Dictionary of the Swatow dialect/ngai

by Adele Marion Fielde

ngâi

• 涯ngâi1069858
• A bank; a shore; a waterline.

seⁿ-ngâi;

an occupation; means of getting a living.

i tó̤ cò̤ sĭm-mih seⁿ ngâi?

What does he do for a living?

kak nâng kak nâng chūe seⁿ-ngâi;

each sought some lucrative employment.

keh pîet thien ngâi;

as far apart as the ends of the earth.

• 呆ngâi619753
• Acting without an end; having no aim nor energy; not able to take care of itself; foolish, silly.

chi-chi ngâi-ngâi;

silly.

i tó̤ tèⁿ chi tèⁿ ngâi;

he is pretending to be a fool.

i kâi chi-ngâi sĭ tèⁿ kâi;

his stupidity is feigned.

khĭa tó̤ ngâi;

stood loafing about.

thóiⁿ kàu ngâi;

gazed at it still dazed.

hàm tîeh, ngâi-ngâi nē;

when called, he acts as if he did not know enough to come.

• 挨ngâi1647
• To persist; to bear with.

ngâi tit khṳ̀;

can hold out against it.

ngâi m̄ khṳ̀;

cannot persist longer.

lêng ngâi tit khó;

can persevere against difficulties.

ngâi khó;

endure hardship.

cò̤ úa li ngâi m̄ khṳ̀;

if it were I, I could not stand it.

khak-khó ngâi;

steadfastly endure.

i cìeⁿ-seⁿ ngâi căi tit kùe?

How can he put up with that?

• 岸ngăi622465
• A shore, bank, or beach.

cûn úa-bûa ngăi-piⁿ;

the boat approaches the shore.

cèng nâng cū lóng-cóng cĭeⁿ ngăi;

all went on shore.

líang pôiⁿ kâi toi-ngăi siu-sîp kàu kien-kù căi;

the banks on either side are made very strong and durable.