Which one should you use?
turut berbelasungkawa and turut berduka cita are common synonyms used in formal settings. The phrase turut berduka cita specifically means "I mourn with you."
When do people say it?
Many people say "Innalillahi wa innailaihi raji'un," which means "We belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return." It is also common to offer prayers for the deceased, such as Semoga arwah [name of the deceased] diterima di sisi Allah ("May the soul of [name of the deceased] be accepted by Allah") or Semoga [name of the deceased] diberikan tempat yang terbaik di sisi-Nya ("May [name of the deceased] be granted the best place in His presence"). You can also say Kami turut berbelasungkawa atas kepergian [name of the deceased] to say "We express our deepest condolences on the loss of [name of the deceased]."
Did you know?
- In Indonesia, condolences are often physically manifested through bunga papan, which are massive floral boards displayed prominently outside the house of the bereaved.
- Even if you are not Muslim, saying Innalillahi wa innailaihi raji'un is a widely accepted way to show respect and sympathy during a tragedy in Indonesia.
- The word belasungkawa is a linguistic hybrid, combining the Sanskrit word velā for 'time' with the Javanese word sungkawa for 'sad'.
Examples in context
- Saya menyampaikan belasungkawa yang mendalam.I offer my deepest condolences.
- Terimalah ucapan belasungkawa dari kami.Please accept our condolences.
Example conversation
Budi visits Putri to offer sympathy after a loss.
- PutriSaya turut menyampaikan belasungkawa, Putri.I would like to offer my condolences, Putri.
- BudiTerima kasih banyak, Budi.Thank you very much, Budi.
- PutriSemoga keluarga diberikan kesabaran.I hope the family is given patience.
- BudiAmin, terima kasih atas dukungannya.Amen, thank you for your support.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries belasungkawa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
