When the root word is reduplicated, the ber- word may indicate repeated or extended action, or action that takes place over an extended period of time. Look at the example below

The formation of reduplication ber- is as follows:

Root word	English meaning	Reduplicated	Ber + reduplicated	English meaning
		root word	root word
jalan	street(N), to walk(V)	jalan-jalan	berjalan-jalan	walk about, go for a stroll
macam	kind, sort, variety	macam-macam	bermacam-macam	various kinds

 

Repeated or extended action, or action over an extended time.

berjalan-jalan	walk about, go for a stroll	berputar-putar	go around in circles
berlari-lari	run, walk quickly	bercakap-cakap	to chat, converse

 

Reduplicated ber- may also indicate plural.

berbeda-beda	different kinds	berpuluh-puluh	tens of
bermacam–macam	various kinds	beratus-ratus*	hundreds of

*”r” in prefix ber is dropped due to the sound assimilation.

 

Reduplicated noun base ber- indicating a period of time forms adjuncts of duration. It can also apply to indefinite physical distances.

berjam-jam	for hours	bermil-mil	miles and miles
bertahun-tahun	for years	berkilo–kilo meter	(for) kilometers

Note:

A useful common expression is berlama-lama (purposely take time in doing something)

1. Jangan berlama-lama di rumah teman ya.

Don’t  stay too long at your friend’s, will you.

2. Maria selalu berlama-lama di kamar mandi.

Maria always takes so long in the bathroom.

 

LET’S PRACTICE

Find the root word of the ber – words in bold and figure out their meaning. After that, say in English what the paragraph is about.

Bu Meutia senang _______berjalan-jalan di pasar tradisional setiap akhir minggu.  Dia bisa berada di sana selama ________ berjam-jam. Biasanya dia pergi dengan adik perempuannya pada hari Minggu. Dia dan adik perempuannya,  Linda berangkat ke pasar pagi-pagi sekali. Mereka berdua naik sepeda motor. Pak Bambang dan Pak Joko berdiri di depan h. Mereka sedang apa? Mereka sedang  _________bercakap-cakap tentang anak-anak mereka. Pak Bambang bercerita tentang anak laki-lakinya yang bernama Gatot.     Gatot berkuliah di Universitas George Washington.   Pak Joko berbicara tentang anaknya juga. Anak perempuannya akan  berkuliah tahun depan. Mereka berdua senang_______berbincang-bincang tentang anak-anak mereka.

 

Answer key:

1. berjalan-jalan (root word: jalan – street)
2. berjam-jam (root word: jam – hour(s)
3. bercakap-cakap (root word: cakap – able)
4. berbincang-bincang (root word: bincang – to talk)