tampak

Tampak is a common verb in Indonesian and Malay that means to appear, seem, or be visible. It describes how something is perceived by observers, or how something presents itself visually. Examples include "Langit tampak cerah" (The sky looks clear) and "Dia tampak tenang" (He appears calm).

Grammatically, tampak is intransitive and does not take a direct object. It is followed by adjectives or adjective phrases: "tampak jelas", "tampak lelah", "tampak berubah". The adverbial form "tampaknya" expresses an inferred or hedged statement: "Tampaknya ada kesalahpahaman" (It seems there is a misunderstanding).

Etymology and related terms: Tampak derives from the Malay-Indonesian root "tampak" and is cognate with "tampang" meaning appearance. Related synonyms include "kelihatan", "terlihat", and "nampak" (colloquial). Usage registers differ: "tampak" is standard Indonesian; "nampak" is more informal or Malay; "terlihat" and "kelihatan" tend to be more formal or literary.

Usage in prose and journalism: Tampak helps state observable facts neutrally, while the derived form "tampaknya" hedges a claim, translating roughly to "it seems." In everyday language, the word is versatile for describing visual states as well as perceived conditions.