The main meaning of “Kurang” in Indonesian is “not enough” or “lacking”. For instance:
- Kurang gula = not enough sugar
- Kurang tidur = Not enough sleep
- Kurang pintar = Not smart enough
In these examples, “kurang” indicates that something is missing or insufficient. Whether it’s sugar in your coffee, hours of sleep, or even knowledge, “kurang” is your go-to word for expressing that something just isn’t quite up to par.
Kurang dari
If you add “dari” (from) after the word kurang, the meaning would be “less than”. Check out some examples below:
- Harganya kurang dari seratus ribu rupiah. (The price is less than one hundred thousand rupiah.)
- Beratnya kurang dari lima kilogram. (Its weight is less than five kilograms.)
- Waktu yang tersisa kurang dari satu jam. (The remaining time is less than one hour.)
- Tinggi anak itu kurang dari satu meter. (That child’s height is less than one meter.)
- Jumlah pesertanya kurang dari sepuluh orang. (The number of participants is less than ten people.)
Kurang as a Polite Modifier
In Indonesian culture, being polite and not coming off as too blunt is important. “Kurang” often serves as a conversation softener, making statements less direct or harsh. For example:
- Dia kurang sopan = He/she is a bit impolite.
- Makanannya kurang enak = The food isn’t that tasty.
- Saya kurang tahu = I don’t really know
Instead of flat-out saying someone is impolite or the food is bad, using “kurang” adds a touch of diplomacy. It’s a great way to temper criticism while still expressing it.
Kurang and Numbers
“Kurang” is also used when talking about numbers or time. It can mean “minus” or “to” in this context:
- Jam dua kurang lima = Five minutes to two o’clock.
- Lima kurang dua sama dengan tiga = Five minus two equals three.
Here, “kurang” shifts from its usual role of indicating a lack and instead functions as a simple mathematical term. Isn’t that quirky and interesting!
Kurang lebih = more or less
Some people say “lebih kurang” and others “kurang lebih”, but they mean the same thing in English, “more or less”, “approximately”, or “about”. For instance:
- Perjalanannya memakan waktu kurang lebih dua jam. (The trip takes approximately two hours.)
- Harga baju ini kurang lebih seratus ribu rupiah. (This shirt costs about one hundred thousand rupiah.)
- Ada kurang lebih lima puluh orang yang hadir. (There are around fifty people attending.)
- Kami sudah menunggu di sini kurang lebih setengah jam. (We’ve been waiting here for about half an hour.)
- Jarak dari rumah ke kantor kurang lebih lima kilometer. (The distance from home to the office is approximately five kilometers.)
Wrapping It Up
So there you have it! “Kurang” is a versatile word that you’ll find yourself using a lot once you get more comfortable with Indonesian. Whether you’re talking about how much sugar you want in your coffee, giving polite feedback, or doing basic math, “kurang” is a word that’s going to be very useful.
As you continue your journey with Indonesian, keep an ear out for “kurang” in everyday conversations. The more you hear it, the more naturally it’ll come to you, and before you know it, you’ll be slipping it into your own sentences without a second thought!