How to Express Frequency and Duration in Malay

Understanding Frequency and Duration in Malay

In Malay, expressing how often something happens (frequency) and how long it lasts (duration) is essential for everyday conversation. This article will guide you through common words and phrases used to talk about frequency and duration in Malay, helping English speakers communicate more naturally.

Common Words for Frequency

Frequency refers to how often an action occurs. Here are some common Malay words and phrases to express frequency:

• Selalu – Always / Often
• Kadang-kadang – Sometimes
• Jarang – Rarely
• Tidak pernah – Never
• Setiap hari – Every day
• Minggu sekali – Once a week
• Bulan sekali – Once a month

Examples of Frequency in Sentences

Let's see how these frequency words are used in sentences:

• Saya selalu minum kopi pada waktu pagi. (I always drink coffee in the morning.)
• Dia kadang-kadang pergi ke gim. (He sometimes goes to the gym.)
• Mereka jarang menonton televisyen. (They rarely watch television.)
• Kami tidak pernah makan di restoran itu. (We never eat at that restaurant.)

Expressing Duration in Malay

Duration tells us how long an action lasts. Malay uses specific phrases and time expressions to indicate duration.

• Selama – For (a period of time)
• Dari ... hingga ... – From ... until ...
• Sejam – One hour
• Dua jam – Two hours
• Seminggu – One week
• Sebulan – One month

Examples of Duration in Sentences

Here are some examples showing how to express duration:

• Saya belajar Bahasa Melayu selama dua jam setiap hari. (I study Malay for two hours every day.)
• Dia bekerja dari pagi hingga petang. (He works from morning until evening.)
• Kami tinggal di sana selama seminggu. (We stayed there for one week.)

Tips for Using Frequency and Duration in Malay

When expressing frequency and duration in Malay, keep these tips in mind:

• Frequency words usually come before the verb or at the beginning of the sentence.
• Duration phrases often use the word selama to indicate 'for' a period of time.
• Time expressions like dari ... hingga ... are used to specify start and end times.
• Context is important to understand whether a phrase refers to frequency or duration.