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
