ambang

Ambang is a word found in Indonesian and Malay that primarily means threshold, doorway sill, or boundary. In everyday language it refers to the line or edge that marks the entrance to a space, but it can also denote a more general boundary between two states, times, or conditions. The term is used in formal and informal contexts and is understood across Malay-speaking and Indonesian-speaking communities.

In the physical sense, ambang pintu refers to the threshold of a door—the place where indoor space begins and outdoor space ends. More broadly, ambang can designate any boundary line that separates one area from another, such as a line of demarcation between spaces, moments, or phases.

Metaphorically, ambang describes the brink or cusp of a situation. It is used to discuss approaching limits, such as thresholds of tolerance, risk, or achievement. In discourse about social, political, or technical topics, the word conveys that a parameter is nearing a critical point.

The term is common in standard Indonesian and Malay usage and appears in everyday speech, journalism, and literature. It is a generic noun rather than a specialized term, and its exact connotations can vary with context and dialect. Ambang can be combined with other words to form phrases that emphasize limits or transitions, reinforcing its role as a flexible expression of boundaries and impending change.