Herbert Allen Giles

Herbert Allen Giles

Summary

Portrait of Herbert Allen Giles Herbert Allen Giles Chinese Without a Teacher (1922)

READ AND WRITING.
[Those who wish to make real progress should now engage a Teacher. Chinese cannot be self-taught.]
Has the teacher come ? 先生來了沒有 She-enn-shung li-law mayo. He has come 來了 Li-law. Ask him to come 請他過來 Ch'ing t'ah kwo-li. How - do - you - do, Sir? 先生好啊 She-enn-shung how-ah? I want to read 我要念書 Waw yow ne-enn shoo. What books do you want to read, Sir? 閣下要念甚麼書 Kaw-seeah yow ne-enn shummo shoo. I want to read Chinese books. 要念中國書 Yow ne-enn Choong-kwo shoo. What book is this? 這是甚麼書 Chay shirt shummo shoo? This book is difficult to understand 這個書難懂 Chayka shoo nahn toong.
Source: Wikisource

Portrait of Herbert Allen Giles Herbert Allen Giles Chinese Without a Teacher (1922)

SUBSTANTIVES AND ADJECTIVES
are not declined: the same word expresses both the singular and plural.
PRONOUNS. I, me 我 Waw. My, mine 我的 Wawty. We, us 我們 Wawmun. Our, ours 我們的 Waymunty. Thou, thee and you 你 Nee. Thy, thine, your, yours 你的 Neety. You (plural) 你們 Neemun. Your, yours 你們的 Neemunty. He, she, it, him, her 他 Tah. His, her, hers, its 他的 Tahty. They, them 他們 Tah mun. Their, their 他們的 Tahmunty.
VERBS
remain the same in all moods, tenses numbers and persons, with the exception of the past tense, which is formed by adding la, layow or kwo to the original word.
Source: Wikisource

Portrait of Herbert Allen Giles Herbert Allen Giles Chinese Without a Teacher (1922)

The pony is hot; don't feed him yet 馬出了汗先不要餧他 Mah ch'oola hahn; sheen poo yow way t'ah. I want to buy a good pony 我要買一匹好馬 Waw yow mi yee p'ee how mah. This pony is not fast, or, won't do for racing 這個馬跑得不快 Chayka mah, p'owta poo k'wi. A good pony is very dear now 好馬現在狠貴 How mah she-en-dzi hun kooey. Are there any wolves here? 這兒有狼沒有 Cher yo lahng mayo? Walk my pony about 把馬蹓一蹓 Pah mah layo-layo.
Source: Wikisource

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