membutuhkan

Membutuhkan is a transitive verb in Indonesian that means to need or to require something. It is formed from the base word butuh with the prefix me- and the suffix -kan, yielding a word that expresses the act of requiring a certain object or resource.

Etymology and grammar: The root butuh denotes need or necessity, and membutuhkan applies the me- prefix and the -kan suffix to create a transitive verb. The subject of memb utuhkan is the person or entity that needs something, and the direct object represents what is needed. In Indonesian, there is also a passive form, dibutuhkan, meaning “is/are needed,” which is common in formal or public-facing contexts.

Usage and nuances: Membutuhkan is a neutral, widely used term suitable for formal and informal speech. It often collocates with nouns such as waktu, bantuan, dana, tenaga, atau dukungan. Examples include: Saya membutuhkan waktu untuk menyelesaikan tugas; Perusahaan membutuhkan karyawan baru; Kota ini membutuhkan perbaikan infrastruktur. To express negation, use tidak: Saya tidak membutuhkan bantuan.

Related forms and synonyms: A closely related verb with similar meaning is memerlukan, which can carry a slightly more formal or technical nuance. The root butuh also appears in the noun kebutuh an, meaning need or requirement, as in kebutuhan dasar. The choice between membutuhkan, memerlukan, and butuh depends on formality and context.

See also: butuh, kebutuhan, memerlukan, dibutuhkan.