# Dictionary of the Swatow dialect/khiam
### khìam

* 欠khìam391760
* To owe; to be short of; deficient in.

#### i khìam úa kâi cîⁿ;

    he is in debt to me for borrowed money.

#### khìam lṳ́ jîeh cōi?

    How much does he owe you?

#### khìam ŭ hăng, put kùe khìam úa kâi sìo-búe tīaⁿ-tīaⁿ;

    owes but little, nothing more than the balance left after the settlement of my account.

#### khìam kàu cí-kò̤ lâi kú căi;

    has owed for a long time.

#### jī-ke bô̤ khueh-khìam;

    no indebtedness on either side.

#### gūa kháu khìam nŏ̤ peh ngṳ̂n seⁿ sìo, cêk peh ngṳ̂n phò co;

    have outside debts of two hundred dollars in current accounts, and one hundred dollars for rent of shop.

#### cang cí tîo sìo lâi tú, cū bŏi khìam i kâi;

    if this account be taken as an offset, I owe him nothing.

#### bô̤ thua khìam pùaⁿ lî;

    have no outstanding debts whatever.

#### cía sĭ côiⁿ seⁿ côiⁿ sì khìam i kâi cè;

    this is a debt that was due in a previous state of existence.

#### úa cêk seⁿ nâng sĭang ùi khìam nâng kâi cîⁿ;

    I have all my life had the utmost aversion to getting in debt.

#### cía khìam hó̤;

    this is not quite complete.

#### khìam hăng, bô̤ thang hâiⁿ nâng;

    has liabilities which he is unable to meet.

#### sía khìam nŏ̤ cūe tīaⁿ-tīaⁿ;

    have it all written except two lines.

#### ūe tàⁿ lâi khìam mêng-pêh;

    the statement lacks clearness.

#### úa bô̤ khìam i kâi, à cò̤ ŭ khìam;

    I do not owe him, and he on the contrary says that I do.

#### khìam i nŏ̤ peh ngṳ̂n, cang tieⁿ phò-khòi àng tŏ̤ i kò̤;

    gave him the deed of a shop as collateral security for a debt of two hundred dollars.

#### khìam lṳ́ ŭ sìo-bâk nē?

    Have you any account against him?

#### i khìam lío ŭ nî bô̤ gûeh;

    he pays his debts once a year, but no oftener.

#### nín sĭ khìam phah ā!

    You need whipping!

#### cêk sî huang-huh cū khìam-khìam tíam;

    in the flurry of the moment failed to give the necessary attention. ​
* 緘khîam3831209
* To close; to seal.

#### huang kháu cṳ khîam put hṳ́ tân tī;

    it is not allowable to send private letters to the yamun.

#### i thóiⁿ lío khîam kháu bô̤ ngân;

    after seeing it, he shut his mouth and never said a word.
* 鈐khîam3901674
* An official stamp.

#### khîam-kì;

    a wooden seal, used by inferior magistrates, such as inspectors of boats.

#### i kâi ìn sĭ cìaⁿ ìn a sĭ khîam-kì?

    Is his seal an official seal conferred by the government, or is it a stamp such as is given to subordinate officers?
* 鉗khîam3891675
* A necklace.

#### khîeh ke cêk kâi khîam lô̤h khṳ̀ chò poih sek;

    put in a necklace besides to make up a variety in the presents.

#### ngĕ khîam;

    a ring for the neck.

#### i kùa kŭa kâi khîam;

    she wore a necklace, also.

#### ńng khîam;

    a lady's necklace.
* 芡khĭam3911404
* A water plant allied to the water lily.

#### khĭam-sît;

    the stems, seeds and roots of the Euryale ferox$^*$, used in medicine.
* 儉khĭam387913
* Sparing; frugal.

#### m̄-hó̤ khah khĭam;

    do not be too sparing.

#### khĭam-siap;

    stingy; close-fisted.

#### khĭam ēng;

    use sparingly.

#### hùi-ēng to tîeh cak-khĭam;

    the expenses must be kept within a moderate limit.

#### i mih sṳ̄ to khĭam-séⁿ;

    he is very saving in everything.

#### khĭam-khĭam nē ēng ŭ cêk kâi gûeh;

    by using it very sparingly it will last a month.

#### cía sṳ̄ to m̄-hó̤ khĭam, àiⁿ khĭam tîeh khĭam pât sṳ̄;

    in this it will not do to try to save, if retrenchment is necessary let it be in something else.

#### i kâi cîah ēng to sĭ khĭam-iak khĭam-iak nē;

    his outlays for food and other necessaries are always kept at the very lowest figure.

#### àiⁿ khĭam tîeh khĭam tit khî ngî;

    if you would be economical, it must be at proper times and in a reasonable degree.

#### i cṳ̆-lâi ēng ke kùiⁿ-sìⁿ, to bŏi khĭam;

    he has been accustomed to expend more, and cannot reduce the amount.

#### àiⁿ lîah khĭam, lîah m̄ lô̤h;

    as for retrenching, it is not feasible.

#### i ka-kī īa khĭam m̄ khṳ̀;

    he cannot stint himself.

#### khĭam cîah, tǹg thàng ke;

    get a household of one's own, by frugality in the style of living.

#### khĭam cîah, pái tōa tù;

    eat sparingly, in order to lay down big wagers in gambling.

#### ŏi khĭam kîeⁿ kùe thàng;

    to save is better than to earn.

#### khĭam khó̤ cò̤ lîam;

    being frugal enables one to be decent.

#### khĭam phok;

    simple in one's habits.