Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them. Jesus said to them, “Go and tell him what ye have seen:—the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, the poor have the Gospel preached to them.” ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ A most painful experience is to listen to missionaries reading off sentences culled from a Primer, under the impression that they are preaching the Gospel to the Chinese. Effective preaching is preaching that is alive, and the mere recitation of sentences from a Primer does not constitute lively preaching. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ The student must be willing to practise all that he learns, and must not be afraid of making mistakes. It is by making mistakes that one learns to talk correctly. It is very important that the student should practise speaking to different people, and not confine his efforts to his teacher, or servants. Through familiarity, our servants soon learn to understand what we say, and will often successfully interpret some very marvellous Chinese, but this is no criterion that we are speaking the language correctly. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ No system of Romanization can ever adequately represent Chinese sounds, which can only be properly learnt by listening to the speech of the Chinese themselves. The student must always bear in mind the important fact that Chinese sounds often differ widely from those of English words, and that Romanization only can suggest the sound, rather than adequately represent it. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ It has already been shown in Lesson I. that nouns and pronouns in the possessive case acquire descriptive power, and act as adjectives. This is accomplished in the Foochow dialect by adding 其 gì to the noun or pronoun to form the possessive case. 其 Gì may therefore be called an adjectival particle. Verbs followed by gì acquire descriptive power, and sentences containing verbs followed by gì express in Chinese what is expressed in English by relative clauses. This descriptive power of 其 gì with verbs is helped by the use of the relative pronoun 所 sū before the verb. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ Nè̤ng-gă giāng gì kă ô bâng, ĭ-sĕng gōng mò̤ dăng dŏng muŏk, giăng ĭ â̤ piāng-kă kó̤ Sĭng-săng nâ kaíu nṳ̄ gì pīng-hâing, nṳ̄ găi-dŏng diŏh siēu-lā̤. Dò̤ dĭng ĕng dó̤h-lā̤, nè̤ng-gă mâ̤ káng-giéng tĕ̤k cṳ̆. Hiā nè̤ng má nguāi, cêng òng ng kīng kó̤. Ĭ baîng ciā dâi mò̤ sié-nó̤h hō̤. Nè̤ng-gă mò̤ dăngdŏng ṳ̄ng-nâi ciā nè̤ng, ĭ sê lāng-dô̤. Ng sê nè̤ng-gă chĭng-ngāng káng-giéng, cêu mâ̤ séng ĭ â̤ có̤ cī muāng ngài gì dâi. Ciā ngṳ̀ kák gèng, nâ siăh chói â̤ cêng kák. Ĭ gáuk-nè̤ng giéng-gáe̤k ĭ gâe̤ng bĕk nè̤ng ô gáuk-ióng. Ce̤ṳ́ng-nè̤ng lì tiăng ĭ gōng dô̤-lī, ī-dé mó̤ èng siăh buông. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ We must repent and believe on Jesus. Man is altogether wrong. Even devils, Jesus cast them out. Although he is a rich man he has not really many friends. You had better soak the oatmeal tonight, so that it can be more quickly prepared in the morning. We were playing ball and broke your glass, will you please forgive us, Sir? He will not work but sits down all the day. He is forty years old, and cannot learn a foreign language. These socks have shrunk, so that they are too small for me, you can give them to the school boys to wear. Do not imitate Mr. Li in speaking, he speaks very fast. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ Cuòi chŭi-iòng mâ̤ de̤ṳ́ng-é, nâ ék-dêng mò̤ bék-nó̤h huák-dô. Cī-siŏh-ciáh bău dái kó̤ Diŏng Sĭng-săng hŭ-uái, ĭ gì chiĕng cê dò̤ diōng lì. Nè̤ng-gă sèng siŏh lā̤-bái ô gié piĕ ké̤ṳk nè̤ng-gă gì nòng-nā̤, gĭng-dáng ô sĭu ĭ siŏh hŭng gì piĕ, muóng nè̤ng-gă gĭng nièng-màng ciŏng-gì muôi gié piĕ ké̤ṳk ĭ. Nè̤ng-gă giăng ciā piĕ páh-mò̤-kó̤, diŏh gâe̤ng Iù-céng Guŏh gōng. Nṳ̄ dăng găi-dŏng giók-duáng. Ciŏng-uâng có̤ sĕng-é mò̤ iā hō̤. Nè̤ng-gă mâ̤-gé-dék-kó̤ tŭng-dĭ ĭ lâung hṳ̄ siŏh iông gì-dâi, nâ gì-sĭk mò̤ iéu-gīng. Nè̤ng-gă siōng ĭ-gáuk-nè̤ng dâi-liŏk gĭng-buŏ â̤ gáu. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ In speaking o a place by name the word “in” is expressed by diŏh alone. In speaking of heaven 上 siông above, is sometimes used with diŏh after the noun. I have a friend of China, 儂家務一隻朋友着中國 nè̤ng-gă ô siŏh ciáh bèng-iū diŏh Dṳ̆ng-guók. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ In the evening it is dark. Jesus came down to save men. When will he arrive? On the third of the First Month. It is cooler today, will you come over to supper to-night. I am asking Mrs. Li to come to tea this afternoon at 5 o’clock. What time did you get up? I got up this morning at seven o’clock. In the winter this place is cold, while it is too hot in the summer. We have evidence that his conduct is bad. You must scour the brass and scrub the table. X. Each man has his own house. Jesus died for us on the cross. Both the men are below. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ Negative interrogative sentences are formed by making a negative statement and placing mò̤ at the end. Is not this yours? cuòi ng sê nṳ̄ gì mò̤? Is not this his money? cuòi ng sê ĭ gì cièng mò̤? (f) Such questions as “why does? Why does not?” are formed as follows: Why does he not worship God? I ĭng sié-nó̤h iòng-gó ng bái Siông-Dṳ́? 2. Ciŏng-gì is the most common expression used in asking “why?” It is a very forcible expression and often implies reproof. Why do you not listen to him? ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ I buăk-dō̤ tàu cêu sêu siŏng. Ĭ ô buōng-sê̤ṳ nâ sê cêng lāng-dô̤, huăng-hĭ lŏh cṳ̆-că̤ káh-dièu. Kī-dâe̤ng nṳ̄ tá̤ nguāi mā̤ chāu à̤, nguāi nguôi-guók gì à̤ puái kó̤ lāu. Ĭ dêu diŏh dĕ̤ng-nē? Nè̤ng gă mâ̤ hiēu-dék. Nṳ̄ ciŏng-gì tiè-mà? Ing nù gì nòng-nā̤ ô bâng, nòng-mâ iâ sê chăng-màng, mâ̤ téng-dék siăh. Nü nâ cī siŏh huòi kuăng-ṳ̀ng nù, ĭ-hâiu nù ng cái dáik-cô̤i nṳ̄ Dó̤i-méng chió ô cêng sâ̤ gĭng ngṳ̀ng có̤ gì nó̤h, hṳ̄-diē nèng sê cêng bó. Bău diŏh buŏh gīng, miēng-dék diē-sié gì nó̤h dâung lō̤h lì páh mò̤ kó̤. Nù ng tĕ̤ng chók kó̤ ká dièu ĭng nòng-nā̤ giéu nù áung niê-giāng. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ We have donkeys but no horses, 奴許塊務驢毛馬 Nù hṳ̆-uái ô lè̤ mò̤ mā. 3. The words 落 lŏ̤h, 出 chók, 過 guó, are used with 去 kó̤ and 來 lì both as principal and auxiliary verbs. Come down, 落梨 lŏ̤h lì. Go down, 落去 lŏ̤h kó̤. Come out, 出來 chók lì. Go out, 出去 chók kó̤. Take these chairs and tables out, 將那椅棹都掏出去 Ciŏng hiā iē dó̤h dŭ dò̤ chók kó̤. 4. Great care should be taken in the use of the different verbs meaning “to carry”. 帶 Dái is used of light things, and taking persons with one. 掏 Dò̤ is used of heavier things. 担 Dăng of a load carried on a pole by one man. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ Giéu có̤-diò gĭng-dáng có̤ miêng-bău, nè̤ng-gă mìng-dáng diŏh kī-sĭng. Nṳ̄ kó̤ dĕ̤ng-nē̤? Kó̤ sùng-kuàng. Miêng-âu diōng lì? Guó gūi nĭk. Hiā ĭ-siòng nṳ̄ gĭng-dáng diŏh dò̤ kó̤ sā̤. Cŭ-uái ô ì-cô̤. Chiāng sĭng-săng mìng-dáng cā siŏh-dék-giāng lì, nè̤ng-gă ói tĕ̤k săng sé siū cáng-mī-sĭ. Ciā nó̤h sê nè̤ng-gă diŏh siàng-ngiê mā̤ gì. Â̤ gói mâ̤? Nè̤ng-gă cê-gă kìng dà; dà siăh uòng-lū, nṳ̄ diŏh sā̤ dà-bò̤, dò̤ nè̤ng-gă cŭ-uái lì. Nṳ̄ màng-nièng kó̤ dĕ̤ng-nē̤? Nè̤ng-gă kó̤-nièng-màng ciŏng nù gì mā mâ̤ kó̤, mā̤ siŏh tàu lè̤. Nṳ̄ miêng-âu gáu? Siŏh màng gáu. Gói séng? Bê séng Lī. Diŏh mā̤ gék ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ A certain young Missionary of our acquantance, on being warned by a senior worker in the Mission that he was not speaking correctly, endeavoured to justify himself by saying that his "boy" understood what he said to him. One is reminded of the little boy who told his mother that he was cured of the habit of squinting, because he could now see two things where he could only see one before! ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ Cī siŏh ciáh siŏng ī-gĭng cŏng muāng lāu, lêng-nguôi gì nó̤h mò̤ sié-nó̤h ói-ché̤ṳ cŏng. Dṳ̆ng-guók uâ nè̤ng-gă tiăng mâ̤ sṳ̆k. I gì ĭ-siòng bô hō̤-káng bô tĕk cièng. Ciā buó liông káng gáu ng gáu, ô chă gūi cháung. Ciā mìng-chòng gì puôi diŏh chṳ̆ hō̤ hō̤, gĭng-dáng ô nè̤ng-káh lì, nè̤ng-gă ó̤i ĭ káng lūng-cūng gì ôi-ché̤u sê cêng cóng. Ciā tiáng dŏng mâ̤ buŏ káung cêng chéng. Cī siŏh ciáh niê-giāng chiông ĭ gì gì sì-hâiu, kī-dâe̤ng nṳ̄ tá̤ nguāi mā̤ săng dâung gì só̤h. TIăng nguāi gì uâ ceû bìng ciŏng-uâng có̤, ĭ kō̤-bī sê ó̤h gì nè̤ng, kī chió diŏh duâi siŏh méng-siông. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ When we speak of one thing excelling another we place a word or phrase either before or after the descriptive word possessing such a meaning. In Foochow Colloquial, the sign of the superlative comes before as a rule. That man is very good. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ There are many false gods. He is very young. It rains today. Push the door open. Those who believe in Jesus have perfect peace. These are very excellent words. It has rained, but our garments are not at all wet. The sources of many rivers are in high mountains. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ Cuòi gâe̤ng nguāi mò̤ găng-guó, nṳ̄ ciŏng-gì chaū-ieū nguāi? I-siòng diŏh bìng ciā iông-sék có̤. Nṳ̄ ô gĭ-huôi gì sì-hâiu, ceû chiāng ĭ gáu cŭ-uái lì. Nè̤ng-gă sê mìng-dáng buăng chió, sĭng gì chió sê lŏ̤h săng-dīng. Kī-dâe̤ng nṳ̄ dò̤ ciā buó kó̤ déng lŏ̤h baé̤k-biĕ̤ng gì chiòng lā̤. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ Reaching one’s destination is expressed by the use of the words 至塊 gáu-dó̤i. We shall be there tomorrow, 明旦⿰亻鞋至塊 mìng-dáng â̤ gáu-dó̤i. 5. The word 總 cūng covers the ground occupied by such words as “must”, “certainly”. It is strengthened by 着 diŏh. You must worship God, 汝總着拜上帝 nṳ̄ cùng-diŏh bái Siông-Dá̤. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ Chinese currency is in five kinds: Lump silver, usually speaken of as 銀 ngṳ̀ng; Dollars, or 番錢 huăng-cièng; Small silver coins or 番錢仔 huăng-cièng-giāng, (a ten cent piece is 一角 siŏh gáe̤k) ; copper cents, or 銅片 dè̤ng-piéng; copper cash or 錢 cièng. The reckoning is in decimals, usually calculated to two places. One dollar, 一塊番錢 siŏh-dó̤i huăng-cièng, literally one piece of foreign money. Half a dollar, 半塊錢 五角 buáng-dó̤i cièng or ngô gaé̤k. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ In the first place he is careless, in the second place he is unjust, 伊頭一件毛細貳第二件毛公道 I tàu siŏh-iông mò̤ sá̤-nê, dâ̤ nê iông mò̤ gŭng-dô̤. In the first place I have no time, in the second place, I have no money, 儂家頭一截毛閒二截毛錢 Nè̤ng-gă tàu siŏh-cĕk mò̤ èng, nê cĕk mò̤ cièng. He is both wise and amiable, 伊仅聰明仅好愛 I bô chăng-mìng, bô hō̤-tiáng. He is both unwilling and unable, 伊仅伓肯仅毛擔當 I bô ng kīng, bô mò̤ dăng-dŏng. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ In comparing persons or things we say that they are inferior, equal to, or superior to other persons or things. The quality or point of comparison is usually shown by some suitable word, generally an adjective or an adverb. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ It has not rained for a very long time, and the Mandarin has forbidden the killing of animals. This rice is spoilt, throw it away! Even the chickens won't eat it. Be careful, walk lightly, lest the baby should wake up, she has just gone to sleep. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ If the workmen are not lazy this wall should be made in three days. In writing you must hold your pen in your right hand, to hold it in the left is very incorrect. Why do you always forget to shut the windows? ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ He has been ill for a very long time, and without help he cannot walk. If we only love one friends, we are not completely fulfilling our duty. Since I have burnt my hand, I have not been able to write letters. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ When the sun shines, take them out to dry in the sun. The red cloth must not be sunned, it must be aired, lest the red colour fades. This child can not walk, please carry him on your back. One man cannot carry this box. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ Sometimes it signifies time just elapsed, as “he has just gone” 伊隻隻去 I ciáh-ciáh kó̤. 肘 Diū also has this meaning, and the preceding sentence may be rendered, 伊肘肘去 ĭ diū diū kó̤. It is always used duplicated. You must believe in Jesus then you will be saved, 着信耶穌隻⿰亻鞋得救 Diŏh séng Ià-Sŭ ciáh á̤ dáik géu. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ Nè̤ng-gă gĭng-dáng-cā lŏ̤h chék-dēng-cṳ̆ng gók-kī. Dĕ̤ng-tiĕng ciā dê-huŏng chéng, lŏh hâ-tiĕng sê kák iĕk. Nù-gaúk-nè̤ng ô bìng-gé̤u ĭ gì pīng-hâing sê bàng-ciáng. Dè̤ng gì nó̤h diŏh laé̤, dó̤h diŏh gāng. Translate into Chinese:— It was Friday yesterday. I know he does not want it. This butter is salt. I want fresh butter and fresh milk. He went the evening of the day before yesterday. Is this chair too large? Just right! I want to say a few words to you. Please give me a little bread. I have not yet eaten my dinner. It is your duty now to study. In a few years you may preach. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ Except for the tone mark, the Romanized gives no clue to such a change of vowel sounds. Here again it is important that the student should obtain his knowledge of these changes by careful attention to the sounds as spoken by the Chinese themselves. Much practice is necessary to perfection. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ He is not as clever as that 伊毛許滿大聰明 ĭ mò̤ hṳ̄-muāng duâi chŭng-mìng. My teapot is as large as that, 儂家其茶婆務許滿大 Nè̤ng-gă gì dà-bò̤ ô hṳ̄-muāng duâi. 6. Incomparability is expressed by, 毛乇比併 Mò̤-nó̤h bī-piâng. God is incomparably wise, 上帝其智慧毛乇比併 Siông-Dá̤ gì dé-hiê mò̤-nó̤h bī-piâng. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ They dwell in the city. You must trust in Jesus if you are to obtain true bencfit. You must study the Scriptures before you can preach. I am sorry for him, he certainly has bad luck, and will never get rich. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ Where is the bell? I do not know, I have not seen it. Who has spilt this water? I want to buy some fresh eggs. How much are they apiece? The children are poorly today and must not go to school. This rope is poor. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ Multiples of ten are formed as in English. Twenty-two n̂ê sĕk nê. 一十 Ék sĕk is often used for numbers between ten and twenty, but not invariably. It must, however, be used in numbers above a hundred. One hundred and nineteen, 一百一十九 siŏh báh ék sĕk gāu. 4. We may speak of indefinite numbers in several ways. 幾 Güi and 零 lìng are frequently used for this purpose. 十幾 Sĕk gūi ten odd, 百零 báh lìng a hundred odd. 幾隻 Gūi ciáh is a few (units) . 幾百 Gūi báh several hundreds. 二百幾十本 Lâng báh gūi sĕk ̈buōng, over two hundred volumes; 幾十件毛 gūi sĕk iông nó̤h, several tens of things. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ Travelling on about is not as quick as riding in a chair. That thing is very beautiful, I want to take it te my mother for her to see. Please sweep this room very clean, it is very bad to have cobwebs in the house. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ Lìng-hùng bī cièng gó iéu-gīng. Nù gì cṳ̆-niòng-giāng lā̤ káh-dièu ĭ gì nè̤ng-giāng. Cī siŏh tiŏng dó̤h cêng gói, sê nê-dó̤i nê! Mìng-dáng nè̤ng-gă chiāng lĕ̤k-ciáh nè̤ng-káh lì siăh màng. Cī siŏh-buōngbék bī hṳ̄ siŏh-buōng gó hō̤, nâ lâng buōng dŭ mò̤ sié-nó̤h hō̤. Có̤-diò ô kó̤ gă̤-dŏng diăh mī, nè̤ng-gă ó̤i ĭ dōng buó, nâ mâ̤-gé-dék gâe̤ng ĭ gōng. Ciā buó bī hiā buó gó hō̤. Ĭ ô dâng, ièng gì ăk bī cī siŏh ciáh gó duâi. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ Half a dollar, 半塊錢 buáng-dó̤i cièng. I only want a half, 那欲一半 nâ ó̤i siŏh-buáng. The greater part, 大半 duâi buáng. The smaller part, 小半 siēu buáng. 5. Before noon, 上⿰日罩 siông-dáu. After-noon, 下⿰日罩 â-dáu. Monday after-noon, 拜一下⿰日罩 bái-ék â-dáu. Half a day, 半日 buáng nĭk. 半日 Buáng-nĭk, is often used with the idiomatic meaning “a long time”. I talked to him for a long time, 儂家共伊講論務半日 Nè̤ng-gă gâe̤ng ĭ gōng-lâung ô buáng-nĭk. 6. The question “what is the day of the month?” is asked in Chinese in three different ways. ”
Charles Seymour Champness, A Manual of the Foochow Dialect In Twenty Lessons (1908)
“ The things that he possesses, 伊所務其乇 ĭ sū ô gì nó̤h. These are the books that he bought, 嚽是伊所買其書 Cuòi sê ĭ sū mā̤ gì cṳ̆. Gì may also define or describe whatever refers to time. When he came, 伊來其時候 ĭ lì gì sì-hâiu. ”
