# Dictionary of the Swatow dialect/li
### lili

* 唎喇li-la521
* Slovenly.

#### i cò̤ sṳ̄ li-la căi;

    she does things in a very slovenly way.

#### hàm i màiⁿ tó̤ li-la;

    tell him not to slur the thing over.

#### jú tàⁿ jú li-la;

    the more you talk to him about it the more untidy he is.

#### li-li- la-la kâi nâng;

    a slovenly lout.
* 䬆li5391827
* Driving, as wind or rain.

#### huang li-li, chue tîeh hó̤ căi;

    there is a strong breeze, pleasant to feel.

#### gûeh li kng-kng, huang li, li-li;

    bright moonlight, and a steady breeze.
* 哩li518307
* An adverbial particle indicating certainty.

#### tàⁿ khí lâi, ūe tn̂g li;

    to tell about it will take a long time.

#### cí khí cōi cîⁿ li;

    this sort is costly.

#### hó̤ li hó̤, kùi li kùi;

    as for the quality it is indeed good, and as for the price it is very dear.

#### phîⁿ li phîⁿ, cûah cē bô̤ ēng;

    as for cheapness, it is cheap, and if it were a little less good it would be good for nothing.

#### cí kâi li khah sòi, hṳ́ kái li khah tōa;

    this is too small and that too large.

#### īa sĭ kio cí kâi cìaⁿ hó̤ kâi li úa cū àiⁿ;

    if it be as good a one as this, I want it.

#### lō li hn̆g, tó li khùn;

    the road is long, and my belly is empty.
* 里lí5181660
* A place of residence; a neighborhood, a village of twenty-five or fifty families; the Chinese mile, reckoned to be 300 paces.

#### tâng hieⁿ-lí;

    fellow villagers.

#### câp lí cū sĭ cêk phò;

    ten Chinese miles are one Chinese league, (equal to 3½ English miles).

#### cêk lí lō;

    a mile.

#### lî ŭ saⁿ lí hn̆g;

    it is three miles away.

#### choiⁿ lí bé;

    a courier or post-boy.

#### à kuaⁿ kêng, à kúi sí, à lí-tíeⁿ ēng ke bí;

    if you argue with the magistrate you will become poor, if you argue with a demon you will die, and if yon argue with the head of your village you will use up a good deal of rice.
* 禮lí52011313
* Rites; ceremonies.

#### lí pŏ;

    the Board of Rites.

#### lí khue;

    the district bureau having charge of state ceremonies.

#### lí pâng;

    the provincial department of rites.
* 理lí519967
* To govern, to manage, to look after, to regulate, to rectify, to adjust according to principle; the governing principle; that which is felt to be right and suitable, and depends not on force; reason; right doctrine; rule of action; among Chinese philosophers, the principle of organization by which matter is preserved, or the power that inheres in it; to depend on; to think of, to regard.

#### tŏ̤-lí; tău-lí;

    right doctrine; correct reason.

#### thŵn tŏ̤-lí;

    to set forth the truth.

#### sueh tŏ̤-lí;

    to expound the correct principles of the thing.

#### thiⁿ lí;

    Heaven's reason, a retributive overruling Providence.

#### tī lí;

    the principle of organization which inheres in terrestrial nature.

#### ŭ thiⁿ lí cìaⁿ ŭ lī lí;

    since there is an overruling power there is also an underlying principle in nature.

#### sui sĭ châk īa ū thien-lí lîang-sim;

    although he is a rebel, he has a conscience.

#### tîeh thiⁿ-lí lîang-sim cē;

    you must have some ​conscience in regard to it.

#### hâh lí;

    reasonable.

#### i ŭ chêng-lí;

    he has reason on his side.

#### bô̤ chêng-lí;

    unreasonable; not according to common sense.

#### siu-lí kàu iap-thiap iap-thiap;

    put it in complete order.

#### sṳ̆-lí;

    to set in order; to regulate.

#### cíaⁿ-lí;

    put in good repair.

#### lí sṳ̄;

    attend to affairs, regulate matters.

#### lí ke sṳ̄;

    attend to domestic concerns.

#### àiⁿ khṳ̀ lí kĭaⁿ sṳ̄;

    is going to attend to an affair requiring adjustment.

#### lṳ́ kio úa lí hó̤;

    you rectify it for me.

#### seng-ĺi;

    trade.

#### ŭ seng-lí hó̤ mē?

    Is trade brisk with you?

#### seng-lí hó̤ mē?

    Is your business prosperous?

#### bô̤ mih seng-lí;

    does not sell off much.

#### pōiⁿ-lí kàu cheng-chó̤;

    have it all completly adjusted.

#### līo-lí;

    to arrange with care.

#### thîo-lí;

    to cure.

#### cē m̄ ôiⁿ cū lí m̄ kàu cía sṳ̄;

    if I have not leisure, I cannot manage to attend to this.

#### cĭeⁿ mn̂g, khṳ̀ kio i lí-lŭn;

    go to his door, and reason with him about it.

#### lí-hŭe;

    to manage kindly.

#### mih sṳ̄ to tîeh káng-lí;

    in every affair the rights of the case must be regarded.

#### i cò̤ sṳ̄ ío cĭu lí;

    he is regardful of the right in what he does.

#### khîang sṳ̂, tô̤h cìaⁿ lí;

    talk speciously and distort reasons.

#### bô̤ lí à kàu ŭ lí;

    make the worse appear the better reason.

#### cía sĭ khîang sṳ̂ tô̤h lí kâi ūe;

    this is wresting words in such a way as to pervert the truth.

#### tàⁿ ūe bô̤ chêng bô̤ lí;

    talk unreasonably.

#### íⁿ lí lâi lŭn, i m̄-hó̤ cìeⁿ-seⁿ;

    putting it on the ground of equity, he is in the wrong.

#### cía sĭ sĭm-mih tŏ̤-lí;

    what sort of argument is this.

#### i m̄ lí i;

    he will not take it in hand.

#### kẃn-lí;

    to control; take charge of; govern.

#### sĭ tī-tîang tó̤ kẃn-lí?

    Who has charge of it?

#### bûn-lí;

    the literary style.

#### lí kng, m̄ lí àm;

    regard what is evident, not what is behind the scenes.

#### i lí m̄ khṳ̀;

    he cannot manage it.

#### i lí m̄ lâi;

    he cannot adjust matters.

#### kak nâng lí kak nâng kâi sṳ̄;

    let each attend to his own business.

#### màiⁿ li khah hn̆g, lṳ́ li lṳ́ ka-kī cū hó̤;

    do not extend your management of affairs too far, if you keep yourself in order you will do well.

#### cìe lí lâi tàⁿ, tîeh cìeⁿ-seⁿ cìaⁿ tîeh;

    speaking simply of how it ought to be, it must be thus in order to be right.

#### i cò̤ sṳ̄ to m̄ cìo lí;

    he always acts contrary to reason.

#### lí lō m̄ sĭ cìeⁿ-seⁿ;

    that is not the right way to do.

#### i sĭ pang-lí kâi;

    he acts as assistant in the management of the affair.

#### cía tŏ̤-lí cū sĭeⁿ m̄ phùa;

    I had not thought out this principle.

#### cìeⁿ-seⁿ tàⁿ īa ŭ lí;

    there is reason in that also.

#### kak cip cêk lí;

    each holds to his own view.

#### cêk lí tong, peh lí thiet;

    one principle extends throughout all principles.

#### tŏ̤-lí cū sĭ cêk īe;

    correct doctrine is always the same.

#### chêng-lí sĭ sie-kang kâi;

    pure reason is common to all.

#### chêng-lí sĭ ŭ ciⁿ ŭ sì hùe chī kâi;

    the better reason is with him who has wealth and power.

#### khîu kuaⁿ sin-lí;

    beseech the magistrate to rectify a wrong.

#### lí khut;

    in the wrong; proved to be on the wrong side the question.

#### i kâi lí tó̤;

    he has not many arguments to sustain his views.

#### tàⁿ lâi chêng-lí tn̂g;

    the reasons set forth are numerous.

#### lí tît, khì câug;

    in a good cause, there is inherent strength.

#### lí hut, sṳ̄ khîong;

    in a bad cause there is inherent weakness.

#### tōa-tōa tŏ̤-lí;

    important principles.

#### ngĭ lí chim-àn;

    right principles are profound and subtle.

#### im îang cêk lí;

    for what is hidden and what is apparent, there is but one rule of action.

#### i kâi cṳ-lí chim, nâng-chêng mûeh-lí, hío khṳ̀ thàng;

    he has a profound understanding of the principles of literature, and thoroughly comprehends both human nature and physics.

#### hío lí;

    understand the eternal fitness of things.

#### cang lí lâi chui-chek;

    think it out on the basis of principle.

#### cí kâi lí khîong m̄ chut;

    this principle cannot be fully expounded.

#### chúi sŭn lí;

    to reason from first principles.

#### sŭn lí;

    follow the dictates of reason.

#### ngêk lí;

    go contrary to the dictates of reason.

#### mêng lí;

    clear up a point in ethics.

#### pŭe lí;

    disregard the right.

#### tàⁿ lâi tîeh lí;

    rightly argued.

#### káng-kìu tŏ̤-lí;

    expound the doctrine.
* 履lí5204412
* That on which the foot rests; a leather shoe; to walk; to act; action, conduct.

#### lí-lêh;

    a record of conduct.

#### thîaⁿ cĭeⁿ lí-lêh;

    to send a record of one's proceedings up to court.

#### chìang lí-lêh;

    one's own verbal statement of one's proceedings.

#### jû lí pó̤h piaⁿ;

    as if treading on thin ice.

#### khóng lí ôi;

    strong plain shoes for men's wear.

#### peh kûiⁿ suaⁿ jû lí pêⁿ tī;

    climbs a mountain as if walking on level ground.
* 鯉lí5191957
* The carp, bream, sucker and similar fish.

#### lí hṳ̂;

    the carp.

#### kim lí;

    goldfish.

#### kîe kha lí;

    suckers.

#### âng ko̤ lí;

    trout.

#### mŏng lí-hṳ̂ teng;

    an amusing performance with a lantern made to imitate a carp.
* 李lí520753
* A prune or gage; a plum of a red or yellow color; to get ready for a journey.

#### thô̤ lí năi;

    peaches plums and apricots.

#### hàm nâng lâi tàⁿ hêng-lí;

    call some one to carry the luggage.

#### hêng-lí soiⁿ siu-sîp hó̤;

    first get your baggage ready. ​
* 裏lí5191457
* The lining, the inner face of a garment.

#### àiⁿ kah sĭm-mih lí?

    What lining will you put in?

#### chiam lí chiam būe hó̤;

    have not yet finished stitching in the lining.

#### hîuⁿ lí;

    the lining of a wadded jacket.

#### úa kâi lí mīn àiⁿ cò̤ tâng sek;

    I want the lining and the outside of the garment to match in color.
* 旅lí559706
* Forces; troops; a regiment of 500 men; a visitor, a guest, a sojourner, an immigrant.

#### kun-lí kâi sṳ̄;

    military affairs.

#### hêng-lí úang lâi;

    travellers going and coming; constant traffic.

#### kak kok kâi siang-lí lâi úang;

    merchants from every country go and come.

#### i kâi kun sît-căi hó̤ cheng-cò̤ ngĕ-lí;

    their troops may well be called sturdy braves.

#### lí-kẃn, chi-liang;

    a stranger in a strange land.
* 離lî51717211
* To retire; to disperse; to dismiss; to go from; to part; parted; absent; to cut in two; to arrange or divide off; scattered ; the 5th of the 8 and the 30th of the 64 diagrams, referring to elegant things and to brightness.

#### lî-khui;

    to withdraw from.

#### lî-pîet;

    to separate from.

#### hàm i màiⁿ lî-kòiⁿ nâng kâi kut-nêk;

    tell him not to sow dissension among relatives.

#### lîu-lî sit-só̤;

    wander from home.

#### lî ŭ jîeh hn̆g?

    How far off is it?

#### sái kàu nâng lî sim;

    wean people from you.

#### bé put lî uaⁿ, nâng put lî kah;

    the horses were never out of their saddles, nor the men out of their armor.

#### pek i sía lî-cṳ;

    spur him up to writing a bill of separation.

#### lî ke;

    leave home.

#### lî hieⁿ pîet céⁿ;

    leave one's native place.

#### lî-khui cêk chieh;

    withdraw to a distance of one foot.

#### lî hn̆g;

    far separated.

#### cí kâi lî ío kṳ̆n;

    this is not so far away.

#### úa lî chù cêk jît lō;

    I am a day's journey from home.

#### sṳ̄-bŭ cōi, lî m̄ khui sin;

    I am very busy and cannot get away.

#### no̤ⁿ-kíaⁿ sòi, lî m̄ khui;

    the children are small and I cannot be away from them.

#### khek put lî kháu, khûn put lî chíu;

    the ballads are never away from his mouth, and boxing never out of his hand; he is always practising singing and boxing.

#### siang lî ku-ā lí;

    several miles apart.

#### lî kàu cêk pho lō kâi-pang-bó̤;

    at a distance of about a league away.

#### lî bô̤ kò̤-kíaⁿ;

    hardly any distance away.

#### kui nâng sie thòi teng-tùe, jît mêⁿ bò̤ lî;

    several persons take turns in attending upon him, and leave him neither day nor night.

#### cí tîo lō, lî kò̤-kíaⁿ cū cèng cêk câng chīu;

    at a little distance from this road a tree was planted.

#### put li sĭ tŏ̤ cí côiⁿ ău;

    it can't be far off.

#### lî khṳ̀ cē;

    get a little farther off.

#### m̄ kam lî-khui pĕ-bó̤;

    unwilling to be separated from his parents.

#### cèng nâng lî-sùaⁿ khṳ̀;

    they all dispersed.

#### thut-lî khó-lāng;

    escape from trouble.

#### lî ŭ kúi nî kú;

    remote from the time by several years.

#### cí kâi tī-hng put lî nâng;

    there is always some one here.

#### pun-lî;

    to distribute.

#### hun-lî;

    divide into shares.

#### lî ûi húe;

    the fifth of the eight diagrams belongs to fire.
* 璃lî5159611
* A vitreous, translucent substance which resembles strass.

#### po̤-lî;

    glass.

#### po̤-lî khì;

    glassware.

#### po̤-lî theng;

    glass windows.

#### cêk tieⁿ po̤-lî;

    a pane of glass.

#### po̤-lî cun;

    a glass bottle.

#### po̤-lî cúaⁿ;

    a glass goblet.

#### po̤-lî pue;

    a glass tumbler.

#### cía po̤-lî seⁿ cúi phă;

    this glass has bubbles in it.

#### cía po̤-lî cĕng căi;

    this glass is very clear.

#### po̤-lî cúi-ciaⁿ ŏi thang;

    glass and crystal are transparent.

#### pô̤-lî sĭ ngĕ-sèⁿ, tìaⁿ cŭang tîeh cū phùa;

    glass is brittle, and if you hit it whether lightly or heavily, it breaks.

#### àng po̤-lî hìeⁿ thang;

    transparent as glass.

#### ngŏ sek po̤-lî;

    iridescent glass.

#### lîu-lî;

    strass.

#### lîu-lî teng;

    a strass lamp.

#### pûn liu-lî;

    to blow strass.

#### ngâu po̤-lî;

    make glass.
* 𨤸lî51616611
* The third term in fractions; a hundredth; the thousandth part of a tael, nominally equal to a copper mill, or the native coin called by foreigners a cash; a very little; a grain; a hair's breadth; an extra tax of one tenth per cent on a quantity of goods or on the property in a place, according to an assessment.

#### thiu lî kim;

    to levy the tax of one tenth per cent.

#### lî kêk;

    assessors, who collect this tax.

#### bó̤ cêk lî hó̤ ēng;

    not a particle of it is serviceable.

#### bô̤ pùaⁿ lî ŭ ēng;

    not of the least use.

#### hâu-lî to bŏi cha-chò̤;

    there is not the slightest error in it.

#### sǹg kàu lî hâu si hut;

    reckon to the last farthing.

#### chûn bô̤ cêk lî-kíaⁿ;

    have but the least bit left.

#### i cìeⁿ sî cîah bô̤ io lî;

    she eats almost nothing lately.

#### cûah lî-lî, cū châh tîeh mâk;

    came within a hair's breadth of piercing his eye.

#### hīn-khek kâi châng tó̤ hak, ŭ kúi lî cí?

    In buying farm land now, what percentage of its value is the income from it reckoned at?
* 籬lî51711819
* A fence or wattle of bamboo; a light inclosure.

#### cí gūa-kháu ûi tek lî;

    surround the outside with a bamboo fence.

#### chài lî;

    a low fence around a vegetable patch.

#### cìa lî;

    a straw or splint wattle around a cane field.

#### hn̂g lî;

    the garden fence.

#### phah bé-káng-lî;

    make lattice work.

#### cí khí nâng sĭ nâng-lî;

    this is an outcast. ​
* 閭lî5581697
* A habitation.

#### mō̤ⁿ i ŏi kói-ūaⁿ mn̂g-lî;

    hope he may improve the fortunes of the family.
* 黎lî5152023
* Early.

#### lî-mêng;

    early dawn.

#### lî-mêng cṳ cáu-khí;

    got up at the first streak of dawn.
* 肋lî5091302
* The side of the body.

#### phiaⁿ-lî kut;

    the ribs.

#### phah tîeh phiaⁿ-lî;

    struck him in the side.

#### khang kàu phiaⁿ-lî tèng ŏi thìaⁿ;

    made my side ache.
* 利lĭ521185
* Advantageous; useful; gains; profit; shrewdness; greedy for gain; slippery; to benefit; to oblige.

#### tit lĭ;

    to gain.

#### lĭ-chĭ căi;

    very profitable.

#### tăi kit lĭ-chĭ;

    a very lucky stroke of fortune.

#### i cêk nî siu ŭ jîeh cōi lĭ-sek?

    What income does he get from it annually?

#### mîaⁿ lĭ líang tit;

    fame and wealth both attained.

#### kin nî kâi seng-lí sŭn-lĭ căi;

    business is very prosperous this year.

#### lĭ-cîⁿ ke kùe bó̤-cîⁿ;

    the profit is greater than the capital.

#### lĭ-hāi;

    malicious; harmful.

#### lĭ lō heng thong;

    everything is prosperous.

#### ŭ sĭm-mih lĭ-iah nē?

    What advantage is there in it?

#### bô̤ lĭ bô̤ iah;

    of no benefit whatever.

#### cúi lĭ;

    marine revenue.

#### îam lĭ;

    revenue from salt.

#### cìeⁿ-sî ŭ lĭ a bô̤?

    Have you made anything lately in your business?

#### cía mng tōa lĭ căi;

    this is anything but profitable.

#### m̄ lĭ; put lĭ;

    unprofitable; unprosperous.

#### ŭ lĭ hó̤ chu mē?

    Is there any profit to be made?
* 厲lĭ5222713
* Harsh, stern, severe.

#### ngîam-lĭ;

    awfully stern.

#### lĭ siaⁿ;

    a harsh voice.

#### lĭ siaⁿ, tăi toah;

    shouted out very loudly to him in a threatening voice.

#### lĭ kúi hāi nâng;

    a discontented ghost injures people.

#### sṳ̂ sek ngîam-lĭ;

    words harsh, and aspect austere.
* 勵lĭ5231915
* To animate, to incite.

#### míen-lĭ i khṳ̀ cò̤;

    impel him to go and do it.

#### kó-lĭ kun-sṳ̆;

    rouse the troops.
* 麗lĭ5241988
* Elegant, beautiful, ornamented, flowery.

#### siu-sîp kàu īam-īam lĭ-lĭ;

    arranged very elegantly.

#### sek-cúi īam-lĭ căi;

    its color is very fine.

#### i seⁿ lâi sìu-lĭ căi;

    she is very finely proportioned.

#### thóiⁿ tîeh li sìu-sìu lĭ-lĭ, cò̤ sṳ̄ sĭm sĭ cho-máng;

    looks elegant and refined but acts in a very boorish way.
* 痢lĭ5211047
* Dysentery; diarrhea.

#### lĭ-cit;

    dysentery.

#### sĭ pêh lĭ a sĭ chiah lĭ?

    Are the discharges white or red in color?

#### hueh lĭ; âng lĭ;

    bloody flux.

#### kìm kháu lĭ;

    diarrhea with loss of appetite.

#### tn̂g-tn̂g lĭ-cît;

    chronic dysentery.
* 例lī52196
* To classify; to adjust; to arrange; to compare; to make a precedent of; laws which are less stringent than statutes; rules, regulations, by-laws, directions; custom, usage; the order or disposition of things.

#### taⁿ cìaⁿ sin khí lī kâi;

    that which comes under the new regulation.

#### cía bô̤ lī kâi;

    there is no fixed rule about this.

#### i hío lut-lī;

    he understands the law.

#### cìe lī phōiⁿ sṳ̄;

    adjudicate the affair in accordance with the usages.

#### kú cū cîaⁿ lī;

    in the course of time it becomes a usage nearly equivalent to a law.

#### ē tńg cū sêng cò̤ lī;

    another time it will be used as a precedent.

#### ŭ tīaⁿ lī kâi;

    there is a settled usage in regard to it.

#### hâh lī;

    in accordance with established usage.

#### lī kìm ngîam căi;

    the prohibitory rule is very strict.

#### chê cek-lī;

    examine the rules.

#### m̄ hó̤ cang cí kâi ûi lī;

    do not make this a precedent.

#### kak chù kak chù kâi lī;

    each place has its peculiar customs.

#### nín kâi hieⁿ lī cò̤-nî?

    What is the usage in your village?

#### ún kâi kui-lī hó̤;

    our practise is an excellent one.

#### bô̤ lī mó̤ khí, ŭ lī mó̤ cí;

    if there is no rule it is not well to make one, if there is a rule it is not well to abolish it.
* 涖lī522857
* To enter upon, as office.

#### tâng cí kâi kuaⁿ lī jīm ău tī-hng ío phêng;

    since this magistrate entered upon his office, the country has been more quiet.
* 徹lī42602
* From first to last; thoroughly, completely.

#### tó̤ kàu lī-lī;

    fallen flat.

#### cúi khó̤ káu lī-lī;

    the water has all ebbed out.

#### ke khṳt i phùa kàu lī-lī;

    the family has been completely ruined by him.

#### sie khṳ̀ hŵn-lío bŏi lī;

    it is not yet all burned up.
* 吏lī522303
* An officer; magistrates; a deputy, or a secretary in an office; to rule.

#### lī pŏ, lī pâng, lī khue;

    the Board of Civil Office in Peking, and its departments in each province and district, where it superintends the appointment, salaries and movements of officials.

#### i múaⁿ lī a būe?

    Has he completed his term of ​office?

#### tíen lī;

    head-writers.

#### tham kuaⁿ, u lī;

    corrupt officials.

#### lī pâng a-ṕun;

    clerk in the department of Civil Office.

#### lī pâng cóng-su;

    the head clerk in the provincial branch of the Board of Civil Office.

#### lī khue kip-sṳ-tong;

    a secretary in the district branch of the Board of Civil Office.

#### lī-pŏ sīeⁿ cṳ, lī-pŏ có̤ sĭ n̂ng, lī-pŏ ĭu sĭ-n̂ng;

    the President and the Vice Presidents of the Board of Civil Office.

#### lī-pŏ ŵn gūa n̂ng;

    a deputy official in the Board of Civil Office.

#### lī-pŏ cú-sṳ̄;

    directors in the Board of Civil Office.