A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons/Lesson XIII

by C. M. S. and A. E. Champness

LESSON XIII.

察 chák

to enquire into

家 gă

home, family

里 lī

a Chinese mile

離 liê

distant from, to leave

總 cūng

in general, must

入 diē

to enter

教 gáu

instruction, religion

遍 piéng

everywhere

憑 bìng

according to

指 cī

to point with the finger

隔 gáh

to separate

向 hióng

to face towards

成 siàng

complete

後斗 â-dāu

behind

釘 déng

to nail

針 cĕng

needle

趕 gāng

quickly

干 găng

to concern

掛 guá

to hang

直 dĭk

straight

教 gá

to teach

東 dĕ̤ng

east

西 să̤

west

南 nàng

south

北 báe̤k

north

仈 báik

to know

舖 puó

ten li, Chinese league

認的 nêng-dék

to recognise

比喻 bī-ê̤ṳ

a parable

平話 bàng-uâ

local dialect, applied to that of Foochow

悔改 huói-gāi

to repent

莫怪 mŏ̤h-guái

please do not be displeased

恩惠 ŏng-hiê

grace, favour

官話 guăng-uâ

mandarin dialect

得罪 dáik-cô̤i

to offend

機會 gĭ-huôi

opportunity

指南針 cī-nàng-cĕng

compass

奉教 hông-gáu

to join the church

1. In speaking of the points of the compass, the east heads the list, in the Foochow dialect. The four points are spoken of as 東 dĕ̤ng (or dŭng) 西南北 să̤ nàng báe̤k. The needle of the Chinese compass points south, and the compass is called 指南針 cī-nàng-cĕng. Intermediate positions are spoken of with the east and west preceding the north and south, contrary to English use. In the north, 着北邊 diŏh báe̤k biĕng. In the south-east 着東南邊 diŏh dĕ̤ng-nàng biĕng.

2. In asking distances and speaking of them, the verb 務 ô to have is used to indicate that there are so many miles, and the word 路 diô for road is sometimes added, and at times used instead of the word 里 lī for miles. How many miles to Ming-chiang, please? 請問至閩清務箬壞里 Chiāng muóng, gáu Mìng-chiăng ô niŏh-nâi lī? It is more than ten miles to Ming-chinag, 至閩清務十幾里 Gáu Mìng-chiăng ô sĕk-gūi li. How far is it from here to Cui-kau? 只塊至水口務箬壞遠 Cŭ-uái gáu Cūi-kāu ô niŏh-nâi huông? It is thirty li to Cui-kau, 至水口務三十里 三舖 Gáu Cūi-kāu ó săng-sĕk or săng puó.

3. To indicate direction towards, 向 hióng is used. Go northward 向北䟰 路向北 hióng báe̤k giàng or diô hióng báe̤k. 趁 Téng to pass through, is also used in this connection. Will you kindly tell me the way to Hok-chiang? 請問至福清着䟰俤一條路呢 Chiāng muóng, gáu Hók-chiăng diŏh giàng diê-siŏh-dèu diô nì? Go to the north-east, it is three li further on, 趁東北䟰故務三里路 téng dè̤ng-báe̤k giàng gó ô săng lī diô. Is this the right way? All right, go straight ahead. 只一條路務鄭毛 毛鄭直直䟰 Cī siŏh dèu diô ô dâng mò̤? Mò̤ dâng, dĭk-dĭk giàng.

4. Reaching one’s destination is expressed by the use of the words 至塊 gáu-dó̤i. We shall be there tomorrow, 明旦⿰亻鞋至塊 mìng-dáng â̤ gáu-dó̤i.

5. The word 總 cūng covers the ground occupied by such words as “must”, “certainly”. It is strengthened by 着 diŏh. You must worship God, 汝總着拜上帝 nṳ̄ cùng-diŏh bái Siông-Dá̤. It cannot be so, 總伓是者式 cūng ng-sê ciā-sék.

6. “No matter, what, whom” is indicated by 毛論 mò̤-lâung meaning “no discussion”. No matter who it was that came, you ought to go on with your work, 毛論是俤𠆧梨汝其工夫總着做 mò̤-lâung sˆ´diê-nè̤ng lì, nṳ̄ gì gĕ̤ng-hŭ cūng-diŏh có̤.

7. “To have no concern with” is indicated by 毛干過 mò̤-găng-gúo. It does not concern him, 共伊毛干過 gâe̤ng ĭ mò̤-găng-gúo.

8. We indicate how we wish a thing done by the word “way”. In Chinese we use the word 樣 iông and 樣式 iông-sék. This covers the meaning in English of such words as “kind”, “sort”, and applied to actions denotes similarity. This is the same, 嚽是一樣 cuòi sê siŏh-iông. Not the same, 務各樣 ô gaúk-iông. There are all sorts, 樣樣都務 iông-iông dŭ ô.

8. “This way” and “that way” are indicated by 將換 ciŏng-uâng and 向換 hiŏng-uâng, also by 者樣式 ciā iông-sék. You must do it this way, 一定着憑者樣式做 ék-dêng diŏh bìng ciā iông-sék có̤. Not so. 伓是將換 ng-sê ciŏng-uâng. The verbs which form the Potential mood are numerous. The principal verbs used are 來 lì, 成 siàng, 了 lāu, 起 kī and 出來 chók-lì. Practice and observation show where each had best be used. Can you do this? 嚽⿰亻鞋做的來賣 Cuòi â̤ có̤-dék lì mâ̤? Can this be completed? 嚽⿰亻鞋成就賣 Cuòi â̤ siàng-cêu má̤? Can you carry eighty pounds? 八十斤汝⿰亻鞋擔的起賣 Báik-sék gṳ̆ng nṳ̄ â̤ dăng-dék kī má̤?

9. 差 Chă to differ, as used in connection with other words, conveys the idea of divergence from. The extent of such divergence is indicated by qualifying words, such as “nearly”, “almost”, “to a great degree”. A little different, 差一滴仔 chă siŏh-dék-giāng. Widely different 差的⿰亻西 chă dék-sâ̤. Almost, 差不多 chă-bók-dŏ̤. Chă is also used with the idea of recovery from sickness. I am a little better today, 今旦差一滴仔 gĭng-dáng chă siŏh-dék-giāng.

EXERCISE XIII.

鐵鎚 tiék-tùi

hammer

鋸 gé̤ṳ

saw

斧頭 pūo-tàu

axe

鎖 sō̤

lock

鎖匙 sō̤-siè

key

麥粉 măh-hūng

oatmeal

家私 gă-sĭ

tools

老鼠 lō̤-chṳ̄

rats

醋 chó

vinegar

甜 diĕng

mad

引 īng

to lead

自來水 cê̤ṳ-lài-cūi

water laid on

Translate into English:—

1. Ĭ ciā nè̤ng nè̤ng-gă mâ nêng-dék.
2. Ĭ-gáuk-nè̤ng ciŏng Ià-Sŭ déng lŏ̤h sĕk-cê-gá.
3. Cuòi sê siŏh iông gì bī-ê̤ṳ.
4. Nù-gáuk-nè̤ng dŭ dáik-cô̤i Siông-Dá̤ lāu.
5. Giéu ĭ diē lì.
6. Nè̤ng-gă kĕk gô ĭ-siòng ké̤ṳk gă̤-dŏng gì siŏh ciáh lâu nè̤ng.
7. Bàng-uâ mò̤ sié-nó̤h hō̤ ŏ̤h.
8. Bàng-uâ nṳ̄ â̤ gōng-dék-lì mâ̤.
9. Mâ̤, nâ hiēu-dék tiăng siŏh deek giāng.
10. Nè̤ng-gă é-sé̤ṳ ng sê ó̤i dáik cô̤i ĭ, kī-dâe̤ng nṳ̄ chiāng ĭ mŏ̤ guái nù.
11. Gă-sĭ dŭ diŏh nè̤ng-gă bùng-diē. Sō̤-siè diŏh cŭ-nái, muōng dò̤ ké̤ṳk nè̤ng-gă.
12. Nè̤ng-gă cêng òng muôi káng-giéng chĭng-chék. Ĭ gáuk-nè̤ng dŭ mâ̤ nêng-dék nù.
13. Ciā ngù-nèng-gŏ̤ cêng cóng. Nè̤ng-gă kó̤ sùng-kuàng gì sì-hâiu cêu sāi-e̤ûng.
14. Ciā ôi-ché̤ṳ liê Iòng-bìng niŏh huông? Ô nê-sĕk-ngô lī diô.
15. Tiék-tùi lièng tiék-dĭng nù tō̤ buáng-nĭk lāu nâ tō̤ mâ̤ diŏh.
16. Kī-dâe̤ng nṳ̄ kó̤ làu dīng dò̤ nù gì Séng-Gĭng lŏ̤h lì, sê diŏh nù gì mìng-chòng lā̤.

Translate into Chinese:—

1. He has travelled all over China.
2. We are still two days from home.
3. Do not forget the grace of God.
4. He teaches there.
5. Hang these things up.
6. In many places bamboo pipes are used to bring water into the city, but in Iong-bing iron pipes are used.
7. This water is not good to drink.
8. There are still over ten li. The baggage is behind. I do not know when the burden coolies will come.
9. When you have finished making the box, I want to see it.
10. This is no concern of mine. Why do you bother me?
11. You must make the clothes according to this pattern.
12. When you have the opportunity, invite him to come here.
13. We are moving tomorrow. Our new house is on the top of the hill.
14. Please nail this cloth on to the north wall of the house.
15. This is not the truth, it is only an illustration.