Page:Primary Lessons In Swatow Grammar.djvu/61

Rh Adjectives.

The comparative degree is known, sometimes, only by the context.


 * chí-nõ-lia̍p tien-chu, tî-lia̍p ta̍t-chîⁿ,
 * of these two gems, which one is worth money, i.e. worth the more money?


 * chí-sòi--kâi ta̍t-chîⁿ,
 * this small one is valuable, i.e. the more valuable.


 * sĩ-lṳ́ tōa, a-sĩ i tōa,
 * are you large (old) or is he large (old), i.e. is he the older, or are you the older?


 * i sĩ-tōa,
 * he is the older.


 * chí-chiah-chûn mé hṳ́--kâi,
 * this boat is fast (er than) that one.

Ṳ́ and pí, to compare, are often used in forming comparatives. Kèng, jú, iáu, iâⁿ, and kùe signify more; su and chua̍h signify less.


 * kèng-hó,
 * better,—kèng-m̄-hó, worse.


 * kèng-tōa,
 * larger,—kèng-sòi, smaller.


 * kèng-tōiⁿ,
 * more solid,—kèng-phàⁿ, more spongy.


 * kèng-ũ,
 * still more,—kèng-bô, still less.


 * kèng-tie̍h,
 * more correct,—kèng-m̄-tie̍h, more incorrect.


 * kèng-mé,
 * more rapid,—kèng-mān, more slow.


 * kèng-gâu,
 * more wise,—kèng-ngà, more foolish.


 * kèng-õi,
 * more able,—kèng-bõi, more unable.


 * ṳ́-i kèng-hó-thóiⁿ,
 * as compared with him, better looking.


 * jú-hñg,
 * more distant,—jú-kṳ̃n, more near.


 * jú-mêng-pe̍h,
 * more manifest,—jú bô-mêng-pe̍h, more not manifest.


 * jú-kng,
 * more light,—jú-àm, more dark.


 * jú-ha̍h-sim,
 * more to his mind,—jú-m̄-ha̍h-ì, more not to his idea,


 * jú-ha̍h kui-kṳ́,
 * more in accord with custom.


 * jú-m̄-ha̍h kui-kṳ́,
 * more not in accord with custom.


 * jú-kèng chai-kuan,
 * more careful.


 * jú-chhut-la̍t jú-bô-ēng,
 * the more he laid out strength the more it was of no use.


 * m̄-jû chièⁿ-seⁿ,
 * there is nothing like this way, i.e. this way is better.


 * iáu-oh-chò,
 * rather more hard to do. iáu-kōi-chò, more easy.


 * iáu-khin se-su,
 * a little more light,—iáu-tãng, more heavy.


 * sin iáu-khuah,
 * the mind is broader.