came himself, 伊本身來 I buōng-sĭng lì. Connected with this meaning of 本 buōng is that of native articles versus foreign. Native medicine is not as good as foreign, 本地其藥毛拿外國其藥 Buōng-dê gì iŏh mò̤ niăh nguói̤-guók gì iŏk. He is native of these parts, 伊是本地𠆧 I sê buōng-dê nè̤ng.
3. The expressions “so”, “so that”, “in as much” etc. have many equivalents in Chinese, but the commonest in Foochow Colloquial is 以致 ī-dé. 甚至 Sêng-cé, up to the point of. 以致 I-dé is used with the idea that certain issues are produced by matters having reached a certain point. God so loved the world as to send His Son, 上帝極愛世間其𠆧 以致差遣伊其仔來 Siông-Dá̤ gĭk tiáng sié-găng gì nè̤ng, ī-dé chă̤-kiēng ĭ gì Giāng lì. He loved them up to the point of giving up His life for them, 伊愛伊各𠆧甚至替伊各𠆧捨命 I tiáng ĭ-gáuk-nè̤ng sêng-cé tá̤ ĭ-gáuk-nè̤ng siā-miâng.
4. The following sentences involve the meaning of “drop”, let fall. Notice in the examples that there are two words used with the meaning “fall” 跋倒 buák-dō̤ being generally applied to persons, and 逷 dâung to things. My pencil has dropped on the floor, 儂家其筆逷落地下 Nè̤ng-gă gì bék dâung lŏh dê-â. Be careful not to let that child fall, 細貳伓通乞伲仔跋倒 Sá̤-nê ng tĕ̤ng ké̤ṳk niê-giāng buăk-dō̤.
5. When we have a choice before us of certain things or lines of action, we at once set up a comparison of these in our minds, and decide upon whichever commends itself to our judgment. This choice or preference is usually expressed in English by the words “rather.... than”, “it is better so.....than,” which may be separated or stand together. Chinese idiom generally takes the word “rather” alone, certain forms being used after it as correspondent particles. This choice
