William Ashmore

“ Adjective phrases are numerous. Whole clauses are used as descriptive adjectives, as in the following examples:—
õi sie-hũ--kâi, that can help, i.e. helpful. bô sie-hũ--kâi, that don’t help, i.e. unhelpful. bõi sie-hũ--kâi, that cannot help, i.e. helpless. bõi-ji̍p-chúi kâi-san, a—that don’t admit water—jacket, i.e. a jacket impervious to water, or, a waterproof jacket. õi-ùe-nâng kâi-pēn-chèng, a—that can infect man—disease, i.e. a disease that can infect people, or, an infectious disease. õi-nãi huang-hõu kâi-chhiên, a—that can stand the wind and rain—wall, i.e. ”

“ Khó and hó often represent the syllable ble. Bô is an equivalent for less; õi and bõi indicate the possession or absence of a quality, and, therefore, convert clauses and sentences into adjective phrases. Ũ and kâi are used in this connection.
chò-tit, practicable.—m̄-chò-tit, impracticable. khó-pí, comparable.—m̄-hó-pí, incomparable. khó-chhiè, laughable.—m̄-hó-chhiè, not laughable. khó-kièn, perceptible.—put-khó-kièn, imperceptible. hó-thóin, visible.—thóin-bõi-tit-kìn, invisible. hó-chia̍h, edible.—m̄-hó-chia̍h, not edible. khó-ín, practicable. khó-ùi, fearful. khó-sìn, credible. ”

“ There is also a variation in the force of the adjective arising from its position in the sentence.
kiâm-chúi, salt water.—chúi kiâm, the water is salt. ta̍k-mue̍h, a poisonous substance—mue̍h ta̍k, the thing is poisonous. chhàu-bī, an offensive odor.—bī chhàu, the odor is offensive. phang-bī, a fragrant odor.—bī phang, the odor is fragrant. nah-sap-sièn, a dirty manner (of doing things) . a-nôun-kián sen-lâi ngián, the child is born beautiful. kín-sṳ̄, an important matter.—sṳ̄ kín, the matter is important. i nâng láu-tōan, the man is lazy. ”