Dictionary of the Swatow dialect/ti

by Adele Marion Fielde

ti

• 的ti9001063
• Used by servants and inferiors to denote themselves; a final particle.

síe ti;

I, your junior; I, your humble client.

peh-sèⁿ khṳ̀ kìⁿ kuaⁿ sĭ cheng ka-kī cò̤ "síe ti";

common people who go before a magistrate speak of themselves as "humble selves." cí khí sṳ̄ sĭ ŭ ti; this is something that really happens.

sĭ ti;

what is really so; just that.

sĭ ti pĭen sĭ, hui ti pĭen hui, bô̤ thèng tàⁿ;

what is so state as being so, and what is not so state as not being so, and do not talk at random.

• 蜘蛛ti-tu53
• A spider.

ti-tu keⁿ si;

the spider makes a web.

ti-tu tūi si;

the spider lets himself down on a thread.

ēng ti-tu tūi si, tūi lô̤h lâi;

came down by a rope.

ti-tu kit măng;

the spider weaves a web.

ti-tu măng;

a spider's web.

hó̤ lîah ti-tu khṳ̀ cuh tīo i kâi tâk;

catch spiders and set them to suck the poison from it.

cuh tâk lío ti-tu tîeh pàng cúi kò̤ khṳt i thò tâk;

after sucking out the poison the spiders must be put to the water that they may disgorge the poison.

• 低ti87795
• Low; to droop; to hang down.

ti siaⁿ;

low tones.

ti thâu sòi sĭeⁿ;

hang the head and ponder.

àiⁿ cū lâi kìⁿ cē kau-ti ce;

if you like, let us see who is tallest.

kau ti;

lofty and lowly.

• 喇叭ti-tâ498
• A trumpet.

pun ti-tâ;

blow a trumpet.

chìe ti-tâ khek;

play on a bugle.

• 氐ti878831
• The third zodiacal constellation.

ti sìu; tī cheⁿ;

the stars of the third constellation.

• 徵tí746012
• One of the five musical notes.

ngŏ im, sĭ keng, siang, kak, tí, ú;

the five musical notes are these.

• 祇tí746012
• Only, but, yet.

tí in múaⁿ-tī-kò̤ ŭ châk cìaⁿ cáu khṳ̀ hṳ́-kò̤ pī;

as there were robbers every-where he fled there to avoid them.

• 底tí878585
• The base; the bottom; underneath.

tâu-tí sĭ cò̤-nî?

In the end what does it amount to?

i kâi tí-cṳ́ hó̤;

he is of good stock.

i sĭ sĭm-mih tí-cṳ́ chut sin?

What were his circumstances in early life?

cí kâi kūiⁿ sĭ sìu-câi tí, hṳ́ kâi sĭ kṳ́-jîu tí;

this district magistrate became such from the rank of Bachelor of Arts, and that one from the rank of Master of Arts.

cía mûeh bô̤ tí-cí;

this is endless.

• 柢tí879755
• The bole of a tree; root, origin, foundation.

i kâi ūe tàⁿ lâi ŭ kṳn-tí, m̄ pí thèng tàⁿ bô̤ kṳn bô̤ tí;

what ho says is well founded, and it is not as if he talked at random and without reason for what he says.

côiⁿ mâiⁿ ŭ kâi kṳn-tí tŏ̤ kò̤;

there was formerly a deep firm foundation laid underneath.

• 抵tí878645
• To atone for; to sustain; to bear; to get what one deserves; to compound for a money payment by a lien on property.

lîah i khṳ̀ tí cŭe;

seize and take him to bear the penalty of his crime.

tí tit kùe a tí m̄ kùe?

Will it sustain it, or will it give way under it?

cía ūe sĭ lâi tó̤ tí-thak kâi;

he comes and says this in order to ward off the consequences.

cīeⁿ sìo tí cheng-chó̤ lío;

the foregoing accounts are settled in full by a lien.

khíong-ui i tí-tng m̄ cŭ;

fear he cannot bear up under it.

tí tīo jîet cōi?

How much has the debt been reduced by the lien given?

• 致tì581333
• To cause to go, to give over to, to induce; to bring on; to hazard; to regulate; tending to; indicates causation; an end or aim.

tì-sái kàu i m̄ lâi;

was the cause of his failure to come.

íⁿ-tì jû chṳ́;

that is the occasion for its being thus.

in-ūi hìeⁿ-seⁿ cìaⁿ tì-kàu cìeⁿ-seⁿ;

it was in consequence of that, that this came to be so.

úa thóiⁿ i cí kĭaⁿ sṳ̄ sĭm sĭ tì-ì;

I see that he has his mind fixed upon this.

i tì-ì tŏ̤ cí kĭaⁿ sṳ̄;

he is bent upon this.

i àiⁿ hó̤, hẃn tì-kàu m̄-hó̤;

he meant well, but it turned out badly.

cieⁿ-seⁿ i cū tì mīaⁿ;

in so doing he hazards his life.

tăi tì;

a resume; in general.

tăi-tì ŏi cò̤ tit;

it will do in a general way.

in-ūi i m̄ tŏ̤ cū tì gō;

it was through his being absent that the project came to naught.

úa īa sĭ ŭ tŏ̤ hṳ́-kò̤, cū bŏi tì gō sṳ̄;

if I had been there the thing would not have fallen through.

i tì ŭ sĭm mih pēⁿ-cèng?

What disease has he?

i kâi pēⁿ sĭ tì kú kâi;

his ailment is one that he has had a long time.

cía cṳ sĭ kàng-kìu kek mûeh tì cai kâi sṳ̄;

this book inquires into the nature of things and applies the knowledge to final causes; this is a philosophy.

cí kò̤ kâi kéng-tì sĭm hó̤;

the arrangement of things here is very fine.

sĭm ŭ ì-tì; ŭ ì ŭ tì;

presents evidences of design.

cò̤ lâi ŭ ì-tì;

is made according to a system.

• 置tì601228
• To establish; to make firm; to place; to constitute; to arrange; to determine; to decide; to buy; to lay in goods.

úa sìn kĭen-tì cêk koiⁿ chù;

I have lately built a house.

cía tîeh cò̤-nî lâi chù-tì cìaⁿ hó̤?

In what way should this be decided?

cheng tì-bói ke-si câp mûeh to cū ho̤h cōi cîⁿ;

merely laying in all the things necessary for household use takes a deal of money.

khṳ̀ ka̤u, tì ŭ sĭm-mih hùe-mûeh lâi?

On arriving, what goods did you buy to bring back with you?

i tì sin sṳ̄ gūa m̄ kẃn;

he cares nothing about what does not pertain to his own personal affairs.

i cêng tì ke a būe?

Has he taken a wife yet?

i cò̤-ni̤ m̄ tì kâi ke-ău?

Why does he not get a wife?

keng i chíu tì ŭ ho̤h cōi súaⁿ-ngîap;

bought in a large amount of real estate, using him as factor.

cía tī-hng sĭ i chàng-tì kâi;

this place was founded by him.

hīn-khek kâi hûang-tì tì to sĭ tŏ̤ pak-kiaⁿ;

the present emperor locates his capital at Peking.

uaⁿ-tì kàu thó̤-thó̤ thiap-thiap;

located with the utmost regard to safety and order.

• 帝ti880506
• One who rules by his own power; a god; a divine being; a sovereign, a potentate

hûang tì;

the emperor.

sĭang tì;

the Supreme Ruler, the highest being in the heavenly pantheon.

gêk hûang sĭang tì;

the august Shangti, whose throne is supposed to be in the Dipper.

hîen thien sĭang-tì;

the Ruler of the Somber Heavens.

hîap thien tăi tì;

the god Kwanti.

bûn-tì;

the god of Letters.

bú-tì;

the god of War.

cṳ̄ kó kâi tì ûang;

the potentates of olden times.

hûang-tì cheⁿ;

the star β in Ursa Major.

tì-ūi thŵn khuⁿt tī-tîang?

To whom does the throne descend?

• 智tì58728
• Wisdom; prudence; shrewd.

tì-hŭi;

discretion; understanding.

chong-mêng tì-hŭi kâi nâng;

an intelligent, sagacious person.

i câp hun ŭ tì-hŭi;

he has good judgment.

sĭ tì iong sang chŵn kâi nâng;

is a person who is both brave and capable.

• 戴tì8446214
• To carry on the head.

tì bō̤;

wear a cap.

tì lôih;

wear a splint hat.

tì cang;

to wear a high coiffure.

i ŭ tì téng mē?

Does he wear a button denoting official rank?

i s̆i tì tŏ̤ thâu-khak téng lâi;

he brought it on his head.

• 池tî63853
• A pool, a pond, a tank, a fosse.

mn̂g kha líu kâi tî;

a pool had been dug near the door.

hù̂ tî;

a fish-pool.

sîaⁿ tî;

the city moat.

nôiⁿ tî;

a lotus pond.

èng-chài tî;

a pool where endive grows.

īⁿ tî líu khah chíen;

the pond made in the college grounds is too shallow.

phûn côiⁿ líu kâi tau-tî;

made a curved slope before the grave.

gûeh keng tî;

the pool around the examination hall in a Confucian temple.

tî-cúi tĭⁿ;

the pool is full of water.

bói cē tî-thô lâi cèng hue;

buy a little of the mud from the bottom of a pool to plant flowers in.

tî hṳ̂;

fresh water fish.

tì hūaⁿ;

the brink of the pool.

nán lâi tî tèng, kà úa ô̤h sîu;

let us go to the pond and jou teach me to swim.

tî kîⁿ màiⁿ kîaⁿ khah lím;

do not walk too near the edge of the pond.

tî-hūaⁿ pang khṳ̀;

the side of the pool has caved in.

chia tî cúi;

pump out the water from the pool.

nôiⁿ-kak tî;

a pool where water caltrops grow.

pûah lô̤h tî;

fell into the pool.

cí kò̤ kâi tî khut cōi;

there are many pools hereabouts.

• 弟tĭ879574
• A younger brother; cousins, relatives, juniors.

hiaⁿ tĭ kíaⁿ;

the two young brothers.

lṳ́ ŭ kúi ūi lĕng tĭ?

How many younger brothers have you?

sìa tĭ saⁿ nâng;

I have three younger brothers.

tĭ-cṳ́;

pupils.

ngô̤ tĭ;

síe tĭ; your humble servant.

hàm a-tĭ lâi;

tell the little brother to come here.

cí kâi sĭ i kâi ĭ-bó̤ tĭ;

this is his half-brother, having the same father, but not the same mother.

cò̤ hiaⁿ tĭ;

be brethren.

tâng nî hiaⁿ tĭ;

men born in the same year.

píe hiaⁿ tĭ;

cousins, whose mothers were sisters.

thâng hiaⁿ tĭ;

male cousins whose fathers were brothers.

cŭang hiaⁿ tĭ;

second cousins of the same surname.

côk tĭ;

a junior relative, of the same surname.

pau tĭ;

own brother.

kit ngĭ kâi hiaⁿ tĭ;

brothers by adoption.

• 隷tĭ5241718
• Official attendants; attached to; belonging to.

i tó̤ tng cau-tĭ kâi nâng;

he is a lictor who precedes an officer's retinue.

tĭ cṳ;

the square plain style of Chinese characters.

tît tĭ ciu;

an inferior department whose magistrate is directly responsible to the provincial government, and not to the prefect.

• 第tĭ8791185
• A literary degree.

kîp tĭ;

to get a degree.

i put tĭ tńg-khṳ̀;

he returned without attaining a degree.

sĭ cin put tĭ, a sĭ ké put tĭ?

Did he really fail to graduate higher, or is he concealing the fact of his promotion?

• 蝌蚪tī-gû424
• A tadpole.

tī gû cêk mêⁿ āiⁿ-āiⁿ-kìe;

the tadpoles squeaked all night.

• 何tī21595
• What; an interrogative; whatever.

tī-tîang?

Who?

tī-kò̤?

Where?

tī-kâi?

Which?

tī-sî?

When?

lṳ́ àiⁿ khṳ̀ tī-kò̤?

Where are you going.

pàng tŏ̤ tī-kò̤?

Where did you put it?

m̄ cai i pàng tŏ̤ tī-kò̤;

do not know where he put it.

pun tī-tiâng?

To whom did you give it?

lṳ́ tī tiang-sî àiⁿ lâi?

At what time will you come?

tī kâi nâng tàⁿ?

Which person said it?

tī cêk jît?

Which day?

tī kâi sî-hāu?

At what time?

tī-tîang tŏ̤?

Who is there?

tī-kò̤ ŭ?

Where may some be found?

i tŏ̤ tī cêk koiⁿ pâng?

Which room is he in?

cí kò̤ kìe-cò̤ tī-kò̤?

What is this place called?

tī jît lô̤h hŏ?

Which day was it that it rained?

tī kĭaⁿ phīⁿ?

Which sort is cheapest?

tī kâi ngía?

Which one is prettiest?

táng kàu lṳ́ tī nî cìaⁿ àiⁿ lâi;

wait till the year, whatever one it be, in which you come.

i tùi tī cêk tîo lō khṳ̀?

By which road did he go?

i kâi phò tī cêk koiⁿ?

Which shop is his?

lṳ́ àiⁿ tī īeⁿ?

Which sort do you want?

àiⁿ pàng tī cêk pôiⁿ?

Which side do you want to put it on?

i tŏ̤ tī-kò̤?

Where is he?

tī kâi sĭ?

Which one ia it?

m̄ cai tī kâi sĭ;

I do not know which is the one.

put lŭn tī jît to hó̤;

any day will suit.

àiⁿ tah tī ciah cûn?

By which boat are you going?

cía sĭ tī-tîang kâi?

Whose is this?

i bô̤ kāng úa tàⁿ tī kâi;

he did not tell me which one.

cang tī ciah chíu khîeh?

With which hand shall I take it?

tī ki to̤ ŏi lāi?

Which knife is the sharper?

tī kâi ío tn̂g?

Which is the longer?

sĭ tī khí?

Which sort is it?

àiⁿ ēng tī cêk kò̤?

Which piece will you use?

• 治tī59855
• To heal; to remedy; to oversee; to try, as a legal cause; to govern; to rule well.

tī cŭe;

to try for crime; to sentence or condemn prisoners.

to tîeh chîaⁿ-tī kàu i chŵn-jú;

must doctor him till he is well.

tī pēⁿ, tîeh tī tîeh i kâi pēⁿ ngŵn cìaⁿ ŭ ēng;

in treating disease the source of the disease must be reached in order that the treatment be of use.

put lêng tī ke, ien lêng tī kok?

If one cannot govern his own household, how can he govern the kingdom?

cṳ̆ cheng cò̤ tī ngô̤ tĭ;

styled himself, your humble servant.

tī mîn;

rule the people.

ui-tī;

to cure.

cíaⁿ sît-căi bô̤ huap khó̤ tī;

there is really no remedy for it.

• 遞tī88116210
• To transmit, to send; on, to convey from hand to hand, to hand in, as a report to a superior.

khṳ̀ ti-kūiⁿ kò̤ tī pín;

went to the district magistrate to hand in a petition.

tī pín thiap;

handed in a petition.

cí kâi bûn-cuⁿ sĭ àiⁿ tī kàu séⁿ-sîaⁿ;

this dispatch is to be sent to Canton.

• 地tī879323
• The earth, the second of the three prime powers, worshipped as Queen Earth; a spot, a place; a territory; grounds; a space; terrestrial; earthly; in the ground; the base; the support.

tī ĕ;

on the earth.

tī mīn;

the surface of the earth.

tī-kha kien-kù;

the foundations are firm.

tī-pó̤;

aldermen; those who are responsible for good order in the wards of a city.

tī co;

ground rent.

sim tī;

the disposition.

kŭa tī phûe khí tīo;

dig up even the crust of the earth; extirpate the last vestige of them.

i sĭ pńg tī nâng;

he is a native.

pńg tī ūe;

the vernacular.

pûah lô̤h thô-tī;

fell to the ground.

hŵn ŭ û tī;

there is still some room left.

būe kàu i kâi tī-pō;

I have not yet attained his standing in this.

thien-bûn tī-lí;

astronomy and physical geography.

cì kò̤ tùi-tùi sĭ tī sim;

this is exactly in the centre of the ground.

pêh tī;

a white background or groundwork.

pêh-tī kâi pò m̄-hó̤ cia-íam;

cloth whose ground is white does not make a perfect screen.

châng tī;

the rice fields.

tī tîeⁿ;

the lay of the land.

kàu hṳ́ kâi tī ūi cē kú cū m̄ cai hó̤;

when one has occupied a position for a long time he is not aware of its excellence.

bô̤ tī-hng hó̤ pàng;

there is no space to set it in.

i ŭ cêk kò̤ hn̂g-tī àiⁿ bōi;

he has a piece of unwatered ground that he wishes to sell.

bói kò̤ chù-tī lâi khí chù;

buy a building spot to build a house upon.