A kata majmuk is a compound: two words that sit together and carry one meaning. Kereta (carriage) + api (fire) is kereta api, a train. Kapal (ship) + terbang (fly) is kapal terbang, an aeroplane.
What your child will learn
- Say what common compounds mean
- Write compounds as two separate words
- Know the few compounds written as one word
- Double a compound correctly
Two words, or one?
Almost all compounds are written as two words with a space: guru besar, jalan raya, bola sepak, surat khabar.
A small set became so fixed that they are written as one word, including matahari (sun), setiausaha (secretary), tandatangan (signature), kakitangan (staff) and warganegara (citizen). To show “many”, double only the first word: guru-guru besar.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. Gambar yang manakah menunjukkan “kapal terbang”?
- 🚢
- 🚂
- 🚗
- ✈️
Show answer
Answer: ✈️. Kapal terbang ialah kenderaan yang terbang di udara.
2. Betul atau salah? Kata majmuk terbentuk daripada dua perkataan yang membawa satu makna.
- Betul
- Salah
Show answer
Answer: Betul. Contohnya: kapal terbang, guru besar.
3. “Kapal terbang” bermaksud…
✈️- kenderaan yang terbang di udara
- burung besar
- kereta laju
- kapal di laut
Show answer
Answer: kenderaan yang terbang di udara. “Kapal terbang” bermaksud kenderaan yang terbang di udara.
Tips for grown-ups
- Hunt for compounds on a journey: jalan raya, lampu isyarat, balai polis, stesen minyak.
- Guess the meaning of a new compound from its two halves.