About KBBI
KBBI is an unofficial MCP server for looking up Indonesian words in the official KBBI dictionary. It returns structured entries for assistants explaining, translating, or quoting words.
Key features
- 01Look up words and phrases
- 02Return homographs and pronunciations
- 03Include roots, word classes, and definitions
- 04Provide examples with meanings
- 05Expose results as JSON resources
Use cases
- 01Check an Indonesian word's dictionary meaning
- 02Find a word's root and pronunciation
- 03Explain a phrase using dictionary entries
MCP support
Provides the `kbbi_lookup` tool and `kbbi://{query}` resources to MCP clients. It fetches entries from KBBI and returns structured results.
Configuration
Local server config is the same for every client. Copy it into your client’s MCP config file.
uvx kbbi-mcpKBBI_TIMEOUT_SECONDSTimeout for each request to KBBI, in seconds.KBBI_LOG_LEVELLevel of the server's logs, which are written to stderr.Local servers need a runtime on your machine (e.g. Node.js 18+). Config file locations differ by client; see your client’s docs.
Tools
1Saved tool list · updated 2w ago
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| query | string | Yes | A word or phrase to look up. |
Details
From the project READMEkbbi-mcp
========
.. mcp-name: io.github.gaato/kbbi-mcp
.. image:: https://img.shields.io/github/actions/workflow/status/gaato/kbbi-mcp/ci.yml?label=CI
:target: https://github.com/gaato/kbbi-mcp/actions/workflows/ci.yml
:alt: CI
.. image:: https://img.shields.io/pypi/v/kbbi-mcp
:target: https://pypi.org/project/kbbi-mcp/
:alt: PyPI
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:target: https://pypi.org/project/kbbi-mcp/
:alt: Python
.. image:: https://img.shields.io/pypi/l/kbbi-mcp
:target: https://github.com/gaato/kbbi-mcp/blob/HEAD/LICENSE.md
:alt: License
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:target: https://insiders.vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=kbbi&config=%7B%22command%22%3A%22uvx%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22kbbi-mcp%22%5D%7D
:alt: Install in VS Code
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:alt: Install in Cursor
An MCP server that lets AI assistants look up Indonesian words in
`KBBI <https://kbbi.kemendikdasmen.go.id>`_ (Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia), the official Indonesian dictionary.
It returns structured entries (homographs, pronunciation, root words, word classes, definitions, and examples)
so the assistant can explain, translate, or quote them for you.
This is an **unofficial** client; see `Disclaimer`_.
Example prompts
---------------
- *What does "gemas" mean according to KBBI?*
- *Apa arti kata "mempunyai"? Apa kata dasarnya?*
- *Explain "layarnya tidak makan" using KBBI.*
Getting started
---------------
The server runs locally over stdio with `uv <https://docs.astral.sh/uv/getting-started/installation/>`_'s ``uvx``;
no API key or account is needed. Most clients accept this standard config:
.. code-block:: json
{
"mcpServers": {
"kbbi": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": ["kbbi-mcp"]
}
}
}
Claude Code
~~~~~~~~~~~
.. code-block:: bash
claude mcp add kbbi -- uvx kbbi-mcp
Codex CLI
~~~~~~~~~
.. code-block:: bash
codex mcp add kbbi -- uvx kbbi-mcp
Gemini CLI
~~~~~~~~~~
.. code-block:: bash
gemini mcp add kbbi uvx kbbi-mcp
VS Code
~~~~~~~
Click the *Install in VS Code* badge at the top, or run:
.. code-block:: bash
code --add-mcp '{"name":"kbbi","command":"uvx","args":["kbbi-mcp"]}'
Cursor
~~~~~~
Click the *Install in Cursor* badge at the top, or add the standard config to ``~/.cursor/mcp.json``
(or ``.cursor/mcp.json`` in a project).
Claude Desktop
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Open *Settings → Developer → Edit Config* and add the standard config to ``claude_desktop_config.json``:
- macOS: ``~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json``
- Windows: ``%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json``
Other clients
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Use the standard config above. Without ``uv``, install the package with ``pip install kbbi-mcp`` and use
``kbbi-mcp`` (or ``python -m kbbi_mcp``) as the command.
Tools
-----
- ``kbbi_lookup``: Look up an Indonesian word or phrase in KBBI. Returns each headword with its homograph
number, pronunciation, root words, and senses (labels such as the word class, the definition, and examples
with their meanings). Read-only.
- ``query`` (string, required): a word or phrase, e.g. ``makan`` or ``rumah sakit``
An empty query or a failed lookup (e.g. KBBI unreachable) is returned as a tool error. The full result
structure is published as the tool's ``outputSchema`` (``kbbi_mcp.types`` in Python).
Resources
---------
- ``kbbi://{query}``: the same result as ``kbbi_lookup``, as JSON (e.g. ``kbbi://makan``).
Configuration
-------------
Optional environment variables:
- ``KBBI_TIMEOUT_SECONDS`` (default: ``10.0``): timeout for each request to KBBI
- ``KBBI_LOG_LEVEL`` (default: ``INFO``): level of the server's logs, written to stderr
- ``KBBI_BASE_URL`` (default: ``https://kbbi.kemendikdasmen.go.id``): the KBBI site to query
For example, with Claude Code: ``claude mcp add kbbi -e KBBI_TIMEOUT_SECONDS=20 -- uvx kbbi-mcp``.
In the standard config, add an ``"env": {"KBBI_TIMEOUT_SECONDS": "20"}`` object next to ``"args"``.
Limitations
-----------
- Lookups are anonymous. KBBI shows etymology, related entries, and suggestions for missing words only to
signed-in users, so they are not returned. When nothing is found, try the base word or another spelling.
- Each lookup fetches ``https://kbbi.kemendikdasmen.go.id/entri/{query}``. KBBI limits anonymous searches,
so avoid rapid bulk lookups. Results are cached in memory while the server runs.
- The result depends on KBBI's page markup; if KBBI changes it, parsing may break until this package is updated.
Debugging
---------
Use the `MCP Inspector <https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/inspector>`_:
.. code-block:: bash
npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector uvx kbbi-mcp
Development
-----------
With ``uv`` installed, run the server over stdio from a checkout:
.. code-block:: bash
uv run kbbi-mcp
To point an MCP client at the checkout, use ``uv`` with ``--directory`` (an absolute path to your clone):
.. code-block:: json
{
"mcpServers": {
"kbbi-dev": {
"command": "uv",
"args": ["--directory", "/path/to/kbbi-mcp", "run", "kbbi-mcp"]
}
}
}
Checks (see ``AGENTS.md``):
.. code-block:: bash
uv sync --frozen --group dev
uv run ruff format .
uv run ruff check .
uv run ty check
uv run pytest
Tests use saved KBBI pages in ``tests/fixtures`` and make no network requests.
Set ``KBBI_MCP_RUN_NETWORK_TESTS=1`` to also run a live smoke test.
Related projects
----------------
- `kbbi.mbt <https://github.com/gaato/kbbi.mbt>`_: a MoonBit library, CLI, and agent skill for KBBI.
The parser and output schema of this server follow it.
- `kbbi-python <https://github.com/laymonage/kbbi-python>`_: a Python library and CLI for KBBI.
Disclaimer
----------
This project is unofficial and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Language Development and
Cultivation Agency (Badan Bahasa) or KBBI Daring. Dictionary content belongs to its copyright holders;
see KBBI's `legal notice <https://kbbi.kemendikdasmen.go.id/Beranda/Hukum>`_. This server is meant for
personal, non-commercial lookups. You are responsible for how you use the results.
License
-------
`BlueOak-1.0.0 <https://github.com/gaato/kbbi-mcp/blob/HEAD/LICENSE.md>`_.Comments
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