kehendak

Kehendak is a noun in Indonesian and Malay that denotes will, volition, intention, or a person’s desire. It is formed from the verb hendak, meaning to want or to desire, with the affix ke-...-an to create an abstract noun that expresses a quality or principle rather than a concrete action.

In everyday language, kehendak can refer to a person’s own will or decision, as in phrases like kehendak hati (one’s own will) or kehendak untuk bertindak (the will to act). It also appears in religious and philosophical contexts to discuss agency, destiny, or providence, such as kehendak Tuhan (the will of God) or kehendak manusia (human will). The term can be used in combination with other words to specify kinds of will, including kehendak bebas (free will) in discussions of philosophy and ethics.

Linguistically, kehendak is a formal noun commonly used in written Indonesian and Malay. It has related verbs, notably menghendaki (to desire or to intend) and berkehendak (to have the will or intent). Related synonyms include keinginan (desire) and kemauan (willingness), though these terms carry slightly different nuance: kehendak emphasizes volition as a principle or disposition, while keinginan focuses more on a specific desire or wish.

In usage, kehendak is typical of formal or literary style and is frequent in religious, legal, and philosophical discourse, though it also appears in everyday speech when discussing personal choices or fate.