Learn Hardcore Malay: Pasport sah membolehkan saya melepasi sempadan dengan segera. - A valid passport allows me to pass the border immediately.

Pasport sah literally means valid passport. Pasport is a loanword from English “passport,” and sah means “legitimate,” “officially valid,” or “authorized.”

Why is there no article like “a” or “the” before pasport?

Malay does not use definite or indefinite articles. A bare noun like pasport can be interpreted as “a passport,” “the passport,” or “passports” depending on context.

What does membolehkan mean, and how is it formed?

membolehkan means “to allow,” “to enable,” or “to make possible.” It’s derived from the root boleh (“can”/“able”) with the prefix mem- and suffix -kan, which together form a causative verb.

Why is saya placed after membolehkan instead of before?

In Malay, membolehkan is a transitive verb that takes the person being allowed as its direct object. The word order is Subject (Pasport sah) + Verb (membolehkan) + Object (saya).

Why isn’t there a word like “to” before melepasi?

Malay infinitives don’t require a separate particle like “to.” After membolehkan, you directly follow with the bare infinitive verb melepasi (to cross).

How is melepasi related to the root lepas?

melepasi is formed from the root lepas (“to pass” or “to free”) with the active prefix me- and the suffix -i, yielding the transitive sense “to pass through” or “to cross.”

What does sempadan mean?

sempadan means “border” (such as a national or regional boundary). It’s a noun and does not change form for singular or plural.

What is the role of dengan segera, and why not just segera?

dengan segera (“with immediacy”) functions as “immediately.” In Malay, pairing dengan (“with”) and an adjective creates an adverbial phrase. You could say segera alone, but dengan segera is more formal or emphatic.

Could we start the sentence with segera instead of placing it at the end?

Technically yes, but Segera pasport sah… sounds awkward and shifts emphasis improperly. Adverbial phrases usually follow the verb or verb phrase in Malay.

Can I use mengizinkan instead of membolehkan?

Mengizinkan also means “to permit,” but membolehkan focuses on “making something possible” and pairs more naturally with actions (melepasi sempadan). Mengizinkan often implies formal permission rather than enabling capability.