Primary Lessons in Swatow Grammar/Lesson XXIII

by William Ashmore

Number.

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The Singular is expressed by the numeral che̍k, it, one; toaⁿ, one, only: to̍k; to̍k-it, a single one; also, by a classifier used alone, or in connection with one of the previous words. Often times there is nothing to indicate either singular or plural, as, ũ-nâng-tõ, may mean either that there is one man, or that there are several.

che̍k-pé-tāu,

one handful of beans.

che̍k-tàⁿ-thn̂g,

one “carry” of sugar.

che̍k-táu-bí,

one measure of rice.

che̍k-ūi nàng-kheh,

one guest personage.

che̍k-ki-sam,

one log of pine.

chiah-chûn; che̍k-chiah-chûn; toaⁿ-chiah-chûn,

one boat

kù-ūe; che̍k-kù-ūe; toaⁿ-kâi-ūe tiāⁿ-tiāⁿ,

only one sentence.

toaⁿ-kâi-nâng,

a single man.

to̍k-it chin-Sîn,

the only one true God.

to̍k-ma̍k, to̍k-chhiú, to̍k-kha,

only a single eye, hand, or foot.

toaⁿ-sin,

a single person; self.

toaⁿ-ka-kī; toaⁿ-chṳ̃-kí,

one’s self only.

toaⁿ-chūa,

a single trip.

toaⁿ-che̍k-ē,

only one time.

phah-nâng toaⁿ-che̍k-ē,

knock at the door only once.

The Plural is indicated, (1) by repeating the word; (2) by certain plural prefixes and suffixes, as téng; húe, class; chèng; huàⁿ; tou; hãm; ha̍p, all; kúi, several; ke, many (húe often has the force of a demonstrative pronoun); (3) by words signifying two, or a pair, as sang ; liáng ; tùi; (4) by collective nouns of multitude, as cha̍p, ten; peh, a hundred; khûn, a multitude; tīn, a file, or flock.

úa-téng,

we.

nâng-téng,

men.

kiâⁿ-chûn--húe,

sailors.

choh-chhân--húe,

farmers.

tha̍k-chṳ--húe,

scholars.

chò seng-lí--húe,

merchants.

chò-kuaⁿ--húe,

those who are officials.

lãu-tōa--húe,

the aged, or those who are aged.

hãu-seⁿ--húe,

the young, or, those who are young.

nín chia̍h-pá--húe, hó-khí--lâi,

let those who have eaten arise.

ke-nâng,

people.

ke-ke-nâng,

many people.

chōi,

many.

nâng-mue̍h chōi,

the men are many.

mue̍h-kiãⁿ chōi,

the things are many.

chōi-chōi-sṳ̄,

a great deal of business.

chōi-chōi-ūe,

a great many words.

liáng-kâi,

both.

sang-seⁿ,

twins.

sang-kha, sang-chhiú,

the two feet and the two hands.

chèng-kuaⁿ,

all the officials.

chèng-piaⁿ,

all the soldiers.

chèng-hieⁿ-sin,

all the gentry.

sang-mīn-lāi,

both edges are sharp.

sang-mīn-kiàm,

a two-edged sword.

sang-thâu-chûa,

a double headed snake, i.e. a mischief maker.

che̍k-khûn-bé,

a troop of horses.

che̍k-khûn-hṳ̂,

a school of fish.

che̍k-tīu-chiáu,

a flock of birds.

kâi-kâi,

each and every one.

ji̍t-ji̍t daily,

or, every day.

kak-kak,

each, or, every one.

chn̂g-kâi,

all.

tou,

all.

hãm-kâi,

all.

ha̍p-kâi,

all.

nâng-siàu,

the number of men.

siàu-m̄-pat tò-khṳ̀,

that has never been counted.

khṳ̀-siàu-nâng ũ-jie̍h-chōi,

go and count how many men there are.

siàu-bõi tit-liáu,

cannot count up to it, i.e. innumerable.

saⁿ-kâi sì-kâi,

three or four.

chhoiⁿ-chhoiⁿ būan-būan,

thousands and tens of thousands.