meN-...-i

Locative MeN-...-i

Level 3

The meN-...-i pattern focuses on the location or target of an action. Unlike the base verb, the object of a meN-...-i verb is usually the place where the action happens or the person/thing receiving the action's focus.

How It Works

The meN-...-i circumfix serves several specific functions in standard Malay:

  • Locative Function: The most common use. The object is the location or destination. For example, mendatangi pejabat (approaching the office) makes the 'office' the direct object.
  • Iterative/Intensive Function: It indicates that an action is done repeatedly or with great intensity. For example, memukuli means 'to beat up' or 'hit repeatedly'.
  • Causative Function: It can indicate causing someone or something to be in a state. For example, menyakiti (to hurt/cause pain) from the root sakit (sick/painful). Note that meN-...-kan is the more standard and common suffix for causative meanings.
  • Exhaustive Function: It implies an action covers a whole area. Menanami sawah means to plant all over the rice field, whereas menanam padi focuses on the act of planting the rice itself.

Morphology:
The prefix meN- follows standard nasalization rules (e.g., suka becomes menyukai, milik becomes memiliki). A key rule is that the suffix -i cannot be added to roots that already end in the vowel 'i'. In such cases, the suffix is not used (e.g., the root beri becomes memberi, not memberii).

Register:
This pattern is a hallmark of formal Malay (Bahasa Melayu Baku). In casual conversation, speakers often drop the suffix or use the base verb instead.

Examples (5)

  1. Dia mendatangi pejabat itu untuk urusan rasmi.

    He went to (approached) that office for official business.

    Word by Word: He approach office that for business official.

    Here, 'pejabat' (office) is the direct object because of the -i suffix. Without -i, you would need a preposition like 'ke'.

  2. Petani itu menanami sawahnya dengan padi.

    The farmer planted (all over) his rice field with paddy.

    Word by Word: Farmer that plant-on field-his with paddy.

    The -i suffix makes the 'sawah' (field) the object being acted upon, implying the whole field was covered.

  3. Jangan menyakiti hati ibu bapa kamu.

    Do not hurt the hearts of your parents.

    Word by Word: Do-not hurt heart mother father you.

    The verb 'menyakiti' (to hurt) targets the 'hati' (heart) as the recipient of the pain.

  4. Mereka memasuki bilik mesyuarat itu.

    They entered that meeting room.

    Word by Word: They enter room meeting that.

    The room is the location being entered, acting as the direct object of the verb.

  5. Ibu menggarami sup itu.

    Mother salted the soup.

    Word by Word: Mother salt-on soup that.

    Attaching -i to the noun 'garam' (salt) creates a verb meaning to apply salt to the target (the soup).

Common Mistakes

  • Using a preposition after a meN-...-i verb.

    Dia mendatangi ke pejabat.
    Dia mendatangi pejabat.

    The suffix -i already incorporates the locative meaning (like 'to' or 'at'). Adding 'ke' (to) is redundant and grammatically incorrect.

  • Confusing -i with -kan for moving objects.

    Saya menanami bunga di taman.
    Saya menanamkan bunga di taman.

    Use -i when the object is the location (the garden). Use -kan when the object is the thing being moved (the flowers).

How It Connects

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

meN-...-iLevel 3Locative MeN-...-i

Learn This First

To understand locative meN-...-i, you must first be familiar with the basic meN- prefix system for active verbs and the general function of the -i suffix, which indicates that the action is directed toward a specific location or object. Knowledge of how locations are normally expressed with prepositions like 'di' helps in understanding how this pattern 'foregrounds' the location as a direct object.

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Words in This Pattern

-i