Confix ‘pe-… -an’ creates an abstract noun that indicates the process of performing the action of what the verb refers to.
Examples
| Root Word | Meaning | pe – an | Meaning |
| raga | body, show off | peragaan | show, display, modeling, exhibition |
| makam | grave | pemakaman | funeral |
| bubar | dismiss | pembubaran | dissolution |
| tinggal | remain | peninggalan | estate, inheritance |
| dapat | earn, get | pendapatan | income, acquisition |
| tekan | pressure | penekanan | pressing, emphasizing |
| sumbat | plug, stooper | penyumbatan | clogging, blockage |
Confix ‘per-… -an’forms noun and indicates the result of an action (as opposed to the process) and may also indicate a place or location.
Examples
| Root Word | Meaning | per – an | Meaning |
| masalah | problem | permasalahan | set of problems |
| janji | promise | perjanjian | agreement |
| nikah | marry | pernikahan | marriage |
| empat | four | perempatan | junction, cross-roads |
| damai | peace | perdamaian | peace |
| sahabat | good friend | persahabatan | friendship |
pe-..-an versus per-..-an
Examples
| Root Word | Meaning | Confix | Comparison | Meaning |
| buat | do, make | per – an | perbuatan | deed, action, performance, conduct, act |
| pe-an | pembuatan | fabrication, construction, production | ||
| hitung | calculate | per – an | perhitungan | calculation, computation, consideration |
| pe-an | penghitungan | calculating | ||
| pecah | break apart | per – an | perpecahan | disunity, disunion |
| pe-an | pemecahan | sollution, fission, breakthrough |
