……
Breakdown of Berbanding tahun lalu, gaji kami kini lebih tinggi dan berbaloi.
lebih
more
dan
and
tinggi
high
kami
our
gaji
the salary
berbanding
compared to
tahun lalu
last year
kini
now
berbaloi
worth it
Questions & Answers about Berbanding tahun lalu, gaji kami kini lebih tinggi dan berbaloi.
What does Berbanding tahun lalu mean?
Berbanding tahun lalu literally means “compared to last year.” It’s an introductory phrase indicating that what follows is a comparison with the previous year.
Why is there no dengan after berbanding?
You can say berbanding dengan (comparing with), but in both colloquial and written Malay it’s common to drop dengan when the context already makes the comparison clear.
What is the difference between kini and sekarang?
Both mean “now,” but kini is slightly more formal or literary, while sekarang is used in everyday conversation. Here, using either one wouldn’t change the basic meaning.
Why is kami used instead of kita?
Kami means “we” excluding the person being spoken to. Kita includes the listener (“we” including you). Since the sentence talks about the speaker and someone else (not the listener), kami is the correct choice.
How do we form comparatives with lebih?
To form a comparative, place lebih before an adjective: lebih tinggi = “higher” or “more high.” For a superlative you’d use paling (e.g. paling tinggi = “highest”).
What does berbaloi mean?
Berbaloi means “worth it” or “worthwhile.” It’s derived from the root baloi with the prefix ber-, indicating a state of being worth the effort or cost.
Can we change the position of kini or Berbanding tahun lalu?
Yes. Malay allows flexibility with time or comparative phrases. You could say Kini, gaji kami… or Gaji kami, berbanding tahun lalu,… The meaning remains the same; only the emphasis shifts.
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Malay grammar?”
Malay grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning MalayMaster Malay — from Berbanding tahun lalu, gaji kami kini lebih tinggi dan berbaloi to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions