# Dictionary of the Swatow dialect/ciam
### ciam

* 尖ciam977423
* Tapering; pointed; sharp.

#### téng ciam căi;

    very sharp.

#### ciam-lāi;

    acute.

#### kha ciam chíu ìuⁿ;

    tapering feet and delicate hands.

#### cńg-thâu ciam-ciam;

    tapering fingers.

#### siah kàu ciam-ciam;

    whittle it down to a point.

#### bŏi ciam;

    blunt.

#### so̤ kàu ciam-ciam;

    roll between the thumb and finger to a sharp point.

#### pit-ciam;

    the point of a pen.

#### so̤ ciam tĕⁿ ìuⁿ;

    roll and squeeze down, as women do their bound feet.

#### mîaⁿ-ke so̤ ciam tĕⁿ ìuⁿ;

    expert in shaping bound feet; one who possesses great tact.

#### ciam taⁿ;

    a carrying pole.

#### chùi ciam-ciam;

    a needle shaped snout.
* 粳ciam3221197
* Water-grown rice.

#### ciam bí;

    common rice.

#### tōa ciam;

    large rice.

#### n̂g ciam;

    yellow rice.

#### ēng cût bí a ēng ciam bí?

    Do you use the glutinous rice or that which is not glutinous?

#### cham khah cōi ciam bí;

    mixed in too much of the water-grown rice.
* 占ciam43253
* To divine; sortilege.

#### ciam khùe;

    divination.

#### ciam kâi khùe thóiⁿ hó̤ a m̄ hó̤;

    discern the omens and see whether they are favorable or unfavorable.

#### cí kâi khùe ciam khṳ̀ m̄ lêng;

    this was a false prediction.

#### ciam thien-bûn;

    auger from observation of the stars.
* 瞻ciam4410913
* To look up.

#### sĭ nâng só̤ ciam-ngíang kâi nâng;

    he is one whom people look up to.

#### ciam mō̤ⁿ;

    to anticipate longingly.
* 沾cîam43855
* Obliged, benefited; to participate in; to be a recipient; to enjoy.

#### ciam i kâi kuang;

    had the benefit of his light; got it through his favor.

#### tîeh ŭ hó̤ khṳt nâng ciam kuang cìaⁿ hó̤;

    it is well if you have any way whereby you can help others.
* 斬cíam12697

#### cíam-côih;

    smoothly and evenly cut or wrought out; regular and straight; clean-cut.

#### cò̤ khṳ̀ cíam-côih căi;

    made very evenly.

#### chù khí kàu cíam-cíam côih-côih;

    the house is built with straight lines and correct angles.

#### i kâi ôi cò̤ lâi lah-hah, m̄ cíam-côih;

    his shoes are clumsily made, and are not nicely shaped.
* 佔cìam4596
* To encroach; to usurp.

#### pà-cìam;

    to invade and take possession of.

#### cìam pâng-î;

    take advantage of to one's own profit.

#### cìam tī;

    encroach on another's land.

#### cìam khuah;

    to encroach beyond the boundary.
* 探cîam853648
* To search for with the hand.

#### cîam kàu khang tói-tói;

    feel for it at the very bottom of the hole.

#### tŏ̤ láng tói cîam chut lâi;

    felt for and found it in the bottom of the bag.

#### cîam tîeh hṳ́-tói căi-seⁿ-īeⁿ?

    How does the inside of it feel?

#### chíu khah tōa, cîam m̄ jîp;

    my hand is too large, I cannot thrust it in.
* 暫cĭam9467211
* Temporary; briefly; for the time being.

#### cĭam sî;

    for a little while.

#### cĭam sî cîaⁿ kú sî;

    the temporary has become the permanent.

#### cĭam ēng sù sî;

    make use of temporarily.

#### úa cĭam nā cí-kò̤;

    I shall stay here but a little while.

#### cĭam cŭ;

    a brief stay.

#### cĭam khĭa-khí;

    a short residence.

#### cĭam chíaⁿ jím i;

    please be patient with it a little while.

#### pńg-pńg sĭ àiⁿ cĭam kâi;

    originally desired to take a temporary one.

#### cí hûe bô̤, chíaⁿ cĭam cē;

    there is none at this moment, please defer an instant.

#### cĭam thàng;

    earn in the interim.

#### taⁿ chíaⁿ cĭam ēng, ĕ-jît cìaⁿ lâi bói hó̤ kâi;

    kindly make use of this for the time being, and afterward a better one can be purchased.

#### hó̤ cĭam m̄ hô̤ chîang;

    it will do temporarily, but not permanently.

#### cĭam cîah;

    stay the stomach meanwhile.
* 漸cĭam9798511
* Gradually; by degrees.

#### cĭam-cĭam lâi;

    came on gradually.

#### cĭam jîp kia-kéng;

    it becomes more picturesque as you proceed.

#### sŭn sŭ, cĭam cìn;

    advancing in regular order cĭam tōa; gradually increase in size.

#### cĭam sòi;

    gradually diminish.

#### cĭam-cĭam bô̤ khṳ̀;

    gradually disappeared.

#### cĭam-cĭam tĭⁿ;

    gradually filled to the brim.

#### cĭam-cĭam khó̤;

    gradually ebbs.

#### cĭam cĭam îⁿ;

    waxes slowly to the full.

#### cĭam-cĭam khí;

    gradually ascends.

#### cĭam-cĭam kûiⁿ;

    gradually mounts up.