[ [1] That 殺 sah is the word seems probable because ’si, die, a word like it in meaning is much used in a similar manner.
179. Ordinal numbers are often expressed by the cardinal numbers, when on rhythmical grounds, there is no empty place in the sentence for a particle.
- 今朝念一 kiun tsau nian‘ ih, to-day is the 21st of the month.
- 咸豐二年 yan fóng ní‘ níen, the 2nd year of Hien-fúng.
Obs. In regard to the cardinal numbers (for which see page [61]), a few examples only need to be added 五十三 ’ng zeh san, fifty three; 九 十二 ’kieu zeh ní‘, ninety two. From a hundred to a hundred and ten, 零 ling is inserted, 一百零四 ih páh ling sz‘, a hundred and four. Instead of saying 一百三十 ih páh san seh, it is more frequent to omit 十 seh. Thus, ih páh san, a hundred and thirty, and so for other numbers. The omission of 一 ih, one, sometimes occurs 百八 pák pah, a hundred and eighty; one thousand four hundred is 千四 t’sien sz‘; fourteen thousand is 萬四 man‘ sz‘.
180. Days of the month take 初 t’sú before them as a numeral particle, but it is omitted when the number consists of two characters. Ordinal numbers are regularly formed by prefixing 第 tí‘ to the cardinal numbers.
- 正月初一 tsung‘ niöh t’sú ih, the 1st day of the 1st month.
- 明朝初幾 ming tsau t’sú ’kí, what day of the month is to-morrow.
- 後日初一者 ’heu nyih t’sú ih ’tsé, the day after to-morrow is the first.
- 考歇第一百名 ’k’au h’ih tí‘ ih páh ming, he has passed the examination as the one hundredth.
- 第三十本 tí‘ san seh ’pun, the thirtieth volume.
- 是儂第幾個兒子 ’zz nóng‘ tí‘ ’kí kú‘ ní ’tsz? which son are you?
- 排行第幾 pá hong dí‘ ’kí? which are you in order.
Obs. First is translated 頭一 teu ih.
181. The numeral of multiplication is expressed by means of 倍 pé‘, times; 要加倍 yau‘ ká bé‘, make it twice as large; 加長四倍 ká dzáng sz‘ bé‘, make it four times as long.
182. Distributive numbers are formed by the addition of 個 kú‘, or any other auxiliary substantive particles.
- 一个一个 ih ku‘ ih ku‘, one by me or one after another.
- 兩个兩个 ’liáng kú‘ ’liáng kú‘, two and two.
- 一行一行 ih hong ih hong, row by row.
- 一條一條 ih diau ih diau, in successive lengths.