luka: Difference between revisions

'''{{tp|luka}}''' is a core [[content word]] relating to the hands and arms. It can also stand for the number 5 in a [[Numbers|number phrase]] five.

The [[semantic space]] of {{tp|luka}} includes any and all parts of human upper limbs, (likesuch as the arms, elbows, hands and fingers; similarly to how {{tp|[[noka]]}} can refer to legs or feet). As a verb, it can refer to the act of touching something with a {{tp|luka}}.{{citation needed}}

As a number, it stands for 5five, the amount of fingers on a human hand. In the early days of Toki Pona, it was the highest-value number word, before {{tp|[[mute]]}} and {{tp|[[ale]]}} acquired that status. This led to the creation of the [[Idioms|idiom]] {{tp|jo e luka mute}}, meaning "to be complicated", as big numbers would have many repetitions of the word {{tp|luka}}.<ref>{{tok|[[jan Sonja]]}} (21 May 2002). "[http://forums.tokipona.org/viewtopic.php?p=54 Compounds]". ''Toki Pona Forums''. Retrieved 12 October 2023.</ref><ref>{{tok|[[jan Sonja]]}} (@sonjalang) (16 November 2022). [https://discord.com/channels/301377942062366741/375591429608570881/1042502204403228702 Messages on the <code>#{{tok|sona-musi}}</code> channel in the {{tp|ma pona pi toki pona}} Discord server]. ''Discord''. Retrieved 12 October 2023.</ref>

The {{tp|[[sitelen pona]]}} glyph for {{tp|luka}} is a simplified mitten-like hand facing upwards, with the thumb on the left. The same hand appears in the lower halves of glyphs for {{tp|[[kepeken]]}} (with {{tp|[[ilo]]}}), {{tp|[[moku]]}} (with {{tp|[[uta]]}}), and {{tp|[[pana]]}} (with [[emitters]]).