kon

kon
Pronunciation	/kon/
Usage	2023: Core (99% → )2022: Core (99%)
Book and era	nimi pu
Part of speech	Content word
Codepoint	󱤝 U+F191D

kon is a core content word relating to gases.

Etymology

The word kon is derived from Mandarin 空氣 (pinyin: kōngqì), meaning "air".

Semantic space

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The semantic space of kon includes gases, such as air, steam, and smoke, as well as scents and fragrances.

mi tawa wawa　selo mi li pilin e kon lete

mi tawa wawa. selo mi li pilin e kon lete.

We're running. Our skin feels the cold breeze.

kasi ni li pana e kon nasa

kasi ni li pana e kon nasa.

This plant gives off a weird smell.

Figuratively, kon refers to an essence, something "known, but not [commonly] seen", such as supernatural spirits, personal identities, ideas, and meanings of words and utterances. Compare the figurative senses of English "spirit" or "atmosphere".

kon pi(nimi sina) li seme

kon pi nimi sina li seme?

What's your name's meaning?

kon li tawa e supa ale mi a

kon li tawa e supa ale mi a!

An unseen force is moving all my furniture!

pu

In the "Official Toki Pona Dictionary" section, the book Toki Pona: The Language of Good defines kon as:

NOUN  air, breath; essence, spirit; hidden reality, unseen agent

ku

For Toki Pona Dictionary, respondents in ma pona pi toki pona translated these English words as kon:

soul⁵81–100% of respondents, air⁵81–100% of respondents, spirit⁵81–100% of respondents, gas⁵81–100% of respondents, essence⁴61–80% of respondents, atmosphere⁴61–80% of respondents, oxygen³41–60% of respondents, breathe³41–60% of respondents, breath³41–60% of respondents, meaning³41–60% of respondents, intangible³41–60% of respondents, breathing³41–60% of respondents, invisible entity³41–60% of respondents, definition²21–40% of respondents, abstract²21–40% of respondents, breeze²21–40% of respondents, smell²21–40% of respondents

sitelen pona

The sitelen pona glyph for kon (󱤝) represents steam rising up as two curvy vertical lines. Compare telo.

sitelen sitelen

The sitelen sitelen glyph for kon (konkon) is derived from a MUYAL glyph (T632) in the Mayan script, meaning "cloud".

Further reading

• "kon" on lipu Linku
• "kon" on English Wiktionary
• "kon" on lipu Wikipesija