tan
tan is a core preposition and content word relating to the origin, cause, or reason of something.
  | |
| Pronunciation | /tan/ |
|---|---|
| Usage | 2023: Core (99% → )2022: Core (99%) |
| Book and era | nimi pu |
| Part of speech | Preposition, content word |
| Codepoint | U+F1967 |
Etymology
The word tan is derived from Cantonese 從 (Jyutping: cung4), meaning "to follow; from".[citation needed][1]
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 lilikasi 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.
- ↑ This isn't in Sonja's word list https://archive.ph/i4Psx, but it appears in Linku. The provenance of the Linku etymology remains to be discovered.