A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons/Lesson XIX

by C. M. S. and A. E. Champness

LESSON XIX

犬仔 kēng-giāng

dog

行 hèng

to act

閒 èng

leisure

哄騙 hūng-piéng

to cheat

渴 kák

thirsty

確實 kaúk-sĭk

truly

灴 gòng

to burn, injure by fire, scald

力 lĭk

strength

咬 gâ

to bite

擲 cŏ̤h, dâi

to throw away

動 dông

move, influence

層 cèng

a storey of a building, round of a ladder

堆 dŏi

heap

恨 hâung

to hate

添 tiĕng

to add

刣 tài

to kill

屢 sèu

often, regularly

䰗氣 kău-ké

exasperating, irksome

冇講 páng-gōng

to gossip, chat

工夫 gĕ̤ng-hŭ

labour, work

可惜 kō̤-sék

alas

故此 gó-chṳ̄

therefore

務擔當 ô dăng-dŏng

can

毛擔當 mò̤ dăng-dŏng

can

花眉 huă-mì

a thrush

熱心 iĕk-sĭng

earnest

一堆 siŏh-dŏi

together

公道 gŭng-dô̤

just

定動 dêng-dâe̤ng

to move

破病 puái-bâng

to be ill

清醒 chĭng-chāng

awake

細貳 sá̤-nê

to be careful

愛 tiáng

to love

1 It was pointed out in a former lesson that numerical order was indicated by the use of 第 dâ̤ prefixed to cardinal numbers. Dâ̤ is also employed in recapitulations, but in going over the chief points of a subject, or in a recital of events, according to regular sequence, there are other forms corresponding to such phrases as “in the first place” “in the next place” etc. Such are, Tàu siŏh-iông, tàu siŏh-cĕk, bô–bô. In the first place he is careless, in the second place he is unjust, 伊頭一件毛細貳第二件毛公道 I tàu siŏh-iông mò̤ sá̤-nê, dâ̤ nê iông mò̤ gŭng-dô̤. In the first place I have no time, in the second place, I have no money, 儂家頭一截毛閒二截毛錢 Nè̤ng-gă tàu siŏh-cĕk mò̤ èng, nê cĕk mò̤ cièng. He is both wise and amiable, 伊仅聰明仅好愛 I bô chăng-mìng, bô hō̤-tiáng. He is both unwilling and unable, 伊仅伓肯仅毛擔當 I bô ng kīng, bô mò̤ dăng-dŏng.

2 Repetition and constant action are expressed by words repeated, such as 時時 sì-sì, 常常 siòng-siòng, 仅 bó and 時刻 sì-káik, prefixed to the verb also carry the same meaning. Here he is again, 伊仅來了 I bô lì lāu. He is with them every day, 伊日日共伊各𠆧一堆 I ník-ník gâe̤ng ĭ-gáuk-nè̤ng siŏh-dŏi. That thrush sings all the time, 許一頭花眉時時禮呌 Hā̤ siŏh-tàu huă-mì sì-sì lā̤ giéu. The day he was ill he prayed incessantly, 伊破病許一日就時時刻刻祈禱 I púai-bâng hṳ̄ siŏh-nĭk cêu sì-sì káik-káik gì̤-dò̤. It is so on every occasion, 常常都是將換 Siòng-siòng dŭ-sê ciŏng-uâng.

3 屢 Sèu has the meaning of “often, regularly”, and is frequently used in the superlative form, 盡屢 cêng sèu. He very frequently studies his Bible, 伊盡屢讀聖經 I cêng sèu tĕ̤k Sēng-Gĭng.

4 In deducing a conclusion from a line of argument, we employ either a word or a phrase, such as “therefore, hence, since” to introduce such conclusions; or we may employ such phrases as “in consideration of, this being so”. Chinese colloquial usually prefers the latter style, the single words being more generally found in the book language. Since this is so, the money is not his, 學將換 者錢伓是伊其 Oh-ciŏng-uâng, ciā cièng ng sê ĭ gì. I knew therefore that he was an unreliable man, 故此儂家曉的伊是靠不住其𠆧 Gó-chṳ̄ nè̤ng-gá hiēu dék ĭ sè kó̤-bók-cê̤ṳ gì nè̤ng.

5 In translating such phrases as “it burns, it bites”, describing the effect of an action upon the individual the auxiliary verb â̤ is used before the principal verb. Be careful, it will burn you! 着細貳⿰亻鞋灴汝 Diŏh sá̤-nê, â̤ gōng nṳ̄. Does that dog bite? No, don’t be afraid, it is very quiet, 許一頭犬仔⿰亻鞋咬賣 賣伓使驚 盡去老實 Hṳ̄ siŏh-tàu kēng-gīang â̤ gû mâ̤? Mâ̤, ng sāi giăng, cêng kó̤ lō̤-sĭk.

6 Chinese is rich in initial and final particles denoting grief or surprise. Some of them vary their meaning according to the tone in which they are spoken. Beginners should be caerful how they use them, as to use them excessively sounds very ridiculous. Surprise is also indicated by 俤𠆧曉的 Diê-nè̤ng hiēu-dék? Who would have thought he would do this? 俤𠆧曉的伊⿰亻鞋做者代 Diê-nè̤ng hiēu-dék ĭ â̤ có̤ ciā dâi? 過世 Guó-sié to leave the world, is more often used than the literal sī-kó̤ for death, being less abrupt. Alas! Mrs. Ding is dead, 可惜 陳先生娘過世去 Kō̤-sék, Dìng Sĭng-săng-niòng guó-sié kó̤.

7 The idea of thoroughness is implied in 盡 cêng and 確實 kaúk-sĭk. These expressions also denote the completion and end of affairs. He has now thoroughly repented, 伊現在確實悔改 I hiêng-câi kaúk-sĭk huói-gāi.

Note: A certain person, time, place or thing is translated by 某 mū. In a certain city, 着某城 Diôh mū siàng. A certain place, 某處 mū ché̤ṳ. A certain day, once upon a time, 某日 mū nĭk.

EXERCISE XIX.

見覺 giéng-gáe̤k

perceive

飛 buŏi

to fly

接 ciék

to catch, as a ball

病癌 bâng-ā

dumb

跋㬵 piāng-kă

lame

吩咐 hŭng-hó

to order, command

醫生 ĭ-sĕng

doctor

百姓 báh-sáng

people

忍耐 ṳ̄ng-nâi

patience

⿰虫鳳⿰虫門 hŭng-muòng

mosquito

⿰虫鳳⿰虫門帳 hŭng-muòng-dióng

mosquito net

Translate into English:—

1. Cuòi â̤ sāi-dék mâ̤. Mâ̤ saī-dék, ĭng mâ̤ hăk.
2. Nè̤ng-gă mò̤ èng gâe̤ng nṳ̄ páng-gōng.
3. Cāi ng gáu, diŏh tiĕng lâng tiŏng.
4. Diŏh sá̤-nê, miēng-dék kāng-muòng gì bŏ-là̤ páhpuái kó̤.
5. Iâ ô hō̤, nâ tiĕng siŏh-dĭ-dĭ gì sièng, ciáh gáing hō̤ siăh.
6. Cêng òng mò̤ dâung-ṳ̄, gó-chṳ̄ Lō̤-diă ô géng-diò.
7. Ciā buông ngài kó̤ lāu, diŏh dâi kó̤, lièng giĕ iâ ng siăh.
8. Diŏh sá̤-nê, kĭng-kĭng giàng, miēng-dék niê-giāng chĭng-chāng, ĭ dīu-dĭu ciáh káung.
9. Ciā nó̤h lūng-cūng ĕng siŏh-dŏi, ô èng gì sì-hâiu nè̤ng-gă că-chák káng.
10. Nĭk-cī nè̤ng-gă gó mâ̤ diâng-diŏh, nâ nù-gaúk-nè̤ng dâi-liŏh lò̤h â siŏh-nguŏk kī-sĭng.
11. Ĭ puái-bâng cêng òng lāu, mò̤ nè̤ng bŏng-câe̤ ĭ cêu mâ̤ giàng.
12. Nù-gaúk-nè̤ng nâ tiáng nū gi bèng-iū, cêu muôi sĕk-hŭng cêng nù gì buōng-hông.
13. Nè̤ng-gă gì chiū ké̤ṳk huōi gòng kó̤ ī-hâiu, cêu mò̤ dăng-dŏng siā piĕ.
14. Cé̤ṳng nè̤ng duâi gì-dĕk gōng, ĭ sê miéh-nó̤h nè̤ng nĭ? Hŭng gâe̤ng hāi dŭ bìng ĭ.
15. Nṳ̄ diŏh tiáng nṳ̄ gì gáh-biáh-nè̤ng chiông cê-gă siŏh iông.

Translate into Chinese:—

1. You will not get on without money.
2. If you need a saw, go to Mr. Ma and borrow one from him, he is always willing to lend his tools.
3. I notified him twice but he still has not come.
4. Are you thirsty? Yes, I am very thirsty.
5. This is very exasperating, I have waited for him half the day and still he has not come.
6. If he was in earnest he could do this work well, but he is very lazy and only likes to gossip.
7. That thrush over there is singing beautifully; do not move lest you frighten it away.
8. The boys were very unjust and said that I always cheated them at play.
9. He came many times, for the most part he walked, but he rode twice in a chair.
10. If I did not love you I would not trouble about your affairs (manage).
11. Be careful, that dog will bite you!
12. I have engaged Mr. Ding to teach in our school; Pastor Lau says that his scholarship is very extensive (deep).
13. The gate keeper is ill, and has engaged one of the carpenters to look after the gate in his place.
14. Jesus said, O ye of little faith, why are ye fearful?
15. And into whatsoever city ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy, and there abide till ye go forth.