Dictionary of the Swatow dialect/pi

by Adele Marion Fielde

pi

• 碑pi6681128
• Stone tablets, such as are set up in templates or public places.

cîeh-pi;

a stone tablet of any kind.

phûn pi;

a grave stone.

chíaⁿ nâng cò̤ pi-bûn;

invite some one to compose an inscription for the tablet.

cṳ̆-soiⁿ lîp ŭ pi-kì tŏ̤ kò̤;

fixed upon the inscription beforehand.

cí hù pi-cîeh phah ŭ jîeh cōi cîⁿ?;

How much did it cost to have this sot of grave stones cut?

cí kò̤ pi sip-sip-pêh, hṳ́ kò̤ pi tak-tak-lâh;

this tablet is a solid white and that one is a mottled gray.

chin-chĭeⁿ phah cîeh-pi kâi;

fixed as if graven on a stone.

• 襯pi2214516
• To put on a binding.

saⁿ kṳ ēng pi-ciap a míen?;

Shall I bind the bottom of the tunic or not?

chíu-ńg tîeh pi;

the sleeves must be bound.

hṳ́ kîⁿ pi cêk cūe-kíaⁿ o kâi;

put a very narrow binding of black on that edge.

i hŵn ŭ kâi pi-ciap kâi bó;

he has an additional wife.

sĭ ngŵn phùe a sĭ pi-ciap kâi?;

Is she the chief wife or one taken on in addition?

• 簧pi25211812
• The metallic tongues in reed instruments.

tàu kâi pi lô̤h khṳ̀ pûn cìaⁿ ŏi híang;

insert a metallic tongue and then when you blow on it, it will emit a sound.

pi màiⁿ pa-lói tīo, pa-lói tīo cū pûn bŏi híang;

do not meddle with and spoil the metallic tongue, if you do it will not give forth notes.

• 螕pi67914210
• A tick or louse.

gû-pi;

vermin which infest cattle.

• 裨pi6801458
• To reinforce; to supply; to be useful.

cí ieⁿ mûeh cîah lío tăi ŭ pi-pó;

this when eaten is very strengthening.

cía lêng-kò̤ màiⁿ, cîah lío bô̤ pi-pó;

it is better not to take this, it is not nutritive when you have eaten it.

• 萆pi6681408
• A medicinal plant.

pi-hăi;

a creeper like the smilax, with purple flowers.

pi-mûaⁿ îu;

oil used in making vermilion ink.

pi-mûaⁿ cí;

the castor oil bean.

• 陂pi7041705
• A bank, a dam.

kim-che kâi cûn àiⁿ kùe hṳ́ kùe, múaⁿ-tī-kò̤ cū tîeh pàng pi;

wherever an ambassador's boat wishes to pass, the banks and dams must be removed.

co̤h cêk tîo pi;

make a dam.

• 彼pi674605
• That; those; there; the other.

pí chṳ́;

that and this.

bó chṳ́ bô̤ pí;

neither the one nor the other.

pí chṳ́ to cêk īeⁿ;

either will do equally well.

tit chṳ́ li sit pí;

in getting this you lose that.

pí sî i cò̤-nî tàⁿ?;

What did he say at that time?

• 妣pi674884
• A deceased mother.

i kâi si-có-pí sĭ ún kò̤ hùe;

the founders of his family were from our neighborhood.

có khàu pí;

deceased grandparents.

ceng có pí;

deceased great grandmother.

• 比pí674810
• To compare; to put in a class; to sort; to equal; to correspond; an illustration; to bring into harmony; a sign of the comparative.

hó̤ kio i pí-pĕng;

may be classed with that.

lâi kio i pí-kà, thóiⁿ tī-tîang kâi hó̤;

compare it with his and see whose is the better.

cía m̄ hó̤ sie pí;

this is not to be compared with it.

pí i kâi ío hó̤ se-su;

is a little better than his.

khó̤-pí;

comparable to; may be illustrated by; it is like.

khó̤-pí i ā sĭ lâi cū hó̤;

as regards his coming, if he comes it is all right.

pí-huang i ā-sĭ m̆ le, co̤-nî?;

But supposing that he should refuse, then what?

bô̤-nâng hó̤ kio i pí;

there is no one who may be compared with him.

bô̤ kĭaⁿ pí i tit cĭeⁿ;

there is not one that can bear comparison with it.

nâng ā-sĭ thŵn m̄ kàu kuaⁿ cū àiⁿ pí che;

if they do not transmit orders with sufficient alacrity the magistrates will punish the policemen for dereliction of duty.

cí hûe, pí cá chut, kèng tōa;

they are more abundant now than at the early crop.

i pí úa kèng kîeⁿ;

he is more able than I.

lṳ́ le, put pí pât nâng;

being you, it is not the same as if it were another person.

hàm i nŏ̤ nâng khṳ̀ pí bú-gōi, pí thóiⁿ tī-tîang kâi bú-gōi kau-khîang;

tell the two to go and make specimens of their handiwork, and see which of them does best.

pí tîeh nĕ kah-kah;

it just fits in.

pí khṳ̀ hó̤ mē?;

In measuring one upon the other, do you find that it fits?

úa pí tîeh li khah khuah;

in measuring one on the other, I find the one too wide.

khîa ki ke-húe tó̤ pí bú;

took a weapon and acted out a military drill.

pí-lŭn i ā-sĭ m̄ thiaⁿ úa tàⁿ, lío cò̤-nî?;

But if he should not heed what I say, what then?

cía sĭ pí-jŭ kâi ūe;

this language is illustrative.

khîeh tîo so̤h lâi pí;

take a rope and by comparison of the measurements made, see which is the longer.

pí sĭang li put cok, pí hĭa li ŭ ṳ̂;

compared with the best, it is below the mark, and compared with the worst, it is above.

i pí i ío kûiⁿ;

she is taller than he.

thiⁿ pí tī;

as far apart as heaven and earth.

cang chíu pí kâi īeⁿ;

as if he were making gestures.

• 負pì1491542
• To carry suspended on the back.

pì pò-tō̤;

shoulder a wallet.

cí cêk pò-tō̤ bí àiⁿ pì khṳ̀ tī-kò̤?;

Where are you carrying this bag of rice?

pì m̄ phû;

I cannot shoulder it.

úa pì kàu hêk sí;

I have carried it till I am almost tired to death.

pì a-nôⁿ;

to carry a baby on the back in a cloth tied around the chest.

khîeh tîo pì-tîo khṳ̀ pì;

get the scarf used for tying children on the back, and carry him.

nĭoⁿ-hóⁿ pì tṳ;

a tiger carrying off a pig on his back.

• 瘦pì6751048
• Numb; a partial numbness.

cí hûe kâi kha pì-pì;

my foot is now asleep.

hía îeh buah lío nĕ pì-pì, sûi nâng cò̤-nî mûeh m̄ cai thìaⁿ;

since putting on the medicine it has no feeling in it, and whatever any one does to it there is no sensation of pain.

chíu pì lío cīo-cīo-kìo;

after being asleep, my hand prickles.

pì kàu nĕ ngûi-ngûi;

so fast asleep as to be perfectly numb.

chn̂g kú kha cū àiⁿ pì;

if you squat long, you legs will be numb.

pì îeh;

medicine producing numbness.

• 秘pì6761155
• Supernatural; private; secret.

cí tieⁿ hng sĭ pì-thŵn kâi;

this prescription is one that was secretly made known, or privately handed down to its recipient.

pì kín, m̄ khéng thŵn khṳt nâng;

kept it a close secret, and would not impart it to anyone.

mih sṳ pì căi, m̄ hàuⁿ kà nâng;

he is very unwilling to divulge any of his secrets, and will teach them to nobody.

pì sĭu kâi sîn hng;

an infallible receipt privately received.

pì cṳ;

secret archives; a mysterious or private book.

tit tîeh i kâi pì puah;

got his clapdish; received his abstruse receipts.

• 轡pì67315915
• A course on horseback.

pháu cêk pì bé ēng jîeh cōi cîⁿ?;

How much must be paid for the use of the horse in each course that you gallop?

tîeh līen pháu ŭ jîeh cōi pì bé cìaⁿ hó̤ lôh tîeⁿ;

must practise riding for many courses and then you can enter the lists at the examinations.

• 臂pì67813013
• The forearm; the arm.

i kâi chíu-pì ío sòi;

his arm is rather small.

hŭ úa cêk pì cṳ lâk;

give me a helping hand.

i kâi chíu-pì-pà chun chut lâi lùn-lùn;

he stretched out a very plump arm.

phah tîeh i kâi sît-pì;

shot him in the wing.

i kâi pì-páng tōa ŭ lâk;

he has brawny arms.

• 庇pì677534
• To protect, as the gods do.

pì-ĭu;

to aid and bless.

pì-ĭu i khùe-khùe hó̤;

grant him speedy recovery.

pó̤-pì kàu i phêng-phêng ang-ang;

give him perfect peace.

• 脾pî6801308
• The spleen, which lying near the stomach assists to digest the food, and is supposed to open into the heart; the digestion.

i kâi pî-ūi hó̤, bô̤ pēⁿ;

his digestion is good, there is no derangement of the spleen and stomach.

i cìeⁿ-sî kâi pî-tó m̄-hó̤;

his digestive organs are out of order lately.

tîeh chūe cē kĭen pî kâi îeh khṳ̀ cîah;

must get some medicine that will act on the spleen, and take it.

cí īeⁿ gû-nêk cū sĭm sĭ pó pî;

this beef strengthens the digestion.

pì-hṳ kâi nâng;

one whose digestive powers are weak.

• 巵pî55494
• A jar with a small neck.

chò pî;

vinegar jar.

cêk pî tāu-cìeⁿ;

a jar of bean catsup.

• 杷枇pî-pê679
• The loquat, or medlar.

téng cék kṳn pî-pê;

weigh out a catty of loquats.

• 琶琵pî-pê679
• A shaped guitar with four strings.

tôaⁿ pî-pê;

play the viol.

• 備pĭ677910
• To prepare; to make ready; to provide for, or against; ready.

cún pĭ;

made ready for.

côi-pĭ;

all in readiness.

ṳ̆-pĭ pīn-pīn tŏ̤-kò̤;

every preparation has been completed.

ŭ pĭ phah i bô̤ pĭ;

the one who is prepared overcomes him who is unprepared.

pĭ cok ngŵn kè lâi chíu-sôk;

provided the original price in full and came to ransom it.

m̄ hó̤ khîu chŵn ceh-pĭ;

one must not look for entire perfection.

pàng kò̤ ŭ-pĭ put ngô̤;

put it aside in readiness for an emergency.

bw̄n īeⁿ kŭ pĭ;

all things are ready.

bô̤ ṳ̆ bô̤ pĭ i cū lâi;

he came when we were totally unprepared.

síu-pĭ;

the second in command of a garrison.

cṳ̆ pĭ kháu-nîe lâi kio chîo-thêng chut lâk;

provide one's own food, and work for the government without pay.

• 閉pĭ6761693
• To close a door; to exclude; to bar out; to stop up; obstructed, closed.

pĭ mn̂g pĭ hŏ;

closed doors.

pĭ mâk cē sĭeⁿ;

close the eyes and think.

mn̂g-lō khui-lâi úa thóiⁿ khah pĭ-sak;

I think the passages are too much obstructed.

pĭ mn̂g hiuⁿ kẃn tha nâng sṳ̄;

shut up the doors and cease to observe

what other people are doing.

pĭ-keng;

the change of life.

pĭ-gûeh;

obstruction of the menses.

ŭ cêk īeⁿ cie kìe cò̤ pĭ-kháu-cie, ŏi cîah sí nâng;

there is a kind of pepper called "shut-mouth" that kills those who eat it.

• 敝pĭ675668
• Unworthy, vile, abject; a demeaning respectful term for my or mine.

pĭ-tong m̄ tŏ̤;

my humble master is not at home.

pĭ hieⁿ lî cí kò̤ hn̆g;

my poor village is far from here.

tŏ̤ ún pĭ tī tīu jîeh kú?;

How long have you lived in our unworthy country?

pĭ tìam cí khí hùe bōi ŵn lío;

these goods are all sold off, at our poor stall.

pĭ chin cêng khṳ̀ kìⁿ lṳ́ mē?;

Did my relative pay you a visit?

• 被pĭ6691455
• A sign of the passive voice, showing that what follows was suffered or done.

pĭ úa thóiⁿ-kìⁿ;

was seen by me.

i pĭ i hāi-sí;

he was killed by her.

pĭ nâng mēⁿ;

reviled by people.

pĭ nín hah;

beaten by you.

• 婢pǐ675388
• A maid-servant; unmarried female slaves.

nôⁿ-pĭ;

a slave girl.

pĭ-nńg;

female slaves.

pĭ pôk hùe;

servants, male and female.

i tâng sò̤i bōi khṳt nâng ûi pĭ;

she was sold as a slave in early childhood.

• 陛pǐ6771707
• To ascend high places; ascent to a palace or court.

i cĭeⁿ kiaⁿ khṳ̀ pĭ-kìⁿ;

he has gone to Peking to have an audience with the Emperor.

cheng hûang-tì cò̤ pĭ-ĕ;

the Emperor is addressed as Your Majesty.

• 蔽pǐ67714012
• To shade; to screen; obscured.

ci-pĭ;

to hide from observation.

seng kî pĭ jît;

raise flags enough to obscure the sun.

lâng míen ŭ pĭ hîen kâi cŭe;

it is not easy to overlook the sin of keeping the worthy in obscurity.

• 弊pǐ67714012
• Trouble, mischief.

cêk huap lîp, cêk pī seⁿ, àiⁿ siet-lîp kàu bô̤ pī sĭ kang-khó;

whatever way of doing it you may fix upon, that way will have difficulties arising in it; to arrange matters so that no mischief will come of it is hard.

cí kâi huap hó̤ căi, kîaⁿ kàu cìeⁿ kú hŵn-lío bô̤ pĭ-pēⁿ;

this method is excellent, we have followed it ever so long and it still works without a hitch.

sĭ i tó̤ bú pī;

it is he who is working in an underhand way to produce trouble.

lṳ́ thóiⁿ i kâi pī-pēⁿ sĭ tŏ̤ tī-kò̤?;

Where do you think the trouble lies?

jît kú cū pī-seⁿ;

afterawhile mischief arises.

cí khí sṳ̄ kâi chéng-pī cōi căi;

there are many difficulties in this business.

mih īeⁿ lĭ-pī i to pat;

ho is up to all sorts of tricks.

cía bô̤ pī bô̤ pēⁿ;

there is no trouble about this.

• 避pī6765512
• To flee from, to escape, to avoid, to shun, to dodge, to retire, to stand aside, to abscond, to hide away.

i sĭ cáu khṳ̀ hṳ́ kò̤ pī cè;

he fled thither to avoid his creditors.

pī lāng;

to avoid trouble.

cí kâi jī pī-hùi;

this letter is one to be avoided (as if it were one used in the Emperor's name).

pī tăng cĭu khin;

shirk the hard work and take the easy.

i m̄ pī hîam-gî;

he does not avoid the appearance of evil.

pī kùe cêk tńg;

escaped once.

pī sú;

to avoid hot weather, (as by going into the country).

síam-pī put-kîp;

to shun it is impracticable.

tô̤-pī kàu nĕ hn̆g-hn̆g;

fled far away.

ngŏ̤ tîeh i cū tîeh hûe-pī;

if you meet him you must withdraw.

pī sùe hìang;

avoid paying duty on goods.

pī bûa;

stand aside; draw back.

àiⁿ pī, pī m̄ khṳ̀;

wish to shun it but cannot.

cí kâi jît sĭ pī tîeh sĭm-mih seⁿ-sìeⁿ?;

What hours of this day must be shunned by people born in certain years?