berupaya

Berupaya is an Indonesian-Malay verb meaning to make an effort or to strive to achieve something. It conveys a sense of ongoing or deliberate attempt, often in the face of obstacles. The word is formed from the noun upaya (effort) with the prefix ber-, which marks a state or ongoing action in Indonesian and Malay.

Etymology and usage notes

Berupaya derives from upaya, and its construction with ber- places the focus on the actor’s sustained engagement in trying to reach a goal. In contemporary Indonesian and Malay, berupaya is widely used in formal and semi-formal contexts, including journalism, policy statements, corporate communications, and public discourse. It can describe actions by individuals, organizations, or governments.

Grammatical and semantic nuances

Berupaya often appears with infinitive verbs or with untuk/agar to indicate purpose, as in berupaya meningkatkan kualitas or berupaya untuk meningkatkan kualitas. It contrasts with berusaha, which more directly emphasizes the act of trying, while berupaya stresses the effort or pursuit itself. Synonyms include berikhtiar and mencoba, though each carries slightly different nuance.

Examples

- Perusahaan berupaya meningkatkan produktivitas melalui otomatisasi.

- Pemerintah berupaya mengurangi kemiskinan melalui program sosial.

- Dia berupaya memahami masalah tersebut.

See also

upaya, usaha, berusaha, berikhtiar.