Lim Hiong Seng

Name: Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular
Author: Lim Hiong Seng

Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

Summary

“Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular”, published in 1886, is a work by Lim Hiong Seng. It explores elements such as nâng, lâi and Chiēn-kùa.

Quotes from Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (Lim Hiong Seng)

Lim Hiong Seng, Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

“ Lióu [1] 了 (finish) can only be used to subjects being spoken of, and cannot be used in asking questions, viz.—
伊來了 I lâi--lō He has come. 阮知了 Ún tsai--lō We have known. 因到了 In kàu--lō They have arrived. Chiàn 正 (just) and 識 pat (ever) can be used both to questions and answers, viz.— 伊正來 I chiàn-lâi He has just come. 爾此時正來 Lṳ́ chi-tsûn chìan-lâi? Have you just now come? 爾昔識來此處否 Lṳ́ tsá pat-lâi--chié mē? Have you ever been here before? 我昔不識來此處 Uá tsá m̄-pat lâi--chié I have never been here before. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lim Hiong Seng, Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

“ But it will be observed that there is one case in which hyphens must always be employed, viz. when two or more syllables form one word, as 上午 chiēn-kùa, forenoon, 書冊 tsṳ-chheh, a book, 大英國 Tãi-eng-kok, England, 灼灼薜 iáp-iáp-sih, twinkling. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lim Hiong Seng, Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

“ What case is he trying? 伊在審壹條刣人案 I tõ sím chék-tiôu thâi-nâng uàn He is trying a murder case. 老爹呾要去看屍 Lãu-tia tàn-àin-khṳ̀ thóin si The mandarin says he is going to see the corpse. 被告之人有認否 Pĩ-kò--kâi-nâng khah-ũ jīn-mē? Does the person accused admit it? 無。伊呾不是伊刣 Bô, i tàn m̄-sĩ i thâi No, he said the man was not killed by him. 伊與老爹呾。老爺亞。我無罪 I kah lãu-tia tàn, lãu-iâ--a, uá bô-tsũe He said to the mandarin, "Your Worship, I am innocent." 我是被人枉屈 Uá sĩ khoih--nâng uáng-khut "I am falsely accused by the people. 人要害我 Nâng-àin-hāi úa "People wish to do me harm. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lim Hiong Seng, Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

“ Āi--ā! 哀哉 Allow, Tsún; hàun; khéng; iòng 準好肯容 Almanac, Láh-jít 曆日 Almost, Tsha-m̄-to; tsha-put-to; hiám-hiám; lím-lím 差不多險險凜凜 Alms, to give, Si; chì-phîn 施濟貧 Alms, to give, rice, Si-bí 施米 Alone, Tuan-nâng; ka-kī 單人自己 Aloud, Tūa-sian 大聲 Alphabet, Jī-bó 字母 Alter, to, Kói 攺 Alternate, Sie-lûn; sie-thòi 相輪相貸 Although, Sui-jiên 誰然 Altogether, Chék-khài; lóng-tsóng 壹㮣俱皆 Always, Tsong-kú 終久 Amend, to make up, Póu 補 Ammunition, Chhèng-chí húe-iéh 銃子火藥 Amusing, Tshù-bī 趣味 Amusement, Thit-thô 遊玩 Ancient, time, Kóu-tsá 古昔 Ancient,„ men, Kóu-náng 古人 Anecdote, to relate, Phuéh-kóu ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lim Hiong Seng, Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

“ Does he dare to go? 伊不敢 I m̄-kán He dare not. 伊袂食 I bõi-chiáh He can't eat. 何爲袂食 Tsò-nîn bõi-chiáh Why can't he eat? 我不知 Uá m̄-tsai I don't know. 入來 Jíp--lái Come in. 出去 Tshut--khṳ̀ Go out. 爾聽我會見否 Lṳ́ thian uá õi-kìn mē? ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lim Hiong Seng, Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

“ God is in heaven, and men are on earth. 天在上。地在下 Thin tõ chīen, tī tò ẽ Heaven is above, and earth is below. 山是高。海是深 Suan sĩ tûin, hái sĩ chhim Mountains are high, and seas are deep. 大海個水藍 Tūa-hái kâi tsúi nâm The waters of the oceans are blue. 海墘有人行 Hái-kîn ũ nâng kián There are people walking on the sea-side. 塗袂肥 Thôu bōi-pûi The soil is not fertile. 樹袂發 Chhiū bõi-huat The trees do not grow. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lim Hiong Seng, Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

“ Do you go to worship on Sunday? 有。我每個禮拜去 Ũ, uá kâi-kâi lói-pài khṳ̀ Yes, I go every Sunday. 爾是天主教或不是 Lṳ́ sĩ Thien-tsú-kà a m̄-sĩ? Are you a Roman Catholic? 阮是耶穌教 Ún sĩ Iâ-sou-kà We are Protestant. 爾是傳道理之人或不是 Lṳ́ sĩ thuân-tõ-lí--kâi-nâng a m̄-sĩ? Are you a preacher? ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lim Hiong Seng, Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

“ What day of the week is to-day? 今日拜乙 Kián-jít pài-it To-day is Monday. 爾下個拜乙來 Lṳ́ ẽ-kâi pài-it lâi You come on Monday next. 我此個禮拜不閒在 Uá chí-kâi lói-pài m̄-ôin tsãi I am very busy this week. 我明天個事多在 Uá màn-khí kâi sṳ̄ tsōi-tsāi I shall have a great deal of work to-morrow. 先生爾明天早者來 Sin-sen lṳ́ màn-khí tsá--chē-lâi Teacher, you come a little earlier tomorrow. 我要讀零些。了爾好轉來 Uá àin-ták lân-ló, lióu lṳ́ hó-tńg--khṳ̀ I will read a little, and then you can go. 拜三先生爾免用來 Pài-san sin-sen lṳ́ mín-ēng lâi On Wednesday, teacher, you needn't come. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lim Hiong Seng, Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

“ A ship's boat. 烟筒 In-tâng A funnel. 陂 Pi A whistle. 呠陂 Pûn-pi To blow a whistle. 鼎 Tián A boiler. 水烟 Tsúi-in Steam. 灶 Tsàu Furnace. 起火 Khí-húe To make a fire. 燒 Hián To burn; to boil as a large quantity of water. 燒塗炭 Hián-thôu-thùan To burn coal. 燒柴 Thân-tshâ To burn fire wood. 藥鬼 Iéh-kúi Engine. 輪 Lín A wheel. 車 Chhia A propeller. 紡 Pháng To propel. 開藥鬼 Khui iék-kúi To start engine. 閉藥鬼 Kuen iéh-kúi To stop engine. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lim Hiong Seng, Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

“ Is there any of this to be bought? 買無 Bói-bô There is none to be bought. 呌伊來 Kiè i lâi Call him here. 伊會走 I õi-tsáu He can run. 我會行袂走 Ua õi-kiân, bõi tsáu I can walk, but I cannot run. 爾掠伊 Lṳ́ liáh--i You catch him. 爾掠伊會着否 Lṳ́ liáh i õi-tiéh mē? Can you catch him? 我袂走。掠伊袂着 Uá bõi-tsáu, liáh i bõi tiéh. I can't run, and I can't catch him.
section II. 此個我勿。我要換 Chí--kâi uá màin, uá aìn-ūan I don't want a change. 爾去追伊 Lṳ́ khṳ̀-jiōu i You go and chase him. 追不着 Jiōu m̄-tièh Can't overtake him. 爾走就追會着 Lṳ́ tsáu chiũ-jiōu õi-tièh If you run, you will overtake him. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lim Hiong Seng, Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

“ Has the sun risen? 未 Būe Not yet. 月無日向光 Guéh bô jít hièn-kng The moon is not so bright as the sun. 月在浮 Guéh tõ phû The moon is rising. 漸漸高 Khuan-khuan kûin It is getting higher and higher by degrees. 星閃閃光 Chhen iáp-iáp-sih The stars are twinkling. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lim Hiong Seng, Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

“ If they all have come out, they will go direct to the capital; 在彼處輸羸 Tõ-hṳ́--kō su-iân And there, it will be either won or lost. 現時在臺灣處有相刣 Hīn-sî tõ Tâi-uân--kō ũ sie-thâi At present there are battles going on in Formosa. 雞籠被荷蘭西打去了 Koi-lâng khoih Hô-lan-se phah--khṳ̀-lō Keelung is taken by the French. 在被個炮臺俱皆被伊個戰船霧丢 Tõ-hié kâi phâu-thâi lông-tsóng khṳt i kâi chiên-tsûn bū tiòu All the forts there have been bombarded by their war vessels. 伊個船個銃有個大枝過炮臺個 I kâi tsûn kâi-chhèng ũ-kâi tūa-ki kùe phâu-thâi--kâi Some of the guns of their ships are larger than those of the forts there. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lim Hiong Seng, Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

“ Khiā-khí, tiū 居住 Lose, M̄-kìn, sit-lóh 不見失落 Love, Sieh 惜 Make, Tsò, muéh 做物 Meet, (a person.) Ngõ 遇 Open, Khui 開 Pass, Kùe 過 Play, Sńg, thit-thô 耍遊玩 Pick up, Tóh 擇 Pluck, Tiah 摘 Press, Jíh, teh 壓 Present, Sàng 送 Print, Ìn 印 Pull, Túi, thua 挽拖 Put, Pàng 放 Quarrel, Sie-mēn 相罵 Read, (aloud.) Thák 讀 Read, (mentally.) Thóin-tsṳ 看書 Receive, Siu, chih 收接 Refuse, M̃-hàun 不好 Release, Pàng 放 Remember, It-tit, kì-tit 憶得記得 Remove, (residence.) ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lim Hiong Seng, Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

“ Sie-phah 相打 Find, Tshūe--tiéh 覔着 Fly, Pue 飛 Fond, Hàun 好 Get, Tit--tiéh 得着 Give, Pun, khoih 分乞 Grow, Huat 發 Guess, Ieh 約 Hang, Tiòu 吊 Hate, Lóu 惡 Hear, Thian 聽 Hold, (to take.) Hūan, khiéh--tiān 執携定 Hurt, Sien 傷 Invite, Chhián 請 Keep, Khǹg 藏 Kneel, Kũi 跪 Knock, Khà 扣 Know, (as a fact.) Tsai 知 Know, (as a person.) ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lim Hiong Seng, Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

“ Exercises. 我在此處 Uá tõ chí-kò I am here, 爾在彼處 Lṳ́ tõ hṳ́-kò You are there. 伊在何處 I tõ tî-kò? Where is he? 恁何時去 Nín tiang-sî khṳ̀? When did you go? 此個是的個 Chí-kâi sĩ tî-kâi? What is this? 彼個我勿 Hṳ́-kâi uá màin I don't want that one. 爾要的一個 Lṳ́ àin tî-chék-kâi? Which do you want? 爾要的個 Lṳ́ aìn tî-kâi? What do you want? 伊如何無來 I tsò-nîn bô-lâi? Why did he not come? 是因為如何 Sĩ in-ûi tsò-nîn? For what reason? 爾是誰人 Lṳ́ sĩ tî-tiâng? Who are you? 此是誰人個 Chiá sĩ tî-tiâng-kâi? Whose is this? 此賤個不是 Chí-chùan-kâi m̄-sĩ These are not them. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lim Hiong Seng, Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

“ I planted it. 彼欉是白發個 Hṳ́--tsâng sĩ péh-huat--kâi That one is a weed. 白發個勿。挽丢 Péh-huat--kâi màin, mán-tiòu I don't want any weeds, pull it up. 草埔俱皆是樹葉 Tsháu-pou lóng-tsóng sĩ chhiū-hiéh Leaves are all over the lawn. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lim Hiong Seng, Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

“ Active, Liù 快 Afraid, Kian, ùi 驚畏 Alive, Uáh, sen 活生 All, Lóng-tsóng 總共 Ashamed, Sióu-lí 羞耻 Back, Aũ 後 Bad, M̃-món 不好 Best, Siãng-hó 上好 Better, Zú-hó, kèng-hó 愈好更好 Black, Ou 烏 Blue, Nâm, lâm 藍 Blue, (sky colour.) ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lim Hiong Seng, Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

“ And with the French firms, do you have any transaction? 有零些亞。我識寄去法國賣物 Ũ--lân-ló ā, uá pat kià-khṳ̀ Huap-kok--kò bói-muéh Well, a little, I have ordered something from France. 我與大英國人就大交易也 Uá kah Tãi-eng-kok-nâng chiũ tūa kau-kuan nō Oh, I do much business with Englishmen. 我上英國人 Uá siãng Eng-kok-nâng I like Englishmen. 花旗行倒賬了 Hue-kî-hâng tó-tièn--lō The American firm is bankrupt. 葵扇壹枝若干錢 Kûe-sìn chék-ki jiéh-tsōi chîn? How much for a palm-leaf fan? 壹枝捌個錢 Ki poih-kâi chîn Eight cash each. 此近時無生理 Chí-chùan-sî bô seng-lí My trade is very dull of late. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lim Hiong Seng, Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

“ Where's the captain? 火長起去 Húe-tién khí-khṳ̀ The captain has gone on shore. 伊霋時就落來 I khiã-tiām chiũ lóh--lâi He will come on board by and bye. 火船有吹陂或未 Húe-tsûn ũ pûn-pi a-būe? Has the steamer sounder her whistle? 吹三次了 Pûn san-ē--lō She has whistled three times. 加壹次就要行 Ke chék-ē chiũ àin-kiân Once more (the next time) she will start. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lim Hiong Seng, Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (1886)

“ Notes—Judicial. 老爹坐堂或未 Lãu-tia tsõ-tn̂g a-būe? Has the mandarin sat on the bench? 坐好久了 Tsõ-hoh-kú--lō He has sat a long time. 要退堂了 Àin-thò-tn̂g--lō He is going to retire now. 伊在審何案 I tõ sím sĩ-mih uàn? ”

Lim Hiong Seng

Summary

Quotes from Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular (Lim Hiong Seng)

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