# Primary Lessons in Swatow Grammar/Lesson XXIII

The Singular is expressed by the numeral che̍k, it, one; toaⁿ, one, only: to̍k; to̍k-it, a single one; also, by a classifier used alone, or in connection with one of the previous words. Often times there is nothing to indicate either singular or plural, as, ũ-nâng-tõ, may mean either that there is one man, or that there are several.

## che̍k-pé-tāu,

    one handful of beans.

## che̍k-tàⁿ-thn̂g,

    one “carry” of sugar.

## che̍k-táu-bí,

    one measure of rice.

## che̍k-ūi nàng-kheh,

    one guest personage.

## che̍k-ki-sam,

    one log of pine.

## chiah-chûn; che̍k-chiah-chûn; toaⁿ-chiah-chûn,

    one boat

## kù-ūe; che̍k-kù-ūe; toaⁿ-kâi-ūe tiāⁿ-tiāⁿ,

    only one sentence.

## toaⁿ-kâi-nâng,

    a single man.

## to̍k-it chin-Sîn,

    the only one true God.

## to̍k-ma̍k, to̍k-chhiú, to̍k-kha,

    only a single eye, hand, foot.

## toaⁿ-sin,

    a single person; self.

## toaⁿ-ka-kī; toaⁿ-chṳ̃-kí,

    one’s self only.

## toaⁿ-chūa,

    a single trip.

## toaⁿ-che̍k-ē,

    only one time.

## phah-mn̂g toaⁿ-che̍k-ē,

    knock at the door only once.
The Plural is indicated, (1) by repeating the word; (2) by certain plural prefixes and suffixes, as téng; húe, class; chèng; huàⁿ; tou; hãm; ha̍p, all; kúi, several; ke, many (húe often has the force of a demonstrative pronoun); (3) by words signifying two, or a pair, as sang ; liáng ; tùi; (4) by collective nouns of multitude, as cha̍p, ten; peh, a hundred; khûn, a multitude; tīn, a file, or flock.

## úa-téng,

    we.

## nâng-téng,

    men.

## kiâⁿ-chûn--húe,

    sailors.

## choh-chhân--húe,

    farmers.

## tha̍k-chṳ--húe,

    scholars.

## chò seng-lí--húe,

    merchants.

## chò-kuaⁿ--húe,

    those who are officials.

## lãu-tōa--húe,

    the aged, or those who are aged.

## hãu-seⁿ--húe,

    the young, or, those who are young. ​

## nín chia̍h-pá--húe, hó-khí--lâi,

    let those who have eaten arise.

## ke-nâng,

    people.

## ke-ke-nâng,

    many people.

## chōi,

    many.

## nâng-mue̍h chōi,

    the men are many.

## mue̍h-kiãⁿ chōi,

    the things are many.

## chōi-chōi-sṳ̄,

    a great deal of business.

## chōi-chōi-ūe,

    a great many words.

## liáng-kâi,

    both.

## sang-seⁿ,

    twins.

## sang-kha, sang-chhiú,

    the two feet and the two hands.

## chèng-kuaⁿ,

    all the officials.

## chèng-piaⁿ,

    all the soldiers.

## chèng-hieⁿ-sin,

    all the gentry.

## sang-mīn-lāi,

    both edges are sharp.

## sang-mīn-kiàm,

    a two-edged sword.

## sang-thâu-chûa,

    a double headed snake, i.e. a mischief maker.

## che̍k-khûn-bé,

    a troop of horses.

## che̍k-khûn-hṳ̂,

    a school of fish.

## che̍k-tīu-chiáu,

    a flock of birds.

## kâi-kâi,

    each and every one.

## ji̍t-ji̍t daily,

    or, every day.

## kak-kak,

    each, or, every one.

## chn̂g-kâi,

    all.

## tou,

    all.

## hãm-kâi,

    all.

## ha̍p-kâi,

    all.

## nâng-siàu,

    the number of men.

## siàu-m̄-pat tò-khṳ̀,

    that has never been counted.

## khṳ̀-siàu-nâng ũ-jie̍h-chōi,

    go and count how many men there are.

## siàu-bõi tit-liáu,

    cannot count up to it, i.e. innumerable.

## saⁿ-kâi sì-kâi,

    three or four.

## chhoiⁿ-chhoiⁿ būan-būan,

    thousands and tens of thousands.
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