me
1. (particle) must, had better, should - used before verbs to form a weak command. When used in passive sentences, the verb does not take a passive suffix, with the exception of the word taea.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 15, 84;)
Synonyms: hōpurupuru, rawa, mātua
2. (particle) must be, a must, has to be, have to be - also used before nouns and adjectives.
Me kawhe. / Coffee is a must.
Me reka ngā kai. / The food must be tasty.
Me whā rawa? / Does it have to be four?
3. (particle) how should it be done - when used before pēhea and followed by a clause of purpose.
Kātahi au ka whakaaro, me pēhea e kitea ai, e mau ai te tangata nāna i tāhae. / Then I wondered how I could discover and catch the person who stole it.
See also me pēhea?
2. (particle) with - used to indicate the things or people in company with which some event occurs.
I tae atu rātou ki te pāmu me ā rātou kurī. / They arrived at the farm with their dogs.
2. (particle) as if, like - unlike other prepositions, me with this meaning can precede he.
(Te Māhuri Study Guide (Ed. 1): 63-64;)
3. (particle) in case ... may, were fortunate, to see whether, if it were not for.
(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 126-127;)
me ko pīwaiwaka
1. you're a nark, you’re a tattletale - an idiom likening someone to the fantail who laughed at Māui trying to enter Hinenuitepō causing her to wake and discover his plot to kill her.
Tama: Nā wai tātou i whāki? Hata: Nāku! Kei hē kē atu tēnei raruraru. Tama: E tama, me ko pīwaiwaka koe. / Tama: Who told on us? Hata: I did! Unless we get in more trouble. Tama: Oh man, you’re a nark.
me kore ake
1. in case...may, were fortunate, to see whether, if it were not for, thanks to, it's just as well - an idiom praising the importance of someone's or something's contribution.
He hui pai - i tutū te puehu, i whiua te kōrero, i tau te rangimārie i te mutunga iho. Me kore ake nei te hui Mâori, nē hā? (HM 4/1995:3). / It was a good gathering - there were arguments and accusations made but in the end peace prevailed. It's just as well Māori gatherings are like that, isn't it?
Me mihi rā ki ngā kapa o ngā tāone me kore ake hoki rātou i pēnei rawa ai te pukahu o ngā kapa tū ki Te Matatini. / We must acknowledge the urban groups without whom there would not be as many groups performing at Te Matatini.
See also mei kore ake, mai kore ake
2. just like, similar to, the epitome of - sometimes used to indicate that someone's qualities are similar to those of someone else, or something else.
I kite au i a koe e pūkanakana ana. Me kore ake tō tipuna i a koe (HKK 1999:180). / I saw you doing the pūkana. You are the epitome of your ancestor.
Titiro ki tērā tangata e kai ana, me kore ake te poaka. / Look at that man over there eating just like a pig.
See also mei kore ake, mai kore ake
Synonyms: anō, me/mai/mei kore ake ..., mai kore ake, mei kore ake, tonu, rite tonu
me te aha
1. and as a result, as a result, consequently, hence, thus - an idiom to say that what follows is a result of what has been stated earlier in the sentence, or in the previous sentence.
Ka karekare te wai, me te aha, tahuri ana tō rāua poti. / The water became rough and as a result their boat capsized.
Ka karawhiu te marangai, me te aha, waipuketia ana te whārua (HKK 1999:188). / The storm raged and consequently the valley was flooded.
me i kore
1. in case ... may, were fortunate, to see whether, if it were not for, thanks to, it's just as well.
Nā reira ka āta whakatahi te iwi me i kore te hoariri e whai atu ki te ururua o te ngahere i tua atu o te pā, kia haupapatia ai e Heke me ana toa (TTR 1990:7). / And so the people deliberately withdrew in the hope that the enemy might follow into the undergrowth of the bush on the other side of the pā, so that they could be ambushed by Heke and his warriors.
me aha koa
1. be that as it may, nevertheless, what for? what does it matter? so what? anyway, no matter.
Ka kī ētahi he mea uaua tonu te ako i te reo Māori. Me aha koa. He aha te hē o te whakamātau? / Some say it's very difficult to learn Māori. Be that as it may, what's wrong with trying?
Synonyms: anō, ahakoa, hei aha koa, he ahakoa, hei aha (koa/noa iho), aua atu (rā)
me kore e
1. in case ... may, in the hope that, were fortunate, to see whether, if it were not for - used before a verb to introduce a clause expressing a purpose where there is some doubt that it will be fulfilled.
(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 126-127;)
Haere ai ngā tūroro ki Rotorua, me kore ō rātou mate e ora. / Invalids go to Rotorua in the hope that their ailments will be cured.
See also mai kore ake, me
me ... (rā) ka tika
1. it's only right that, it's to be expected, so it should be, it's appropriate - an idiom used to express an opinion that something is appropriate or expected.
Kua nenewha ngā karu o te koroua rā. Me nenewha rā ka tika. He maroke nō ngā kōrero. / The elderly man over there is dozing. It's to be expected because the talk is so boring.
