Chapter II: Part 2

(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.

“A day” is usually \{ih nyih}/ 一日. The character \{nyih}/ literally means “sun.” In speaking of the heavenly body, in the colloquial, \{deu}/ is added to the \{nyih}/, making the expression \{nyih-deu}/ (日頭). Sometimes the word \{thien}/ (天), meaning “Heaven,” is used for “day.” Thus \{san thien}/ means “three days.” No classifier is introduced between the numeral and the \{nyih}/ or the \{thien}/. Thus we have for “four days” \{s° nyih}/ (四日) or \{s° thien}/ (四天).

“A week” is \{ih kuh °li-pa°}/ (一個禮拜) or \{ih °li-pa°}/ (一禮拜). This, of course, is a foreign division of time which has been adopted into Chinese. It takes its name from the name of Sunday, which is usually \{°li-pa°-nyih}/ (禮拜日). Lit. “the day of ceremonial worship.” \{°Li}/ means ceremony, \{pa°}/ is to worship. The other days of the week are formed with the addition of the numerals as follows: Monday is \{°li-pa°-ih}/ (禮拜一). Tuesday is \{°li-pa°-nyi°}/. Wednesday is \{°li-pa°-san}/. Thursday \{°li-pa°-s°}/. Friday \{°li-pa°-°ng}/ and Saturday \{°li-pa°-lok}/.

A new way of expressing the days of the week is by the use of the words \{sing-ji}/ (星期) meaning the star period. Thus: Sunday is \{sing-ji nyih}/ (星期日), Monday, \{sing-ji ih}/ (星期一), Tuesday, \{sing-ji nyi°}/ (星期二), and so on for the other days.

“A month” is \{ih kuh nyoeh}/ (一個月). Lit. “a moon.” The Chinese year is made up of twelve lunar months. The first month is called \{tsung nyoeh}/ (正月), the second, \{nyi° nyoeh}/ (二月), the third, \{san nyoeh}/ (三月) and so forth.

“A year” is \{ih nyien}/ (一年). No classifier is used between the numeral and the word “year”, \{nyien}/.

“How many?” or “How much?” is \{°kyi-hau°?}/ (幾化). Thus \{°kyi-hau° nyung le?}/ (幾化人來) means “How many men came?” \{°Kyi-hau° °s}/ (幾化水) means “How much water?”

\{°Kyi}/ is often used without the \{hau°}/. In such cases it is followed by the classifier of the noun. Thus “How many men came?” might be \{°kyi kuh nyung le?}/ (幾個人來). “How many horses have you?” \{noong° °yeu °kyi tsak °mo?}/ (儂有幾隻馬).

“Where?” is \{°‘a-°li}/ (那裏). Thus “Where are you going?” is \{noong° tau° °‘a- °li chi°?}/ (儂到那裏去). “Where are you?” is \{noong° la°-°‘a-°li?}/ (濃拉那裏).

\{Sa°}/ meaning “what” with \{di°-faung}/ meaning “place” also expresses “Where?” Thus \{sa° di°-faung?}/ (啥地方). We also have \{sa° dzang-hau°?}/ (啥塲化) meaning “What place?” or “Where?” but this refers to a more circumscribed area than \{di°- faung}/. We also have \{sa° °‘oo-daung°}/ (啥戸蕩) used much in the same way as \{sa° dzang-hau°}/.

VOCABULARY

A fish, \ih diau ng/ 一條魚.
To return, \°tsen-le/ 轉來, Lit. To come back; \°tsen-chi°/ 轉去,
Lit. To go back.
To come out or forth, \tsheh-le/ 出來.
To go out, \tsheh chi°/ 出去.
To thank, \zia°/ 謝.
Near, \°jung/ 近.
To-day, \kyung-tsau/ 今朝.
Yesterday, \zau-nyih/ 昨日.
A painter, \ih kuh tshih-ziang°/ 一個漆匠.
Thus, \zeh-ke°/ 實蓋 or \zeh-ke°-nung/ 實蓋能.
Then (used as a conjunction), \nan-meh/ 難末.
Only, \pi-koo°/ 必過.
South, \nen/ 南.
Immediately, \zieu°/ 就.
Time, \z-‘eu°/ 時候, \zung-kwaung/ 辰光 or \koong-foo/ 工夫.
But, \dan°-°z/ 但是, \dok-°z/ 獨是.

EXERCISES

(Translate into English)

(1) °Tshing sien-sang ming-tsau °kyeu °tien-tsoong le.
(2) Kyung-tsau °z °li-pa°-ih, ming-tsau °z °li-pa°-nyi°.
(3) Di°-kuk nyoeh °yeu san-seh nyih.
(4) Ih °li-pa° °yeu tshih nyih.
(5) Noong°-kuh bang-°yeu dzu° la° sa° di°-faung? La° dzung °li.
La° dzung °li, sa° dzang-hau°? °Jung nen mung.
(6) °Ngoo-kuh tau noong° faung° la°-°‘a-°li?
(7) Zau-nyih °ngoo dok-ts °ng °tien-tsoong su, nan-meh tsheh-chi°
°tseu loo°.
(8) °Kyi °pung su °z noong°-kuh °lau °kyi °pung °z yi-kuh?
(9) I-kuh nyung °yeu °kyi-kuh ‘eu-°ts? Yi pih-koo° °yeu ih-kuh.
(10) Noong° tau°-ts Tsoong-kok °kyi-kuh nyoeh tse? °Ngoo le-ts
san kuh nyoeh.
(11) Noong° °kyi-z iau° °tsen-chi°? °Li-pa°-san iau° °tsen-chi°.
(12) °Zaung-°he °kyi-z °tsen-le kuh? Zau-nyih °tsen-le kuh.
(13) Noong° we°-sa°-°lau ’veh tsheh-chi° °tseu °tseu? °Iung-we°
m-meh koong-foo °lau.
(14) Zia° zia° noong° chi° °tshing i-sung le.
(15) °Ngoo dok-°hau-ts su zieu° iau° chuh van.
(16) °Z zeh-ke° va°? °Z zeh-ke° kuh.

(一) 請先生明朝九點鐘來.
(二) 今朝是禮拜一, 明朝是禮拜二.
(三) 第個月有三十日.
(四) 一禮拜有七日.
(五) 儂個朋友住拉啥地方? 拉城裏. 拉城裏啥場化? 近南門.
(六) 我個刀儂放拉那裏?
(七) 昨日我讀之五點鐘書, 難末出去走路.
(八) 幾本書是儂個佬幾本是伊個?
(九) 伊個人有幾個兒子? 伊必過有一個.
(十) 儂到之中國幾個月哉? 我來之三個月.
(十一) 儂幾時要轉去? 禮拜三要轉去.
(十二) 上海幾時轉來個? 昨日轉來個.
(十三) 儂爲啥佬勿出去走走? 因爲無沒工夫佬.
(十四) 謝謝儂去請醫生來.
(十五) 我讀好之書就要吃飯.
(十六) 是實蓋否? 是實蓋個.

(Translate into Chinese)

(1) Where have you put my shoes?
(2) I put them in the box.
(3) I do not want to study on Sunday, but I will study on Monday.
(4) How many weeks are there in a month?
(5) How many peaches have you eaten?
(6) How many dollars did you give your servant?
(7) What time is it now?
(8) Where do you live?
(9) When you have bought the fish, return immediately.
(10) The guest will stay here four months, and then will return.
(11) Please tell the painter to come.
(12) The teacher, having taught for three hours, left immediately.
(13) Why do you do it this way? Because the teacher told me to do
it thus.
(14) I wish to do it, but I have no time to do it.
(15) Go see what time it is now.

(一) 我個鞋子儂放拉那裏?
(二) 我放拉箱子裏.
(三) 禮拜日勿要讀書, 禮拜一佬讀個.
(四) 一個月有幾個禮拜?
(五) 儂吃之幾隻桃子?
(六) 儂撥之儂個用人幾塊洋錢?
(七) 現在是幾點鐘?
(八) 儂住拉啥地方?
(九) 買好之魚就轉來.
(十) 客人要住四個月, 難末轉去哉.
(十一) 謝謝儂叫漆匠來.
(十二) 先生教之三點鐘工夫, 就轉去.
(十三) 儂爲啥實蓋做? 因爲先生教我實蓋做.
(十四) 我要做個, 但是無沒工夫.
(十五) 去看現在幾點鐘.

Notes.

(1) “Thank you” is expressed by repeating the {Zia°}. Thus “Thank
you” is {Zia°-zia° noong°}. In speaking to an equal or
superior, the {Noong°} would be dropped. Often in Chinese when
you ask a person to do a thing for you, you preface the request
by thanking the person. Thus {Zia°-zia° noong chi° tan
°ngoo-kuh san° le} (謝謝儂去擔我個傘來) means “Thank you, go bring
my umbrella.”

(2) {Koong-foo} has the double sense of “work” or “time.” Thus:
{Tsoo° koong-foo} means to do work. But {M-meh koong-foo} means
“I have no time.” You never say {Sa° koong-foo}, meaning “What
time?” but {Sa s-‘eu°?} or {Sa° zung-kwaung?} In asking what
time it is by the clock the usual expression is {°Kyi
°tien-tsoong?}

(3) The force of the question in the third sentence of the First
Exercise is due to the fact that some Chinese months have thirty
days and some have twenty-nine. A month of thirty days is called
{Doo° nyoeh} (大月), “a large month,” and one with twenty-nine
days is called a small month {°Siau nyoeh} (小月). In order to
make the seasons come right, an intercalary month is put in
about every three years. This in Chinese is called {Nyung°
nyoeh} (閏月).

(4) Notice the elliptical form of expression in the seventh sentence
of the First Exercise. Literally it means “Yesterday I read five
hours’ book.”

(5) In the third sentence of the Second Exercise the Chinese idiom
is peculiar. You say {°Li-pa° nyih ’veh iau° dok su, °li-pa°-ih
°lau dok kuh}. Literally “Sunday not want to study, Monday and
study.”

(6) In the eleventh sentence of the Second Exercise, the “please”
should be translated {Zia°-zia° noong°}.

LESSON XI

The Passive Voice, and Adverbs of Place and Time

\{Peh}/ (撥) (Mandarin 被) is used to form the Passive, and is the regular and proper form of the Passive. Thus: the verb \{°tang}/ (打) means to “Strike.” \{°Ngoo °tang yi}/ (我打伊) means “I strike him.” To put this into the Passive we would say \{°ngoo peh yi °tang}/ (我撥伊打). Literally “I gave him strike,” or “I was struck by him.”

“Here” is expressed by \{leh-°li}/ or \{°tsh-di°}/ (垃裏, 此地) or \{di°-deu}/ (第頭). \{°Tsh-di°}/ means literally “this place.”

“There” is \{leh-la°}/ (垃拉) or \{i-deu}/ (伊頭) or \{i-kwhe°}/ (伊塊). “I am here” is \{°ngoo leh-li°}/ (我垃裏). “I am there” is \{°ngoo leh-la°}/ (我垃拉).

These adverbs are often used as adverbial nouns and may take prepositions before them. Thus \{Tau° °di-deu le}/ (到第頭來) means “Come here.” Lit. “To here come.” \{Tau° i-deu chi°}/ (到伊頭去) means “Go there.” Lit. “To there go.” \{°Pa la° °tsh-di°}/ (擺拉此地) means “Place it here,” Lit. “Place it at here.” \{°Pa la° i-kwhe°}/ (擺拉伊塊) means “Place it there.” Lit. “Place it at there.”

VOCABULARY

Half an hour, \pen° °tien-tsoong/ 半點鐘, (\pen°/ means half).
Quarter of an hour, \ih khuh/ 一刻.
A minute, \ih fung/ 一分.
In the morning, \°zaung-pen°-nyih/ 上半日. Lit. Above half day.
In the afternoon, \°‘au-pen°-nyih/ 下半日. Lit. Lower half day.
Night, \ya°/ 夜.
At night, \ya°-deu/ 夜頭 or \ya°-°li/ 夜裏.
Day before yesterday, \koo°-nyih-°ts/ 過日子, \zien-nyih-°ts/ 前日子,
\i-nyih-°ts/ 伊日子.
Day after to-morrow, \°‘eu nyih/ 後日.
Early in the morning, \°tsau-zung-deu/ 早晨頭. \°Tsau/ is early.
In the evening, \ya°-kwha°/ 夜快. Lit. Night coming fast.
In the middle of the day or noon, \nyih-tsoong/ 日中.
To cook, \sau/ 燒.
To strike, \°tang/ 打.
To wait, \°tung/ 等. \°Tung-ih-°tung/ means “Wait a little.”
To rest, \hyih/ 歇. \Hyih-ih-hyih/ means “Wait a little.” We also have
\°tung-ih-hyih/.
To remember, \kyi°/ 記 or \kyi°-tuh/ 記得.
To forget, \maung°-kyi°/ 忘記.
An affair (abstract), \ih °jien z°-°thi/ or \ih tsaung z°-thi/ 一樁事體.
A thing or object (concrete), \ih-kuh meh-z°/ 一個物事.
Wind, \foong/ 風.
A loaf of bread, \ih-kuh men-deu/ 一個饅頭.
A mosquito, \ih tsak mung-°ts/ 一個蚊子 or \ih kuh mung-°ts/.
A boat, \ih tsak zen/ 一隻船.
Many, much, \too-hau°/ 多化, or \too/ 多.
To sting, \ting/ 叮.
To bite, \°ngau/ 咬.
To spoil, \wa°/ 壞, or \wa°-theh/ 壞脫 (completely spoil).
A snake, \ih diau zo/ 一條蛇.

EXERCISES

(Translate into English)

(1) Van° sau °hau meh? Sau °hau tse.
(2) °Ngoo-kuh i-zaung tan tau° °tsh-di° le.
(3) I-zaung tsoo° °hau meh? ’Veh zung, iau° hyih °liang nyih tsoo°
°hau.
(4) °Tshing sien-sang ming-tsau °zaung-pen°-nyih zeh °tien-tsoong le.
(5) Van° sau-°hau-ts meh zieu° iau° chuh.
(6) °Ngoo nyih-°li dok tsoong-kok su, ya°-°li dok nga°-kok su.
(7) I-tsak °mo we°-ts °tseu le man° °lau peh la °mo-foo °tang.
(8) Zien-nyih-°ts °ngoo la° °Zaung-°he °ma-ts too-hau° meh-z°.
(9) °Di tsaung z°-°thi °ngoo theh noong° wo°, dan°-z° ’veh iau° peh
i-kuh nyung °hyau-tuh.
(10) °Tsau-zung-deu °z °ting °hau dok su kuh zung-kwaung.
(11) °Tung-ih-hyih °ngoo zieu° iau° le.
(12) Noong° dok koo° hyih kuh su kyi°-tuh va?
(13) Ih pen° kyi°-tuh, ih pen° maung°-kyi°.
(14) °Ngoo peh la° mung-°ts ting.
(15) Men-deu peh la° °siau-noen chuh theh tse.
(16) °Ngoo-kuh kyak peh la° zo °ngau-°ts ih °kheu.
(17) Zen peh la° doo° foong °tang wa°.
(18) °Tshing sien-sang di°-deu °zoo.

(一) 飯燒好末? 燒好哉.
(二) 我個衣裳擔到此地來.
(三) 衣裳做好末? 勿曾, 要歇兩日做好.
(四) 請先生明朝上半日十黙鐘來.
(五) 飯燒好之末就要吃.
(六) 我日裏讀中國書, 夜裏讀外國書.
(七) 伊隻馬爲之走來慢咾撥拉馬夫打.
(八) 前日子我拉上海買之多化物事.
(九) 第樁事體我對儂話, 但是勿要撥伊個人曉得.
(十) 早晨頭是頂好讀書個辰光.
(十一) 等一歇我就要來.
(十二) 儂讀過歇個書記得否?
(十三) 一半記得一半忘記.
(十四) 我撥拉蚊子叮.
(十五) 饅頭撥拉小囝吃脫哉.
(十六) 我個脚撥拉蛇咬仔一口.
(十七) 船撥拉大風打壞.
(十八) 請先生第頭坐.

(Translate into Chinese)

(1) When will you come, in the morning or in the afternoon?
(2) I do not know; if I have no affairs to attend to, I will come in
the morning.
(3) Has the carpenter finished making the table? If so, I will come
and look at it.
(4) Place the bed here and the table there.
(5) These fish are cooked badly.
(6) The day after to-morrow I have invited some guests to dinner.
(7) It is already twenty minutes past ten, and my teacher has not
ye come.
(8) Do you remember what I told you yesterday? I have forgotten it.
(9) In studying Chinese, you must not forget what you have already
learnt.
(10) Please sit down a little while; there are many things I want to
say to you.
(11) How did you come? I came in a carriage.
(12) My child was struck by your child.
(13) My face and hands were bitten by mosquitoes.

(一) 儂幾時要來, 上半日呢下半日?
(二) 我勿曉得, 若然嘸沒事體, 要上半日來.
(三) 擡子木匠做好末? 若然做好之末, 我要來看看.
(四) 牀棑拉第頭, 檯子擺拉伊頭.
(五) 魚燒來勿好.
(六) 後日我請幾個客人來吃飯.
(七) 已經十點過廿分哉, 先生還勿曾來.
(八) 我昨日對儂話個儂記得否? 我忘記脫哉.
(九) 讀中國書已經學過拉個, 勿要忘記.
(十) 請坐一歇, 有多化事體要對儂話.
(十一) 儂那能來個, 我坐馬車來個.
(十二) 我個小囝撥儂個小囝打.
(十三) 我個面孔佬手撥拉蚊子叮.

Notes.

(1) It will have been noticed that in Lesson VI. {Leh-li°} was used
in the Present Tense Continuous of the Verb, and that {Leh-la°}
was used for the Past Continuous. It was pointed out then that
these words really signify “Here” and “There.” The literal
sense would be “I am here eating,” and “I was there eating.”

(2) It is very important that beginners should distinguish clearly
between {meh-z°} and {z°-°thi}. Any concrete object may be
called a {meh-z°}. But an abstract action or affair is always
{z°-°thi}.

In mandarin-speaking districts {toong-si} 東西 (Lit. “East-West”)
is often used for {meh-z°}, and sometimes it is heard in the
Shanghai District.

(3) In the fifth sentence of the First Exercise, notice how the
{°ts} is tacked on to the {°hau}, and not to the {sau}.

(4) In the tenth sentence of First Exercise notice how the {dok su}
has become a verbal adjective. Lit. “Reading book time.”

(5) In the fifteenth sentence of the First Exercise the force of the
{theh} after {chuh} is that it has been entirely eaten up.
{Theh} often comes after verbs to express completed action.

(6) In the sixteenth sentence of the First Exercise, {°Ngau-°ts ih
°kheu} means literally “Bitten a mouthful.”

(7) In the seventeenth sentence we have two verbs used
together—{°tang} and {wa°}. Literally “Beat” or “strike spoil.”

(8) In the seventh sentence of the Second Exercise twenty minutes
past ten is expressed {zeh °tien koo° nyan° fung}. {°Tien} is a
shortened form for {°tien-tsoong}. {Koo°} means “passed over” or
“beyond.”

(9) In the twelfth sentence of the First Exercise notice the use of
{kuh}, It has the force of the relative pronoun, and the
translation would be “the books which you have read.”

(10) In the sixth sentence of the Second Exercise “some” may be
translated by {°kyi-kuh}.

LESSON XII

Some Verbal Idioms

We have already explained the use of \{°khau-°i}/, \{nung-keu°}/, and \{we°}/. There are other ways of expressing the possibility and impossibility of doing things in Chinese. For instance one way is by the addition of \{tuh le}/ or \{’veh le}/ after the verb. Thus: \{Dok-tuh-le}/ (讀得來) means “Able to read.” \{Dok-’veh-le}/ (讀勿來) means “Unable to read it.” Many verbs of one character admit of this construction. Thus: \{Wo°-tuh-le}/ means “Able to speak.” \{Wo°-’veh-le}/ means “Unable to speak.” \{Tsoo°-tuh-le}/ (做得來), “Able to do.” \{Tsoo°-’veh-le}/ (做勿來), “Unable to do.”

Verbs made up of two characters do not take \{tuh-le}/ and \{’veh-le}/ after them. Thus we do not hear \{°hyau-tuh-’veh-le}/ for “Unable to know,” but \{’veh we° °hyau-tuh}/ (勿會曉得).

The literal meaning of \{tuh-le}/ is “Obtain, come,” and the literal meaning of \{’veh-le}/ is “Not come.”

We also have the use of \{tuh-kuh}/ after verbs, expressing possibility, and \{’veh-tuh}/, expressing impossibility. Thus we have \{tsoo°-tuh-kuh}/ (做得個), meaning “it is possible to do a thing,” and \{tsoo°-’veh-tuh}/ (做勿得), meaning “it is impossible to do a thing.” With verbs of physical action, we have \{tuh-°doong}/ (得動) and \{’veh-°doong}/ (勿動) used after the verb implying possibility and impossibility. Thus we have \{°tseu-tuh-°doong}/ (走得動), meaning “I have the physical ability to walk,” and \{°tseu-’veh-°doong}/ (走勿動), meaning “I have not the physical ability to walk.” In the same way we have \{tsoo°-tuh-°doong}/ (做得動) and \{tsoo°-’veh-°doong}/ (做勿動). \{’Veh-°doong}/ literally means “Not move.”

Strange to say we have \{°zoo-’veh-°doong}/ (坐勿動), meaning “I have not the physical ability to sit up,” and \{°zoo-tuh-°doong}/ (坐得動), meaning “I have the physical ability to sit up.”

\{°Ma-tuh-°doong}/ (買得動) means “Possible to buy.” \{°Ma-’veh-°doong}/ (買勿動) means “Impossible to buy.”

With verbs of hearing and seeing impossibility is expressed in still another way. Thus we have \{khoen°-tuh-kyien°}/ (看得見), meaning “It is possible to see,” and \{khoen°-’veh-kyien°}/ (看勿見) meaning “It is impossible to see it.” Literally translated these expressions are “See, obtain, behold,” and “See, not behold.” We also have \{khoen°-tuh-tsheh}/ (看得出), meaning to see a thing clearly. Literally “See, obtain, come forth,” and \{khoen°-’veh-tsheh}/ (看勿出), meaning not to be able to see, or literally “See, not come forth.”

In the same way we have \{thing-tuh-tsheh}/ (聽得出) and \{thing-’veh-tsheh}/ (聽勿出) in regard to hearing. Instead of \{thing-tuh-kyien°}/ and \{thing-’veh-kyien°}/ we have \{thing-tuh-dzak}/ (聽得着) and \{thing-’veh-dzak}/ (聽勿着). Literally “Hear, obtain” and “Hear, not obtain.”

We have already explained the use of \{°hau} /after verbs expressing completed action. We also have other words used much in the same way. Thus \{dok-°hau-tse}/ (讀好哉), \{dok-wen-tse}/ (讀完哉) or \{dok-°ba-tse}/ (讀罷哉) all mean the same thing. The verb \{wen}/ means “to finish.” Accordingly in asking a question \{tsoo°-°hau-meh}/ (做好末), \{tsoo°-wen-meh}/ (做完末) and \{tsoo°-°ba-meh}/ (做罷末), all mean “Have you finished it?”

Verbal nouns are often formed by the addition of \{deu}/ (頭) or \{fah}/ (法) after the verb. Thus \{tsoo°-deu}/ (做頭) or \{tsoo°-fah}/ (做法) means the manner of doing a thing.

VOCABULARY

To move, to excite, \°doong/ 動.
To hear, \thing/ (聽). Heard, \thing-kyien°/ 聽見
To knock, to strike, \khau/ 敲.
To finish, \wen/ 完.

\Kan/ (間) is the classifier used with rooms.

A room, \ih kan/ 一間.
A bed room, \ih kan vaung-kan/ 一間房間.
A guest room, \ih kan khak-daung-kan/ 一間客堂間.
An office, \ih kan °sia-z°-kan/ 一間寫字間.
A shroff’s room, \ih kan tsang°-vaung-kan/ 一間帳房間.
A study, \ih kan su-vaung/ 一間書房.
A dining room, \ih kan chuh-van°-kan/ 一間吃飯間.
A kitchen, \ih kan sau-van°-kan/ 一間燒飯間 or \dzu-vaung/ 廚房 or
\tsau°-kan/ 灶間.
All, \°loong-°tsoong/ 攏總 or \koong°-°tsoong/ 共總.
All in general, most, \da-ke/ 大槪.
Few, \°sau/ 少.
Each, \°me/ 每.
Every, \kauh/ 各.
Other, \bih/ 別.
High, \kau/ 高.
Low, \ti/ 低.
Broad, \khweh/ 闊.
Narrow, \‘ah/ 狹.
Deep, \sung/ 深.
Shallow, \°tshien/ 淺
Too (denoting excess), \thuh/ 忒.
Above, \°zaung-deu/ 上頭.
Below, \°‘au-deu/ 下頭, \°‘au-°ti-deu/ 下底]頭, \°‘au-°ti/ 下底.
Under, beneath, \°ti-°‘au/ 底下.
Outside, \nga°-deu/ 外頭.
After, \°‘eu/ 後.
Behind, \°‘eu-°ti/ 後底, \°‘eu-°ti-deu/, 後底頭 \°‘eu-deu/ 後頭.
Before, \zien/ 前, \zien-deu/ 前頭.
Earth, \di°/ 地 or \di°-jeu/ 地球.

EXERCISES

(Translate into English)

(1) °Zaung-deu °yeu thien, °‘au-deu °yeu di°.
(2) °Yeu too-hau° z° °ngoo °sia-’veh-le.
(3) Noong° we°-sa°-°lau °tseu le man°-le-°si? Iung-we° °ngoo °tseu
’veh-°doong °lau.
(4) Tsoong-kok wo° zak-zen nyung wo° le kwha° meh, °ngoo
thing-’veh-tsheh.
(5) °Yeu-kuh su °ngoo dok ’veh le.
(6) Di°-zak vaung-°ts °kyi-hau° kau, °kyi-hau° kwheh?
(7) Di°-zak vaung-°ts °yeu °kyi kan?
(8) °Yeu ih kan khak-daung, ih kan °sia-z°-kan, ih kan
chuh-van°-kan, °lau s° kan vaung-kan.
(9) Di°-kuh meh-z° °yeu sa° yoong°-deu va? ’M-sa° yoong°-deu.
(10) Sa° nyung la° khau mung? °Ngoo ’veh zung thing-kyien° °yeu sa°
nyung la° khau mung.
(11) Di° diau loo° thuh ‘ah, °ting °hau noong° °tseu la° zien-deu,
°ngoo °tseu la° °‘eu-deu.
(12) °Tshing khak-nyung khak-daung °li °zoo.
(13) Dzoong °Zaung-°he tau° °tsh di° °yeu °kyi-hau° loo°?
(14) Vaung-°ts nga°-deu °z °lang °tien, vaung-°ts °li-hyang° °z
nyih °tien.
(15) Di°-diau ‘oo °yeu-kuh di°-faung °z sung °tien, °yeu-kuh
di°-faung °z °tshien °tien.
(16) Noong° na°-nung °hyau-tuh di° tsaung z°-thi? Iung-we° °ngoo
thing-tuh °yeu nyung wo° °lau.
(17) Ze-voong tsoo° le ’veh °hau, °loong-°tsoong kuh i-zaung thuh
doo°.
(18) Kauh nyung °yeu kauh nyung kuh z°-°thi.

(一) 上頭有天, 下頭有地.
(二) 有多化字我寫勿來.
(三) 儂爲啥佬走來慢來死? 因爲我走勿動佬.
(四) 中國話若然人話來快末, 我聽勿出.
(五) 有個書我讀勿來.
(六) 笫宅房子幾化高, 幾化闊.
(七) 第宅房子有幾間.
(八) 有一間客堂, 一間寫字間, 一間吃飯間, 佬四間房間.
(九) 第個物事有啥用頭否? 嘸啥用頭.
(十) 啥人拉敲門? 我勿曾聽見有啥人拉敲門.
(十一) 第條路忒狹, 頂好儂走拉前頭, 我走拉後頭.
(十二) 請客人客堂裏坐.
(十三) 從上海到此地有幾化路?
(十四) 房子外頭是冷點, 房子裏向是熱點.
(十五) 第條河有個地方是深點, 有個地方是淺點.
(十六) 儂那能曉得第樁事體? 因爲我聽得有人話佬.
(十七) 裁縫做來勿好, 攏總個衣裳忒大.
(十八) 各人有各人個事體.

(Translate into Chinese)

(1) Where is your teacher? He is in the study writing.
(2) Did you tell the table boy to bring the tea?
(3) If the carpenter does not make it well, I shall call another
man.
(4) This manner of doing it is bad; I want you to do it better.
(5) I walked to Shanghai, and then I could walk no further.
(6) Then what did you do? I called a ricsha and came back.
(7) Is the Master in? He has gone out.
(8) Three days ago I went to see the pagoda.
(9) There is water beneath the earth.
(10) The cat is under the chair.
(11) When I have finished reading the book, I want to learn to write
characters.
(12) Tell him to come inside.
(13) This table is too low; I cannot write characters on it.
(14) May I come in? Come right in.

(一) 儂個先生拉啥地方? 拉寫字間裏寫字.
(二) 担茶來, 儂對仔細崽話否?
(三) 若然木匠做來勿好, 我要叫別人來做.
(四) 實蓋做頭是勿好, 我要儂做來好點.
(五) 我走到上海難末走勿動哉.
(六) 難末儂那能做頭? 我叫之東洋車佬轉來.
(七) 先生垃拉否? 出去拉.
(八) 三日前頭我去看第座塔.
(九) 地底下有水.
(十) 貓拉椅子底下.
(十一) 我讀罷之書要學寫字.
(十二) 叫伊到裏向來.
(十三) 第隻檯子忒低, 勿好寫字.
(十四) 我可以進來否? 進來末哉.

Notes.

(1) In regard to {°sau}, meaning “few,” it should be noted that it
never occurs before a noun. If you wish to say a few men the
idiomatic expression would be {°yeu ’veh too °kyi-kuh nyung}
(有勿多幾個人) or {m-meh °kyi-hau° nyung} (無沒幾化人). The men are
few would be {nyung °sau} (人少). {°Sau} is often used to qualify
verbs. Thus we have {°sau dok kuh}, meaning “to read less.”

(2) As already pointed out in a previous lesson what correspond to
prepositions in English are really postpositions in Chinese, as
they come after the nouns instead of before them. When used as
adverbs, however, they generally precede the verbs. Thus we have
{°li-hyang° °zoo} for “Sit inside,” {°zaung-deu °zoo} (上頭坐) for
“take a higher seat.” This is the usual polite phrase said to a
guest when he enters your guest room. He will take a seat near
the door, and you ask him “to be seated higher.”

(3) The first sentence of the First Exercise is really an oath, and
is used when one is calling Heaven and Earth to witness that his
words are true.

(4) Note the impersonal use of {°yeu} in the second sentence of the
First Exercise. Literally it is “There are many characters.”

(5) In the seventh sentence of the Second Exercise you have the
usual form of inquiring whether the gentleman you wish to see is
at home. You say {Sien-sang leh-la° va°?} “is the master there?”
The answer is {leh-la°}, if he is at home, meaning “He is
there.” If he is not at home, the answer may be {tsheh chi°
la°}, “he has gone out,” or {’veh leh-la°}, “he is not there.”

LESSON XIII

Auxiliary Verbs

The verb \{°chi}/ (起) is often used as an auxiliary verb after the principal verb to express the idea of {inception}. Thus \{dok-°chi}/ (讀起) means “Begin to read.” \{°Chi}/ also expresses the idea of {erectness}, but when used in this sense, \{le}/ (來) follows the \{°chi}/. Thus \{Lih-°chi-le}/ (立起來) means “Stand up.” \{Lok-°chi-le}/ (䟿起來) means “Get up.” It also has a {progressive} meaning, as when you say \{Doh-°chi-le}/ (讀起來) it means “read on,” “go on reading.”

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)