I've always loved the word "sayang".
It's term used to express endearment and affection. It can be equated to 'dear', 'darling', or 'sweetheart' when reffering a person. The word itself could also mean 'like' or 'love' but in its usage, i find it is much deeper than that.
Whenever i heard the word "sayang", it always expresses a mixture of emotions. It is not 'cinta' which means love-often used to express romantic love and also familial love. "Sayang" is more about affection, care, liking, loving as it is. Doesn't mean it's not as deep or meaningfull tough.
Whenever i hear 'cinta', it makes me think of those passionate feelings. Like a neep or a want, maybe even possesive to a certain extent, like 'aku cinta kamu' (i love you), or a mother love's to her child. For some reason i feel a certain hold, grabbing sense to the word.
But whenever i heard "sayang", there's a sense of affection and acceptance. It exudes warmth, care, and softness. It also feels more unconditional when used in sentence, for example 'aku sayang kamu' does't translate directly to just 'i love/like you but it's more like "i care about you, deeply".
Perhaps it closer to 'i adore you'.
So in some sense, I feel most of time 'sayang' word is stronger word to expresss love because 'cinta', there is feeling of 'pamrih' (reward/purpose like 'you make me feel the love') but with 'sayang' it's mor unconditional, more sincere.
The interesting part about the word 'sayang' is also its other uses, such as when it's being used in conversation like this; "ah sayang sekali" (ah that's so bad), "iya, sayang ya" (yeah, what a pity).
Now when used and translated like this, it sounded negative, but there's no direct translation for what it actually expresses. When used in such context (aka loss) the usage 'sayang' expresses acceptance to certain extent. There's still a strong sense of loss, regret and sadness, but usually usage signifies that the person who say it already in the process letting go, or else they wouldn't use word. It's quite complex.
Thus, the emotions conjured by the word 'sayang' while usually less passionate than 'cinta', seems more enduring as the feelings involved simmers actively just beneath the surface. Slowly, but surely.
It's just beautiful, sincere word to express an act of unconditional affection, or a more durable kind of love, that could stand through the tests of time.
