kesan

Kesan is a noun used in Malay and Indonesian to denote impression, effect, or consequence. It can refer to the mental or emotional impression that something leaves on a person, as well as to the tangible outcome or result produced by an action, event, or process. Because of its broad meaning, kesan appears in both everyday speech and formal writing across many fields.

In language use, kesan often describes subjective perceptions and objective results alike. Phrases such as kesan positif and kesan negatif classify outcomes in terms of desirability, while kesan yang ditinggalkan can refer to traces or marks left by a person, object, or event. In medicine, kesan sampingan means side effects of a drug. In the arts and media, kesan can denote visual or aesthetic effects, contributing to the overall impression of a work. A common expression is kesan pertama, meaning first impression, and kesan yang mendalam can describe a lasting or profound impact.

The term is versatile and frequently appears in academic, media, and policy contexts, where it may be used to discuss social, environmental, or cultural implications as well as personal experiences. In translation, kesan is often rendered as effect, impact, impression, or imprint, depending on the context. Related terms include akibat and efek, which emphasize outcomes or consequences, and bekas, which refers to physical traces or marks.

See also: akibat, efek, dampak, bekas.