Lessons in the Shanghai Dialect

Notes.

(1) In the fourth sentence of the First Exercise ’m-sa° °hau means “not at all well.”
(2) In the eleventh sentence of the First Exercise the expression Dzoe-bien° noong° meh tse is one very frequently used. It implies, “do it whenever and however you please”
(3) In the fourteenth sentence of the First Exercise Tan theh means “take away.” We have already had the use of Theh after verbs, as Thoeh-theh, “to take off clothes.” It can be used with almost any verb of motion. We have Peh theh, “to give away.” Chuh-theh, “to eat up.” Chi°-theh, “to cast off, disown.” Ma°-theh, “to sell away, etc.”
(4) In the fifteenth sentence of the First Exercise Yang° yang° repeated means, “Things of every sort.”
(5) Note that the usual expression in Chinese to say you are busy is °Ngoo °yeu z°-°thi. It is never very polite to tell any one that you are busy. A person asking whether you were busy would say maung va°? “Are you busy?”
(6) In the fifth sentence of the Second Exercise the game Tsauh nyung, frequently played by Chinese children, is referred to.
(7) In the eighth sentence of the Second Exercise the clauses should be reversed. Noong° dzoe-bien° °kyi-z-le should come first.
(8) In the ninth sentence of the Second Exercise “to go and do business” is Chi° tsoo° sang-i°.
(9) In the fourteenth sentence of the Second Exercise Tsoong khau koo° meh is the usual way of asking the question. Tsoong is shortened form of Z°-ming tsoong.

LESSON XVIII
More Verbal Idioms

Siang (相) is often placed before transitive verbs and usually gives the idea of mutual or reciprocal. In some cases it is reflexive. As instances of reciprocal action we have siang-°tang (相打), “to fight with one another.” Siang-mo° (相駡), “to revile one another.” siang-lien (相聯), “to be connected together.” Siang-paung (相幫), “to help one another.”

Khe (開) or Khe-le (開來) is used with many verbs to give the idea of spreading wide open. Thus Than-khe-le (攤開來) means “to unroll a bundle.” Hyih-khe-le (揭開來) means “to open a box.” Fung-khe (分開), “to divide,” san°-khe (散開), “to scatter wide cast.” Tshih-khe (切開) or tshih-khe-le (切開來) means “to cut open, etc.”

Not inclined to do a thing is expressed by the phrase ’veh kau-hyung° (勿高興). Thus ’Veh kau-hyung° chi° (勿高興去), “not inclined to go.”

VOCABULARY

To follow, kung 跟.
To tie, vok 縛.
To tie firmly, vok-lau 縛牢, or vok lau-dzu° 縛牢住.
To desire, to expect, maung° 望, or po-maung° 把望.
To bite, °ngau 咬.
To bark, kyau 叫.
To blow, tsh 吹.
To blow out, to extinguish, tsh °iung 吹隱.
To blow into a blaze or flame, tsh yaung° 吹旺.
To fly, fi 飛.
To explain, °ka-seh 解釋.
To forsake, desert, depart from, li-khe 離開.
To permit, °hyui 許.
To allow, nyang° 讓.
Colour, ngan-suh 顏色.
Variegated colours, °ng-ngan-loh-suh 五顏六色.
Thought or meaning, i°-s° 意思.
A thief, ih kuh zuk 一個賊.

Mien° (面) is used as the classifier for flat objects.

A drum, ih mien° koo 一面鼓.
Hope, maung°-deu 望頭.
Wind, foong 風.
Wine, °tsieu 酒.
Rope, ih diau zung, 一條繩 or ih kung zung 一根繩.

Tsung (尊) is the classifier denoting idols or cannon.

A Buddhist idol, ih tsung veh 一尊佛, or ih tsung boo-sah 一尊菩薩.
A Taoist god or idol, ih tsung zung-dau° 一尊神道.
A piece of bread, ih kwhe° men-deu 一塊饅頭.
A piece of meat, ih khwe° nyok 一塊肉.

Khoo (顆) is the classifier used with plants, trees and flowers.

A tree, ih khoo zu° 一顆樹.
A flowering plant, ih khoo hwo 一顆花.
Cotton seed, hwo-°ts 花子.
A Chinese mile, ih °li 一里, or ih °li-loo° 一里路.
To regret, to be placed in an embarrassing position, nan-we-dzing 難爲情.

EXERCISES

(Translate into English)

(1) Di°-kuh °liang kuh ‘auh-sang-°ts °ngoo ’veh °hyui tsheh chi° beh-siang° we°-ts la° ‘auh-daung °li siang mo° °lau.
(2) Di° kyui° seh-wo° kuh i°-s° °ngoo ’veh °toong °tshing sien-sang °ka-seh.
(3) Di°-tsak °tiau fi le kau-le-°si.
(4) Tsauh-dzak-°ts i-kuh zuh iau° yoong° ih kung zung vok-lau-°ts.
(5) Di° khoo hwo kuh ngan suh ’man tshui°.
(6) Ya°-°li kwhung° kuh z-‘eu° tung iau° tsh °iung.
(7) °Ngoo faung° la° tshaung-°kheu laung° kuh ih tsang °ts-deu peh foong tsh-theh tse.
(8) Zak-zen °tshing khak °lau m-meh °tsieu °z nan-we-dzing kuh.
(9) ’Veh iau° pho°, di°-tsak °keu ’veh °ngau kuh.
(10) °Ngoo tau° miau° °li khoen°-kyien° ih tsung veh °lau too-°hau boo-sah.
(11) °Ngoo thing-tuh °yeu nyung la° khau °koo.
(12) Di°-deu tau° °Zaung-°he °yeu °so-°ng °li-loo°.
(13) Soe-zen di° khoo zu° ’man °hau khoen°, zen-r ’veh khe hwo kuh.
(14) Zak-zen noong° iau° tau° san laung°, nyang° °ngoo kung noong° chi°.
(15) Men-deu °tshing noong° tshih-khe-le peh ih kwhe° la° °ngoo chuh.
(16) Bing° sang le ’man °dzoong, yien°-°dze i-sung m-meh maung°-deu.
(17) Tsoong°-dien-nyung nau hwo-°ts san°-khe-le.
(18) ‘Auh-sang-°ts beh-siang° ’man kau-hyung°, dok su ’veh da° kau-hyung°.
(19) Li-khe-ts °Zaung-°he nan-meh °ngoo tau° Soo-tseu chi° tse.
(20) °Ngoo po-maung° yi le, ’veh hyau°-tuh yi na°-nung wan ’veh zung le.

(一) 第個兩個學生子我勿許出去勃相爲之拉學堂裏相駡佬.
(二) 第句說話個意思我勿懂請先生解釋.
(三) 第隻鳥飛來高來死.
(四) 捉着之一個賊要用一根繩縛牢之.
(五) 第顆花個顔色蠻趣.
(六) 夜裏睏個時候燈要吹隱.
(七) 我放拉窗口上個一張紙頭撥風吹脫哉.
(八) 若然請客佬無沒酒是難爲情個.
(九) 勿要怕第隻狗勿咬個.
(十) 我到廟裏看見一尊佛佬多化菩薩.
(十一) 我聽得有人拉敲鼓.
(十二) 第頭到上海有十五里路.
(十三) 雖然第顆樹蠻好看然而勿開花個.
(十四) 若然儂要到山上讓我跟儂去.
(十五) 饅頭請儂切開來撥一塊拉我吃.
(十六) 病生來蠻重現在醫生無沒望頭.
(十七) 種田人拿花子散開來.
(十八) 學生子勃相蠻高興讀書勿大高興.
(十九) 離開之上海難末我到蘇州去哉.
(二十) 我把望伊來勿曉得伊那能還勿曾來.

(Translate into Chinese)

(1) The dog bit the sheep two or three times; it will probably die.
(2) To-day there is no wind, and so it is not cold.
(3) Men ought not to drink too much wine.
(4) I have eaten a slice of meat and drunk a cup of tea, and now am able to walk.
(5) Men can walk, only birds can fly.
(6) There are many trees and flowers on the hill.
(7) Many Chinese worship Buddhist and Taoist idols.
(8) I wanted to follow you, but the teacher would not permit me.
(9) Let me go and tell him that you have already returned.
(10) I will use my knife and cut open the pear.
(11) I heard the dogs barking in the night and so could not sleep.
(12) Children like to play at beating the drum.
(13) These flowers are of many different colours.
(14) How many miles is it to Soochow?
(15) When the pupils take an advanced lesson, the teacher should first explain it to them.

(一) 狗咬之羊兩三回恐怕要死脫.
(二) 今朝無沒風所以勿冷.
(三) 人勿應該多吃酒.
(四) 我已經吃之一塊肉佬一碗茶佬現在走得動哉.
(五) 人會走必過鳥會飛.
(六) 山上有多化樹佬花.
(七) 多化中國人拜菩薩佬神道.
(八) 我要跟儂但是先生勿許我去.
(九) 讓我去告訴伊儂已輕轉來哉.
(十) 我要用我個刀切開第隻生梨.
(十一) 夜裏我聽得狗垃拉叫所以睏勿着.
(十二) 小囝歡喜敲鼓做勃相.
(十三) 第顆花是五顔六色個.
(十四) 到蘇州有幾化里路.
(十五) 學生子要上書先生應該先對伊拉解釋.

Notes.

(1) In the Buddhist religion in China a Buddha or one of his manifestations is known as a ’veh, the bodhisattvas are known as Boo-sah.
(2) A Chinese mile is about one-third of an English mile.
(3) In the sixteenth sentence of the First Exercise notice the expression ’man °dzoong, “very heavy.” This is the way the Chinese speak of a serious illness. They also speak of a disease being light, chung, just as we do.
(4) In the eighteenth sentence of the First Exercise ’veh da° means “not very,” This is a very frequent expression.
(5) In the seventh sentence of the First Exercise, tshaung-°kheu laung° means “on the window sill.”

LESSON XIX
Asking Questions, Expecting Negative and Affirmative Answers

In addition to the interrogative forms already given there are ways of asking questions when a negative, or when an affirmative answer is expected.

Thus when the negative answer is expected, the clause begins with °chi (豈) and ends with nyi (呢). Thus °Chi °yeu sa° yoong°-deu nyi (豈有啥用頭呢). “Is it of any use?” It implies that it is not of any use and expects the negative answer. °Chi (豈) corresponds to the Latin num, and implies No, or a negative of the proposition conveyed.

When the affirmative answer is expected the clause begins with °chi ’veh (豈吥) and ends with the usual interrogative va° (否).

Thus °Chi ’veh iung-ke tsoo° va° (豈吥應該做否), “Ought you not to do it?” Implies that you ought to do it and expects the affirmative answer.

It will be seen that in this case also the °chi (豈) expects the negative of the proposition conveyed, that is, the negative of a negative proposition which is an affirmative. In other words the answer is, “That you ought not not to do it,” or “You ought to do it.”

VOCABULARY

Every place or everywhere, kauh tshu° 各處, or kauh-tau°-lauh-tshu° 各到落處.
Of course, z°-zen 自然.
Afterwards, hereafter, °‘eu-°seu 後首, °‘eu-le 後來, or °i-°‘eu 以後.
Until, dzuk-tau° 直到; wait until, °tung-tau° 等到.
Daily, nyih nyih 日日, or nyih-dzok 日逐.
About, iak-kwe 約親, or iak-tsak 約酌.
About the same (not much difference), tsho-’veh-too 差吥多.
Secretly, ‘en°-‘en°-°li 暗暗裏.
True, tsung 眞.
False, °ka 假.
Secure, °‘wung-taung° 穩當.
A long time, dzang-°yoen 長遠, dzang-°yoen-tse 長遠哉, or ta-z-tse 多時哉.

Phih (疋) is the classifier denoting whole pieces of dry goods.

A piece of cloth, ih phih poo° 一疋布.
A piece of shirting, ih phih yang poo° 一疋洋布.
A piece of silk, ih phih dzeu 一疋綢.
A piece of satin, ih phih doen°-°ts 一疋緞子.
Grass, °tshau 草.
Vegetation in general, hwo-°tshau-zu°-mok 花草樹木.
Coal, me 煤.
To add, ka 加.
To add a little, ka-°thien 加點.
Honest, lau-zeh 老實.
A piece of land, ih kwhe° di°-bi 一塊地皮.
A piece of stone, ih kwhe° zak-deu 一塊石頭.
To pawn, taung° 當, or taung°-theh 當脫.
To mortgage, ah 押, or ah-theh 押脫.
To change a dollar into cash, de° 兌.
A ten cent piece, ih kauh 一角.
One cent, ih fung 一分.
Twenty cents, °liang kauh 兩角, si° khe 四開.
A half a dollar, pen° kwhe° yang-dien 半塊洋錢.
Small money, °siau kauh-°ts 小角子, or °siau yang-dien 小洋錢.
Change, °tsau-deu 找頭.
Ricksha coolie, tsho-foo 車夫.
A great many, kyau-kwan 交關.

EXERCISES

(Translate into English)

(1) We°-ts °lang °lau °hoo-loo °li iau° ka-°thien me.
(2) °Ma °hau-ts, °tsau-deu iau° peh °ngoo.
(3) ’Veh zung °zoo toong-yang-tsho iung-ke tah tsho-foo sien °kaung ding° peh yi °kyi kauh.
(4) I-kuh nyung °i-kyung taung°-theh-ts i-kuh i-zaung.
(5) °Ngoo iau° °ma i-kwhe° di°-bi dan°-°z °ngoo thing-tuk °i-kyung ah-theh tse.
(6) °Mo ’man hwen-°hyi chuh °tshau.
(7) °Ngoo pih-koo° °yeu pen° kwhe° yang-dien °soo-°i °ma-’veh-°chi.
(8) Yi ’veh °khung lau-zeh wo° °soo-°i °ngoo ’veh °hau siang-sing°.
(9) Noong° °chi ’veh iung-ke tsoo° dzuk-tau° tsoo° °hau va°?
(10) °Ngoo soe-zen kauh-tau° lauh-tshu° zing °‘a zing-’veh-dzak.
(11) Noong° wo° lau-zeh wo°, nyung z°-zen siang-sing° kuh.
(12) Nyih nyih dok su z°-zen °khau-°i ‘auh kuh.
(13) °Tung tau° noong° dok-wen °ts di°-°pung su nan-meh noong° we° wo° tsoong-kok wo°.
(14) Di°-kuh °liang phih poo° kuh ngan-suh tsho-’veh-too ih yang° kuh.
(15) ‘En°-‘en°-°li tsoo° z°-°thi °chi °yeu sa° yoong°-deu nyi?
(16) Di°-deu tau° Soo-tseu °yeu °kyi-hau° °li soo? Iak-kwhe °yeu san pak °li-loo°.
(17) Di°-kwhe° zak-deu iau° °pa le °’wung-taung° °tien.
(18) Yi chi°-ts dzang-°yoen-tse wan ’veh zung °tsen le.
(19) °Ngoo sien iau° ‘auh dok su °‘eu-le ‘auh °sia z°.
(20) Hwo-°tshau-zu°-mok nyung nyung hwen-°hyi khoen°.
(21) Doo° yang-dien de°-°ts °siau yang-dien iau° taung sing iung-we° °yeu too-hau° °siau kauh-°ts °z °ka kuh.
(22) Tsung °lau °ka van-nan khoen°-tuh-tsheh.
(23) Di°-°pung su °yeu kyau-kwan z° °ngoo suh-’veh-tsheh kuh.

(一) 爲之冷佬火爐裏要加點煤.
(二) 買好之找頭要撥我.
(三) 勿曾坐東洋車應該搭車夫先講定撥伊幾角.
(四) 伊個人已經當脫之伊個衣裳.
(五) 我要買伊塊地皮但是我聽得已經押脫哉.
(六) 馬蠻歡喜吃草.
(七) 我必過有半塊洋錢所以買勿起.
(八) 伊勿肯老實話所以我勿好相信.
(九) 儂豈勿應該做直到做好否?
(十) 我雖然各到落處尋也尋勿着.
(十一) 儂話老實話人自然相信個.
(十二) 日日讀書自然可以學個.
(十三) 等到儂讀完之第本書難末儂會話中國話.
(十四) 第個兩疋布個顔色差勿多一樣個.
(十五) 暗暗裏做事體豈有啥用頭呢?
(十六) 第頭到蘇州有幾化里數? 約規有三百里路.
(十七) 第塊石頭要擺來穩當點.
(十八) 伊去之長遠哉還勿曾轉來.
(十九) 我先要學讀書後來學寫字.
(二十) 花草樹木人人歡喜看.
(廿一) 大洋鈿兌之小洋錢要當心因爲有多化小角子是假個.
(廿二) 眞佬假煩難看得出.
(廿三) 第本書有交關字我識勿出個.

(Translate into Chinese)

(1) I do not know where the child has gone to; I have looked for him everywhere and do not know where to find him.
(2) Call the servant to come and add some coal.
(3) I told the pupil to sit here until the teacher returned.
(4) I was almost beaten to death by him.
(5) Take the dollar and change it into cash.
(6) An honest man speaks true words.
(7) I thought he was coming, but afterwards he wrote a letter to me and told me he could not come.
(8) The children have played for a long time and now they should go to sleep.
(9) Can you say that you did not know this?
(10) Is it not good to do things so as to please others?
(11) I had to walk here because I had no small money, and so could not call a ricksha.
(12) If he said he would do it, of course he will do it.
(13) How many cash can you get for a dollar?
(14) That man is not at all honest, and he has already pawned a lot of clothes which were not his own.
(15) This man wears silk and satin; he must have a lot of money.

(一) 小囝到那裏去我勿曉得, 我各到落處去尋伊尋勿着.
(二) 叫傭人來加點煤.
(三) 我叫學生子坐拉第頭等到先生轉來.
(四) 我差勿多撥伊打殺哉.
(五) 拿第塊洋錢兌銅錢.
(六) 老實個人話眞個說話.
(七) 我想伊要來但是後來伊寫一封信來話伊勿好來.
(八) 小囝勃相之長遠哉現在應該去睏.
(九) 儂豈可以話第個是儂勿曉得否?
(十) 做事體撥別人快活豈吥是好否?
(十一) 因爲我無沒小洋錢勿能彀叫東洋車所以我只好走.
(十二) 若然伊話要做個難末自然要做個.
(十三) 一塊洋錢可以兌幾化銅錢?
(十四) 伊個人一顔勿老實已經當脫之多化勿是伊自家個衣裳.
(十五) 第個人着之綢佬緞子個衣裳伊一定有多化洋錢.

Notes.

(1) In the third sentence of the First Exercise the expression °kaung ding° (講定) means “to settle the price.” Literally it signifies declaiming to a fixed point.
(2) In the sixteenth sentence of the First Exercise °Soo (數) is added after °li (里) for the sake of euphony.
(3) In the twenty-third sentence of the First Exercise suh (識) is used. This is always used of knowing characters in the Chinese language. Sometimes it is used in the expression Suh hoo° kuh (識貨個), meaning “to understand affairs.” A man who does not suh hoo° is a stupid fellow.

LESSON XX
More Verbal Idioms

Tuk dzu° (得住) and ’veh dzu° (勿住) are often used after the verb Lih (立) to stand, and give the sense of “able to stand,” or “unable to stand.” Thus Lih-tuh-dzu° (立得住) means “able to stand,” and Lih-’veh-dzu° (立勿住) unable to stand. The same words are used after other verbs also. Thus we have Khau°-tuh-dzu° (靠得住), meaning “Worthy to be trusted” and Khau°-’veh-dzu° (靠勿住), meaning “Unworthy to be trusted.”

Tuh-koo° (得過) is also used after verbs, and ’Veh-koo° (勿過). Thus we have °Tang-tuh-koo° (打得過), meaning “Able to beat him.” Literally “Beat, obtain surpass.” °Tang-’veh-koo° (打勿過) means “Unable to beat him.” Literally “Beat, not surpass.”

The expressions I°-tuh-koo° (意得過) and I°-’veh-koo° (意勿過) are also idiomatic. The former means, “Within the range of pity;” the latter “Beyond the range of pity,” or “greatly to be commiserated.”

VOCABULARY

Year, nyien 年, or soe° 歲.
To steal, theu 偷.
To beg, °thau 討.
A beggar, °thau-van°-kuh 討飯個. Lit. “To beg rice,” or kau°-hwo°-°ts 告化子.
To marry a wife, °thau-nyang-°ts 討娘子. Lit. “To beg for a wife.” See note.
To tie (as a small parcel), tsah 紥.
To bind with a cord, °paung 綁
To command, fung-foo° 分付.
Price, ka°-dien (價錢) or ‘aung-dzing 行情. Most frequently used is the market.
How much is it, or what is the price? Sa° ka°-dien? 啥價錢 or sa° ‘aung-dzing?
A soldier, ih kuh ping-ting 一個兵丁.
A thief, ih kuh zuh 一個賊.
A robber, ih kuh °jang-°dau 一個強盜.
A magistrate or mandarin, ih kuh kwen-°foo, or ih kuh kwen 一個官府. ih we° (一位) is often used as the classifier.
Mandarin dialect, kwen wo° 官話 or kok-nyui° 國語.
Shanghai dialect, °Zaung-°he °thoo-bak 上海土白.
A Buddhist priest, ih kuh oo-zaung° 一個和尙.
A Taoist priest, ih kuh dau°-z 一個道士.
A nun, ih kuh nyi-koo 一個尼姑.
Number, soo°-mak 數目.

Tsang (張) is the classifier used for sheets of things.

A newspaper, ih tsang sing-vung-°ts 一張新聞紙.
A proclamation, ih tsang kau°-z° 一張告示.
A sheet of paper, ih tsang °ts-deu 一張紙頭.

Pau (包) is the classifier used for bales of things.

A bale of merchandize, ih pau hoo°-suh 一包貨色.

Te (堆) is the classifier used for piles of things.

A pile of timber, ih te mok-deu 一堆木頭.
A pile of bricks, ih te lok-tsen 一堆䃙磚.

°Kwen (管) is the classifier for tubular things.

A flute, ih °kwen dih 一管笛.
A pen, ih °kwen pih 一管筆.
A pencil, ih °kwen khan-pih 一管鉛筆.
Green, lok 綠.
Red, ‘oong 紅.
Blue, lan 藍.
Yellow, waung 黃.
Black, huh 黑.
Few, °sau 少.
Truly, zeh-°dze 實在.
More than, ’veh °ba 勿罷. More than a hundred men is ’veh °ba ih pak nyung 勿罷一百人.
Less than, ’veh siau 勿消, or ’veh °men 勿滿.
A small quantity of, °tien (used after the verb) 點.
People, pak-sing° 百姓.
Tea, dzo 茶.
Tea leaf, dzo-yih 茶葉.
The whole of a thing, ih tshih 一切.
A man or two, koen-°po-nyung 干把人.
About (used with a number), °po 把.
About a hundred, pak °po 百把.
Nearly, mau 毛.
Nearly three miles, mau san °li-loo° 毛三里路.
A queue, ih diau °bien-°ts 一條辮子.
Hair on the head, deu-fah 頭髪.
News, sing°-sih 信息.
To take things by force, °tsiang 搶, or °tsiang doeh 搶奪.
To tie up, °paung 綁, or vok 縳.
To put forth a proclamation, tsheh kau°-z° 出告示.

EXERCISES

(Translate into English)

(1) I-kuh zuh dzang-tsaung le theu meh-z°, tsauh dzak-ts meh iau° °paung yi °chi-le.
(2) °Ngoo khoen°-kyien° sing-vung-°ts laung° wo° kwen-°foo °i-kyung tsheh kau°-z° tsha ping-ting chi° tsauh °jang-dau°.
(3) Noong° na°-nung °lau peh yi °tang, iung-we° °ngoo °tang-’veh-koo° yi °lau.
(4) °Ngoo la° miau° °li khoen°-kyien° too-hau° ‘oo-zaung° la° pa° boo-sah.
(5) Noong° iau° ‘auh kwen-wo° nyi ‘auh °Zaung-°he °thoo-bak.
(6) ‘Oo-zaung° tah-ts dau°-z° °z °liang yang° kuh, ‘oo-zaung° m-meh deu-fah, dau° z° °yeu °bien-°ts kuh.
(7) °Ngoo dzang-°yoen ’veh khoen° sing-vung-°ts tse, kyung-tsau °yeu sa° sing°-sih va°?
(8) Di°-kuh ih pau hoo°-suh sa°-ka° dien?
(9) I-kuh °siau-noen °kyi soe° tse? Lok soe°.
(10) Nyi-°s-ziang° °i-kyung °ma-ts ih te lok-tsen yui°-be° °zau vaung-°ts.
(11) Ya°-°li °yeu nyoeh-liang°, nyung hwen-°hyi tsh dih.
(12) Di°-kuh ih pau °li-hyang° °yeu °kyi °kwen pih? °Yeu ih pak °kwen.
(13) Yi we°-sa°-°lau ’veh °thau-nyang-°ts? Iung-we° yien°-°dze °thau-’veh-°chi °lau.
(14) San laung° °Ngoo khoen° too-hau° hwo, °yeu ‘oong °lau waung °lau bak, zeh-°dze °khau-°i wo° °ng-ngan-loh-suh kuh.
(15) Nga°-kok nyung hwen-°hyi yoong° khan-pih °sia z°.
(16) Tau° °Zaung-°he ’veh °men nyan° °li-loo°, °lau ’veh °ba zeh-nyi° °li-loo°.
(17) Iung-we° °ngoo khoen°-kyien° i-kuh °thau van°-kuh dzang-°yoen ’veh chuh sa°, keh-°lau kyau° yoong°-nyung peh °tien meh-z° yi chuh.
(18) Di° kuh pau iau° tsah °hau tan tau° tien° °li chi°.
(19) °Lau-zeh kau°-soo° °ngoo °z zeh-ke° ka°-dien ’va°?
(20) S° °lau tshih °lau pah °z sa° kuh soo°-mak? °Z zeh °kyieu.
(21) Nyi-koo °z, ’veh tsheh ka° kuh °siau-°tsia.

(一) 伊個賊常莊來偷物事捉着之末要綁伊起來.
(二) 我看見新聞紙上話官府已經出告示差兵丁去捉強盜.
(三) 儂那能佬撥伊打? 因爲我打勿過伊佬.
(四) 我拉廟裏看見多化和尙拉拜菩薩.
(五) 儂要學官話呢學上海土白.
(六) 和尚搭之道士是兩樣個和尙無沒頭髪道士有辮子個.
(七) 我常遠勿看新聞紙哉今朝有啥信息否?
(八) 第個一包貨色啥價錢?
(九) 伊個小囝幾歲哉? 六歲.
(十) 泥水匠已經買之一堆碌磚預備造房子.
(十一) 夜裏有月亮, 人歡喜吹笛.
(十二) 第個一包裏向有幾管筆? 有一百管.
(十三) 伊爲啥佬勿討娘子? 因爲現在討勿起佬.
(十四) 山上我看多化花有紅佬黃佬白實在可以話五顔六色個.
(十五) 外國人歡喜用鉛筆寫字.
(十六) 到上海勿滿念里路佬勿罷十二里路.
(十七) 因爲我看見伊個討飯個長遠勿吃啥蓋佬叫傭人撥點物事伊吃.
(十八) 第個包要紥好拿到店裏去.
(十九) 老實告訴我是實蓋價錢否.
(二十) 四佬七佬八是啥個數目? 是十九.
(廿一) 尼姑是勿出嫁個小姐.

(Translate into Chinese)

(1) If you do not read the newspaper, you will not know the news, and then when you converse with others, you will have nothing to say.
(2) When a man dies the Chinese invite Buddhist and Taoist priests to the house to perform funeral ceremonies.
(3) I put my pen and pencil on my writing table, but now I cannot find them; has any one been in and taken them?
(4) Which do you think is the pleasanter to listen to, mandarin or the Shanghai dialect?
(5) When I was young I very much liked to play the flute.
(6) A thief enters secretly and steals things, a robber kills men and enters and takes things by force.
(7) Chinese are called yellow men, foreigners white men.
(8) When you go to the shop, ask the price of the boots, and come and tell me.
(9) I caught the thief and bound him to the tree.
(10) If you use a foreign pen to write Chinese characters, they do not look well; you must learn to use a Chinese pen.
(11) The Chinese beggars in the city are numberless.
(12) When the Mandarin has important things to announce to the people, he puts forth a proclamation.
(13) I saw more than a thousand soldiers.
(14) The merchant bought more than five hundred chests of tea.
(15) Are three hundred dollars sufficient to buy the house? Less than three hundred will do.

(一) 苦然儂勿看新聞紙信息儂勿會曉得難沒儂搭別人白話儂無啥好話.
(二) 人死之末中國人請和尙佬道士到屋裏來念經.
(三) 我個筆佬鉛筆擺拉寫字檯上但是現在尋勿着, 有啥人進來拿脫否?
(四) 儂想官話佬上海土白那裏一樣好聽點?
(五) 年紀輕個時候我蠻歡喜吹笛.
(六) 賊末偷伴之進來偷物事強盜末打殺之人佬進來搶物事.
(七) 中國人是叫黄人外國人是叫白人.
(八) 儂到店裏去問鞋子個價錢來告訴我.
(九) 我捉之伊個賊佬綁伊拉樹上.
(十) 若然用外國筆佬寫中國字是勿好看個儂終要學用中國筆.
(十一) 城裏個告化子無數目拉.
(十二) 官府有要緊個事體對百姓話末伊要出告示.
(十三) 我看見勿罷一千兵丁.
(十四) 生意人買之勿罷五百箱個茶葉.
(十五) 買房子三百塊洋錢有末? 勿消三百塊個.

Notes.

(1) To marry a wife is expressed by °Thau nyang-°ts. When we speak of a woman being married we use the expression Tsheh ka° (出嫁), literally to go forth from the house or family. The woman leaves her own family entirely and joins the family of the husband whom she marries.
(2) The words ’Veh-°ba (勿罷), more than, and ’Veh siau (勿消), less than, are used in answer to questions. The words ’Veh-°men (勿滿) are often used for less than, meaning literally “Not full.”
(3) In the second sentence of the Second Exercise “to perform funeral ceremonies” should be translated Tsoo° koong-tuh (做功德), or Nyan°-kyung (念經). It means to say masses for the soul of the departed.
(4) In the thirteenth sentence of the Second Exercise, “More than a thousand soldiers” can be expressed Ih tshien too (一干多) and in the fourteenth sentence “More than five hundred chests of tea” °Ng pak too (五百多).
(5) In the fifteenth sentence of the Second Exercise the answer would be ’Veh siau san pak kwhe° (勿消三百塊).
(6) In the fifth sentence of the Second Exercise “When I was young” is translated Nyien kyi° chung° kuh z-‘eu° (年紀輕個時候), literally “The time when my years were light”.
(7) In the eleventh sentence of the Second Exercise “Numberless” is translated m-soo°-mak (無數目), literally “Without number.”

LESSON XXI
Verbal Idioms, Ordinals, and Remarks on the Expression of Time

To express the idea of “about to do a thing” in Chinese you can use the words tsiang-iau° (將要). Tsiang-iau°-chi° (將要去) means “about to go.” Tsiang-iau° °si (將要死) means “about to die.” Another way of expressing the same idea is by adding kwha° tse after the verb. Kwha° means “fast.” Chi° kwha° tse (去快哉) means “I will go fast,” that is, in a moment. Le kwha° tse (來快哉) means “will come fast,” that is, in a few minutes. Thih-°tsung is often used, meaning “just on the point of doing a thing.” Thus °Ngoo thih-°tsung iau° chi° (我貼準要去) means “I was just going.”

The expression “According to,” or “as it seems to me,” is expressed in Chinese by the words tsau° °ngoo khoen° (照我看). Tsau° °ngoo (照我) used alone would mean “Follow me,” “Follow my example.”

The Ordinals are formed from the Numerals in a very simple way. The word deu (頭) is prefixed before the first numeral and di° (第) before all the others. Thus “the first” is deu ih (頭一), the second is di° nyi° (第二), the third is di° san (第三), and so on. When first is used with the verb in the sense of the action being prior to some other action the word sien (先) is used. Thus we have Noong° veh zung tsheh chi° kuh zien-deu °ngoo sien iau° kau°-soo° noong° ih tsaung z°-°thi (儂勿曾出去個前頭我先要告訴儂一莊事體), meaning, “Before you go I first want to tell you something.” Again Sien tsoo° di°-yang° nan-meh tsoo° i-yang° (先做第樣難末做伊樣) means “First do this and then do that.” Again we have for the same expression Sien tsoo° di° kuh, man° tsoo° i-kuh (先做第個慢做伊個), “First do this, slowly do that.”

REMARKS ON TIME

About midnight, pen°-ya°-°po 半夜把.
Just before daylight, thien-liang°-kwha° 天亮快.
In the evening, waung-hwung-deu 黃昏頭, or waung-hwung-°doong 黃昏動.
Last month, zien-nyoeh 前月, or zien kuh nyoeh 前個月.
Next month, °‘au-nyoeh 下月, or °‘au kuh nyoeh 下個月.
First part of the month, nyoeh deu 月頭, or nyoeh-deu-laung° 月頭上.
The end of the month, nyoeh °ti 月底.
The middle of the month, nyoeh-pen° 月半.
Every month, nyoeh-nyoeh 月月, nyoeh-too 月多, or °’me-nyoeh 每月.
First day of the month, tshoo-ih 初一; second day of the month, tshoo nyi° 初二, and so on up to the tenth day of the month, which is tshoo zeh. After that di° 第 is used instead of tshoo. Thus the thirteenth of the month would be di° zeh-san 第十三.
A year, ih-nyien 一年.
Half a year, pen°-nyien 半年.
This year, kyung-nyien 今年.
Last year, jeu°-nyien 舊年.
Next year, khe-nyien 開年, le-nyien 來年, ming-nyien 明年.
Every year, nyien-nyien 年年, each year, °’me-nyien 每年. (See note).
The new year, sing-nyien 新年.
New year’s day, nyien-tshoo-ih 年初一.
The end of the year, nyien ya° 年夜, literally “the night of the year.” Also we have nyien-°ti 年底.
At the beginning of the year, nyien-deu-laung° 年頭上.
To pass from the old year to the new, koo° nyien 過年.
°Zaung-pen° and °‘au-pen° are used with year, month, and night, just as they are used with day to denote the first half and the second half. Thus we have °zaung-pen°-nyien 上半年 for the first half of the year, and °‘au-pen°-nyien 下半年 for the second half.
Rice (bought in the shop), °mi 米.
Work, sang-wei 生活.
Answer, we-sing° 回信.
Beginning, °chi-deu 起頭.
Again, tse° 再.

EXERCISES

(Translate into English)

(1) Leh-la° nyoeh-pen°, nyoeh-liang° °ting °hau khoen°.
(2) °Hoo-loo iau° °iung kwha° tse °soo-°i iau° ka-°thien me.
(3) Tsau° °ngoo khoen°, di° kuh nyung °z khau°-’veh-dzu° kuh.
(4) °Tsau-zung-deu nyih-deu tsheh le, ya°-kwha° lauh-san.
(5) Di°-kuh °z °ngoo di° nyi° kuh nyi-°ts, deu ih kuh °i-kyung tsheh mung tse.
(6) Nyien tshoo ih too-hau° nyung chi° pa° nyien.
(7) Jeu° nyien °mi kyui°-le-°si, kyung nyien jang tse.
(8) Noong° °‘a-°li-deu koo° nyien? °Ngoo °siang la° ok-°li koo° nyien.
(9) Noong° su dok°-ts °kyi-z tse? Pih-koo° pen° nyien.
(10) Nyien ya° nyung nyung °yeu z°-°thi, sing-nyien °li °loong-°tsoong nyung beh-siang°.
(11) Yi tsiang-iau° chi° kuh z-‘eu° °yeu nyung le kyau° yi ’veh iau° chi°.
(12) °Tshing zoo° ih hyih, sien-sang iau° le kwha° tse.
(13) Thien-liang°-kwha° °z °ting °lang kuh z-‘eu°.
(14) °‘Au kuh nyoeh °ngoo iau° tsheh mung, tau° Soo-tseu chi°.
(15) Jeu°-nyien sang-i° ih ngan ’veh °hau kyung-nyien po-maung° yi °hau-°tien.
(16) °Zaung-pen°-nyien di° kuh ‘auh-sang-°ts su dok le man °hau, °‘au-pen°-nyien ih ngan ’veh °hau.
(17) I-zak vaung-°ts °kyi-z °khau-°i °zau °hau? °Ngoo °siang khe-nyien °khau-°i °zau °hau.
(18) Lok nyoeh tshoo-san °ngoo °sia ih foong sing° peh la° yi, yien°-°dze °z tshih nyoeh tshoo-ih dan°-°z wan ’veh zung °yeu we-sing° le.
(19) Noong° ’veh zung tsheh chi°, sang-weh iau° sien tsoo° °hau.
(20) Nyoeh-deu laung° peh doong-dien, yien°-°dze ’veh °hau peh kuh.

(一) 垃拉月半月亮頂好看.
(二) 火爐要隱快哉所以要加添煤.
(三) 照我看第個人是靠勿住個.
(四) 早晨頭日頭出來夜快落山
(五) 第個是我第二個兒子頭一個已經出門哉.
(六) 年初一多化人去拜年.
(七) 舊年米貴來死今年強哉.
(八) 儂那裏頭過年? 我想拉屋裏過年.
(九) 儂書讀之幾時哉? 必過半年.
(十) 年夜人人有事體新年裏攏總人勃相.
(十一) 伊將要去個時候有人來叫伊勿要去.
(十二) 請坐一歇先生要來快哉.
(十三) 天亮快是頂冾個時候.
(十四) 下個月我要出門到蘇州去.
(十五) 舊年生意一顔勿好今年把望伊好點.
(十六) 上半年第個學生子書讀來蠻好下半年一顔勿好.
(十七) 伊宅房子幾時可以造好? 我想開年可以造好.
(十八) 六月初三我寫一封信撥拉伊現在是七月初一但是還勿曾有回信來.
(十九) 儂勿曾出去生活要先做好.
(二十) 月頭上撥銅錢現在勿好撥個.

(Translate into Chinese)

(1) We will close the school on the fifth of next month.
(2) For how many weeks will you close the school? For about six weeks.
(3) Sometimes in the evening as the sun is sinking there are many beautiful colours in the sky.
(4) As it appears to me you can finish this book in six months.
(5) Just as I was about to go to sleep, I heard some one call out that the house was on fire.
(6) The thief enters about midnight.
(7) Before you go to school you should first wash your face and hands.
(8) On the first day of the year all the shops close their doors.
(9) When will you begin to study Chinese again? I think next year.
(10) A year has twelve months, a month has thirty days or twenty-nine days. If it has thirty days, it is called a large month; if it has twenty-nine days, it is called a small month.
(11) Last month I was sick, but now I am better.
(12) Where were you yesterday afternoon? I had gone out to pay New Year’s calls.
(13) At New Year’s time every one wears their best clothes.
(14) Now I have no money; I will pay you at the end of the month.

(一) 下個月初五伲要放學.
(二) 放之幾個禮拜? 約酌六個禮拜.
(三) 拉夜快日頭落山個時候常時拉天上有多化趣個顔色.
(四) 照我看第本書儂六個月功夫可以讀完.
(五) 我貼準要困個時候聽見人喊房子火着哉.
(六) 賊進來是半夜把個時候.
(七) 儂勿曾到學堂裏先要揩面佬淨手.
(八) 拉年初一攏總個店全關門個.
(九) 儂幾時再起頭讀中國書? 我想開年起頭.
(十) 一年有十二個月一個月或者有三十日或者有念九日, 若然三十日是叫大月若然念九日是叫小月.
(十一) 前個月我生病哉但是現在我好點.
(十二) 昨日下半日儂拉那裏頭? 我出去拜年哉.
(十三) 垃拉新年裏各人着頂好看個衣裳.
(十四) 現在無沒銅錢垃拉月底撥儂.

Notes.

(1) In regard to the expressions Nyien-nyien and Nyoek-nyoeh it may be remarked that a very common way of forming the plural in Chinese is by the repetition of the noun. Thus Nyung-nyung means men in general.
(2) In the sixth sentence of the First Exercise the expression Pa° nyien means “to pay respects at New Year’s time.” Pa°, to worship, is used of worshipping deities, and also of worshipping or paying respect to men.
(3) In the fifth sentence of the Second Exercise the expression for a house to be on fire is °Hoo-dzak tze, (火着哉).
(4) In the eighth sentence of the Second Exercise “all the shops” is translated °loong-°tsoong kuh tien° zen (攏總個店全); the zen (全) makes the assertion more emphatic.

LESSON XXII
On Comparison

The usual way of forming the Comparative Degree of Adjectives has already been stated.

When two things are compared with one another in Chinese the words °pi (比) or °pi-ts (比之) are used between them. Thus °Mo °pi-ts °keu doo° (馬此之狗大) means, “the horse is larger than the dog.” Yi °pi noong° °hau (伊此儂好), “He is better than you.”

There are a good many other ways of expressing comparison. Thus ’Veh jih (勿及) means, “not equal to.” Also we have ’Veh zu (勿如), meaning, “not equal to, or not up to.”

VOCABULARY

To present or send, to escort a person on the way, soong° 送.
To count, °soo 數.
To reckon, soen° 算.
To send (a person), tsha 差.
To send a letter, kyi° 寄.
To deport oneself, to treat others, °de 待.
To treat rudely, °de man° 怠慢.
To keep, observe, °seu 守.
To knock the head on the ground, to kowtow, kheh-deu 磕頭.
A loaf, ih kuh men-deu 一個饅頭.
A stone mason, ih kuh zak-ziang° 一個石匠.
A hammer, ih kuh laung-deu 一個榔頭, or ih °po 一把.
A wine shop, ih ban °tsieu tien° 一爿酒店.

Te° (一對) is the classifier denoting a pair or a brace.

A pair of fowls, ih te° kyi 一對雞.
A pair of candles, ih te° lah-tsok 一對臘燭.
A husband and wife, ih te° foo-tshi 一對夫妻.

°Kheu (口) is the classifier for some articles of furniture, and for a well.

A book case, ih °kheu su-dzu 一口書櫥.
Convenient, bien°-taung° 便當.
Clever, wise, tshoong-ming 聰明.
Propriety, custom, kwe-°kyui 規矩.
Coffin, ih °kheu kwen-ze 一口棺材.
Sometimes, dzang-z 常時.
As if, like, °hau-°ziang 好像.
To compare, °pi 比.
An account, tsang° 張.
Reason, yoen-koo° 緣故.

EXERCISES

(Translate into English)

(1) La° nyien ya° kauh nyung iau° soen° tsang°.
(2) Noong° we°-sa°-°lau iau° chi°? iung-we° yi tsha °ngoo chi° °lau.
(3) Sing° kyi°-tsheh chi° meh? ’Veh zung, zieu° iau° kyi° chi°.
(4) Zak-ziang° iau° yoong° °kyi kwhe° zak-deu? °Ngoo ’veh hyau°-tuh ’veh-zung soen° koo° hyih.
(5) Yi dzang-tsaung °de °ngoo ’man °hau, °soo-°i °ngoo iau° soong° °tien meh-z° la° yi.
(6) Su-dzu °li noong° °pa-ts °kyi °pung su? ’Veh °hyau-tuh we°-°ts ’veh zung °soo °lau.
(7) Khak nyung tsheh chi° meh iung-ke soong° yi tau° mung-°kheu.
(8) Di°-°kheu kwen-ze sa° nyung tsoo° kuh? Mok-ziang° tsoo° kuh.
(9) Noong° kuh °mo °pi °ngoo kuh kwha° too-hau°.
(10) Di°-kuh ‘auh-sang-°ts °pi-ts i-kuh tshoong-ming °tien.
(11) Di°-kuh ih te° lah-tsok °khau-°i °pi °pi khoen°, ih ngan m-meh doo° °siau.
(12) I-kuh °liang kuh nyung siang-mo° kuh yoen-koo° °z we°-°ts la° °tsieu tien° °li too-chuh-ts °tsieu °lau.
(13) Yien°-°dze foo° tsang° ’veh bien°-taung°, °tung tau° °‘au kuh nyoeh.
(14) Di°-kuh ih te° foo-tshi ’man °hau ih ngan ’veh siang-mo°.
(15) Di°-kuh nyung tsoo° z°-°thi, ’veh jih i-kuh nyung °hau.
(16) Pa° nyien kuh z-‘eu° °siau-noen iung-ke te° doo° nyung kheh-deu.
(17) °Nga-kok nyung chuh van° kuh zung-kwaung hwen-°hyi chuh men-deu.
(18) Di°-kuh nyung ih ngan ’veh °toong sa°, °z °hau-°ziang ’veh zung dok hyih su.
(19) Sien-sang dzang-tsaung kyau° ‘auh-sang-ts° °seu kwe-°kyui.
(20) ’Veh iau° °de man° bih nyung.

(一) 拉年夜各人要算帳.
(二) 儂爲啥佬要去? 因爲伊差我去佬.
(三) 信寄出去末? 勿曾, 就要寄去.
(四) 石匠要用幾塊石頭? 我勿曉得勿曾算過歇.
(五) 伊常莊待我蠻好所以我要送點物事拉伊.
(六) 書橱裏儂擺之幾本書? 我勿曉得爲之勿曾數佬.
(七) 客人出去末應該送伊到門口.
(八) 第口棺材啥人做個? 木匠做個.
(九) 儂個馬比我個快多化.
(十) 第個學生子比之伊個聰明點.
(十一) 第個一對臘燭可以比比看一顔無末大小.
(十二) 伊個兩個人相駡個緣故是爲之拉酒店裏多吃之酒佬.
(十三) 現在付帳勿便當等到下個月.
(十四) 第個一對夫妻蠻好一顔勿相駡.
(十五) 笫個人做事體勿及伊個人好.
(十六) 拜年個時候小囝應該對大人磕頭.
(十七) 外國人吃飯個晨光歡喜吃饅頭.
(十八) 第個人一顔勿懂啥好像勿曾讀歇書.
(十九) 先生常莊叫學生子守規矩.
(二十) 勿要待慢別人.

(Translate into Chinese)

(1) The Chinese use rice to make wine.
(2) This man treats his servants very well.
(3) According to Chinese custom before a man dies his coffin is made.
(4) If I wish you to come, I will send you a letter.
(5) To take the child along with us will not be convenient.
(6) He is older than you.
(7) The stone mason uses stones, the carpenter uses wood.
(8) I pay my bills at the end of the month.
(9) He and I have had a quarrel because he treated me rudely.
(10) I wish the carpenter to come and make a book case.
(11) Because I have forgotten so many characters, it is as if I had not read this book before.
(12) A scholar is wiser than a farmer.
(13) If a man takes too much wine he can not do his work.
(14) My friend came to visit me, and then I escorted him to his home.
(15) This book I will present to you, do not return it.

(一) 中國人用米做酒.
(二) 第個人待伊個用人蠻好.
(三) 照中國規矩一個人勿曾死先要做棺材.
(四) 若然要儂來末我寄一封信來.
(五) 帶小囝去是勿便當.
(六) 伊比之儂年紀大點.
(七) 石匠用石頭木匠用木頭.
(八) 我個帳是拉月底付個.
(九) 因爲伊待慢我所以我對伊相駡.
(十) 我要木匠來做一口書橱.
(十一) 因爲我忘記脫之多化字所以好像我勿曾讀歇第本書.
(十二) 讀書人比之種田人聰明點.
(十三) 若然一個人多吃之酒伊勿會做生活.
(十四) 我個朋友來望望我後來我送伊到伊屋裏去.
(十五) 第本書我送撥儂勿要還個.

Lessons in the Shanghai Dialect

About This Book

LESSON XVIII More Verbal Idioms

VOCABULARY

EXERCISES

LESSON XIX Asking Questions, Expecting Negative and Affirmative Answers

VOCABULARY

EXERCISES

LESSON XX More Verbal Idioms

VOCABULARY

EXERCISES

LESSON XXI Verbal Idioms, Ordinals, and Remarks on the Expression of Time

REMARKS ON TIME

EXERCISES

LESSON XXII On Comparison

VOCABULARY

EXERCISES

LESSON XVIII
More Verbal Idioms

LESSON XIX
Asking Questions, Expecting Negative and Affirmative Answers

LESSON XX
More Verbal Idioms

LESSON XXI
Verbal Idioms, Ordinals, and Remarks on the Expression of Time

LESSON XXII
On Comparison