membungkuk

Membungkuk is an Indonesian verb meaning to bend the upper body forward at the waist, usually with the head lowered. It describes a physical act of bowing or stooping and can be used in contexts ranging from a gesture of respect to a habitual posture of someone who is hunched.

The verb is formed with the prefix me- added to the root bungkuk, which conveys a sense of bending or being stooped. It can be used with directional phrases such as membungkuk ke arah seseorang (to bow toward someone) or in fixed expressions like membungkuk hormat (to bow respectfully). Common related expressions include menunduk (to bow or bow down, typically with the head) and bersujud (to prostrate, in a religious context).

In everyday language, membungkuk often signals a deliberate gesture of deference or politeness, for example when greeting an elder or addressing someone in authority. It can also describe a physical posture due to fatigue, age, or injury, as in orang yang membungkuk karena usia lanjut (a person who is bent with age).

Culturally, the bow gesture is not as central in Indonesian etiquette as in some East Asian cultures, where formal bows are common. Nevertheless, membungkuk is understood and used in formal speech, literature, theater, and translations to convey respect, humility, or a particular posture. The term also appears in descriptions of characters or situations requiring a deep bow or a visibly stooped frame.