanced evaluations. It allows you to separate different qualities of a single subject.
1. Syntactic Position
It can be placed at the beginning of a sentence to set the context, or after the main predicate to qualify it. For example:
- Dari segi harga, ia murah. (In terms of price, it is cheap.)
- Ia murah dari segi harga. (It is cheap in terms of price.)
2. The 'Dari' vs 'Daripada' Rule
A common point of confusion is whether to use dari or daripada. While daripada is often used for abstract sources, the authoritative Tatabahasa Dewan specifies that dari segi is the only correct form. This is because segi literally means 'side' or 'angle,' which implies a direction. In Malay, dari is the preposition reserved for place, time, and direction.
3. Register
This phrase is highly formal. You will encounter it constantly in news reports, academic papers, and business meetings. In very casual speech, speakers might replace it with pasal (about) or ikut (following/according to), but dari segi remains the professional standard.
Examples (4)
- Dari segi keselamatan, kereta ini adalah yang terbaik.
In terms of safety, this car is the best.
Word by Word: From side safety, car this is that best.
Here, 'dari segi' limits the 'best' quality specifically to the category of safety.
- Projek itu berjaya dari segi teknikal.
The project was successful from a technical standpoint.
Word by Word: Project that successful from side technical.
This qualifies the success, implying it might not have been successful in other areas (like budget).
- Dari segi undang-undang, dia tidak bersalah.
From a legal perspective, he is not guilty.
Word by Word: From side law-law, he not guilty.
This specifies that the evaluation of 'not guilty' is based strictly on the law.
- Kedua-dua produk ini sama dari segi kualiti.
Both of these products are the same in terms of quality.
Word by Word: Both-two product this same from side quality.
Used here to compare two items based on a specific metric.
Common Mistakes
Using 'daripada segi' instead of 'dari segi'.
Daripada segi kewangan, syarikat itu stabil.Dari segi kewangan, syarikat itu stabil.Even though 'finance' is abstract, 'segi' (side/angle) is considered a direction, which requires 'dari'. 'Daripada segi' is a common error even among native speakers but is rejected in standard grammar.
Redundancy by adding the word 'aspek' (aspect).
Dari segi aspek teknikal...Dari segi teknikal...Since 'segi' already means 'aspect' or 'side', adding the word 'aspek' is redundant (literally: 'From the aspect of the technical aspect').
How It Connects
Learn This First
The phrase 'dari segi' literally translates to 'from the side of' or 'from the aspect of'. To understand it, a learner needs to be familiar with the basic preposition 'dari' and how Malay uses juxtaposition to link nouns and their modifiers.
- dariSource with Dari
The pattern 'dari segi' uses the preposition 'dari' (from) to establish the source or starting point of the evaluation.
Level 1 - Possession by juxtaposition
Understanding how nouns are modified by following words is essential, as 'segi' (side/aspect) is modified by the following noun or phrase to define the scope of evaluation.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- daripadaComparison Standard with Daripada
Often confused with 'dari', but used for comparisons and abstract sources rather than directions.
Level 2 - tentang / mengenaiTopic Prepositions
Used to introduce a general topic, whereas 'dari segi' introduces a specific dimension of a topic.
Level 3 - menurutAccording to with Menurut
Means 'according to'; used to cite a source or authority rather than a dimension of evaluation.
Level 2 - dalam halWith Respect to
A similar phrase meaning 'in the matter of', used for situations rather than specific metrics.
Level 5 - dari sudut yang lainAnother Perspective
A synonymous phrase meaning 'from another angle/perspective'.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice dari segi in Bubblegum
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