Malay phrases in Balik Kampung that you need to understand

"Balik Kampung" an essential Hari Raya song that would always play on the radio, in shopping malls... well practically everywhere, right before Ramadan ends. This song paints a vivid picture of the journey from wherever you are in the world going back to your hometown.

By understanding these key phrases below, you could see how well the lyrics use the Malay language to convey the excitement of seeing your loved ones for the holidays.

1️⃣ perjalanan jauh tak ku rasa

🟰 a long journey barely felt

• perjalanan: journey
  • jalan: to walk
  • per + jalan + an: the verb is transformed into a noun by adding per- and -an
• jauh: far/faraway
• tak: not/no
• ku: I (pronoun)
• rasa: to feel

2️⃣ balik kampung

🟰 return to hometown

• balik: return
• kampung: village/hometown

3️⃣ menyambut kepulanganku

🟰 welcoming my return

• menyambut: welcoming/receiving
  • sambut: to welcome/to receive
  • meN + sambut (explained here 🔽)

Using the prefix meN-

Have you ever seen verbs starting with the letter S like sapu, but then you get confused when you come across a sentence like this? Kami menyapu lantai. (We are sweeping the floor.) Sapu and menyapu have the same meaning: to sweep. But why do they look different? It’s because

OmerimbunCikgu Omerimbun

• kepulanganku: my return
  • pulang: to return (verb)
  • ke + pulang + an: a return/the return (noun)
  • -ku: my

4️⃣ berjumpa sanak saudara

🟰 meeting relatives/family

• berjumpa: meeting
• sanak saudara: relatives
  • saudara: a relative/a family member
  • adding sanak makes this word plural (explained here 🔽)

Kata ganda🍃Why some words are repeated in Malay

When you see a word being repeated, like meja-meja, it is categorised as kata ganda. They are words that you repeat to add a certain meaning. A word that you might hear a lot is sama-sama. While this means “you’re welcome”, it can also mean: 1. to be together 2.

OmerimbunCikgu Omerimbun

5️⃣ terubat rindu

🟰 longing is cured

• terubat: to be cured
  • ubat: medicine
  • ter + ubat: to be healed/to be cured (explained here🔽)

33 Malay words starting with TER-

Try find the pattern in these words that have the Malay affix ter- to finally understand its different meanings and functions.

OmerimbunCikgu Omerimbun

• rindu: to miss/to long for
  • in this song, rindu is used as a noun even though no affixes are added

Considering how honest and straightforward the lyrics are, after more than 40 years since its release, it is no surprise "Balik Kampung" feels timeless and will still evoke the warm feeling of returning to family and friends. What's even better is the catchy tune will make you sing along without realising that you're learning Malay at the same time.

Have fun studying! 🎹