Chinese Without a Teacher (1922)/The Housewife

by Herbert Allen Giles

THE HOUSEWIFE.

Light the lamp	點燈	Te-enn tung.
Call the cook	呌廚子來	Cheeow ch‘oodza li.
I want to take the accounts now	現在要算賬	Shendzi yow sooahn jahng.
Your bill is all right	你的賬目不錯	Neety jahngmoo poo ts‘aw.
I'll pay you to-morrow	我明天給你錢	Waw mingt'e-enn kay nee ch'e-enn.
I shall have a dinner party to-morrow night	明天晚上要請客	Mingt'e-enn wahn-shahng yow ch'ing k'aw.
Roast a leg of mutton	烤一個羊腿	K'owyeekayahng-t'ooey.
Boil a piece of salt beef	煮一塊鹹牛肉	Joo yee k'wise-enn newro.
Is there any fish to be got ?	有魚肉沒有	Yo yü-ro mayo?
I want four kinds of sweets	要四樣兒點心	Yow sir yahnger te-en-shee.
Roast two pheasants	烤两個野鷄	K'ow layanga yay-chee.
I don't want any ducks	不要鴨子	Poo yow yahdza.
These eggs are bad	這個雞子兒不好	Chayka cheedzer poo how.
Buy a bottle of milk	買一瓶奶子	Mi yee p'ing ni-dza.
Fry several pieces of bread	𭳿幾塊麵包	Juh chee k'wi me-enpow.
Don't use pork-fat for frying them; use beef-fat	不要拿豬油𭳿拿牛油𭳿	Paw yow nahjoo-yo jah; nah new-yo jah.
To-day I want hare soup	今天要野貓湯	Chint'e-enn yow yay-mow t'ahng.
Tell the cook to make chicken broth	呌廚子做雞湯	Cheeow ch'oodza-dzo chee t'ahng.
Is it ready?	得咯沒有	Tawla mayo?
This cook is not a good one	這個廚子不好	Chayka ch'oodza poohow.
The coolie is also very lazy	苦力也狠懶惰	K'oolee yay hun lahntaw.
Where's the amah?	老媽在那兒	Low-mar dzinar!
I want my hair done now	現在要梳頭	Shendzi yow shoo t'o.
These clothes must be washed	這個衣裳要洗一洗	Chayka eeshahng yow shee-e-shee.
Don't put any soda in the water	水裏不要擱鹻	Shooey-lee poo yow kaw je-enn.
Has the washerman come?	洗衣裳的來了沒有	Shee eeshahngty li-la mayo?
How many pieces are there this month?	這個月有多少件衣裳	Chayka yüng yo tawshow je-enn eeshang?
Every hundred pieces $3.00	每一百件三塊錢	May yee pi je-enn, sahn-k'wi-ch'e-enn.
He hasn't washed this one clean	這個他沒洗乾淨	Chayka, t'ah may shee kahn-ching.
I must fine him a dollar	我要刨他一塊錢	Waw yow p'ow t'ah yee-k'wi-ch'e-enn.
Here are your wages	這是你的工錢	Chaw shirt neety koong-ch'e-enn.
Get me a tailor	找一個裁縫	Chow yeeka ts'i- fung.
Tell the coolie to clean up the room	呌苦力拾得屋子	Cheeow k'oolee shirttawwoodza.
You must wash the floor	地板要洗一洗	Tee-pahn yow shee-e-shee.
You must rub the table	桌子要擦一擦	Chawdza yow ts'ah-e-ts'ah.
Bring a feather-brush	拿担子來	Nah tahndza li.
Now I want to put up the stove	現在要打爐子	Shendzi yow tah loodza.
You must first brush it	先要刷一刷	Shen yow shwah-e-shwah.
Have you any black-lead ?	有黑麵沒有	Yo hay me-enn mayo?
This brush won't do	這個刷子不行	Chayka shwah-dza poo shing.
The chimney is stopped up	烟桶子堵住咯	Yent'oongdza too-choola.
There must be soot in it	裡頭必有烟煤子	Leet'oepe yo yen-maydza.
We must think of some way to clean it	得想法子拾得	Tay sheeahngfah-dza shirttaw.
This stove smokes	這個爐子冒烟	Chayky loodza mow yen.
Buy a picul of Chinese coal	呌一担本地煤	Cheeow yee tahn pun-tee may.
Also 30 catties of charcoal	還要三十斤煤	Hi yow shanshirt-cheen t'ahn.
Have you bought the fire-wood?	你買咯劈柴沒有	Nee mi-la p'ee-ch'i mayo?
I want this put in the ice-box	這個要下在冰箱子裏	Chayka yow seeahdzi ping-sheeang dza-lee.
Tell the cook to make a bowl of arrowroot	呌廚子冲一碗藕粉	Cheeow ch'oodza ch'oong yee wahn o-fun.
Thicker than he made it yester-day	比昨天要稠	Pee dzaw-t'e-enn yow ch'o.
Bring some boiling water	拿開水來	Nah k'i shooey li.
Warm water won't do; I want it boiling	溫和水不行要熱水	Wunhaw shooey pu shing; yow raw shooey.
I am not very well to-day	今天我不舒服	Chint'e-enn waw poo shoo-foo.
What's the matter ?	怎麼樣	Dzummo-yahng?
I've got fever and ague	我發瘧子	Wawfah-yowdza.
I'll give you a dose of medicine	我給你一服藥	Waw kay nee yee foo yaw.
I want to buy a pound of camphor	我買一斤樟腦	Yow mi yee-cheen ch'ow-now.
Take this out and shake it (of clothes)	拿外頭抖落抖落	Nah wi-t'o, tolo tolo.
Brush these shoes	把這個鞋刷一刷	Pah chayka seeay, shwah-e-shwah.
Take this and spread it on the top (of blankets, etc.)	把這個鋪在上頭	Pah chayka p'oodzi shahng-to.
Tuck this in under	把這個壓在低下	Pah chayka yahdzi teeseeah.
I don't want to wear that hat to-day	今天不要戴這個帽子	Chint'e-enn poo yow ti nahka mowdza.
Is my apron made yet?	我的闈裙做完了沒有	Wawty waych'ün dzaw wahnla mayo?
Mend these stockings	縫這個襪子	Fung chayka wahdza.
Tell the amah to get up	叫老媽起來	Cheeow lowmar ch'ee-li.
Why are you so late ?	你為甚麼這麼晚	Nee way shummo chummo wahn?
Don't you go to sleep	你別睡覺	Nee peeay shooey-cheeow.
There's no one to carry the baby	沒人抱孩子	May ren pow hi-dza.
Where have you been ?	你打那兒回來	Nee tah nar hooeyli?
Don't chew betel-nut	你別吃檳榔	Nee peeay ch'irp pinglahng.
Fetch my gloves	拿我的手套兒來	Nah wawty sho-t'owr li.
They are in the drawer	在抽屉裏頭	Dzi ch'o-t'ee lee-t'o.
Is the cupboard (or wardrobe) locked?	櫃子鎖咯沒有	Kweydza sawla mayo?
I am going out	我要出門	Waw yow ch'oo mun.
You look after the house	你看守門戶	Nee k'ahn-sho munhoo.
Bring the small looking-glass	拿小鏡子來	Nah sheeow jingaza li.
Bring the wash-hand basin	拿臉盆來	Nah layenn-p'un li.
Pour this water out	把這個水倒咯	Pah chayka shooey towla.
Your shoes are down at heel	你的鞋趿拉着	Neety seeay sahlahja.
It's not proper (respectful)	不是様子	Poo shirt yahngdza.
You haven't brushed your hair to-day	今天你沒梳頭	Chint'e-enn nee may shoo t'o.
Why are you so idle?	你為甚麼這麼懶惰	Nee way shummo chummo lahntaw?
Look out for another situation	你找一個別的事	Nee chow yeeka peeayty shirt.
Come again at the end of the month	月低再來	Yüay tee dzi li.
I want this mattress covered (with new stuff)	這個褥子要墁上	Chaykaroodza yow mahn-shahng.
Open this bundle	這個包服要打開	Chayka powfoo yow tahk'i.
Bring a flat-iron	拿烙鐵來	Nah lowt'eeay li.
I want to iron the creases out of the clothes	衣裳摺兒要熅開	Eeshahng-chawr yow yünk'i.
Tell the tailor to make a mosquito-curtain	叫裁縫做一個蚊帳	Cheeow ts'i-fung dzaw yeeka wun-jahng.
These sheets haven't been washed clean	這個被單沒洗乾淨	Chayka pay-tahn may shee kahn ching.
Put this in hot water to soak	把這個擱在熱水裏發開	Pah chayka kaw-dzi raw shooey-lee fahk'i.
Bring me a pillow	拿枕頭來	Nah chunt'o li.
Where's the cushion?	椅墊子在那兒	E-te-endza dzi nar?
Put this on the book-case	擱在書架子上	Kawdzi shooche-eahdzashahng.
Don't leave the house	你別出門	Nee peeay ch'oo mun.
Take care or be careful	小心	Sheeow sheen.