Learn Hardcore Malay: Selepas kena air, buku nota itu menjadi lembik dan sukar dibaca. - After getting wet, that notebook becomes soggy and hard to read.

Word

Selepas kena air, buku nota itu menjadi lembik dan sukar dibaca.

Meaning

After getting wet, that notebook becomes soggy and hard to read.

Part of speech

sentence

Pronunciation

Course

Lesson

Breakdown of Selepas kena air, buku nota itu menjadi lembik dan sukar dibaca.

Why is kena air used here? Does it literally mean got hit by water?

Yes, literally kena can mean to get affected by something, and in many contexts it has the sense of to get / to be subjected to.

So kena air means to get wet, to have water on it, or more literally to be affected by water. It is a very natural Malay expression.

In this sentence, Selepas kena air means after being exposed to water or after getting wet.

Why doesn’t the sentence say selepas terkena air instead of selepas kena air?

Both are possible, but they feel slightly different in tone and style.

kena air is very common in everyday speech.
terkena air is also correct and can sound a bit more explicit or slightly more formal, depending on context.

In casual Malay, speakers often prefer the shorter kena air.

So:

What does selepas mean, and can I also say setelah or sesudah?