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

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

LESSON XV.

鞋 à̤

shoes

嘴 chói

the lips, mouth

笑 chiéu

to laugh

赦 siá

to forgive

排 bà̤

to place in position

𧚔 sê̤ṳng

to wear

草 chāu

straw

金 gĭng

gold, metal

見 giéng

to see, an aux. verb

餅 biāng

cakes

功勞 gŭng-lò̤

merit

眚盲 chăng-màng

blind

歡喜 huăng-hī

to be pleased, to like

木司父 mŭk-să-hô

carpenter

左邊 cō̤-bĕng

on the left

右邊 êu-bĕng

on the right

掏箸手 dò̤-dê̤ṳ chīu

right hand

掏碗手 dò̤-uāng chiū

left hand

價錢 gá-cièng

price

酒 ciū

wine, alcohol

葤 dêu

to dwell

流 làu

to flow

傳 diòng

to preach

跪 gôi

to kneel

跋倒 buăk-dō̤

to fall

目睭 mĕ̤k-cĭu

eyes

腌攢 ăng-căng, 齷齪 aúk-cháuk, lă-că,

dirty

饒恕 nièu-sé̤u

to forgive

幫助 bŏng-câe̤

to help

到處 dó̤-ché̤ṳ

everywhere

啼嘛 tiè-mà

to weep

一片雲 siŏh-piéng-hùng

a cloud

自然 cê̤ṳ-iòng

of course

的的 dék-dék

certainly, must

的着 dék-diŏh

must

1. Chinese idiom in speaking of the effects of actions, connects the verb directly to the word describing effect. He is blind through crying, 伊其目睭因啼嘛呆去 I gì mĕ̤k-ciŭ ĭng tiè-mà ngài-kó̤. This pair of shoes is ruined by wear, 只一雙鞋桶呆去了 Cī siŏh-sĕ̤ng à̤ sê̤ṳng ngài kó̤ lāu.

2. The Chinese idiom corresponding to “some—others” is formed by “some” repeated. Some made a present of cash, and others of cakes, 務𠆧送錢也務𠆧送餅 ô-nè̤ng sáe̤ng cièng iâ ô-nè̤ng sáe̤ng biāng. Some travel by boat, others by road, 也務坐船也務䟰路 Iâ-ô sô̤i sùng, iâ-ô giàng diô. Numerals used as adverbs in English are expressed in two ways. For instance, we say “he came once, twice, thrice”, but beyond this number we commonly employ the word “times”, following the numeral. The latter form is regularly used in Chinese. The words equivalent to “times” vary with the nature of the subject. He struck him four times, 伊拍伊四下 I páh ĭ sé â. How often? 幾回 Gūi huòi?. It is so every time, 一囘一回都是將換，回回務將換 Siŏh-huòi siŏh-huòi dŭ sè ciŏng-uâng, or huòi huòi ô ciŏng-nâng.

3. 呢 Nì interrogative particle, is commonly added to questions where a question has already been asked; when this is not the case it either adds emphasis, or is the equivalent of such phrases as “how-about? what of” etc. Why does he preach here, 伊因世乇緣故落只塊傳道呢 I ĭng sié-nó̤h iòng-gó lŏ̤h cŭ-uái diòng dô̤ nì? What is the price? 價錢箬壞 Gá-cièng niŏh wâi.

4. Ciáng-sê and ng-sê are used for simple affirmation and denial, but in Chinese, as in English, there are many words and phrases, which do not merely signify assent, but convey the idea that such assent must be given in the nature of the case. Thus have such expressions as “of course, why ask? it goes without saying” etc. 自然 Cê̤ṳ-iòng and 一定 ék-déng usually cover these phrases. That is certain, 回是一定其 Huòi sê ék-dêng gì. It is needless to speak of that, 回伓使講 Huòi ng-sāi gōng. Of course there is no need to go, 自然伓使去 cê̤ṳ-iòng ng-sāi kó̤. Cê̤ṳ-iòng is also used in the sense of normal healthy condition. See Luke VII; 35— Clothed and in his right mind, 𧚔衣裳自自然然 Sê̤ṳng ĭ-siòng cê̤ṳ-cê̤ṳ iòng-iòng.

5. 起 Kī in combination with the sign of the negative, is placed after verbs, to show lack of resource, and in the positive form with the opposite meaning. This positive form is principally used in asking questions. He cannot afford to ride in a sedan chair, 伊轎坐賣起 I giêu sô̤i-má-kī. None but wealthy people can afford to live in large houses, 大橺其厝㑚務錢其𠆧⿰亻鞋葤的起 Duâ găng gì chió ná ô-cièng gì nè̤ng â̤ dêu dék kī.

6. 見 Giéng is used as an auxiliary verb to 看 káng. It is also used alone, but differs from káng as it usually refers to having an interview with a person. It is also used as a sign of the passive. I had better go and see him, 儂家去見伊故好 Nè̤ng-gă kó̤ giéng ĭ gó hō̤. Giéng as a sign of the passive. 見怪 Giéng guái to be offended. To be laughed at by you, 乞汝見笑 Ké̤ṳk nṳ̄ giéng chiéu. Chinese paper must not come in contact with water, 中國其紙伓通見水 Dṳ̆ng-guók gì cāi ng-tĕ̤ng giéng cūi.

7. Dék generally used with the Potential Mood, is also used repeated, to express the idea of certainty. He will certainly come to-morrow, 伊明旦的的⿰亻鞋來 I mìng-dáng dék-dék â̤ lì. With the Imperative Particle, diŏh, dék is also used to add emphasis. You must come tomorrow to my house, 汝明旦的着至儂家厝禮 Nṳ̄ mìng-dáng dék-diŏh gáu nèng-gă chió lā̤.

EXERCISE XV.

戴 dái

to wear on the head

乾 dă

dry

包 bău

parcel, to wrap

緊 gīng

tight

鬆 sĕ̤ng

loose

懶惰 lāng-dô̤

lazy

歇 hiók

rest

聽嘴 tiăng-chói

obedient

吞 tŏng

swallow

塞 sék

to stop a leak

改 gṳ̄i

to alter

本來 buōng-laì

originally

Translate into English:—

1. Nè̤ng-gă buōng-lài gì é-sé̤ṳ sê kó̤ Kŭ-chèng, nâ ĭng siŏh-iông cêng gék gì daî ceû sĕng kó̤ Iòng-bìng.
2. Nguāi-gáuk-nèng chŭi-iòng ô cô̤i; Siông-Dá̤ ĭng-nguòng â̤ kīng nièu-sé̤ṳ nguāi.
3. Cī siŏh-iông ĭ-siòng puŏh muôi dă.
4. Nù-gáuk-nè̤ng lŏ̤h dó̤-che̤ṳ́ diòng-dô̤.
5. Ciā sā̤-sĭng-kuòng â̤ lâu, nṳ̄ dék-diŏh sék kó̤.
6. Nṳ̄ dék-diŏh ŏ̤h tiăng-chói.
7. Nṳ̄ gì ĭ-siòng cêng lă-că, diŏh dò̤ cī siŏh-dó̤i ì-cô̤ kó̤ sā̤.
8. Niê-giāng chiòng lā̤ buăk lŏ̤h-lì; ĭ gì ĭ-siòng dŭ lă-că kó̤; dâ-ék-hō̤ gâe̤ng ĭ sĭng sā̤ siŏh-ciáh.
9. Ciā siŏng cêng cóng, sié-nó̤h gá-cièng nì?
10. Cī siŏh-găng bùng cêng kó̤ lă-că, ŭng-dìng cêng sâ̤, iâ ô tĭ-tṳ̆-măng cêng gâu. Nṳ̄ dék-diŏh saú táh-gáik.
11. Niê-giāng dè̤ng cièng tŏng diē siŏh ciáh.
12. Să-hô mò lāng dô̤, ciā chiòng săng-nīk ceû â̤ kī hō̤.
13. Siā cê nṳ̄ gì bék diŏh niĕng dò̤-dê̤ṳ-chiū. Saī dò̤-uāng-chiū ô duâi dâng.
14. Nṳ̄ ciŏng-gì sì-siòng mâ̤ gé-dék guŏng kāng-muòng?
15. Nè̤ng-gă cêng huăng-hī káng nè̤ng-káh lì, nâ có̤ diò lì gōng, “Dŭ mò̤-nó̤h siăh”, nù mâ̤ hieū-dék ciŏng-iông có̤.

Translate into Chinese:—

1. Which do you like?
2. Jesus gave up His life for us that we might obtain salvation.
3. His head was broken by a fall.
4. He has ability but he is lazy. He only likes to play in school.
5. Please buy me some straw shoes. My foreign shoes are broken.
6. Where does he live? I do not know.
7. Why are you crying? Because my mother is poorly and my father being blind we cannot make a living.
8. If you will forgive me this time, I will not offend you again.
9. In the house opposite there are many things made of gold and silver. The people there are wealthy.
10. Tie the parcel tightly lest the contents fall out and are lost.
11. I must not go out to play, because mother told me to mind the children.
12. The blind man has fallen down.
13. When you have shkaen the curtains fold them up and put them in the drawer.
14. Please help me to move this table.
15. Lay the table for six people.