melainkan

Melainkan is a conjunction in Indonesian and Malay that means “but rather” or “instead.” It is used to correct a statement by introducing an alternative or more accurate element, often after a negation. In practice, melainkan contrasts the first clause with a second clause that presents the true situation.

Common patterns include:

- tidak A, melainkan B (not A, but B)

- bukan A, melainkan B

The second clause may have a different subject from the first. Examples: “Saya tidak makan nasi, melainkan roti.” “Dia bukan pelajar, melainkan dosen.” “Bukan dia yang datang, melainkan temannya.” These constructions emphasize the correction or replacement of what was asserted.

Usage notes:

- Melainkan is more formal or written; in everyday speech, speakers often use saja, tetapi, or namun as alternatives.

- The negation in the first clause is essential for melainkan to function; without a negation, the phrase sounds unusual or incorrect.

- The second clause introduced by melainkan can be noun phrases, verb phrases, or a full clause, and may introduce a different subject.

- Melainkan often carries a stronger corrective force than but or yet; it explicitly states what is true instead of what was implied.

In sum, melainkan is a key linguistic tool for precise correction in negated statements, used across formal and written Indonesian and Malay, with more frequent use in formal contexts than in casual conversation.