Kurangan

Kurangan is a Malay term that denotes shortage, deficiency, or lack. It is used in Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, and parts of Indonesia to describe a shortfall in quantities, resources, or conditions. The term appears in official reports, news, and everyday speech, where it conveys the idea that something is not available in sufficient measure.

Origin and form: The word comes from the root kurang, meaning less, with the suffix -an forming a noun that describes a state or condition of insufficiency. As a lexical pair with other words, kurangan often centers on quantitative or qualitative shortfalls rather than a permanent absence.

Applications: In economics and public policy, kurangan can refer to shortages of funds, materials, or personnel. In health and nutrition, kurangan indicates deficiencies, such as kurangan zat makanan (nutritional deficiency). In daily language, it may describe limited access to services, or time and attention that are insufficient to meet needs. Phrases such as kurangan bekalan air (water supply shortage) are common in media and planning documents.

Related terms: In many contexts, kurangan is used alongside kekurangan, another Malay word for deficiency or lack. While often interchangeable, kurangan emphasizes the condition of being short, whereas kekurangan can carry a broader sense of deficit or shortcoming.

Notes on usage: The term is widely understood across Malay-speaking regions and appears in both formal and informal contexts. Regional preference for kurangan versus kekurangan can vary, but both convey the notion of insufficiency and are part of similar semantic fields.