tan: Difference between revisions

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{{pu def|tan}}
{{pu def|tan}}

It and [[kepeken]] are the only preposition words to never be used in a non-prepositional way.


==={{tp|ku}}===
==={{tp|ku}}===

Revision as of 06:09, 10 November 2023

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tan in sitelen pona
tan in sitelen sitelen
Pronunciation /tan/
Usage 2023: Core (99% → )2022: Core (99%)
Book and era nimi pu
Part of speech Preposition, content word
Codepoint 󱥧 U+F1967

tan is a core preposition and content word relating to the origin, cause, or reason of something.

Etymology

The word tan is derived from Cantonese (Jyutping: cung4), meaning "to follow; from".[citation needed]

Semantic space

The semantic space of tan includes the source, origin, cause, or reason for something,

Preposition

As a preposition, tan is translated as "because (of)", "by", and "from". Some speakers chiefly use tan as a preposition and not a content word.[citation needed]

mi tan ma [kasi alasa nasin awen telo a].

mi tan ma Kanata.

I'm from Canada.

kasi suli li ken kama tan kili lili 

kasi suli li ken kama tan kili lili.

A big plant can come from a small fruit.

ni li tan seme?

ni li tan seme?

Where is this from? (lit. this is from what?)
Why is that? (lit. this is because of what?)

mi pana e ijo pona tan ni> : mi olin e sina.

mi pana e ijo pona tan ni: mi olin e sina.

I gave something nice because you're dear to me.

pu

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

PREPOSITION  by, from, because of

ku

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

from5, reason5, because of4, by4, source4, behalf of2, basis2, origin2, motive2, cause2, purpose2, per2, since2, factor2, incentive2

sitelen pona

The sitelen pona glyph for tan represents a curved arrow pointing backwards, pointing towards the origin.