# Easy Sentences in the Hakka Dialect

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This work is adapted from Handbook of the Swatow Dialect by H. A. Giles.
EASY SENTENCES
IN THE
HAKKA DIALECT.
WITH A VOCABULARY.
TRANSLATED BY
J. DYER BALL.
PRICE: ONE DOLLAR.
HONGKONG:
Printed at the "China Mail" Office.
1881.
page
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION.
While engaged in my studies in the Hakka dialect I put the sentences in Giles' Handbook of the Swatow Dialect into Hakka. Though I had not the pleasure of his acquaintance, Mr. Giles, with the greatest courtesy and kindness, accorded to me the liberty of publishing this translation of his book. I call it a translation of his book as the phrases are for the most part the same, but I have altered some of them and omitted a few, putting others in their stead. It will also be found that some words have been left out in the Vocabulary, while at the same time more Chinese equivalents are given to certain English words than appear in the Handbook.
Chinese, at the best, is a most difficult study, but there is no reason why Europeans should not, with a little trouble, pick up sufficient conversational knowledge of any of the Chinese dialects, so as to be able to understand much of what goes on about them as well as to make themselves understood. Large numbers of Hakkas have gone abroad, during the last few years, to the Sandwich Islands, Australia, America and the Straits Settlements; and we have also a considerable number in this "dot in the ocean" so thickly populated with Celestials. This little pamphlet, it is hoped, will be of some assistance to those who may wish to commence a study of an interesting member of the Fokinese family of dialects.
No doubt a considerable amount of the difficulty which attends ​the study of Chinese is due to the necessity of acquiring, not only a foreign language, but of acquiring it through the medium of an "orthography" composed of our own letters which have in their new combinations a stereotyped pronunciation, so different to the easy good-natured way in which the Englishman conducts himself in spelling, as in everything else. To a beginner this is a serious deterrent, and I have known men, who have lived many years in China, still continue a wrong pronunciation of certain words acquired at their first start, and due to the quantity of the vowels differing in their ordinary use in English to the use they have been put to in the representation of Chinese sounds. I am one of the last to condemn a uniform system of orthography for the Chinese dialects. I think it is a great desideratum, but I also think that, though there is no royal road to learning, the road to learning Chinese may be simplified considerably by "an attempt to express as far as possible the Chinese sounds in simple English," which I have followed Mr. Giles in attempting. The proof of anything is the best criterion of its merit. I have put Mr. Giles' Handbook of the Swatow Dialect to the test—it being the first book I used in my study of the Swatow Dialect, and I must say that the plan he has adopted, of putting the "sounds in simple English," is far better than the complicated arrangements of letters it has been my misfortune to discover in another guide to the study of the same dialect. Once having acquired a mastery of a number of sentences and words, one is better able to cope with the intricate renderings of Chinese sounds so delighted in by some book makers. One thing at a time—First learn your Chinese the simplest way you can, then you can devote time to systems which are better suited for students than tyros.
The reader will learn from the above remarks that he must not expect to find the same sounds expressed in the same way at all times; but when, in combination with some other sound, a certain sound produces a word in Chinese which has an exact equivalent in the pronunciation of an English word, that English word is given. It is, of course, impossible to find English words to represent all the sounds in Chinese, were it otherwise there would be little difficulty in learning Chinese, which would then consist, merely, of a number of English ​words, (as far as their sounds were concerned) representing Chinese words, but with different meanings in the one language to what they have in the other. For instance, hay in Chinese would not be a noun and represent sun-dried grass, but an adverb, or a verb, viz. "yes," or "it is." It will, therefore, be necessary to call attention to a few sounds which the Englishman may find some difficulty in pronouncing, were no explanation given.
The sound ny can be learned by joining the final n in man to the initial letter of you and dropping the other letters of the two words, viz. (ma)ny(ou).
I is always pronounced as in the first personal pronoun I.
Loy is pronounced as in coy, and oy has the same sound throughout the sentences, whether in combination or alone, that it has in that word.
M is not pronounced as em in Emma, but as m in ma without the a. Words beginning with ng usually present considerable difficulty to a man who has been taught not to speak through his nose. Let him then throw all these instructions to the winds, and begin at once to practice speaking through his nose. An idea of the sound of this initial ng may be gained by attempting to pronounce the final sound in the English word sing without the first two letters.
If the reader can fancy a sound forming a cross between how and hue, he will get an idea of the Hakka word heu; and meu, of course, has the same sound as one might suppose to exist in English were a word to be formed midway in the transit of the voice from mow to mew.
Initial w should be pronounced as v; and n at the beginning of a word, in some of the Hakka Districts, is always changed to l, while other Hakkas clearly define the distinction between l and n at the commencement of words.
Initial ts is pronounced as ts in Whitsuntide. "The sounds tsz and sz are likewise unknown to Europeans, and care should be taken to attain a correct pronunciation. The latter sound (sz) will be obtained if in pronouncing the word dizzy the two letters di be changed to s."
Where the inverted apostrophe occurs after an initial letter the word is said to be aspirated, and it must be uttered with more force than it would be otherwise.
​"Ow is to be pronounced throughout as in how; never as in low which would be expressed by lo.
"Ch must be pronounced as in church.
"All other vowels and consonants, separate or combined, to be pronounced strictly according to the requirements of the English Alphabet."
Letters appearing in brackets are not to be pronounced. The word is to be sounded as if that letter were dropped out.
Each word must be pronounced distinctly in Chinese, and in the exact tone in which the Chinese say it.
No breaks in the voice should be made between the words joined by hyphens, or at the best but little,—the pauses of the voice being made between those which are not joined thus. This pamphlet, of course, has no intention of doing away with a living instructor; for if it is of importance in the acquisition of French, German, Italian, and the other European languages, that one, who desires to have a correct pronunciation, should learn from the living voice, much more is it absurd to suppose that one can learn Chinese simply from books. And unskilled as the Chinese are in the art of imparting a knowledge of their own language to Foreigners, it is almost a sine qua non that the learner should have certain lines on which to work with his teacher, else the scholar has "a potentiality," to use one of Dr. Johnson's big words, of acquiring knowledge in the person of the teacher, but without a phrase book, or other help, it cannot be utilised. In other words, a Chinese sen sahng is like a deep well of water, and the student has to weary himself out with the labour of drawing out the knowledge, from a well of Chinese undefiled. The learner will therefore find it necessary to check his pronunciation by some Chinese, and he must not be surprised to find that many Hakkas pronounce many of the words in this book differently to the spelling given here, nor are the tones, in which each word is uttered, the same in different parts of the country; for, unfortunately, the wave of confusion which swept from the tower of Babel seems to be still dashing and roaring with all its pristine force in Eastern Asia. It is said there are as many different dialects, sub-dialects and local patois in China as there are days in the year. Be this as it may, there is a sufficient number to add to the difficulties of the acquisition of any dialect.
​I cannot pretend to hope that the book, simple as it is, will be found to be free from all error; for what book is there, let it be prepared by as eminent a sinologist as you like, but in which a few hours search will discover not a few mistakes? If this pamphlet will prove as useful to a beginner in the Hakka Dialect as its prototype (Giles' Hand-book of Swatow) proved to me, in my commencement of the study of the Swatow dialect, the labour spent on it will not have been of no avail.
          J. DYER BALL,
             H. M.'s Civil Service.
THE NUMERALS.
| 1. | Yit. |
| 2. | Nyee. |
| 3. | Sahm. |
| 4. | See. |
| 5. | Ng. |
| 6. | Look. |
| 7. | Ts'eet. |
| 8. | Paht. |
| 9. | Keeoo. |
| 10. | Ship. |
| 11. | Ship yit. |
| 12. | Ship nyee. |
| 13. | Ship sahm, and so on |
| 20. | Nyee-ship or nyip. |
| 21. | Nyee-ship-yit, or nyip yit. |
| 22. | Nyee-ship-nyee or nyip nyee, and so on. |
| 30. | Sahm-ship, or sah. |
| 31. | Sahm-ship-yit or sah-yit. |
| 40. | See-ship. |
| 79. | Ts'eet-ship-keeoo. |
| 94. | Keeoo-ship-see. |
| 100. | Yit-pahk. |
| 101. | Yit-pahk-lahng-yit. |
| 102. | Yit-pahk-lahng-nyee. |
| 110. | Yit-pahk-yit-ship, or Yit-pahk-yit, or pahk-yit. |
| 111. | Yit-pahk-yit-ship-yit. |
| 200. | Nyee-pahk. |
| 300. | Sahm-pahk. |
| 1000. | Yit-ts'en. |
| 1001. | Yit-ts'en-lahng-yit-chahk. |
| 10,000. | Yit-wahn. |
| 100,000. | Ship-wahn. |
LESSON I.—Domestic.
* Bring tea.
* Get dinner (or any meal).
* Call the coolie.
* I want to bathe.
* There is no water (lit. no water).
* Have you had your rice?
* Is there any beef?
* There is no beef.
* There is mutton.
* Bring some bread.
* Bring some hot water.
* I don't want wine.
* Call the cook.
* He hasn't come back yet.
* Is there any milk?
* There is a little.
* Is it good?
* Not very good.
* Put it here.
* These are fowls' eggs.
* They are not very large.
* Small ones are better than large ones.
* Is this good to eat?
* It is (good to eat).
* Are there any fowls?
* What is this?
* Is there any more?
* The cook has come.
* Does he smoke opium?
* I don't know certainly.
* Who is he?
* He is a Chinaman.
LESSON I.—Domestic.
* Poong ts'ah loy (or Keeahm ts'ah loy).
* He ts'on. (Bring &c.) Poong ts'on loy.
* Hahm kon-teeahm loy.
* Ngi oy say shin.
* Mow shooee.
* Nyee shit-fahn m-ts'en? (In English, How do you do? i.e. Have you eaten your meal?)
* Yeeoo nyeeoo-nyook mow?
* Mow nyeeoo-nyook.
* Yeeoo yong-nyook.
* Tsah (or keeahm) men-pow loy.
* Ch'ah (or keeahm) nyet (or show) shooee loy.
* M-oy tseeoo (lit. Don't want wine).
* Hahm foh-t'eu loy.
* Key m-ts'en chon-loy.
* Yeeoo nyeeoo-nen mow?
* Yeeoo teet-tsz, or Hahn-yeeoo teet-tsz, or Yit-teet-tsz.
* How m how?
* M-hay ship-foon how.
* Fong-hah nyah-t'ahng.
* Nyah-teu hay ki-ch'oon.
* Mow key t'ie-tsz.
* Say-ki how-koh t'ie-ki.
* Nyah-teu how-shit m?
* How-shit.
* Yeeoo ki mow?
* Nyah-teu hay muck-ki?
* Hahn-yeeoo mow?
* Foh-t'eu loy loh.
* Key hay-shit ah-p'en-yen-ki hay-m-hay?
* M-tee-tet-t'een, or m-tee-tet shit-ts'i.
* Key hay nah-hah?
* Key hay T'ong-nyin.
LESSON II.—General.
* Come here.
* Who has come?
* No one has come.
* Who is that?
* I don't know.
* He's not a good man.
* Tell him to go away.
* Open the door.
* Shut the door.
* Call the boy (servant).
* Come quickly.
* Where's the coolie?
* Has he come?
* Call him back.
* Come to-morrow.
* He needn't come back.
* He can't come.
* Get another (man).
* He doesn't wish to come.
* Come with me.
* How many men are there?
* More than ten.
* Altogether there are sixty men.
* Are there any children?
* This is a boy.
* Is this a boy, or a girl?
* He is in my employ.
* Who is your master?
* He is a Hakka.
* He is not a fellow-villager of yours.
* Where does he live?
* A long way from here.
LESSON II.—General.
* Loy nyah-lea, or simply loy.
* Nah-hah nyin loy? or Nah-hah loy?
* Mow-nyin loy.
* Ki-chahk hay nah-hah?
* M-tea (lit. don't know).
* Key m-hay how nyin, or key hay m-how nyin.
* Hahm key tseu.
* Hoy moon.
* Ts'on moon.
* Hahm she-tsi loy.
* Fie-tea loy.
* Kon-teeahm ts'oy nigh-lea?
* Yeeoo loy mow?
* Hahm key chon-loy.
* Mean-tsow-nyit loy, or shin-tsow-nyit loy.
* Key m-sz chon-loy loh.
* Key m-loy-tet.
* Hahm p'et-nyee-sah loy.
* Key m-seeong loy.
* Low ngi loy.
* Yeeoo key-toh nyin?
* Ship-lahng-ki, or ship-chahk yeeoo toh.
* K'eeoong-ts'eeoo yeeoo look-ship nyin.
* Yeeoo say-tsz yeeoo-mow?
* Nyah-chahk hay ah-tseuow-tsi.
* Nyah-chahk hay lie-tsz, hahn-chee hay moy-tsz ?
* Key hay ngah-foh-key (tah-koong foh-key).
* Nah-hah hay nyah-she-t'eu?
* Key-hay Hahk-nyin.
* Key m-hay low-nyee k'eeoong-wooee-ki.
* Key ts'i nigh-t'ahng ch'ew?
* Kahk nyah-t'ahng how-yen.
LESSON III.—General.
* What o'clock is it?
* Half-past ten.
* Come back at four o'clock.
* Tell him to wait.
* Come by and bye.
* At what o'clock do you dine?
* When do you breakfast?
* It's very hot to-day.
* It's not very hot.
* It was very hot yesterday as well.
* To-day is hotter than yesterday.
* Next month will be cold.
* To-morrow is the end of the month.
* It was very cold last night.
* Is this a long, or short month?
* There was a typhoon some days ago.
* Is there any wind now?
* It's raining now.
* Bring me an umbrella.
* It rains heavily in summer (or hot weather).
* Are there (or were there) any people in the streets?
* I want to go out in the afternoon.
* Call the coolies to come and carry the chair.
* Are there any horses here?
* I think they are not good.
* I dare not go out in the daytime.
* It's too hot.
* Call some one to pull the punkah.
* You needn't pull it.
* I am in a perspiration.
* It's no matter.
* I'm afraid I shall catch cold.
LESSON III.—General.
* Key-toh teeahm-choong?
* Ship-teeahm pahn.
* See-teeahm-choong chon-loy.
* Hahm key ten-hah.
* Mahn-mahn loy.
* Nyee key-toh teeahm-choong shit-yah?
* Nyee key-she shit-chow?
* Kim-nyit how-nyet.
* M-hay ship-foon-nyet.
* Ts'ahm-poo-nyit too-how-nyet-tsz.
* Kim-nyit nyet-koh ts'ahm-poo-nyit.
* T'ea-nyee-chahk-nyet how-lahng loh.
* Shin-tsow-nyit hay nyet-mooee.
* Ts'ahm-poo-yah how-lahng.
* Nyah-chahk-nyet-t'ie, hahn-chee nyet-seeow?
* Sen-key-nyit tah-foong-ts'i.
* Kin-hah yeeoo-foong mow?
* Kin-hah lock-shooee.
* Tsah pah-chah peen-ngi.
* T'en-nyet lock t'ie-shooee.
* Ki-shong yeeoo-nyin mow?
* Hah-choo ngi-oy ch'oot-ki.
* Hahm k'eeow-foo loy t'oy k'eeow.
* Nyah-lea yeeoo-mah mow?
* Ngi t'o(r)n tow too-m-hay how-ki.
* Nyit-shin-t'eu ngi m-kahm ch'oot-he.
* Nyet-koh-t'eu.
* Hahm nyin loy ch'ah-foong-shen.
* Nyee m-sz ch'ah-loh.
* Ngi ch'oot-hon.
* Mow seeong-con.
* Ngi k'ong lahng-tow.
LESSON IV.—General.
* What is this?
* This is butter.
* Is there any fruit?
* There are two kinds.
* What kinds?
* There are plantains and pine-apples.
* Are there any other kinds?
* There are no other kinds.
* Bring me a light.
* Have any letters come?
* Where did this letter come from?
* This came from the Tek-kee hong.
* Is there any answer?
* There is no answer.
* Bring me a chair.
* Put it on the table.
* When did this come?
* When did you come?
* Bring me a pen and ink.
* There is a pencil up stairs.
* Is there anyone down stairs?
* This house has seven rooms.
* Has it a garden?
* It has a small one.
* Where is your master?
* He is out.
* When will he be back?
* He didn't say.
* Is your mistress at home?
* She went out with my master.
* When your master comes, tell him.
* I will come again to-morrow.
LESSON IV.—General.
* Nyah-teu hay mahk-ki?
* Nyah-teu hay nyeeoo-yeeoo.
* Yeeoo koh-tsz mow?
* Yeeoo leeong-yong.
* Leeong-pen-yong ki? or mahk-ki-yong ki?
* Yeeoo ngah-tseeow, yeeoo poh-loh.
* Hahn-yeeoo p'et-nyee-yong mow?
* Mow t'ea-nyee-yong loh.
* Tsah foh loy.
* Yeeoo sin loy mow?
* Nyah foong-sin nigh-t'ahng loy ki?
* Hay-ts'oy Tet-kee-hong loy ki.
* Yeeoo fooee-yim mow?
* Mow fooee-yim-loh.
* Teu chong-ye-loy peen-ngi.
* Fong-ts'i t'oy-shong.
* Nyah-teu key-she loy ki?
* Nyee key-she loy?
* Keeahm peet, met loy peen-ngi.
* Leu-shong yeeoo-chee-yen-peet.
* Leu-hah yeeoo-nyin mow?
* Nyah-kahn-wook yeeoo-ts'eet-chahk-fong.
* Yeeoo fah-yen mow?
* Yeeoo chahk say-ki.
* Nyah she-t'eu ts'oy nigh-t'ahng?
* Key ch'oot-hoy ki.
* Key key-she chon-loy?
* Mow-wah.
* Nyah-she-t'eu-p'oh ts'oy wook-k'ah m?
* Key t'oong she-t'eu ch'oot-ki.
* She-t'eu chon-loy wah-key-tea.
* Ngi mean-tsow-nyit yeeoo loy.
LESSON V.—General.
* What does he say?
* He says he has no money.
* Give him some.
* Can you read?
* I can't read.
* Request the teacher to come.
* What is your honourable Surname?
* (To an inferior) what is your Surname?
* Can you talk Chinese?
* I can; what's your name?
* I am a Chinaman.
* He is an Englishman.
* You are not a native of the place.
* He is a man from Kayingchow.
* There are many Chinese at Singapore.
* Do you like this?
* Do you like being here?
* I do (like it).
* Tell him to go back.
* Seize this man.
* What has he been doing? or what does he do?
* He is a thief.
* What has he stolen?
* He has stolen nothing now.
* Has he struck anybody?
* He has he's a dangerous man.
* He has been doing something wrong.
* He ought to be punished.
* Take him to prison for a fortnight.
* Afterwards give him twenty blows.
* When he has been beaten, let him go.
* Warn him not to do it again.
LESSON V.—General.
* Key-wah mahk-ki?
* Key-wah key-mow-nyoon.
* Peen-teu koh-key.
* Nyee shit-sz m?
* Ngi m-shit-sz.
* Ts'eeahng sen-sahng loy.
* Cow seeahng?
* Nyee seeahng mahk-ki?
* Nyee foi(l)-kong T'ong-wah m?
* Foi(l). Nyee hahm-tso mahk-ki meeahng? (or politely), Tsoon-sz ah?
* Ngi hay T'ong-nyin.
* Key hay Yeen-kwet-nyin.
* Nyee m-hay poon-t'oo-nyin.
* Key hay Kah-yin-cheeoo-nyin.
* Sin-ka-poh yeeoo how-toh T'ong-nyin,
* Nyee choong-ye nyah-teu m?
* Nyee choong-ye ts'i-nyah-lea ?
* Choong-ye.
* Hahm key chon-he.
* Lie nyah-chahk-nyin.
* Key hay-tsoh mahk-ki.
* Key hay-tsoh ts'et-low-ki.
* Key t'eu mahk-ki toong-see?
* Key kin-hah mow-t'eu toong-see.
* Key yeeoo tah-nyin mow?
* Yeeoo: key hay how-h'eeahm-ki.
* Key hay tsoh ts'oh-sz.
* Yeen-tong oy faht key.
* Lie-key ts'oh-leeong-chahk lea-pie kahm.
* Heu-loy tah-key leeong-ship-t'en.
* Tah-hoy, cheeoo-fong key.
* Keen-ki key m-how ts'i-tsoh.
LESSON VI.—Relationships.
* Who are you?
* He is my father.
* Have you a mother?
* When did you marry ?
* More than ten years ago.
* How many children have you?
* I have several.
* How old is the eldest?
* The eldest is a girl.
* Is she married?
* How many brothers have you?
* One elder brother, one younger.
* Have you any sister?
* I have one elder sister and one younger.
* Are you married?
* I am engaged, but not married yet?
* When are you going to be married?
* It is not fixed yet.
* I think I shall get married next year.
* Why is this child crying?
* He is hungry.
* Give him something to eat. (lit. Give him to eat).
* Call the nurse to carry him.
* Take him out for a walk.
* He's unwilling to come.
* Never mind whether he's willing or not.
* This is my nephew.
* Is he a native of the place ?
* What does he come here for ?
* He has come to buy things.
* When is he going back?
* In two or three days.
LESSON VI.—Relationships.
* Nyee hay nah-hah nyin?
* Key hay ngah Ah-pah.
* Nyee yeeoo Ah-me mow?
* Nyee key-she che-kah?
* Yeeoo ship-key-nyen:
* Nyee yeeoo key-toh taz-ng?
* Yeeoo sahm-leeong-chahk.
* Ki-chahk t'ie-ki yeeoo key-toh-soy?
* T'ie-ki hay moi-tsz.
* Fong-shahng m-ts'en ?
* Nyee yeeoo key-toh h'eoong-t'ea?
* Yit-chahk Ah-koh, yit-chahk low-t'ie.
* Yeeoo tsee-moy mow?
* Ngi yeeoo-chahk Ah-tseeah, yeeoo-chahk low-moy.
* Nyee ts'ee-low-p'oh m ts'en?
* Ngi t'een-tow, m-ts'en ts'ee.
* Nyee key-she ts'ee ?
* M-ts'en t'een-t'aut.
* Ngi coo ch'oot-nyen ts'eeoo-ts'ee.
* Nyah-chahk Ah-ts'eeow tsoh-mah keeow?
* Key too-p'aht-ngoh.
* Peen key shit.
* Hahm nigh-ma lahm-key.
* Tie-key ch'oot-he hahng.
* Key m-hen loy.
* M-loon key hen-m-hen.
* Nyah-chahk hay ngah ch'it-tsz.
* Key hay t'oo-nyin m-hay ah?
* Key tsoh-mahk-ki loy nyah-lea?
* Key-loy my toong-see.
* Key key-she chon-he?
* Sahm-leong-nyit.
LESSON VII.—Opposites.
* This man is very tall.
* I am shorter (than he).
* That cow is fat.
* This sheep is thin.
* This string is too long.
* The thread is too short; it's not enough.
* This is a very large house.
* The road is too narrow for walking.
* This chair is strong.
* This table is very weak.
* He (his body) is very strong.
* I am weaker than he.
* This table-cloth is wet.
* Dry it, and bring it back.
* This rock is very hard.
* My pillow is very soft.
* Your hands are dirty.
* You had better wash them clean.
* I want hot water.
* I don't want cold water.
* The sea is very deep.
* Rivers are more shallow.
* It's very far by water.
* By land it's nearer by half.
* The bananas are not ripe yet.
* These (coolie) oranges are too unripe.
* I don't want the eggs too much cooked.
* I want to eat the oysters raw.
* There are a great many water-buffalos.
* There are very few goats.
* He is a very clever fellow.
* You are very stupid.
LESSON VII.—Opposites.
* Nyah-chahk nyin how cow-t'ie.
* Ngi koh-ai.
* Ki-chahk-nyeeoo lep(t) awe.
* Nyah-chahk men-yong seu.
* Nyah-t'eeow sawk ch'ong-koh-t'eu.
* Nyah-t'eeow sen to(r)n-kok-t'eu, m-keu-sz.
* Nyah-kahn-wook how t'ie-kahn.
* Nyah-t'eeow-loo tet-koh-k'eeahp m-hahng-tet.
* Nyah-chong-ye choo-coo-ki.
* Nyah-chong-t'oy how-foh-ki.
* Keeah shin-t'ea how-tsong-k'en.
* Ngi nyon-nyok koh-key.
* Nyah-k'wi t'oy-poo ship.
* Sigh-kon (or sigh tsow)-key, tsah-chon-loy.
* Nyah-chahk-shahk how-ngahn.
* Ngah-nyah-chak chim-t'eu lem poot poot lea.
* Nyah tooee-shoo-law-soh.
* Nyee-how say lahng-lea-key.
* Ngi-oy show-shooee.
* Ngi m-oy lahng-shooee.
* T'ie-hoy how-ch'im.
* Hoh hay ts'en-koh t'ie-hoy.
* Shooee-loo how-yen.
* Tah-ngahng-he yeeoo yit-pahn kahn-yen.
* Ki-teu ngah-tseeow mahng wong.
* Nyah-teu ch'ang ship-foon ts'eeahng.
* Ki-teu ki-ch'oon m-oy shook-koh-t'eu.
* Ki-teu how oy-shit sahng.
* Yeeoo how-toh-shooee-nyeeoo.
* Ts'ow-yong how-show.
* Key hay how ts'oong-mean-ki.
* Nyee-hay how-nyee-ch'oon-ki.
LESSON VIII.—Monetary.
* One dollar.
* A dollar and a half.
* Half a dollar.
* Over a dollar.
* This "nyoon" is very difficult to pronounce.
* Do you say so?
* That is easier.
* A dollar is divided into ten "how," (ten-cent pieces).
* One "how" is divided into ten cents.
* Ten dollars and sixty-six cents.
* One tael.
* One tael is equal to about a dollar and a half.
* Nine mace.
* Nine cash.
* One tael, seven mace, six candareens.
* What is a dollar worth (lit. change) now in cash?
* It is worth one thousand and forty cash.
* How much wages do you want a month?
* I want four dollars a month.
* This is too much.
* If I find my own food, it's not very much.
* Of course you find yourself.
* I can't take less, or do it for less, or I can't reduce my terms.
* Have you ever done this work before?
* I have done it once.
* You ought not to spend this money.
* You ought to send it home.
* Does he gamble?
* I think he does.
* If he gambles, I shall not employ him.
* You tell him what I say.
* He says he won't dare do so again.
LESSON VIII.—Monetary.
* Yit-chahk fah-pen, or yeet-chahk-nyoon.
* Chahk-pahn nyoon-ts'en.
* Pahn-chahk fah-pen.
* Chahk-lahng fah-pen.
* Nyah-chahk "nyoon"-sz how-nahn kon.
* Nyee-hay kahn-yong-kong mah?
* Ki-teu cow-yoong-ye.
* Yit-chahk-nyoon foon ship-how.
* Yit-how foon ship-sen.
* Ship-chahk nyoon-ts'en koh look-how-look.
* Yit-leeong-nyoon.
* Yit-leeong-nyoon teang mow-key-tow ts'eeoo-hay chahk-pahn fah-pen.
* Keeoo-ts'en nyoon.
* Keeoo-chahk ts'en.
* Yeet-leeong ts'eet-ts'en-look.
* Kin-hah, yit-chahk nyoon-ts'en tsow key-toh-ts'en.
* Tsow-tow yit-ts'en lahng see-ship.
* Yit-chahk-nyet nyee-oy key-toh koong-nyoon?
* Ngi-oy see-chahk fah-pen yit-chahk-nyet.
* Toh-koh-t'eu.
* Yok-sz hay shit-ngah-ki too-m-hay toh-koh-t'eu.
* T'een-yen hay-shit taz-kah-ki.
* M-kahm-tet loh.
* Nyee tsoh-koh kahn-yong-ki koong-foo m-ts'en.
* Ngi tsoh-koh shahng-pie.
* Nyee m-coy-yoong nyah-teu-nyoon.
* Nyee yin-tong key-chon wook-kah-he.
* Key yeeoo too-ts'en mow? or key too-ts'en m?
* Ngi coo-key p'ah-yeeoo.
* Key hay too-ts'en-ki ngi ts'eeoo m-ts'eeahng key.
* Tseong ngi shaw-kong-ki wah-key-tea.
* Key-wah t'ea-nyee-pie m-kahm-tsoh.
LESSON IX.—Commercial.
* How much is this?
* How much„ is this?„ (lit. What's the price of this?)
* It's too dear.
* I shan't buy it.
* Have you any cheaper ones?
* This is cheaper.
* How do you sell this?
* Reduce your price.
* Increase your offer.
* You sell dear.
* Is it good?
* These are the best.
* Have you any better ones?
* Bring them (for me) to see.
* If suitable I shall buy.
* It does not matter if they are dearer.
* There are none as good as these throughout Hongkong.
* It's imitation.
* No; it's genuine.
* You don't know good from bad.
* I am afraid it's old.
* This is no use.
* He wants too high a price.
* You offer too little.
* It will not pay cost price.
* How long will it last ?
* I guarantee it will last four years.
* Is this a promissory note?
* What's the capital and interest?
* The interest is Three dollars per mensem.
* (That's) very heavy interest.
* No it's rather little interest.
LESSON IX.—Commercial.
* Nyah-teu key-toh nyoon (or ts'en)?
* Nyah-teu mahk-ki kah-ts'en?
* Kwooee-koh-t'eu, or Tet-koh-kwooee.
* Ngi m-my.
* Yeeoo p'eeahn-teet-ki mow?
* Nyah-teu cow-p'eeahng.
* Nyah-teu yong-pen my?
* Nyeee kahm-hah lah.
* Nyee t'eeahm-teu.
* Nyee my-kwooee.
* How-m-how ah?
* Nyah-teu che-how-ki loh.
* Hahn-yeeoo cow-how-ki mow?
* Keeahm-loy peen-ngi-c'on.
* Hop-yoong, ngi ts'eeoo-my.
* Kwooee-teu mow-seeong-con.
* T'oong-Heeong-kong mow nyah-teu kahn-how-ki.
* Hay kah-ki.
* M-hay; hay chin-ki.
* Nyee m-shit-how-ch'oo.
* Ngi k'ong-p'ah hay k'eeoo-ki.
* Nyah-teu mow-yoong-ki.
* Key ts'ee-tet cow cow-kah.
* Nyee peen-tow show-koh-t'eu.
* M-keu-poon.
* Sz-tet key-keeoo?
* Ngi pow-nyee sz-tet see-nyen.
* Nyah-chong hay ket-tahn m?
* Poon-nyoon key-toh, lea-seet key-toh ?
* Lea-seet sahm-chahk fah-pen yit-nyet.
* How-ch'oong lea.
* M-hay, lea hahn key-k'eeahng.
LESSON X.—Commercial.
* What business does he do?
* I am a general merchant.
* Where is your hong?
* What is it called (its style)?
* How long have you been in business?
* Call the compradore.
* Have you made up your accounts?
* I have not made them up clearly yet.
* Every month you ought to make them up once.
* This account is wrong.
* It must be gone over again.
* Has this money been shroffed (lit. looked at)?
* Call the shroff to shroff them.
* If there are any bad ones, go and change them.
* Weigh these dollars.
* Ten of them are a little light.
* Call the accountant.
* This is the manager.
* Has he a share in the business?
* What goods are these?
* All miscellaneous goods.
* Have they passed the Customs?
* They have passed.
* He wants to open a new shop.
* I'm afraid he'll lose his money (lit. capital).
* There's not much business here.
* Where is his shop?
* Put these goods in the godown.
* To-morrow is Sunday; I shan't come.
* When does the steamer leave?
* How many passengers are there?
* I want to send some letters (or a letter).
LESSON X.—Commercial.
* Key tsoh mahk-ki sen-lea?
* Ngi tsoh nahm-pet-hong-ki.
* Nyah kahn-hong ts'i-nigh-t'ahng?
* Hay mahk-ki sz-how?
* Nyee tsoh sen-lea yeeoo-key-keeoo?
* Hahm my-p'ahn loy.
* Nyee sohn nyah-sz-mook m-ts'en?
* Ngi m-ts'en-sohn ts'in-ts'oh.
* Nyee yin-coy mooee-chahk-nyet sohn.
* Nyah t'eeow-sz m-ch'ohk.
* Oy sohn-koh.
* Nyah-teu-nyoon c'on-koh m-ts'en?
* Hahm c'on-nyoon sen-sahng loy-c'on.
* Yeeoo m-how-ki oy wo(r)n-koh.
* Tooee nyah-teu nyoon-ts'en.
* Ship-chahk cow-k'eeahng-tit-tsz.
* Hahm chon-k'wooee loy.
* Nyah-chahk hay lea-sz-ki.
* Key yeeoo foon-tsz-tsoh yeeoo-mow?
* Nyah-teu hay mahk-ki-foh?
* Wo(r)n-hay hay ta'ahp-foh.
* Yeeoo koh-shoy mow?
* Koh-shoy loh.
* Key seeong-hoy yit-kahn sin-p'oo.
* Ngi k'ong-p'ah key shet-poon.
* Nyah-t'ahng mow mahk-ki sen-lea.
* Keeah p'oo-t'eu ts'i-nigh-lea?
* Nyah-teu-foh t'oy-lok foh-ts'ong he.
* Mean-tsow-nyit lea-pie, ngi m-loy loh.
* Foh-shon key-she hoy-shin?
* Yeeoo key-toh tahp-hahk-ki?
* Ngi oy key-sin-he.
LESSON XI.—Medical.
* This man is a doctor.
* How many doctors are there here?
* Are there any Chinese doctors?
* I am not very well to-day.
* What is the matter with you?
* My head aches.
* Have you been sick?
* I have not.
* Have you anything else the matter?
* I have also the stomach-ache.
* This is not serious.
* Take a little medicine.
* What medicine ought I to take?
* Wait till I get back to the hospital.
* And I will send a man with some for you.
* This man has fever.
* I have fever and ague.
* Is your throat dry?
* It is.
* Don't drink so much water.
* Take a little chicken broth.
* When the fever has gone it won't be dry.
* Does he cough?
* At times he does, at times he doesn't.
* Does he drink?
* I am afraid he smokes opium.
* Perhaps he does.
* He is a strong man.
* Has he taken the stop-opium-pills?
* He says they are no use.
* How does he know if they are of use or not?
* His disease can't be cured.
LESSON XI.—Medical.
* Nyah-chahk hay-tsoh ye-sahng-ki.
* Nyah-t'ahng yeeoo key-toh-chahk ye-sahng?
* Yeeoo T'ong-nyin ye-sahng mow?
* Ngi kim-nyit m-toh ta'z-yen.
* Yeeoo mahk-ki p'eahng?
* Ngi t'eu-nah t'oong.
* Yeeoo eu mow?
* Mow.
* Hahn-yeeoo mahk-ki p'eeahng?
* Ngi yeeoo too-p'aht-t'oong.
* Nyah-teu hay seeow-sz.
* Shit teu-yohk.
* Ngi oy shit mahk-ki yok?
* Ten-ngi chon-he ye-sahng-con.
* Ngi ta'eeoo tah-faht nyin keeahm-loy peen-nyee.
* Nyah-chahk-nyin tsohk-show (or tsohk-nyet).
* Ngi po(r)t-lahng.
* Nyah heu-len(d) tsow m?
* Tsow.
* M-how yim (or shit) kahn-toh-shooee.
* Shit-ten ki-t'ong.
* M-nyet ts'eeoo-m-tsow.
* Key yeeoo-k'em mow?
* Shahng-ha yeeoo, shahng-hah mow.
* Key yeeoo-yim show-tseeoo-mow?
* Ngi k'ohng-key p'ah-shit ah-p'en-yen.
* Fit-chah hay.
* Key-hay yeeoo-lit-ki nyin.
* Key yeeoo-shit ki-yen-yen mow?
* Key wah mow-yoong-ki.
* Key yong-pen tea-tet yeeoo yoong-mow?
* Keeah-p'eeahng m-ye-tet-how.
LESSON XII.—Ecclesiastical.
* This is a convent.
* Are there any priests?
* There are no priests; there are priestesses.
* How many are there?
* Over twenty.
* What do they do?
* Read the Sutras.
* That is a temple.
* Is it a Buddhist on a Taoist (temple)?
* It is a Buddhist temple.
* What is the difference?
* There is a great difference.
* Do priests live here?
* There are no priests at a temple.
* He is a missionary.
* Have you become a convert?
* I have not.
* Is there a chapel here?
* There are two.
* Are they Prostestant or Catholic?
* One is Protestant.
* The other (lit. one) is Catholic.
* Who are the Catholic Missionaries?
* They are all Frenchmen.
* Have they families?
* They have no families.
* They are not allowed to marry.
* They wear Chinese clothes.
* They eat Chinese food.
* What is the intention in this?
* They want to be like Chinamen.
* Is there any other meaning?
LESSON XII.—Ecclesiastical.
* Nyah-kahn hay (h)um-t'ong.
* Yeeoo woh-shong mow?
* Mow woh-shong, yeeoo knee-coo.
* Yeeoo key-toh ?
* Yeeoo long-ship key-chahk.
* Key tsoh mahk-ki?
* Nyeeahm-keen.
* Ki-kahn hay meeow-t'ong.
* Hay Foot-kah, hahn-chee hay T'ow-kah-ki?
* Hah Foot-kah-ki.
* Yeeoo mahk-ki foon-p'et?
* Yeeoo how-t'ie foon-p'et.
* Yeeoo woh-shong ts'i nyah-t'ahng-ch'oo mow ?
* Meeow mow woh-shong.
* Key hay kong Yah-sz-ki.
* Nyee hay nyip-cow-ki hay-m?
* M-hay.
* Nyah-t'ahng yeeoo lea-pie-t'ong mow?
* Yeeoo leeong-kahn.
* Hay Yah-sz-cow hahng-chee hay T'en-choo-cow-ki?
* Yit-kahn hay Yah-sz-cow-ki.
* Yit-kahn hay T'en-choo-cow-ki.
* Shin-foo hay nigh-t'ahng-ki-nyin?
* Ken-too hay Foot-lahn-see-nyin.
* Yeeoo kah-ken mow?
* Mow kah-ken.
* M-choon key ts'ee-low-p'oh.
* Key p'ahn-T'ong-tsong.
* Key shit T'ong-nyin-soong.
* Kahn-yong-tsoh yeeoo mahk-ki yen-coo?
* Key seeong hok-low T'ong-nyin yit-yong.
* Hahn-yeeoo mahk-ki ye-sz mow?
LESSON XIII.—Nautical.
* This is a steamer.
* That is a sailing vessel.
* There is no wind to-day.
* How many passengers are there on board?
* Are there a thousand passengers ?
* They are all Chinese.
* Where are they going to?
* They are going to Singapore.
* When shall we reach port?
* This vessel can go very fast.
* How many li will it go in an hour?
* It will go over thirty li.
* This is the Captain.
* Steamers don't use sails.
* How much coal do you use per diem?
* It depends upon the speed of the ship.
* If she goes fast more is used;
* If she goes slow then a smaller quantity.
* Where is the chief officer?
* He is on deck.
* Is this a passage boat, or a ferry-boat?
* It is a fishing boat: this is a passage boat.
* Where's the women's cabin?
* Call the carpenter.
* Tell him to mend this door.
* It has no lock.
* The key has been lost.
* Make another one.
* At what time do you have breakfast?
* How many sailors are there?
* What's the capacity of the vessel? (with regard to goods and passengers).
* 1,000 piculs and 100 odd passengers.
LESSON XIII.—Nautical.
* Nyah-chahk hay fob-shon.
* Ki-chahk hay kahp-pahn-shon.
* Kim-nyit mow foong.
* Shon-shong yew key-toh tahp-hahk-ki?
* Yeeoo yit-ts'en hahk mow?
* Wo(r)n-hah hay T'ong-nyin.
* He nigh-t'ahng ki?
* He Sin-kah-poh.
* Key-she tow-feu knee?
* Nyah-chahk-shon hahng-tet how-k'wi.
* Yit teeahm-choong hahng-tet key-tow lea-loo tow?
* Sahm-ship-key lea.
* Nyah-chahk hay shon-choo,
* Foh-shon m-sz lea.
* Yit-nyit show key-toh t'ahn?
* C'on key k'wi mahn.
* Key hahng-k'wi ts'eeoo-oy sz toh-teu.
* Hay mahn ts'eeoo-show show-teu.
* T'ie-foh ts'i nigh t'ahng?
* Key-ts'i shon-men.
* Nyah-chahk hay t'oo, hahn-chee hay wahng-shooee-t'oo?
* Hay t'oh-shon; nyah-chahk hay t'oo-shon.
* Nyee-ts'ong t'si-nigh-t'ahng?
* Hahm mook-seeong sz-foo loy.
* Hahm key cheen-chon ki-t'oo-moon-he.
* Mow soh.
* Soh-see m-ken-hoy.
* Chin-koh p'et-nyee-t'eeow.
* Nyee key-shee shit-chow?
* Yeeoo key-toh shooee-shoo?
* Chong-tet key-toh foh; chong-tet key-toh nyin?
* Chong-tet ts'en tahm; chong-tet pahk-lahng-nyin.
LESSON XIV.—Judicial.
* I want to summons this man.
* He is a thief, and has stolen things of mine.
* Have you any witnesses?
* I have witnesses; they haven't come yet.
* Issue subpoenas for them to come.
* Where is the constable?
* He is at the Gaol.
* This is the Yamen.
* What Yamen?
* The Consul's Yamen (Consulate).
* Who is the present Consul?
* Mr. F. (lit. Mr. Buddha).
* Take this bottle to the Chief Justice.
* To-day a man came with a petition.
* Your evidence is not believed.
* Where are the plaintiff and defendant?
* Present your petition now to His Lordship.
* You are both wrong.
* Give him back the petition.
* To-morrow I shall issue a Proclamation.
* Forbidding people to gamble.
* If they don't obey it, they will certainly be punished.
* The Puisné Judge has come.
* I have business to-day.
* I have never done it.
* Everybody knows.
* Don't tell any lies.
* His evidence is not true.
* Did you see (this) yourself? (lit. with your own eyes).
* He does not know about it himself.
* How does he know about it?
* He heard people talking about it.
LESSON XIV.—Judicial.
* Ngi oy cow nyah-chahk nyin.
* Key hay ts'et, t'eu hoy ngah-ki toong-see.
* Nyee yeeoo chin-nyin mow?
* Ngi yeeoo tsoh-chin-ki; m ts'en loy.
* Ch'oot p'eeow hahm chin-nyin loy.
* Ts'i-nyin ts'i nigh-t'ahng?
* Key ts'i kahm-fong.
* Nyah-kahn hay ngah-moon.
* Mahk-ki ngah-moon?
* Leeahng-sz-kon-ki ngah-moon.
* Heën-hah nah-hah tsoh leeahng-sz-kon?
* Hay Foot T'ie-nyin.
* Ch'ah nyah chahk tsoon he peen On-tsaht-sz.
* Kim-nyit yeeoo nyin ch'ah chong-peen loy.
* Nyah heu-keeoong m-yip-sin.
* Nyen-cow, p'ea-cow ts'i-nigh-t'ahng?
* Kin-hah nyah chon-peen peen T'ie-nyin.
* Nyah leeong-hah too yeeoo-ts'oh.
* Peen-chon chong-peen key.
* Mean-tsow-nyit ngi ch'oot cow-she.
* Kim-chee nyin m-how too-ts'en.
* Key m-ts'eeoong, tseeoo oy p'ahn key.
* Foo-nyeeahp-sz loy loh.
* Ngi kim-nyit yeeoo-sz.
* Ngi m-ts'en tsoh-ko.
* Ken-nyin too-tea.
* M-how kong t'ie wah, or m-how kong p'ahng wah.
* Keeah heu keeoong m-hay cheen-ki.
* Nyee ts'in-ngahn c'on tow hay-m-hay?
* Key ts'ee-kah m-tea.
* Key leeong pen tea-tet?
* Key t'ahng nyin kong.
GRAMMAR.
Substantives and Adjectives are not declined: the same word expresses both the singular and the plural.
Pronouns:
| I, me | Ngi. |
| My, mine | Ngah-ki. |
| We, us | Ngi-teu. |
| Our, ours | Ngi-teu-ki. |
| Our, ours | Ngah-teu-ki. |
| Thou, thee | Nyee. |
| Thy, thine | Nyah-ki. |
| You (pl.) | Nyah-teu. |
| Your, yours | Nyee-tue-ki. |
| Your, yours | Nyah-teu-ki. |
| He, she, it, him, her | Key. |
| His, her, hers, its | Keeah-ki. |
| They, them | Key-teu. |
| Their, theirs | Key-teu-ki. |
| Their, theirs | Keeah-teu-ki. |
Verbs remain the same in all moods, tenses, numbers and per- sons. These distinctions are shewn by the addition of certain auxilliary verbs, as follows:—
| To come | Loy. |
| He has come | Key loy-loh. |
| He came yesterday | Key ts'am-poo-nyit loy. |
| Has he come? | Key loy-m-ts'en? |
| He isn't coming | Key m-loy. |
| He doesn't want to come | Key m-oy-loy. |
| He can't come | Key m-loy-tet. |
| Why hasn't he come yet? | Tsoh mahk-ki key m-ts'en loy? |
| Is he coming? | Key loy-m-loy? |
| You needn't come | Nyee m-sz-loy. |
| Don't you come! | M-how-loy! |
VOCABULARY.
A :
| Ability | Nen kon. |
| Able to, to be | Foy |
| Accounts, to make up | Son sze. |
| Accuse, to | Cow. |
| Advantage | Yit. |
| Afraid, to be | K'ong; k'ong p'ah; wooee. |
| Afternoon | Hah cheeoo; hah ng. |
| Afterwards | Heu loy; mooee heu. |
| Again | Yeeoo hay. |
| Agreement | Hahp t'oong. |
| Ague, fever and | Po(r)t lahng; ch'ow hon chin. |
| All | Wo(r)n hah; loong tsoong. |
| Already | Key yen. |
| Also | Too; yeeoo. |
| Although | Sooee yen. |
| Amah | Lie mah. |
| America | Mooee kwet; Fah k'ey kwet. |
| Anchor, to | Pow nau. |
| Anchor, to weigh | Kau nau. |
| Animals | K'im ch'oo. |
| Animals domestic | Hyouk sang; t'eu sang. |
| Angry | Aht he. |
| Another | P'et ki; p'et nyee ki. |
| Answer, an | Fooee yim. |
| Anything | Mahk ki. |
| Ask, to | Moon. |
| Ask leave of absence, to | Cow kah. |
| B ||
| Bad | M how; awk. |
| Bag | T'oy. ​ |
| Baggage | Hahng lee. |
| Bait | H'eën. |
| Bale (of goods) | Pow. |
| Ball | K'eeoo, or paw. |
| Bamboo | Chook. |
| Bananas | Heung tseeow. |
| Basket | Lahm; law; lep; sow. |
| Bath-tub | Seh shin p'oon. |
| Bathe, to | Seh shin; t'eu leeong. |
| Be, to | Hay. |
| Bear, can't ——— it | M tiee tet. |
| Because | Yin wooee. |
| Bed | Meen ts'ong; ts'ong. |
| Bed-clothes | P'ea coy. |
| Bed-room | Shoy-fong. |
| Beef | Nyeeoo-nyook. |
| Before (time) | Sen; sen t'eu. |
| Before(place) | Men ts'en. |
| Begin, to | Hoy sheeoo; he sheeoo; h'een koong. |
| Beginning | Ch'ee ch'oh. |
| Behind | Heu poy; mooee heu. |
| Below | Ha poy. |
| Besides | Lahng ngoy. |
| Better | Ken cow how; cow how. |
| Bill | Tahn. |
| Bird | Teeow. |
| Bite, to | Ngow. |
| Black | Woo; woo set; woo-too-too-lee. |
| Blow out, to | Chooee woo. |
| Blowing, it is | Tah fung. |
| Blue | Lahm. |
| Board | Pahn. ​ |
| Boat | Shon; te'ahng. |
| Boatman | Te'ahn kah. |
| Body | Wo(r)n shin. |
| Boiling | Kwoon; pooee. |
| Bones | Kwoot; kwoot t'eu. |
| Book | Shoo. |
| Book-case | Shoo kw'ooee. |
| Book-shelves | Shoo kah. |
| Boots | Heeoh. |
| Borrow, to | Tseeah. |
| Bottle | Tsoon. |
| Box | Seeong; (small box) hahp tsai; (trunk) loong. |
| Boy (servant) | She tsai. |
| Bread | Men pow. |
| Breakfast | Chow ts'on. |
| Breakfast, to take | Shit chow. |
| Brick | Chawn. |
| Bridge | K'eeow. |
| Bring | Keeahm. |
| Broad | Faht. |
| Brothers | Heeoong t'ee (elder) ah koh; (younger) low t'ie. |
| Brush | Soh; ts'aht. |
| Bucket (water) | Shooee t'oong. |
| Bundle | Pow. |
| Burn | Show; show tow. |
| Business | Sz; sz kon. |
| Business of mine, no | M kwahn ngi sz. |
| Busy | Yeeoo sz. |
| Butter | Ngeeoo you. |
| Buttons | Neu. ​ |
| Bug | Kon pea; mook seet. |
| Buy | My. |
| By and by | Mahn-mahn-tsz. |
| C ||
| Cabin (sleeping) | Shon fong. |
| Cake | Peeahng, |
| Calico | (White) P'ahk yong poo; (print) yin fah-poo. |
| Call, to | Hahm. |
| Can do | Tsoh tet. |
| Candareen | Foon. |
| Candle | (wax) Lahp chook; (tallow) nyeeoo yeeoo chook. |
| Cap | Mow. |
| Captain (ship) | Shon choo. |
| Care, take | Seeow sim. |
| Cargo | Foh woot. |
| Carpenter | Mook seong. |
| Carpet | T'ea chen. |
| Carry, to (a child) | Lahm; (on back) pah. |
| Carry,„ to„ (a chair) | T'oy. |
| Cart | Ch'ah. |
| Cash | Ts'en. |
| Cat | Meeow. |
| Catty | Keen. |
| Certainly | T'een yen. |
| Chair | Ye; (armed) cow ye. |
| Chair„ (sedan) | K'eeow. |
| Chair-bearer | K'eeow foo. |
| Change, to | Wo(r)n; (a word) coy; (money) tsow. |
| Charcoal | Heong t'ahn. ​ |
| Cheap | P'eeahng; p'en ye. |
| Chicken | K(h)igh ts'ai. |
| Child | (boy) Ah tseeow tsai (girl) ah tseeow moy. |
| China (the country) | Choong kwet. |
| Chinese | T'ong nyin. |
| Chop, a | Sz how. |
| Christian, a | Shin fooee nyin; tseen cow ki. |
| Cigar | Lee soong yen. |
| City, a | Shang. |
| Clean | Lahng lee. |
| Clear | (of liquids) Ts'een; (of speech) mean p'ahk. |
| Clever | Ts'oong mean; lahng lee; ts'een. |
| Cloth | Poo; (woollen) yoong. |
| Clothes | Sahm foo; ye shong; ye fook. |
| Clumsy | Ts'z seeook. |
| Coal | Moy t'ahn; sha(r)k t'ahn. |
| Coarse | Ts'z. |
| Cold | Lahng; (a cold) shong foong p'ea set. |
| Collar | Foong leahng. |
| Colour | Set shooee. |
| Comb, to | Saw. |
| Come, to | Loi. |
| Come„ back, to | Chon loi. |
| Compass, a | Loh kang; loh p'ahn. |
| Compensate, to | P'oy poo; poo chon. |
| Comprador | My p'ahn. |
| Confucius | K'oong-foo-tsz. |
| Confused | Lawn. |
| Constable | Ts'ai yeet; (police) ts'ai nyin; (vulgar) look ye. ​ |
| Cook, a | Fo(r) t'eu. |
| Cooked (not raw) | Shook. |
| Cook-house | Ch‘oo fong. |
| Cool | Leong; leong song. |
| Copper | T'oong; foong t'oong; shook t'oong. |
| Copy, to | Ts'au. |
| Cork, a | Tsoon tsoot. |
| Cork-screw | Loh sz tson. |
| Cotton | (Men fah; (tree) mook men; (yarn) men sah; (cloth) men poo. |
| Courage | Tahm. |
| Cover, a | Coy. |
| Cover,„ to | K'ep. |
| Crack, a | Lah. |
| Crack,„ to | Pow; pow t'eeow ts'ahk. |
| Credit, on | Ch'ah. |
| Crab | High; (small) p'ahng p'ea high. |
| Cry | Keeow. |
| Cup | Pooee; (tea-cup) ts'a pooee. |
| Cupboard | Cow ch'oo; k'ey ch'oo. |
| Curtains (mosquito) | Moon chong. |
| Cushion | Teeahp t'eu. |
| Custom, a | Kwooee key. |
| Customs (station or house) | Kwan heu. |
| Cut, to (a pencil) or pare | P'ie. |
| Cut, to„ (in two) | Ts'et t'o(r)n. |
| Cut, to„ (as one's hand) | Kot. |
| Cut down, to (as trees) | Tsahm; (fire wood) p'aw. |
| D ||
| Dangerous | Ngooee heeum. |
| Dare, to | Kahm. ​ |
| Dark | Um; um moh moh lee. |
| Daughter | Moy tsz. |
| Day | Nyit. |
| Daytime | Nyit shin t'eu. |
| Dead | See; (is dead) See hoi. |
| Dear | Kwooee. |
| Despatch, a | Woon shoo. |
| Devil | Kwooee. |
| Difference, a | Foon p'et. |
| Different | M t'oong (lit. not the same). |
| Difficult | Nahn. |
| Directly | Tseet k'et; tseet she. |
| Dirty | Eu leu. |
| Do, to | Tsoh. |
| Doctor | Ye sahng. |
| Dog | Keu. |
| Dollar, one | Yit chahk nyune; yit chahk fah pen. |
| Door | Moon. |
| Double up, to (as clothes) | Chahp. |
| Downstairs | Leu hah. |
| Drawer, a | T'oh seohng. |
| Drink, to | Shit; yim. |
| Dry | Tsau; con. |
| Duck, a | Ahp. |
| Dust | Ch'in; nigh ch'in. |
| Dye, to | Nyahm set. |
| E ||
| Each | Mooee chahk. |
| Ear | Nyee keet. |
| Earrings | Nyee wahn. |
| East | Toong. ​ |
| Easy | Yoong ye. |
| Eat | Shit. |
| Ebb-tide | Shooee kon; kon leeoo; lok leeoo. |
| Egg (fowl's) | K(h)igh ch'oon. |
| Employ | Sz. |
| Empty | K'oong. |
| Ended | Tsoh wahn. |
| England | Yin kwet. |
| Enquire | Fong moon; moon. |
| Evening | Mahn shin t'eu (also means night). |
| Every | Chahk chahk. |
| Eyes | Ngan. |
| Expenses | Sz fooee. |
| F ||
| Face | Men paht. |
| Fair | (wind) Shoon fung; (weather) how t'en. |
| Fall, to | Tet. |
| Fan, a | Shen. |
| Far | Yen. |
| Fast | K'wi k'wi. |
| Fat | Nep. |
| Father | Ah pah. |
| Fear | K'ong. |
| Feed, to (animals, etc.) | Keeoong. |
| Festival | Tset; tset k'ey. |
| Fetch, to | Keeahm * * * loi. |
| Few | Show. |
| Fight, to | Tah cow; (in war) tah chong. |
| Fine, to | Faht. |
| Fingers | Shoo chee. ​ |
| Finished | Tsoh t'oh lee; tsoh wahn lee. |
| Fire | Foh; (conflagration) foh shau wook. |
| Fire„ a gun, to | Show. |
| First, at | He t'eu. |
| First,„ the | T'ea yit. |
| Fish | Ng. |
| Flesh | Nyook. |
| Flies | Woo yin. |
| Floor | Leu pahn. |
| Flour | Men foon. |
| Flowers | Fah. |
| Foot | Keeok. |
| Fork | Ts'ah. |
| Foreign | Loi loo. |
| Fox | Foo lee. |
| Fresh (as fish, fruit, etc.) | Sin sen; (water) t'ahm shooee sen. |
| Fry, to | Tsen; tsow. |
| Fruit | Koh tsz. |
| Full | Mahn. |
| G ||
| Gamble, to | Too ts'en. |
| Garden | Fah yen. |
| Gardener | Fah wong; chong fah yen k(h)igh. |
| Gay | Ch'ah fah. |
| Get up, to | He shin. |
| Girl | Moy tsai. |
| Give, to | Peen. |
| Glad, to be | Fon he. |
| Go, to | He. |
| Go out, to | Ch'oot he. |
| Goat | Sahn yeeong. ​ |
| Godown | Foh ts'ong. |
| Gods, the | Shin. |
| Gold | Kim. |
| Good | How. |
| Goods | Foh woot. |
| Goose | Ngoh. |
| Glass | Poh lee. |
| Green | Look; look set. |
| Guest | Nyin hahk. |
| Gun | Ts'eohng. |
| H ||
| Hair | Mow; (of the head) t'eu nah mow. |
| Half | Pahn. |
| Ham | Foh t'ooee. |
| Hammer | Ch'ooee. |
| Hand | Shoo. |
| Handkerchief | Shoo kin. |
| Hang up, to | Kwah he. |
| Hat | Mow. |
| Hat, to put on a | Tie mow. |
| Have, or have got | Yeeoo. |
| He | Key. |
| Head | T'eu nah. |
| Hear | T'ahng; t'ahng woon. |
| Heavy | Ch‘oong. |
| Hire, to | Tseng. |
| Hold, to | Tsah. |
| Home, at | Tsoy k'ah; ts'ai kah. |
| Hong | Hong. |
| Honourable | Kwooee. |
| Horse | Mah. ​ |
| Hot | (of weather) Nyet. (of liquids) Show. |
| Hot-tempered | Foh sin. |
| House | Wook. |
| How? | Leeong pen? |
| How much; how many? | Key toh? |
| How far? | Key yen? |
| How much less ? | Show key toh? |
| Husband | Ch'ong foo; low koong. |
| Hungry | Too p'aht ngoh. |
| I ||
| I | Ngi. |
| Ice | Set. |
| Ice-box | Set seeong. |
| Idle | Lahn t'oh. |
| If | Yok sz. |
| Ill | Yeeoo p'eeahng; (bad) m how. |
| Inch | Ts'oon. |
| Ink | Met; (fluid) met shooee. |
| Ink-bottle | Met shooee ahng. |
| Inside | Looee too. |
| Instance, for | How pea. |
| Investigate, to | Ts'ah ts'aht. |
| Invite | Tseeahng. |
| Iron | T'et. |
| Iron, an | T'ong teu. |
| Iron, to | Tong. |
| J ||
| Jade | Nyook. |
| Jetty | Mah t'eu. ​ |
| K ||
| Keep, to | Leeoo kin; sheeoo he. |
| Kettle | Ts'ah pow. |
| Key | Saw she. |
| Kill, to | Tah see; (with a knife) tsahm; (behead) saht. |
| Kind, a (sort) | Yong. |
| Knife | Tow (also dagger with one edge).. |
| Knot, a | Keet; (to knot) tah keet. |
| Know, to | Tea. |
| Know, to (acquaintances, languages, etc.) | Shit. |
| L ||
| Ladder, a | T'oy. |
| Ladder, to bring a | Keeam t'oy loy. |
| Lamp | Ten. |
| Lantern | Ten loong. |
| Large | T'ie. |
| Late | (in the day) Choo; (at night) yah. |
| Laugh, to | Seeow. |
| Lawn | Ts'ow poo; ts'ow poo taht; ts'ow poo pah. |
| Lazy | Lahn t'oh; lahn. |
| Leaf, a (either of books or trees) | Yahp. |
| Leak | Leu. |
| Learn, to | Hock. |
| Leather | P'ea. |
| Leave, to ask | Loh nyin ts'een; cow kah, |
| Left hand | Tsoh shoo. |
| Leg, (or foot) | Keeok. ​ |
| Leisure | Hahn; (at) tet hahn ; (not at) m hahn; or m tet hahn. |
| Lend | Tseeah. |
| Let go, to | Fong. |
| Letter | Foong seen. |
| Lie down, to | Mean. |
| Lies, to tell | Kong p'ahng wah; kong t'ie wah. |
| Light (not heavy) | K'eeang. |
| Light (not dark) | Kong. |
| Light, to (lamps, etc.) | Teeahm; hoy. |
| Lightning | Foh shah; (flashes) foh shah nyahp. |
| Like | Ts'eeong; how sz; how ts'eeong. |
| Like, to | Choong ye. |
| Lime | Foy. |
| Little, a | Tit sit tsz; (small) say. |
| Live, (to reside) | Ch'oo; het. |
| Lock, to | Saw. |
| Lock, a | Pah saw. |
| Long | Chong. |
| Long time, a | Keeoo. |
| Look, to | C'on; c'on tow. |
| Looking-glass | Men keeahng. |
| Low (down) | Tie; (not tall) ai. |
| Lose, to | Shit; shit hoi; m ken; m ken hoi. |
| Lucky | Keet. |
| M ||
| Mace, a | Ts'en (money). |
| Make, to | Tsoh. |
| Make haste! | Kw'i kw'i. |
| Male | Nahm; nahm nyin. |
| Man | Nyin. ​ |
| Many | Toh. |
| Mast | Shohn ngwooee. |
| Master | She t'eu. |
| Matches | Foh ts'i. |
| Matter? what's the | Yeeoo mahk ki sz? |
| Matting | Ts'eeahk. |
| Medicine | Yok ts'oy. |
| Meal, a | Ts'on. |
| Meat | Nyook. |
| Meet, to | Ts'ong tow; nyee tow. |
| Mend, to | Poo. |
| Merchant | T'so sen lee ki. |
| Middle | Choong kahn. |
| Milk | Nen; (cow's) nyeeoo nen. |
| Mince, to (meat) | Tow nyook. |
| Mistress | She t'eu p'o. |
| Monday | Lee pie yit. |
| Month | Nyet. |
| Money | Nyoon. |
| Moon | Nyet; nyet kong. |
| More | Toh. |
| Morning | Chow shin tsau; chow shin t'eu. |
| Mosquito | Moon. |
| Mosquito curtains | Moon chong; (a) yit tong moon chong. |
| Mother | Ah me. |
| Mouse | Low ch'oo tsie. |
| Mouth | Choy. |
| Much, too | Toh ko t'eu. |
| Mustard | Ki maht. |
| Mutton | Yong nyook. |
| My | Ngah ki. ​ |
| N ||
| Nail, a | Tahng, yit moy. |
| Nail, to hammer in a | Tahng, tahng yit moy (lit. to nail a nail). |
| Nail | (finger) Shoo chee kahp; (toe) keeok chee kahp. |
| Name | Meeahng; (surname) seeahng; (other name) p'et sz; (milk name) youee meeahng. |
| Narrow | Tsahk; k'eeahp. |
| Native | Poon t'oo (a) poon t'oo nyin. |
| Near | K'eeoon. |
| Needle | Chim. |
| New | Seen. |
| News | Seen woon. |
| Next year | Ch'oot hoi nyen; mean nyen; ch'oot nyen. |
| Next month | T'ea nyee chahk nyet. |
| Night | Yah poo shin; mahn shin t'eu. |
| Noon | Ahn choo. |
| North | Pet; (the) pet pen t'eu. |
| Nose | P'ea koong. |
| Notes (bank) | Nyoon chee. |
| Now | Kin hah. |
| O ||
| Oar | Tseong. |
| Obey | T'ahng wah. |
| Office | Seeah sz leu. |
| Often | How toh pie. |
| Oil | Yeeoo. ​ |
| Old (of persons) | Low. |
| Old (of things) | K'eeoo. |
| On the table | Fong ts'ai t'oy shong. |
| Once | Yit pie. |
| Once, go at | Tsit she he. |
| Oneself | Ts'z key; ts'z kah. |
| Onion | Ts'oong t'eu. |
| Only | T'ook t'ook. |
| Open, to | Hoi. |
| Opium | Ah p'en. |
| Opposite | Tooee men. |
| Or | Fit chah. |
| Orange | (tight skin) Ch'ahng; (loose skinned) kahm; (small, smooth) keet; (mandarin) choo sah keet. |
| Ounce | (Chinese) Leeohng. |
| Ought | Yin coy. |
| Outside | Ngoi heu. |
| P ||
| Painter | (house) Yeeoo ts'it sz foo, or yeeoo ts'it low; (picture) fah koong. |
| Paper | Chee. |
| Partner | Kahp poon foh key. |
| Partnership, to dissolve | Foon sz, (or to separate). |
| Partnership, to enter into | Kahp poon tsoh sen lee. |
| Paste | Tseong foo. |
| Pattern | Yong tsz. |
| Pay, to | Peen nyoon; cow nyoon. |
| Picul, one | Yit tahm. |
| Peking | Pet keen. ​ |
| Pen | Peet; (nib) peet tsooee. |
| Pencil | Yen peet. |
| Pepper | Foo tseeow. |
| People, the | Pahke seeahng (lit. the 100 surnames). |
| Petition, a | Peen; (to present a) t'ea peen. |
| Pewter | Seeahk. |
| Pick up, to | Keeahm he. |
| Piece, a | Yit kw'i. |
| Pigeon | P'ahk kahp. |
| Pig | Choo. |
| Pillow | Chim t'eu. |
| Pilot | Tie shooee nyin. |
| Pin | (foreign) T'ie t'eu chim; (hair-pin, native) tsahm. |
| Pine-apple | Paw law. |
| Place | T'ea fong. |
| Plate | (small) T'eeahp; (large or platter) pahn. |
| Play, to (as children) | Leeow; cow. |
| Play the piano, to | T'ahn. |
| Pocket | T'oy. |
| Politeness | Lee mow. |
| Pony, (or horse) | Mah. |
| Poor | P'een k'eeoong; kw'i. |
| Pork | Choo nyook. |
| Port, a | Feu t'eu. |
| Potato | Shoo tsi; (sweet) fahn shoo. |
| Pound, a | P'ong; (catty) keen. |
| Pour, to | Tow. |
| Praise, to | Tsahn mooee. |
| Pray, to | K'ey tow. |
| Probably | Fet chah. ​ |
| Priest (Buddhist) | Woh shong; (Tauist) t'ow sz; (Romish) shin foo. |
| Principle | T'ow lee. |
| Protect, to | Pow yeeoo. |
| Proclamation, a | Cow she. |
| Proclamation, to issue a | Ch'oot cow she. |
| Present, to make a | Soong. |
| Prison | Kahm; kahm fong. |
| Pull, to | Pahng; (as a rope) lie; (to pull as a punkah, etc., or to hoist as a flag, sail, etc.) ch'ah. |
| Pull the punkah, to | Ch'ah foong shen. |
| Punish him, to | Faht key, (or to fine him). |
| Push, to | Soong. |
| Put, to | Fong. |
| Put on clothes, to | Chok sahm. |
| Q ||
| Quality (of goods) | Ten. |
| Queen | Wong heu. |
| Quickly | Kw'i kw'i. |
| R ||
| Rains, it | Lock shooee. |
| Raw | Sahng. |
| Read | T'ook; (to oneself) c'on. |
| Ready, it (anything) is | P'en. |
| Ready money | Hee'en nyoon. |
| Receive, to | Shoo. |
| Reckon up, to | Sohn sz; kay sohn. |
| Red | Foong; foong set. |
| Regulations | Chong ch'in. ​ |
| Relative | Ts'een ts'eet. |
| Reply, to | Fooee yim. |
| Rest, to | T'eu hah. |
| Rice | Me. |
| Ride on horseback | K'ey mah. |
| Right | Ch'ok; (no mistake ergo right) mow ts'oh. |
| Right hand | Yeeoo shoo. |
| Ripe | Shook. |
| River | Hoh. |
| Road | Loo, |
| Roast, to | Show. |
| Room | Fong. |
| Root | Keen. |
| Rope | Lahm. |
| Rough | Ts'z. |
| Round | Yen. |
| Rub, to | Ts'ah; ts'aht. |
| Run, to | Tseu. |
| S ||
| Sailing-vessel | Kahp pahn shon. |
| Sailor | Shooee shoo. |
| Sails | Lea; (to sail) hahng shon; sz lea; sz foong. |
| Salt | Yahm. |
| Same | T'oong. |
| Saturday | Lea pie look. |
| Say, to | Kong. ​ |
| Scales (money) | T'en p'een. |
| Scissors | Tsen tow. |
| Screw, a | Loh sz. |
| Sea | Hoi; (to go to) ch'oot hoi; ch'oot yong. |
| Sea-sick, to be | Vin long. |
| Second | T'ea nyee. |
| Security, to go | Tahm pow. |
| See | C'on. |
| Seek, to | Ts'im. |
| Seldom | Mow key hoh. |
| Send, to (persons) | Tah faht; sz. |
| Sentence, a | Yit key. |
| Servant | Sz fon nyin. |
| Several | Key chahk. |
| Sheep | Men yong. |
| Sheet of paper, a | Yit kw'i chee. |
| Ship | Shon. |
| Shoes | High |
| Shop | P'oo t'eu. |
| Shore of the sea (praya) | Hoy pen. |
| Short | To(r)n. |
| Shrimps | Hah. |
| Shut, to | Ts'on. |
| Sick (ill) | Pee'eng. |
| Sick, to be | Yeeoo pee'eng. |
| Side, this | Nyah pen; (that side) ki pen. |
| Silk (thread) | Sz. |
| Silk | Ch‘oo. |
| Silver | Nyoon. |
| Sing | Chong. |
| Singapore | Sin kah poh. ​ |
| Sisters | Tsee moy. |
| Sister | (elder) Ah tseeah; (younger) low moy. |
| Sit down, to | Ts'oh. |
| Skin | P'ea. |
| Sleep, to | Shoy. |
| Slowly | Mahn-mahn. |
| Smell, to | P'ea. |
| Smell, a | Yit ch'in mooee; (sweet) yit ch'in heong mooee; (bad) yit ch'in ch'oo mooee. |
| Smoke | Yen. |
| Smooth | Vaht. |
| Sneeze, to | Tah aht ch'ee. |
| Soap | Fahn kahn. |
| Soak, to | Tsim shooee. |
| Socks | Maht. |
| Soft | Nyawn. |
| Solder, to | Hohn. |
| Some (a little) | Toh show; teet sheet tsz, or teet tsz. |
| Son | Li tsz. |
| Sore | T'oong. |
| Sort | Yong. |
| Sound (a loud noise) | T'ie shahng. |
| Soup | T'ong. |
| Sour | Son. |
| South | Nahm; nahm p'en t'eu, or—pen—. |
| Spade | Ts'ahn. |
| Spectacles | Ngahn keeahng. |
| Spider | Lah k'eeah. |
| Split, to | T'oon heu shooee. |
| Spoon | Kahng t'eeow; ch'ee kahng. ​ |
| Spread, to | Pie hoy. |
| Square | See fong. |
| Stab, to | Ts'eeook. |
| Start, to | (set out) He keeok; (by water) hoy shin; (up) t'eeow hah he. |
| Steamer | Foh shon. |
| Steersman | Tsah t'oh; sow koong (generally takes the duties that a Captain has among foreigners. |
| Stick | (a) T'eeow kwoon ; (to adhere) nyam kin. |
| Still (quiet) | Ts'een ts'een. |
| Stone | Sha(r)k. |
| Stool, a | Ten. |
| Stop, to | Ten. |
| Stop up, to | Set; set kin. |
| Stove | Foh loo. |
| Strange | K'ey kwi. |
| Street | Ki. |
| Strength | Lit. |
| Strike | Tah. |
| String | Sok. |
| Strong | Yeeoo lit; heeoong tsong; choo koo (as tea, etc.) nyoong. |
| Sugar | Tong. |
| Summons, to issue a | Ch'oot peeow. |
| Sun | Nyit t'eu. |
| Sunday | Lea pie. |
| Sweat | Hon; (to) ch'oot hon. |
| Sweet (to smell) | Heohng. |
| Sweet (to taste) | T'eeahm. ​ |
| T ||
| Table | T'oy; tsok. |
| Table-cloth | T'oy poo. |
| Tael | Leong. |
| Tail | Mooee; (queue) p'een. |
| Tailor | T‘si foong. |
| Take away, to | Keeahm he. |
| Take down, to (as pictures) | Keeahm lok, or keeahm hah. |
| Take care | Seeow sim. |
| Take off clothes, to | Pok sahm. |
| Talk, to | Kong. |
| Tea | Ts'ah. |
| Tea-cup | Ts'ah pooee. |
| Tea-pot | Ts'ah foo. |
| Telescope | Ts'en lea keeahng. |
| Temple | Meeow. |
| That | Ki chahk; (those) ki teu. |
| There | Ki t'ahng. |
| Thermometer | Hon ch‘oo chim. |
| They | Key teu. |
| Thick (of liquids) | Nyoong. |
| Thick (of substances) | P'oon. |
| Thimble | Teen che. |
| Thin (of liquids) | He p'ok. |
| Thin (of substances) | P'ok. |
| Thin (of persons) | Seu. |
| Thing | Toong see. |
| Think, to | Koo. |
| Thirsty | Keeahng hoht. |
| This | Nya chahk; (these) nya teu. |
| Throat | Heu len. ​ |
| Throw, to | Feet; teeoo hoy. |
| Thunder | Looee koong. |
| Thursday | Lea pie see. |
| Tiger | Low foo. |
| Time | She heu. |
| Time? what's the | Key toh teeahm choong? |
| Toast (bread) | K'ong men pow. |
| To-day | Kim nyit. |
| Toes | Keeok chee. |
| Together | K'eeoong kin. |
| To-morrow | Min tsow nyit. |
| Tongue | Lea; shet; shet mah. |
| Towel | Men kin. |
| Translate, to | Fahn yit; (interpret) ch'on wah. |
| Treacle | T'ong shooee. |
| Treaty | Foh yeeok. |
| Tree | Shoo. |
| Truly | Shit ts'i hay. |
| Tumbler | Shooee pooee. |
| Turn round, to | Fahn chon. |
| U ||
| Umbrella | Chah; (an) yit pah—. |
| Under | Hah poy; tie hah. |
| Understand, to | Heeow; min pahk; foy. |
| Unripe | Sahng. |
| Upstairs | Leu shong. |
| Use, to | Sz; yoong. |
| V ||
| Vegetables | Ts'oi. |
| Very | Ship foon (lit. ten parts). ​ |
| Very good | Ship foon how. |
| Very good, not | M hay key how. |
| Visit, to | T'ahm. |
| W ||
| Wages | Nyin koong; koong ts'en; koong nyoon; (price of) koong kah. |
| Wait, to | Ten. |
| Walk, to | Hahng; (—off) tseu. |
| Walk, to go for a | Ch'oot ki hahng leeow. |
| Wall, a | Seeohng. |
| Want, to | Oi. |
| Warm | Nyet; lon. |
| Wash, to | Seh. |
| Washerman | Seh sahm low. |
| Wash-hand (basin) | Men p'oon (lit. face basin). |
| Waste, to | Sigh. |
| Waste time, to | Sigh she heu. |
| Watch, a | She shin peeow. |
| Water | Shooee. |
| Waves | Long. |
| Weak | Nyawn nyok; (watery as tea) tahm. |
| We | Ngi teu. |
| Week | Lee pie. |
| Weigh, to | Ch'in; (with foreign scales) p'ong; (money) tooee; (with double scales) p'een; (with money steelyards) ch'in. |
| Well, a | Tseeahng. ​ |
| Well, (in health) | How; (get) how chon. |
| West | See; see p'en t'eu, or see pen t'eu. |
| What? | Mahk ki? |
| When? | Key she? |
| Where? | Nigh t'ahng? nigh mong t'ahng? |
| Whip, (horse) | Mah peen or pen; (to) pen tah. |
| White | P'ahk; p'ahk set; (as snow) p'ahk set set lea. |
| Who? | Lah hah nyin; or nah – –? |
| Whole | Wo(r)n ts'een ; wo(r)n hah; loong tsoong. |
| Why? | Tsoh mahk ki? |
| Wide | Faht. |
| Wife | Low poh; (respectfully) kah ken. |
| Wind | Foong. |
| Window | Ts'oong moon. |
| Wine | Tseeoo. |
| Wine-glass | Tseeoo pooee. |
| Winter | Toong t'en. |
| Wish, to | Oy. |
| With | T'oong. |
| With, to go | Low. |
| Woman | Foo nyee nyin; nyee nyin, poo nyong. |
| Wood | Mook; (fire) ts'iee. |
| Work | Koong foo; (to) tah koong; tsoh koong, or tsoh koong foo. ​ |
| Wounds | Shong. |
| Write | Seeah. |
| Wrong | Ts'oh. |
| Y ||
| Year | Nyen. |
| Year, last | K'eeoo nyen. |
| Yellow | Vong set. |
| Yesterday | Ts'ahm poo nyit; ts'ok nyit. |
| Yet, not | M ts'en. |
| You | Nyee, (pl.) Nyee teu. |
| Your, or yours | Nyah, or nyah ki; (pl.) nyah ki, or nyah teu, or nyah teu ki. |
* ↑ A Cantonese is known as Poon-t'ea-nyin.
* ↑ 'Cow nyoon' is the exact equivalent of our hand over money.
* ↑ The Chinese words ts'een ts'eet do not cover the same extent of meaning as the English word 'relative' does, for a brother or sister is a nearer relative, in Chinese, than a ts'een ts'eet.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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