Dictionary of the Swatow dialect/leng

by Adele Marion Fielde

leng

• 鈴leng5451675
• A small bell with a clapper.

leng-leng-kìe sĭ tī-tîang tó̤ ĭe leng?

Who is it that is ringing a bell and making that jangling sound?

bé ăm ĕ kùa kâi leng;

the horse wore a bell under his neck.

• 推léng926648
• To push.

léng tó̤;

pushed it over.

khṳt i léng pûah lô̤h khṳ̀;

was pushed by him so that I fell down.

nâng-mûeh cōi oi-oi léng-léng;

there were a great number of people, crowding and pushing.

i léng i pûah lô̤h hái;

he pushed her into the sea.

úa máng i bûa, lṳ́ léng i khui;

when I was pulling it toward me, you pushed it away.

léng m̄ tin-tăng;

it does not budge when pushed.

thóiⁿ kéng sie léng;

like pushing and crowding each other at a show.

• 企lèng34994
• To stand on tiptoe.

lèng khí kha cū thóiⁿ-kìⁿ;

if you stand up straight you will see it.

lèng kûiⁿ cē cū khîeh tîeh;

stretch up a little higher and you will reach it.

cē lèng kûiⁿ cū mông tîeh;

as soon as I stretched up I got hold of it.

lèng khí kha tó̤ mō̤ⁿ;

drawn up to his utmost height gazing at it.

i kâi kîaⁿ-lō lèng-kha-búe lèng-kha-búe;

he walks on tiptoe.

• 靈lêng54317316
• The spirit or energy of a being; that which acts on others to produce effects; spiritual, etherial; intelligent; that which is efficacious ; the majesty of a god; felicitous; effective; powerful; mysterious; unseen; obscure; a disembodied agency; divine; supernatural aid; whatever can hold converse with the unseen; a coffin, as it contains the departed spirit; the highest type of a class, as man is of created beings; lucky, opportune; subtile; ingenious; marvelous; showing genius; astute.

lêng-ngīam;

effectual.

lêng-hûn;

the human soul, including its intelligence and its substance.

lêng èng;

a divine response, an effectual answer.

ceng-lêng;

clever, apt.

sù-lâi sĭm sĭ lêng ĭ;

has heretofore manifested his supernatural wonders.

kìu bw̄n seⁿ-lêng;

rescue all living beings.

sìaⁿ-lêng;

the Holy Spirit (a foreign term).

sìaⁿ-lêng kám-tŏng;

the Holy Spirit moves him.

thiu cêk ki lêng chiam;

draw a lot from the box of splints shaken before an idol.

i kâi khùe pok lâi lêng căi;

his cast in divination was very accurately made.

i sí ău ŭ lêng căi;

he manifested himself very intelligently after his death.

hṳ́ kâi sí lío cn̂g kâi bô̤ léng;

that one gave no spiritual manifestation of himself after he died.

lêng-ūi;

the ante-burial tablet.

chài cêk kâi lêng-têng;

make a canopy and platform for a body to lie in state.

pài hûe-lêng;

worship the ante-burial tablet which is brought back from the grave.

tì lêng;

set the coffin in place, where it lies in state.

lêng chn̂g;

the platform, with the dead to be worshipped.

sîn-lêng hŭ-cŏ̤;

the gods and spirits lend their aid.

lêng-tŏng căi;

very quick of apprehension.

lêng-khì;

the spirit or energy of a being.

suaⁿ chwn kâi lêng-khì seⁿ kâi;

what is produced by the indwelling power of the mountains and streams.

• 羚lêng5451235
• A deer like a sheep, having small horns which are prized as a medicine.

lêng-îang;

an antelope.

lêng-îang kak;

antelope's horns.

• 另lêng546302
• Besides; another; furthermore; apart.

lêng-gūa; lêng-ūaⁿ;

still, again, besides, in addition to.

lêng-gūa ŭ jîeh cōi?

How many more are there?

lṳ́ kio úa lêng-ūaⁿ cò̤ kâi;

you make another for me.

lêng-gūa hŵn-lío ŭ mē?

Are there others beside?

lêng bói cêk cho̤h;

bought some beside.

i àiⁿ lêng-gūa lâi a m̆?

Is he coming again?

mîaⁿ lêng kŭ;

my name is written elsewhere, (a phrase at the end of a note).

i kúi hiaⁿ-tĭ lóng-cóng lêng-kṳ̆ lêng chẁn;

the brothers all live separately and take their meals apart.

• 能lêng6161306
• Power, ability, skill; apt, capable, skillful, competent.

châi-lêng;

talent.

lêng-kàng;

executive ability.

ŭ lêng-ûi;

is competent.

bô̤ lêng-ûi;

incapable.

tōa lêng-ûi;

mighty.

lṳ́ lêng-tit cìeⁿ-seⁿ mē?

Can you do thus?

put lêng-tit;

cannot.

lêng-tit cò̤;

can do it.

bô̤ só̤ put lêng;

omnipotent.

kĭaⁿ-kĭaⁿ lêng, bô̤ kĭaⁿ ceng;

can do all sorts of things, but can do nothing perfectly; a jack-at-all-trades and master of none.

lêng nâng só̤ put lêng;

can do what others cannot do.

put lêng cai;

unknowable.

lêng sueh, put lêng hêng;

can discourse about it but cannot act up to it.

• 玲瓏lêng-lông544
• Finely carved or cut like grottoes; bright, witty, ornate.

gêk sek lêng-lông;

bright like jade.

i kâi sim-heng pí pât nâng kèng lêng-lông;

he is sharper witted than other people.

i kâi sim lêng-lêng lông-lông;

he is very bright.

• 龍lêng5672120
• A dragon, the chief of scaly beings, and invested with supernatural powers to change its shape; used as an emblem of imperial power and awe; the emperor's person; imperial; dragon like; by Buddhists, used for nagas or snake gods; in matters relating to betrothals it is often used for a man; much used by geomancers to embody those terrestrial and occult influences and positions which act on and determine human prosperity; figured with dragons; to pervade; to bud.

phĕ lêng-cûn;

to paddle a dragon boat; long narrow fast boats having a dragon's head at the prow, and moved by many paddles.

lêng náu-hieⁿ;

Baroos camphor.

lêng hieⁿ; lêng ĭen-hieⁿ;

ambergris.

lêng kì;

the Chinese flag, having a dragon on it.

lêng kîaⁿ, hóⁿ pō;

a majestic bearing.

nín khṳ̀ tī-kò̤ lîah lêng?

Where did you go to obtain a site whose influences would produce prosperity?

hái lêng ûang;

the sea-dragon king, or the Neptune of the Chinese: he is a naga whose glorious palace is at the bottom of the ocean, north of Mount Meru.

lêng pâi;

the imperial tablet reverenced by officers.

tìn-tang sāi kò̤ lêng pâi;

an imperial tablet was set up in the centre.

lêng mêh;

the dragon's pulse, the subtle geomantic tokens and influences of a locality.

tī lêng;

earth-worms.

lêng hŏng lói thiap;

betrothal cards.

chîm lêng, tíam hwt;

search for the dragon and point out his den; to fix on a lucky spot.

lêng tō ngía căi;

the site is a very fine one.

lí-hṳ̂ thìo lêng mn̂g;

the carp has vaulted over the dragon's gate; rapid promotion.

lêng-hûiⁿ-búe;

a water-spout.

lêng-chiu-cháu;

a species of bulrush, used for weaving matting.

ngŏ jío lêng;

the five clawed dragon. chēng lêng phâu;

wear a cloak which has the figure of a dragon embroidered on it.

hue-gê kuah cò̤ chîⁿ-lêng kâi;

the ornamentation is that of a dragon carved in bas-relief.

kau-lêng pw̆n tīo tī-hng;

a mountain dragon despoiled the place.

ūe cò̤ sang lêng chíeⁿ pó̤;

draw the figures of two dragons one on either side of a ball which they seem to be struggling for.

lêng thâu, hŏng búe;

the head of a dragon and the tail of a phenix.

lêng lâng;

the scales of a dragon.

lêng kauh cúi;

a dragon wallowing in the water.

lêng-chiu cúi;

a steady pouring rain.

lì kàu lêng-khang thàng hóⁿ-khang;

tear it till the dragon's den trenches upon the tiger's; rip it in pieces.

• 凌lêng543158
• To insult ; to treat vilely.

lêng-jôk;

to put to shame; to humble.

sĭu i lêng-jôk;

was insulted by him.

màiⁿ lêng-ngîak;

do not maltreat him.

sĭ sì khi-lêng nâng;

makes use of his power to humble other people.

• 零lêng5451735
• The last drops of a shower.

lêng-lô̤h;

stripped of leaves; standing alone; scattered, as a population.

i cí ău kâi ke lêng-lô̤h lío;

the family is now all scattered.

taⁿ cò̤-nî cū pāi kàu lêng-lêng lô̤h-lô̤h?

How is it that they are now driven to such straits as to be all scattered apart?

toaⁿ kâi kíaⁿ sap-sap ìuⁿ, sît-căi sĭ lêng-teng, ko-khó;

has only one miserable little child, and is indeed solitary and forlorn.

• 嚨lêng5683016
• The throat, the gullet.

i kâi âu-lêng thìaⁿ;

she has a sore throat.

âu-lêng ôih, thun m̄ lô̤h;

his throat is small and he cannot swallow it.

kéⁿ tŏ̤ âu-lêng kò̤;

stuck in his throat.

• 𡨴lêng637408
• Serenity of mind; to bring repose to; rather; better.

uaⁿ-lêng;

tranquil.

hâp ke uaⁿ-lêng;

the family are all well.

lêng-kò̤; lêng-khó̤;

the rather; I prefer.

cìeⁿ-se lêng-kò̤ sí kèng hó̤;

it is better to die than to do that.

lêng sí m̄ khéng sĭu jôk;

rather die than bear insult.

lêng khó̤ sìn khî ŭ, mó̤ sìn khî bô̤;

it is better to believe that it exists than that it does not.

• 陵lêng5431708
• A tumulus over a grave, now applied to the mausolea of emperors.

thiⁿ-ĕ hẃn-lw̆n, kŭa ûang-lêng khṳt nâng thau líu khṳ̀;

the whole empire is in anarchy, and even the imperial tombs are secretly dug open.

phài nâng khṳ̀ cíeⁿ ûang-lêng;

depute persons to guard the imperial tombs.

• 翎lêng5451245
• Pendant tail feathers.

tì hue-lêng;

wear a peacock's feather, as an official badge.

lâm-lêng;

a raven's plume.

saⁿ ngán hue lêng;

a three eyed feather, worn by high nobles.

lêng kńg;

the tube to hold the feather.

pôih tīo i kâi lêng;

deprived him of his feather, a mark of official disapprobation.

síeⁿ cêk tîo lêng;

to confer a feather as a reward.

• 鴒lêng5451965
• A general name for birds of the wagtail and lark families.

peh-lêng;

the lark.

i ki chùi cū peh-lêng;

he has a lark's mouth; he is an eloquent speaker.

sài thóiⁿ tī-tîang kâi pêh-lêng kìe cōi īeⁿ siaⁿ;

find out by a singing match which lark can sing the best.

• 伶lêng54495
• Clever; sprightly.

lêng-lāi;

astute, shrewd, quick-witted.

• 籐lêng86411815
• Tendrils.

kue thiu tîo lêng tŏa tŏ̤ chīu tèng;

the melon has put forth a tendril and is climbing the tree.

tāu kâi lêng;

the tendrils of the bean-stalk.

• 凌㓾lêng-chî64
• The ignominious slow punishment of quartering a criminal, or cutting him in pieces.

tōa lêng-chî;

cutting in many pieces.

sòi lêng-chî;

cutting in a few pieces (the skin of the forehead is first cut and is laid over the eyes).

• 籠甑lêng-sn̂g951
• A steamer used for steaming or boiling rice and cakes; it has wooden sides and a splint bottom.

ĭoⁿ khí lêng-sn̂g cū sĭ kúe;

lift the steamer and there is the cake.

• 令lĕng54693
• A law, a rule, an order; to enjoin upon, to command, to warn; to oblige to do; to occasion, to cause; a period of time, or that which marks it; in direct address used for you or your.

lĕng cun tŏ̤ mē?

Is your father at home?

lĕng thâng jîeh khin-kīaⁿ;

Is your mother well?

cìeⁿ-sî ŭ sî-lĕng pēⁿ;

has lately had ailments such as are common at this season.

mĕng-lĕng;

an order or command.

cun tōa nâng kâi mĕng-lĕng;

obey the orders of his superior.

kung-lĕng ngīam căi;

the military orders are very strict.

hō̤-lĕng siam-ngîam;

the written orders are exceedingly strict.

sîtcăi lĕng nâng seⁿ khì;

does indeed make one angry.

lĕng cìⁿ;

a dart with a triangular flag on it, given to a messenger to express urgency.

lĕng kî;

a flag having written orders upon it.

hwt ki o lĕng, ah khṳ̀ thâi;

issue an order on black paper, for him to be taken to execution.

ûang lĕng pâng;

the office from which the orders are issued.

lĕng-cìaⁿ;

your wife.

• 佞lĕng63795
• Eloquent; persuasive; insinuating.

i ío hó̤ kháu-lĕng;

he is the more ready of speech.

hṳ́ kâi cn̂g kâi bô̤ kháu-lĕng;

that one has no gift of utterance.

• 苓lĕng5451405
• A tuber or underground fungus.

hôk-lĕng; thó-hôk-lĕng;

a species of underground fungus used in medicine.

• 寬lēng4774012
• Lax, slack, loose, flacid.

kó phûe khah lēng, phah bŏi híang;

the head of the drum is too slack, and does not sound when it is struck.

pàng lēng cē, màiⁿ khah kín;

relax it a little, do not draw it too tight.

so̤h túi âng cē, màiⁿ khah lēng;

draw the rope rather taut, do not leave it too slack.

• 絡lēng5531206
• To tie up, with spare rope between the knots; to form a line of things by binding them continuously on a rope.

bé-lēng-thâu;

a halter for a horse.

khîeh tìo so̤h khṳ̀ lēng cò̤ cêk ē;

take a rope and go and join them thereby.

lēng cêk lēng tĭⁿ-tĭⁿ;

slung up a whole string of them.

lēng ŭ kúi peh ki tŏ̤-kò̤;

there are several hundreds of them joined by a string.

• 棱lēng506758
• A sleeper on which a board rests.

cêk ki làu-lēng;

a sleeper under a floor.