Page:Primary Lessons In Swatow Grammar.djvu/70

Nouns.

---

Nouns are of many varieties. It will be sufficient to indicate a few of them.

1. Single nouns, consisting of one word, with a fixed and definite meaning. This includes names of persons, places, and things, such as, pûaⁿ, a plate; to, a knife; chhe, a fork; iâm, salt; chhòu, vinegar; bō, a hat; ôi, shoes; sìn, faith; ngĩ, righteousness; hái, sea; suaⁿ, mountain.—The pupil will expand this list indefinitely to suit his own wants.

2. Double nouns, where two words of similar meaning are joined together, to add force, and prevent ambiguity of meaning.

húe-hu,

ashes.

lói-mãu,

politeness.

kui-kṳ́,

custom.

koi-lōu,

street.

chhù-ok,

a dwelling.

hâng-kháu,

a hong.

chàng-pâng,

a go-down.

hân-néⁿ,

cold.

chṳ-kūiⁿ,

a desk.

huap-tōu,

a rule.

ai-khàu,

weeping.

kài-hãn,

a limit.

mô-kúi,

a demon.

kuaⁿ-hú,

an officer.

khûan-pèⁿ,

authority.

iông-kuang,

splendor.

siâⁿ-ip,

a city.

kang-hu,

work.

kòu-kī,

envy.

chai-sek,

knowledge.

hũa-huãm,

calamity.

lī-iah,

profit.

3. Descriptive nouns, where a whole clause has a substantive signification.

ba̍k-kang kâi-sai-pẽ,

a wood-work mechanic, i.e. a carpenter.

phah-thih kâi-sai-pẽ,

a beat iron mechanic, i.e. a blacksmith.

thì-thâu kâi-sai-pẽ,

a shave head mechanic, i.e. a barber.

chò-ôi kâi-sai-pẽ,

a maker of shoes mechanic, i.e. a shoemaker.

chò-tháng kâi-sai-pẽ,

a maker of buckets, i.e. a cooper.

kiâⁿ-chûn-nâng,

sailors.

huang-chúi sin-seⁿ,

a geomancer.

kà-chṳ sin-seⁿ,

a school teacher.

chò-ui sin-seⁿ,

a physician.

kúan-lí siàu-ba̍k,

an accountant.

lia̍h-tõa kâi-nâng,

a pilot.

sam-hâng kâi-chhâi-chú,

a lumber dealer.