Primary Lessons in Swatow Grammar/Lesson XXIII
Number.
The Singular is expressed by the numeral che̍k, it, one; toaⁿ, one, only: to̍k; to̍k-it, a single one; also, by a classifier used alone, or in connection with one of the previous words. Often times there is nothing to indicate either singular or plural, as, ũ-nâng-tõ, may mean either that there is one man, or that there are several.
- che̍k-pé-tāu,
- one handful of beans.
- che̍k-tàⁿ-thn̂g,
- one “carry” of sugar.
- che̍k-táu-bí,
- one measure of rice.
- che̍k-ūi nàng-kheh,
- one guest personage.
- che̍k-ki-sam,
- one log of pine.
- chiah-chûn; che̍k-chiah-chûn; toaⁿ-chiah-chûn,
- one boat
- kù-ūe; che̍k-kù-ūe; toaⁿ-kâi-ūe tiāⁿ-tiāⁿ,
- only one sentence.
- toaⁿ-kâi-nâng,
- a single man.
- to̍k-it chin-Sîn,
- the only one true God.
- to̍k-ma̍k, to̍k-chhiú, to̍k-kha,
- only a single eye, hand, or foot.
- toaⁿ-sin,
- a single person; self.
- toaⁿ-ka-kī; toaⁿ-chṳ̃-kí,
- one’s self only.
- toaⁿ-chūa,
- a single trip.
- toaⁿ-che̍k-ē,
- only one time.
- phah-nâng toaⁿ-che̍k-ē,
- knock at the door only once.
The Plural is indicated, (1) by repeating the word; (2) by certain plural prefixes and suffixes, as téng; húe, class; chèng; huàⁿ; tou; hãm; ha̍p, all; kúi, several; ke, many (húe often has the force of a demonstrative pronoun); (3) by words signifying two, or a pair, as sang ; liáng ; tùi; (4) by collective nouns of multitude, as cha̍p, ten; peh, a hundred; khûn, a multitude; tīn, a file, or flock.
- úa-téng,
- we.
- nâng-téng,
- men.
- kiâⁿ-chûn--húe,
- sailors.
- choh-chhân--húe,
- farmers.
- tha̍k-chṳ--húe,
- scholars.
- chò seng-lí--húe,
- merchants.
- chò-kuaⁿ--húe,
- those who are officials.
- lãu-tōa--húe,
- the aged, or those who are aged.
- hãu-seⁿ--húe,
- the young, or, those who are young.
- nín chia̍h-pá--húe, hó-khí--lâi,
- let those who have eaten arise.
- ke-nâng,
- people.
- ke-ke-nâng,
- many people.
- chōi,
- many.
- nâng-mue̍h chōi,
- the men are many.
- mue̍h-kiãⁿ chōi,
- the things are many.
- chōi-chōi-sṳ̄,
- a great deal of business.
- chōi-chōi-ūe,
- a great many words.
- liáng-kâi,
- both.
- sang-seⁿ,
- twins.
- sang-kha, sang-chhiú,
- the two feet and the two hands.
- chèng-kuaⁿ,
- all the officials.
- chèng-piaⁿ,
- all the soldiers.
- chèng-hieⁿ-sin,
- all the gentry.
- sang-mīn-lāi,
- both edges are sharp.
- sang-mīn-kiàm,
- a two-edged sword.
- sang-thâu-chûa,
- a double headed snake, i.e. a mischief maker.
- che̍k-khûn-bé,
- a troop of horses.
- che̍k-khûn-hṳ̂,
- a school of fish.
- che̍k-tīu-chiáu,
- a flock of birds.
- kâi-kâi,
- each and every one.
- ji̍t-ji̍t daily,
- or, every day.
- kak-kak,
- each, or, every one.
- chn̂g-kâi,
- all.
- tou,
- all.
- hãm-kâi,
- all.
- ha̍p-kâi,
- all.
- nâng-siàu,
- the number of men.
- siàu-m̄-pat tò-khṳ̀,
- that has never been counted.
- khṳ̀-siàu-nâng ũ-jie̍h-chōi,
- go and count how many men there are.
- siàu-bõi tit-liáu,
- cannot count up to it, i.e. innumerable.
- saⁿ-kâi sì-kâi,
- three or four.
- chhoiⁿ-chhoiⁿ būan-būan,
- thousands and tens of thousands.