Obs. The interrogative final mó, is often used to express the same sense with these words, 小囝蠻麽 ’siau nön man mó, the boys are wild indeed.
275. Some phrases imply a moral certainty or necessity (must), and with the negative, the absence of that necessity (need not).
- 柴總有個 zá ’tsóng ’yeu kú‘, there must be fire wood.
- 銀子一定有 niung ’tsz ih ding‘ ’yeu, there must be silver.
- 總要解說個 ’tsóng yau‘ ’ká seh kú‘, you must explain it.
- 必定要去 pih ding‘ yau‘ k’i‘, you must go.
- 板定要來者 ’pan ding‘ yau‘ lé ’tsé, he must necessarily come.
- 板要做個 ’pan yau‘ tsu‘ kú‘, you must do it.
- 善终有善報 ’zén tsóng ’yeu ’zén pau‘, virtue will surely have a good reward.
- 做生意總要用心 tsú‘ sang i‘ ’tsóng yau‘ yúng‘ sing, in transacting business you must apply the mind.
276. There are several phrases to express that the thing affirmed is naturally so, and that nothing else ought to be expected.
- 本來什蓋能 ’pun lé seh ké‘ nung, it is originally so.
- 本者來自家要來 ’pun ’tsé lé zz‘ ka yau‘ lé, he originally wished to come himself.
- 自然者 zz‘ zén ’tsé, as might be expected.
- 自然而然 zz‘ zén rh zén, spontaneously.
- 原來嘸啥 niön lé m sá‘, it is really nothing.
- 本者乎勿肯 ’pun ’tsé ú veh ’k’ung, by nature unwilling.
- 良心本底子有個 liáng sing ’pun ’tí ’tsz ’yeu ku‘, conscience belongs to us by nature.
277. Different words are usually appropriated to the affirmative and negative forms of assertions. Thus (1) absolute certainty in the negative is expressed by,—
- 並勿是 ping‘ veh ’zz, certainly it is not.
- 决勿好做 kiöh veh ’hau tsu‘, it ought surely not to be done.
- 切勿可以 t’sih veh ’k’ó ’í, you certainly may not.
(2). The denial of necessity (need not) is conveyed in such expressions as the following.
- 勿必得去 veh pih tuh ’k’í, you need not go.
- 勿必多 veh pih tú, do not need many.
Obs. The Imperative also, as in 勿要去 veh yau‘ k’í‘, do not go; 去 末者 k’í‘ meh ’tsé, go has distinct auxiliary words for the affirmative and negative forms.