Where does “bukan main” come from?

bukan main (Malay) comes from Malay main, from Proto-Malayic *main, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian qayam — domesticated animal; pet; toy; plaything.

bukan main (Malay): enthusiastically

Definitions

  1. enthusiastically

Ancestry of “bukan main”, step by step

bukan main traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Malay main

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malaymainto play
2Proto-Malayic*maintoy, plaything
3Proto-Malayo-Polynesianqayamdomesticated animal; pet; toy; plaything

via Malay bukan

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malaybukanno; not; isn't it?
2Classical Malaybukan—
Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian qayam →
bukan main — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer