kebaikan

Kebaikan is the Indonesian and Malay term for goodness. It refers to the quality of being good, including benevolence, virtue, and acts of kindness. The word can denote a person’s character as well as benevolent actions or beneficial outcomes.

Etymology and usage notes: kebaikan is formed from the root baik, meaning good, with the nominal suffix -an. It is used in both Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Melayu, in formal and everyday language, to express moral value, generosity, or beneficial conduct.

Contexts and meanings: In religious contexts, kebaikan can describe divine benevolence or virtues encouraged by faith, with phrases such as kebaikan Tuhan or kebaikan hati. In secular ethics, it denotes moral virtue and practical kindness, such as helping others, sharing, or performing charitable acts.

Connotation and contrasts: Kebaikan typically carries a positive moral weight and is often contrasted with keburukan, which means evil or badness. The term appears in idioms and proverbs that stress generosity, honesty, compassion, and constructive behavior toward others.

Related terms and nuances: Kebajikan is a closely related concept referring to virtue or benevolence, sometimes with a more formal or philosophical nuance. Phrases like kebaikan hati (kindness of heart) are common in daily speech to commend or encourage good conduct.