Māori Grammar
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Mai is one of the direction particles in te reo Māori, along with atu (away from), iho (downwards) and ake (upwards).
It is used in sentences that clearly mean "towards me":
Haere mai.
Come to me.
Kōrero mai.
Talk to me.
Whakarongo mai.
Listen to me.
Titiro mai!
Look here!
Kua hoki mai ia.
She has returned (here).
Kua tae mai ngā manuhiri.
The guests have arrived (here).
However, it is often used in te reo Māori where a meaning of "towards me" is not obvious.
For example:
Kua noho mai ia ki Tāmaki Makaurau mō ngā tau e rima.
She has been living in Auckland for five years.
The mai does not mean “towards me”; it shows that her residence began in the past and continues up to the present moment. In this context, mai means "from then up to this point in time":
Kua mōhio mai au ki tēnei tikanga mō te tekau tau.
I have known this custom for ten years.
Ka puta mai te Ao Mārama.
The world of light came forth.Karanga mai, karanga mai, karanga mai!
Call me! Call me! Call me!Mauria mai ngā toka ki tēnei taha o te whare.
Bring the stones to this side of the house.Kei te menemene mai te pēpi.
The baby is smiling at me.Ka hoki mai au āpōpō.
I will return tomorrow.I haere mai au ki te inu,.
I came here to drink.Kua hoki mai ia.
She has returned.Ā, kua hoki mai taku mokopuna.
Ah, my grandchild has returned.E noho mai ana tāku tamāhine i Ōtautahi.
My daughter is living in Christchurch.Me kōmuhu mai koe ki a au.
You should whisper it to me.Ka hoki mai au i te rua haora.
I'll be back in two hours.Tae tonu mai te ope ki konei, ka eke ki te marae.
As soon as the party got here, they went to the marae.Kua tae mai rātou i Rotorua.
They have arrived here from Rototua.Kei te ata ka eke mai ka patu.
In the morning they will arrive and attack.Tangohia mai ngā tūru.
Take the chairs down.Ka tū mai Aorangi, te tipuna maunga o Waitaha.
There stands Aorangi, the ancestral mountain of the Waikato people.Me kōrero mai anō koe.
You'd better speak to me again.Tokohia kē mai nei ngā tāngata e tae mai ana mō te kai!
What a lot of people are arriving for the food!Kia ora mai tātou katoa.
Greetings to all of us.Ka rīngi mai ia a te awatea.
She'll ring in the middle of the day.Tatari mai i konā, e te tau.
Wait there, my darling.Ki te tae mai a Haki mā, ka tere oti ngā mahi.
If Haki and the others arrive, then the work will be.Ka haere mai rātou a te Mane.
They will come on Monday.Tatari mai i konā, e te tau.
Wait there, my darling.I haere mai au mā runga pahi.
I came by bus.I hoki mai koe inanahi?
Did you come bach yesterday?Tukuna mai mā te tuhinga kūkara.
Send it to me via google doc.I tau mai te waka ki uta, me te karanga atu a te iwi e tatari ana.
The canoe came to shore while the people who were waiting called out.Pānuihia mai te whārangi tuarua.
Read me the second page.Kei te hiahia au kia whakarongo mai koe!
I want you to listen!Tēnā koutou kua hui mai nei i tēnei rā!
Greetings to you who are gathered here on this day!I rere mai te kaipuke.
The ship sailed here.Ka haere mai ia āpōpō.
She is coming here tomorrow.Haere mai, tamariki mā!
Come here children!Kō ēnei waka e rua, i ū mai ki Hokianga.
These two canoes landed at Hokianga.Titiro mai, whakarongo mai, kōrero mai!
Look, listen and speak!Kahore ia i whakawātea mai mua o te haka.
He didn't move away from the front of the haka.Oma atu, tamariki mā!
Run away children!Haere mai ki te kaukau.
Come for a bath.Kua tae mai a Mia.
Mia has arrived.Whiua mai te pōro.
Throw me the ball.Auē! E haere tonu mai ana te pūru!
Oh! The bull is still coming!Ka tae mai rāua ki Ōtautahi.
They arrived here in Christchurch.Kua hoki mai ia i te pahi.
She has come back from the bus.I tae mai ngā manuhuri.
The visitors arrived.Āe, haere mai ki te kai.
Yes, come to eat.Kia tae mai pea ia.
I hope she comes.E oma atu ana ngā tamariki.
The children are running away.Kei te whai mai koe i ahau.
Do you follow me?Haere mai ki konei!
Come here! (to this place/to where i am)Tēnā haria mai he āporo māku, e kō?
Can you bring me an apple please, dear?