Māori Grammar
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There are four directional markers in te reo Māori:
mai - towards me
atu - away from me
ake - up
iho - down
Atu is used to describe action away from the speaker.
Haere atu!
Go away.
Me kōrero atu koe.
You should speak to someone else.
You speak over there (away from me).
Literally: You should speak away.
Kei te haere atu a Hone.
John is going away.
Atu is also used as an intensifier, especially when used with rawa:
He tino pai rawa atu tōu reo.
Your voice is very good indeed.
Tīkina atu he miraka, he paraoa hoki.
Get some milk and some bread too.Ka heare tonu atu nei ahau.
I'll go right now.Hoki atu ki tērā kokonga.
Go back to that corner over there.Whakarongo atu!
Listen (out for something)!Oma atu i a ia!
Run away from her!Whakapangia atu ki muri rawa o te pouaka.
Stick it to the far side of the box.Te rongonga atu o Tame i te kōrero a tana tuahine...
When Tame heard what his sister said...Ka tae atu rāua ki Ōtautahi.
They arrived there in Christchurch.Āta hīkoi atu kei kuhu ō waewae ki te paru.
Walk carefully so you don't step in the mud.Ka pangaa atu to pāoro e Ari ki a Hēmi.
Ari passes the ball to Hēmi.Kua tae atu te tokorua nei ki te wharekai.
The pair have arrived at the restaurant.Pātai atu ki a Matua Kūkara.
Ask Uncle Google.Kuhu atu ki roto i tō moenga.
Get in your bed.Ka whakamau atu au i te kope mā.
I'll put a fresh nappy on.Kōrero atu ki a Niko.
Speak to Niko.Tokomaha i haere atu ki tōna tangihanga.
Many went to her funeral.I nahea koe i wehe atu ai ki Whakatamacr;ne?
When did you leave for Whakatamacr;ne?Haria atu tēnei ki a Pāpā.
Take this to Daddy.I whai atu a ia i te ahi kāpara.
He followed [her] by means of the burning torch.Mihi atu ki ōu kaumātua.
Greet your elders.Tae rawa atu te whānau ki te hōhipera, kua hoki kē te koroua ki tōna kāinga.
By the time the family arrived at the hospital, the old man had already gone home.Ka haere atu ia.
She moved away (she left).Kei kō atu te ngahere i te awa.
The bush is beyond the river.Kua tae atu rātou ki Rotorua.
They have arrived in Rotorua.Mauria atu te ika nei!
Take this fish away!E tāria atu nei a tuahangata.
The man of the moment is being waited for.Kei te haere atu ngā tamariki ki korā.
The children are going away over there.Ka mutu te hui, ka haere atu ngā manuhiri ki te whare kai.
When the meeting ended, the visitors went to the eating house.E oma atu ā tāua tamariki hōhā.
Our exasperating children are running away.Te taunga rawatanga atu o Paki i te waka, ka tīmata ia ki te kaukau.
As soon as Paki jumped out of the boat, he began swimming.Mauria atu te pukapuka rā!
Bring me that book!Tīkina atu tō pāpā!
Go and get your father!Kia tīkina atu he whakataukī e hāngai ana kī tēnei kaupapa...
Let me grab a proverb...Inahea koe i haere atu ai ki te tāone?
When did you go to town?Pātai atu ki te pirihimana.
Ask the police officer.Whakaae atu ana a Te Tahi.
Te Tahi agreed.Mihi atu ki ōu kaumātua.
Greet your elders.I te ono karaka, kua tae atu rātou ki Ōmihi.
By six o'clock they had got to Ōmihi.Kuhu atu te kī ki raro i te takapau.
Hide the key under the mat.Pātai atu ki te kaihoko mō te utu.
Ask the salesperson for the price.Tae atu a Ponga ki tana taha.
Ponga reached her side.Hei āpōpō haere atu ai au ki te tāone.
Tomorrow I am going to town.Ka tangi atu te manu ki ana hoa.
The bird calls to his friends.E tama, mauria atu he tūru māna.
Hey boy, take a chair for her.Katia atu te kuaha.
Shut the door to keep the outside noise out!Hoki atu ki te rūma rā!
Return to that room!Pātai atu ki te kaihoko mō te utu.
Ask the salesperson for the price.Kua tae atu koe ki Te Rerenga Wairua?
Have you been to Cape Reinga.