mengelak

Mengelak is a verb in Indonesian that means to dodge, evade, or avoid something. It can refer to physically moving to avoid an impact, as well as to figuratively avoiding questions, responsibilities, or consequences. The term often carries a nuance of deliberate evasion rather than simple avoidance.

Etymology and form: mengelak is formed from the root elak with the prefix me-, resulting in a active verb. The word is commonly used with both concrete targets (serangan, pukulan) and abstract targets (pertanyaan, tanggung jawab). In Indonesian usage, mengelak conveys a sense of purposeful dodging or sidestepping.

Usage and nuances: Mengelak is frequently used to describe someone who dodges an attack, lies low, or refuses to answer directly. It can carry a mildly negative connotation when referring to evading duty or accountability, but it is also a neutral description of evasive behavior in everyday speech. Common collocations include mengelak dari pertanyaan, mengelak dari tanggung jawab, and mengelak serangan.

Examples:

- Dia berusaha mengelak dari serangan itu.

- Guru itu mengelak dari pertanyaan sulit wartawan.

- Pelaku berusaha mengelak tanggung jawab atas kejadian itu.

Related terms include menghindar, which is a broader form of avoidance, and elak, the root meaning to dodge in various Malay-speaking contexts. Mengelak remains the standard Indonesian term for deliberate evasion in both physical and figurative senses.