lili

From sona pona, the English–Toki Pona wiki
lili in sitelen pona
lili in sitelen sitelen
Pronunciation /ˈli.li/ (listen)
Usage 2023: Core (100% → )
2022: Core (100%)
Book and era nimi pu
Part of speech Content word
Codepoint 󱤨 U+F1928

lili is a core content word relating to smallness.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The word lili is derived from Tok Pisin liklik, meaning "small (quantity)".[1]

Semantic space[edit | edit source]

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The semantic space of lili includes small things in several aspects, such as in relative size, quantity, length, weight, age, or importance. For distinguishing the meanings of small size and small quantity, the phrase mute lili ("small quantity") is commonly used for the latter.

Its antonym in relation to quantity is mute ("a lot") and in relation to other aspects, it is suli ("big").

pu[edit | edit source]

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

ADJECTIVE  little, small, short; few; a bit; young

ku[edit | edit source]

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

small5, little5, slight5, short5, reduce5, junior5, slightly4, minimize4, narrow4, bit4, minor4, partly4, reduction4, brief4, young4, fewer3, less3, diminish3, tiny3, barely3, decrease3, minimal3, partially3, somewhat3, thin3, inch3, shallow3, subtle3, lightly3, kinda3, hardly2, partial2, tight2, particle2, mere2, mild2, ounce2, quarter2, gram2, shortage2

sitelen pona[edit | edit source]

The sitelen pona glyph for lili is a V-shaped ideogram, drawn smaller than the glyph for suli.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Word Origins. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Toki Pona.