tonu
1. (particle) still, continues, unceasing, continuously, simply - a manner particle that denotes continuance, permanence or exactness and follows immediately after the word it applies to. Often used with the verbal particles which have a progressive or continuous sense, i.e. e ... ana, kei te ... and i te ... Where tonu follows a verb in the passive it will take a passive ending also, usually -tia. In this situation the passive ending may be dropped from the verb, but not from tonu.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 57, 120; Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 91-92;)
Mehemea i te ora tonu ia, kua kite i te ātaahua o tana mokopuna. / If she was still alive, she would have seen how beautiful her grandchild is.
I nuku atu i te rua rau ngā waiata i titoa e Tuīni e maumahara tonutia ana i nāianei (TTR 2000:132). / Tuīni composed more than two hundred songs which are still remembered today.
2. (particle) nonetheless, all the same, still - indicates permanence or stability of a procedure, arrangement or idea.
I tū tonu tā mātou kura reo, engari i kawea ki tētahi marae kē atu. / Our language school was still held, but it was taken to another marae.
Synonyms: aua atu (rā)
3. (particle) very, indeed, exceedingly, indeed, even, in fact, right, just, really, only - used to intensify or to emphasise. Often used with statives and adjectives.
(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 125; Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 119-120;)
Kī tonu te rūma i te wāhine. / The room was full of women.
He matatau tonu a Tio ki te kōrero i te reo Māori. / Joe is very fluent in speaking Māori.
E hia ngā kakī i kitea e kōrua? Kotahi tonu. / How many black stilts did you two see? Only one.
Synonyms: anahe, nahe, anake, matau, tikanga, take, tōtika, matatika, mōtika, rā pea, kē, koia, koia, tinana, koa, katoa, rawa, i neki, inā, ata, rā anō, rānō, tino, tata, ake, noa iho, mārire, mārika, mārie, heipū, ia rā, ia, noa ake, tōkeke, noa, tou, tika, kau
4. (particle) on the contrary, of course, do so, do too, can too, are so - to show disagreement with a statement just made.
Rangi: E mea ana ia kāore ōna hū omaoma. Hine: He hū omaoma tonu ōna. Kei te karo kē pea i te oma (HJ 2015:58). / Rangi: She is saying that she has no running shoes. Hine: On the contrary she does have some running shoes. She is probably dodging the run.
Kei te maumahara tonu au. / Of course I remember.
Synonyms: engari, engaringari, anō, ehara
5. (particle) as soon as, immediately, promptly, forthwith, without difficulty - expresses the idea of immediacy, without delay or with little need for effort.
Pā tonu mai te karanga, ka whakaeke tō mātou ope. / As soon as we heard the call, our party went onto the marae.
6. (particle) quite, fairly, so so - to indicate didn't or hasn't yet reached its full potential or been fully realised.
I pai tonu, engari kāore i inati te pai (HJ 2015:59). / It was quite good, but not exceptional.
Synonyms: tino, noa iho, tou, (ko) tōna ... (nei), kāhua, hengahenga, hangehange, āta, kere, koia, rawa, āhua, anō, noa
7. (particle) almost, just about, virtually.
8. (particle) just like, exactly the same - when following rite.
(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 26;)
Kātahi, ka whakatika atu tētahi o ngā rangatira, ko Te Taero te ingoa. Anā, rite tonu hoki āna kupu ki ā ngā mitinare (JPS 1990:139). / Then one of the chiefs stood up. His name was Te Taero. Behold, his words were also exactly the same as the missionaries'.
See also rite tonu, he rite tonu, kia rite tonu
Synonyms: anō, me kore ake, me/mai/mei kore ake ..., mai kore ake, mei kore ake, rite tonu
9. (particle) always, all the time, continually (when following rite).
(Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 29;)
Ko tēnei wāhi i mōhio whānuitia, ā, he rite tonu te peka atu o ngā ope haere ki te whakangā, ki te whakahauora (TTR 1990:74). / This place was well-known and travelling parties stopped off all the time to rest and refresh.
See also rite tonu, he rite tonu
engari (tonu)
1. for sure! of course! good on you! get you! you bet - an idiom praising someone, his/her work or a cause.
Engari tonu a Hineihaea me tana kamupene! / Good on Hineihaea for setting up her company!
Synonyms: ehara (tonu)!
2. lo and behold, heck, look at that, oh my god - an idiom sometimes used to express surprise.
ināianei tonu
1. (particle) right now, instantly.
Synonyms: ināia tonu nei, nōnāiakenei, nō nāia ake nei, i āia tonu nei
ina tonu
1. (location) just before.
Ina tonu i mua i te Pakanga Tuarua i tīmata te whakatūtū haere a Pāora i ngā hui puni Aranga hei ako i ngā tamariki kura o Te Whānau-a-Apanui o Whitianga ki ngā tikanga whakapono a te Ringatū (TTR 1998:27). / Just before the Second World War Pāora began to hold Easter camps to teach the schoolchildren of Te Whānau-a-Apanui of Whitianga the belief systems of of Ringatū.
Synonyms: i nakua tonu nei, inakuarā, inā tata nei, i mua tata atu, nōnākuara
rite tonu
1. (modifier) just like - usually followed by ki.
(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 26;)
See also kia rite tonu, tonu
Synonyms: anō, me kore ake, me/mai/mei kore ake ..., mai kore ake, mei kore ake, tonu
2. (modifier) always, all the time, continually, constantly - usually preceded by he.
(Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 29;)
He rite tonu te pae mai o ngā upokohue ki uta. / Pilot whales are always stranding.
See also he rite tonu, riterite, tonu
ehara (tonu)!
1. (negative) heavens above! surprise surprise! of course! for sure! - an idiom that expresses amazement. It can also be used to emphasise affirmative sentences.
Kotahi atu te meke a Hani, ehara, kei raro te hoariri e putu ana. / Sonny made one punch and, surprise surprise, the opponent was down in a heap.
Synonyms: engari (tonu)
ināia tonu nei
1. (particle) right now, instantly, this instant.
Tukua mai ō koutou ingoa, me te āhua o ō koutou kākahu ināia tonu nei (TJ 17/11/1898:8). / Send your names with the size of your clothes right now.
Synonyms: nōnāiakenei, ināianei tonu, nō nāia ake nei, i āia tonu nei
i reira tonu
1. (particle) then and there.
Ka kī atu ia, kāore ia i te rapu utu, noho hara kau noa rānei, engari ko tāna kē, he whakawhiwhi i te Māori ki ngā rawa e tika ana māna ka mutu; i reira tonu ka pakaru mai te umere a te hui ki a ia (TTR 2000:172). / He said that he was not seeking compensation or feelings of guilt, but for Māori to obtain a fair share of resources. It was there and then that the meeting erupted with applause for him.
he momo (tonu)
1. true to form, it's a family trait, inherited quality, hereditary trait - this idiom highlights a person's character and inherited qualities or those of his/her ancestors. It can be applied to both good and bad traits.
Ka rawe kē te reo o Kiri! He momo tonu tērā nō tana whānau. / Kiri's voice is wonderful! That's a family trait.
mō āke tonu
1. forever, forever and a day.
Ko tēnei wiki ēhara i te mea mō tēnei tau anake, engari mō āke tonu (HP 1991:90). / It's not as if this week is only for this year, but it's forever.
See also mō āke tonu atu
he rite tonu
1. always, all the time, continually, constantly, ad nauseam, over and over - an idiom to indicate that omething happens over and over.
(Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 29;)
He rite tonu te ngarongaro atu o Āpirana ki Pōneke i te pōtitanga i a ia i 1905 hai Mema Pāremata mō Te Tai Rāwhiti (TTR 1996:113). / After he was elected in 1905 as a Member of Parliament for Eastern Māori, Āpirana often disappeared to Wellington.
See also rite tonu
kātahi tonu ... ka ...
1. (particle) only just.
Kātahi tonu rātou ka whiwhi ki ētahi rorohiko hou. / They have just acquired some new computers.
Synonyms: anō, kāhi, kātahi anō ... ka ...
