Toki Pona vocabulary taxonomy

"Toki Pona is an oligoisolating constructed language, created by Canadian linguist and translator Sonja Lang as a philosophical artistic language for the purpose of simplifying thoughts and communication. [...]"

In my experience Toki Pona is an enjoyable language to learn. Its vocabulary is about 120 words, so it compels you to express your thoughts in a very simple manner, therefore you'll come to see reality not as complex as you usually do.

I've organized its small lexicon into a hierarchy. This hierarchy is subjective of course: you may organize it in an alternative way:

SOURCE: own development

Spatial directions and boundary positions in position and inside category

Category JP CH Word Source 1 Source 2
beings verb+noun 獣 龟 gui1 akesi n. non-cute animal; reptile, amphibian n. non-cute animal, reptile, amphibian
n. creeping animal, a scaly or slimy animal that creeps on land
n. reptile, any air-breathing cold-blooded animal that crawls on land and has scales and bones; reptile
n. amphibian, any cold-blooded animal with bones that lives on both land and in water; amphibian
n. large arthropod, a large arthropod that lives on land; scorpion
describer like an akesi in appearance
describerhaving the characteristics or properties of an akesi
beings verb+noun 人 人 ren2 jan n. human being, person, somebody n. person, people, human, being, somebody, anybody
mod. human, somebody's, personal, of people
vt. personify, humanize, personalize
beings 魚 鱼 yu2 kala n. fish, marine animal, sea creature n. fish, sea creature
beings 木 木 mu4 kasi n. plant, vegetation; herb, leaf n. plant, leaf, herb, tree, wood
beings 果 果 guo3 kili n. fruit, vegetable, mushroom n. fruit, pulpy vegetable, mushroom
beings 米 米 mi3 pan n. cereal, grain; barley, corn, oat, rice, wheat; bread, pasta n. grain, cereal
beings 虫 虫 chong2 pipi n. bug, insect, ant, spider n. bug, insect, spider
beings 猫 马 ma3 牛 niu2 soweli n. animal, beast, land mammal n. animal, especially land mammal, lovable animal
beings 鳥 鸟 niao3 waso n. bird, flying creature, winged animal n. bird, winged animal
beings/action 探 alasa v. to hunt, forage vt. to gather, to collect food, resources or material needed for daily life and survival; to gather, harvest
vt. to hunt, to pursue and kill animals to use as food and clothing; to hunt		 * This wasn't on the classic list.
beings/action verb+noun 聞 耳 er3 kute n. ear
v. to hear, listen; pay attention to, obey 		vt. listen, hear
mod. auditory, hearing
beings/action verb+noun 見 看 kan4 见 jian4 lukin, oko n. eye
v. to look at, see, examine, observe, read, watch
pre-verb to seek, look for, try to 		vt. see, look at, watch, read
vi. look, watch out, pay attention
mod. visual(ly)
looking
beings/action 死 死 si3 moli mod. dead, dying n. death
vi. die, be dead
vt. kill
mod. dead, deadly, fatal
beings/action 楽 玩 wan2 musi mod. artistic, entertaining, frivolous, playful, recreational n. fun, playing, game, recreation, art, entertainment
mod. artful, fun, recreational
vi. play, have fun
vt. amuse, entertain
beings/action 狂 怪 guai4 nasa mod. unusual, strange; foolish, crazy; drunk, intoxicated mod. silly, crazy, foolish, drunk, strange, stupid, weird
vt. drive crazy, make weird
beings/action 愛 爱 ai4 olin v. to love, have compassion for, respect, show affection to n. love
mod. love
vt. to love (a person)
beings/action verb+noun 心 想 xiang3 心 xin1 pilin n. heart (physical or emotional)
mod. feeling (an emotion, a direct experience) 		n. feelings, emotion, heart
vi. feel
vt. feel, think, sense, touch
feeling
beings/action verb+noun 知 知 zhi1/4 sona v. to know, be skilled in, be wise about, have information on
pre-verb to know how to 		n. knowledge, wisdom, intelligence, understanding
vt. know, understand, know how to
vi. know, understand
kama learn, study
system of knowledge or beliefs
beings/action 盛 性 xing4 unpa v. to have sexual or marital relations with n. sex, sexuality
mod. erotic, sexual
vt. have sex with, sleep with, fuck
vi. have sex
beings/action verb+noun 食 菜 cai4 moku v. to eat, drink, consume, swallow, ingest n. food, meal
vt. eat, drink, swallow, ingest, consume
beings/action verb+noun 画 画 hua4 sitelen n. image, picture, representation, symbol, mark, writing n. picture, image
vt. draw, write
n. representation, a visual or tactile work that serves to show, describe, explain or remind us of something else; representation, model
n. picture, specific lines and shapes marked on a surface; drawing, print, painting, image, sign, sketch, outline, blueprint, etching, picture,
n. diagram, chart, graph
n. sculpture , an object made into the shape of something; carving, sculpture, figurine, replica
beings/action verb+noun 言 言 yan2 toki v. to communicate, say, speak, say, talk, use language, think n. language, talking, speech, communication
mod. talking, verbal
vt. say
vi. talk, chat, communicate
interj. hello! hi!
vt. to give and receive (e: information) (tawa: with); to communicate
vt. to put together (e: thoughts or ideas); to think out
beings/kinship 母 母 mu3 mama n. parent, ancestor; creator, originator; caretaker, sustainer n. parent, mother, father
mod. of the parent, parental, maternal, fatherly
sounds like momma
beings/kinship 氏 pata n. brother obsolete
beings/sex 女 女 nü3/nv3 meli n. woman, female, feminine person; wife n. woman, female, girl, wife, girlfriend
mod. female, feminine, womanly
Mary
beings/sex 男 男 nan2 mije n. man, male, masculine person; husband n. man, male, boy, husband, boyfriend
mod. male, masculine, manly
beings/body 手 手 shou3 luka n. arm, hand, tactile organ
num. five 		n. hand, arm
beings/body 足 足 zu2 noka n. foot, leg, organ of locomotion; bottom, lower part n. leg, foot
beings/body 目 目 mu4 oko n. eye
v. to look at, see, examine, observe, read, watch
pre-verb to seek, look for, try to 		n. eye
similar to oculist
beings/body 体 身 shen1 sijelo n. body (of person or animal), physical state, torso n. body, physical state
beings/body 口 口 kou3 uta n. mouth, lips, oral cavity, jaw n. mouth
mod. oral
n.
mouth
the part of the human body that includes the lips and everything inside the mouth and throat; mouth, oral cavity, throat, pharynx, lips
maw
a similar part in an animal's body, used for eating, sucking or grooming; beak, bill, rostrum, jaw, proboscis
color 黄 黄 huang2 jelo mod. yellow, yellowish mod. yellow, light green
yellow
color verb+noun 色 色 se4 kule mod. colourful, pigmented, painted n. colour, paint
mod. colourful
vt. colour, paint
color 青 青 qing1 laso mod. blue, green mod. blue, blue-green
color 赤 红 hong2 loje mod. red, reddish mod. red
color 黒 黑 hei1 pimeja mod. black, dark, unlit mod. black, dark
n. darkness, shadows
vt. darken
color 白 白 bai2 walo mod. white, whitish; light-coloured, pale mod. white, light (colour)
n. white thing or part, whiteness, lightness
sounds like wall, which is often white
matter/consistency 石 石 shi2 kiwen n. hard object, metal, rock, stone mod. hard, solid, stone-like, made of stone or metal
n. hard thing, rock, stone, metal, mineral, clay
matter/consistency 粉 膏 gao1 ko n. clay, clinging form, dough, semi-solid, paste, powder n. semi-solid or squishy substance, e.g. paste, powder, gum
matter/consistency 空 气 qi4 kon n. air, breath; essence, spirit; hidden reality, unseen agent n. air, wind, smell, soul
mod. air-like, ethereal, gaseous
matter/consistency 水 水 shui3 telo n. water, liquid, fluid, wet substance; beverage n. water, liquid, juice, sauce
vt. water, wash with water
n. liquid, a flowing wet substance; liquid, fluid, water
n. beverage, a liquid for drinking; beverage, drink, water, juice
n. a liquid for washing; water
n. body fluid, a liquid that comes out of the body; blood, milk, saliva, semen, sweat, tears, urine
n. body of water, an area covered with water; bay, strait, sea, lake, river, stream
vt. to use telo on; to water, rinse, wash, wet
describer having the characteristics or properties of telo; wet, liquid
matter/shape 糸 糸 mi4 linja n. long and flexible thing; cord, hair, rope, thread, yarn n. long, very thin, floppy thing, e.g. string, rope, hair, thread, cord, chain
matter/shape 葉 叶 ye4 lipu n. flat object; book, document, card, paper, record, website n. flat and bendable thing, e.g. paper, card, ticket
matter/shape 穴 孔 kong3 lupa n. door, hole, orifice, window n. hole, orifice, window, door
sounds like loop
matter/shape 丘 山 shan1 nena n. bump, button, hill, mountain, nose, protuberance n. bump, nose, hill, mountain, button
matter/shape 棒 支 zhi1 palisa n. long hard thing; branch, rod, stick n. long, mostly hard object, e.g. rod, stick, branch
matter/shape 箱 包 bao1 poki n. container, bag, bowl, box, cup, cupboard, drawer, vessel n. container, box, bowl, cup, glass
box
matter/shape 丸 回 hui2 sike n. round or circular thing; ball, circle, cycle, sphere, wheel
mod. of one year 		n. circle, wheel, sphere, ball, cycle
mod. round, cyclical
matter/shape 面 张 zhang1 supa n. horizontal surface, thing to put or rest something on n. horizontal surface, e.g furniture, table, chair, pillow, floor
n. supporting platform, surface
particle あ 啊 a interj. (emphasis, emotion or confirmation) interj. ah, ha, uh, oh, ooh, aw, well (emotion word)
particle 又 也 ye3 kin particle (emphasis, emotion or confirmation) mod. also, too, even, indeed (emphasizes the word(s) before it)
particle お 令 ling4 o particle hey! O! (vocative or imperative) sep. O (vocative or imperative)
interj. hey! (calling somebody's attention)
particle 何 什 she2 seme particle what? which? oth what, which, wh- (question word)
particle 因 从 cong2 tan prep. by, from, because of prep. from, by, because of, since
n. origin, cause
relation word, origin, indicates the place of origin
particle 許 只 zhi3 taso conj. but, however
mod. only 		mod. only, sole
conj. but
that's all
particle/conj ぬ 或 huo4 anu conj. or conj. or
particle/conj ん 又 you4 en conj. (between multiple subjects) conj. and (used to coordinate head nouns)
particle/core 無 不 bu2 ala mod. no, not, zero mod. no, not, none, un-
n. nothing, negation, zero
interj. no!
describer not, not such; no, not
describer no, zero, no quantity of; no, zero
describer un-, opposite of; un-
n. the state, situation or general phenomenon of being ala; absence, emptiness, negation, nothing, zero
interj. a short, sudden or emotional expression of ala; no!
particle/core え 把 ba3 e sep. (before the direct object) sep. (introduces a direct object)
particle/core ら 喇 la1 la particle (between the context phrase and the main sentence) sep. (between adverb or phrase of context and sentence)
particle/core り 哩 li li sep. (between any subject except mi alone or sina alone and its VERB also to introduce a new verb for the same subject) sep. '(between any subject except mi and sina and its verb; also used to introduce a new verb for the same subject)'
particle/core ぴ 的 de pi particle of sep. of, belonging to
particle/pronoun 私 我 wo3 mi n. I, me, we, us n. I, we
mod. my, our
me
particle/pronoun 此 这 zhe4 ni mod. that, this mod. this, that
particle/pronoun 彼 他 ta1 ona n. he, she, it, they n. she, he, it, they
mod. her, his, its, their
particle/pronoun 君 你 ni3 sina n. you n. you
mod. your
place 在 在 zai4 lon prep. located at, present at, real, true, existing prep. be (located) in/at/on
vi. be there, be present, be real/true, exist, be awake
place 时 时 shi2 tenpo n. time, duration, moment, occasion, period, situation n. time, period of time, moment, duration, situation
moment
occasion
place/celestial body 月 月 yue4 mun n. moon, night sky object, star n. moon
mod. lunar
moon
place/celestial body 日 日 ri4 光 guang1 suno n. sun; light, brightness, glow, radiance, shine; light source n. sun, light
describer having the qualities or characteristics of suno, shiny
place/inside 内 内 nei4 insa n. centre, content, inside, between; internal organ, stomach n. inside, inner world, centre, stomach
mod. inner, internal
inside
place/inside 土 土 tu3 ma n. earth, land; outdoors, world; country, territory; soil n. land, earth, country, (outdoor) area
place/inside 皮 甲 jia3 selo n. outer form, outer layer; bark, peel, shell, skin; boundary n. outside, surface, skin, shell, bark, shape, peel
place/inside 家 穴 xue2 tomo n. indoor space; building, home, house, room n. indoor constructed space, e.g. house, home, room, building
mod. urban, domestic, household
shelter
building
home
room
designated place
place/position 下 下 xia4 anpa mod. bowing down, downward, humble, lowly, dependent n. bottom, lower part, under, below, floor, beneath
mod. low, lower, bottom, down
place/position 後 后 hou4 monsi n. back, behind, rear n. back, rear end, butt, behind
mod. back, rear
place/position 側 旁 pang2 poka n. hip, side; next to, nearby, vicinity n. side, hip, next to
prep. in the accompaniment of, with
mod. neighbouring
place/position 上 上 shang4 sewi n. area above, highest part, something elevated
mod. awe-inspiring, divine, sacred, supernatural 		n. high, up, above, top, over, on
mod. superior, elevated, religious, formal
awe-inspiring, inspiring a feeling of wonder, respect and fear; venerable, reverend, estimable, honourable, awe-inspiring, humbling, mesmerizing, venerable, reverend, honourable, looked up to in adoration
captivating, causing a hypnotizing effect, able to hold people in an uncontrollable state of admiration; spellbinding, fascinating, mesmerizing, hypnotic, mysteriously impressive, captivating, enchanting
having higher powers or effects
supernatural
interpreted as belonging to a world beyond the ordinary and physical; transcendent, transcending, divine, magical, mysterious, wondrous, miraculous
causing supernormal stimulus
idealized
worshipped
physically deep
figuratively deep
place/position 前 前 qian2 sinpin n. face, foremost, front, wall n. front, chest, torso, face, wall
quantity 群 组 zu3 kulupu n. community, company, group, nation, society, tribe n. group, community, society, company, people
mod. communal, shared, public, of the society
quantity 小 小 xiao3 lili mod. little, small, short; few; a bit; young mod. small, little, young, a bit, short, few, less
vt. reduce, shorten, shrink, lessen
quantity 冗 namako mod. extra, additional
n. spice 		* this word is new
quantity 大 高 gao1 suli mod. big, heavy, large, long, tall; important; adult mod. big, tall, long, adult, important
vt. enlarge, lengthen
n. size
quantity 全 全 quan2 ale, ali mod. all; abundant, countless, bountiful, every, plentiful
n. abundance, everything, life, universe
num. 100 		n. everything, anything, life, the universe
mod. all, every, complete, whole
quantity/heat 冷 冰 bing1 lete mod. cold, cool; uncooked, raw n. cold
mod. cold, uncooked
vt. cool down, chill
quantity/heat verb+noun 火 火 huo3 seli mod. fire; cooking element, chemical reaction, heat source n. fire, warmth, heat
mod. hot, warm, cooked
vt. heat, warm up, cook
n. fire, a force of nature or chemical reaction that releases heat and light, potentially causing destruction; fire, lightning, explosion, exothermic reaction
n. heat source, something that provides heat
n. cooking source, something that provides heat for preparing food
noun light source, something that provides light
vt. to use seli on
quantity/number 多 大 da mute mod. many, a lot, more, much, several, very
n. quantity 		mod. many, very, much, several, a lot, abundant, numerous, more
n. amount, quantity
vt. make many or much
multi
quantity/number 番 个 ge4 nanpa particle -th (ordinal number)
n. number 		particle -th (ordinal number)
n. number
quantity/number verb+noun 二 二 er4 tu num. two num. two
n. duo, pair
vt. double, separate/cut/divide in two
two
quantity/number verb+noun 一 一 yi1 wan mod. unique, united
num. one 		num. one, a
n. unit, element, particle, part, piece
vt. unite, make one
one
thing 市 esun n. market, shop, fair, bazaar, business transaction n. market, shop
thing verb+noun 物 事 shi4 ijo n. thing, phenomenon, object, matter n. thing, something, stuff, anything, object
mod. of something
vt. objectify
thing 具 匕 bi3 ilo n. tool, implement, machine, device n. tool, device, machine, thing used for a specific purpose
thing 布 巾 jin1 len n. cloth, clothing, fabric, textile; cover, layer of privacy n. clothing, cloth, fabric
thing 貝 元 yuan2 贝 bei4 mani n. money, cash, savings, wealth; large domesticated animal n. money, material wealth, currency, dollar, capital
money
verb 有 有 you3 jo v. to have, carry, contain, hold vt. have, contain
n. having
kama receive, get, take, obtain
verb 音 音 yin4 kalama v. to produce a sound; recite, utter aloud n. sound, noise, voice
vi. make noise
vt. sound, ring, play (an instrument)
verb 切 kipisi v. to cut * this wasn't in the original classic word list.
verb 打 打 da3 pakala mod. botched, broken, damaged, harmed, messed up n. blunder, accident, mistake, destruction, damage, breaking
vt. screw up, fuck up, botch, ruin, break, hurt, injure, damage, spoil, ruin
vi. screw up, fall apart, break
interj. damn! fuck!
verb 戦 战 zhan4 斗 dou4 utala v. to battle, challenge, compete against, struggle against n. conflict, disharmony, competition, fight, war, battle, attack, blow, argument, physical or verbal violence
vt. hit, strike, attack, compete against
competition
conflict
struggle
verb 力 力 li4 wawa mod. strong, powerful; confident, sure; energetic, intense n. energy, strength, power
mod. energetic, strong, fierce, intense, sure, confident
vt. strengthen, energize, empower
intense
strong
fast
loud
(of sound) having a high volume or amplitude
confident, sure
verb 遥 脱 tuo1 weka mod. absent, away, ignored mod. away, absent, missing
n. absence
vt. throw away, remove, get rid of
verb/boundary 開 开 kai1 open v. to begin, start; open; turn on
vt. open, turn on
verb/boundary verb+noun 終 末 mo4 pini mod. ago, completed, ended, finished, past n. end, tip
mod. completed, finished, past, done, ago
vt. finish, close, end, turn off
verb/change 来 到 dao4 kama mod. arriving, coming, future, summoned
pre-verb to become, manage to, succeed in 		vi. come, become, arrive, happen, pursue actions to arrive to (a certain state), manage to, start to
n. event, happening, chance, arrival, beginning
mod. coming, future
vt. bring about, summon
come up
verb/change 变 变 bian4 ante mod. different, altered, changed, other n. difference
mod. different
conj. otherwise, or else
vt. change, alter, modify
verb/change 待 守 shou3 awen mod. enduring, kept, protected, safe, waiting, staying
pre-verb to continue to 		vi. stay, wait, remain
vt. keep
mod. remaining, stationary, permanent, sedentary
verb/change 同 同 tong2 sama mod. same, similar; each other; sibling, peer, fellow
prep. as, like 		mod. same, similar, equal, of equal status or position
prep. like, as, seem
adjective filling the same or a similar role; equivalent
adjective self-
verb/change 新 新 xin1 sin mod. new, fresh; additional, another, extra mod. new, fresh, another, more
vt. renew, renovate, freshen
verb/goal 能 能 neng2 ken pre-verb to be able to, be allowed to, can, may
mod. possible 		vi. can, is able to, is allowed to, may, is possible
n. possibility, ability, power to do things, permission
vt. make possible, enable, allow, permit
cont it is possible that
verb/goal 使 用 yong4 kepeken prep. to use, with, by means of vt. use
prep. with
verb/goal verb+noun 首 首 shou3 lawa n. head, mind
v. to control, direct, guide, lead, own, plan, regulate, rule 		n. head, mind
mod. main, leading, in charge
vt. lead, control, rule, steer
verb/goal 作 工 gong1 pali v. to do, take action on, work on; build, make, prepare n. activity, work, deed, project
mod. active, work-related, operating, working
vt. do, make, build, create
vi. act, work, function
verb/goal 授 给 gei3 pana v. to give, send, emit, provide, put, release vt. give, put, send, place, release, emit, cause
n. giving, transfer, exchange
verb/goal 去 去 qu4 tawa prep. going to, toward; for; from the perspective of
mod. moving 		prep. to, in order to, towards, for, until
vi. go to, walk, travel, move, leave
n. movement, transportation
mod. moving, mobile
vt. move, displace
towards
verb/goal 要 要 yao4 wile pre-verb must, need, require, should, want, wish vt. to want, need, wish, have to, must, will, should
n. desire, need, will
mod. necessary
verb/goal 眠 觉 jiao lape mod. sleeping, resting n.vi. sleep, rest
mod. sleeping, of sleep
verb/goal/good verb/goal/good 悪 歹 dai3 ike mod. bad, negative; non-essential, irrelevant mod. bad, negative, wrong, evil, overly complex, (figuratively) unhealthy
interj. oh dear! woe! alas!
n. negativity, badness, evil
vt. to make bad, to worsen, to have a negative effect upon
vi. to be bad, to suck
sounds like icky
verb/goal/good 良 好 hao3 pona mod. good, positive, useful; friendly, peaceful; simple n. good, simplicity, positivity
mod. good, simple, positive, nice, correct, right
interj. great! good! thanks! OK! cool! yay!
vt. improve, fix, repair, make good
bonam
describer beneficial; good
describer benevolent; altruistic, kind, symbiotic
describer helpful; cooperating
describer ideal
describer conducive to overall wellness
misc. verb+noun 汚 污 wu1 汙 jaki mod. disgusting, obscene, sickly, toxic, unclean, unsanitary mod. dirty, gross, filthy
n. dirt, pollution, garbage, filth
vt. pollute, dirty
interj. ew! yuck!
yucky
misc. verb+noun 甜 甜 tian2 suwi mod. sweet, fragrant; cute, innocent, adorable n. candy, sweet food
mod. sweet, cute
vt. sweeten
sweet
misc. む 吽 ou2, hou2 mu interj (animal noise or communication) interj. woof! meow! moo! etc. (cute animal noise)
moo
misc. 道 道 dao4 nasin n. way, custom, doctrine, method, path, road n. way, manner, custom, road, path, doctrine, system, method
misc. 称 名 ming2 nimi n. name, word n. word, name
misc. pu mod. interacting with the official Toki Pona book

Some quantity and number words