Menghambat

Menghambat is an Indonesian verb that means to hinder, impede or obstruct. It is derived from the root word “hambat” which directly translates to “block” or “barrier” in English. The prefix “meng-” is used to form a verb that indicates the action of causing something to be obstructed. Therefore, “menghambat” literally means to create a blockage or to make something difficult to proceed.

In everyday usage, menghambat can refer to both physical and abstract impediments. For example, a traffic jam can be said to menghambat perjalanan (impede a journey). In a business context, bureaucratic red tape or resource scarcity might menghambat pertumbuhan (impede growth). The term is commonly used in news reports, legal documents and everyday conversation to describe factors that slow down processes or prevent goals from being achieved.

Grammatically, menghambat is a transitive verb, meaning it typically takes a direct object. It can be conjugated in various tenses: menghambatkan, sudah menghambat, akan menghambat, and sebagainya. The passive form is “di­menghambat” which is used to describe the subject being impeded.

In related Indonesian language studies, “hambar” is a colloquial form often used in informal speech, while “menghambat” remains the standard, formal term. The word also shares its root with the noun “hambatan” (obstacle) and with other verbs such as “menguntungkan” (to benefit), illustrating how prefixes alter the nuance of a root in Indonesian.