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.