sembarangan

Sembarangan is an Indonesian word that functions as both an adjective and an adverb, describing actions or choices made without care, standards, or consideration. It conveys a sense of recklessness, arbitrariness, or casual disregard, and is commonly used in everyday speech and media commentary to critique behavior, decisions, or handling of objects or information.

Etymology and usage notes: The term is formed from the base barang (goods, items) with a prefix that broadens the meaning, giving a sense of “all sorts of things” or “in a general, unspecified way.” In this sense, something done sembarangan is done without regard to quality, rules, or established procedures. The nuance is informal and idiomatic, widely understood in Indonesian and Malay-speaking communities.

Usage and examples: Common phrases include membuang sampah sembarangan (disposing of waste arbitrarily), berkata sembarangan (speaking carelessly), and memakai pakaian sembarangan (wearing clothes haphazardly). It can describe actions by individuals, groups, or institutions, and is often used to criticize lax planning or sloppy execution.

Register and alternatives: Sembarangan is informal and more typical of spoken Indonesian or media commentary. In formal contexts, alternatives such as tanpa pertimbangan (without consideration), secara acak (randomly), or sewenang-wenang (at will) may be preferred to convey a similar sense without colloquial nuance.