Part 5

We have the \{°chi}/, also used in combination with \{tuh}/ (得). Thus \{Lok-tuh-°chi}/ (䟿得起) means “Able to get up.” \{Lok-’veh-°chi}/ (䟿勿起) means “Unable to get up.” \{°Ma-tuh-°chi}/ (買得起) means “Can afford to buy it.” \{°Ma-’veh-°chi}/ (買勿起) means “Cannot afford to buy it.” \{Kwhung°-’veh-°chi}/ (睏勿起) means “unable to sleep.” \{Khoen°-’veh-°chi}/ (看勿起) means “to look down upon,” “to disdain.”

\{°Zaung}/ (上) and \{°‘Au}/ (下) are used both as principal verbs and as auxiliaries. Thus we have the expressions \{°Zaung san}/ (上山), meaning “to go up hill.” \{°‘Au san}/ (下山), “to go down hill.” \{°‘Au zen}/ (下船), “to go on board a boat,” \{°Zaung su}/ (上書), “to take an advanced lesson in a book,” etc. In these cases they are used as principal verbs.

As auxiliary verbs, they express motion upwards and motion downwards.

They are not confined to verbs of motion, but are used freely with other verbs. To both of them \{le}/ (來) and \{chi°}/ (去) are frequently added.

Thus we have \{dok-°‘au-chi°}/ (讀下去), meaning “Read on down.” \{Tsoo°-°‘au-chi°}/ (做下去), meaning “Go on doing it.” \{Thiau°-°‘au-le}/ (跳下來), meaning “Jump down.” \{Thiau°-°zaung-chi°}/ (跳上去), meaning “Jump up to that place.” \{Thiau°-°zaung-le}/ (跳上來) “Jump up to this place.”

Although the Chinese language is, strictly speaking, a monosyllabic language, yet as has already been noticed there is a strong tendency to use two or more words together forming as it were disyllables or trisyllables. In this lesson some verbs are used, composed of two characters occurring together.

VOCABULARY

To like, to enjoy, \hwen-°hyi/ 歡喜. To play, take recreation, \beh-siang°/ 勃相. To converse, \bak-wo°/ or \dan-dan/ 白話, 談談. To believe, \siang-sing°/ 相信. To fall, \lauh/ 落 (of things) or \tih/ 跌 (of men or animals). To stand up, \lih/ 立. To get up, \lok/ 䟿. To be willing, \°khung/ 肯. To back the book, \pe°/ 背 To think, \°siang/ 想. To sleep, \kwhung°/ 睏 To wipe, \kha/ 揩. To fly, \fi/ 飛. To reckon, \soen°/ 算. To build, \°zau/ 造. A stove, \ih kuh °hoo-loo/ 一個火爐, or \ih tsak °hoo-loo/. A rat, \ih tsak °lau-°ts/ 一隻老鼠, or \ih tsak °lau dzoong/ 一隻老蟲. A washstand, \ih tsak kha-mien°-de-°ts/ 一隻揩面檯子. A temple, \ih zoo° miau°/ 一座廟. A window, \ih sen° tshaung/ 一扇窗.

\Ban/ (爿) is the Classifier for firms, shops, etc.

A tea shop, \ih ban dzo-kwen°/ 一爿茶館. A pair of chop-sticks, \ih saung kwhan/ 一雙筷. Words, \seh-wo°/ 說話 or \wo°-deu/ or 話頭. A sentence, \ih kyui° seh-wo°/ 一句說話. Only, \pih-koo°/ 必過, or \dok-°z/ 獨自, or \tsuh-tuh/ 只得. Not only, \’veh-dan°-°z/ 勿但是, or \’veh-dan°/ 勿但, or \’veh-°ba/ 勿罷. Heavy, \°dzoong/ 重. Light (in weight), \chung/ 輕. Cheap, \jang/ 強 Dear (in price), \kyui°/ 貴. Happy, \kha°-weh/ 快活. Clear or distinct, \tshing-°saung/ 清爽. Soochow, \Soo-tseu/ 蘇州. Therefore, \°soo-°i/ 所以 or \keh-°lau/ 蓋佬. First, \sien/ 先. Together \ih-dau/ 一淘, ih-doong 一同.

EXERCISES

(Translate into English)

(1) Di°-kuh °liang we° bang-°yeu hwen-°hyi ih-dau bak-wo°. (2) °Ngoo dok-ba°-ts su iau° tsheh-chi° beh-siang°. (3) Zak-zen yi °khung ma° meh, noong° °ma-meh-tse. (4) Di° zoo° vaung-°ts °zau-°chi-le ’man kwha°. (5) °Ngoo kyau° i-kuh °siau-noen lih-°chi-le pe° su. (6) °Ngoo °siang di°-kuh ‘auh-sang-°ts kyung-tsau ’veh zung kha mien°. (7) Tsoong-kok nyung chuh van° yoong° ih saung kwhan, nga°-kok nyung yoong° tau °lau tsho. (8) Zauh ya°-deu la° vaung-kan-°li °ngoo thing-tuh ih tsak °lau-°ts leh-la° kyau°. (9) Zak-zen yi wo° yi ’veh zung tan meh, i-kuh seh-wo° °ngoo °khung siang-sing°. (10) Thien °hau meh °ngoo iau° tau° dzo-kwen°-°li chi° °zoo-°zoo dan-dan chuh dzo. (11) °Yeu bih saung-°‘a-°ts va°? °Ngoo pih-koo° °yeu di°-saung. (12) Zauh-ya°-deu °ngoo kwhung°-’veh-dzak, °soo-°i kyung-tsau lok-’veh-°chi. (13) Thien nyih kuh zung-kwaung iau° khe tshaung °lau mung, °lang meh iau° kwan. (14) Tsoong-kok wo°, wo° le ’veh tshing-°saung meh bih nyung ’veh °toong kuh. (15) Di°-tsak kha-mien°-de-°ts noong° °ma le jang va°? ’Veh °hau soen° jang, °ngoo °siang ’man kyui°. (16) Noong° °kyi kwhe° yang-dien °ma le kuh? Zeh kwhe° yang-dien la°. (17) Noong° we°-sa°-°lau °ma le zeh-ke° kyui°? Iung-we° tsuh-tuh di-kuh° ih tsak. (18) °Ngoo tsheh-chi° bau loo° ’veh-dan° khoen°-kyien° ih zoo° miau°, miau° mung zien ‘a °yeu ih zoo° thah. (19) Di°-tsak °hoo-loo °z °dzoong kuh nyi chung kuh? °Z ’man °dzoong kuh. (20) °Tshing sien-sang °zoo °zaung chi°. (21) Sien-sang kyau° ‘auh-sang-°ts dok-°‘au-chi°. (22) °I-°pung su dzoong de-°ts laung° lauh-°‘au-le. (23) °Siau-noen dzoong iui°-°ts laung° tih-°‘au-le. (24) °Ngoo khoen°-kyien° ih tsak °tiau dzoong thien laung° fi-°‘au-le. (25) °Ngoo ming-tsau iau° °‘au zen tau° Soo-tseu chi°.

(一) 第個兩位朋友歡喜一淘白話. (二) 我讀罷之書要出去勃相. (三) 若然伊肯賣末儂買末哉. (四) 第座房子造起來蠻快. (五) 我叫伊個小囝立起來背書. (六) 我想第個學生子今朝勿曾揩面. (七) 中國人吃飯用一雙筷外國人用刀佬叉. (八) 昨夜頭拉房間裏我聽得一隻老鼠垃拉叫. (九) 若然伊話伊勿曾担末伊個說話我肯相信. (十) 天好末我要到茶館裏去坐坐談談吃茶. (十一) 有別雙鞋子否? 我必過有第雙. (十二) 昨夜頭我睏勿着所以今朝䟿勿起. (十三) 天熱個辰光要開窗佬門冷末要關. (十四) 中國話話來勿淸爽末別人勿懂個. (十五) 第隻揩面檯子儂買來強否? 勿好算強我想蠻貴. (十六) 儂幾塊洋錢買來個? 十塊洋錢拉. (十七) 儂爲啥佬買來實蓋貴? 因爲只得第個一隻. (十八) 我出去跑路勿但看見一座廟廟門前也有一座塔. (十九) 第隻火爐是重個呢輕個? 是蠻重個. (二十) 請先生坐上去. (二十一) 先生叫學生子讀下去. (二十二) 伊本書從檯子上落下來. (二十三) 小囝從椅子上跌下來. (二十四) 我看見一隻烏從天上飛下來. (二十五) 我明朝要下船到蘇州去.

(Translate into Chinese)

(1) Do you like to eat this? (2) In the day time men work, in the night time they sleep. (3) The cat came in by the window and the rat ran out by the door. (4) I conversed with him, and he taught me many words in Chinese. (5) I want you to wipe the windows. (6) Last night I only slept four hours. (7) I not only bought a washstand, I also bought a stove and three chairs. (8) Children like to play, men like to study. (9) Why do you go to the tea shop? Because there I can hear many men conversing, and so learn many Chinese words. (10) Are you willing to go with me to see the temple? (11) To-day I am very happy, because I have finished the book. (12) The child jumped down from the table. (13) Please write on down. (14), When will you go up the hill with me to take a look? (15) The teacher first hears the scholars back the book, and then gives them an advanced lesson.

(一) 第樣物事儂歡喜吃否? (二) 日裏個辰光人做工夫拉夜裏末睏. (三) 貓是從窗裏進來老鼠從門裏跑出去. (四) 我對伊白話佬伊教我多化中國話. (五) 要儂去揩揩窗. (六) 昨夜頭我必過睏之四點鐘工夫. (七) 我勿但買之一隻楷面檯子也買之一隻火爐佬三把椅子. (八) 小囝歡喜勃相大人歡喜讀書. (九) 儂爲啥佬到茶館裏去? 因爲伊頭我可以聽得多化人白話佬學中國話. (十) 儂肯搭我一淘到廟裏去看看否? (十一) 今朝我蠻快活因爲一本書讀完哉. (十二) 小囝從檯子上跳下來. (十三) 請寫下去. (十四) 儂幾時搭我一淘上山去看看? (十五) 先生先聽學生子背書難末對伊拉上書.

Notes.

(1) Note that {siang-sing°} means “to like” as well as to believe. {°Ngoo siang-sing° ih kuh nyung} (我相信一個人) means, “I like him.”

(2) The expression “to back the book” arises from the old Chinese custom of the pupil turning his back upon the teacher when he recites his lesson.

(3) Notice the order of the words in the eleventh sentence of the First Exercise. The verb {°Yeu} comes first in the sentence.

(4) The word {la°} is added at the end of the sixteenth sentence of the First Exercise merely for euphony.

(5) In the twentieth sentence of the First Exercise we have another polite way of asking a person to take a higher seat in the guest room.

(6) In sentences twenty-two and twenty-three of the First Exercise we have the use of {lauh} and {tih} for “fall”. It is difficult to distinguish between the two, but {tih} is used always when we speak of a person falling down.

(7) The correct way of translating the first sentence of the Second Exercise is {Di°-yang meh-z° nong° hwen°-hyi chuh va°}? {Di°-yang} means “this sort.”

(8) The thirteenth sentence of the Second Exercise of course refers to the fact that the Chinese write from the top down and not across the page.

(9) The last clause of the fifteenth sentence of the Second Exercise should be {nan-meh theh yi-la °zaung su}. “Then for them, advances in the book.”

LESSON XIV

Causality, and Necessity

The idea of causality, in the sense of causing a person to do a thing, is expressed in Chinese by the use of the auxiliary verbs \{kau}/ (敎) and \{tsha}/ (差). Thus “I caused him to do it,” would be \{°ngoo kao yi tsoo°}/ (我敎伊做). “I caused him to go,” would be \{°ngoo tsha yi chi}/ (我差伊去). The word \{tsha}/ literally means “to send.” The word \{kau}/ is the same as \{kyau°}/, but used with different pronunciation and different tone. When one of higher rank causes a person of lower rank to do a thing the word \{s°}/ (使) is used. Thus \{S° °ngoo ieu-mung}/, “Caused me to sorrow.”

“Must” is expressed by the expressions \{tsoong-iau°}/ (總要), \{pih-ding° iau°}/ (必定要), \{ih-ding° iau°}/ (一定要).

“It must be” is \{tsoong °z}/ (總是). Thus “It must be so” is \{tsoong-°z zeh-ke°}/ (總是實蓋).

“Ought” implying obligation, is expressed by \{iung-ke}/ (應該). Thus “You ought to do it” is \{noong° iung-ke tsoo° kuh}/ (儂應該做個).

VOCABULARY

Perhaps, \khoong-pho°/ 恐怕. Just now, a little while ago, \khan khan/ 纔纔, or \’veh too °kyi-z/ 勿多幾時. Quickly, \‘au-sau°/ 豪燥, or \kwha°-kwha°/ 快快. Moreover, \°ping-°tshia/ 幷且, or \r-°tshia/ 而且, or \hwaung-°tshia/ 况且. Although, \soe-zen/ 雖然, or \soe-°z/ 雖是. Yet, \zen-r/ 然而. Still (in the sense of in addition), \wan/ 還, or \wan-iau°/ 還要. \°ngoo wan-iau° °ma/ 我還要買, “I still wish to buy more.” On the contrary, or on the other hand, \°tau/ 倒. To complete, \dzung-koong/ 成功. To light (a lamp or candle), \°tien/ 點. To light (a fire), \sang/ 生. To take with you, \ta° chi/ 帶去. To bring with you, \ta° le/ 帶來. To kill, \sah/ 殺, or \sah-theh/ 殺脫. To kill with a blow, \°tang sah/ 打殺. To die, \°si/ 死, or \°si-theh/ 死脫. To live, \weh/ 活. A lamp, \ih °tsan tung/ 一盞燈. To tell, narrate, \kau°-soo°/ 告訴. To sweep the ground (floor), \°sau-di°/ 掃地.

\{Foong}/ (封) is the classifier used for letters and other sealed parcels.

A letter, \ih foong sing°/ 一封信. An envelope, \ih foong sing° khauh/ 一封信殼, or \ih foong sing° foong/ 一封信封. A candle, \ih kung lah tsok/ \一根臘燭/. Fire, \°hoo/ 火.

\{Tsang}/ (張) is the classifier denoting sheets.

A sheet of paper, \ih tsang °ts/ or \ih tsang °ts-deu/ 一張紙頭. A fowl, \ih tsak kyi/ 一隻鷄.

EXERCISES

(Translate into English)

(1) °Ngoo-nyi° iung-ke tsoo°-kuh z°-°thi, °tau ’veh tsoo°. (2) Thien °lang-°ts meh pih-ding° iau° sang °hoo. (3) Ya°-deu iau° dok su meh, tsoong-iau° °tien tung. (4) °Ngoo ’veh °hyau-tuh na°-nung tsoo°-deu, °ngoo-kuh bang-°yeu °i-kyung °si-theh tse. (5) Tan ih tsang °ts-deu le, °ngoo iau° °sia ih foong sing°. (6) °Ngoo la° su-vaung °li zing °ngoo-kuh mau-°ts, soe-zen °tien-ts lah-tsok °‘a zing-’veh-dzak kuh. (7) °Ngoo iau° ‘auh dok tsoong-kok z° °ping °tshia iau° ‘auh °sia tsoong-kok z° (8) Soe-zen noong° wo° ’veh zung tan tsheh chi° zen-r °ngoo ’veh °khung siang-sing°. (9) Kwha°-tien chi° kyau° i-sung le, °khoong pho° yi iau° °si tse. (10) Sien-sang leh-la° va°? Yi khan-khan leh-°li, yien-dze ’veh °hyau-tuh °a-°li chi° tse. (11) Zak-zen yi wan ’veh zung le,°ngoo °tung yi ’veh tuh. (12) °Ngoo kyau° yoong°-nyung sah ih tsak kyi, la° chuh van° kuh zung-kwaung iau° chuh kuh. (13) Di°-tsak de-°ts mok-ziang° tsoo° le wan °hau. (14) °Ngoo ’man kha°-weh thing-tuh noong° wo° °ngoo °yeu ih foong sing° le, °khoong-pho° °z °ngoo-kuh bang-°yeu °sia le kuh. (15) Nyung iau° sien tsoo° dzung-koong ih tsaung z°-°thi, nan-meh °khau-°i tsoo° bih yang°. (16) M-meh ih kuh nyung hwen-°hyi °si.

(一) 我伲應該做個事體倒勿做. (二) 天冷之末必定要生火. (三) 夜頭要讀書末總要點燈. (四) 我勿曉得那能做頭我個朋友已經死脫哉. (五) 担一張紙頭來我要寫一封信. (六) 我拉書房裏尋我個帽子雖然點之臘燭也尋勿着個. (七) 我要學讀中國字幷且要學寫中國字. (八) 雖然儂話勿曾担出去然而我勿肯相信. (九) 快點去叫醫生來恐怕伊要死哉. (十) 先生垃拉否? 伊纔纔垃裏現在勿曉得那裏去哉. (十一) 若然伊還勿曾來我等伊勿得. (十二) 我叫用人殺一隻雞拉吃飯個辰光要吃個. (十三) 第把檯子木匠做來還好. (十四) 我蠻快活聽得儂話我有一封信來恐怕是我個朋友寫來個. (十五) 人要先做成功一樁事體難末可以做別樣. (十六) 嘸沒一個人歡喜死.

(Translate into Chinese)

(1) I told you a little while ago that I did not want you to open the window; why do you not listen to me? (2) Light the lamp and put it on the table in the study. (3) If a guest comes, I want you to light the fire in the reception room. (4) Do not strike the dog; perhaps you will kill him. (5) You must study diligently, and then you can learn to speak Chinese. (6) How many hours a day ought I to study? I think you should study at least four hours a day: two in the morning and two is the afternoon. (7) If your letter has been written, I will send the servant to take it. (8) Early in the morning I want you to sweep the floor and wipe the table and chairs. (9) Although the carpenter works quickly, he cannot finish it in a week. (10) When you have finished this do not think there is nothing more to do, but come and tell me. (11) I did not tell you to take it away, but on the contrary told you to put it in the office. (12) If the doctor does not come immediately, this man cannot live. (13) Who caused you to do it? He caused me to do it.

(一) 纔纔我叫儂勿要開窗儂爲啥勿聽說話? (二) 要點燈拉書房裏擺拉檯子上. (三) 客人來末拉客堂間裏要儂生火. (四) 勿要打狗恐怕要打殺哉. (五) 儂總要用心讀書難末可以學讀中國話. (六) 一日我應該讀幾點鐘工夫? 我想頂少要讀四點鐘工夫拉上半日兩點鐘佬下半日兩點鐘. (七) 信寫好之末我差用人担去個. (八) 早晨頭要儂掃掃地揩揩檯子佬椅子. (九) 木匠雖然做來快一禮拜工夫勿能做好. (十) 第個做好之來告訴我勿要想無啥做. (十一) 我勿曾叫儂帶出去倒叫儂放拉寫字間裏. (十二) 醫生勿就來末第個人勿能彀活. (十三) 啥人教儂做個? 伊教我做個.

Notes.

(1) Wan is sometimes used to qualify adjectives. Thus {Wan °hau} (還好) means “fairly good” or “pretty good.” (2) {Soe-zen} and {Zen-r} are generally used together; the first introducing the first clause, and the second, the second clause. (3) In the first sentence of the First Exercise notice the formation of the verbal noun, “the things which we ought to do.” (4) In the ninth sentence of the First Exercise notice that {kwha° °tien} does not mean “faster,” but is used for “quickly.” (5) In the eleventh sentence of the First Exercise {°Tung yi ’veh tuh} means lit., “Wait him not get;” that is, “I cannot wait for him.” (6) In the fourteenth sentence of the First Exercise notice the use of {le}. {Le} and {chi} are frequently used with other verbs to make the direction of the action clear. Thus {°Sia le} is, “Write come to me”; {°Sia chi°} is, “Write send away,” or “Write go.” (7) In the fifth sentence of the Second Exercise, Diligently can be expressed by {Yoong° sing}, “Use heart or mind.” (8) In this lesson frequent use has been made of the verb {°Si} (死). In speaking of a person dying the more euphonious expression is {Koo°-s°} (故世).

Lesson XV

Further Remarks on Numerals, the Relative Pronoun.

Numbers above one hundred are expressed as follows: One hundred and one, is \{ih pak ling ih},/ and so on to \{ih pak ling °kyeu};/ then the \{ling}/ is dropped, and we have \{ih pah zeh}/ (一百十), \{ih pak zeh ih}, {ih pak zeh nyi°}, {ih pak zeh san},/ etc. \{Ling}/ really means “in addition.”

The hundreds are expressed simply by \{nyi pak}/ (二百), “two hundred,” \{san pak}/ (三百), “three hundred,” etc. “One thousand” is \{ih tshien}/ (一千). In expressing “one hundred and one,” we say \{ih pak ling ih}/ (一百零一). In expressing “one thousand and one,” we say \{ih tshien ling ling ih}/.

“Ten thousand” is \{ih man°}/ (一萬). “One million” is \{ih pak man°}/ (一百萬). The ordinal numerals are expressed in Chinese by prefixing \{di°}/ (第) before the cardinal. Thus “the first” is \{di° ih}/ (第一) or \{deu-ih}/ (頭一), “the second” \{di° nyi°}/ (第二), and so forth.

\{°Soo}/ 所 (lit. a place) is often used as a relative pronoun. It translates the English “who,” “which,” “what,” “that,” and “the things which.” The clause it introduces usually comes before the subject of the sentence. Thus “All which you do, I am able to do also,” would be \{noong° °soo tsoo° kuh z°-°thi °ngoo °‘a nung-keu° tsoo° kuh.}/ As has already been pointed out \{kuh}/ often has the force of the relative.

VOCABULARY

To wonder, be surprised, \hyi-ji/ 希奇. To wear, \tsak/ 著. To take off, \thoeh/ 脫 or \thoeh-theh/ 脫脫. To wear a hat, \ta°/ 戴. To take off a hat, \dzu/ 除. To laugh, \siau°/ 笑. To ridicule, \°lang-siau°/ (Lit. Cold laugh) 冷笑, or \hyi°-siau°/ 戲笑. Laughable, \°hau-siau°/ 好笑. Very laughable, \siau°-sah-tse/ 笑殺哉. By the side of, \pien-deu/ 邊頭, or \baung-pien/ 傍邊. Place, \han deu/ 壗頭. My place, \°ngoo han-deu/ 我壗頭. Right (Direction), \yeu°/ 右. Right hand, \yeu° °seu/ 右手. Left, \tsoo°/ 左. (Sometimes pronounced \tsi°/.) Left hand, \tsi° °seu/ 左手. Right side, \yeu° pien/ (右邊), \yeu° pan-pan/ (右板爿). Early, \°tsau/ 早. Late, \an°/ 晚. Sharp, \kwha°/ 快. (Same character as that used for fast.) Dull, \dung°/ 鈍. Sweet, \dien/ 甜. Bitter, \°khoo/ 苦. Ugly, \pho°/ 怕. (Same character as that used for fear.) Pretty, \tshui°/ 趣. A shop, \ih ban tien°/ 一爿店. Take care, \°taung-sing/ 當心, or \°siau-sing/ 小心. Take great care, \too°-°taung-sing/ 多當心. Tools, implements, \ka-sang/ 傢生. Furniture, \ka-°hoo/ 傢伙. A tea pot, \ih °po dzo-‘oo/ 一把茶壺. A class (in a school), \ih pan/ 一班. To sing, \ts’aung/ 唱.

EXERCISES

(Translate into English)

(1) °Ngoo tau° tien° °li chi° khoen°-kyien° too-hau° meh-z°, dan°-°z °ma-’veh-°chi kuh. (2) °Taung sing °tseu °hau. (3) °Taung sing di°-kuh° yang-dien, faung° °hau la° siang-°ts °li. (4) Zung-kwaung an° tse, zieu° chi° kwhung°. (5) Kyung-tsau °ngoo ’m-sa° °hau, lok-’veh-°chi. (6) °Ngoo °soo kau°-soo° noong° kuh ih tsaung z°-°thi ’veh iau° te° bih nyung wo°. (7) Yoong°-nyung wan ’veh zung le °z peh °ngoo hyi-ji. (8) °Taung-sing° di°-°po tau °z ’man kwha° kuh. (9) Yi te° °ngoo wo° kuh z°-°thi °z °hau-siau° kuh. (10) °Ngoo loo° °laung bang yi ’veh dzak, ’veh °hyau-tuh tau° °‘a-°li chi° tse. (11) Di°-°po dzo-‘oo tan tau° sien-sang han-deu chi°. (12) I-kuh nyung tsi° °seu °sia z°, da°-ke nyung yeu° °seu °sia kuh. (13) Nyih-°li °soo tsak kuh i-zaung, ya°-°li kwhung° kuh z-eu° iau° thoeh-theh kuh. (14) Nga-kok sien-sang tsing° mung-kheu thoeh-theh mau°-°ts, tsoong-kok nyung ’veh thoeh-theh kuh. (15) I-tsak mau ’man °hau khoen°, dan°-°z °i tsak °keu °z pho°-le-°si. (16) Too-hau° nyung hwen-°hyi chuh dien kuh meh-z°, ’m-nyung hwen-°hyi chuh °khoo kuh. (17) Dzung °li °yeu °kyi-hau° nyung? Khoong-pho° °yeu zeh man°. (18) Di°-kuh ‘auh-sang-°ts, ’man yoong° sing dok su, la° ih pan °li °z deu ih. (19) Ih kuh nyung tan le ih pak ling san kuh doong-dien.

(一) 我到店裡去看見多化物事但是買勿起個. (二) 當心走好. (三) 當心第個洋錢放好拉箱子裡. (四) 辰光晚哉就去睏. (五) 今朝我無啥好䟿勿起. (六) 我所告訴儂個一莊事體勿要對別人話. (七) 用人還勿曾來是撥我希奇. (八) 當心第把刀是蠻快個. (九) 伊對我話個事體是好笑個. (十) 我路上掽伊勿着勿曉得到那裏去哉. (十一) 第把茶壺担到先生壗頭去. (十二) 伊個人左手寫字大槩人右手寫個. (十三) 日裏所著個衣裳夜裏睏個時候要脫脫個. (十四) 外國先生進門口脫脫帽子中國人勿脫脫個. (十五) 一隻猫蠻好看但是一隻狗是怕來死. (十六) 多化人歡喜吃甜個物事嘸人歡喜吃苦個. (十七) 城裏有幾化人? 恐怕有十萬. (十八) 第個學生子蠻用心讀書拉一班裏是頭一. (十九) 一個人担來一百零三個銅錢.

(Translate into Chinese)

(1) When I was in the carriage, I told the coachman to take care. (2) The clothes which that maiden wears are very pretty. (3) The boat is by the side of the river. (4) Yesterday I met a man who told me that he saw a carpenter kill a man with a sharp knife. (5) Although I do not speak Chinese well, please do not laugh at me. (6) I asked a man which road to take; he told me to go to the right. (7) I did not meet a single person on the road. (8) This bird is very beautiful; can it sing? (9) When it is warm you do not want to wear many clothes. (10) This tea is bitter and not good to drink. (11) Yesterday I walked very far, and so could not get up to-day. (12) Take this letter to the teacher.

(一) 我拉馬車裏個辰光叫馬夫當心. (二) 伊個小姐着個衣裳蠻趣. (三) 一隻船拉河邊上. (四) 昨日我掽着一個人告訴我話伊看見一個木匠担之快個刀殺一個人. (五) 我雖然中國話話來勿好請儂勿要笑我. (六) 我問一個人走那裏一條路伊話右手一條. (七) 我路上一個人也掽勿着. (八) 第隻窵蠻趣會唱否? (九) 天熱末儂勿要着多化衣裳. (十) 第個茶苦個勿好吃個. (十一) 昨日我走之多化路所以今朝䟿勿起哉. (十二) 第封信担到先生壗頭去.

Notes.

(1) {Han-deu} is very frequently used with persons and personal pronouns. Thus you do not say {Tan tau° yi} for take it to him, but {Tan tau° yi han-deu chi°}. “Leave it with me” would be {°Pa la° °ngoo han-deu}. (2) The second sentence of the First Exercise is often used in speaking to a guest when he is departing. When he is about to go, he announces the fact by saying {Chi° tse} (去哉), meaning “I am going.” You say {Man° chi°} (慢去), meaning “Go slowly,” and then when he is walking away, {°Taung sing °tseu °hau} (當心走好). (3) In the fifth sentence of the First Exercise {M-sa° °hau} means “not at all well.” (4) In the tenth sentence of the First Exercise notice how the object {yi} splits up the verb into two parts. (5) In the sixth sentence of the Second Exercise “to the right” is expressed by {yeu° °seu} (右手).

LESSON XVI

Verbal Idioms

The idea of there being time to accomplish a thing is expressed by adding the words \{tuh-ji°}/ (得及) after the principal verb. If there is not sufficient time to do a thing you add \{’veh-ji°}/ (勿及) after the principal verb. Thus, \{Tsoo°-tuh-ji°}/ (做得及) means “there is time to do a thing.” \{Tsoo°-’veh-ji°}/ (做勿及) means “there is not time.”

This expression is used most frequently with the verb \{le}/ (來). \{Le-tuh ji}/ means “there is time,” and \{le-’veh-ji}/ means “there is not time.”

The idea of a thing being important is expressed by the words \{iau°-°kyung kuh}/ (要緊個). “Not being important,” by the words \{’veh iau° °kyung}/ (勿要緊), or \{’veh nge° sa°}/ (勿礙啥). “Is it important?” or “Does it make any difference?” would be \{nge° sa° va°}/ (礙啥否).

\{’Veh lauh}/ is often used after verbs giving the idea of inability to do a thing. Thus \{Chuh ’veh lauh}/ (吃勿落) means “unable to eat.” \{°Zoo ’veh lauh}/ (坐勿落) “Unable to sit because of lack of room.” We also have the affirmative forms \{°zoo tuh lauh}/ (坐得落) and \{chuh tuh lauh}/ (吃得落).

VOCABULARY

Lest, \°sang-ts/ 省之. Either, or, \ok-°z/ 或是, \ok-tse/ 或者. Difficult, \van-nan/ 煩難, or \nan/ 難. Easy, \yoong-yi°/ 容易. Slowly, gently, \man°-man°-nung/ 慢慢能. Walk slowly, \man°-man°-ts °tseu/ 慢慢之走. Besides, in addition, \ling°-nga°/ 另外, \dze-nga°/ 在外, or \wan/ 還. How much more, \‘oo-°hwaung/ 何况 (with \nyi/ at the end of the clause). Still more, \kung°-°ka/ 更加, \yoeh°-°ka/ 越加. To start (on a journey), \°doong-sung/ 動身. (Lit. to move the body.) To become ill, \sang bing°/ 生病. To heal, \i-°hau /醫好, or \khoen°-°hau/ 看好. To welcome (a guest), \nyung-tsih/ 迎接. To return (a debt or thing borrowed), \wan/ 還. To cry, \khok/ 哭. To lead, \°ling/ 領. To borrow or to lend, \tsia°/ 借. (See Note). To wash, \zing°/ 淨. Illness, \mau-bing°/ 毛病. A sedan coolie, \ih kuh jau°-pan/ 一個轎班, or \ih kuh jau°-foo/ 一個轎夫. A star, \ih kuh sing/ 一個星. A grave mound, \ih kuh vung-san/ 一個墳山. A goat, \ih tsak san-yang/ 一隻山羊. A hog or pig, \ih tsak ts-loo/ 一隻猪獹. A stool, \ih tsak ngeh-°ts/ 一隻杌子. A chest of drawers, \ih tsak tsheu-deu/ 一隻抽頭. A drawer, \ih tsak tsheu thi/ 一隻抽屜. A wash bowl, \ih tsak mien°-bung/ 一隻面盆. A plate, \ih tsak bung-°ts/ 一隻盆子. A Chinese eating bowl, \ih tsak °wen/ 一隻碗. A farmer, \ih kuh tsoong°-dien nyung/ 一個種田人.

\{°Kwen}/ (管) is the classifier for tubular things.

A Chinese or foreign pen, \ih °kwen pih/ 一管筆. A Chinese ink tablet, \ih kuh nyien°-°ts/ 一個硯子, or \nyien°-de/ 硯台. A piece of ink, \ih khwe° muh/ 一塊墨. Foreign ink, \muh-°s/ 墨水. Clean, \koen-zing°/ 乾淨. Stop, \ding/ 停. Moon, \nyoeh-liang°/ 月亮. Precious, \°pau-pe°/ 寶貝.

EXERCISES

(Translate into English)