Page:A Manual of the Foochow Dialect in Twenty Lessons.pdf/61

60
 * 認的 nêng-dék: to recognise
 * 比喻 bī-ê̤ṳ: a parable
 * 平話 bàng-uâ: local dialect, applied to that of Foochow
 * 悔改 huói-gāi: to repent
 * 莫怪 mŏ̤h-guái: please do not be displeased
 * 恩惠 ŏng-hiê: grace, favour
 * 官話 guăng-uâ: mandarin dialect
 * 得罪 dáik-cô̤i: to offend
 * 機會 gĭ-huôi: opportunity
 * 指南針 cī-nàng-cĕng: compass
 * 奉教 hông-gáu: to join the church

1. In speaking of the points of the compass, the east heads the list, in the Foochow dialect. The four points are spoken of as 東 dĕ̤ng (or dŭng) 西南北 să̤ nàng báe̤k. The needle of the Chinese compass points south, and the compass is called 指南針 cī-nàng-cĕng. Intermediate positions are spoken of with the east and west preceding the north and south, contrary to English use. In the north, 着北邊 diŏh báe̤k biĕng. In the south-east 着東南邊 diŏh dĕ̤ng-nàng biĕng.

2. In asking distances and speaking of them, the verb 務 ô to have is used to indicate that there are so many miles, and the word 路 diô for road is sometimes added, and at times used instead of the word 里 lī for miles. How many miles to Ming-chiang, please? 請問至閩清務箬壞里 Chiāng muóng, gáu Mìng-chiăng ô niŏh-nâi lī? It is more than ten miles to Ming-chinag, 至閩清務十幾里 Gáu Mìng-chiăng ô sĕk-gūi li. How far is it from here to Cui-kau? 只塊至水口務箬壞遠 Cŭ-uái gáu Cūi-kāu ô niŏh-nâi huông? It is thirty li to Cui-kau, 至水口務三十里 三舖 Gáu Cūi-kāu ó săng-sĕk or săng puó.