Lakukan

Lakukan is an Indonesian verb that means to do, to perform, or to carry out an action. It is formed from the root laku with the affix -kan, which yields a transitive verb. The core infinitive form most often used in dictionaries is melakukan, while lakukan functions as a derived form used in specific grammatical contexts, including imperative and some present-tense constructions.

In everyday Indonesian, melakukan is the full infinitive meaning “to perform” or “to carry out.” Lakukan, by contrast, is commonly encountered as the imperative form commanding someone to perform an action, as in "Lakukan sekarang" or "Lakukan tugasmu." It can also appear in non-imperative phrases where the verb is inflected by context, but Indonesian verbs do not mark tense in the same way as many languages; time is usually indicated by adverbs or auxiliary words.

The verb takes a direct object, enabling phrases such as “melakukan tugas,” “melakukan riset,” or “melakukan perubahan.” It is frequently used in formal and instructional contexts, including manuals, guidelines, and checklists, as well as in everyday speech. Common synonyms or near-equivalents include melakukan, mengerjakan, and menjalankan, each with subtle nuance related to effort, completion, or execution of an activity.

Usage notes: Lakukan is versatile across registers but remains clear and directive when used as an instruction. The negative form is "tidak melakukan" (not doing), and a protective or polite imperative can be formed as "Lakukanlah" in more courteous contexts. The word is a staple in Indonesian language for describing actions and procedures across various domains.