6 Chinese is rich in initial and final particles denoting grief or surprise. Some of them vary their meaning according to the tone in which they are spoken. Beginners should be caerful how they use them, as to use them excessively sounds very ridiculous. Surprise is also indicated by 俤𠆧曉的 Diê-nè̤ng hiēu-dék? Who would have thought he would do this? 俤𠆧曉的伊⿰亻鞋做者代 Diê-nè̤ng hiēu-dék ĭ â̤ có̤ ciā dâi? 過世 Guó-sié to leave the world, is more often used than the literal sī-kó̤ for death, being less abrupt. Alas! Mrs. Ding is dead, 可惜 陳先生娘過世去 Kō̤-sék, Dìng Sĭng-săng-niòng guó-sié kó̤.
7 The idea of thoroughness is implied in 盡 cêng and 確實 kaúk-sĭk. These expressions also denote the completion and end of affairs. He has now thoroughly repented, 伊現在確實悔改 I hiêng-câi kaúk-sĭk huói-gāi.
Note: A certain person, time, place or thing is translated by 某 mū. In a certain city, 着某城 Diôh mū siàng. A certain place, 某處 mū ché̤ṳ. A certain day, once upon a time, 某日 mū nĭk.
EXERCISE XIX.
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Translate into English:—
- Cuòi â̤ sāi-dék mâ̤. Mâ̤ saī-dék, ĭng mâ̤ hăk.
- Nè̤ng-gă mò̤ èng gâe̤ng nṳ̄ páng-gōng.
- Cāi ng gáu, diŏh tiĕng lâng tiŏng.
- Diŏh sá̤-nê, miēng-dék kāng-muòng gì bŏ-là̤ páh-
