# Dictionary of the Swatow dialect/kau
### kaukau

* 抅kau328644
* To get; to grasp; to lug-along,

#### hàm nâng khṳ̀ kau i lâi;

    tell some one to go and bring him here.

#### úa lâi khṳ̀ kau i lâi mn̄g;

    I will go and fetch him here to be questioned.
* 轇輵kau-kuah369
* Something indistinctly seen in the distance; perplexed and unsettled.

#### kau-kuah, m̄ cheng-chó̤;

    vague and incomplete.

#### i kio i pit sĭ ŭ sĭm-mih kau-kuah;

    there is certainly some antagonism between them.

#### sìo-bâk kau-kuah, m̄ cheng;

    the accounts are juggled, and remain unbalanced.

#### cĭeⁿ chíu kio ĕ chíu kau-kuah, m̄ cheng;

    the foregoing and the following are inconsistent with each other, and confusion arises from the lack of clearness.
* 泥垢kau-koih630
* Scurf ; grime.

#### háng sói-êk, cêk sin cĕng-cĕng kau-koih;

    he seldom bathes, and his whole body is covered with grime.

#### sói cheng-khih lío hŵn-lío ŭ kau-koih bô̤ kùe tàⁿ nâng sĭ thô cò̤ kâi;

    having washed one's self clean, one can still rub up the grime, so no wonder it is said that man is made from clay.

#### hía kau-koih m̄ tîeh chìu cheng-khih?

    Why do you not scour off all the scurf?
* 勾kau328202
* To mark off; to entice; to hook on.

#### cêk pit kau-sio;

    to cancel an account.

#### sĭ i khṳ̀ kau-ín i lâi;

    it was he who inveigled him here.

#### i tó̤ cò̤ sĭm-mih kau tàng?

    What under-hand job is he at?

#### kau-thong húiⁿ lūi;

    in league with the conspirators.

#### bûn-cieⁿ àiⁿ kau kó tíam kù;

    this essay is to be punctuated.

#### kau-lau tîeh i kâi sim sṳ̄;

    made out what he had in his mind.

#### jī-ke tó̤ kau-lau sim sṳ̄;

    each is trying to make out what the other is plotting.
* 交kau36784
* To hand over to; to have dealings with; intercourse; to blend; to communicate with; to join.

#### kau-ìⁿ;

    an arm chair.

#### bô̤ kio i kau-chap;

    does not associate with him.

#### cîⁿ-ngṳ̂n lŭn kau chíu;

    money passes from hand to hand.

#### úa kâi só̤-sî kau tó̤ i chíu tèng;

    my key is in his hands.

#### seng-lí kau-êk;

    trade and barter.

#### i kio i ŭ kau-chêng;

    they hold pleasant intercourse with each other.

#### ìⁿ-keng kio i cô̤h kau;

    has already ceased from intercourse with him.

#### tŏ̤ cí gūa kau phêng chú íu tiêh ŭ sín ;

    in forming friendships out here one has to exercise faith.

#### kau pue ūaⁿ cúaⁿ;

    the wedding cup.

#### būe cêng kau-hong cū soiⁿ cáu;

    retreated before having joined in battle.

#### kau-kwn bói bōi;

    exchange of commodities.

#### nín thīn i ŭ kau-sîap a bô̤?

    Are you on intimate terms with them?

#### kau ngŏ-sî a būe?

    Is it eleven o'clock yet?

#### kau kùe pêh-lō cū sǹg cò̤ poih gûeh;

    after the White Dew it is the eighth month.

#### kau-tài cheng-chó̤;

    delivered over the full tale.

#### kau-îu sĭm sĭ khuah;

    his relationships are of wide extent.

#### cí kĭaⁿ sṳ̄ kau-tài lṳ́ cò̤;

    hand this business over to you for accomplishment.

#### sĭ úa kau-khṳt lṳ́ kâi;

    it is what I delivered over to you.

#### lṳ́ li kau úa, úa li kau i;

    you delivered it over to me, and I handed it over to him.

#### cêng kau pûaⁿ a būe?

    Is the cargo delivered over yet?

#### put hṳ́ nâng kau thâu ciap hĭⁿ;

    not allow people to put their heads together.

#### ŭ nŏ̤ kâi sim kau kâi phêng-íu;

    has two congenial friends.

#### sĭ toaⁿ cang sim kau-chap tīaⁿ, būe pat hŭe mīn;

    have had mental communion only, not having yet seen each other.
* 高kau3241890
* Elevated; eminent; of high degree; old; tall; advanced.

#### lṳ́ ío kau kìen;

    your opinion is of greater value.

#### i kâi kìen-sek pí nâng ío kau ;

    his experience is wider than that of others.

#### kau seⁿ tōa mîaⁿ;

    your name and surname.

#### lâi kio i kìⁿ kâi kau-ti cē;

    come and see which can get the better of the other in a contest.

#### ngō̤ tîeh cí hûe kau-héng;

    it happens that he is just now much elated.

#### kau-thâi sî kè;

    raise the current price.

#### chông-îang coih ŭ teng kau kâi hong-sôk;

    it is customary to mount to high places on the ninth of the ninth month.

#### kau-lî siam;

    Corean ginseng.

#### tăi hŭam nâng àiⁿ híang kau nî to tîeh ŭ kâi īeⁿ;

    whoever wishes to live to great age, must have a plan in living.

#### kau có;

    great great grandfather.

#### kau-lâu;

    a restaurant.

#### kau-lâu-kẃn kâi chài pí cíu-kẃn kâi ío hó̤ ;

    the fare at the restaurant is better than that at the wine shop.

#### cí kâi sîn-seⁿ sĭm kau mîaⁿ;

    this teacher has a great name.

#### i cē peh cĭeⁿ kau suaⁿ cū mō̤ⁿ m̄ kìⁿ pêⁿ tī;

    as soon as he mounts to a height he is unable to behold what is on the plain.

#### nâng sim put cok kau;

    the heart of man is never satisfied with what ambition has attained.

#### lṳ́ kâi chíu-tw̄n pí i ío kau;

    your strength of arm is greater than his.
* 鈎kau3281674
* A hook; a barb; a fluke; to hook.

#### tìeⁿ hṳ̂ kâi tìeⁿ-kau;

    a hook to catch fish with.

#### máng-tìeⁿ kau;

    a hook to hold up a mosquito bar.

#### khîeh ki tah-kau kâi i tah tìaⁿ;

    take a ​hook and hook it fast.

#### nêk khṳ̀ tìo-pàng kau tèng;

    hang the meat on the hook.

#### pâk kâi kau hó̤ tìo mûeh;

    fasten up a hook to hang things on.

#### hṳ̂ cē cîah jī cū khṳt i kau kín tŏ̤ kò̤;

    when the fish takes the bait; he is hooked fast on it.

#### kau chut lâi;

    hook it out.

#### kau hĭⁿ;

    dig the wax out of the ear-passages.

#### kau kàu hṳ́ tói-tói kò̤;

    dig down to the bottom with the hook.

#### sie kau;

    hooked together.

#### kau-kau lîen-lîen;

    interlinked.

#### nău kau tàu so̤h;

    set a trap of hooks and ropes to lasso something.

#### i kâi jī ngía căi, ngṳ̂n kau, thih ûeh;

    his letters are well made, with sharp curves and bold strokes.

#### chieⁿ nêk tèng ŭ kâi kau;

    at the end of the spear there was a hook.

#### khṳt kau tah kín tŏ̤ kò̤, bŏi tit chut;

    it is hooked on tightly so it will not come off.

#### hĭⁿ-kau;

    an ear-ring of a hooked shape.
* 蛟kau3671426

#### kau-lêng;

    the dragon of thickets and morasses; a salamander.

#### kau-lêng pw̆n tīo tĭ-hng;

    a dragon overturned the land.

#### tang thiⁿ-sî khṳ̀ chim suaⁿ tèng líu tīo kau-lêng nn̆g;

    go in winter to the recesses of the mountains and dig up dragon's eggs.

#### kau-lêng sĭ sĭang lĭ-hāi kâi mùeh;

    the land dragon is a most destructive creature.

#### kau-lêng n̆ng tōa kâi ŭ kio chō̤ cêk nŏ̤ cîeh cúi kâi àng hìeⁿ tōa;

    a large sized egg of a land dragon is as large as a jar that will hold one or two firkins of water.
* 溝kau3288510
* A ditch; a drain; a sewer; a gutter.

#### cúi kau sak khṳ̀; khîeh ki mûeh khù thn̄g i thong;

    the drain is clogged, get something and poke it open.

#### kau lō pê thong-thong, lô̤h tōa hŏ cìaⁿ bŏi cĭeⁿ cúi ;

    rake the drain free from obstructions, and then when there is a heavy rain it will not overflow.

#### cí cho̤h châng múa-tī-kò kâi kau-khut chim, cúi ŭaⁿ to m̄ ùi ;

    in these fields hereabouts the ditches and ponds are deep, and there is no fear of danger from drought.

#### cí kò̤ ŭ cêk tîo kau thàng kùe khṳ̀;

    there is a ditch running through here from one side to the other.

#### sái kau-kíaⁿ;

    a sewer.

#### tōa sái kau;

    main sewer.

#### kîaⁿ cêk mêⁿ bô̤ sái kau;

    feet so big that she would not step in the gutter if walking at night.

#### àm kau;

    a covered drain.
* 羔kau3251234
* A lamb; a kid.

#### o-cí-kau phûe-bé-kùa cêk kâi ēng jìeh cōi ngṳ̂n?

    How much does a riding jacket of naturally black lamb skin cost?

#### pêh kau phûe;

    white lambskin.

#### o kau phûe;

    black lambskin.
* 狗káu329945
* A dog.

#### kho káu khṳ̀ ciah;

    call the dog to its food.

#### káu tó̤ pui;

    the dog is barking.

#### suaⁿ káu;

    wild dogs.

#### sío káu;

    a mad dog.

#### bô̤ cú kâi káu;

    a dog without a master.

#### hái-káu;

    seals.

#### hái-káu sĭen hó̤ cò̤ îeh;

    the kindeys of seals are good for medicine.

#### káu hó̤ cíeⁿ mn̂g;

    dogs are good to guard the house.

#### lâh káu;

    hunting dogs.

#### cí cîah káu hó̤ phah lâh;

    this dog is a good hunter.
* 九káu41351
* Nine.

#### káu-choiⁿ káu-peh káu-câp-káu;

    nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine.

#### káu-káu poih-câp-cêk;

    nine times nine are eighty-one.

#### m̄ kẃn i saⁿ-káu jī-câp-chit;

    pay no attention to his reckoning.

#### káu gûeh chiu káu kíe-cò̤ chông-îang-coih;

    the ninth day of the ninth month is called the autumnal festival.

#### káu kui kâi sǹg huap;

    the rules of arithmetic.

#### káu kui káu tṳ̂ káu káu poih-câp-it kui tṳ̂;

    whether you divide by nine, or subtract nine times, there are nine nines in eighty-one.

#### cò̤ káu nâng pun;

    divide it equally among nine persons.

#### kuaⁿ hun-cò̤ káu pín;

    officials are divided into nine grades.

#### cih cò̤ káu sîaⁿ;

    received nine tenths of it.

#### thóiⁿ tîeh kàu káu sîaⁿ chiⁿ;

    it appears to me that about nine tenths of it is untainted.

#### káu hun hó̤;

    nine parts in ten are good.

#### káu kūiⁿ;

    the nine districts.
* 槁káu3257510
* Dry; withered; desire gone.

#### cìeⁿ-sî cîah lâi kâi mĭn sek ko-káu;

    his face is very thin lately.

#### ko-káu;

    attenuated; forlorn looking.

#### sía lâi kâi pit ûeh khah ko-káu;

    the strokes in the writing are too fine and thin.
* 枸杞káu-kí329
* The barberry.

#### káu-kí cí;

    the seeds of the Berberis lycium, used as a febrifuge.

#### káu-kí chài;

    a plant whose leaves are edible, and are used as greens.

#### lì ke choiⁿ lí màiⁿ cîah káu-kí;

    when a thousand miles from home, one should not eat barberry preserves.
* 狡káu369946
* Wily, tricky, crafty.

#### kang-káu;

    tricky.

#### káu-kût;

    wily.

#### tàⁿ ūe to sĭ kang-kang káu-káu;

    he is very cunning in his speech.
* 颳𬱽káu-kâⁿ821
* A revolving wind.

#### káu-kâⁿ-huang;

    a whirl-wind, which carries the dust on high: the people say the gods use such for ascending and descending.

#### khṳt cêk cūn káu-kâⁿ huang lâi kàu, cū lóng-lóng khṳt i chue tīo khṳ̀;

    if a ​whirlwind comes, it will blow the whole away.

#### cūn káu-kâⁿ-huang lâi kàu tùi i kâi pò ká tŏ̤ pùaⁿ-thiⁿ tó̤ pue;

    a whirlwind came and took her cloth into the air and whirled it round and round.
* 到kàu867186
* To arrive at; to reach; finished; until; at; up to; still; yet; sign of the past tense.

#### àiⁿ kàu a būe?

    Are we nearly there?

#### cîah kàu pá;

    eat till the appetite is satisfied.

#### thóiⁿ kàu lă;

    to look at as much as one wishes.

#### phah kàu phàaⁿ-sìeⁿ;

    beat so much as to maim.

#### thìaⁿ kàu năi m̄ khṳ̀;

    ached so that I could not bear it.

#### kiaⁿ kàu hêk;

    walked until tired.

#### ke cêk kò̤-kíaⁿ cū kàu;

    a little bit more will be the full amount.

#### cò̤-nî kàu taⁿ hŵn būe kàu?

    How is it that up to this time he has not yet arrived?

#### bói kàu taⁿ ŭ jîeh kú?

    How long ago did you buy it?

#### kàu tī-tiang-sî i cū àiⁿ kè;

    at that time she is to be married.

#### i kàu ke câp nî lío;

    he came home ten years since.

#### lṳ́ àiⁿ kàu tī kó̤?

    Whither are you going?

#### úa àiⁿ kàu nín kò̤ thit-thô̤;

    I am going to your house for recreation.

#### cí kò̤ úa pat kàu kùe kâi;

    I have been here before.

#### i sĭeⁿ tit kàu, ua sĭeⁿ m̄ kàu;

    he thought of it, but I did not.

#### sṳ̄ kàu thâu lâi put cṳ̆ îu;

    when the thing has happened you cannot choose concerning it.

#### kò̤ kò̤ úa pat kàu;

    I have been to all those places.

#### bŏi tit khùe-khùe kàu;

    cannot get there soon enough.

#### kîaⁿ kàu àiⁿ kàu cū ngŏ̤-tîeh i;

    when nearly there we met him.

#### cha-m̄-to̤ àiⁿ kàu lío;

    almost there.

#### kàu sî lṳ́ cū cai;

    when the time arrives you will know.

#### kîaⁿ kàu lō tèng cìaⁿ sĭeⁿ tîeh;

    when I was on the way I thought of it.

#### sî kàu, hue cū khui;

    when the time comes, the flowers will blossom.

#### kàu chù cêk īeⁿ;

    it is the same everywhere.

#### lâi kàu cí kò̤ sim cìaⁿ uaⁿ;

    when I arrived at this point, my mind became calm.

#### bô̤ huang bŏi tit kàu;

    if there is no wind we shall not reach there.

#### kàu chù a būe?

    Has he reached home yet?

#### kàu tói sĭ cò̤-nî?

    What are the bottom facts?
* 全kàu1013114
* Entire in all its parts; whole; unbroken.

#### cía sí kàu-kâi kâi;

    this is a whole one.

#### a-phìen thô bói kàu lîap ŏi ío phíⁿ mē?

    Is opium cheaper if you buy a whole ball?

#### bói kàu sieⁿ kèng phīⁿ;

    it is cheaper when bought by the whole box.

#### kàu koiⁿ chù kâi tī ēng jîeh khuah?

    How much space is required for the whole house?

#### i àiⁿ sùe kàu koiⁿ, a sĭ àiⁿ sùe cêk pôiⁿ?

    Does he wish to rent the whole, or only a part of it?

#### koi, kàu ciah sie;

    roast the fowl whole.

#### îⁿ kàu lîap thun lô̤h khṳ̀;

    swallow the pill whole.

#### kàu kò̤, kùe i khṳ̀;

    let him take the whole lump.

#### cí pang cṳ kàu pang mē?

    Is this set of volumes a complete series?

#### cía sĭ kàu hù kâi;

    this is a complete set.
* 彀kàu3315710
* Sufficient; enough; adequate.

#### kàu a m̄ kàu?

    there enough of it?

#### m̄ kàu ēng;

    it is insufficient.

#### tîeh khîeh kàu i kàu ēng;

    you must take as much as he needs to use.

#### hŵn-lío būe kàu-cok;

    still there is not enough.

#### cí cêk cho̤h m̄ kàu i cīah;

    this is not as much as he wants to eat.

#### khut i thit-thô̤ kàu kàu;

    let him amuse himself as much as he pleases.

#### cí kò̤ m̄ kàu cò̤;

    this piece is not enough to make it of.

#### nín ke lǎi kâi gûeh câp-kâi-ngṳ̂n kàu nín sṳ-hùi mĕ?

    Is ten dollars a month sufficient to meet the expenses of your household?
* 告kàu326804
* To announce to a superior.

#### kàu-kài tĭ-cṳ́;

    warn his pupils.

#### úa kàu-sù lṳ́ cai;

    I beg to inform you of it.

#### kàu sî lío;

    I am about to take my leave, (said by a visitor to his host).
* 誥kàu3261497
* A patent or seals; to signify one's wishes.

#### kàu-mĕng;

    credentials.

#### kàu-mĕng hu-jîn;

    a patent enobling the mother of an official.

#### kàu hong saⁿ tō̤;

    he ennobled three generations of his ancestors.

#### híam-híam pĭ chîo-thêng tô̤h tńg kàu-mĕng;

    came very near having his patent of nobility taken back by the government.

#### i kàu-cāng sĭm-mih kuaⁿ?

    To what official rank is he raised?
* 得kàu872608
* When used after another verb, expresses the potential mood or a form of the past tense; to become; to attain.

#### cò̤ kàu ngía;

    has made it very handsome.

#### tàⁿ kàu hó̤ thiaⁿ hó̤ thiaⁿ;

    spoke very properly.

#### siu-sîp káu iap-thiap iap-thiap;

    arranged in the neatest manner.
* 商kàu739808
* To deliberate; to consult; to adjust by consultation.

#### kàu-nîe;

    to talk over and arrange a plan.

#### nán lâi kàu-nîe;

    let us talk it over.

#### kàu-nîe kàu hó̤ cìaⁿ lâi kîaⁿ;

    when we have through consultation come to a conclusion, then we will proceed to carry out our decision.

#### i nŏ̤ nâng ío ŭ kàu-nîe;

    the two talk over and arrange matters with each other.
* 跨kâu4681576
* To bestride; astride.

#### kha cū kâu kùe khṳ̀;

    threw his leg over it.

#### kâu tŏ̤ bé sin téng;

    astride of a horse.

#### kâu tŏ̤ koiⁿ-thâu;

    sitting astride of his shoulder. ​
* 猴kâu174949
* A monkey.

#### sĭ kâu kíaⁿ a sĭ tōa kâu?

    Is it a monkey or an ape?

#### khang kâu kâi tó̤d phò kha khṳt cîⁿ;

    one who leads a monkey about is before the shop begging cash.

#### thóiⁿ nâng mŏng kâu hì;

    see a play in which monkeys perform.

#### tok koi kà kâu;

    chop up a fowl in order to scare a monkey into better behaviour.

#### i sang mâk cū sĭ cheⁿ cang kâu;

    he looks around like a newly caught monkey.

#### i sang mâk kâu-kâu iang;

    he rolls his eyes about as a monkey does.

#### kâi kâu khîa ciah káu;

    a monkey riding on a dog's back.

#### ŵn-kâu;

    a baboon.

#### kim-si-kâu;

    a small gray monkey.

#### ní-kâu;

    an ape.
* 蚯蚓kău-ún416
* The common earth-worm.

#### líu kúi tîo kău-ún lâi chī ah;

    dig a few earth-worms to feed to the ducks.
* 栗子kău-lâk539
* The chestnut, and some kinds of oak.

#### kău-lâk chut a būe?

    Has the season for chestnuts arrived yet?

#### cheⁿ kău-lâk;

    raw chestnuts.

#### ko̤-sie kău-lâk;

    steamed chestnuts.
* 厚kău176277
* Thick; substantial; liberal; generous; intimate; well flavored; rich.

#### ŭ jîeh kău?

    How thick is it?

#### saⁿ chùn kău;

    three inches thick.

#### cí khí cúa ío kău, hṳ́ khí khah pô̤h;

    this sort of paper is thicker, that sort is too thin.

#### i chēng sang kău-tói-ôi;

    he wore a pair of thick-soled shoes.

#### úa àiⁿ cho kău kâi pò hó̤;

    I want coarse, thick cloth.

#### cí kâi kaⁿ khah kău phûe;

    the rinds of these oranges are too thick.

#### i său kùe i kâi kău hŭi;

    he has experienced his magnanimity; he has received a liberal donation from him.

#### úa kău thăi i;

    I treat him courteously.

#### i cò̤ sṳ̄ sĭm sĭ kău tău;

    he acts very generously.

#### i seⁿ lâi kău tăng;

    he is very stout.

#### tong-kău;

    honest-hearted; faithful.

#### mīn phûe kău;

    brazen-faced; shameless.

#### thiⁿ-sî chìn, tîeh chēng kău cē;

    the weather is cold, you must dress more warmly.

#### lṳ́ kâi pang àiⁿ ēng jîeh kău kâi?

    How thick do you want your boards to be?

#### khîeh ki kău to̤ khṳ̀ phùa châ;

    take a heavy knife and go and split some wood.

#### tîeh kău lâ chá khí lâi cìaⁿ hó̤ cîah;

    you must fry it in plenty of lard then it will be palatable.

#### tê khah pô̤h, chong kău cē;

    the tea is too weak, make it stronger.

#### úa àiⁿ cò̤ hía kău-kău kâi;

    I want a very substantial one made.

#### pí chṳ́ bô̤ kău pô̤h;

    there is no difference in thickness between this and that.

#### i kẃn-thăi i ío kia-kău;

    he treated him more liberally.

#### kŵn-thăi lṳ́ nŏ̤ nâng bô̤ kău pô̤h;

    I treat you two without partiality toward either.

#### i kìⁿ tîeh chim chêng kău măuⁿ;

    when he saw him he received him with great cordiality and deference.

#### chîeⁿ aìⁿ ceng jîeh kău?

    How thick is the wall to be made?

#### cía sĭ i cêk tn̄g kău ì;

    this is his dominant notion.