Part 8

(1) In the fifth sentence of the First Exercise notice the use of {Soong° °tien}. {°Tien} means “a few things.” (2) In the ninth sentence of the First Exercise {kwha° too-hau°} means “very much faster.” (3) In the sixteenth sentence of the First Exercise the expression {Kheh-deu} refers to the most formal salute of the Chinese. It is used by an inferior before a superior. The usual polite salutation is to clasp the hands together and move them from the feet to the forehead. This is called {Tshaung° zo°} (唱喏) or {Tsauh-ih} (作揖). (4) In the nineteenth sentence of the First Exercise we have the expression {°Seu kwe-°kyui} (守規矩). This is very frequently used. It means to act according to the laws of propriety. It is a command frequently given to children.

LESSON XXIII

The Points of the Compass

The four cardinal points of the compass in Chinese are expressed: \{Toong, nen, si, pok}/ (東, 南, 西, 北) East, South, West, North. Thus it will be seen that they do not follow the same order as we. North East is \{Toong-pok}/ (東北), lit. East North. North West is \{Si-pok}/ (西北), lit. West North. South East is \{Toong-nen}/ (東南), and South West is \{Si-nen}/ (西南).

The word \{pien}/ (邊) is generally added when direction or place is indicated. Thus we have for the North \{Pok-pien}/, for the West \{Si-pien}/. \{Pien}/ literally means “side,” and is a shortened form of \{pien-deu}/ (邊頭).

In giving directions as to locality, the Chinese make very frequent use of the points of the compass. If you wish a person to go towards the North you say \{dzau pok}/ (朝北) “towards the North.”

VOCABULARY

To break, smash, \se°/ 碎, \°tang-se°/ 打碎, or \khau-se°/ 敲碎. To beget to nourish, \°yang/ 養, or \sang °yang/ 生養. To lose, to forfeit, \seh/ 失, or \seh-theh/ 失脫. To arrange, to attend to matters, to direct \ban°/ 辦. A Compradore, \°ma-ban°/ 買辦. To consult, \saung-liang/ 商量, \tsung-tsak/ 斟酌. To point with the hand, \°tien/ 點, or \°ts-°tien/ 指點. To separate, \fung/ 分, or \fung-khe/ 分開. To hinder, oppose, \°tsoo/ 阻, or \°tsoo-taung°/ 阻檔. To answer, \we-deu/ 回頭, or \we-tah/ 回答. To exchange, to barter, \wen°/ 換, or \diau°/ 調. To attend to a thing to make it right, \loong°/ 弄, or \loong°-°hau/ 弄好. To distinguish, \fung-pih/ 分別. A difference, \ih kuh fung-pih/ 一個分別. Wages, \koong-dien/ 工錢. Salary, \sok-sieu/ 束脩, \sing-foong°/ 薪俸, or \sing-°soe/ 薪水. Misery, \°khoo-nau°/ 苦腦. Rain, \°yui/ 雨, To rain, \lauh °yui/ 落雨. Coolie, \tsheh-tien°/ 出店. A duck, \ih tsak ah/ 一隻鴨. A broom, \ih °po °sau-°tseu/ 一把掃箒. A snake, \ih diau zo/ 一條蛇. A stick of bamboo, \ih kung tsok-deu/ 一根竹頭. Glass, \poo-li/ 玻璃. A glass (for the table), \ih tsak poo-li pe-°ts/ 一隻玻璃杯子.

\{°Doong}/ (桶) is the classifier for casks, tubs and buckets.

A bucket of water, \ih °doong °s/ 一桶水.

\{Bing}/ (瓶) is the classifier for bottles.

A bottle of medicine, \ih bing yak/ 一瓶藥.

\{Siang}/ (箱) is the classifier for boxes of things.

A box of dollars, \ih siang yang-dien/ 一箱洋錢. A box of tea, \ih siang dzo-yih/ 一箱茶葉. Tired, \sa-doo/ 弛瘏. Square, \faung/ 方. Round, \yoen/ 圓. Little (to a small extent), \sau-we/ 稍爲. Thick, \°‘eu/ 厚. Thin, \bok/ 薄. Instead of, \°de-thi°/ 代替. Sufficient, \keu-z°/ 榖事, \keu-z°-tse/ 彀事哉, or \°yeu-tse/ 有哉. Together with (two persons doing a thing), \da-ka/ 大家. To get wet, \ling-sak/ 淋濕.

EXERCISES

(Translate into English)

(1) Tsoong-kok tsok-deu doo° °yeu yoong°-deu, °khau-°i tsoo° lan °lau de-°ts °lau iui°-°ts °lau too-hau° meh-z°. (2) °Ngoo mung°-°ts yi san we, dan°-°z yi ih kyui° ’veh we-deu. (3) Tsoong°-dien-nyung °yang too-hau° kyi °lau ah. (4) °Hau-la-va°? °Hau-la zia°-zia°. (5) Kyung-tsau °hau-°tien va°? Zauh-ya°-deu chuh-ts yak °lau kyung-tsau sau-we °hau-°tien. (6) Nyih-deu toong-pien tsheh °lau si-pien lauh. (7) Pok-pien °lang °lau nen-pien °noen. (8) °Ngoo-nyi iau° da-ka saung-liang na°-nung tsoo°-deu. (9) Di°-kuh poo-li ’man bok kuh, yoong-yi° °tang-se°. (10) Khoen°-kyien° nyung iau° tsoo° ’veh °hau kuh z°-°thi meh, iung-ke °tsoo-taung° yi. (11) Khoen°-yang-nyung seh-theh-ts ih tsak yang °lau iau° chi° zing yi. (12) Sien-sang iau° °kyi-hau° sok-sieu? Iau° san-seh kwhe° °yang-dien ih nyoeh. (13) Noong°-kuh yoong°-nyung °kyi-hau° koong-dien ih nyoeh? Zeh kwhe° yang-dien ih nyoeh. (14) Toong-pok foong iau° lauh °yui. (15) Yien°-°dze la° lauh °yui, tsoong-iau° tan ih °ting san° °sang-°ts ling sak. (16) Zauh-nyih °ngoo °tseu-°ts san-seh °li-loo°, °soo-°i kyung-tsau ’man sa-doo. (17) °Ngoo °tien peh yi khoen° ih diau zo. (18) Di°-kuh kwen-°foo ’veh we° ban° z°-°thi (19) Noong° °tau le-tse, °ngoo thih-tsung iau° tau° noong° han-deu chi°. (20) Di°-kuh nyung seh-theh-°ts yi-kuh sang-i °lau sang-°ts dzang-yoen kuh bing° zeh-dze °khoo-nau° tuh-juh. (21) Di°-tsak siang-°ts °z faung kuh, di°-tsak °doong °z yoen-kuh. (22) Tsheh-tien° le wo° iau° doong-dien we°-ts iau° chi° °ma ih °po °sau-°tseu °lau. (23) Di°-kuh °ts-deu thuh bok iau° noong° chi° wen° °‘eu-°tien kuh. (24) Noong° thuh sa-doo, °ngoo le °de noong° tsoo°. (25) Di°-sen° °mung ’veh °hau khe, chi° kyau° mok-ziang loong °hau. (26) Yi-kuh seh-wo° tah-ts noong°-kuh seh-wo° °yeu fung-pih. (27) Di°-kuh °liang kuh nyung dzang-tsaung siang-mo°, fung-khe meh °hau.

(一) 中國竹頭大有用頭可以做籃佬檯子佬椅子佬多化物事. (二) 我問之伊三回但是伊一句勿回頭. (三) 種田人養多化雞佬鴨. (四) 好拉否? 好拉謝謝. (五) 今朝好點否? 昨夜頭吃之藥佬今朝稍爲好點. (六) 日頭東邊出佬西邊落. (七) 北邊冷佬南邊煖. (八) 我伲要大家商量那能做頭. (九) 第個玻璃蠻薄個容易打碎. (十) 看見人要做勿好個事體末應該阻擋伊. (十一) 看羊人失脫之一隻羊佬要去尋伊. (十二) 先生要幾化束脩? 要三十塊洋錢一月. (十三) 儂個用人幾化工錢一月?六塊洋錢一月. (十四) 東北風要落雨. (十五) 現在拉落雨終要擔一頂傘省之淋濕. (十六) 昨日我走之三十里路所以今朝我蠻弛瘏. (十七) 我點擦伊看一條蛇. (十八) 第個官府勿會辦事體. (十九) 儂倒來哉我貼準要到儂壗頭去. (二十) 第個人失脫之伊個生意佬生之長遠個病實在苦惱得極. (廿一) 第隻箱子是方個第隻桶是圓個. (廿二) 出店來話要銅錢爲之要去買一把掃帚佬. (廿三) 第個紙頭忒薄要儂去換厚點個. (廿四) 儂忒弛瘏我來代儂做. (廿五) 第扇門勿好開去叫木匠弄好. (廿六) 伊個說話搭之儂個說話有分別. (廿七) 第個兩個人常莊相駡分開末好.

(Translate into Chinese)

(1) Is there any answer? Yes, please wait until I write it. (2) The cold wind blows from the North; you ought to wear more clothes. (3) The scholar was unable to answer what the teacher asked him. (4) I want to consult with you on an important matter. (5) When it rains the children cannot go out to play. (6) I have a fan, you have a knife, I want a knife, you want a fan, let us exchange. (7) I killed the snake with a stick. (8) Tell the compradore what you want to buy and he can buy it for you. (9) I have lost my watch and am willing to give five dollars to the man who finds it and returns it to me. (10) My salary is not sufficient; I must ask you to increase it. (11) This coolie wipes and sweeps very clean. (12) I pointed out the river to him on the map. (13) I cannot go away until I have arranged this matter. (14) I could not study diligently to-day because I was too tired. (15) How many bottles of medicine have you taken? I have already finished three.

(一) 有啥回信否? 有個, 請等一歇等我寫好之. (二) 冷風從北邊吹來儂應該多着點衣裳. (三) 先生問個, 學生子回頭勿出. (四) 我要搭儂商量要緊個事體. (五) 落之雨小囝勿好出去勃相. (六) 我有一把扇子儂有一把刀我要一把刀儂要一把扇子讓我伲呢調一調. (七) 我用之一根棒打殺之一條蛇. (八) 儂對買辦話儂要買啥伊可以對儂買個. (九) 我失脫之我個表情願撥拾着之佬還撥我個人五塊洋錢. (十) 我個薪水勿彀事我終要請儂加點. (十一) 第個出店揩佬掃蠻割瀝. (十二) 地圖上我點撥伊看一條河. (十三) 我勿曾辦好第莊事體我勿能彀出去. (十四) 今朝我勿能彀用心讀書因爲我忒弛瘏. (十五) 儂吃之幾瓶藥? 我已經吃完之三瓶.

Notes.

(1) Those learning to speak Chinese must be careful never to refer to the remuneration given to their teachers as {koong-dien} (工錢), but to use the polite form of speech, {sok-sieu} or {sing-foong} (束脩, 薪俸). {Sok-sieu} means literally “dried meat,” and comes from the ancient custom of paying a teacher in kind. The teacher himself could refer to remuneration as {sing° soe} (薪水).

(2) {°Eu} (厚) and {Bok} (薄) refer to things. In speaking of a person being thin we use the word {seu°} (瘦), and of being fat, the word {tsaung°} 壯.

(3) The fourth sentence of the First Exercise is the usual salutation meaning, “How do you do?” “Does it go well with you?” The answer is also the usual one.

(4) In the ninth sentence of the Second Exercise {Zing nyoen°} (情願) means “to be willing.”

(5) In the seventh sentence of the First Exercise {°Noen} means “warm” (煖).

(6) In the eleventh sentence of the First Exercise {Koen°-yang-nyung} means “shepherd.” Literally “Look-sheep-man.”

(7) In the twenty-fifth sentence of the First Exercise the word {Loong} has a very wide meaning. There is hardly anything in China that you cannot {Loong-°hau}, that is, “put to rights.”

LESSON XXIV

Some Remarks on Gender

As already remarked, words in Chinese do not change their form to indicate gender. Sometimes, however, words indicating gender are placed before them. \{Nen}/ (男), “Male” and \{°Nyui}/ (女), “female”, are used with human beings in this way. Thus we have \{Nen nyung}/ (男人) for “man”, and \{°Nyui nyung}/ (女人) for “woman”. \{Nen noen}/ (男囝) means “a male child,” and \{°Nyui noen}/ (女囝) “a female child.”

When speaking of the male and female of animals \{Yoong}/ (雄) and \{Tsh}/ (雌) are used. Thus we have \{Yoong kyi}/ (雄鷄) for “cock,” and \{Tsh kyi}/ (雌鷄) for “hen,” \{Yoong s-°ts}/ (雄獅子) for “lion,” and \{Tsh s-°ts}/ (雌獅子) for “lioness.”

VOCABULARY

To crow, \di/ 啼. To offend, \tuh-°dzoe/ 得罪. To hide oneself, \ben°-°loong/ 背攏. To hide a thing, \khaung°-°loong/ 囥攏, or \khaung°/ 囥. To gain or make a profit, \dzan°/ 賺. Profits in business, \dzan°-deu/ 賺頭. To lose in business, \zeh/ 折, \zeh-theh/ 折脫, \zeh-°pung/ 折本. To congratulate a person, \koong-°hyi/ 恭喜. To become rich, \fah-dze/ 發財. To lock, \°soo/ 鎖. To bar or bolt the door, \sen/ 閂. The bar, or bolt of the door, \sak/ 栅. To plant, \tsoong°/ 種. To examine carefully, \dzo/ 查, or \dzo-°khau/ 查考. To examine a class, \°khau-su/ 考書. To fall, \tih/ 跌. To save, \kyeu°/ 救. To stop, \ding/ 停. Stop a minute, \ding-ih-ding/ 停一停. Garden, \hwo-yoen/ 花園. College, \su-yoen°/ 書院. University, \da°-‘auh/ 大學. A lock, \ih °po °soo/ 一把鑕. A key, \ih °po yak-dz/ 一把鑰匙. A creek or canal, \ih diau pang/ 一條浜. A two story house, \ih zoo° leu/ 一座樓, or \leu-vaung/ 褸房.

\{Dzung}/ (層) is the classifier for a story of a house or for anything like a ladder.

A three-storied house, \san dzung leu/ 三層樓. A ladder, \ih dzung voo-thi/ 一層扶梯.

\{Dzaung°}/ (幢) is the classifier denoting things piled one on top of the other.

A pile of clothes, \ih dzaung° i-zaung/ 一幢衣裳.

\{Da°}/ (埭) is the classifier for rows of things.

A row of trees, \ih da° zu/ 一埭樹. Spring (the first of the seasons), \tshung/ 春. Summer, \‘au°/ 夏. Autumn, \tshieu/ 秋. Winter, \toong/ 冬. A season, \kyi°/ 季. The four seasons, \s°-kyi°/ 四季. Politeness, \khak-chi°/ 客氣. Happiness, \fok-chi°/ 福氣. Slippery, \wah/ 滑. Hard, \ngang°/ 硬. Soft, \°nyoen/ 軟. Smooth, \kwaung/ 光. Rough, \mau/ 毛. Good (moral), \°zen/ 善. Wicked, \auh/ 惡. Fierce, \hyoong/ 凶. Precious, \°pau-pe°/ 寶貝. Clear, \tshing/ 清. Muddy, \wung/ 渾. Level, \bing/ 平. Light (opposite of dark), \liang°/ 亮. Dark, \en°/ 暗. At last (in the end), \tau°-°ti/ 到底.

EXERCISES

(Translate into English.)

(1) Di°-laung° wah lau, taung-sing °tien °tseu. (2) S°-kyi° kyau° tshung ‘au° tshieu toong. (3) °Ngoo bang°-dzak-ts ih kuh nyung °lau iau° yi nyang° loo°, °soo-°i te° yi wo° tuh-°dzoe, tuh °dzoe. Yi wo° ’veh iau° khak-chi°. (4) Noong° tsoo° °di-kuh sang-i, ih nyien iau° dzan° °kyi-hau°? m-sa° dzan°-deu °tau zeh-°pung. (5) Nyien tshoo ih, bang°-dzak-ts nyung tsau° kwe-°kyui iung-ke te° yi wo° koong-°hyi, fah-dze. (6) Nyung tsoo° auh kuh z°-°thi, °z la° en°-°li tsoo° kuh. (7) We°-ts pho° bih nyung iau° dzo-dzak °lau, i-kuh nyung chi° ben°-°loong. (8) Ya°-°li tsoong-iau° °soo mung°, °khoong-pho° zuh tsing° le theu meh-z°. (9) Tsoong-kok mung° yoong° sak le sen kuh, nga°-kok mung° yoong° yak-dz le °soo kuh. (10) °Siau-noen la° beh-siang° kuh z-‘eu° tih la° pang °li, kwha°-°tien chi° kyeu° yi. (11) Yoong tiau we° kyau°, tsh tiau ’veh we° kyau°. (12) Tsh s-°ts °pi-ts yoong s-°ts kung°-ka hyoong. (13) Di°-kuh nyung °yeu san kuh nen-noen, °lau ih kuh °nyui-noen, zeh-dze °yeu fok-chi°. (14) Di°-kuh meh-z° °z °pau-pe° kuh, iau° khaung° °hau. (15) °‘Au-°li-pa°, su-yoen° °li iau° °khau-su. (16) Di°-kuh ih da° vaung-°ts kau-le-°si, °loong-°tsoong °z s° dzung leu. (17) Di°-diau loo° ’veh bing, van-nan °tseu kuh. (18) Tshing °s °hau chuh kuh, wung °s ’veh °hau chuh. (19) Zak-deu °z ngang° kuh, men-deu °z °nyoen kuh. (20) Tau°-°ti meh °zen nyung ih ding° iau° tuh-dzak fok-chi°.

(一) 地上滑佬當心點走. (二) 四季叫春夏秋冬 (三) 我碰着之一個人佬要伊讓路, 所以對伊話得罪得罪, 伊話勿要客氣. (四) 儂做第個生意一年要賺幾化? 無啥賺頭倒折本. (五) 年初一碰着之人照規矩應該對伊話恭喜發財. (六) 人做惡個事體是拉暗裏做個. (七) 爲之怕別人要查着佬, 伊個人去背攏. (八) 夜裏終要鎖門, 恐怕賊進來偷物事. (九) 中國門用栅來閂個, 外國門用鑰匙來鎖個. (十) 小囝拉勃相個時候跌拉浜裏, 快點去救伊. (十一) 雄窵會叫, 雌窵勿會叫. (十二) 雌獅子比之雄獅子更加凶. (十三) 第個人有三個男囝佬一個女囝, 實在有福氣. (十四) 第個物事是寶貝個, 要囥好. (十五) 下禮拜, 書院裏要考書. (十六) 第個一埭房子高來死, 攏總是四層樓. (十七) 第條路勿平, 煩難走個. (十八) 淸水好吃個, 渾水勿好吃. (十九) 石頭是硬個, 饅頭是軟個. (二十) 到底末善人一定要得着福氣.

(Translate into Chinese)

(1) In the garden the gardeners have planted three rows of apple trees. (2) After the cock crows in the morning I am unable to sleep any more. (3) This man is very polite, and so every one likes him. (4) In the winter we close all the doors and windows and light a fire, in the summer we open all the doors and windows. (5) The water in the creek is muddy and not fit to drink. (6) Some men become rich in business, and some lose money. (7) Lock the door and do not let the cat come in. (8) The child fell off the chair and therefore cries. (9) Yesterday I went to see a seven storied pagoda. (10) This account is not right; it is not reckoned clearly. (11) I cannot find out that this man has done anything wicked. (12) When I met the robber I cried out to others to come and save my life. (13) This man is very fierce; he is always fighting. (14) At the end of the year, all the scholars in the college must be examined. (15) I have lost my key and cannot open my box. (16) I think you have not lost it, but you have hidden it away somewhere, and have forgotten where you put it; let me go and look for it.

(一) 拉花園裏種花園個種三埭蘋菓樹. (二) 早晨頭雞啼個以後我勿能再睏. (三) 第個人是蠻客氣所以攏總人歡喜伊. (四) 冬天個時候我伲關攏總個門佬窗佬生火夏天個時候我伲開攏總個門佬窗. (五) 浜裏水是渾佬勿好吃個. (六) 有人做生意是發財有人末折本. (七) 鎖門佬勿要讓貓進來. (八) 小囝從椅子上跌下來所以拉哭. (九) 昨日我去看七層樓個塔. (十) 第個帳勿對個算來勿淸爽. (十一) 我查勿出第個人做啥惡事. (十二) 我碰着之強盜我喊人來救命. (十三) 第個人凶來死所以常莊相打. (十四) 拉年底書院裏攏總個學生子要考書. (十五) 我失脫之我個鑰匙佬勿好開我個箱子. (十六) 我想儂勿曾失脫恐怕儂已經囥好佬忘記擺拉啥地方, 讓我去尋尋看.

Notes.

(1) {Tuh-°dzoe}, {tuh-°dzoe} (得罪) is the usual expression for making an apology in Chinese, It literally meant, “I have sinned against you.” (2) A two storied house is generally called {leu vaung} (樓房). (3) In the fifth sentence of the First Exercise we have the formal salutation used on New Year’s Day {Koong-°hyi, fah-dze} (恭喜發財) meaning, “may you be happy and grow rich.” (4) In the twelfth sentence of the Second Exercise the expression to save life should be {Kyeu° ming°} (救命). (5) In the tenth sentence of the Second Exercise “this account is not reckoned right” should be translated {di°-kuh tsang° ’veh te° kuh} (第個帳勿對個); {te°} means “not in agreement.”

LESSON XXV

Weights and Measures.

The following three Tables are very commonly used in China, and the speaker of the language should be familiar with them.

MEASURE OF WEIGHT

One ounce, \{ih °liang}/ 一兩. One catty (16 ounces), \{ih kyung}/ 一斤. One picul (100 catties), \{ih tan°}/ 一担.

MEASURE OF DISTANCE

1⁄10th of an inch, \{ih fung}/ 一分. One inch, \{ih tshung°}/ 一寸. One foot (ten inches in Chinese measure), \{ih tshak}/ 一尺. Tea feet, \{ih °dzang}/ 一丈.

MEASURE OF AREA

One square foot, \{ih faung tshak}/ 一方尺. One hundred square feet, \{ih faung}/ 一方. A mow, \{ih °m}/ 一畝 (one sixth of an acre).

CURRENCY

Until recently, aside from copper cash, the Chinese had no regular system of currency. An ounce of silver was taken as a standard. The following Table is based upon that:—

An ounce of silver, \{ih °liang nyung-°ts}/ 一兩銀子. 1⁄10th of an ounce, \{ih dzien}/ 一錢. 1⁄10th of a dzien, \{ih fung}/ 一分. 1⁄10th of a fung, \{ih li}/ 一釐. 1⁄10th of a li, \{ih ‘au}/ 一毫.

VOCABULARY

To expound, explain, \°kaung/ 講. To preach, \°kaung-su/ 講書. To exhort, \choen°/ 勸, \choen°-mien/ 勸勉, or \choen°-‘oo/ 勸和. To gather, as fruit or flowers, \°tshe/ 採. To boil \zah/ 煠, (used in regard to water), or \°kwung/ 滾. To weigh, \tshung/ 稱. To measure, \liang/ 量, or \°ien/ 演. To carry in arms like a child, \°bau/ 抱. To carry a load (one man, with load suspended on two ends of a bamboo), \thiau/ 挑. To carry a load (load suspended on a bamboo pole between two men), \kaung/ 扛. To carry a load on the back, \pe°/ 背. To carry a load on the shoulder, \jien/ 掮. To carry a load in one hand, \ling/ 拎. A tiger, \ih tsak °lau-°hoo/ 一隻老虎. A dish, \ih tsak dzang bung-°ts/ 一隻長盆子. A saucer, \ih tsak dzo bung-°ts/ 一隻茶盆子. A wine glass, \ih tsak °tsieu pe/ 一隻酒杯. A cooking stove, \ih tsak thih-tsau°/ (foreign), 一隻鐵灶, tsau°-deu (Chinese), 灶頭. Gold, \kyung-°ts/ 金子. Silver, \nyung-°ts/ 銀子. Iron, \thih/ 鐵. Tin, \sih/ 錫. Brass, \doong/ 銅. Lead, \khan/ 鉛. A railroad carriage, \ih boo °hoo-tsho/ 一部火車. A steam boat, \ih tsak °hoo-lung-zen/ 一隻火輪船. A pair of spectacles, \ih foo° °ngan-kyung°/ 一副眼鏡. A set of tools or instruments, \ih foo° ka-sang/ 一副傢生. A cannon, \ih tsung phau°/ 一尊炮. Cotton, \hwo/ 花. Cotton stalks, \hwo-ji/ 花萁. Cotton (already ginned), \mien-hwo/ 棉花. A plant of wheat, \ih khoo mak/ 一棵麥. A plant of rice, \ih khoo dau°/ 一棵稻. Vegetables, \tshe°/ 菜. Dishes of vegetables and meat placed on the table for meals, \°siau-tshe°/ 小菜. A shoulder, \ih tsak kyien ka/ 一隻肩胛. A bag, \ih tsak de/ 一隻袋. Back, \pe°/ 背. A field, \ih khwe° dien/ 一塊田. Soil, mud, \lan°-nyi/ 爛泥. Poor man, \joong-nyung/ 窮人. Rich man, \dze-°tsu-nyung/ 財主人.

\{°Kwhung}/ (梱) is the classifier denoting bundles of things.

A bundle of fuel, \ih °kwhung za/ 一梱柴, \ih °kwung dau-za/ 一梱稻柴. Still, yet, \dzung-jeu°/ 仍舊. Among, \taung-tsoong/ 當中. All (collective), \zen/ 全.

EXERCISES

(Translate into English)

(1) Noong° choen°-choen° yi ’veh iau° °doong-chi°. (2) Khoen°-kyien° °liang kuh nyung siang-°tang meh iung-ke choen°-‘oo yi-la. (3) Di°-tsak siang-°ts °ngoo °i-kyung liang-koo°-hyih-tse °z san tshak dzang °lau nyi° tshak s° tshung kwheh. (4) La° hwo-yoen °li °tshe hwo °z ’man °hau beh-siang°. (5) Di°-kuh °liang tsak siang-°ts ih kuh nyung thiau-’veh-°chi °z iung-ke kaung kuh. (6) Kyung, nyung, doong, thih, sih, Tsoong-kok nyung kyau° °ng kyung. (7) Tsoong°-dien-nyung la° toong °li tsoong° mak, la° tshung laung° tsoong° hwo. (8) La° °ng kyung taung-tsoong thih °z °ting °yeu yoong°-deu, doo° °lau °siau kuh meh-z° zen °khau-°i tsoo° kuh. (9) °Ngoo-kuh bang-yeu °z °jung-z°-°ngan °soo-°i iau° ta° °ngan-kyung°. (10) °S faung° la° thih-tsau° laung°, °kwung-ih-°kwung. (11) Dze-°tsu-nyung tsak dzeu°-doen° °lau joong-nyung tsak poo°. (12) Di°-kuh nyung °kaung-su °kaung le ’man °hau thing. (13) Dih la kuh °mi tshung-tshung khoen° kyung-°liang te° va°. (14) Di° kwhe° di°-be °yeu °kyi °m? iak-tsak °yeu lok °m. (15) La° °ya-seu° taung-tsoong Tsoong-kok nyung °ting pho° kuh °z °lau-°hoo. (16) We°-ts °siau-noen la° khok °lau, °nyui-nyung °bau la° seu °li. (17) Nyok °lau tshe° ih-dau° kyau° °siau-tshe°. (18) Lok-tsen °z lan°-nyi tsoo° la° kuh, °zau vaung-°ts °ting °yeu yoong°-deu. (19) Di°-kuh yang-dien ’veh °hau, ’veh °z nyung-ts, °z khan kuh. (20) °Ngoo wan iau° °ma dzang-bung-°ts, dzo-bung-°ts, °lau °tsieu-pe. (21) Tung-loong °khau-°i ling la° °seu °li, ih kung mok-deu °khau-°i jien la° kyien-ka laung°, de meh pe° la pe° laung°. (22) °Ng-seh nyien zien-deu, Tsoong-kok m-meh °hoo-tsho °lau °hoo-lung-zen, yien°-°dze zen °yeu-kuh. (23) Tsau-zung-deu °ngoo thing-tuh ping-ting faung° phau°. (24) Yien°-°dze m-meh za, ’veh °hau sang °hoo, iau° noong° chi° °ma °liang san °kwhung. (25) Nyeu °lau °mo la° dien °li chuh °tshau.

(一) 儂勸勸伊勿要動氣. (二) 看見兩個人相打末應該勸和伊拉. (三) 第隻箱子我已經量過歇哉, 是三尺長佬二尺四寸闊. (四) 拉花園裏採花是蠻好勃相. (五) 第個兩隻箱子一個人挑勿起是應該扛個. (六) 金銀銅鐵錫中國人叫五金. (七) 種田人拉冬裏種麥拉春上種花. (八) 拉五金當中鐵是頂有用頭, 大佬小個物事全可以做個. (九) 我個朋友是近視眼所以要戴眼鏡. (十) 水放拉鐵灶上滾一滾. (十一) 財主人着綢緞佬窮人着布. (十二) 第個人講書講來蠻好聽. (十三) 糴拉個米稱稱看觔兩對否? (十四) 第塊地皮有幾畝? 約酌有六畝. (十五) 拉野獸當中, 中國人頂怕個是老虎. (十六) 爲之小囝拉哭佬, 女人抱拉手裏. (十七) 肉佬菜一淘叫小菜. (十八) 碌磚是爛泥做拉個, 造房子頂有用頭. (十九) 第個洋錢勿好, 勿是銀子是鉛個. (二十) 我還要買長盆子茶盆子佬酒杯. (廿一) 燈籠可以拎拉手裏, 一根木頭可以掮拉肩𩨹上, 袋末背拉背上. (廿二) 五十年前頭中國無沒火車佬火輪船, 現在全有個. (廿三) 早晨頭我聽得兵丁放炮. (廿四) 現在無沒柴勿好生火, 要儂去買兩三捆. (廿五) 牛佬馬拉田裏吃草.

(Translate into Chinese)

(1) The Chinese make most of their clothing out of cotton. (2) Among the pupils this one is the brightest. (3) I will tell you a wonderful thing: two men were fighting, and a woman came and exhorted them to peace. (4) Among the metals, gold is the most precious. (5) The dollars used in China are made of silver. (6) How many men will it take to carry the stove? (7) I think four men can carry it. (8) How much ought I to give the ricksha coolie? (9) I think thirty cents is sufficient. (10) There are still many men in Shanghai who have never been in a railway carriage. (11) Most of the Chinese scholars wear spectacles. (12) I have been gathering apples and peaches in the garden. (13) The carpenter has not brought his tools, and so can do no work. (14) A Chinese foot has ten inches, a foreign foot has twelve. (15) In China, wood and rice and cotton stalks are used as fuel.

(一) 中國人做衣裳用棉花布個是頂多. (二) 拉學生子當中第個是頂聰明個. (三) 我要告訴儂一樁希奇個事體, 兩個人拉相打, 一個女人來勸和. (四) 拉五金當中金子是頂寶貝個. (五) 中國個洋錢是銀子做拉個. (六) 第隻火爐幾個人好扛. (七) 我想四個人好扛個. (八) 拖東洋車個人我應該撥伊幾錢? (九) 我想三角有哉. (十) 拉上海還有多化人勿曾坐過歇火車個. (十一) 中國讀書人大一半末是戴眼鏡. (十二) 我拉花園裏拉採蘋果佬桃子. (十三) 木匠勿曾帶傢生來听以勿好做生活. (十四) 中國尺是十寸外國尺有十二寸. (十五) 中國人用木頭佬稻佬花萁倣柴.

Notes.

(1) In the fifth sentence of the First Exercise {Thiau ’veh-°chi} （挑勿起） means “unable to carry.” (2) In the sixth sentence of the First Exercise {°Ng-kyung} （五金） is generally pronounced as {°oo kyung}, as it is a {vung-li} expression. (3) In the ninth sentence of the First Exercise {°Jung-z°-°ngan} （近視眼） means “near-sighted.” (4) In the thirteenth sentence of the First Exercise notice that “to buy rice” is {dih °mi} not {°ma °mi}. (5) In the ninth sentence of the Second Exercise “sufficient” may be translated {°yeu-tse} （有哉）.

LESSON XXVI

Family Relations

The relations in Chinese are exceedingly complex. Here only the simplest will be given. To be able to understand the complicated ramifications will take a long time, and can only be learnt by long experience.

It must be noted that different words are used when one speaks of his own relations from what are used when another person is referring to them. In the latter case more polite language is employed.

Thus the following words for “father” are used: If you yourself are speaking of your father, you might call him \{Ya}/ (爺), or \{°Lau-nyang-ka}/ (老娘家), or \Kya-°voo/ (家父), or \{°Voo-tshing}/ (父親), or \{Kya-nyien}/ (家嚴). Other people would refer to your father if they were polite as \{Tsung-da°-zung}/ (尊大人) Lit. “The honorable great man.” \{Kya}/ (家) or \{Ling°-tsung}/ (令尊). Children often call their father \{Tia-tia}/ (爹爹), or \{Ya-ya}/ (爺爺), or \{Pak-pak}/ (伯伯).