dikenai

Dikenai is an Indonesian verbal form that functions as a passive construction of the verb kena. The prefix di- marks passive voice, and kena conveys the sense of receiving, incurring, or suffering something. In use, dikenai indicates that the subject experiences a consequence or imposition caused by an external agent, such as rules, authorities, or events, rather than acting itself.

The term is common in formal, official, or journalistic language. It is typically followed by the thing that is imposed or suffered, such as sanksi (sanctions), denda (fines), biaya (fees), tuduhan (charges), or hukuman (punishment). For example: Ia dikenai sanksi setelah pelanggaran; Perusahaan dikenai biaya tambahan; Ia dikenai tuduhan korupsi. These constructions emphasize the person or entity subjected to the action rather than performing it.

Usage notes and nuances: Dikenai is often preferred in formal contexts to express penalties, charges, or obligations imposed by laws, regulations, or authorities. In everyday speech, speakers may use kena intransitively or transitively, such as “ia kena sanksi,” which is more colloquial. The choice between kena and dikenai can affect tone, with dikenai signaling a more official or juridical context.

Related terms include kena (to suffer or receive in a less formal sense) and dikenakan (applied to a broader set of impositions). Dikenai thus serves as a standard option for describing externally imposed outcomes in Indonesian.