or preference is expressed in Foochow Colloquial by by 甯願 nìng-nguông, and 歡喜 huăng-hi. It is better to be cursed than to die, 甯願乞𠆧罵伓通野講 Nìng-nguông ké̤ṳk nè̤ng má ng tĕ̤ng iā-gōng.
6. The word “only”, is used in English in two senses, to qualify either a noun or a verb, as “an only son”, “he does one thing only”. In this latter phrase it conveys the idea that a person is engrossed with one thing, and that it is his wonted habit to do it. This in Foochow Colloquial is expressed by 專 ciŏng in combination with 心 sĭng or 門 muòng and also by 別其 bĕk-gì or 別乇 bĕk-nó̤h other, combined with a negative. Jesus gave up Himself to doing good, 耶穌是專心做好代 Ià-Sŭ sê ciŏng-sĭng có̤ hō̤ dâi. You must do nothing but preach the Gospel, 汝別乇代伓通做㑚專門傅福音 Nṳ̄ bĕk-nó̤h dâi ng tè̤ng có̤ nâ ciŏng-muòng diòng Hók-ĭng. He does nothing but injure us, 別乇代伊伓做㑚害我就是 Bĕk-nó̤h dâi ĭ ng có̤, nâ hâi nguāi cêu sê.
7. 發 Huák conveys the idea of manifestation and development, and expression in action. To show compassion, 發心 Huák-sīng. To get rich, 發財 Huák-cài.
8. The word 隔 gáh is often equivalent to the English word “interval” and is applied to both time and distance. Take this medicine every other day, 者藥隔一日食一回 Ciā iŏh gák siŏh-nĭk siăh siŏh-huòi. There is a sick man next door, 隔壁務一隻破病其𠆧 Gáh-biáh ô siŏh-ciáh puái-bâng gì nè̤ng. Mr. Li lives next door but one, 李先生隔二橺厝許塊葤 Lī Sĭng-săng gáh lâng-găng chió hŭ-uái dêu.
9. One particular Chinese construction is the stringing of four words to form a phrase. Such phrases are very common in colloquial
