Berbuat

Berbuat is an Indonesian and Malay verb meaning to do or to act, often used to describe a person’s behavior or actions. It is formed with the prefix ber- attached to the base buat, which can mean to make or to do. In use, berbuat conveys the sense of carrying out an action or conducting oneself, rather than simply producing a physical object.

Grammatical notes and nuances: berbuat is typically intransitive in the sense of indicating action or conduct, and it can be paired with various adjectives or nouns to express moral or social judgment. It frequently appears in expressions that evaluate behavior, such as berbuat baik (to do good), berbuat jahat (to do evil), or berbuat dosa (to commit a sin). It can also combine with a noun phrase to indicate performing a specific action, as in berbuat sesuatu (to do something).

Common usage and phrases: Berbuat baik is a common moral idiom used in religious, educational, and everyday contexts to encourage ethical conduct. Berbuat kejahatan or berbuat dosa are used to describe committing wrongdoing. The word is closely related to perbuatan, the related noun meaning act or deed, and to melakukan, another verb meaning to perform or carry out.

In summary, berbuat functions as a versatile verb for describing actions and behavior, with a strong emphasis on moral and social implications, and it is widely understood in both Indonesian and Malay.