Western Mandarin/Words with Characters/1

by Adam Grainger

The 1st radical. (一)

0

一 i⁵.

一個人

One person; alone.

一心一億

With one heart and mind.

一年一回

once a year.

一步一步

step by step.

要喫一點藥

you must take a little medicine.

下了一天的雨

it rained a whole day.

他們是一路來的

they came together.

一切的事情

all affairs.

一樣的東西

the same kind of thing.

天一亮的時候

as soon as it is daylight.

一早要起身

we will start in the early morning.

鞋子做歸一了

the shoes are finished.

都坐歸一了沒有

are they all seated ready?

我人今天不居一

I am unwell to-day.

第一章

the first chapter.

第一要緊的

the most important.

不一定

not certain.

1

丁 tin¹.

丁香

cloves; lit. nail spice, (from the old meaning of the character).

好多人丁

how many persons?

成丁

to come of age.

丁憂

a son mourning for his father (official).

家丁 and 門丁

servants and door keepers.

兵丁

soldiers.

他兩個的力量丁對

they are about matched in strength.

丁梆兩句

they squabbled a bit.

丁年

"tin" year, i.e, the year in the cycle in which "tin" occurs.

七 tsʻi⁵, tsʻie⁵.

七百

seven hundred.

第七本

the seventh volume.

燒七

to burn cash paper after a death every seventh day till the 40th day.

他在那裏說七說八的

he just talked a lot of nonsense there.

2

丈 chang⁴.

一丈大

ten feet long; a Chinese yard.

好多丈尺

what is the measurement?

丈田

to measure fields.

丈夫

a husband.

大丈夫

an able man.

老丈人

wife's father.

下 shia⁴.

棹子底下

under the table.

在下面

on the lower side.

下等的貨

an inferior class of goods.

下民

the vulgar classes.

下半天

after-noon.

下月

next month.

快快下來

come down quickly.

把瓦下下來

take down the files off the house.

下馬

to dismount from a horse.

下手做工

to commence work.

下鄕

to go into the country.

那天下了雨

rain fell on that day.

生下來

to give birth to.

下蛋

to lay eggs.

下棋

to play chess.

下脚錢

coolie hire paid at the end of a journey.

下江板子

the blocks of this book have been cut down river.

我名下分好多

how much is there to my name?

天下

the empire.

下身

the privates.

一百錢的上下

a hundred cash or thereabout.

三 san¹.

三本書

three books.

我不管他三七二十一

I don't care what he says or does; lit. 3 times 7 are 21.

三脚

a tri-pod.

三隻手

a pick pocket.

不要三心二意

don't be irresolute.

第三天

the third day.

再三

several times; repeatedly.

上 shang⁴.

擱在上頭

place it on the top.

上好的東西

the best quality of goods; a first-rate article.

上半天

fore-noon.

上古以來

from the most ancient times.

利見上人

I am happy to be in the presence of my superior officer.

上諭

an Imperial edict.

上帝

the Supreme Ruler.

上省

to go up to the capital.

上街

to go upon the street.

把舖門上起

shut up the shop front; to put up the shutters.

上燈

to light a lamp.

拿燈來上油

bring the lamp and pour some oil into it.

上顏色

to lay on colouring.

那天上路

when will you start on your journey?

上學

to begin or enter upon study.

那個不上算

that does not enter into the reckoning; of no importance.

買上了當

I was taken in in buying it.

帮我達個拜上

salute so-and-so for me.

在街上

on the street.

班上的

lictors; policemen.

你看得上嗎

does it take your fancy?

不上一吊錢

not more than 1,000 cash.

3

不 pu⁵.

不是

it is not; no.

我不去

I won't go.

不 read po⁵.

你要不

do you want it or not?

4

世 shï⁴.

世界

the world.

今世

the present age; this life.

世代

generations.

且 tsʻie³.

苟且了事

the business was carelessly done.

5

两 liang³.

same as 兩.

丢 tiu¹.

丢開

to cast aside.

丢石頭

to throw a stone.

丢棄

to reject.

丢手

let go your hold!

他那一付煙癮丢不脫

he cannot abandon the opium habit.

丢個信在屋頭

leave word in the house.

丢不得手

I cannot leave my work.

他死丢了两個娃娃

he died and left two children.

那個地方丢荒了

that land is left waste.

7

並 pin⁴.

sometimes pronounced pʻin³ in the first sentence.

並排走

to walk side by side, to walk abreast.

一並在內

all included.

並不是

it certainly is not.