Dictionary of the Swatow dialect/khua

by Adele Marion Fielde

khua

• 誇khua4681496
• To boast; to brag; conceited.

khua-kháu;

boastful.

mih sṳ̄ m̄-hó̤ khah cṳ̆ khua;

one should not laud himself too much in anything.

i khua-cìang i kàu cìaⁿ ŏi;

he extoled his being so upright and able.

ūe tàⁿ chut lâi khah khua;

the style in which he talks is too grandiloquent.

úa thiaⁿ tîeh i kâi ūe khiam-khua khiam-khua nē;

I thought his manner of speaking both modest and self-respectful.

• 胯khua4681306
• The thighs.

khîa bé cū tîeh ŭ khua lâk;

in riding on horseback one needs strength of thigh.

àiⁿ līen kau ũ khua lâk sĭ cò̤-nî līen?

If one wishes to develop strength of thigh, in what way should he exercise?

• 倚khùa27998
• To depend upon for safety or help.

i sĭ khùa tī-tîang kâi sì?

On whose influence does he rely?

khùa pât nâng kâi sì li bô̤ ēng;

it is of no use to trust to the influence of any one else.

khùa i kâi sì tŏ̤ cí gūa jw̆n cò̤;

relying on his influence, he acts in a disorderly manner when out here.

úa bô̤ lâk hó̤ khṳt nâng khùa;

I have no power for people to take advantage of.

nín àiⁿ khùa úa kâi sì li màiⁿ lâi;

if you are going to depend upon my influence then do not come.

• 艐khùa10221377
• To run aground.

cûn khùa sua;

the boat grounded on a sandbank.

cûn kîaⁿ kàu hṳ́-kò̤ khùa chíen;

having gone thus far, the boat grounded in the shallows.

khùa tŏ̤ cîeh tèng;

ran upon the rocks.

cûn khùa tîeh;

the boat is aground.

cí-kò̤ khah chíen, khíong-ài khùa;

it is too shallow here, there is danger of running aground.

ŏi khùa tîeh, tîeh lô̤h khṳ̀ léng;

if aground, we must get overboard and push.

• 罣khùa4671226
• An impediment; to fall into snare; to hinder.

khùa-gō;

to hinder, as a snag stops a sailing boat.

i in-ûi kong sṳ khùa-gō tì-kàu sìa jīm;

he was so ill at ease in his public work that he resigned his office.

khùa-gāi;

impeded by obstacles.

cìeⁿ-seⁿ tì-kàu khùa-gāi tîeh;

was in this way biought to a standstill.

• 凭khùa700166
• To lean on heavily for support.

khùa tŏ̤ chn̂g tèng;

lean on the table.

bô̤-kò̤ hó̤ khùa chíu;

have nothing to rest the hand upon.

i kâi chíu khùa tŏ̤ lâng-kang kò̤;

he was leaning on the balustrade.

cí kò̤ lâng-kang lâuh-hâuh, m̄ hóy hàm sin khùa lô̤h khṳ̀;

this railing is old and shaky, you must not lean your whole weight upon it.

• 掛khùa467648
• Anxious; in suspense; to hang upon.

khùa-lṳ̆;

anxious and troubled.

úa khùa sim căi;

I am very anxious about it.

khùa hō̤;

a label attached.

cí ki kun sĭ tī-tîang khùa-sùe?

Who acts as commander-in-chief of this army?