Notes.
- （1) In regard to °sau, meaning ”few,” it should be noted that it never occurs before a noun. If you wish to say a few men the idiomatic expression would be °yeu ’veh too °kyi-kuh nyung (有勿多幾個人) or m-meh °kyi-hau° nyung (無沒幾化人). The men are few would be nyung °sau (人少). °Sau is often used to qualify verbs. Thus we have °sau dok kuh, meaning “to read less.”
- （2) As already pointed out in a previous lesson what correspond to prepositions in English are really postpositions in Chinese, as they come after the nouns instead of before them. When used as adverbs, however, they generally precede the verbs. Thus we have °li-hyang° °zoo for “Sit inside,” °zaung-deu °zoo (上頭坐) for “take a higher seat.” This is the usual polite phrase said to a guest when he enters your guest room. He will take a seat near the door, and you ask him “to be seated higher.”
- （3) The first sentence of the First Exercise is really an oath, and is used when one is calling Heaven and Earth to witness that his words are true.
- （4) Note the impersonal use of °yeu in the second sentence of the First Exercise. Literally it is “There are many characters.”
- （5) In the seventh sentence of the Second Exercise you have the usual form of inquiring whether the gentleman you wish to see is at home. You say Sien-sang leh-la° va°? “is the master there?” The answer is leh-la°, if he is at home, meaning “He is there.” If he is not at home, the answer may be tsheh chi° la°, “he has gone out,” or ’veh leh-la°, “he is not there.”
LESSON XIII
Auxiliary Verbs
The verb °chi (起) is often used as an auxiliary verb after the principal verb to express the idea of inception. Thus dok-°chi (讀起) means “Begin to read.” °Chi also expresses the idea of erectness, but when used in this sense, le (來) follows the °chi. Thus Lih-°chi-le (立起來) means “Stand up.” Lok-°chi-le (䟿起來) means “Get up.” It also has a progressive meaning, as when you say Doh-°chi-le (讀起來) it means “read on,” “go on reading.”
We have the °chi, also used in combination with tuh (得). Thus Lok-tuh-°chi (䟿得起) means “Able to get up.” Lok-’veh-°chi (䟿勿起) means “Unable to get up.” °Ma-tuh-°chi (買得起) means “Can afford to buy it.” °Ma-’veh-°chi (買勿起) means “Cannot afford to buy it.” Kwhung°-’veh-°chi (睏勿起) means “unable to sleep.” Khoen°-’veh-°chi (看勿起) means “to look down upon,” “to disdain.”
°Zaung (上) and °‘Au (下) are used both as principal verbs and as auxiliaries. Thus we have the expressions °Zaung san (上山), meaning “to go up hill.” °‘Au san (下山), “to go down hill.” °‘Au zen (下船), “to go on board a boat,” °Zaung su (上書), “to take an advanced lesson in a book,” etc. In these cases they are used as principal verbs.
As auxiliary verbs, they express motion upwards and motion downwards.
They are not confined to verbs of motion, but are used freely with other verbs. To both of them le (來) and chi° (去) are frequently added.
Thus we have dok-°‘au-chi° (讀下去), meaning “Read on down.” Tsoo°-°‘au-chi° (做下去), meaning “Go on doing it.” Thiau°-°‘au-le (跳下來), meaning “Jump down.” Thiau°-°zaung-chi° (跳上去), meaning “Jump up to that place.” Thiau°-°zaung-le (跳上來) “Jump up to this place.”
Although the Chinese language is, strictly speaking, a monosyllabic language, yet as has already been noticed there is a strong tendency to use two or more words together forming as it were disyllables or trisyllables. In this lesson some verbs are used, composed of two characters occurring together.
VOCABULARY
- To like, to enjoy, hwen-°hyi 歡喜.
- To play, take recreation, beh-siang° 勃相.
- To converse, bak-wo° or dan-dan 白話, 談談.
- To believe, siang-sing° 相信.
- To fall, lauh 落 (of things) or tih 跌 (of men or animals).
- To stand up, lih 立.
- To get up, lok 䟿.
- To be willing, °khung 肯.
- To back the book, pe° 背
- To think, °siang 想.
- To sleep, kwhung° 睏
- To wipe, kha 揩.
- To fly, fi 飛.
- To reckon, soen° 算.
- To build, °zau 造.
- A stove, ih kuh °hoo-loo 一個火爐, or ih tsak °hoo-loo.
- A rat, ih tsak °lau-°ts 一隻老鼠, or ih tsak °lau dzoong 一隻老蟲.
- A washstand, ih tsak kha-mien°-de-°ts 一隻揩面檯子.
- A temple, ih zoo° miau° 一座廟.
- A window, ih sen° tshaung 一扇窗.
Ban (爿) is the Classifier for firms, shops, etc.
- A tea shop, ih ban dzo-kwen° 一爿茶館.
- A pair of chop-sticks, ih saung kwhan 一雙筷.
- Words, seh-wo° 說話 or wo°-deu or 話頭.
- A sentence, ih kyui° seh-wo° 一句說話.
- Only, pih-koo° 必過, or dok-°z 獨自, or tsuh-tuh 只得.
- Not only, ’veh-dan°-°z 勿但是, or ’veh-dan° 勿但, or ’veh-°ba 勿罷.
- Heavy, °dzoong 重.
- Light (in weight), chung 輕.
- Cheap, jang 強
- Dear (in price), kyui° 貴.
- Happy, kha°-weh 快活.
- Clear or distinct, tshing-°saung 清爽.
- Soochow, Soo-tseu 蘇州.
- Therefore, °soo-°i 所以 or keh-°lau 蓋佬.
- First, sien 先.
- Together ih-dau 一淘, ih-doong 一同.
EXERCISES
(Translate into English)
- (1) Di°-kuh °liang we° bang-°yeu hwen-°hyi ih-dau bak-wo°.
- (2) °Ngoo dok-ba°-ts su iau° tsheh-chi° beh-siang°.
- (3) Zak-zen yi °khung ma° meh, noong° °ma-meh-tse.
- (4) Di° zoo° vaung-°ts °zau-°chi-le ’man kwha°.
- (5) °Ngoo kyau° i-kuh °siau-noen lih-°chi-le pe° su.
- (6) °Ngoo °siang di°-kuh ‘auh-sang-°ts kyung-tsau ’veh zung kha mien°.
- (7) Tsoong-kok nyung chuh van° yoong° ih saung kwhan, nga°-kok nyung yoong° tau °lau tsho.
- (8) Zauh ya°-deu la° vaung-kan-°li °ngoo thing-tuh ih tsak °lau-°ts leh-la° kyau°.
- (9) Zak-zen yi wo° yi ’veh zung tan meh, i-kuh seh-wo° °ngoo °khung siang-sing°.
- (10) Thien °hau meh °ngoo iau° tau° dzo-kwen°-°li chi° °zoo-°zoo dan-dan chuh dzo.
- (11) °Yeu bih saung-°‘a-°ts va°? °Ngoo pih-koo° °yeu di°-saung.
- (12) Zauh-ya°-deu °ngoo kwhung°-’veh-dzak, °soo-°i kyung-tsau lok-’veh-°chi.
- (13) Thien nyih kuh zung-kwaung iau° khe tshaung °lau mung, °lang meh iau° kwan.
- (14) Tsoong-kok wo°, wo° le ’veh tshing-°saung meh bih nyung ’veh °toong kuh.
- (15) Di°-tsak kha-mien°-de-°ts noong° °ma le jang va°? ’Veh °hau soen° jang, °ngoo °siang ’man kyui°.
- (16) Noong° °kyi kwhe° yang-dien °ma le kuh? Zeh kwhe° yang-dien la°.
- (17) Noong° we°-sa°-°lau °ma le zeh-ke° kyui°? Iung-we° tsuh-tuh di°-kuh ih tsak.
- (18) °Ngoo tsheh-chi° bau loo° ’veh-dan° khoen°-kyien° ih zoo° miau°, miau° mung zien ‘a °yeu ih zoo° thah.
- (19) Di°-tsak °hoo-loo °z °dzoong kuh nyi chung kuh? °Z ’man °dzoong kuh.
- (20) °Tshing sien-sang °zoo °zaung chi°.
- (21) Sien-sang kyau° ‘auh-sang-°ts dok-°‘au-chi°.
- (22) °I-°pung su dzoong de-°ts laung° lauh-°‘au-le.
- (23) °Siau-noen dzoong iui°-°ts laung° tih-°‘au-le.
- (24) °Ngoo khoen°-kyien° ih tsak °tiau dzoong thien laung° fi-°‘au-le.
- (25) °Ngoo ming-tsau iau° °‘au zen tau° Soo-tseu chi°.
- (一) 第個兩位朋友歡喜一淘白話.
- (二) 我讀罷之書要出去勃相.
- (三) 若然伊肯賣末儂買末哉.
- (四) 第座房子造起來蠻快.
- (五) 我叫伊個小囝立起來背書.
- (六) 我想第個學生子今朝勿曾揩面.
- (七) 中國人吃飯用一雙筷外國人用刀佬叉.
- (八) 昨夜頭拉房間裏我聽得一隻老鼠垃拉叫.
- (九) 若然伊話伊勿曾担末伊個說話我肯相信.
- (十) 天好末我要到茶館裏去坐坐談談吃茶.
- (十一) 有別雙鞋子否? 我必過有第雙.
- (十二) 昨夜頭我睏勿着所以今朝䟿勿起.
- (十三) 天熱個辰光要開窗佬門冷末要關.
- (十四) 中國話話來勿淸爽末別人勿懂個.
- (十五) 第隻揩面檯子儂買來強否? 勿好算強我想蠻貴.
- (十六) 儂幾塊洋錢買來個? 十塊洋錢拉.
- (十七) 儂爲啥佬買來實蓋貴? 因爲只得第個一隻.
- (十八) 我出去跑路勿但看見一座廟廟門前也有一座塔.
- (十九) 第隻火爐是重個呢輕個? 是蠻重個.
- (二十) 請先生坐上去.
- (二十一) 先生叫學生子讀下去.
- (二十二) 伊本書從檯子上落下來.
- (二十三) 小囝從椅子上跌下來.
- (二十四) 我看見一隻烏從天上飛下來.
- (二十五) 我明朝要下船到蘇州去.
(Translate into Chinese)
- (1) Do you like to eat this?
- (2) In the day time men work, in the night time they sleep.
- (3) The cat came in by the window and the rat ran out by the door.
- (4) I conversed with him, and he taught me many words in Chinese.
- (5) I want you to wipe the windows.
- (6) Last night I only slept four hours.
- (7) I not only bought a washstand, I also bought a stove and three chairs.
- (8) Children like to play, men like to study.
- (9) Why do you go to the tea shop? Because there I can hear many men conversing, and so learn many Chinese words.
- (10) Are you willing to go with me to see the temple?
- (11) To-day I am very happy, because I have finished the book.
- (12) The child jumped down from the table.
- (13) Please write on down.
- (14), When will you go up the hill with me to take a look?
- (15) The teacher first hears the scholars back the book, and then gives them an advanced lesson.
- (一) 第樣物事儂歡喜吃否?
- (二) 日裏個辰光人做工夫拉夜裏末睏.
- (三) 貓是從窗裏進來老鼠從門裏跑出去.
- (四) 我對伊白話佬伊教我多化中國話.
- (五) 要儂去揩揩窗.
- (六) 昨夜頭我必過睏之四點鐘工夫.
- (七) 我勿但買之一隻楷面檯子也買之一隻火爐佬三把椅子.
- (八) 小囝歡喜勃相大人歡喜讀書.
- (九) 儂爲啥佬到茶館裏去? 因爲伊頭我可以聽得多化人白話佬學中國話.
- (十) 儂肯搭我一淘到廟裏去看看否?
- (十一) 今朝我蠻快活因爲一本書讀完哉.
- (十二) 小囝從檯子上跳下來.
- (十三) 請寫下去.
- (十四) 儂幾時搭我一淘上山去看看?
- (十五) 先生先聽學生子背書難末對伊拉上書.
Notes.
- （1) Note that siang-sing° means “to like” as well as to believe. °Ngoo siang-sing° ih kuh nyung (我相信一個人) means, “I like him.”
- （2) The expression “to back the book” arises from the old Chinese custom of the pupil turning his back upon the teacher when he recites his lesson.
- （3) Notice the order of the words in the eleventh sentence of the First Exercise. The verb °Yeu comes first in the sentence.
- （4) The word la° is added at the end of the sixteenth sentence of the First Exercise merely for euphony.
- （5) In the twentieth sentence of the First Exercise we have another polite way of asking a person to take a higher seat in the guest room.
- （6) In sentences twenty-two and twenty-three of the First Exercise we have the use of lauh and tih for “fall”. It is difficult to distinguish between the two, but tih is used always when we speak of a person falling down.
- （7) The correct way of translating the first sentence of the Second Exercise is Di°-yang meh-z° nong° hwen°-hyi chuh va°? Di°-yang means “this sort.”
- （8) The thirteenth sentence of the Second Exercise of course refers to the fact that the Chinese write from the top down and not across the page.
- （9) The last clause of the fifteenth sentence of the Second Exercise should be nan-meh theh yi-la °zaung su. “Then for them, advances in the book.”
LESSON XIV
Causality, and Necessity
The idea of causality, in the sense of causing a person to do a thing, is expressed in Chinese by the use of the auxiliary verbs kau (敎) and tsha (差). Thus “I caused him to do it,” would be °ngoo kao yi tsoo° (我敎伊做). “I caused him to go,” would be °ngoo tsha yi chi (我差伊去). The word tsha literally means “to send.” The word kau is the same as kyau°, but used with different pronunciation and different tone. When one of higher rank causes a person of lower rank to do a thing the word s° (使) is used. Thus S° °ngoo ieu-mung, “Caused me to sorrow.”
“Must” is expressed by the expressions tsoong-iau° (總要), pih-ding° iau° (必定要), ih-ding° iau° (一定要).
“It must be” is tsoong °z (總是). Thus “It must be so” is tsoong-°z zeh-ke° (總是實蓋).
“Ought” implying obligation, is expressed by iung-ke (應該). Thus “You ought to do it” is noong° iung-ke tsoo° kuh (儂應該做個).
VOCABULARY
- Perhaps, khoong-pho° 恐怕.
- Just now, a little while ago, khan khan 纔纔, or ’veh too °kyi-z 勿多幾時.
- Quickly, ‘au-sau° 豪燥, or kwha°-kwha° 快快.
- Moreover, °ping-°tshia 幷且, or r-°tshia 而且, or hwaung-°tshia 况且.
- Although, soe-zen 雖然, or soe-°z 雖是.
- Yet, zen-r 然而.
- Still (in the sense of in addition), wan 還, or wan-iau° 還要. °ngoo wan-iau° °ma 我還要買, “I still wish to buy more.”
- On the contrary, or on the other hand, °tau 倒.
- To complete, dzung-koong 成功.
- To light (a lamp or candle), °tien 點.
- To light (a fire), sang 生.
- To take with you, ta° chi 帶去.
- To bring with you, ta° le 帶來.
- To kill, sah 殺, or sah-theh 殺脫.
- To kill with a blow, °tang sah 打殺.
- To die, °si 死, or °si-theh 死脫.
- To live, weh 活.
- A lamp, ih °tsan tung 一盞燈.
- To tell, narrate, kau°-soo° 告訴.
- To sweep the ground (floor), °sau-di° 掃地.
Foong (封) is the classifier used for letters and other sealed parcels.
- A letter, ih foong sing° 一封信.
- An envelope, ih foong sing° khauh 一封信殼, or ih foong sing° foong 一封信封.
- A candle, ih kung lah tsok 一根臘燭.
- Fire, °hoo 火.
Tsang (張) is the classifier denoting sheets.
- A sheet of paper, ih tsang °ts or ih tsang °ts-deu 一張紙頭.
- A fowl, ih tsak kyi 一隻鷄.
EXERCISES
(Translate into English)
- (1) °Ngoo-nyi° iung-ke tsoo°-kuh z°-°thi, °tau ’veh tsoo°.
- (2) Thien °lang-°ts meh pih-ding° iau° sang °hoo.
- (3) Ya°-deu iau° dok su meh, tsoong-iau° °tien tung.
- (4) °Ngoo ’veh °hyau-tuh na°-nung tsoo°-deu, °ngoo-kuh bang-°yeu °i-kyung °si-theh tse.
- (5) Tan ih tsang °ts-deu le, °ngoo iau° °sia ih foong sing°.
- (6) °Ngoo la° su-vaung °li zing °ngoo-kuh mau-°ts, soe-zen °tien-ts lah-tsok °‘a zing-’veh-dzak kuh.
- (7) °Ngoo iau° ‘auh dok tsoong-kok z° °ping °tshia iau° ‘auh °sia tsoong-kok z°
- (8) Soe-zen noong° wo° ’veh zung tan tsheh chi° zen-r °ngoo ’veh °khung siang-sing°.
- (9) Kwha°-tien chi° kyau° i-sung le, °khoong pho° yi iau° °si tse.
- (10) Sien-sang leh-la° va°? Yi khan-khan leh-°li, yien-dze ’veh °hyau-tuh °a-°li chi° tse.
- (11) Zak-zen yi wan ’veh zung le,°ngoo °tung yi ’veh tuh.
- (12) °Ngoo kyau° yoong°-nyung sah ih tsak kyi, la° chuh van° kuh zung-kwaung iau° chuh kuh.
- (13) Di°-tsak de-°ts mok-ziang° tsoo° le wan °hau.
- (14) °Ngoo ’man kha°-weh thing-tuh noong° wo° °ngoo °yeu ih foong sing° le, °khoong-pho° °z °ngoo-kuh bang-°yeu °sia le kuh.
- (15) Nyung iau° sien tsoo° dzung-koong ih tsaung z°-°thi, nan-meh °khau-°i tsoo° bih yang°.
- (16) M-meh ih kuh nyung hwen-°hyi °si.
- (一) 我伲應該做個事體倒勿做.
- (二) 天冷之末必定要生火.
- (三) 夜頭要讀書末總要點燈.
- (四) 我勿曉得那能做頭我個朋友已經死脫哉.
- (五) 担一張紙頭來我要寫一封信.
- (六) 我拉書房裏尋我個帽子雖然點之臘燭也尋勿着個.
- (七) 我要學讀中國字幷且要學寫中國字.
- (八) 雖然儂話勿曾担出去然而我勿肯相信.
- (九) 快點去叫醫生來恐怕伊要死哉.
- (十) 先生垃拉否? 伊纔纔垃裏現在勿曉得那裏去哉.
- (十一) 若然伊還勿曾來我等伊勿得.
- (十二) 我叫用人殺一隻雞拉吃飯個辰光要吃個.
- (十三) 第把檯子木匠做來還好.
- (十四) 我蠻快活聽得儂話我有一封信來恐怕是我個朋友寫來個.
- (十五) 人要先做成功一樁事體難末可以做別樣.
- (十六) 嘸沒一個人歡喜死.
(Translate into Chinese)
- (1) I told you a little while ago that I did not want you to open the window; why do you not listen to me?
- (2) Light the lamp and put it on the table in the study.
- (3) If a guest comes, I want you to light the fire in the reception room.
- (4) Do not strike the dog; perhaps you will kill him.
- (5) You must study diligently, and then you can learn to speak Chinese.
- (6) How many hours a day ought I to study? I think you should study at least four hours a day: two in the morning and two is the afternoon.
- (7) If your letter has been written, I will send the servant to take it.
- (8) Early in the morning I want you to sweep the floor and wipe the table and chairs.
- (9) Although the carpenter works quickly, he cannot finish it in a week.
- (10) When you have finished this do not think there is nothing more to do, but come and tell me.
- (11) I did not tell you to take it away, but on the contrary told you to put it in the office.
- (12) If the doctor does not come immediately, this man cannot live.
- (13) Who caused you to do it? He caused me to do it.
- (一) 纔纔我叫儂勿要開窗儂爲啥勿聽說話?
- (二) 要點燈拉書房裏擺拉檯子上.
- (三) 客人來末拉客堂間裏要儂生火.
- (四) 勿要打狗恐怕要打殺哉.
- (五) 儂總要用心讀書難末可以學讀中國話.
- (六) 一日我應該讀幾點鐘工夫? 我想頂少要讀四點鐘工夫拉上半日兩點鐘佬下半日兩點鐘.
- (七) 信寫好之末我差用人担去個.
- (八) 早晨頭要儂掃掃地揩揩檯子佬椅子.
- (九) 木匠雖然做來快一禮拜工夫勿能做好.
- (十) 第個做好之來告訴我勿要想無啥做.
- (十一) 我勿曾叫儂帶出去倒叫儂放拉寫字間裏.
- (十二) 醫生勿就來末第個人勿能彀活.
- (十三) 啥人教儂做個? 伊教我做個.
Notes.
- (1) Wan is sometimes used to qualify adjectives. Thus Wan °hau (還好) means “fairly good” or “pretty good.”
- (2) Soe-zen and Zen-r are generally used together; the first introducing the first clause, and the second, the second clause.
- (3) In the first sentence of the First Exercise notice the formation of the verbal noun, “the things which we ought to do.”
- (4) In the ninth sentence of the First Exercise notice that kwha° °tien does not mean “faster,” but is used for “quickly.”
- (5) In the eleventh sentence of the First Exercise °Tung yi ’veh tuh means lit., “Wait him not get;” that is, “I cannot wait for him.”
- (6) In the fourteenth sentence of the First Exercise notice the use of le. Le and chi are frequently used with other verbs to make the direction of the action clear. Thus °Sia le is, “Write come to me”; °Sia chi° is, “Write send away,” or “Write go.”
- (7) In the fifth sentence of the Second Exercise, Diligently can be expressed by Yoong° sing, “Use heart or mind.”
- (8) In this lesson frequent use has been made of the verb °Si (死). In speaking of a person dying the more euphonious expression is Koo°-s° 故世.
LESSON XV
Further Remarks on Numerals, the Relative Pronoun
Numbers above one hundred are expressed as follows: One hundred and one, is ih pak ling ih, and so on to ih pak ling °kyeu; then the ling is dropped, and we have ih pah zeh (一百十), ih pak zeh ih, ih pak zeh nyi°, ih pak zeh san, etc. Ling really means “in addition.”
The hundreds are expressed simply by nyi pak (二百), “two hundred,” san pak (三百), “three hundred,” etc. “One thousand” is ih tshien (一千). In expressing “one hundred and one,” we say ih pak ling ih (一百零一). In expressing “one thousand and one,” we say ih tshien ling ling ih.
“Ten thousand” is ih man° (一萬). “One million” is ih pak man° (一百萬). The ordinal numerals are expressed in Chinese by prefixing di° (第) before the cardinal. Thus “the first” is di° ih (第一) or deu-ih (頭一), “the second” di° nyi° (第二), and so forth.
°Soo 所 (lit. a place) is often used as a relative pronoun. It translates the English “who,” “which,” “what,” “that,” and “the things which.” The clause it introduces usually comes before the subject of the sentence. Thus “All which you do, I am able to do also,” would be noong° °soo tsoo° kuh z°-°thi °ngoo °‘a nung-keu° tsoo° kuh. As has already been pointed out kuh often has the force of the relative.
VOCABULARY.
- To wonder, be surprised, hyi-ji 希奇.
- To wear, tsak 著.
- To take off, thoeh 脫 or thoeh-theh 脫脫.
- To wear a hat, ta° 戴.
- To take off a hat, dzu 除.
- To laugh, siau° 笑.
- To ridicule, °lang-siau° (Lit. Cold laugh) 冷笑, or hyi°-siau° 戲笑.
- Laughable, °hau-siau° 好笑.
- Very laughable, siau°-sah-tse 笑殺哉.
- By the side of, pien-deu 邊頭, or baung-pien 傍邊.
- Place, han deu 壗頭.
- My place, °ngoo han-deu 我壗頭.
- Right (Direction), yeu° 右.
- Right hand, yeu° °seu 右手.
- Left, tsoo° 左. (Sometimes pronounced tsi°.)
- Left hand, tsi° °seu 左手.
- Right side, yeu° pien (右邊), yeu° pan-pan (右板爿).
- Early, °tsau 早.
- Late, an° 晚.
- Sharp, kwha° 快. (Same character as that used for fast.)
- Dull, dung° 鈍.
- Sweet, dien 甜.
- Bitter, °khoo 苦.
- Ugly, pho° 怕. (Same character as that used for fear.)
- Pretty, tshui° 趣.
- A shop, ih ban tien° 一爿店.
- Take care, °taung-sing 當心, or °siau-sing 小心.
- Take great care, too°-°taung-sing 多當心.
- Tools, implements, ka-sang 傢生.
- Furniture, ka-°hoo 傢伙.
- A tea pot, ih °po dzo-‘oo 一把茶壺.
- A class (in a school), ih pan 一班.
- To sing, ts’aung 唱.
EXERCISES
(Translate into English)
- (1) °Ngoo tau° tien° °li chi° khoen°-kyien° too-hau° meh-z°, dan°-°z °ma-’veh-°chi kuh.
- (2) °Taung sing °tseu °hau.
- (3) °Taung sing di°-kuh° yang-dien, faung° °hau la° siang-°ts °li.
- (4) Zung-kwaung an° tse, zieu° chi° kwhung°.
- (5) Kyung-tsau °ngoo ’m-sa° °hau, lok-’veh-°chi.
- (6) °Ngoo °soo kau°-soo° noong° kuh ih tsaung z°-°thi ’veh iau° te° bih nyung wo°.
- (7) Yoong°-nyung wan ’veh zung le °z peh °ngoo hyi-ji.
- (8) °Taung-sing° di°-°po tau °z ’man kwha° kuh.
- (9) Yi te° °ngoo wo° kuh z°-°thi °z °hau-siau° kuh.
- (10) °Ngoo loo° °laung bang yi ’veh dzak, ’veh °hyau-tuh tau° °‘a-°li chi° tse.
- (11) Di°-°po dzo-‘oo tan tau° sien-sang han-deu chi°.
- (12) I-kuh nyung tsi° °seu °sia z°, da°-ke nyung yeu° °seu °sia kuh.
- (13) Nyih-°li °soo tsak kuh i-zaung, ya°-°li kwhung° kuh z-eu° iau° thoeh-theh kuh.
- (14) Nga-kok sien-sang tsing° mung-kheu thoeh-theh mau°-°ts, tsoong-kok nyung ’veh thoeh-theh kuh.
- (15) I-tsak mau ’man °hau khoen°, dan°-°z °i tsak °keu °z pho°-le-°si.
- (16) Too-hau° nyung hwen-°hyi chuh dien kuh meh-z°, ’m-nyung hwen-°hyi chuh °khoo kuh.
- (17) Dzung °li °yeu °kyi-hau° nyung? Khoong-pho° °yeu zeh man°.
- (18) Di°-kuh ‘auh-sang-°ts, ’man yoong° sing dok su, la° ih pan °li °z deu ih.
- (19) Ih kuh nyung tan le ih pak ling san kuh doong-dien.
- (一) 我到店裡去看見多化物事但是買勿起個.
- (二) 當心走好.
- (三) 當心第個洋錢放好拉箱子裏.
- (四) 辰光晚哉就去睏.
- (五) 今朝我無啥好䟿勿起.
- (六) 我所告訴儂個一莊事體勿要對別人話.
- (七) 用人還勿曾來是撥我希奇.
- (八) 當心第把刀是蠻快個.
- (九) 伊對我話個事體是好笑個.
- (十) 我路上掽伊勿着勿曉得到那裏去哉.
- (十一) 第把茶壺担到先生壗頭去.
- (十二) 伊個人左手寫字大槩人右手寫個.
- (十三) 日裏所著個衣裳夜裏睏個時候要脫脫個.
- (十四) 外國先生進門口脫脫帽子中國人勿脫脫個.
- (十五) 一隻猫蠻好看但是一隻狗是怕來死.
- (十六) 多化人歡喜吃甜個物事嘸人歡喜吃苦個.
- (十七) 城裏有幾化人? 恐怕有十萬.
- (十八) 第個學生子蠻用心讀書拉一班裏是頭一.
- (十九) 一個人担來一百零三個銅錢.
(Translate into Chinese)
- (1) When I was in the carriage, I told the coachman to take care.
- (2) The clothes which that maiden wears are very pretty.
- (3) The boat is by the side of the river.
- (4) Yesterday I met a man who told me that he saw a carpenter kill a man with a sharp knife.
- (5) Although I do not speak Chinese well, please do not laugh at me.
- (6) I asked a man which road to take; he told me to go to the right.
- (7) I did not meet a single person on the road.
- (8) This bird is very beautiful; can it sing?
- (9) When it is warm you do not want to wear many clothes.
- (10) This tea is bitter and not good to drink.
- (11) Yesterday I walked very far, and so could not get up to-day.
- (12) Take this letter to the teacher.
- (一) 我拉馬車裏個辰光叫馬夫當心.
- (二) 伊個小姐着個衣裳蠻趣.
- (三) 一隻船拉河邊上.
- (四) 昨日我掽着一個人告訴我話伊看見一個木匠担之快個刀殺一個人.
- (五) 我雖然中國話話來勿好請儂勿要笑我.
- (六) 我問一個人走那裏一條路伊話右手一條.
- (七) 我路上一個人也掽勿着.
- (八) 第隻窵蠻趣會唱否?
- (九) 天熱末儂勿要着多化衣裳.
- (十) 第個茶苦個勿好吃個.
- (十一) 昨日我走之多化路所以今朝䟿勿起哉.
- (十二) 第封信担到先生壗頭去.
Notes.
- (1) Han-deu is very frequently used with persons and personal pronouns. Thus you do not say Tan tau° yi for take it to him, but Tan tau° yi han-deu chi°. “Leave it with me” would be °Pa la° °ngoo han-deu.
- (2) The second sentence of the First Exercise is often used in speaking to a guest when he is departing. When he is about to go, he announces the fact by saying Chi° tse (去哉), meaning “I am going.” You say Man° chi° (慢去), meaning “Go slowly,” and then when he is walking away, °Taung sing °tseu °hau (當心走好).
- (3) In the fifth sentence of the First Exercise M-sa° °hau means “not at all well.”
- (4) In the tenth sentence of the First Exercise notice how the object yi splits up the verb into two parts.
- (5) In the sixth sentence of the Second Exercise “to the right” is expressed by yeu° °seu (右手).
LESSON XVI
Verbal Idioms
The idea of there being time to accomplish a thing is expressed by adding the words tuh-ji° (得及) after the principal verb. If there is not sufficient time to do a thing you add ’veh-ji° (勿及) after the principal verb. Thus, Tsoo°-tuh-ji° (做得及) means “there is time to do a thing.” Tsoo°-’veh-ji° (做勿及) means “there is not time.”
This expression is used most frequently with the verb le (來). Le-tuh-ji means “there is time,” and le-’veh-ji means “there is not time.”
The idea of a thing being important is expressed by the words iau°-°kyung kuh (要緊個). “Not being important,” by the words ’veh iau° °kyung (勿要緊), or ’veh nge° sa° (勿礙啥). “Is it important?” or “Does it make any difference?” would be nge° sa° va° (礙啥否).
’Veh lauh is often used after verbs giving the idea of inability to do a thing. Thus Chuh ’veh lauh (吃勿落) means “unable to eat.” °Zoo ’veh lauh (坐勿落) “Unable to sit because of lack of room.” We also have the affirmative forms °zoo tuh lauh (坐得落) and chuh tuh lauh (吃得落).
VOCABULARY
- Lest, °sang-ts 省之.
- Either, or, ok-°z 或是, ok-tse 或者.
- Difficult, van-nan 煩難, or nan 難.
- Easy, yoong-yi° 容易.
- Slowly, gently, man°-man°-nung 慢慢能.
- Walk slowly, man°-man°-ts °tseu 慢慢之走.
- Besides, in addition, ling°-nga° 另外, dze-nga° 在外, or wan 還.
- How much more, ‘oo-°hwaung 何况 (with nyi at the end of the clause).
- Still more, kung°-°ka 更加, yoeh°-ka 越加.
- To start (on a journey), °doong-sung 動身. (Lit. to move the body.)
- To become ill, sang bing° 生病.
- To heal, i-°hau 醫好, or khoen°-°hau 看好.
- To welcome (a guest), nyung-tsih 迎接.
- To return (a debt or thing borrowed), wan 還.
- To cry, khok 哭.
- To lead, °ling 領.
- To borrow or to lend, tsia° 借. (See Note).
- To wash, zing° 淨.
- Illness, mau-bing° 毛病.
- A sedan coolie, ih kuh jau°-pan 一個轎班, or ih kuh jau°-foo 一個轎夫.
- A star, ih kuh sing 一個星.
- A grave mound, ih kuh vung-san 一個墳山.
- A goat, ih tsak san-yang 一隻山羊.
- A hog or pig, ih tsak ts-loo 一隻猪獹.
- A stool, ih tsak ngeh-°ts 一隻杌子.
- A chest of drawers, ih tsak tsheu-deu 一隻抽頭.
- A drawer, ih tsak tsheu thi 一隻抽屜.
- A wash bowl, ih tsak mien°-bung 一隻面盆.
- A plate, ih tsak bung-°ts 一隻盆子.
- A Chinese eating bowl, ih tsak °wen 一隻碗.
- A farmer, ih kuh tsoong°-dien nyung 一個種田人.
°Kwen (管) is the classifier for tubular things.
- A Chinese or foreign pen, ih °kwen pih 一管筆.
- A Chinese ink tablet, ih kuh nyien°-°ts 一個硯子, or nyien°-de 硯台.
- A piece of ink, ih khwe° muh 一塊墨.
- Foreign ink, muh-°s 墨水.
- Clean, koen-zing° 乾淨.
- Stop, ding 停.
- Moon, nyoeh-liang° 月亮.
- Precious, °pau-pe° 寶貝.
EXERCISES
(Translate into English)
- (1) Di°-kuh °z iau° °kyung kuh, °tshing noong° ’veh iau° maung-kyi°.
- (2) Di°-kuh °siau-noen van° chuh ’veh lauh, °khoong-pho° °yeu mau-bing°.
- (3) Kyung-tsau le-’veh-ji°, ming-tsau °lau tsoo°.
- (4) °Liang kuh nyung ih tsak iui°-°ts laung° °zoo-’veh-lauh.
- (5) ‘Auh-sang-°ts mung° sien-sang °‘a-°li-deu dok °chi °lau °‘a-°li-deu ding.
- (6) Tshau zing°-°hau-°ts meh, faung° la° tsheu-thi °li.
- (7) Tsoong°-dien-nyung °i-kyung °ma-°ts san tsak san-yang, i-kuh bang-°yeu ling°-nga° wan iau° °ma s° tsak.
- (8) Noong° iung-ke °de loong-tsoong nyung °hau, ‘oo-°hwaung °de z°-ka nyung °hau nyi.
- (9) Bung-°ts °lau °wen iau° kung°-ka koen-zing°.
- (10) Noong° iung-ke °tsau-zung-deu °doong-sung, °‘au-pen°-nyih °doong-sung le-’veh-ji° tau° kuh.
- (11) Noong° °kyi-z wan peh la° °ngoo? Ok-tse kyung-tsau °‘au-pen°-nyih, ok-tse ming-tsau °tsau-zung-deu.
- (12) °Ngoo-kuh bang-°yeu sang-bing° °soo-°i iau° °tshing i-sung khoen° khoen°.
- (13) Ya°-°li la° thien laung° °khau-°i khoen° too-°hau sing °lau nyoeh-liang°, nyih-°li pih-koo° khoen°-kyien° nyih-deu.
- (14) Di°-kuh °siau-noen nyih-°li ’veh khok, dan°-°z ya°-deu doo° khok.
- (15) °Ngoo tsia°-peh yi san-seh kwhe° yang-dien, ’veh hyau° tuh yi °kyi-z wan.
- (16) Kyau° jau°-foo man°-man°-°ts °tseu iung-we° °di-diau ka ‘ah °lau.
- (17) Iung-we° loo° ’veh nyung tuh °soo-°i °ngoo °tshing bih nyung °ling loo°.
- (18) °Ngoo la° bang-°yeu han-deu tsia°-°ts nyan° kwhe° yang-dien iung-we° iau° °ma ih tsak kha-mien°-de °lau s° tsak ngeh-°ts.
- (19) Kha °hau-ts mien°, mien°-bung iau° faung° °hau.
- (20) °Ngoo °tseu tau° mung-°kheu-deu nyung-tsih khak-nyung.
- (21) °Ngoo mung° i-sung °di-kuh mau-bing° i-tuh-°hau va°, yi wo° man°-man° nung we° °hau kuh.
- (22) °Ts-deu, muh, pih, nyien°-de, tsoong-kok nyung soen° dok-su-nyung kuh s° yang °pau-pe°.
- (一) 第個是要緊個請儂勿要忘記.
- (二) 第個小囝飯吃勿落恐怕有毛病.
- (三) 今朝來勿及明朝佬做.
- (四) 兩個人一隻椅子上坐勿落.
- (五) 學生子問先生那裏頭讀起佬那裏頭停.
- (六) 抄淨好之末放拉抽屜裏.
- (七) 種田人已經買之三隻山羊伊個朋友另外還要買四隻.
- (八) 儂應該待攏總人好何况待自家人好呢.
- (九) 盆子佬碗要更加乾淨.
- (十) 儂應該早晨頭動身下半日動身來勿及到個.
- (十一) 儂幾時還撥拉我? 或者今朝下半日或者明朝早晨頭.
- (十二) 我個朋友生病所以要請醫生看看.
- (十三) 夜裏拉天上可以看多化星佬月亮日裏必過看見日頭.
- (十四) 第個小囝日裏勿哭但是夜頭大哭.
- (十五) 我借撥伊三十塊洋錢勿曉得伊幾時還.
- (十六) 叫轎夫慢慢之走因爲第條街狹佬.
- (十七) 因爲路勿認得所以我請別人領路.
- (十八) 我拉朋友壗頭借之廿塊洋錢因爲要買一隻揩面檯佬四隻杌子.
- (十九) 揩好之面面盆要放好.
- (廿) 我走到門口頭迎接客人.
- (廿一) 我問醫生第個毛病醫得好否, 伊話慢慢能會好個.
- (廿二) 紙頭, 墨, 筆, 硯台, 中國人算讀書人個四樣寶貝.
(Translate into Chinese)
- (1) Which is easier, to learn to read Chinese or to learn to write Chinese?
- (2) I told you there was not time to do it; why do you still want to do it?
- (3) Why do you cry? Because I have heard that my friend is dead.
- (4) We will go early to-morrow morning to meet our friends, who have come from abroad.
- (5) Goats like to stand on the tops of the grave mounds.
- (6) You say that this temple is so fine to see, that I want to go more than ever to see it.
- (7) Please, teacher, do not speak so fast. If you will speak more slowly, I can understand.
- (8) If you do not return it immediately, no matter, I can wait two or three days.
- (9) Why did not the pupil come to school? Because he was sick.
- (10) I told the servant to put my clothes in the drawer.
- (11) The Chinese when they eat, use bowls; the foreigners use plates.
- (12) This fan belongs either to the teacher or to the pupil.
- (13) If you want to learn to write you must buy a pen, a piece of ink, and an ink tablet.
- (14) If you borrow money from another person, and do not return it, he will be unhappy.
- (15) I told the driver to stop the carriage at my friend’s house.
- (一) 那裏一樣容易點學讀中國書呢還是學寫中國字.
- (二) 我對儂話來勿及做儂爲啥佬仍舊要做?
- (三) 儂爲啥佬哭? 因爲我聽得我個朋友已經過世哉.
- (四) 明朝早晨頭我伲要去迎接外國來個朋友.
- (五) 山羊歡喜立拉坟山上.
- (六) 儂話第座廟是實蓋好看所以我更加要去看.
- (七) 請先生勿要話來實蓋快, 若然先生話來慢點, 我可以聽得出.
- (八) 若然儂勿是就還勿礙啥, 我可以等兩三日.
- (九) 學生子爲啥佬勿到學堂裏來? 因爲伊生病佬.
- (十) 我叫用人放我個衣裳拉抽屜裏.
- (十一) 中國人吃飯個辰光用碗外國人用盆子.
- (十二) 第把扇子或者是先生個或者是學生子個.
- (十三) 若然儂要學寫字儂總要買一管筆一塊墨佬一個硯台.
- (十四) 若然儂拉別人壗頭借銅錢佬勿還個伊要勿快活.
- (十五) 我叫馬夫停馬車拉我個朋友屋裏.
Notes.
- (1) The word for “to borrow” and “to lend” is exactly the same in Chinese. The only way you can distinguish between them is by auxiliary words used in connection with them. Thus Tsia° peh (借撥) means “to lend.” Tsia° le (借來) means “to borrow.” Again Tsia° chi° (借去) means “to lend.” But we have such constructions as °Ngoo tsia° la° yi (我借拉伊), meaning “I lend to him,” and °Ngoo la° yi han-deu tsia° kuh (我拉伊壗頭借個), meaning “I borrowed it from him.”
- (2) In the fifth sentence of the First Exercise Dok° °chi means “read begin,” and ding means “stop.” This is an ordinary form for asking where to begin the lesson and where to end it.
- (3) In the fourteenth sentence of the First Exercise notice how doo° qualifies the verb khok.
- (4) The twenty-second sentence of the First Exercise is a paraphrase of a Chinese proverb.
LESSON XVII
More Verbal Idioms
In asking questions °yeu tuh? (有得) sometimes precedes a verb with the sense, “is there to be had?” Thus °Yeu-tuh °ma va°? (有得買否) means, “Is there to be bought?” °Yeu-tuh chuh va°? (有得吃否) means, “Is there anything to eat?” The answers to these questions would be °yeu-tuh °ma kuh (有得買個), °yeu tuh chuh kuh (有得吃個), “It can be bought.” “There is something to eat.”
’Veh pih (勿必) means “It is not necessary.” Thus ’Veh pih khok (勿必哭), “It is not necessary to cry.” ’Veh pih chi° (勿必去), “It is not necessary to go.”
Ih ngan ’veh (一顏勿) before the verbs means, “Not at all.” Thus °Ngoo ih ngan ’veh °hyau-tuh (我一顏勿曉得) means, “I do not know at all.” Ih ngan ’veh zung khoen°-kyien° hyih (一顏勿曾看見歇) means, “I have not seen it at all.” Ih ngan ’veh iau° khoen° (一顏勿要看) means, “I do not want to see it at all.”
VOCABULARY
- To visit, to pay respects to, maung° 望, or pa° maung° 拜望.
- To worship, pa° 拜.
- To pay a ceremonial visit, pa° khak 拜客.
- To bathe, zing° yok 淨浴.
- To catch, seize, arrest, tsauh 捉.
- To prepare, to provide, yui°-be° 預備.
- To move a thing, °doong 動.
- Loose, unstable, °doong °lau °doong 動佬動.
- Immovable, °doong-°‘a ’veh-°doong 動也勿動.
- To remove (a residence), pen 搬, or pen-dzang 搬塲.
- To commence work, °doong °seu 動手, or khe koong 開工.
- To open school, khe ‘auh 開學.
- To dismiss school, faung° ‘auh 放學.
- A finger, ih tsak tsih-deu 一隻指頭.
- A toe, ih tsak kyak-tsih-deu 一隻脚指頭.
- A cup, ih tsak pe-°ts 一隻杯子.
- A clock, ih tsak z°-ming-tsoong 一隻自鳴鐘.
- A watch, ih tsak piau 一隻表.
- A well, ih tsak °tsing 一隻井.
- A basket, ih tsak lan 一隻籃.
- An apple, ih tsak bing-°koo 一隻平菓.
- A crab apple, ih tsak hwo-‘oong 一隻花紅.
- A towel, ih diau °seu-kyung 一條手巾.
- A life, ih diau sing°-ming° 一條性命.
- A hill, mountain, ih zoo° san 一座山.
- A board, ih kwhe° °pan 一塊板.
Fok (幅) is the classifier of paintings or engravings.
- A painting, ih fok wo° 一幅畫.
- A chart or map, ih fok doo 一幅圖, or ih fok di°-°li-doo 一幅地理圖.
- A picture, ih fok wo° doo 一幅畫圖.
- One time, ih we 一回, ih thaung° 一盪.
- Two times, twice, °liang we 兩回, or °liang thaung° 雨盪.
- Whosoever, van-i° 凡係.
- No matter who, ’veh lung° sa° nyung 勿論啥人.
- Whatsoever, no matter what, ’veh lung° sa° 勿論啥, dzoe-bien°-sa° 隨便啥, or ’veh kyui-sa° 勿拘啥.
- Whichever, dzoe-bien° 隨便.
- Whatever time you please, dzoe-bien° °kyi-z 隨便幾時.
- Wet, sak 濕.
- Dry, koen 乾.
- Always, dzang-tsaung 常庄, or dzang-dzang 常常.
EXERCISES
(Translate into English)
- (1) Z°-ming-tsoong kuh yoong°-deu °z peh nyung hyau°-tuh zung-kwaung.
- (2) I-tsak mau ’m-sa° yoong°-deu, ih ngan ’veh we° tsauh lau-°ts.
- (3) Ming-tsau °ngoo iau° tsheh chi° maung° bang-°yeu.
- (4) °Ngoo thing-tuh sien-sang ’m-sa° °hau °soo-°i le maung° maung°.
- (5) °Ngoo mung° mok-ziang° °zau vaung-°ts °kyi-z iau° °doong-°seu.
- (6) °Liang tsak °seu °yeu zeh tsak tsih deu, °liang tsak kyak °yeu zeh tsak kyak-tsih-deu.
- (7) Sang bing° meh tsoong-iau° °tshing i-sung we°-ts nyung kuh sing°-ming° °z iau° °kyung kuh.
- (8) °Zaung san °z van-nan, °‘au san °z yoong-yi°.
- (9) Di°-foong sing° iau° sa° nyung tan chi°? ’Veh lung° sa° nyung °khau-i tan chi°.
- (10) Kyung-ya°-deu iau° yui° be° °hau, we°-ts ming-tsau °tsau-zung-deu iau° °doong-sung.
- (11) Yien°-°dze chi° ok-tse ming-tsau chi°, dzoe-bien° noong° meh tso.
- (12) °Tsing °li °s °i-kyung koen tse, ’veh hyau°-tuh na°-nung tsoo°-deu.
- (13) Zing°-ts yok iau° yoong° °seu-°kyung kha koen sung-°thi.
- (14) Khan-khan °ngoo faung° nyan tsak bing-°koo la °lan °li, yien°-°dze pih-koo° °yeu °so-°ng tsak, ’veh hyau°-tuh sa° nyung tan-theh kuh.
- (15) °Tsh-di° piau °yeu-tuh °ma va°? °Tsh-di° yang° yang° °yeu tuh °ma kuh.
- (16) °Loong-°tsoong kuh z°-°thi °ngoo °i-°kyung hyau°-tuh, noong° ’veh pih te° °ngoo wo°.
- (17) Di°-°pung su ih ngan m-meh wo°-doo.
- (18) I-tsak pe-°ts °li °yeu sa° meh-z°? Pih-koo° °lang °s.
- (19) Tsoo° di°-tsak de-°ts iau° yoong° °kyi kwhe° °pan?
- (20) Di° sen tshaung tsoo° le ih ngan ’veh °hau, dzang-tsaung °doong-°lau °doong.
- (21) Chi° koo° hyih meh? Chi° koo°-°ts °liang we.
- (22) Sien-sang wo° ming-tsau ’veh °hau le, we°-ts iau° pen-dzang °lau.
- (23) Van-i° nyung yoong° sing meh °khau-°i dzung-koong z°-°thi.
- (一) 自鳴鐘個用頭是撥人曉得辰光.
- (二) 伊隻貓無啥用頭一顔勿會捉老鼠.
- (三) 明朝我要出去望朋友.
- (四) 我聽得先生無啥好所以來望望
- (五) 我問木匠造房子幾時要動手.
- (六) 兩隻手有十隻指頭兩隻脚有十隻脚指頭.
- (七) 生病末總要請醫生爲之人個性命是要緊個.
- (八) 上山是煩難下山是容易.
- (九) 第封信要啥人担去? 勿論啥人可以担去.
- (十) 今夜頭要預備好爲之明朝早辰頭要動身.
- (十一) 現在去或者明朝去隨便儂末哉.
- (十二) 井裏水已經乾哉勿曉得那能做頭.
- (十三) 淨之浴要用手巾揩乾身體.
- (十四) 纔纔我放廿隻平菓拉籃裏現在不過有十五隻勿曉得啥人担脫個.
- (十五) 此地錶有得賣否? 此地樣樣有得賣個.
- (十六) 攏總個事體我已經曉得儂勿必對我話.
- (十七) 第本書一顔無沒畫圖.
- (十八) 伊隻杯子裏有啥物事? 必過冷水.
- (十九) 做第隻檯子要用幾塊板.
- (二十) 第扇窗做來一顔勿好常庄動佬動.
- (廿一) 去過歇末? 去過之兩回.
- (廿二) 先生話明朝勿好來爲之要搬塲佬.
- (廿三) 凡係人用心末可以成功事體.
(Translate into Chinese)
- (1) When I have finished studying, I shall go to visit my friends.
- (2) No matter who comes; tell him I am busy (have affairs).
- (3) When the weather is wet I cannot go out to walk.
- (4) The pupils should not eat apples in the school room.
- (5) Children like to play the game of catching men.
- (6) The pupils read badly to-day; I think they did not prepare.
- (7) At what time does the school open, and at what time does it close?
- (8) I shall be pleased to have a conversation with you whenever you come.
- (9) This child does not want to study a bit; I think it would be best for him to go and do business.
- (10) I have already told you two or three times; do not forget.
- (11) Next month we shall remove our residence.
- (12) Near Shanghai there are no high hills, only grave mounds.
- (13) I cannot open this window; it is immovable.
- (14) Has the clock already struck?
- (15) How many eggs are there in the basket?
- (一) 我讀罷之書要出去望朋友.
- (二) 勿論啥人來對伊話我有事體.
- (三) 天濕末我勿能彀出去跑路.
- (四) 拉學堂間裏學生子勿應該吃平菓.
- (五) 小囝歡喜做捉人個勃相.
- (六) 今朝學生子讀來勿好我想伊拉勿曾預備.
- (七) 啥辰光開學, 啥辰光放學?
- (八) 儂隨便幾時來我蠻歡喜對儂白話.
- (九) 第個小囝一顔勿歡喜讀書我想頂好伊出去做生意.
- (十) 我已輕對儂話兩三回勿要忘記.
- (十一) 下個月我伲要搬塲.
- (十二) 近上海無沒高山必過坟山.
- (十三) 第扇窗開勿來個動也勿動.
- (十四) 鐘已輕敲過末.
- (十五) 籃裏有幾個蛋?