semakin

Increasing Degree with Semakin

Level 3

Use semakin to say something is becoming 'more and more' or 'increasingly' [adjective/verb]. It describes a process of change rather than a static state.

How It Works

The word semakin is essential for describing growth, recovery, or any gradual shift. Unlike sangat (very), which describes a fixed high degree, semakin implies a timeline where the intensity is higher now than it was before.

1. Usage with Adjectives
This is the most common usage. It shows a change in quality.
Example: Semakin cerdik (Increasingly clever/Getting cleverer).

2. Usage with Process Verbs
It can modify verbs that describe feelings or states that can fluctuate.
Example: Semakin rindu (Missing someone more and more) or semakin pulih (recovering more and more).

3. The Correlative Construction
Malay uses the double pattern semakin ... semakin ... to mirror the English 'The [more]..., the [more]...' structure.
Example: Semakin lama, semakin mahal (The longer it takes, the more expensive it gets).

4. Register Differences

  • Semakin: Standard/Formal Malay (used in writing, news, and exams).
  • Makin: Colloquial/Informal Malay (used in daily conversation).

Examples (4)

  1. Kesihatannya semakin pulih selepas pembedahan itu.

    His health is increasingly recovering after the surgery.

    Word by Word: Health-his increasingly recover after surgery that.

    Here, 'semakin' modifies the verb 'pulih' (recover) to show a progressive improvement.

  2. Cuaca di sini semakin panas.

    The weather here is getting hotter.

    Word by Word: Weather at here increasingly hot.

    In this sentence, 'semakin' is used with the adjective 'panas' to show a change in temperature.

  3. Saya semakin rindu akan kampung halaman saya.

    I miss my hometown more and more.

    Word by Word: I increasingly miss toward village home my.

    This shows 'semakin' used with a feeling (rindu) to indicate growing intensity.

  4. Semakin tinggi pohon, semakin kencang angin yang menerpa.

    The taller the tree, the stronger the wind that blows.

    Word by Word: Increasingly tall tree, increasingly strong wind that blow.

    This demonstrates the correlative 'The... the...' structure using two 'semakin' clauses.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'semakin' with other intensifiers like 'sangat'.

    Dia semakin sangat cantik.
    Dia semakin cantik.

    Redundancy error. 'Semakin' already acts as an intensifier; adding 'sangat' (very) is grammatically incorrect in Malay.

  • Using 'semakin' directly with a noun.

    Semakin orang datang ke sini.
    Semakin ramai orang datang ke sini.

    'Semakin' must modify an adjective or verb. To say 'more people,' you must include an adjective like 'ramai' (many/crowded).

How It Connects

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

semakinLevel 3Increasing Degree with Semakin

Learn This First

To understand 'semakin', learners should already be comfortable with how adjectives function as predicates in Malay. It is also helpful to understand basic comparison (lebih) and aspectual markers that describe ongoing states (masih), as 'semakin' functions as a progressive comparative marker.

Words in This Pattern

semakin