Primary Lessons in Swatow Grammar/Lesson XXXIV

by William Ashmore

Slang.

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A lesson in slang is certainly not a legitimate part of grammar. But it may not be amiss for a learner to know that such a thing as slang not only exists, but that it is abundantly used. Every trade and occupation has its own slang best known to its own fraternity. In the market especially, trading operations are carried on between dealers and brokers by means of an extensive vocabulary of slang, used when occasion requires. Middle men who introduce a customer will conclude a bargain with the shop keeper about their own percentage, by the use of slang, in the presence of the country buyer himself who may not have the least idea of what is going on. Other slang, again, is well understood by everybody, and serves as a vehicle for Chinese humor, drollery, satire, and ridicule. Words of this kind are called “phiah-ūe”, which may here be rendered, slang. A few specimens are appended.

For example, fish dealers, instead of ordinary numerals, in discussing prices among themselves, use kìn, nãi, chong, su, ma, which are substitutes for che̍k, nõ, saⁿ, sì, ngõu, one, two, three, four, five. This is called, hṳ̂ phiah, fish slang.

Cattle dealers have another set from one up to ten,—thien (1), hiã (2), phêng (3), kháu (4), chúi (5), lêng (6), bûn (7), put (8), kìⁿ (9), khai (10). This is called, gû phiah, cattle slang.

phah huan-nâng-chhèng,

to shoot a foreign gun, i.e. to smoke opium.

khṳ̀-saⁿ-tiám,

gone for three drops, i.e. off for a drink.

phah-chháu-chhie̍h,

to beat the mat, i.e. to go to sleep.

pí chháu-chhie̍h-tōu,

to measure the length of the mat, i.e. to go to sleep.

léng-sî-cheng,

to push along the clock, i.e. to carry a sedan chair.

saⁿ-chiah-chhiú,

three-handed, i.e. thievish.

ou lãu-tiâ,

the black mandarin, i.e. a coffin.

si-kue-thâu,

a water melon head, i.e. a Buddhist priest.

kûe-lo̍ih,

a peaked hat, i.e. a man’s house.

a-kòng-iâ,

the esquire, i.e. a leper.

kò-chûn-kiáⁿ,

to row a small boat, i. e. wabbling gait.

pn̄g-lōi,

a rice scoop, i.e. stiff armed.

tieⁿ-máng-tièⁿ,

spreading a musquito net, i.e. sporting a long gown.

tàu hun-tâng-thâu,

putting on pipe stoppers, i.e. wearing stockings.

siu phòu-chou,

collecting shop rents, i.e. a fellow begging from door to door.

ou-bí,

black rice, i.e. opium.

tak-sat-bó,

cracking vermin, i.e. a tailor at work.

bōi mue̍h-chia̍h,

selling food, i.e. a fellow in a cangue.

húe-sie-suaⁿ,

burning off the mountain, i.e. getting the head shaved.

i khù-chóu-ke,

he has gone to the home of his fathers, i.e. he is dead.

i kiâ--tn̂g-lōu,

he has entered on a long journey, i.e. a man just dead.

i pha-téng,

he has dropped anchor, i.e. a fellow fallen into the water.

kim-hôu-sîn,

golden flies, i.e. fops.

chúi-ngiáu-chhṳ́,

water rates, i.e. boat thieves.

tòa-sù-chu,

wearing an official decoration, i.e. one with a chain on his neck.

chúi-pang-toi,

river bank caved in, i.e. a wrecked fortune.

kùe ou-chúi,

to cross the black water, i.e. to go to foreign parts.

chò-tōa-jī,

making big characters, i.e. a drunken fellow staggering.

khui tṳ-ne̍k-phòu,

to open a pork shop, i.e. one who has no business and has to board himself.

kap-pô soih chhn̂g-kha,

bracing the legs of a frog, i.e. a boaster; futile endeavor.

ngiáu-chhṳ́ kè cháu-kiáⁿ,

rats marrying off their daughters, i.e. le whispering in an under tone.

ùi lãu-phûa,

afraid of the old woman, i.e. one who is afraid to act for himself.

chi̍h-keⁿ,

tongue weaving, i.e. teaching school.

chèng-sêng-peh,

planting banyans, i.e. letting the hair grow.

tiū mién-chîⁿ-chhù,

living in a free dwelling, i.e. in jail.

bōi-húe-thúi,

selling hams, i.e. truculent kneeling.

mōⁿ-kûiⁿ,

looking up, i.e. a man who has hung himself.

chiáu-lâng,

bird cages, i.e. trousers.

chúi-koi-phûe,

a frog skin, i.e. a jacket.

lâu-chhiū-thâu,

an old stump, i.e. an old man.

phok-siau,

saltpetre, i.e. a hot tempered man.

pàng-húe-chìⁿ,

shooting fire arrows, i.e. breeding discord.

pê-mīn,

scratch the face, i.e. give offense.

chûa nih-ma̍k,

a snake winking its eyes, i.e. a big story.

kúi kùe-khoi,

a devil crossing a river, i.e. a„ big„ story„

saⁿ pau-húe,

fire in the jacket, i.e. trouble.

Analogous to the preceding, is a species of sign language which is extensively used. This, by some, is called, chhiú-gṳ́, hand talk. A man is said to use hand talk, ēng-chhiú-gṳ́; or, to use his hand to make signs, ēng-chhiú lâi-pí.

The thumb held up, signifies, number one; the best; important.

The little finger held up, signifies, the least; insignificant.

The fore-finger stroking along the mouth, signifies, eating.

The fore-finger stroking along the head, signifies, getting shaved.

Three fingers closed, the thumb and the little finger held up and on a level, signifies, asleep.

Three fingers closed, the thumb up, and the little finger horizontal, signifies, sitting down.

Two, three, or more fingers held up, signifies, counting.

Three fingers closed, the little finger placed on the table, and the thumb brought gradually down to the surface, signifies, submission; homage; obeisance; truculence.

The hand stretched out, palm downwards, and fingers moving towards the body, signifies, beckoning to come.

The same motion with the palm upward, indicates, begging, or asking for money, or bribes.

The fore-finger held up and curved, signifies, death.

The hand drawn across the throat, signifies, decapitation.

The hand slipped behind or down by the side, signifies, money taking; bribery.