kacau

English

Alternative forms

• (Singapore) kachau, kachiau, kachiao, kajiao, gajiao

Etymology

Borrowed from Malay kacau.

Pronunciation

• (Singapore) IPA^(key): /ˈkɑːt͡ʃ(j)aʊ/, [ˈka˧.t͡ʃ(j)aʊ˦], (approximating Hokkien) [ˈk˭a˧.t͡ɕ˭jaʊ˦]

Verb

kacau (generally invariable)

1. (Manglish, Singlish) To disturb; to bother or trouble (someone).
   • 2014, Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan, Singapore Noir, Akashic Books, →ISBN, page 85:

     So even when his army kaki gajiau-ed him for evening joyrides, promising to bring a nice bottle of Black Label if he agreed, he always said no.

   • 2019 June 12, Tan Tam Mei, quoting Singa Retnam, “SCDF NSF death: Corporal had a 'scared smile' after ragging ritual was mentioned, says witness”, in The Straits Times‎^[1], Singapore, archived from the original on 25 March 2024:

     Nazhan's defence lawyer Singa Retnam asked him if he had heard Nazhan telling Cpl Kok during the celebrations: "If anyone 'kacau' (bothers) you, tell me".

Indonesian

Etymology

From Malay kacau, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kacaw (“to disturb”).

Pronunciation

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /ˈkat͡ʃau̯/ [ˈka.t͡ʃau̯]
• Rhymes: -at͡ʃau̯
• Syllabification: ka‧cau

Adjective

kacau

1. confused
2. disorderly

Derived terms

• berkacau
• kacauan
• kekacauan
• memperkacaukan
• mengacau
• mengacaukan
• pengacau
• pengacauan
• terkacau

Further reading

• “kacau”, in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia [Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016

Malay

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kacaw (“to disturb”).

Pronunciation

• (Literary Standard, Southern Peninsular Malaysia Standard) IPA^(key): /ˈkat͡ʃaw/ [ˈka.t͡ʃau̯]
• Rhymes: -at͡ʃau̯, -au̯
• Hyphenation: ka‧cau

Adjective

kacau (Jawi spelling کاچاو, comparative lebih kacau, superlative paling kacau)

1. chaotic; messy; confused; disordered (in a state of confusion or lack of order).

   Synonyms: kelam-kabut, celaru, kusut

   Antonyms: aman, teratur

   Fikirannya jadi kacau.

   His mind became confused.

   Keadaan di pasar itu sangat kacau.

   The situation at the market is very chaotic.

Verb

kacau (Jawi spelling کاچاو)

1. (intransitive, figurative) to disturb; to bother; to interfere (to interrupt someone's peace or activities).

   Synonyms: ganggu, usik

   Jangan kacau saya bekerja.

   Do not disturb me working.

   Budak nakal itu suka kacau orang.

   That naughty boy likes to bother people.

2. (intransitive) to stir; to mix (to move a spoon or implement around in a liquid or food to mix it).

   Synonyms: gaul, bancuh

   Tolong kacau air kopi ini.

   Please stir this coffee.

   Ibu kacau dodol di dalam kuali.

   Mother stirs the dodol in the wok.

Usage notes

• In formal or written Malay, the active affixed form mengacau is much more commonly used in sentences to describe the actions of stirring or disturbing.

Derived terms

Affixations

• berkacau (“chaotic; mixed up”)
• dikacau (“to be disturbed; to be stirred”)
• kacauan
• kekacauan (“chaos; disturbance; riot”)
• memperkacaukan
• mengacau (“to disturb; to stir”)
• mengacaukan (“to confuse; to complicate”)
• pengacau (“troublemaker; stirrer”)
• pengacauan

Compounds

• kacau ganggu (“nuisance; harassment”)
• kacau-balau, kacau-becah, kacau-bicau, kacau-bilau, kacau-birau
• kacau-bilau (“in complete chaos; topsy-turvy”)

Descendants

• > Indonesian: kacau (inherited)
• → English: kacau

Further reading

• "kacau" in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu (PRPM) [Malay Literary Reference Centre (PRPM)] (in Malay), Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017
  (also see "kacau" at PRPM first version)