Confix ‘ke – an’ can form nouns from adjectives, verbs and other classes. Such nouns are generally of an abstract nature.
To Identify a State or Condition
To form a noun that identify a state, character or condition in connection with the root word in a general or vague sense. Many of the English translations for these nouns have the English “-ness” suffix which indicates a certain condition.
Root: ada (verb: presence, situation) > ke+ada+an > keadaan (situation; condition)
Root: bersih (clean) > ke+bersih+an > kebersihan (cleanliness)
| Root Word | Meaning | ke – Root Word – an | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| sehat | healthy | kesehatan | health |
| lapar | hungry | kelaparan | hunger |
| bersih | clean | kebersihan | cleanliness |
| merdeka | free, independent | kemerdekaan | freedom, independence |
| tinggi | high | ketinggian | altitude, elevated place |
| anggota | member | keanggotaan | membership |
To Refer to a Place or Region.
Root: camat (district) → ke + camat + an → kecamatan (district office)
The noun can be formed from an intransitive verb:
| Root Word | Meaning | ke – Root Word – an | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| datang | come | kedatangan | arrival |
| hidup | live | kehidupan | life |
| ingin | wish | keinginan | wish, desire |