Standard Malaysian Malay writes this root fikir, not neighboring Indonesian pikir. Bare fikir can introduce an opinion or appear in a command, berfikir presents thinking as an activity, memikirkan selects the matter being considered, and terfikir presents a thought as arising spontaneously. The nouns fikiran and pemikiran then distinguish a thought or mind from a process, framework, or body of thought.
The general meanings of ber-, the suffix -kan, and ter- belong under Word Formation. This page concentrates on the lexicalized choices within this high-frequency family and the argument frame each choice creates.
Family and frames
| Form | Typical frame | Core meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| fikir | fikir + clause; fikir tentang X | think, suppose; consider | neutral in opinion clauses/commands; informal as a general active verb |
| berfikir | berfikir; berfikir tentang X | engage in thought | neutral |
| memikirkan | memikirkan + object | think about, consider, concern oneself with | neutral |
| terfikir | terfikir akan/tentang X; terfikir untuk + verb | occur to one, happen to think | neutral |
| fikiran | fikiran + possessor/modifier | mind, thought, idea | neutral |
| pemikiran | pemikiran + person/field | thinking, intellectual framework | formal/academic |
No person or tense endings appear:
| Subject/time | Malay | Marker |
|---|---|---|
| I, past | semalam saya memikirkan masalah itu | semalam |
| she, ongoing | dia sedang berfikir | sedang |
| they, future | mereka akan memikirkan cadangan itu | akan |
Memikirkan is an active transitive form, not an infinitive or present tense. The markers remain separate.
Fikir: an opinion or direct instruction
Bare fikir is natural before a content clause meaning “think/suppose,” especially in speech and personal prose. Saya fikir ... presents a considered opinion without requiring bahawa, though Saya fikir bahawa ... is possible in more explicit prose.
Saya fikir kita patut bertolak sebelum jalan mula sesak.
I think we should leave before the road becomes congested.
Mereka fikir harga itu termasuk kos penghantaran.
They thought the price included delivery costs.
In a command, root fikir directs someone to consider before acting.
Fikir masak-masak sebelum awak menandatangani perjanjian itu.
Think it through carefully before you sign that agreement.
As a general transitive verb in formal writing, bare fikir is less suitable than a more explicit memikirkan, mempertimbangkan, or clause frame. Do not assume that every English think maps to the same Malay syntax.
Berfikir: the activity of thinking
Berfikir is intransitive and profiles the cognitive activity itself. A topic is normally introduced with tentang, mengenai, or another appropriate relator rather than attached as a bare object.
Beri saya sedikit masa untuk berfikir sebelum menjawab.
Give me a little time to think before answering.
Kami sedang berfikir tentang cara mengurangkan penggunaan plastik.
We are thinking about ways to reduce plastic use.
Murid digalakkan berfikir secara kritis ketika menilai sumber dalam talian.
Pupils are encouraged to think critically when evaluating online sources. (formal/academic)
The ber- form does not make the thought more present or continuous; sedang does that when needed. It packages “thinking” as an activity without making the topic a direct object.
Memikirkan: focusing on an object
Memikirkan is transitive. Its object can be a problem, possibility, person, consequence, or proposed action.
Jawatankuasa sedang memikirkan masalah kekurangan tempat letak kereta.
The committee is considering the shortage of parking spaces.
Sebelum membuat keputusan, fikirkan kesannya terhadap keluarga awak.
Before making a decision, think about its effect on your family.
Jangan terlalu memikirkan perkara yang belum berlaku.
Don't think too much about things that haven't happened.
Command fikirkan retains -kan and takes the matter directly. Depending on context, memikirkan seseorang may mean think about someone, consider their needs, or worry about them. The verb does not encode one English emotion; the object and surrounding clause refine the reading.
The passive difikirkan is possible and written solid: Pilihan itu sudah lama difikirkan “That option has long been considered.” Formal prose may prefer dipertimbangkan when deliberate evaluation is meant.
Terfikir: a thought occurs spontaneously
Terfikir presents an idea as arising without a planned act of deliberation. It often combines with untuk + verb or a topic introduced by tentang/akan.
Tiba-tiba saya terfikir untuk menghubungi guru lama saya.
Suddenly it occurred to me to contact my former teacher.
Saya langsung tak terfikir bahawa jalan itu akan ditutup.
It never occurred to me that the road would be closed. (informal)
Tidak pernah terfikir olehnya untuk meninggalkan kampung itu.
It had never occurred to him to leave that village. (formal/literary)
The informal negative tak terfikir is extremely common in conversation; careful writing uses tidak terfikir. The construction can imply spontaneity, surprise, or the limits of imagination—not passive voice.
Fikiran and pemikiran
Fikiran refers to a mind, an individual thought, an opinion, or one's mental attention. Frequent combinations include buah fikiran “idea/contribution,” berubah fikiran “change one's mind,” and dalam fikiran “in mind.”
Banyak perkara bermain dalam fikirannya sepanjang perjalanan pulang.
Many things ran through her mind throughout the journey home.
Selepas mendengar penjelasan itu, dia berubah fikiran.
After hearing the explanation, he changed his mind.
Pemikiran is more abstract and systematic. It names a mode or process of thought, an intellectual tradition, or someone's body of ideas, so it is frequent in academic and critical writing.
Kursus itu memperkenalkan asas pemikiran saintifik kepada pelajar.
The course introduces the foundations of scientific thinking to students. (academic)
Kajian tersebut membincangkan pemikiran tokoh pendidikan Melayu abad kedua puluh.
The study discusses the thought of a twentieth-century Malay educational figure. (academic)
The nouns overlap at the edges, but fikiran saya is naturally an individual mind/opinion, whereas pemikiran kritis is a structured kind of thinking.
Common Mistakes
1. Using neighboring-standard pikir in Malaysian prose
❌ Saya pikir kita perlu bertolak sekarang.
Neighboring Indonesian spelling, not the Malaysian standard form.
✅ Saya fikir kita perlu bertolak sekarang.
I think we need to leave now.
2. Giving berfikir a direct topic object
❌ Kami berfikir masalah itu sepanjang malam.
Incorrect in careful Malay—berfikir introduces a topic with tentang.
✅ Kami berfikir tentang masalah itu sepanjang malam.
We thought about that problem all night.
3. Adding tentang after memikirkan
❌ Dia sedang memikirkan tentang masa depannya.
Redundant in the direct-object frame taught here.
✅ Dia sedang memikirkan masa depannya.
She is thinking about her future.
4. Splitting passive di-
❌ Cadangan itu sedang di fikirkan oleh pihak pengurusan.
Incorrect—the passive prefix di- is attached.
✅ Cadangan itu sedang difikirkan oleh pihak pengurusan.
The proposal is being considered by management.
5. Confusing spontaneous and deliberate thought
❌ Saya memikirkan untuk menelefonnya secara tiba-tiba.
Wrong perspective for an idea that suddenly occurred.
✅ Saya tiba-tiba terfikir untuk menelefonnya.
It suddenly occurred to me to call her.
Key Takeaways
Write Malaysian fikir with f. Use fikir + clause for an opinion, berfikir for the activity, memikirkan + object for directed consideration, and terfikir when a thought arises spontaneously. Fikiran is an individual thought or mind; formal/academic pemikiran is a process, framework, or body of thought. None of the forms carries person or tense.
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