Ukiran ini diukir pada tembikar.

They come from the same root, ukir, which is related to carving or engraving.

• ukiran = a carving, engraving, or carved design
  This is a noun.
• diukir = is carved / was carved
  This is a passive verb.

So in this sentence:

• Ukiran ini = this carving / this carved design
• diukir = is carved / was carved

Malay often builds related words from the same root like this.

To an English speaker, it can sound a bit repetitive, because English usually would not say something like This carving is carved... unless there is a special reason.

In Malay, this kind of repetition is more acceptable because:

• ukiran names the object/design
• diukir describes the action/process

So the sentence is grammatical. Still, depending on context, it may feel slightly repetitive stylistically. A speaker might also choose a different wording if they wanted to sound more natural or less repetitive.

The prefix di- usually marks a passive verb in standard Malay.

So:

• mengukir = to carve / carves (active)
• diukir = is carved / was carved (passive)

That means the thing receiving the action comes first:

• Ukiran ini diukir... = This carving is carved...

If you made it active, you would need someone doing the carving, for example:

• Pengukir itu mengukir ukiran ini pada tembikar.
  That craftsperson carved this design on the pottery.

This is a very important spelling point.

There are two different di forms:

1. di- as a prefix for passive verbs

   • written together
   • example: diukir, dibuat, ditulis

2. di as a preposition meaning at/in/on

   • written separately
   • example: di rumah, di meja, di sekolah

So here:

• diukir = passive verb, so it is one word
• pada tembikar is a prepositional phrase, and if it used di, it would be separate

In Malay, demonstratives like ini (this) and itu (that) usually come after the noun.

So:

• ukiran ini = this carving
• tembikar itu = that pottery

This is normal Malay word order.
English says this carving, but Malay says carving this in structure.

The structure is:

• Ukiran ini = subject/topic noun phrase
• diukir = passive verb
• pada tembikar = prepositional phrase showing where/on what surface

So the pattern is roughly:

[noun phrase] + [passive verb] + [prepositional phrase]

That gives:

Ukiran ini diukir pada tembikar.

Pada often means something like on, upon, or attached/applied to, especially when referring to a surface or something more abstract/formal.

In this sentence, pada tembikar suggests the carving is on the pottery.

A learner should think of it like this:

• di = general location: in/at/on
• pada = often used for on/upon, especially in more formal or specific relationships

In many everyday situations, speakers may sometimes prefer different wording, but pada tembikar is understandable and fits the idea of a design carved onto pottery.

Possibly, depending on context, but it changes the feel.

• di tembikar sounds more like a general location: at/on the pottery
• pada tembikar more clearly suggests the carving is on the surface of the pottery

So pada is a good choice when you want to focus on the design being applied or located on that object.

Tembikar means pottery or earthenware.

It can refer to:

• pottery as a material/category
• a pottery object or ceramic vessel, depending on context

So pada tembikar means on pottery or on the pottery object.

Primarily, it is talking about the carving/design as the thing being discussed.

That is because the sentence begins with Ukiran ini:

• Ukiran ini = This carving / this carved pattern

Then diukir pada tembikar tells you what is true about it: it is carved on pottery.

So the topic is the finished design, not mainly the act.

By itself, diukir does not clearly mark tense the way English does.

It can mean:

• is carved
• was carved
• sometimes even a general passive idea depending on context

Malay usually relies on context or time words rather than changing the verb form for tense.

For example:

• Ukiran ini diukir pada tembikar.
  Could mean This carving is carved on pottery or was carved on pottery, depending on context.

If needed, Malay can add time words such as:

• telah diukir = has been / was carved
• sedang diukir = is being carved
• akan diukir = will be carved

Yes. To make it active, you would normally mention the doer of the action.

For example:

• Pengukir itu mengukir ukiran ini pada tembikar.
  That craftsperson carved this design on the pottery.

or more naturally in some contexts:

• Pengukir itu mengukir corak ini pada tembikar.
  That craftsperson carved this pattern on the pottery.

The passive is common in Malay, especially when the focus is on the thing affected rather than the person doing it.

It is grammatical and understandable, but some learners notice that it can feel a little repetitive because of ukiran and diukir together.

Depending on the exact context, Malay speakers might also use alternative wording, such as a sentence that focuses more on the design being found on the pottery rather than repeating the carving idea.

Still, as a learning sentence, it is useful because it clearly shows:

• a noun from the root ukir: ukiran
• a passive verb from the same root: diukir
• the placement of ini
• the use of pada for the surface/object involved

Ukiran often refers to a carving, engraving, or ornamental carved design. It is commonly used for decorative work on wood, stone, metal, pottery, and similar materials.

Depending on context, it can refer to:

• the carved pattern
• the carved artwork
• the result of carving

If you wanted a word more like pattern or motif, other words might be used depending on context. But ukiran strongly suggests something made by carving or engraving.