penantian

Penantian is a noun in the Indonesian language that denotes the act or state of waiting for something or someone. It often carries emotional nuance, such as hope, longing, patience, or suspense, and can describe both ordinary waiting and more heightened experiences before an anticipated event.

The term is built from roots related to waiting and uses affixes that indicate process or state. It is closely linked to the verb menanti (to wait) and to related concepts of anticipation, with penantian naming the act or experience of waiting itself.

In everyday usage, penantian can appear in phrases like penantian panjang (a long wait) or in descriptions of waiting for news, a person, or a decision. In literature and media, penantian is a common motif used to explore time, longing, and the emotional costs or rewards of waiting.

Culturally, penantian can reflect attitudes toward patience, hope, and the idea that some outcomes are earned through endurance. It functions as a narrative and lyrical device that can heighten tension, mark a transition in a storyline, or serve as a reflective pause in poetry and song.

See also: menanti, nantikan, harapan, rindu, antisipasi.