This is the 722nd most frequent Indonesian word.
malah
The Indonesian word "malah" means "instead" or "on the contrary."
The word 'malah' emphasizes the unexpected or contrary result in the situation compared to the speaker's initial intention.
Saya ingin membantu, malah saya yang merepotkan.
I wanted to help, but instead, I caused trouble.
In this sentence, 'malah' is used to highlight the contrast between the person's intention and their actions.
Dia ingin berhemat, malah membeli barang yang tidak perlu.
He wanted to save money, but instead, he bought unnecessary items.
Here, 'malah' conveys an emphasis that the situation, contrary to potential negative expectations, is instead positive.