Part 3

(1) °Ngoo iau° ‘auh wo° tsoong-kok wo°. (2) °Ngoo iau° ‘auh dok tsoong-kok su. (3) Noong° iau° dok su va°? (4) I-tsak siang-°ts tan-chi° meh? (5) Kyau° yi chi° meh tse. (6) I-kuh °mo-foo iau° °ma san tsak °mo. (7) °Ngoo peh yi °ng kwhe° yang-dien kyau° yi chi° °ma ih tsak yang. (8) °Ngoo °i-kyung wo° koo° tse. (9) °Zaung-°he tau° koo° hyih meh? (10) Tau° koo° hyih tse. (11) °Ngoo-kuh i-zaung ze-voong tsoo° °hau meh? (12) Yi leh-la° tsoo°. (13) Noong° chuh-°hau-°ts van° iau° tsoo° sa°? (14) Chuh-°hau-°ts van° iau° dok su. (15) °Ngoo iau° chi° °ma ih saung sing kuh ‘a-°ts. (16) Van° sau °hau meh? (17) Sau °hau tse. (18) °Lau sien-sang kyau° si°-tse° chi° °ma sang-li. (19) Kyau° yi le tsoo° meh tse. (20) Di°-kuh tsoo° koo° hyih meh? Tsoo° koo° hyih tse.

(一) 我要學話中國話. (二) 我要學讀中國書. (三) 儂要讀書否? (四) 伊隻箱子擔去末? (五) 叫伊去末哉. (六) 伊個馬夫要買三隻馬. (七) 我撥伊五塊洋錢叫伊去買一隻羊. (八) 我已經話過哉. (九) 上海到過歇末? (十) 到過歇哉. (十一) 我個衣裳裁縫做好末? (十二) 伊拉拉做. (十三) 儂吃好之飯要做啥? (十四) 吃好之飯要讀書. (十五) 我耍去買一雙新個鞋子. (十六) 飯燒好末? (十七) 燒好哉. (十八) 老先生叫細崽去買生梨. (十九) 叫伊來做末哉. (二十) 第個做過歇末? 做過歇哉.

(Translate into Chinese)

(1) I have already read this book. (2) Do you want to buy a dog? (3) When I arrive at Shanghai, I wish to buy an umbrella. (4) Has my friend come? (5) I gave him four dollars and told him to buy a table. (6) The teacher is eating his dinner. (7) I have already given him ten dollars. (8) Come along. (9) When the teacher has come, call me. (10) Have you ever eaten Chinese peaches? (11) I have eaten them. (12) Those pupils are studying Chinese. (13) The foreign teacher is learning to speak Chinese.

(一) 第本書我已輕讀過哉. (二) 一隻狗要買否? (三) 到之上海我要買把洋傘. (四) 我個朋友來末? (五) 我撥伊四塊洋錢叫伊去買一隻擡子. (六) 先生垃拉吃飯. (七) 我已經撥伊十塊洋錢. (八) 來末哉. (九) 先生來之末來叫我. (十) 中國桃子儂吃過歇末? (十一) 吃過歇哉. (十二) 伊個學生子拉拉讀中國書. (十三) 外國先生拉拉學中國話.

Notes.

(1) China is known by many different names. The most common is {Tsoong-kok} (中國). We also have {Da° tshing kok} (大淸國), “the great pure kingdom,” {Tsoong-wo} (中華), “the middle civilized kingdom,” and {Zeh pah °sang} (十八省) “the eighteen provinces” (used of China Proper, without its dependencies). A modern name is {Ts-na} (支那). It represents the sound of China, and was much used by the reform party. The name adopted for The Republic of China is {Tsoong-wo ming kok} (中國民國) “The middle civilized people’s kingdom.”

(2) In the ninth sentence of the first exercise the force of the {Tau°} (到) is visiting the place for the first time.

(3) In the twentieth sentence of the first exercise the meaning is, “Have you ever done this before?”

(4) In the ninth sentence of the second exercise, you use the past participle, {le-°ts} (來之). After it {meh} (末) is often used for euphony, thus the sentence would be {Sien-sang le-ts meh, le kyau° °ngoo} (先生來之末來叫我).

(5) In the twelfth sentence of the second exercise {su} (書) is added after {tsoong-kok} (中國). The meaning is “The pupils are studying Chinese books.”

(6) In the thirteenth sentence of the second exercise, the foreign teacher would be {nga°-kok sien sang} (外國先生). {Nga°-kok} is used as an adjective.

LESSON VII

Prepositions and Postpositions, and Common Connectives

The words expressing the relations of nouns to one another are placed, some of them before and some of them after the governed substantive. ‘At’ or ‘to’ is expressed by \{la°}/ (拉). Thus \{°ngoo peh la° yi}/ (我撥拉伊), “I gave it to him.”

‘To’ or ‘towards’ in the sense of direction is expressed by \{tau°}/ (到). Thus: \{°ngoo iau° tau° °Zaung-°he chi°}/ (我要到上海去), “I wish to go to Shanghai.” ‘To’ or ‘towards’ is also expressed by \{te°}/ (對), as in the expression to speak to a person. Thus: \{°ngoo te° yi wo°}/ (我對伊話), “I said to him.” ‘From’ is expressed by \{dzoong}/ (從). Thus: \{°ngoo dzoong °Zaung-°he le}/ (我從上海來), “I came from Shanghai.”

‘With’ is expressed by \{tah}/ 搭 or \{doong}/ 同. Thus: \{°ngoo tah yi bak wo°}/ (我搭伊白話) or \{°ngoo doong yi bak wo°}/ (我同伊白話), “I talked with him.”

‘Instead of’ is \{thi°}/ (替) or \{°de thi°}/ (代替). Thus: \{°ngoo °de thi° yi tsoo°}/ (我代替伊做), “I do it instead of him.” The idea of doing it for a person is expressed by \{theh}/ (忒). Thus: \{°ngoo theh yi tsoo°}/ (我忒伊做), “I will do it for him.”

‘In’ is expressed by placing \{la°}/ (拉) or \{leh-la°}/ (拉拉) before the noun and \{°li}/ (裏) or \{°li-hyang°}/ (裏向) after the noun. Thus: \{la° vaung-°ts °li}/ (拉房子裏) means, “In the house.” \{La° siang-°ts °li}/ (拉箱子裏) means “In the box.”

‘On’ is expressed by placing \{la°}/ or \{leh-la°}/ before the noun and \{laung°}/ (上) after it. Thus: \{la° loo° laung°}/ (拉路上) means, “On the road.” \{La° de-°ts laung°}/ (拉擡子上) means, “On the table.”

\{Nga°}/ (外) means “out.” The usual expression is \{nga°-deu}/ (外頭) “outside.” It follows the noun.

Other prepositions will be introduced later.

The most common connective is \{°lau}/ (佬) and corresponds quite closely to our use of “and.” Thus \{°ngoo iau° °ma ‘a-°ts °lau mah}/ (我要買鞋子佬襪) means, “I wish to buy shoes and stockings.” Nouns are often placed beside one another without any connective between them. \{Tah-ts}/ (搭之) is used much in the same sense as \{°lau}/ (佬).

‘Also’ is \{°‘a-°z}/ (也是) or \{°‘a}/ (也). Thus: \{di°-kuh °‘a-°z hau kuh}/ (第個也是好個) means, “This also is good.” \{°Ngoo °‘a iau° °ma}/ (我也要買) means, “I also wish to buy.” \{°Ngoo wan iau° °ma}/ (我還要買) means, “I still wish to buy.”

VOCABULARY

A city, \ih zoo° dzung/ 一座城. A school, \ih kuh ‘auh-daung/ 一個學堂. A hat, \ih °ting mau°-°ts/ 一頂帽子. A head, \ih kuh deu/ 一個頭. A foot, \ih tsak kyak/ 一隻脚. A hand, \ih tsak °seu/ 一隻手. A heart, \ih kuh sing/ 一個心. Father, \ya/ 爺. Mother, \nyang/ 娘. A body, \ih kuh sung-°thi/ 一個身體. Home, \ok-°li/ 屋裏. To sit, \°zoo/ 坐. To live, dwell, \dzu°/ 住. To wear, \tsak/ 着. To place, \faung°/ 放, \°pa/ 擺. To use, \yoong°/ 用. To wear on the head, \ta°/ 戴.

EXERCISES

(Translate into English)

(1) Sa° nyung peh la° yi kuh? (2) I-kuh ya peh la° yi kuh. (3) Di°-kuh iau° tan tau° ok-°li chi°. (4) Mau°-°ts iau° ta° la° deu laung°. (5) ‘A-°ts iau° tsak la° kyak laung°. (6) I-zaung iau° tsak la° sung laung°. (7) Sien-sang dzu° la° dzung° °li va°? (8) ‘Auh-sang-°ts iau° tau° ‘auh-daung °li chi°. (9) °Ngoo kyau° si°-tse° °pa °ngoo-kuh i-zaung la° siang-°ts °li. (10) Sien-sang dzoong nga°-kok tau° Tsoong-kok le. (11) Sien-sang kyau° °siau-noen yoong° sing dok su. (12) ’Veh iau° °zoo la° zaung laung°, iau° °zoo la° iui°-°ts laung°. (13) Su faung° la° de-°ts laung°. (14) Bang-°yeu i°-kyung le koo°-°ts °lau chi° tse. (15) Sang-li °z °hau chuh kuh, dau-°ts °‘a-°z °hau chuh kuh. (16) Di°-kuh °siau noen ’m ya nyang kuh. (17), Sa° nyung la° ‘auh-daung °li? Sien-sang tah-ts ‘auh-sang-°ts. (18) Noong° wan iau° °ma sa° va°? ’Veh iau°.

(一) 啥人撥拉伊個? (二) 伊個爺撥拉伊個. (三) 第個要擔到屋裏去. (四) 帽子要戴拉頭上. (五) 鞋子要着拉脚上. (六) 衣裳要着拉身上. (七) 先生住拉城裏否? (八) 學生子要到學堂裏去. (九) 我叫細崽擺我個衣裳拉箱子裏. (十) 先生從外國到中國來. (十一) 先生叫小囡用心讀書. (十二) 勿要坐拉床上要坐拉椅子上. (十三) 書放拉檯子上. (十四) 朋友已經來過之佬去哉. (十五) 生梨是好吃個桃子也是好吃個. (十六) 第個小囝無爺娘個. (十七) 啥人拉學堂裏? 先生搭之學生子. (十八) 儂還要買啥否? 勿要.

(Translate into Chinese)

(1) I placed the knives and the forks on the table. (2) Who lives in this house? Mr. Tsang. (3) The father and mother wish the child to study. (4) Do you live in the city or out of the city? (5) The cat is on the table. (6) Take it in your hand. (7) Keep it in mind (place it on your heart). (8) The heart is in the body. (9) That child has no shoes on his feet (10) That man has no hat on his head. (11) To whom do the cows and sheep belong? (12) When you have put on your clothes, come and eat. (13) The horse boy wishes to feed the horse also. (14) You and I are friends. (15) Have you ever been to foreign countries?

(一) 刀叉我放拉檯子上. (二) 啥人住拉第個房子裏? 張先生. (三) 爺娘要第個小囡讀書. (四) 儂住拉城裏呢城外? (五) 貓拉檯子上. (六) 擔拉手裏. (七) 放拉心上. (八) 心拉拉身體裏. (九) 伊個小囝脚上無沒鞋子. (十) 伊個人頭上無末帽子. (十一) 牛佬羊是啥人個? (十二) 着好之衣裳佬來吃. (十三) 馬夫也要撥馬吃. (十四) 儂搭之我是朋友. (十五) 外國去過歇末.

Notes.

(1) There are many different ways of saying “father” and “mother,” but these will have to be explained later.

(2) {Laung°} is really the character {°Zaung}. It has the latter sound when used in the adverb “above,” which is {°Zaung-deu}, 上頭.

(3) The seventh sentence of the first exercise is correct grammatically, but would not be used in polite speech. The usual way of asking a gentleman where he lives is to say {Sien-sang °foo laung° la° °‘a-°li}, 先生府上拉那裏.

(4) In the eleventh sentence of the first exercise the expression {yoong° sing} means “to be diligent” or “to pay attention.”

(5) In the second sentence of the second exercise Mr. Tsang is translated {Tsang Sien-sang}. {Tsang} is a common surname in Chinese. The {Sien-sang} follows the surname.

(6) Doong (同) is generally used with {ih-dau} (一淘), {Doong} coming before the noun, and {ih-dau} after it. Thus {°Ngoo doong °ngoo kuh bang-yeu ih-dau tau° °Zaung-°he chi°}.

LESSON VIII

Potential and Subjunctive Moods, and some Interrogative Adverbs

“May” or “can” is expressed by \{°khau-°i}/ (可以). Thus “I may or can eat” is \{°ngoo °khau-°i chuh}/ (我可以吃). When physical ability is implied \{nung-keu°}/ (能彀) is frequently used. Thus “I have the physical ability to do,” is \{°ngoo nung-keu° tsoo°}/ (我能彀做). When acquired ability is to be expressed \{we°}/ (會) is generally used. Thus: “I have the ability to speak Chinese” is \{°ngoo we° wo° Tsoong-kok wo°}/ (我會話中國話).

The Subjunctive Mood is expressed exactly like the Indicative Mood except that some word meaning “If” is placed at the beginning of the clause, and that the particle \{meh}/ (末) is generally placed at the end of the clause.

“If” is \{zak}/ (若), \{zak-s°}/ (若使), \{zak-zen}/ (若然), \{°thaung-zen}/ (倘然), \{°thaung-s°}/ (倘使). Thus “If I go, I will call you,” is expressed \{zak-zen °ngoo chi° meh, °ngoo iau° kyau° noong°}/ (若然我去末我要叫儂).

Very often the word implying “If” is omitted at the beginning of the clause, and the condition is implied simply by the use of the \{meh}/ (末) the end of the clause. Thus: “When he has finished it, come and tell me” is \{yi tsoo° °hau meh, le te° °ngoo wo°}/ (伊做好末來對我話).

“How” is \{°na-nung}/ (那能). Thus “How do you know”. is \{noong° °na-nung °hyau-tuh?}/ (儂那能曉得).

“When?” is \{°kyi-z}/ (幾時). Thus “When did you come?” is \{noong° °kyi-z le kuh?}/ (儂幾時來個). “When did you arrive?”, is \{noong° kyi-z tau°?}/ (濃幾時到). Beginners in Chinese often make the mistake of using \{°kyi-z}/ as the ordinary adverb of time. To express such a sentence as “When I come he will go,” we say \{°ngoo le-°ts meh yi iau° chi°}/ (我來仔末伊要去), the past participle being used, and \{meh}/ implying that it is conditional. It is incorrect to say \{°ngoo °kyi-z le, yi iau° chi°}/. Let it be remembered that \{°kyi-z}/ is only used in asking a question.

We have the \{°kyi-z}/ used after the verb in such a sentence as \{noong° tau°-ts °kyi-z tse?}/ (濃到仔幾時哉) meaning, “How long since you arrived?” or \{yi chi°-°ts °kyi-z tse?}/ (伊去仔幾時哉) meaning, “How long since he went?”

VOCABULARY

To sell, \ma°/ 賣 or \ma°-theh/ 賣脫. To see, \khoen°/ 看 or \khoen°-kyien°/ seen 看見. To walk, \°tseu/ 走. To run, \bau/ 跑. To know, \°hyau-tuh/ 曉得. To know a person, \nyung°-tuh/ 認得. To understand, \°toong/ 懂 or \ming-bak/ 明白. A pagoda, \ih zoo° thah/ 一座塔. A sedan chair, \ih °ting jau°-°ts/ 一頂橋轎子. A visitor or guest, \ih we° khak-nyung/ 一位客人. A doctor, \ih we° laung tsoong/ 一位郞中 or \ih we° i-sung/ 一位醫生. A grave mound, \ih kuh °vung-san/ 一個墳山. A mouth, \ih kuh °kheu/ 一個口 or \ih tsang °ts/ 一張嘴. A doorway, \ih kuh mung-°kheu/ (Mouth of the door) 一個門口 or \mung-°kheu-deu/ 一個門口頭. An ear, \ih tsak °nyi-°too/ 一隻耳朵. A nose, \ih kuh bih-deu/ 一個鼻頭. An eye, \ih tsak °ngan-tsing/ 一隻眼晴. A face, \ih kuh mien°-khoong/ 一個面孔.

\{Boo}/ (部) is the classifier used with carriages, and vehicles on wheels.

A carriage, \ih boo °mo-tsho/ 一部馬車. A ricsha, \ih boo toong-yang-tsho/ 一部東洋車. (Lit. East of the Ocean carriage.) Japan is known as the land East of the Ocean, and ricshas were first used there. A wheelbarrow, \ih boo tsho-°ts/ 一部車子 or \°siau-tsho/(小車. Short, \°toen/ 短. Long, \dzang/ 長. Fast, \kwha°/ 快. Slow, \man°/ 慢. To-morrow, \ming-tsau/ 明朝.

EXERCISES

(Translate into English)

(1) Noong° ming-bak va°? ’Veh ming-bak. (2) Tsoong-kok wo°, noong° we° wo° va°? °Ngoo ’veh we° wo°. (3) Tsoong-kok su noong° we° dok va°? °Ngoo ’veh we° dok. (4) °Tshing sien-sang ming-tsau le. (5) Noong° °kyi-z khau-°i chi°? °Ngoo ming-tsau khau-°i chi°. (6) Di°-tsak °mo ’veh nung-keu° bau le kwha°. (7) Zak-zen sien-sang le meh, noong° te° yi wo° °ngoo °Zaung-°he chi° tse. (8) Chi° kyau° ih boo toong-yang-tsho. (9) Di°-zoo° thah noong° khoen°-kyien° hyih meh? (10) Mok-ziang° °zoo-ts °siau-tsho-°ts tau° °Zaung-°he chi° tse. (11) Di°-kuh nyung noong° nyung°-tuh va°? ’Veh nyung°-tuh. (12) Noong° °na-nung chi° kuh? °Ngoo °zoo-ts °mo-tsho chi kuh. (13) Iau° noong° chi° °tshing i-sung le. (14) °Tshing sien-sang wo° le man° °tien. (15) Zah-zen sien-sang wo° le kwha° meh, °ngoo ’veh °toong. (16) Di-°kung °baung °z dzang kuh, di°-°po tau °z °toen kuh. (17) Khak-nyung tau°-°ts mung-°kheu-deu iau° °tshing yi °li-hyang° °zoo. (18) I-kuh °siau-noen kuh mien°-°khoong ’man °hau khoen°. (19) Nyung °yeu °liang tsak °nyi-°too, °liang tsak °ngan-tsing, ih kuh bih-deu, °lau ih tsang-°ts. (20) °Di°-zoo° vaung-°ts °i-kyung ma°-theh tse.

(一) 儂明白否? 勿明白. (二) 中國話儂會話否? 我勿會話. (三) 中國書儂會讀否? 我勿會讀. (四) 請先生明朝來. (五) 儂幾時可以去? 我明朝可以去. (六) 第隻馬勿能彀跑來快. (七) 若然先生來末儂對伊話我上海去哉. (八) 去叫一部東洋車. (九) 第座塔儂看見歇末? (十) 木匠坐之小車子到上海去哉. (十一) 第個人儂認得否? 勿認得. (十二) 儂那能去個? 我坐馬車去個. (十三) 要儂去請醫生來. (十四) 請先生話來慢點. (十五) 若然先生話來快末我勿懂. (十六) 第根棒是長個, 第把刀是短個. (十七) 客人到之門口頭請伊裏向坐. (十八) 伊個小囝個面孔蠻好看. (十九) 人有兩隻耳朵, 兩隻眼睛, 一個鼻頭佬一張嘴. (二十) 第座房子已經賣脫哉.

(Translate into Chinese)

(1) Please take a seat. (2) When will that teacher come? (3) He said he will come to-morrow. (4) Have you seen my dog? (5) Ask the visitor to come in. (6) The sheep is on the grave mound. (7) I wish to ride in a sedan chair, and go into the city. (8) When the doctor comes, come and call me. (9) Call two ricshas. (10) How long have you been in China? (11) If men had no eyes they would not be able to see. (12) If the pupil is not diligent he will not be able to learn Chinese. (13) I do not know how to say this. (14) When will the doctor come? (15) To-morrow he will come. (16) The road to Shanghai is very long. (17) If you do not understand you can ask the teacher to speak more slowly. (18) The ears of that dog are very long. (19) The child runs very fast. (20) Do you know my friend? I do not.

(一) 請坐. (二) 伊個先生幾時要來? (三) 伊話伊明朝要來. (四) 我個一隻狗儂看見歇末? (五) 請客人進來. (六) 第隻羊拉墳山上. (七) 我要坐轎子到城裏去. (八) 醫生來之末來叫我. (九) 去叫兩部東洋車. (十) 儂到之中國幾時哉? (十一) 若然人無沒眼睛伊拉勿能彀看見. (十二) 苦然學生子勿用心伊勿會學中國話. (十三) 第個我勿曉得那能話個. (十四) 醫生幾時要來? (十五) 伊明朝要來. (十六) 到上海路是蠻長. (十七) 若然儂勿懂末儂可以請先生話來慢點. (十八) 伊隻狗個耳朵是蠻長. (十九) 笫個小囝跑來蠻快. (二十) 我個朋友儂認得否? 勿認得.

Notes.

(1) In the sixth sentence of the first exercise, notice that the adjective {kwha°} is turned into an adverb by the {le} coming before it. Adjectives are often used with verbs in this way.

(2) In the twelfth sentence of the first exercise, notice the expression for travelling in a carriage. In Chinese you “sit a carriage.”

(3) In the first sentence of the second exercise we have the usual polite expression for asking one to be seated {°Tshing °zoo}. This should be said as soon as a guest or stranger enters the room, but of course is not used in speaking to inferiors, In such cases it is enough to say {°zoo-°zoo} (坐坐).

(4) Notice the difference between {°ma} (買) to buy, and {ma°} (賣) to sell. To our ears the sounds are hard to distinguish. The only difference is in the tones.

(5) The new term for ricsha is {ih boo waung bau tsho} 黃跑車, a yellow running carriage.

LESSON IX

The Use of Dzak, Reduplication of Verbs, Reflexive Pronouns

In expressing the carrying of the action of the verb into effect \{dzak}/ (着) is often used after it. Thus: \{zing-dzak}/ (尋着) means that a thing has been actually found. \{Zing}/ means ‘to find’. There are a great many active verbs which can take the \{dzak}/ after them. For example we have \{tuh-dzak}/ (得着), meaning a thing has been obtained. \{Tuh}/ means ‘to get. \{Bang°-dzak}/ (掽着) means a person or thing has been met. \{Bang°}/ (掽) means ‘to strike against.

Verbs are often repeated for emphasis. We have had an example of this in the expression \{°zoo °zoo}/, meaning “sit down” Thus \{khoen° khoen°}/ (看看) means “Look, look.”

In many cases \{ih}/ (一) is inserted between the verbs, as \{khoen° ih khoen°}/. In such cases the last verb is changed into a verbal noun. Literally it would be “Look a look.”

The Reflexive Personal Pronouns hardly require any explanation. They are formed by adding \{z°-ka}/ (自家) after the Personal Pronouns. Thus “I myself” would be \{°ngoo z°- ka}/ (我自家). “You yourself” would be \{noong° z°-ka}/ (濃自家) and so on for the rest.

VOCABULARY

To teach, \kau°/ 敎. To write, \°sia/ 寫. To ask, \mung°/ 問. To pay, \foo°/ 付. To build, \°zau/ 造. To look for, \zing/ 尋. To hear, \thing/ 聽 or \thing kyien°/ (heard) 聽見. To know a Chinese character, \suh/ 識. To strike against, \bang°/ 掽. To get, \tuh/ 得. A mason, \ih kuh nyi-°s ziang°/ 一個泥水匠. A water buffalo, \ih tsak °s-nyeu/ 一隻水牛. An apple, \ih tsak bing °koo/ 一隻蘋果. A dining table, \ih tsak chuh-van°-de-°ts/ 一隻吃飯檯子. An office desk, \ih tsak °sia-z°-de-°ts/ 一隻寫字檯子. A Chinese character, \ih kuh z°/ 一個字. A drawer of a table, \ih tsak tsheu-thi/ 一隻抽屜; \ih tsak tsheu-teu/ 一隻抽斗. An unmarried woman, \ih kuh °siau-°tsia/ 一個小姐. Tea, \dzo/ 茶. Now, \yien°-°dze/ 現在. Not yet, \’veh zung/ 勿曾. Still not yet, \wan ’veh zung/ 還勿曾. Why? \we°-sa°/ 爲啥 or \we°-sa°-°lau/ 爲啥佬. Because, \iung-we°/ 因爲 or \we°-ts/ 爲之.

In using \{iung-we°}/ the particle \{°lau}/ (佬) is generally added at the end of the clause. Thus: “Why did you not go? Because I did not want to go” is \{noong° we°- °sa ’veh chi°? Iung we° °ngoo ’veh iau° chi° °lau}/ (儂爲啥勿去? 因爲我勿要去佬.)

EXERCISES

(Translate into English)

(1) °Tshing sien-sang kau° °ngoo dok Tsoong-kok su. (2) Yien°-°dze °ngoo iau° ‘auh °sia Tsoong-kok z°. (3) Noong° °ma-°ts ih tsak °sia-z°-de, doong-dien foo° meh? ’Veh zung. (4) Di°-kuh z° °ngoo ’veh suh. (5) Zak-zen noong° ’veh suh meh °khau-°i mung° sien-sang. (6) Vaung-°ts °zau °hau meh? Wan ’veh zung. (7) °Ngoo kuh sen°-°ts °tshing noong° theh °ngoo zing zing-khoen°. (8) Sen°-°ts °i-kyung zing-dzak tse. (9) Noong° we°-sa°-°lau ’veh zung chi°? Iung-we° °ngoo iau° dok su °lau. (10) °Tshing sien-sang chuh dzo. (11) °Tshing sien-sang yoong° dzo. (12) Zak-zen nyung m-meh °nyi-°too, yi-la ’veh nung-keu° thing. (13) °Ngoo ’veh zung tau° Tsoong-kok le, °s-nyeu ’veh zung khoen°-kyien° hyih. (14) Nyi-°s-ziang° bang°-dzak hyih meh? ’Veh zung. (15) °Sia-°z-de-°ts laung° kuh su °z sa° nyung kuh? °Z °ngoo-z°-ka kuh. (16) °Ngoo kyau° noong° faung° °ngoo-kuh i-zaung la° tsheu-thi °li, noong° we°-sa° ’veh zung faung° kuh? (17) Chi° khoen° khoen° sien-sang le meh. (18) °Ngoo kuh san° noong° zing-dzak meh? Zing-’veh-dzak. (19) Zak-zen m-meh sien-sang meh, noong° z°-ka °khau-°i dok su. (20) Iau° °ngoo foo° doong-dien meh, kyau° yi-la z°-ka le nau.

(一) 請先生教我讀中國書. (二) 現在我要學寫中國字. (三) 儂買之一隻寫字檯銅錢付末? 勿曾. (四) 第個字我勿識. (五) 若然儂勿識末可以問先生. (六) 房子造好末? 還勿曾. (七) 我個扇子請儂忒我尋尋看. (八) 扇子已經尋着哉. (九) 儂爲啥佬勿曾去? 因爲我要讀書佬. (十) 請先生吃茶. (十一) 請先生用茶. (十二) 若然人無沒耳朵, 伊拉勿能彀聽. (十三) 我勿曾到中國來, 水牛勿曾看見歇. (十四) 泥水匠掽着歇末? 勿曾. (十五) 寫字檯子上個書是啥人個? 是我自家個. (十六) 我叫儂放我個衣裳拉抽屜裏, 儂爲啥勿曾放個? (十七) 去看看先生來末? (十八) 我個傘儂尋着末? 尋勿着. (十九) 若然無沒先生末, 儂自家可以讀書. (二十) 要我付銅錢末, 叫伊拉自家來拿.

(Translate into Chinese)

(1) Why don’t you pay it? (2) Why do you do this? (3) When will you do it? (4) I don’t want it now. (5) When did you go? (6) I do not want to go now, but I will go to-morrow. (7) Does the teacher teach well? (8) Does the pupil write well? (9) Why do you not look for my fan? Because I have already found it. (10) This carpenter can make a dining table. (11) Go, see if the doctor has come. (12) They themselves said they wished to build a new house. (13) I told the table boy to go to the city and buy me four chairs, a trunk, a bed, and an office desk. (14) When the teacher comes, ask him please to be seated and to take some tea. (15) If one does not study he is unable to know characters. (16) My office desk has three drawers. (17) This unmarried girl also wishes to study. (18) Have you bought the apples? They cannot be obtained. (19) Do you know whether the guest has already arrived? I do not know. (20) Can you obtain these? They are unobtainable.

(一) 儂爲啥勿付個? (二) 第個儂爲啥做個? (三) 儂幾時要做個? (四) 現在勿要. (五) 儂幾時去個? (六) 現在勿要去, 明朝要去. (七) 先生教來好否? (八) 學生子寫來好否? (九) 儂爲啥佬勿尋我個扇子? 因爲已經尋着哉. (十) 第個木匠可以做一隻吃飯檯. (十一) 去看看醫生來末. (十二) 伊拉自家話, 伊拉要造新個房子. (十三) 我叫細崽到城裏去, 買四把椅子, 一隻箱子, 一隻牀佬一隻寫字檯. (十四) 先生來仔末請伊坐坐佬吃茶. (十五) 若然一個人勿讀書, 伊勿會識字. (十六) 我個寫字檯有三隻柚屜. (十七) 第個小姐也要讀書. (十八) 苹果買好末? 買勿着. (十九) 客人已經到儂曉得否? 我勿曉得. (二十) 第個儂可以得着否? 得勿着.

Notes.

(1) In the seventh sentence of the first exercise notice the {khoen°} after the reduplicated verb {zing}. This gives the force of try to look for it. “Look, look, see.” {Khoen°} is used after many verbs in this way. Thus: {Tsoo° tsoo° khoen°} 做做看 means “try to do it.” {°Sia °sia khoen°} 寫寫看 means “try to write it.” {Wo° wo° khoen°} 話話看 means, “try to say it.” {S° S° khoen°} 試試看 means “try to do it.”

(2) In the tenth and eleventh sentences of the first exercise we have two ways of asking a person to drink tea. The second is the polite form. Literally it means that you ask a person “to use tea.”

(3) In the nineteenth sentence of the first exercise, notice the use of {meh} for euphony after {sien-sang}, and so also in the twentieth after {doong-dien}.

(4) In the eighteenth sentence of the first exercise, notice the way in which {’veh} comes between the {zing} and the {dzak}. This means “seek not find” or “it can not be found.” So also in the second exercise in the eighteenth sentence “They cannot be obtained” should be translated {°ma-’veh dzak?} and in the twentieth sentence “They are unobtainable” should be {tuh-’veh-dzak}.

LESSON X

Divisions of Time. More Adverbs

“An hour” in Chinese is \{ih °tien tsoong}/ (一點鐘) or \{ih kuh tsoong-deu}/ (一個鐘頭). Literally “one point of the clock.” This is a foreign division of time. The Chinese divide the day into twelve periods of two hours each, known as \{z-zung}/ (時辰). Now, the divisions into hours has become very familiar.

\{Ih °tien tsoong}/ may also mean “one o’clock,” and the other hours are indicated in the same way by the change of the numeral. Thus “Two o’clock” is \{°liang °tien tsoong}/ (兩點鐘). Two hours would be \{°liang kuh tsoong deu}/ (兩個鐘頭) or \{°liang °tien tsoong koong foo}/ (兩點鐘功夫). “Three o’clock” is \{san °tien tsoong}/ (三點鐘), etc.