ka pai
The English phrase "good job" is translated into Maori as ka pai.
ka pai is used to praise someone for a completed task or to provide encouragement for an ongoing effort. You can intensify this praise by using ka pai rawa to mean "very good" or "excellent". To be more specific and refer to the work itself, you can say ka pai te mahi, which means "the work is good".
Meaning: a phrase used to praise for a good job or efforts (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase ka pai, ka is a particle used to indicate a state or quality, while pai means good, fine or pleasant.
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify that the work itself is good, you can add te mahi (the work) to the phrase, resulting in ka pai te mahi.
Did you know?
- The word pai is a distant relative of the Malay word baik and the Tagalog word bait, as they all descend from a shared Proto-Malayo-Polynesian ancestor.
- Because Māori culture emphasizes collective achievement, ka pai is often directed at a group rather than a single person.
- Beyond praising a task, ka pai can be used to acknowledge someone's overall character or their positive way of existing.
Examples in context
- Ka pai tō mahi.Good job on your work.
- Ka pai te kai!Good job on the food!
Example conversation
Aroha is praising Rawiri for finishing a difficult task.
- ArohaKa pai, Rawiri!Good job, Rawiri!
- RawiriTēnā koe, Aroha.Thank you, Aroha.
- ArohaKua oti te mahi.The work is finished.
- RawiriHe mahi pai.It was a good job.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ka pai, pai, CC BY-SA 4.0.
