Vong

# Vong: A Tonal Language by Nonong

First published in 2001

*a priori*

Like Singing
Inspired by tonal languages like Chinese and Vietnamese, I have created an art language that is tonal. In Vong, there are three tones: the even tone, the rising tone, and the falling tone. The rising tone is indicated by an acute accent (like *vóng*), and the falling tone is indicated by a grave accent (like *vòng*). The even (mid-level) tone has no accent (like *vong*). The tone changes the meaning.

Phonology
The consonants (C) are: b, ch, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, ng, p, r, s, sh, t, th, v, z. These are close to English sounds; however, see the Phonological Chart, which explains more exactly the pronunciations of letters. The vowels (V) are: a, e, i, o, u. These are pronounced as in English "father, bet, tot, machine, lunar." The diphthongs (D) are: ai, au, ei, oi, ou, ia, ie, io, iu, ua, ue, ui, uo. The nasal consonants (N), which can occur finally in a syllable, are: m, n, ng. A syllable can have the structure: V, D, CV, CD, VN, DN, CVN, or CDN. There are 4536 possible syllables with the three tones.
In Vong, each native morpheme, the smallest meaningful unit of language, is a single syllable.

Grammar
The Vong sentence is of the SVO type (Subject Verb Object). No words are inflected. Vong has no grammatical tense, but it has a system of aspect markers. Time reference is given by context or by placing adverbials, which are optional, anywhere before the verb:  *cháim* (future), *kiò* (recent past), *guam* (far past), *mái* (yesterday), *vèim* (tomorrow), *ron ruim* (last year), and others. Adjectives, like *dèm* ('yellow', 'to be yellow'), can stand as stative verbs:  *Sóung dèm.* ('The sunflower is yellow.') The particle 'e' ends an imperative phrase:  *Sóung dèm e!* ('Let the sunflower be yellow!') The particle 'a' ends a question phrase:  *Sóung dèm a?* ('Is the sunflower yellow?')
The distinction between plural and singular nouns is not usually made. Placing *tín* (many) or *ting* (few) before a noun can indicate the plural. Or reduplication of the word can also show plurality:  *sóung sóung* (sunflowers). There are no words for 'the', 'a', and 'an'.
The pronouns are:  *nong* (I, me), *viong* (you), *fueng* (he, she, it, him, her), *ting nong* (we, us), *ting viong* (plural you), *ting fueng* (they, them).
Words may be compounded to form new terms wherein the attributes come before the element being modified:  *tì shú* ('bird cage', birdcage), *lèm zò* ('guess calculate', estimate), *sué ngí* ('sword man', swordsman), *Suà be* ('bright religion', Buddhism).
Borrowings or loanwords, which may be polysyllabic, from other languages like English are possible with the condition that they follow the phonology of Vong:  *ká-mè-ra* ('camera'), *bài-ió-lò-ji* ('biology').

My Poetry
by Viktor "Nonong" Medrano
Tín lè sóung nie thá
suè vong, ping, sim díng vì zàin
—tín dèm rìng ù zá.
Tall sunflowers stand funnily
in the big, wide, country field of green
—yellow faces to the sun.
Hè bua min tín kóm
ang chó muon á tín lè tuàng
—sui, hàin zá, hú liang.
Strong wind blows leaves
from the grassy earth between tall pine trees
—cold, but sunny, winter day.

Feedback
Poems submitted by Allan Doodes
Shiong ngài suè duon.
Fueng shiong zuén hòm.
Lè ning lím kìm,
Tín tiom dim tiam.
Seeking the master in the forest.
He is looking for simples.
The mountains are high, the clouds low,
Many questions unanswered.
Ngáin méi vì hió ngí
Shuim ang rong To-kio.
Sué ngí vio tha kèm.
Nèi vì ngàin méi vio.
A merchant has two daughters
Beauties from Tokyo city.
A swordsman kills with his sword.
The two girls slay with their eyes.

Poem submitted by Joey Hartline
ngáin sué ngí
kèm ve
puí
rum sué ngí
two swordsmen
blade's edge
red
one swordsman

Poem submitted by Kevin Bello (in Vong, English, and Esperanto)
Rièm shòu fién lé
Suè nèi vì fùng.
Bua min ié vòm
Jìn rièm fién duom.
The dragon soars so high
In the eyes of the skies.
The wind blows with myst'ry
and the dragon, away it flies!
La drako flugas alte
En la okuloj de l' ĉiel'.
Kun mistero la vento blovas
Kaj la drako flugas en hel'!

# Vong: Phonological Chart

Phonemic equivalents in CXS are given within slashes.

# Vong: Verbal Aspect

Vong grammar lacks distinctions of tense as such: that is, the notions past, present, and future are not encoded grammatically by forms of the verb. However, there is a relatively complex system of verbal aspect, distinguishing notions such as events, states, and processes. Unlike tense in English, aspect markers are grammatically optional. Aspect markers are placed immediately after the verb.

*uang* perfect (retrospective)
*uim* experiential
*oin* continuous
*iong* habitual
*aun* iterative
*ieng* contemplative
*uong* simultaneous

*Fueng léng diám.*
He eats fish. He ate fish. He will eat fish.

*Fueng léng uang diám.*
He has eaten fish. He ate fish.

*Fueng léng uim diám.*
He has eaten fish before. He had the occasion to eat fish.

*Fueng léng oin diám.*
He is eating fish. He is in the process of eating fish.

*Fueng léng iong diám.*
He eats fish all the time. He usually eats fish.

*Fueng léng aun diám.*
He eats fish regularly. He eats fish, then something else, then fish again.

*Fueng léng ieng diám.*
He intends to eat fish. He will eat fish.

*Fueng léng uong diám cháung.*
While eating fish, he talked.

It must be stressed that aspect markers are not indicators of tense. For example, a perfective action may take place in the past or future.

*Mái ngàum fueng léng **uang** diám, fueng kú.*
Yesterday after he had eaten fish, he slept.

*Vèim ngàum fueng léng **uang** diám, fueng kú.*
Tomorrow after he eats fish, he will sleep.

# Vong: Vocabulary

As Vong is an isolating language, words are not inflected or do not change form, so if you are searching for a word that is not in the vocabulary, but there is another close word, then use that word. For example, if you cannot find the Vong word for "beauty," a noun in English, then use the Vong word for "beautiful," an adjective in English.

## 1600 Words

about (pertaining to; on the topic of) **ló**
above, over **gùm**
across (at / to the other side of) **òi**
after (later than; in the future of) **ngàum**
around, encircling, surrounding **bàu**
at (in the same location as) **chiun**
because of, due to **uo**
before, in front of, ahead of (spatially) **nó**
before, prior to, earlier than **kò**
behind, in back of, to the rear of **fàn**
between, among, amidst, inter- **á**
beyond, farther than, exceeding **jang**
by means of, via, per, with (using; through instrumentality of) **tha**
during **uò**
except for, besides, apart from, other than, excluding **thú**
for (to benefit; destined for; for the purpose of) **ua**
for (in exchange for) **siung**
from, out of, away from **ang**
in (located inside of) **suè**
instead of, rather than **kiòn**
like, similar to **iù**
near, close to **shu**
of (owned by; belonging to; associated with; = genitive) **vì**
of (containing the measured quantity: "two liters of water") **ò**
on (resting on; touching the top or other surface of) **iu**
outside of, exterior to **chèn**
than, compared to **vià**
through **au**
to, towards, at (moving toward) **ù**
under, below, beneath **chì**
whether **eing**
with (accompanied by) **ié**
without, with no ..., lacking **no**
be (intransitive predicative copula) **suo**
be (passive marker; "be X-ed") **aung**
exist **bùn**
become (begin to be; acquire the quality...) **nuè**
cause (induce something to be/happen) **sòu**
make, render (impart quality X to Y; e.g. "I make you happy") **ta**
do, perform, engage in (specified activity) **mo**
have (possess / be furnished with) **giom**
can (is/are able to ...) **fù**
should, ought to (is/are expected/advised to ...) **vúng**
this (demonstrative) **zien**
that (demonstrative) **fú**
and, plus **jìn**
but, however **hàin**
if (on condition that...; supposing that...) **giòn**
or **shiù**
that (e.g. "I know that you are right") **luèm**
also, additionally, too **nguám**
apart, separately **uá**
here (in/to this place) **ziùm**
how? (in what manner?) **shíng**
how much/many? **ueng**
maybe, perhaps, possibly **ziè**
not **dim**
only, solely, exclusively **óng**
there (at/to that place) **vè**
together **buí**
what? **uam**
when? (at what time?) **è**
where? (at/to what place?) **thiè**
which/who? **uom**
why? (for what reason?) **búng**
any (no particular one of) **mau**
every, each **ngà**
person, human being **ou**
self **eim**
baby, infant **ai**
child **nió**
boy **uèn**
girl **méi**
man (adult male person) **ngí**
woman (adult female person) **kím**
family **o**
father **sun**
mother **lom**
marriage (spousal relationship) **tou**
husband **ia**
wife **ué**
son **giun**
daughter **thuèng**
brother **ien**
sister **shí**
chief, leader **oing**
king **choi**
queen **kòing**
president **nguá**
prime minister **àm**
dictator, tyrant **ió**
master, lord **ngài**
slave **kiúng**
soldier **vìm**
ambassador **na**
member (of group/organization) **pong**
friend **thí**
enemy **ing**
Mister, Mr. **juo**
Ms., Miss/Mrs. **tue**
Miss **gùn**
Mrs. **éi**
club, society (voluntary association re: a common interest) **bàm**
committee (group appointed to do a task) **thái**
community (individuals sharing space / culture) **zuè**
culture (the customs and beliefs of a people) **miòng**
individual (one considered separately from one's species) **kàn**
people (a people), folk, the members of an ethnic group / nation **dong**
public, populace, the people (as in People's Republic) **ue**
race (group of people with similar characteristics) **sháu**
team, crew, squad **po**
abdomen **í**
anus **dòng**
arm (shoulder to hand) **rùm**
back (dorsal area) **iò**
beard **ói**
blood **vió**
body **hiù**
bone **ui**
brain **bò**
breast, mammary **ú**
buttock **chi**
cheek (side of face below eye) **dún**
chest (upper front of torso) **uà**
chin **pie**
ear **lòng**
egg **chò**
eye **nèi**
face **rìng**
feather **vò**
feces, dung, excrement **bíng**
fetus (foetus), embryo **soi**
finger **thùng**
fist **tai**
foot (on which something stands) **zàm**
forehead **léi**
gene **shò**
hair (a strand of fibrous material growing from the body) **liú**
hair (the hairs atop one's head thought of as a collective entity) **ngi**
hand **muem**
head **ì**
heart (coronary muscle) **téng**
heel **juí**
hip **siòn**
horn (bone-like growth from animal's head) **sàng**
intestines, gut(s), viscera **ngei**
iris (of eye) **hóu**
kidney **bóu**
knee **shi**
leg **io**
lip **áu**
liver **pùng**
lung **eng**
meat, flesh **kó**
mouth **gà**
muscle **mióng**
nail (fingernail) **jié**
navel **chai**
neck **mè**
nerve **tuang**
nose **ngiàn**
organ (of body) **uó**
palm (of hand) **viù**
penis **mi**
shell **chen**
shoulder **huè**
skeleton **shoim**
skin **jèi**
spine, backbone **gièng**
stomach **cha**
sweat, perspiration **zè**
tail **làng**
tear(drop(s)) **liùn**
testicle **hì**
throat **vìn**
thumb **iá**
toe **fì**
tongue (body-part) **gúng**
tooth **tòm**
urine **sén**
vagina **fém**
vein, blood vessel **pin**
waist **lèng**
wing (of bird etc.) **kein**
wound **tié**
wrist **nià**
berry (small pulpy fruit) **do**
bud (of flower/leaf) **ngèin**
flower **hio**
fruit **súm**
leaf **kóm**
nut (hard-shelled fruit/seed with separable shell and kernel) **gung**
pod (seed pod) **nion**
root (of a plant) **ruing**
seed **òu**
sprout (young shoot of plant) **ku**
alive **le**
dead **ngom**
birth **lì**
mature, adult **puin**
healthy **tiung**
disease, illness, sickness **ròi**
fat, obese, plump **záng**
sex, gender **hoi**
female **dei**
male **niú**
neuter (neither male nor female) **fin**
sense (ability to perceive a given kind of stimuli) **vé**
pain **vóm**
pleasure **kon**
tired, weary **shòn**
refreshed, zesty, perky **shé**
sleep **kú**
awake **tuàn**
fever **sà**
bite **zuà**
breathe **kaing**
catch (stop the motion of and seize in the hands) **ké**
climb **fuá**
copulate, have sex (with) **bam**
crawl **jì**
cry out, shout, yell **kiam**
cry, weep **vié**
dance **piong**
die **kí**
drink **hiùm**
drown (die/kill via immersion) **pón**
eat **léng**
feel (perceive with the tactile sense) **la**
gesture **èi**
hold, grasp **kié**
hunt, pursue (with intent to capture and/or devour) **he**
jump, leap **thiùm**
kick **sì**
kill **vio**
kiss **chuá**
laugh **mon**
lie (recline horizontally) **pi**
live (be alive) **pù**
run **thuim**
shave **thùm**
sit (be in a sitting position) **ngian**
smile **uí**
sneeze **zem**
spit **shang**
squat **più**
stand **thá**
swallow **góing**
swim **kin**
taste (perceive the flavor of) **gù**
throw, toss **thuón**
touch **diè**
vomit **fúng**
walk **jèm**
wrestle **váu**
animal (non-vegetable creature) **shian**
ant (insect of family Formicidae) **giá**
bear (animal of Ursidae family) **zuó**
bee (member of genus Apis) **ngiu**
bird (egg-laying feathered animal with wings) **tì**
butterfly **buáng**
cat (Felis catus) **gám**
chicken **nám**
cockroach (insect of order Blattaria) **di**
cow/bull, cattle (bovine animal of either sex) **fói**
deer (animal of family Cervidae) **u**
dog (Canis familiaris) **óu**
donkey, ass (Equus asinus) **hiá**
dragon (winged serpent with crested head and large claws) **rièm**
fish **diám**
fly (small winged insect) **vám**
fox (member of genus Vulpes) **mong**
frog (web-footed tailless leaping amphibian) **thèn**
goat (animal of genus Capra) **kìng**
grasshopper **lù**
horse (Equus caballus) **rión**
insect **guóng**
lion (Felis leo) **mèn**
lizard **dién**
lobster **zà**
mammal **miu**
mantis (insect of order Manteodea) **hueng**
monkey, small primate **ngeng**
mosquito **fiá**
mouse **kiém**
pig, swine (omnivorous mammal of family Suidae) **kuè**
rabbit (animal of family Leporidae) **zoi**
reptile **muò**
sheep (Ovis aries) **bú**
snake, serpent (reptile of suborder Serpentes or Ophidia) **tam**
spider, arachnid **suóng**
squirrel (rodent of family Sciuridae) **ei**
tiger (Felis tigris) **féing**
turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) **kuon**
turtle (reptile of order Testudinata) **chué**
virus **kòng**
whale (large marine mammal of order Cetacea) **záim**
wolf (Canis lupus) **nio**
worm **shue**
apple (tree/fruit of genus Malus) **geing**
bamboo (plant/stem of genera Bambusa / Arundinaria / Dendrocalamus) **bòi**
banana (plant/fruit of genus Musa) **fiú**
bean (lima/snap/etc.: plant/seed of genus Phaseolus or similar) **chiém**
cabbage (plant/leaves of sp. Brassica oleracea capitata) **ra**
carrot (plant/root of sp. Daucus carota sativus) **rue**
coffee (plant/seeds of sp. Coffea arabica) **chòum**
cork (tree/elastic tissue of sp. Quercus suber) **fu**
corn, maize (plant/seeds of sp. Zea mays) **vù**
cotton (plant/fibers of genus Gossypium) **jáing**
cucumber (Cucumis sativus) **nau**
date (tree/fruit of sp. Phoenix dactylifera) **fèng**
fig (tree/fruit of genus Ficus) **záing**
flax (Linum usitatissimum) **sem**
garlic (herb of sp. Allium sativum) **rám**
ginger (plant/rhizome of genus Zingiber) **lué**
ginseng (plant/root of genus Panax) **rian**
gourd (plant/hard-rinded fruit of genera Lagenaria & Cucurbita) **hé**
grape (plant/fruit of genus Vitis) **vòng**
grass (monocotyledonous plant of family Gramineae) **chó**
hemp, marijuana (plant/material of sp. Cannabis sativa) **gen**
kelp (seaweed of orders Laminariales and Fucales) **luíng**
lentil (plant/seeds of sp. Lens culinaris) **é**
lettuce (plant/leaves of genus Lactuca) **luà**
mandarin, tangerine (tree/fruit of sp. Citrus reticulata) **sáing**
mint (plant of family Labiatae) **ná**
mushroom (a complex aerial fleshy fruiting body of a fungus) **fei**
mustard (plant of sp. Brassica hirta / B. nigra / B. juncea) **liém**
oak (tree of genus Quercus) **bui**
oat (plant/seed of genus Avena) **jóm**
olive (tree/fruit of sp. Olea europaea) **kuím**
onion (plant/bulb of sp. Allium sepa) **vèn**
orange (tree/fruit of Citrus sinensis / related spp.) **fa**
pea (plant/seed of sp. Pisum sativum) **thém**
peanut (plant/seed/pod of sp. Arachis hypogaea) **fen**
pepper (hot/sweet/bell pepper -- plant/pod of genus Capsicum) **pí**
pepper (black -- plant/seed of sp. Piper nigrum) **lèi**
pine (coniferous tree of genus Pinus) **tuàng**
plum (certain trees/fruits of genus Prunus) **bo**
potato (plant/tuber of sp. Solanum tuberosum) **jòm**
rice (plant/seed of sp. Oryza sativa) **zang**
rose (plant/flower of genus Rosa) **pio**
safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) **thué**
sesame (plant/seed of genus Sesamum) **bùng**
soya, soybean (plant/seed of sp. Glycine max) **thón**
spinach (plant/leaves of sp. Spinacia oleracea) **je**
squash, melon (plant/fruit of genus Cucurbita grown for edible fruit) **guè**
sunflower (plant/bloom of sp. Helianthus annuus) **sóung**
tea (plant/leaves of sp. Camellia sinensis) **chiè**
tobacco (plant/leaves of sp. Nicotiana tabacum) **tèm**
tomato (plant/berry of genus Lycopersicon) **jèng**
wheat (plant/seed of sp. Triticum aestivum) **jèin**
bush, shrub **miam**
garden **sèn**
grain(s), cereal crop(s) and their seed(s) **kè**
harvest, reap **jàim**
plant (a vegetable life-form) **hòm**
tree **pia**
bay (small body of water offset from lake or sea) **róing**
beach, shore **vàng**
cave **iè**
cliff **ruàn**
cloud **kìm**
desert **ngòu**
earth (terra firma contrasted with sea and heaven) **muon**
earthquake **nìm**
eclipse **gó**
field (unbroken expanse of land) **díng**
flood, deluge **shìm**
fog **bun**
forest **duon**
hail **thuì**
hill (smaller than a mountain) **vái**
island **koin**
lake **té**
lightning **làn**
moon (natural satellite of a planet) **the**
mountain **ning**
nature (that which occurs spontaneously; the non-artificial world) **chuàm**
planet **tà**
rain **rùn**
rainbow **kom**
river **piá**
sea, ocean **chìng**
sky **fùng**
snow **gue**
star **siè**
storm **ding**
sun **zá**
swamp, marsh **luè**
thunder **kúm**
tide **fiu**
tornado **ngu**
universe, cosmos **rián**
valley **ià**
volcano **shìn**
weather **biú**
wind **bua**
world **shèn**
arrow (sharp-tipped shaft shot from a bow) **ru**
axe **fièn**
balloon **zái**
bar, rod **sí**
barrel, cask **fòi**
basket **nuíng**
bed **fou**
bell **lam**
blade **kèm**
blanket (large piece of soft material used as a cover) **fau**
board **bu**
bomb **biò**
bottle **noi**
bow (for arrows) **káung**
bowl (deep round dish) **chie**
box (rigid rectangular receptacle) **tiá**
brake **meng**
brick (hard clay block) **kón**
broom **iú**
brush **thàn**
bucket, pail **so**
bullet **chuéng**
button (on a shirt etc.) **tè**
cage **shú**
can (presealed metal container) {British: tin} **zuèng**
candle **jói**
cannon **rói**
chain (connected series of rings or links) **shà**
chair (furniture for one person to sit on) **thói**
cigarette **vuìng**
clock **vin**
club, cudgel **kùn**
coin **miám**
comb **shai**
computer (electronic instruction-obeying information-handler) **nán**
container **shiòm**
cord, cable (thicker than wire) **de**
cover (thing put onto or extended over something else) **ha**
cup (small bowl with handle) **rim**
curtain **thié**
dial (circle marked with numbers/symbols) **siúm**
dish (any shallow concave container) **poim**
doll, effigy **heng**
dome (anything shaped like an upside-down bowl) **nóm**
drain (device that removes unwanted liquid) **kuì**
drill **hièm**
drum (hollow musical instrument beaten with sticks or hands) **ngèi**
envelope (folded paper covering a letter) **viá**
fan (device to create air current) **pòu**
fence (outdoor barrier supported by posts) **mé**
file (tool for abrading) **roum**
flag, banner **jaum**
fork (instrument with >=2 prongs for picking up something) **me**
frame (structure supporting or surrounding something) **kín**
furniture **rua**
gear (toothed wheel) **jóum**
guitar (stringed instrument played with the fingers) **zio**
gun (ballistic weapon) **fí**
hammer **thòing**
handle (part of tool by which it is held) **fi**
hinge **ngè**
hook **fiom**
horn (makes noise when blown) **vuà**
hourglass **siun**
jar, jug (big wide-mouthed bottle) **nem**
key (metal device for operating lock) **rem**
knife **ngóng**
knob **ze**
ladder **dá**
lamp **ái**
lens **sàm**
lever **shuó**
lock (device for securing doors) **goum**
machine (device with moving parts) **choum**
match (little fire-stick) **king**
microscope **thòun**
mirror **hèm**
motor, engine **zéi**
nail (pointy fastener) **góu**
needle **tàn**
net **gí**
oven **riù**
package, packet, parcel **ngú**
paddle, oar (stick with broad end) **shou**
pan (broad shallow cooking dish) **shia**
patch (a piece used to cover/repair a flaw) **nuàng**
pedal **ngóun**
pen (writing tool that uses ink) **há**
pencil, crayon (writing tool that uses semi-solid substance) **fó**
pillow, cushion **guom**
pipe (a hard tube for transporting liquid) **thiúng**
plate (shallow dish, usually round) **póu**
plow (plough) **ché**
pocket **vén**
pole, stick (long bar) **vín**
post (vertical pole anchored in ground) **zón**
pot (deep round vessel) **naum**
pulley **pà**
pump **sha**
rack (framework of bars for storage) **jéi**
radio apparatus, wireless set **shì**
rail (usually horizontal bar for restraining/supporting things) **háu**
rake **ài**
razor **tiú**
rope **vàu**
rug, mat **pueng**
sack, bag **bù**
sail **ngoum**
saw (tool) **tho**
scale (device to measure weight) **bie**
scissors **fe**
screen, mesh **vìng**
screw (threaded fastener) **nèin**
sign (board with public notice written on it) **gén**
shelf **shaum**
shield (a protective implement) **jìng**
shovel **hém**
spear, lance **huì**
sponge (real/synthetic corpse of animal of phylum Porifera) **puà**
spool, reel (cylinder onto which something is wound) **thám**
spoon **guò**
spring (metal helix) **luón**
staple (fastener) **viém**
strap **shuà**
string (thicker than thread and thinner than rope) **nia**
stylus **nging**
sword **sué**
syringe **rein**
table (piece of furniture with flat top) **duóm**
telephone **lio**
telescope **reng**
television set **kuèng**
toilet, water closet **vuom**
tool, utensil, implement **buòn**
tongs **nèng**
towel **váung**
toy, plaything **mu**
trap **veim**
tray (shallow rectangular dish) **chàun**
umbrella **hén**
valve (flow-controller) **baung**
weapon **dio**
wheel **rien**
wire (long thread-like piece of metal) **ngon**
wrench {British: spanner} **gan**
apron **sáun**
belt **piú**
coat (heavy outer garment with sleeves) **hàng**
collar **chú**
eyeglasses **mén**
garment (item of clothing) **káu**
glove **vuàn**
harness **gún**
hat, cap **kèi**
helmet **pué**
jacket (a short and/or lightweight coat) **dió**
necktie **biom**
pants, trousers **shèm**
shirt **ki**
shorts, trunks (trousers extending no lower than knees) **fóin**
shoe **duí**
skirt, kilt, dress (any torso-garment open at the bottom) **mì**
sock, hose, stocking **zuá**
uniform (special garments worn by members of a group) **hò**
veil **rì**
building, edifice (structure with walls and roof) **buè**
attic, garret **pì**
ceiling **fáu**
cellar, basement **chan**
chimney **vèin**
door **rú**
elevator {British: lift} **rù**
fireplace, hearth **deim**
floor (bottom of room) **muà**
roof **sua**
room, chamber **fo**
stair(s) **puèm**
wall **rá**
window **hàn**
church (building or institution of public worship) **jion**
factory **chóm**
hospital **siém**
hotel, inn **ngiú**
house (a free-standing man-made dwelling-building) **jei**
library **pai**
mill (place where raw materials are processed) **fuè**
prison, jail **fiù**
school **chuam**
store, shop, boutique **hió**
tavern, bar, pub **shom**
theater **dò**
university **hìng**
bridge **don**
farm **tóin**
park (public outdoor area) **lói**
market (place where goods are bought/sold/traded) **rái**
tower **páim**
agency, bureau **tém**
army **sho**
authority (the right/power to command) **huón**
campaign (for political office) **chin**
constitution (charter of an organization) **diún**
control **píng**
court (of law) **chiò**
crime **pion**
elect (select by voting) **suòng**
free (at liberty) **pói**
government **zió**
independent **ban**
international **da**
jury **hi**
law (a rule enforced by a government) **zùm**
military **von**
nation, state (political entity) **puám**
obey **shóm**
official (issued with authority) **huóng**
organize (bring X's together to perform a task) **lin**
parliament, congress (legislative body of elected officers) **vuam**
party (political), sect (religious) **dí**
permit, allow, let **vú**
police (organization to enforce laws) **chuà**
politics **níng**
prohibit, forbid, contra-permit **zui**
province (of Canada etc.), prefecture, state (of USA etc.) **chueng**
resign **thi**
rule, regulation **pu**
submission, surrender **ràing**
tax **bià**
trial (in court) **chéi**
unite **ngóin**
vote **juèng**
war **kiom**
accept (willingly receive) **dú**
account (record of money received/paid/owed) **zóum**
bank (monetary institution) **thúm**
bill, invoice (statement of money owed) **gu**
borrow **tàung**
business, commerce **thù**
buy, purchase **thiá**
cheap, inexpensive **shim**
check (written order directing a bank to pay from an account) **shuèn**
company (a business organization), firm **ráu**
contract (agreement-document) **ge**
credit (permission to borrow money) **jè**
debt, obligation to pay **chùng**
exchange, trade, swap **hiú**
expensive, costly **ji**
frugal, thrifty **nguén**
generous, charitable **vó**
get, acquire, gain, obtain **bóng**
give **nuí**
insurance (protective contractual arrangement) **roim**
invest **fiò**
job, employment **sóm**
keep, retain, go on having (e.g. "you should keep this book") **chù**
lack (be without) **tàing**
lend **niúng**
lose (cease having; contra-acquire) **vam**
merchandise, goods, wares **chim**
money **ní**
offer (present for acceptance or rejection) **chèng**
own (possess according to law or custom) **pò**
pay **pè**
poor, impoverished **thò**
price, cost **kià**
private (contra-public) **che**
prize, award **báu**
profit, gain **má**
provide, supply, furnish **sai**
public (available to most or all persons) **teng**
punish **chài**
receive **niong**
reject, refuse (contra-accept) **luem**
responsibility, liability, accountability **ging**
reward **giò**
rich, wealthy **dém**
sell **seim**
steal (take in a criminal way) **bém**
store, cache, reserve, reservoir **pou**
take (in the sense of E-o "preni", G "nehmen", Sp "tomar") **né**
ticket, coupon **zong**
value (the quality of being useful and/or desirable), worth **fuéng**
angel, fairy (supernatural flying humanoid) **hàing**
bless (wish good upon) **ni**
curse, damn (wish evil upon) **làung**
ghost (manifestation of dead person's soul) **mèm**
god, diety **gòi**
heaven, celestial realm, Valhala etc. **féi**
hell, Hades **ngiòn**
holy, sacred **shòu**
magic, sorcery **vang**
pray (communicate with god(s)) **lien**
priest, clergyman **máin**
religion **be**
revelation, mystical vision **thiòn**
ritual, rite, ceremony **theng**
soul, spirit (believed to outlive the body) **shuì**
admire **mù**
alert **sòn**
angry **zàn**
approve (of) **zìn**
art (creative craft; productive use of talent) **bó**
attention (active perception) **ziung**
behavior, conduct **liún**
believe (accept as true) **bong**
blame **shuin**
boring, tedious **ngùm**
calculate, reckon **zò**
care, concern (about someone / something) **báing**
caution, prudence, carefulness **luòn**
celebrate, rejoice **thó**
choose, pick (out), select one of many possibilities **lium**
comfort (freedom from pain and/or worry) **gém**
compare **hón**
conscious, aware **chuòn**
courage, bravery **gom**
dear, precious, cherished **lìn**
decide **ziéng**
disappointment **fuím**
distinguish, differentiate, tell one from another **nuóm**
doubt **chià**
dream **tìm**
embarrassment **kiáng**
enthusiasm, zeal **gèm**
expect, anticipate (believe that X will come/happen) **thín**
experience (consciously live through an event) **uì**
favor, prefer **dì**
fear (be afraid of) **hia**
feel (experience an emotion/sentiment) **dán**
foolish **lín**
forget (contra-remember) **gi**
forgive, pardon **dum**
funny, comical **nie**
grateful, thankful **pió**
greedy **thóing**
guard, monitor, watch over **zú**
guess, conjecture **lèm**
guide, lead **chìm**
guilty, blame-worthy **ngón**
habit, custom, routine practice **móu**
happy **lei**
hate **shèi**
hope **niùm**
humble, modest **kuém**
idea, concept (thought-bundle) **zei**
imagine **bóim**
important **sún**
innocent, contra-guilty **ba**
insane, crazy, mad **rí**
intelligent **zùn**
intend, mean to, do deliberately, have as a purpose **lám**
interest (desire to pay attention to something), fascination **bàin**
invent (plan something which has never been made before) **dè**
jealousy, envy **lán**
judge (compare something to criteria), form an opinion about **kui**
know **te**
knowledge **ko**
learn **lèn**
like, enjoy (derive pleasure from) **kio**
logic (formalized process of reasoning) **róm**
lonely (feeling undesirable solitude) **kión**
love **pé**
loyal **pòm**
mercy **heim**
mind **róu**
mystery **vòm**
neglect, negligence, apathy **dé**
nice, kind, affable **nian**
notice, observe **ruò**
opinion **féng**
patience **ngé**
peace (freedom from fighting or turmoil) **leing**
perceive, detect **ziúm**
pity, feel compassion toward, feel sorry for **luó**
plan, design **foin**
play (performed by actors on stage), drama **lan**
pretend, act, feign **tí**
pride (proudness; self-respect) **muìng**
reason, explanation, justification, rationale **fè**
reasoning, rational thought **pen**
recognize **nga**
regret **gá**
remember **hum**
respect, venerate, esteem **juò**
revenge, vengeance, retribution, getting even **shuè**
sad, unhappy, melancholy **zoung**
satisfaction **va**
seek, search (for), look for **shiong**
seem, appear to be, give the impression of **ngaung**
serious, earnest, grave **chuèng**
shame **kuòm**
study **pe**
stupid **nàu**
subject, topic of discussion **shiùm**
suppose, presume **hà**
surprise, startle **tham**
talent, skill, knack **gò**
teach **chéng**
tempt **ráng**
theory **shuèm**
think **siù**
trust **bán**
understand, comprehend **róin**
want, wish, desire **shau**
whim, caprice **zu**
wise **péim**
worry, anxiety **shong**
address (postal co-ordinates) **thiú**
admit, confess **juó**
advertisement **ri**
advice **chóum**
alphabet **pàung**
announce, proclaim **mung**
answer, reply to a question or argument **tiam**
article, essay (piece of text about one topic) **ján**
ask, inquire **móung**
book **jung**
call, summon **hám**
chapter (main division of book) **she**
chart, diagram **ráum**
claim, assertion (statement of unknown accuracy) **kài**
code (cryptographic system) **nìng**
command, order, directive **shím**
communication (exchange of information) **tiò**
consonant (non-vowel) **shá**
criticize **luìng**
deny (say that X is not true) **jíng**
describe **pàu**
dictionary **sum**
discuss, talk about **luí**
document **chà**
emphasize, accentuate, stress **gòng**
fact (undisputed datum) **jí**
fiction **kuo**
file (dossier; loose bundle of data) **mua**
grammar (rules and structure of a language) **là**
history (organized account of past events), chronicle **tium**
indicate **huéng**
information **bai**
insult **liá**
invite **ke**
issue, edition (of periodical etc.) **péng**
label **niàng**
language (the verbal communication technique of a people) **tau**
letter (a message written and mailed) **vièn**
lie (utter a known falsehood) **mai**
list **ráim**
magazine (periodical publication) **biòm**
mail (transmit postally) **hó**
map (drawing of planet's surface) **pem**
meaning (semantic content of a word) **zéng**
message (batch of transmitted information) **fun**
movie, motion picture **buìng**
name **ngóu**
news, tidings **bòm**
newspaper **kau**
noise (confused/randomized sound/stimuli) **nguen**
note, annotation **thom**
page (one side of a sheet of paper in a book) **sù**
photograph **liòng**
poem **hué**
praise, compliment, laud **re**
print (to copy marks by pressing inked objects on paper) **maim**
promise (a claim about one's future actions), pledge **fuo**
protest, objection **kèng**
question, query **hoim**
quote, cite **vuè**
read **sá**
record (a cache of information) **niu**
request, ask for **sú**
say, tell, express in words **chòm**
secret **thìn**
sentence (of words) **huá**
sing **àu**
speak, talk **cháung**
story, report **li**
suggest, propose (offer an idea) **siùng**
syllable **hù**
symbol, sign, token **pàng**
thank (express gratitude toward) **vai**
vocabulary (sum of words available to a person/people) **thàin**
voice **guén**
vowel **chá**
warn **joi**
word **ruáng**
write **jiàn**
game (a rule-governed system of competitive amusement) **thió**
game, match (one particular encounter between competitors) **dóin**
athletics (games involving physical skill), sports **bì**
score (the tally of points in a competition) **puó**
umpire, referee, official **tháim**
ball (spheroidal plaything) **tùn**
bat, stick, racket/racquet (any ball-hitting tool) **sáng**
ski **hím**
baseball **vaim**
basketball **tháng**
football (association f~), soccer **vún**
football (American/tackle f~) **lun**
gymnastics **fá**
hockey **bím**
pool, billiards **dóim**
tennis **pùm**
chess **song**
play, recreate, frolic **dòm**
same, identical **góum**
similar **sín**
different **miùm**
other, another **shó**
change (become/make different), vary **kúng**
imitate, mimic **zuong**
original, non-imitative **hí**
prototype, exemplar, archetype, model (for all Xs) **nòun**
copy (a duplicate) **sie**
zero **thòi**
one **rum**
two **ngáin**
three **jà**
four **sue**
five **gé**
six **dièng**
seven **biá**
eight **daun**
nine **ngàm**
ten **jui**
hundred **cheing**
thousand **juíng**
million **go**
half (1/2) **ruàng**
quantity (amount / number / magnitude) **puìng**
number, numeral (a word or symbol indicating quantity) **jú**
count, enumerate **siò**
measure **nueng**
ratio, rate, proportion **kòung**
add, append, join so as to cause an increase **thì**
remove, subtract, take away, delete **luì**
increase (become or make greater in quantity) **shuòng**
decrease (become or make lesser in quantity) **kíng**
multiply **juóm**
divide **púng**
total, sum, aggregate **ngù**
rest (of ...), remainder, leftovers, remnant **mòim**
whole, entire, complete **thuá**
all (the whole number or entire sum of) **sò**
many (a large number of) **tín**
few (a small number of) **ting**
much (a large quantity of) **tèi**
more (a larger quantity of) **thang**
most (the largest quantity of) **thuán**
little (a small quantity of) **fem**
less (a smaller quantity of) **dué**
least (the smallest quantity of) **jué**
part **kie**
piece (a part broken/cut/separated from something larger) **shiún**
section, segment (a part somehow different/separated from others) **shuèng**
allocation, allotment, portion (someone's share of X) **shoi**
group **ju**
batch (quantity of things done/produced at one time) **tièm**
bundle, bunch (group of things tied or grouped together) **móm**
majority **jiúng**
minority **zèim**
density **shuòm**
dense (of much density), concentrated, thick, intense **ruòn**
rarefied, tenuous, diffuse, dilute, sparse, wispy **gie**
full, filled **dúng**
empty **tóm**
degree (the extent/intensity/scope of an action/condition/relation) **kún**
at least, not less than (>=) **cho**
at most, only, just, merely, not more than (<=) **sáu**
much, very (to a large degree; with great intensity) **zàun**
more (to a larger degree) **ním**
most (to the largest degree) **chiu**
little (to a small degree; with almost no intensity) **shìng**
less (to a smaller degree) **fón**
least (to the smallest degree) **zòi**
enough, sufficiently **nóu**
almost, nearly **thio**
too much, excessively **fóung**
too little, insufficiently **rím**
size (degree of largeness or smallness) **juang**
huge, enormous, gigantic **shen**
big, large (of much size) **vong**
small (of little size) **zìng**
tiny, minuscule **nè**
expand, grow **chún**
shrink, contract **zaung**
distance (amount of space from X to Y) **shóng**
far (at / to a great distance) **póun**
near (at / to a little distance) **vuím**
present (existing in the indicated place; contra-absent) **rúm**
absent **jou**
place, location **shiu**
length (distance from one end to the other) **juim**
long (of much length) **lóin**
short (of little length) **shiúm**
width (degree of wideness or narrowness) **mí**
wide, broad (of space between objects) **ping**
narrow, of little width (of space between objects) **jùn**
thickness (of a solid object, etc.) **dòum**
thick, fat (large from one surface to the opposite surface) **hom**
thin, slender (small from one surface to the opposite surface) **fuìng**
height (distance from ground / baseline to top) **toing**
high, tall (of much height) **lè**
low, short (not tall; of little height) **lím**
depth (distance from ground / baseline down to bottom) **nòu**
deep, profound (of much depth) **rúng**
shallow (of little depth) **jò**
horizontal **juá**
vertical **thu**
diagonal, slanted **ngia**
sloped, inclined/declined (not horizontal) **diàng**
angle (the relation of two lines radiating from a point) **tie**
position (location relative to others) **sòm**
region, area (a quantity of space within boundaries) **véng**
space, room, void **zun**
connection, joint, junction **mán**
environment, surroundings, context **mio**
front **jió**
rear, back part of **thia**
side, flank, lateral area **lò**
middle, center **móim**
top, peak, summit **giùng**
bottom **puang**
edge **ve**
inner, internal, interior **zaing**
outer, exterior, external **tièng**
limit, boundary **jeng**
find (discover the location of) **jài**
misplace (lose; become unable to find) **gia**
direction (orientation of motion) **giàn**
up **dáum**
down **mió**
north **ne**
south **hùn**
east **rau**
west **tiù**
right(-hand) **mò**
left(-hand) **chaung**
away (from this or that place) **duom**
back (to previous place / condition) **zue**
inverted, upside-down **thin**
backward (in reverse order) **moing**
direct, immediate (with no intermediaries or obstacles) **hiu**
serpentine, meandering, convoluted **muí**
city **rong**
land, country, territory **oim**
village **zuòng**
rural area, countryside **sim**
source, origin **ram**
route, path, course **liòn**
destination **gáing**
aim (to point/direct X toward Y) **múm**
attract **bí**
avoid, evade, keep away from **gau**
barrier, obstacle **kue**
base, node, station (point from which things go or are done) **séim**
bring (cause something to come along with one toward a place) **tóing**
capture, seize **sang**
carry (move while supporting) **lui**
come, arrive (at indicated place) **mà**
drift, wander **chón**
drive, impel, propel **zuám**
emit (to send out any form of matter/energy in any manner) **shàm**
enter, go into **fuò**
escape, flee from **tím**
fly (move through the air) **fién**
forward, ahead **nuà**
gather, collect (bring or come together) **lòm**
go (move from starting point to elsewhere) **nò**
journey, trip, voyage **thióm**
leave, depart, go away from **jé**
load, burden **diem**
meet, encounter, come across **lóim**
miss, fail to hit/reach/see etc. **thei**
move (engage in motion / cause to engage in motion) **liam**
put, place, translocate **gú**
reach, extend as far as **hin**
release (quit keeping/restraining) **fóing**
remain, stay **nguím**
repel **shièm**
restrain, inhibit, hold back **guó**
retrieve, fetch (go to X and bring it back) **zòm**
return (go or send back to previous place/condition) **ngém**
ride (sit/perch in/on a vehicle/horse/etc. and travel) **tù**
roll (move like a ball/cylinder by turning over and over) **tiè**
send, dispatch, transmit **chuìng**
slide, slip, glide **gué**
stretch, extend **bà**
turn, divert (send in a different direction) **vuì**
turn, rotate, revolve **déng**
visit **piúm**
airplane, aircraft **kòu**
bicycle **fai**
boat **kuen**
bus **vèing**
canal, channel, ditch **jàun**
car, automobile (wheeled motor vehicle) **se**
cart, carriage, wagon (wheeled vehicle; not self-propelled) **jua**
motorcycle **sé**
port **giè**
railroad **zing**
road **nuo**
rocket **ngói**
ship **buà**
street **thìng**
train (of railroad) **to**
truck {British: lorry} (motor vehicle for cargo-carrying) **shuìn**
vehicle **gàu**
age (degree of oldness / youngness) **zíng**
young (of little age; having existed/lived for a brief time) **pieng**
old (of much age; having existed/lived for a long time) **théi**
new, novel, recent (having been known for a brief time) **hong**
old (of long standing; having been known for a long time) **gian**
permanent, perpetual **lái**
constant, invariant, stable **sio**
temporary, transient **jiang**
interval (quantity of time between events X and Y) **ngòm**
irregular, sporadic, intermittent **puo**
regular, periodic (at uniform intervals) **gai**
rhythm **và**
time (e.g. "do it 3 times"), occasion, instance, iteration **ngou**
again, once more, re- **giú**
alternate, take turns (do X then Y then X then Y) **roi**
cycle (one complete performance of a periodic process) **kèin**
frequency (degree of oftenness or seldomness) **mòn**
frequently, often **pau**
seldom, rarely **puè**
duration (amount of time consumed) **ví**
long (of much duration) **húm**
short, brief (of little duration) **ren**
gradual **léin**
sudden, abrupt **zain**
begin, commence, start **tói**
continue, keep on doing/being **chàu**
pause, hesitate, suspend action temporarily **vá**
end, conclude, finish **tài**
cease, stop doing, quit **ming**
delay, retard, tarry, postpone **nàin**
rush, hurry, hasten **chei**
period, era, epoch **thui**
moment, an instant **zí**
always (at all times) **vòn**
ever (at any time) **ngum**
never **ngìng**
time (the dimension/continuum of past-present-future) **bum**
past (the p~), earlier time **shòum**
present (the present time; the now) **véi**
future (the f~) **cháim**
already (prior to the time mentioned) **béi**
still, yet (even until the time mentioned) **dóng**
yesterday **mái**
today **zai**
tomorrow **vèim**
long ago (in the far past) **guam**
recently (in the near past) **kiò**
now (at this time) **vuing**
soon (in the near future) **liàm**
eventually (in the far future) **niò**
early, premature **thuo**
timely, prompt, on time **miàn**
late, tardy **shuí**
speed, velocity (degree of fastness or slowness) **kòn**
quickly, rapidly, swiftly (with much speed) **fòm**
slowly (with little speed) **za**
series (a number of similar things following one another) **jù**
sequence, order (temporal arrangement of events in a series) **dun**
last, final (after all others) **ron**
prior, preceding, previous, contra-next **zòn**
next (coming immediately after; "tomorrow" = the next day) **hàum**
season **shòin**
spring (the season) **zi**
summer **puòng**
autumn, fall **bing**
winter **hú**
century **thaim**
year **ruim**
month **nà**
week **pái**
day (24-hour period) **gèim**
date (coordinates of a day given in some timekeeping system) **ngoi**
day (daytime -- as opposed to night), diurnal period **liang**
night **veng**
morning (dawn to noon) **gaum**
noon **chiùn**
afternoon (noon to dusk) **nguàn**
evening (dusk to midnight) **kuò**
midnight **ziu**
graveyard shift, middle of the night (midnight to dawn) **ríng**
hour (60 minutes) **siàm**
minute (60 seconds) **guòng**
second (1/60th of a minute) **nen**
holiday **dan**
sabbath (day of week with religious significance) **réi**
wait (for), await **dìng**
air **dàng**
alcohol **róum**
ash **fuón**
brass (copper-zinc alloy) **bá**
carbon **puín**
chalk **gáu**
chemical (substance made by or used in chemistry) **fiun**
clay **ngiùm**
cloth, fabric (material made of threads) **bè**
coal **ngó**
copper **pàn**
dirt, earth (tangible), soil **miá**
dust **táng**
element (substance of irreducible simplicity) **bung**
fat (oily/greasy material from animal adipose tissue or plant seeds) **jéin**
fuel **pín**
glass **zo**
gold (the precious metal) **zì**
ice **diom**
ink **thài**
iron **mié**
jade (the tough green gemstone) **bén**
jewel, gem **siú**
lead (the metal) **jiám**
leather (prepared hide) **muen**
medicine (substance that makes one healthy) **zuén**
metal **ngá**
mineral, ore **gum**
mud **bim**
neon **daung**
nitrogen **ga**
oil (a combustible fatty liquid that will not mix with water) **vu**
oil (crude oil), petroleum **duán**
oxygen **gin**
paint **puì**
paper **sàing**
plastic (synthetic/processed moldable material) **guá**
poison, toxin **lian**
potassium **ràun**
quartz **vóng**
rock, stone **zen**
rubber **huám**
salt **tong**
sand **jiú**
silk **néi**
silver (the metal) **zín**
soap **viò**
sodium **guàm**
steam **nun**
steel **ngun**
sulfur **fòng**
tar (dark viscous liquid obtained by destructive distillation) **tú**
tin (the metal) **ngì**
water **voi**
wax **ngo**
wood (the substance) **jáu**
wool **thim**
beer **dom**
bitter **lai**
bread **bòn**
butter **chúng**
cheese **chùn**
chocolate **nàn**
flavor, taste **ngáng**
flour (grain-powder) **zèn**
food **huím**
honey **hiè**
milk **jiù**
pasta, noodles **luáng**
pizza **giàm**
salad **tén**
sandwich **chìn**
sausage **viám**
soup **jin**
sour **pei**
spice, seasoning **shein**
sugar **gòin**
sweet **fuìm**
vinegar **lúng**
wine **vùng**
arch **puén**
band, tape, flat strip **kam**
block (solid flat-surfaced mass of material) **mùn**
branch (small part going out from main part) **fuòm**
bump, protrusion **dèing**
card (stiff rectangle of material) **fóu**
circle **piùng**
coil **dàin**
cone **jueng**
crack, fissure **chòi**
cross (perpendicular intersection of linear items) **foi**
crystal **kuam**
cube **dang**
curve **zù**
cylinder **lùng**
dent, nick, indentation **ngiong**
disk, disc **déing**
drop (of liquid) **pang**
film (very thin layer) **vuon**
flared (opening up or spreading out from axis) **shè**
foam, froth **fiàn**
form, shape **sau**
furrow, rut, groove **ngai**
garbage, trash, rubbish **ruèng**
gas **chió**
helix (any corkscrew-shaped object) **sià**
hole **thóu**
jelly (gelatinous semi-solid material), gel **thóum**
juice (fluid extracted from something) **jùng**
layer **ruè**
line (series of contiguous points) **houn**
liquid **ruem**
loop, circuit, closed curve **thòm**
lump, clod, blob, piece of no particular shape **luo**
mark (visible traces left behind) **chàim**
matter, material, substance **hòn**
object (concrete tangible thing) **zuìm**
opening, orifice **duó**
oval, ellipse **riùn**
parallel **chiàng**
paste (any thick soft dough-like material) **lieng**
pattern (apparent systematic interrelationship) **duim**
pile, heap, stack of things or of a substance **shiám**
plane (flat surface) **jan**
plug, seal, stopper **fum**
powder **tuéng**
pyramid **tua**
ray **ká**
rectangle **zuìn**
ring, torus **jóu**
rust, corrosion **lon**
scratch **sin**
sheath **chong**
sheet (thin rectangle of paper/cloth/etc.) **kuàn**
shower, sprinkle **dèn**
smoke **thèm**
solid (not a gas or liquid) **tuì**
sphere **rún**
spike, barb, cleat, thorn **vi**
spiral, whorl **máng**
square **dói**
stripe **chio**
surface **suó**
swelling, inflation **mòi**
tapered (becoming narrower toward an end) **muìn**
thread, filament **niè**
triangle **chém**
wave **jièm**
wedge **gíng**
wrinkle, crease **sùm**
flat, planar **zoim**
level, even (on the same level) **séin**
smooth **chiem**
rough, coarse, contra-smooth **lum**
straight (not bent) **gài**
bent **ngau**
pure, unadulterated, uncontaminated **màu**
clean **pó**
dirty, contra-clean **ruíng**
open (not shut) **ran**
closed, shut **guo**
wet **sám**
dry **chuém**
sharp, keen, pointy, acute **gón**
dull, blunt (of little sharpness) **chuè**
soft, malleable, yielding to pressure **chióng**
hard, firm, resistant to pressure **ròing**
flexible (easily able to bend) **sòi**
stiff, rigid **sháum**
elastic (able to regain shape/size after deformation) **hùng**
durable, resilient, robust, strong (in this sense) **hè**
fragile, delicate **feim**
weight (degree of heaviness or lightness) **nú**
heavy (of much weight) **kìn**
light (of little weight) **fuong**
solid (contra-hollow) **tuin**
hollow **paing**
snug (just large enough to contain X), tight (in this sense) **shòi**
loose (contra-snug), baggy **béing**
taut, tight, tense, strained **zié**
loose (contra-taut), slack **diáng**
viscous, thick (of high viscosity) **cham**
runny, thin (of little viscosity) **piò**
absorb **men**
adhere (hold tightly to / stick to something) **long**
beat (repeatedly hit), batter **pèn**
blow (move/cause to move as a current of gas) **min**
boil **rèing**
bounce, rebound **zuém**
break (into pieces) **mui**
build (join materials to create), construct **sei**
burn **gèn**
burst **kòi**
consume, deplete, expend, exhaust, use up **jàin**
contain **zùng**
crush (press on so as to break or re-shape) **jó**
cut **shúng**
dig **suang**
dissolve **réng**
evaporate **ngèn**
explode **ngung**
float **fán**
flow (travel in a current) **fà**
fold **lóum**
freeze **jie**
grind **shié**
hang, suspend, dangle **jòi**
hit, strike **fàin**
melt **thou**
mix, blend **nguò**
pollute, contaminate **ziong**
pour (cause to flow) **jòng**
preserve, maintain (keep X in good condition) **búm**
press (do pressure to; push upon with weight or force) **juín**
pry {British: prize} (raise/open/move with a lever) **púm**
pull (draw something toward oneself) **fiám**
push (press on something in order to move it) **tuèm**
rot, decay **fia**
rub, abrade **ho**
sew **hùm**
shake **pú**
shoot (cause to rapidly go forth) **miòn**
sink **suì**
spill (accidentally emit liquid) **puèn**
spread (begin to cover or cause X to cover more area) **kiám**
stab, jab **lie**
stir, agitate **koim**
suck **thàng**
sweep **chéing**
tear, rip **rán**
tie, bind **màn**
trim, prune (cut off ragged edges) **hài**
wash **thòn**
weave **zó**
wrap **sham**
acid(ic) **záu**
alkaline **riu**
atom **fé**
balance, equilibrium **duáng**
basis, foundation (part which supports the rest) **ti**
electricity **tòu**
energy **bòun**
fire **báun**
force **kueng**
gravity **ròm**
magnet **zuo**
molecule **leng**
power **fèim**
smell, odor, aroma **ruéng**
strength (ability to exert physical power) **kien**
stroke, jolt, blow of force **hen**
vacuum **hiám**
vapor, mist **béng**
polarity (electric, magnetic, etc.) **shèin**
positive **sion**
negative **zia**
gentle, mild **jue**
violent, harsh **goi**
see **tiòm**
light (visible electro-magnetic radiation) **thàim**
color **fan**
shadow, shade **làun**
shine (radiate light) **shiò**
picture, image **dù**
bright (with much light present) **suà**
dark, dim (with little light present) **bié**
black **jián**
gray {British: grey} **kiú**
white **ngium**
red **puí**
orange (having a hue between red and yellow) **lòn**
yellow **dèm**
green **zàin**
blue **thue**
purple **liù**
brown **jàng**
beautiful **shuim**
ugly **duòn**
ornament, decoration **shun**
blemish, blot **dià**
hide, conceal **zan**
reveal, disclose **faim**
examine, inspect **guà**
show, exhibit, display **chian**
sound (audible waves in the air) **gì**
silent **vùn**
quiet, soft, faint (of little sonic intensity) **ka**
loud (of much sonic intensity) **shéing**
hear **hing**
music **chem**
tone, pitch (frequency of sound waves) **ngión**
whistle **liun**
temperature (relative amount of heat present) **chuáng**
heat, warmth **chè**
cold, chilly, frigid **sui**
cool **hie**
warm **luá**
hot **shúm**
bake (cook or harden by means of dry heat) **duong**
cook (prepare by applying heat) **choim**
happen, occur **hàun**
accident (unintentional and unexpected event) **ruá**
miracle **thiom**
disaster, catastrophe **chiùng**
act, deed **chói**
activity, bustle, ado **máu**
result, consequence **ngám**
agree **buám**
fight, combat **bìng**
protect, defend **rín**
attack **chùm**
good **kum**
bad **núng**
category, classification **pióng**
kind, sort, type, variety (of...) **huang**
certain, sure **màim**
probable (likely to happen/be) **rià**
cooperate, collaborate **kùng**
compete, strive, vie **rióng**
help, assist, aid **shum**
interfere, hinder **ziàng**
succeed **zóm**
fail **jàn**
simple **fuóng**
complex **shiàm**
condition, state, status **nián**
create, make (bring into existence) **ngàun**
destroy (contra-create; cause to cease existing) **shiè**
safety, security **ngià**
danger (situation in which harm is probable) **diù**
easy **pén**
difficult, hard **mión**
true **rè**
false, untrue **mom**
famous **riú**
obscure, unheard of **diú**
injure, damage, harm **kém**
repair, fix **shòng**
flaw, defect, imperfection **dóu**
native (naturally belonging to a given realm) **chon**
chief, main, primary, principal **ngén**
auxiliary **roung**
normal, ordinary, usual **vàm**
strange, weird, unusual, peculiar **shán**
trouble, difficulty **kei**
real, actual **kuí**
trick, chicanery **nom**
right, correct **shù**
wrong, incorrect **sien**
reside, dwell, live **fien**
camp, bivouac, temporary shelter **nu**
nest, den, lair (an animal's self-made house) **mòin**
represent (act as a substitute for) **biòn**
substitute, surrogate (temporary replacement) **shòm**
replacement (permanent substitute/substitution) **neng**
common, general (shared by all members of a group) **kuáng**
specific, special, particular **mum**
ability, capacity (to do something) **guém**
artificial (deliberately made by humans) **gín**
automatic **chái**
chance, randomicity, luck **dà**
civilization **chiam**
clear, plain (easy to see/understand) **ngòng**
compromise **feing**
consist of, be composed of **kuan**
depend on, rely on **nuim**
deserve, merit, be worthy of **váum**
detail **chua**
entitle **uing**
equal **méin**
evil **zàim**
exact, precise **fóng**
example, sample **kuén**
exercise, practice (effort made to improve skills/health) **zìm**
experiment **puón**
fertile **ròu**
harmony (pleasing combination of stimuli) **siùn**
just, fair, equitable **táu**
match (a thing suitably associated with another) **kong**
method, manner, way (of doing), technique **thaung**
mutual, reciprocal **thua**
naked, nude, exposed (without the usual cover) **boim**
necessary, needed, required **póm**
need, require **ngòing**
possible (able to happen or be done) **tuam**
prevent (keep from happening) **thàu**
process, procedure **huìn**
program **rióm**
progress, advancement **vuóm**
project, undertaking, venture **thuáng**
proof, evidence **mú**
quality, trait, attribute, characteristic **fèi**
ready, prepared for a task / event **mieng**
relationship, association **bei**
right (a right to do/be ...) **hua**
role (an individual's function) **théng**
save, rescue **jàm**
species **chui**
suitable, proper, fit(ting), appropriate **chun**
system **tàm**
task, chore, job, assignment **fuíng**
technology **múng**
tendency, propensity, inclination **fuòng**
try, attempt, endeavor **vom**
use, utilize **keim**
vogue, trend, fad, fashion **chòng**
waste, misuse **fung**
wild, feral, untamed **hiùng**
work, effort, labor, toil **sìm**
riot **sèng**
science **kóin**
serve (provide service to) **toi**
set (complete group of similar items) **gáung**
strike (work stoppage as protest) **tiùm**
support **lá**
test, check **ja**
torture, torment **lé**