kozètètá ma (63_Social Formulae (Greetings & Everyday Speech))
kozètètá ma
kozètètá ma
Grammatical function
- Type: Verbal Idiom (Apology Formula)
- Meaning: “I’m sorry.”, “I apologize.”
Usage Note
Literally “(I) hold regret.”
- Follows the possession-idiom pattern of sháŕo ma: the speaker carries the kozètètá (regret, “past-hurt”) as a possessed burden.
- Formal: Kozètètá ma, cőkă. (“I hold regret — please understand.“)
- Reply (forgiveness): Nèŕa. (“It is nothing.”) or Xůxůkă. (“Please forget it.” — from
xůxů, to forget).
Structure
[Subject (dropped)] kozètètá ma
Pronunciation
IPA: /kozətətɑ ma/
Example sentence
Kozètètá ma — to wo då no shěso zènádao.
“I’m sorry — I did not give you the book.” (då no = DAT 2SG)
Etymology
kozètètá (regret, remorse) + ma (to have).
Synonyms
- kozètètánů (to regret)
Antonyms
- fůjå ma (gratitude)