bersembunyi

Bersembunyi is an Indonesian-Malay verb meaning to hide oneself or to conceal one’s presence. It describes a deliberate act of avoiding detection or being seen, rather than simply leaving a place. The form is intransitive and commonly appears with locatives or prepositional phrases such as di balik pintu, di balik semak-semak, di balik tirai, or di balik tubuhnya.

Etymology and grammar: Bersembunyi is formed from the prefix ber- attached to the root sembunyi (to hide). In Indonesian, ber- often marks an intransitive action or state of the subject. The related transitive verb menyembunyikan means to hide something or someone, used when the object of concealment is a different entity.

Usage and nuance: Bersembunyi is used for both literal concealment and metaphorical hiding, such as avoiding recognition or scrutiny. It can describe people, animals, or even objects that are kept out of sight. It is commonly found in everyday speech, news reports, and literature to convey secrecy, fear, or precaution.

Examples:

- Anak-anak bersembunyi di balik mobil saat guru masuk.

- Dia bersembunyi di kamar untuk tidak diganggu.

- Penyusup bersembunyi di balik tirai agar tidak terlihat.

Related terms: menyembunyikan (to hide something), sembunyi (the act or state of hiding), and phrases that express concealment or evasion. Bersembunyi contrasts with keluar atau muncul, which indicate revealing or coming into view.