Elementary Lessons In The Swatow Dialect/Lesson 9

by J. C. G.

LESSON IX.—Commercial.

1. How much is this?
2. How„ much„ is„ this„ (Lit. at what price do you sell this?)
3. It’s too dear.
4. I shan’t buy it.
5. Have you any cheap ones?
6. This is cheaper.
7. There is a proverb which says:—
8. Good things are not cheap:
9. Cheap things are not good.
10. This is business talk.
11. You want to sell dear,
12. So of course you say this.
13. Have you any better ones?
14. Bring them (for me) to see.
15. If suitable, I shall buy.
16. If they are a little dear, it won't matter.
17. This is the best of its kind.
18. There is nothing to compare with it.
19. I think it’s imitation.
20. It isn’t: it’s genuine,
21. I am afraid it’s too old.
22. This is no use.
23. You don’t understand goods (i. e., know good from bad).
24. He wants too much money.
25. Tradesmen (or merchants) are not just.
26. They all try to cheat people.
27. There is another proverb which says:—
28. Traders are three-parts (in ten) thieves.
29. Don’t you get in a rage,
30. I have a proverb which says:—
31. If you keep your temper, you will get rich,
32. Ah! you've no principle!

1. Chí-kâi jie̍h-tsōi chîⁿ?
2. Chí kâi mue̍h bōi sĩ-mih-kè?
3. Khah-kùi.
4. Uá m̃-bói.
5. Ũ phiⁿ--kâi a-bô?
6. Chí-kâi kèng-phiⁿ.
7. Ũ che̍k-kù so̍k-gṳ́ tàⁿ;—
8. Pân-gî bô hó-hùe,
9. Hó-hùe bô pân-gî.
10. Chí-kâi sĩ seng-lí-ūe.
11. Lṳ́ àiⁿ bōi-kùi,
12. Tiāⁿ-tie̍h tàⁿ chí-kâi ūe.
13. Hûan-ũ iáwu-hó--kâi a-bô?
14. Khie̍h lâi-thóiⁿ.
15. Ha̍h-ì uá chiũ bói.
16. Kùi lân-ló bô chhiet-iàu.
17. Chí-kâi siãng-téng-hó.
18. Bô pa̍t-kâi hó-pí.
19. Uá thóiⁿ sĩ-ké.
20. M̄-sĩ; sĩ chin--kâi.
21. Kiaⁿ-ùi khah-kū.
22. Chí-kâi bô-ēng.
23. Lṳ́ m̄-hiáu-hùe.
24. I thó khah-tsōi chîⁿ.
25. Tsò seng-lí-nâng bô kong-tãu.
26. Lóng-tsóng àiⁿ tshuah-nâng.
27. Hûan-ũ so̍k-gṳ́ tàⁿ,
28. Tsò seng-lí saⁿ-hūn^{[errata 1]} tsha̍t.
29. Lṳ́ màiⁿ seⁿ-khì.
30. Uá ũ so̍k-gṳ́ tàⁿ;—
31. Lún-khì seⁿ-tshâi.
32. Aī! lṳ́ chin m̄-hiáu-lí!

1. Original: hun was amended to hūn: detail