terasa

Terasa is a word used in Indonesian and Malay that means "felt" or "perceived." It functions as a stative predicate formed with the prefix ter- and the root rasa (sense, taste, impression). The ter- prefix signals that the sensation is experienced by the subject, rather than an action performed by the subject.

Use and meaning

- As an adjective or participial verb: terasa dingin (the air feels cold), terasa pahit (the taste is perceived as bitter), terasa berat (feels heavy).

- With a subject: Perutku terasa kenyang. The stomach feels full.

- For emphasis or context: Suasana di ruangan itu terasa ramai. The atmosphere in that room feels lively.

- With clauses: Terasa ada yang kurang. It feels like something is missing.

Distinction from merasa

Merasa denotes internal feeling, opinion, or emotion held by a person (I feel happy, I think). Terasa emphasizes a sensation or effect that is perceived, either physically or situationally, by the observer or subject.

Etymology and usage

Terasa comes from rasa (sense, taste, feeling) with the ter- prefix, common in Indonesian and Malay. It is widely documented in dictionaries such as the Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI) and regularly appears in everyday speech, journalism, and literature.