Grammar of Chinese Language

uu

i^

I

G R A M M A 11

P

If

OF THE

CHINESE LANGUAGE.

f

BY

iJf.

Z.

B.

S.

V;

IN

C.

M.

TWO

J.

li.

G. S. A.

S,^c.,

.jr.

PARTS. (j

iir

PART

I.

PRINTED AT THK OFFICE OF THE "DAILY PEESS/' HONGKONG.

1864.

23

nil

..I

To

The Honoiable

if.

(il^ljomh^, THIS VOLUME

"

IS

RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY THE

AUTHOR.

^MlM

PREFACE. Wlion the author of the present work first arrived in China, he had ri;reat dlffieuUies in irettirif^; a teaclier who Avould condescend to speak to him as he would do to his o«vn countrymen and there being not as yet a work })u])lished in the local dialect to serve as a safe guide to a knowledge of the spoken language, he felt that in using any of the existing Grammars he would act like a mini living in London and using a French Grammar for the acquisition of English. The Orthography of most of the smaller works that were aftervv^ards published is only adapThe intonation has altogetlier been ted for private use. discarded, which makes the respective works often dangerous instruments to place into the hands of a new ar;

rival.

As

Orthography to be adopted in the present author had no hesitation in giving Sir W. Jones' work, the Many of the Williams follows) the preference. (whom Dr. required by foreigners are not marks now used diacritical with. therefore, soon done away and may, he for natives spelling, simple sj'stem of and excellent That will leave a such as can he acquired by a native of moderate talent within the short period of one month. To invent a new alpliabet, as several excellent scholars have proposed, would leave us in the same "position in wdiich we now find ourselves in Japan. Siam. Tdjet, Burmah and India, were the lack of a more practical system of spelling is keenly felt by the stn.deuts of those tongues. We must well keep in mind, that the further we advance in ci> ilizatioii. tlie nearer are nations bronght togcto the

Ill

PREFACE. and the more we

the need of a Standard Alphabet, that will enable a native of Europe to read the names on maps made by the nations of Asia and Afriea, and to as(iertain (approximately) the pronuneiation of a word without any aecjuired knowledge of the language of tlier

shall

feel

the country. In order to' assist the student in the acquisition of the written and spoken idioms and to enable him to avoid the study of unnecessary or useless sentences, the author has endeavoured to distinguish the book style from the vaAt the end of most of the i)aragra])hs rious dialects. there will be found a summary of the words in use in the Canton dialect. Whilst -^the student of that dialect advances in the Grammar, he should carefully commit to memory all the sentences and verbs in the Introduction. list of Phonetics for writing-lessons will be published shortly after the second part of this Grammar is completed, and the author hopes that with the hints thus given, the student will be enabled to learn to write the characters of the Chinese language within one year and to re-

A

meml)cr them throughout his

life.

The diftieulties encountered in preparing the present work have been very great, besides the Provei-bs and two Reading Lessons the author met with but little help fnmi existing books. He can, however, not pass over in silence the .valualde assistance rendered to him by the late Mrs. Irwin, in looking over the first 00 pages of the manuscript. He also feels greatly indebted to the Rev. Mr. Stringer for his kindness in correcting the last proofs. Simplicity and usefulness have been the sole aimed at by the author. He has endeavoured to for reading lessons new and interesting intc'rmation government, religion, manners and customs of the

object collect

on the Chin-

ese, so as to ac(piaint the student not only with the language, but also with the routine and daily life of the })e()])lc, among whom he is anxious to sojourn. Since the burning of the Factories and the deslniction of tlic printing office of (he A. li. C. F. M., great dif-

IV

PREFACE. work like the The author wouhl, therefore, present tli rough tlie press. ask the indulgence of the reader for defects in the outward appearance of the book. Whilst thanking such jis have assisted him with their counsel, he shall feel greatly obliged for additional help for a new edition.

ficulties liave 1)oen expcriciK^ed in o-ettino a

W. Victoria,

Hongkong, April, ISGl.

L.

INTRODUCTION. AJfinity

and Difference of

liacrs.

Whrn a p-^rson cominof trom Europe and travelling eastward, pasthrough a number of states, whose inliiibitaiits differ g'reritly iVoin him in complexion, cosrume and religion, his curiosity is excited as he advances for the nearer he approaches India, the greater is the similarity of features with his own, and the closer the affinity of the lang-uaga The large, sparkling eyes of the S[)oken by the sister states of Europe. eastern nations, so f\ir as they are unmixed with the IVlongolians from the deserts of Asia, have for more than 3000 years, revelled in sensuality; but combined with it poetr}', fiction and wit, with which the graver nations of the west still amuse their children or entertain themselves during the long winter evenings. The gigantic works the}' created for themselves and their gods ara as many expressions of their character and sentiments, and repres^pnt them to us as a people anxious to perpetuate their own existence on this eartlj, or to induce their gods to quit their abodes of bliss and dwell with ses

;

man

in the workf- of

creation.

/n's

Crossing the Himalaya how different is the aspect of affairs. Polygamy and its accompanying vices is here exchanged with Polyandry. The panorama before us is not unlike an encampment of proletarians, who are living upon the scanty crumbs fallen from the overtlowing tables of their neighbours. The wings of imagination are clipped. Tied to a barren soil, hemmed in by mountains and deserts, who wonders, that the "' Tibetian's daily song is My home is not here ", that he has created anotlier world equally poor and comfortless; and that his ciiaritabia disposili()n hns imposed upon him the task of providing for the necessi:

ties of the citizens

of that world.

The language spoken by

this people and further eastward to tlie Cochin China, Siam and Burmalf belongs to the monosyllabic tongues and is noted for poverty and inflexibility. The phor.etic system introdroduced into Tibet, Burmah and Siam has indeed to but this b is a certain degree assisted in advancing general education been more than counteracted by the influence of Budhism and the luicient superstition, as received from the Chinese. China appears to have been the cradle of that peculiar kind of civilization which distinguishes it from the rest of the world. But; their ideas petrefied in hieroglyphics before they were fully developed and their advance in literature was marked by tlie Ibrmation of a svstem of ideography, which being- mute in itse>lf, is pro;iouaced according to

Paciflc

:

in China,

;

;

VI

INTRODUCTION. Jjiff'crenl

Dinhcls

in

China.

Peculiarifij

of the northern Court

Dialact-

the local dialects, liowever miicli they ditfar from each other. Now you hear a veruiiciilar, which reminds you of Scandinavia; again you fi\ncy yourand again you are overheaped wirh gutturals, more than self in France But in spite of the jerks in Holland and other parts of the Netherlands. and unearthly sounds, the result of an imperfect articidation, Ciiiua made considerable prog-i'ess in civilization, which enabled it to subdue and refirm the surrounding b-arbarians, and to exercise a nominal sway from In all Central Asia to the Pacilic and down to the Malayan Peninsula. tha.^e states, even in .Japan, the Chinese characters became the medium ot official communication, and occupy, up to this moment, the same position that Latin did in Europe during the middle age. If the dialects in China were reduced to a phonetic system, wo should have as many different lang'uages as we have in EuropH and should find that the Chinese among the aborigines of America. vernacular is bv no monns a purely monosyllabic tongue, and that theiiirther we advance towards the north, the more similarity we find in the form of the languiiges b.5t\^''een China, Japan and the American Indians. Jn the Canton, Ilakka and other southern dialecrs we frecpiently hear the finals p, t, and k further to the north and in what is g»^nerally called the southern Court dialect, these consonants terminate in aa abrupt sound, in which neither the p, t or k can be distinguished again Hence the further north this abrupt sound terminates in a long vowel. name of the Governor General of Canton, wlio was captured by the English, is pronounced yip in Punti ; yap in Hakka yl (abruptly) in The only the southern, and yeh (long) in the northern Court dialect. iinal consonant left in the latter dialect is the N, and the nasal Ng. The changes into the guttural Ch. as N the or P. becomes B the in Greece. it is pronounced in all its finances in Germany, or the If we now pass over to Japan we find, that if the language be correctlv written, not a single syllable terminates in a consonant but the N. All the prefixes and suffixes are, as in China, Siara and Tibet, inflexible particles, and the possessive " of" stands detached as in the English language, as Mimasaka no kami, the knmi of Mimasaka Suruga no kami It certainly cannot be mere accident that the same the kami of Suruga. form should be found in many languages of the American Indians. When in America and called upon to read a few lines in a book ia which the Indian language was transcribed according to S[)anish pronunciation, I was struck with the similarity of the sounds with the JaIn opening another book, alsj written in the same language, I ])anese. found on the title page the English word ''Acts" prefixed to "AposThe Nu, Japanese No, had eitehiu,'' i. c, the " Acts of the Apostles." ther from ignorance or from a desire to europeanize the language, been affixed to the the word Apostle. Tiiis threw at once some light on the clnracter of the language and Their long words, I was sure, were the probablo origin of the Indians. lor all the names underneath the porstrunj^ together from ignorance traits of chiefs indicate, tliat the language was originally a syllabic (if not a monosyllabic) one, like the Cianese and Japanese, and that when ;

We

;

;

;

;

M—

;

H

:

W

X

;

;

VII

INTRODUCTION. SiviilarUy

«f

Chinese, Japanese and Avierlcan Indian Dialects.

reduced to a phonetic sj'stem, vLole sentences were reduced to a

sinj^le

Avoid.

conjectures were not lonp: to remain without practical proof. when in California, acciThis reniarkahle dentally asked for c\i chi. the Imiian name for uiilk. coincidence led to an inquiry, which resulted in th-^ discovery of six Ja?ily

I soon learnt, that the Japanese atnhiissadors.

names in the California Indian dialc(;t. would here remark, that those Indians, who chiefly support themselves by hunling- and fishing, speak dialects in sound much more sinulav to the Japanese and Tartars of northern Asia, than in Yucatan, Central America, and Mexico. Here where we find the ideographic inscriptions so similar in composition to the ancient Chinese characters, we have For also languages or dialects resemhling more that of northern Cliina. i)i these languages (or dialects) wo meet tlie same iireponderance of coni})Ound hissing sounds and vowels as in China, and the absence of the R Ilitheito however, ihe orthography of the works is no less rennii-kable. ]»nblished in the Otorni, Quiche and other languages of Yucatan, Central America and ]\Iexico is too incorrect to enable us to decide on any Even the point without a thorough knowledge of at least one of them. copies, which Stephen made from the manuscripts of the priests, betray })anese I

a lamentable inconsistency of orthography.

American Indians apparenlhj one Face

we comparo

n-iih the

Japanese and E. Asiatics.

the stature, features, hair and complexion of the Incannot help declaring them to be either Japanese, Chinese or I have seen women and children^ other cognate tribes of eastern Asia, whom nobody would have taken for Indians, had he found them in one In passing accross the Isthmus of Panama of the Islands of Japan. and Mexico, I was struck with the simihirity of architecture between Instead of excavating mountains, instead the Chinese and these peo[)le. of making expensive vaults, all the principal edifices are erected on elevated ground. The tiles of the roofs are concave and con' ex, just as wo have them in China the anchors of their boats are the same as we find them in Japan and the north of China, i. e. with four hooks without a barb and innumerable other manners, customs and peculiarities of civilazation agree exactly with those of eastern Asia, as in no other country of the world. now come to inquire as to how these tribes could reach AmeDuring the summer months, when the sun did not set for one rica. whole month, the inhabitants of the extreme parts of northeastern Asia, either pressed by hostile tribes, or from an ini])Vilse of adventure, must liave crossed over to the Ameiican continent, where either by hunting or fishing, they could easily su]iport themselves and provide for their wants during the coming winter. Wave after wave of immigration is likely to have rolled on and if only, at long intervals, a few returned to their native place, that was sufficient to account for a kno\\l..'dge of a laige Eastern continent, floating among the Chinese, Japanese and other AsiaIf

dians,

we

;

;

We

;

tics.

YIII

INTRODUCTION. American

are,

Iii:lkui<

likehjjrom China, Japan and N. E.

Aitia.

The large fleets of fishing- boats about the coasts of Japnn and China we know, frequently overtaken by tremendous gales and eitber des-

We know of Japanese junks having- betm troyed or carried eastwards. picked up beyond the Sandwich Islands and close to the shore of AmeBut mnch more. rica after an absence of more than nine months. Larg-e fleets of war junks, sometimes manned by as many as 100,000 men, have left the coast of China and Japan, and have been scittered by the N. W. gales, tl)at only few of them ever survived or returned. It is not tmlikely, that these junks, being well provisioned, have continued in their eastward course, until, within 28 dej^^-rees N. L. they fell in with the trade wind, which compelled them to chang'e their course, and carried them towards Mexico or lower Calilbinia, where they laid the foundation to that kind of civilization resembling- so much the Chinese and Japanese. Look at the Chinese dress 5 or 6 centuries ago, and you have the bead dress of the Mexicans; look at the monstrous uniforms, coats-ofdress of the Japanese women, and you will be struck mail, and the head with theii;. similarity to the Mexicans. As all the kings, cliiefs, and priests, in one word, all the creators of tiiat peculiar civilizition were daslroyed hij the Spaniards, we need not wonder at tlie low el>b of education of the present race, vvbo are merely the children of peasants and Were Cliinese who speak the different dialects and the lower classes. well versed in their own literature, and Japinese of education, well furnished with ancient works, sent with scien'^iHc men to America, v,'e may rest assured, they would soon decypher the inscriptions now fast going

—

—

to ruin.

HammarT/ of Similarity tf the American Indians with the Japanese, Chinexe and Northern Asiatics. MnnosylUbic, as spokon bv 'be (Jtomi and other tribes. Hiero1. Lamjua-^e. absence of pflypb.? or iden'.^iaphic char;iciers. on the same piinciple ai the Chinese prevalence of the R (iinrtn:ir those trilies where the ideograi'hic ch^iactei's are found Polysyllahissini? sounds an.l gutturals, and mast words terminating in avowel-2. ;

;

bic languas^e of a syllai)ic chat-icter, representini? not sound, but si/llah/rs as in JaJapanese words detected in the Indian languaHjo Japanese form of the pojsessise cis'-" prevalence of the B. and the terniination of every wird in a vowel, except the N. The nnost ancient religion of the Indians now formina t^e wan2. Ueli;4ion. dering tribes, is the belief in one great Spirit, whom they worship like the Japanese

pan.

;

;

their Sin

JfiijI

(spirit)

without image.

In both places long, hortatory addresses are

audience, and both exhibit profound reverence of that spirit, and The polytheistic t'orin of worship as found in Mexico &c., d.'ep reli'.:i'>u3 feelin!?s. ule'-n one and was, if we believe Chinis, accoriUn< to accu-pted history, the most e^ie lei»ends. iniroduced by [Judhist and Sh-iman priests about the bei^inninp; of the Bixth century of oui era, which nearly oincides with the commencement of the TolThe dragon or serpf-ut worship tecian hi.story, which is put down at A. 0. 596. was very prevalent. Tliat the Chinese draizon is norhing but a serpent, can be proved from the f:ict. that at this moment si^rpcats are kept in temples as renresenThey resembled the Chinese and (Mudliist) J;ipanese tatives of the ancient dragon. in their ideis of •'the transmigration of the soul ;" in their monastic forms and dis-in their penauccs. ablutions. almsirivinu'S and public festivals in ihc worcipline ship of thiur househoiil i:ods, in the devotions of the jirie-.ts to the study f -istroloj^y the admission of virgin females to the vows and riles of the cloi»and aitiouyiii) delivered to

tlie

m

;

;

f

;

m

TNTIIODUCTIOX. i^ummari/ of Shiulariti/ ^c.

Origin of the Written Language.

S,-c.

in the incense, liturgies and chants of their worship iu their use of charms and amulets; in some of ibeir forms of burnius? the dead, ^nd the preservation of the ashes in urns, and in the assumption of ho rii;ht to educate the youth." Amony other superstitious notions i^ the one of a celestial dragon endeavouring; to devour tha sun during; an eclijise, and their fondness for the drum, gong and rattles. The drai;on standard, banner Imces, as we find them in Chinese 3. Customs. Budhist temples eusicrns and banners stuck in a ferula, fixed at the back of a warrior. A Kind of heraldry, as we meftt amontj the Japanese. Some of their nuptials were symbolized by the ceremony of tyiny; the garments of thatwo contracting par'I'here was only one lawful wife, thongh a plurality of concubines. ties to;;ether. I have already refe'red to the similarity of dress, architecture and anchors of

ter

;

;

i

— ;

ships.

Physiologically considered there is not the slightest diflference between tbeso and thosv of Japan and China, and the tribes among themselves differ no more from each other than the people of Europe of one and the same stock. Crossing over to the Atlantic we meet with legends pointing to a northeastern and eastern immigration. Pictures of bearded men dre here and there found, and " figures in distress with Caucasian " features have long been preserved among the Teutonic words are here and theie interspersed among the piratical Caribs, Toltecs. Makusi and other tribes, and the strange proper names found among the Mexicans, and of which there are no roots in the same tongue, indicate a very slight influence of eastern origin, but not sutlicient to change the fundamental Asiatic character of triljes

civilization.

The key to this would be, frequent hostile expeditions along the coast of Europe and northern Africa being, by storm and the gulf stream, carried into tho Caribic se», where the few that survived, were soon absorbed by the natives. But much more than that; we know that Irish priests arrived at Iceland as early as A.D. 793, or more than 70 years before the Normans, and certain leaends inform us, that Irishmen, pressed by Roman and Germanic invaders, crossed the Atlantic even earlier than the above period and settled in Florida, where they were met with by the adventurers from Iceland. They appear, however to have either been killod or been absoided by the natives, who on one occasion seized no less than 1 00 whites, carried them into the interior, and would have murdered them, had not another white, apparently a chief, saved them. Tlie character he gave of the natives was similar to P'rom thut time (A. D. 1G27) all intercourse th it later given by the Spaniards. with America is broken off and the land forgotten.

Origin of the lorittan language.

When the ancient Chinese felt t!ie need of a written medium for commnnicatiati their ideas to one anotlier, they represented them by hieThiise were originally nothing but rude outlines of natural rou-lyphics. objects,

as

:

—O

neath the sun

(^)

ab-ttract ideas,

manner, as:

—

^'^e

sun.

To express

morning-, a line

indicating that the sun

is

was drawn be-

above the horizon.

Other

having reference to space, were represented in a similar above_j:__, below "": .The character r^jsresen^edl by sun and

moon, put together

(z)j)

.si^ifies- brightness, illustration, .illumination

&c.

.Ideas having reference to the mind, are expressed by the heart ; quick perThe classification of the characters ception, intelligence, by the ear &c. Ufider six heads, i.e.,

—

1.

^^

Tseung^ O'^^dj hieroglyphics, or outlines of natural objects;

2. tisC

f^

'Ka

tse'

3.

^

'Cui

sz'

'iB

metaphorical, or borrowed idea's

^" j

significative or pointing out objects.

;

I

X INTRODUCTION. Origin of the Wr'dte.)i Langnnge.

H -&

45.

Ui^

ideogTajibic or combination of Ideas

i^

iJH^si 'Chun

antithetical or invertino; signification

cliii'

/

;

'

;

^^

V phonetic, or such as giving sound ; (Shing jing be reduced under two heads hierogyphic and ideographic characters. The former representing the radicals, and the latter the compound chafrom words. Many radicals or primiracters, must be well distiiigaished but one or two such characcharacter tives may form one compound to express one word or idea. necessary be mr^v 'ters The hieroglyphics were, in their original form, too clumsy and impracticable to remain long in use, hence an artificial form was soon substituted for them, 6

:

Ciin

;

was changed

sun, i

'

|vv]

into

into

mountain

into

eye

p jjj

j .

g

.

gij(j

philosophy in

all its

branch^. Character

The phonetics two or more rel

of' the

WriHe7i Lanf/uage.

The

SeUitives.

are of a stereotype character and are

composed of one,

xirr

INTtiODUCrrON. T//e Jtelutives.

65. ;H' 'Kiing 5().

~\

57.

^

An

Yik, fK^nnf^

^"^ Kai' 59. ^ ^Shara

58.

GO.

Ch'ik,

Y

join hands.

'J'o

Fu^

A

^Ng-iiu

lo imitate.

3^

39.

arrow.

A bow, A swino's

88.

^

A

Couch.

P'in'

A

.splinter.

»Nga'

Teeth.

90. 7l {Ch'ong-

Lead.

91.

Feathers, hair.

92.

A

93. ^f" iNgau

short step.

It

^

91. ;/c

4 Strokes.

father.

A cow. 'Hun A dog.

^

6 Strokes.

The

01.-l\j>t/J\^,Sam C-J.

JiC ^

77.

>K Mukj :X Him' ih 'Chi

73.

^:^

75.

70.

Wood.

To owe. To

'Tai

79. :§! ,Shu

stop.

K

bouibre.

Yuk,

99. -y^ ,K6in

101.

IB Yung^

To

lOG.

^

iT'in

103.

7p

P^at,

A field. A roll, a

104.

^

-^^^"^j

Diseased.

105 ^"^

^*"^'

'^'^

106.

A

107.

i^ .P'i

^'^^i

109.

@

°=°Mnk,Theeye. -^ spear.

An

112.-5

Shek,

A

113 ^J^

?

To admonish.

J^fc

Ti

To compare.

82.

% ^Mo

114. ft] 'Yau

Hair.

no.

83.

ft

A

84.

-^ HP

87. jTV

4*

dish.

*Ch'i

Weapons.

116.

^^^^^

:^cWo yC Utj

Breath. 117. JJL

'I^o

A

t^i^^i

1 10.

81.

80. j/C'^'"^

White.

M

Do

.>f

M

take up a child from the g-round.

*Ij

„

•j'T

up.

„

„

,,

to

to take up.

fill,

„

„

»

V

fill

elect, to

seize

;

choose, to select.

to

apprehend.

S^

,,

„

lock, to chain.

,.

„

haul, to drag.

,j

tt

'Lo

„

^^§_

„

„

annoy.

I'^at,

„

^^U „

„

brush, to wipe, to dust.

,,

X^

fy

'Ch'e

'Kon

'Yam jTui

„ ,,

„

-pj „ i"^ „

away.

„ carry on a pole between two.

,,

KwiV

,.

mind,

compose.

down.

„

„

call to

to

do.

do.,

*K'i

,Nim

To ;

persne, to run after.

„ drink. ,,

heap up,

to pile up.

as

m^n when

xxr INH^^ODUCTION. Verbs ending hi 'Pmig-

'li^

sShfiig-

^^

To hold

„

„ ascend, roll

select, to

„

1^

„

f^

;,

„

^SuE

„

3II

>>

yy

„

„ count,

„

^

„

Kai'

„

gy

„

'To

„

'^J „

;

choose out.

to recou up.

„

„ „

startle, to recollect

^

f^

^P'au

„

J0^ „

sFft

„

-JTC

to overturn.

;

work, [as in gold, silver &c.]

„ throw up,

assist, to aid, to

„

„

tie,

„

„ speak, to speak

'Pong

„

^

Wd*

„

^^

'Kong

„

^s. i4^ „

Pat,

,,

^PC

„

W^

„

„

Wat,

„

^Xi n

;?

^Ch'iii

„

w^

„ pare

J J

,,

„ ?)

to

suddenly.

(as a ball in a

„

„

to avail of.

run, to hasten.

„

„

(^nau)

mount

finish, to

„

.

(as a screen).

pour out

Ch^ik,

(Kau

to

up

;,

*Ta

_

^E

in the hand.

'Kiin

*Tsau

'hi

help up,

game).

when

fallen

down.

bandage. oitt,

to tell.

J.

discourse on, to converse, to narrate. pull

up;

pull up

to extirpate.

hy a hook

;

to raise, as an anchor.

scoop out, to excavate. to

off,

lop off; to

make

a hole in the

ground. Shii^

„

;^

„

„

erect, to raise (as a standard).

,Ch'apj

„

iW

?j

,)

insert, to

set in

;

to thrust into (as a flag

staft).

(Shing

,,

7i

71

7>

complete; to raise.

(Shau

„

^%

„

„

collect

;

to put

away

as clothing,

when

nsed.

„

^

„

„

T'ik,

„

&^

„

„ kick.

^Wan]

„

^

„

„

Ch'au

take from

;

to lift; to

draw

out.

draw, to pnll up.

,Tau

„

^

„

„ To

Tai'

„

S|

,,

^^

carry, to wear.

,,

:^

,,

„

raise, to elevate.

„

1^

„

n

carry on the head, or top of a thing.

*Kii

*Tiug

lift

up.

not',

XXII INTRODUCTION. Verb.s cndi)},] in 'hi t^B, iHidc,

,Me

|t®

'hi

,Ch'6

„

(I^j'ii

„

^^ IS

To

„

„

ji

'J

l^sli,

cMongk'euk,TS^'P To „

^.

^T^r.i

„

tffi

sTs'z

„

I^'^'t,

whip

to

IM fM

J,

'Kam

declioe, as

?'

P"sh away.

,,

i/:|jj

„

„

1^

>j

>5

Mat,

„

,Sam

„

'^'''

"

"

office;

.remove

Ill'

-^ ''^'

•

S*

"

_SL "

" "

"

^^^'^j

?^

" ^^^^X

Is

"

" „

„

and put away

^ij

.

estimate, to reflect, to find out

"

m

»

J.

tb^

to.

•

"

and

iorg-efc.

.,

,;

^

„

,P^au

„

^ij

tb'

carry on the back; to carry a child pick a pack. pull up, as a flag-.

Verbs ending in

^^t,

^P,

almost always a termination of the perfect tense.

If the Pronouns :^^ «no-o

T

f^

'm'

m-

YH

n

f-

x

i

/

XXIII

IXTRODUCnON. Verbs en/ling in I'ak,

W

'to ^t'in

Kwai^ „

'to

f^^^l

'plj

and

ch'ut^

^"F ^^^

[ij

8'°* ^^"^

whole

emi)ire.

^fil^'y^-i^W ^^^ knoels down to worship the

pai' ^shan

spirits.

Jt To

jMin

„ ,ch'ong shcung^ 0A;'^Jj[?k

Tso^

„ 'kin 4u

:3£ jJPJI'i^^

„ be seated in a sedan.

'Ta

„ jshing jch4

'fTijlJ'^jyi

„ have reduced a

PcV

„ p'au'

Jl'ffil^fi^ „ have

^t'oi

ts'akj



^^^•^

,,

run outside.

,,

discover vag'abonds,

„

find out stolen property.

ifea-stj-^J^^ '^o divulge secrets.

(Sz sz^

Tsb^ch'utj

fi^

come

return home,

„ marvel,

to

be surprised at.

„ come out or forward. „

let (as a house).

>'

t^'^6

y>

scheme, to plan.

ii

walk.

Verh"- terminati'ug in hit

cT'oi

?"^ i^

/Kwai

Lok,

hii'

to life again.

To

descend.

jj

„

cf.i-ry to.

-^,

Ultj

„

„ return.

Tifi^

PM

V

Tai'

^

h „

„ bring

to, to

carry away.

1^

„

„ move

to (or

away).

•f/^

„

„ carry

to

(

do.

).

,y

„

(

do.

).

,run jKw'ui 'Shai

^

^

transfer.

sail to

XXV INTRODUCTION. Verbs ending in 1

hii

-^

XXVI INTRODUCTION. Verbs emliny in

hit

-^

\±.-\-

^Chong

%ci:

hii^

'^^ P^'^^ ^M^

->/^j»

jTs'ia

„

l^lj

to advance.

V forward,

„

„

i£

'Ts'ing

„

wP3 „

„ be invited.

'Wui

„

Wi

„

„ destroy.

,Me

„

RT

'>

j;

„

„ dismiss,

V

» persue.

„

,,

Chukj

„

arrest.

,,

carry on the back.

'Ts'eung-

„

^ M ^

,Nim

„

tfS „

„ carry away.

„

W-

V

V take

„

iwi

;>

» stolen.

„

„ break up.

Kiik,

„

,Cliui

„

jNci

,T'au

cTs'ia

„

'P'aii

„

^ S ^

'^Sheung „

_t

^Tam

,.

jPan

„

tM ^^

Ch'ak,

„

Kiu'

„

jCh'u

Sung'

f^4 V

^ 5^ ^ ^

„

„

,Ch'ang

„

cT'o

„

jT'o

„

3S

^xn(\\

degrade.

snatch away.

'J

to.

away.

call

„

„ move

„

„

race.

„

j,

ascend.

,

to.

'7

» carry away.

,.

„

„

„ deduct.

„

„ send

return, to

to, to

„

„

„

.;

j;

V abscond.

-lii^C^M

To

go away from,

accompany

^"li''^^^^

to drag.

ending in vuU ^Rg

abbreviate, to curtail.

,Sh:in

„

P^

„

„ sbut up.

'Iin

„

„

„

im _h

„

SShinng

„

„ put up, lay up.

Jvwan

„

Ffl „

,L6

„

Wan^ ,T'in

,

„

W Ji^

i^

close.

to lock up.

„ bar,

»

>>

)'

??

„

one.

pole.

Fi'?'Z/5

Ts'iit,

to

„

i"ix•"i'^'>

fill

to

up-

lluow into confusion.

XXVII INTRODUCTION. Verbs cjidhtg in mdi J^i

J

Chap,

sinui

Hung

„

^'L'i

Tso^ ]''aii'

,Lai

,iMu ,Niru

W:)^^ To

„

ff ^^

„

^l

,,

„ „

„ sleep with, or close

„ pull away.

;>

jj

V

^

„

:;pj^

„

„ take away.

tSI

>,

„ put away.

,,

,,

„

^

„

ycf „

„

^^

„

U

,,

,,

away, to preserve.

store

preserve.

„ store up.

„

„ accumulate.

„

„

twist.

„

^

„

„ connect with, to string- together.

„

Xta;

„

,)

one

force

'1^ „

„ collect into one,

jT'iin

„

^Pong

„

^^

„

„

sT'oi

„

to

»

'7

^Tui

„

i#

„

;,

„

t6^ „

'Pi

„

^K^ai

„

i$ ik

tie

up.

carry aside.

heap up.

„ push

aside.

gi^e

all.

n

;;

„

„ keep.

Hup,

„

"n „

„ join together,

^Ch'e

„

"T^ V

V

„

-p^ „

„ put

jChai Chip,

„

\%

sT'ung'

„

fSJ

„ ,,

close,

aside.

„ fold up. Tog-ether with.

j.nn

To put

away.-

'Pai

„

fiu „

(K"^ciu

„

f

^

„

„ mix with.

P'ak,

„

^*P

,,

„ put closa.

,,

is

Tso-

„

one's plan of escajje.

into

way

,T'iii

to.

up-

wl'f^P

;j

'Chii

Oi'iin'

by.

sit

^j^ „

||5C

*Kon

„

stand aside.

^pj „

„

1".~,ik,

,,

„

sTs'iia

*Ki'iu

„ get aside.

„

*'''^^

,Siiau

pick up.

„ finish.

to

;

to

leave no

make one lump of

it.

XXVIIT

INTRODUCTION.

m

Verbs ending Pile,

cTHiii

Yriung^

„

Chnn^

„

JtM.-^

^

J?

upon,

Pi'

I'ovv.

Cbuk,

,7

•wc "

V

seize.

Chakj

bring".

„

li§ V

.V

pluck.

^Lo

},

^^|| V

jy

t'etcli,

^T'o

„

^^

^Senng

„

-Miii

„

^Ch'an^

„

^ fl ^

two).

to o-et.

')

„ diag-

»

„ meditate.

"

" purchase.

alono-.

„

„ pole (a boat).

5'

'J

iuvite.

'Ts4ng

•,

1^

Ti'iP

n

*r^ V

>7

bring.

Ki'

>,

^f

>>

;'

send (to have received).

-Shuung

?»

Jl

»

>5

ascemi.

>>

-Hj^

v

\^

"

Ch'ut,

»;

p4

"

?>

'Fun

'>

-^M

>'

" return.

TIang

V

i^

}>

7j

come,

yig-

'?

?'

come down.

Lokj

>}

'Hi

V

'Tsau

J?

^ ;^ ^

descend.

come

57

" rise.

>.<

» run.

V

ibrth, or out.

to

approach.

persue.

'Kon

}'

^She

"

pjK "

Chun-

V

iM

"

" niake

Sung'

)}

i^

V

V make presents, or bring- with,

,Kong

V

iX

"

" carry.

'Shai

r

ft

'?

"

„

§t^ „

'Sing Tsoi'

»)

'Fau

»

^ ^B

';

" buy on credit. in trade.

sail.

„ awake. contain, to store.

j>

>;

"

" gallop.

rhmses slowing 'Se -ho Joi

money

the use oj Verbs terminating in Joi ^f^.

TfiKf^ To

write nicely.

XXX INTRODUCTION. Fhra.se.s

'Seunir ^chan Joi

shonnm/ the use of Verbs ending in

^,^^

To

^t^

"

" come

?>

"

^'6

consider thoroughly. at this time.

^li'

v

'Koii 'kau

„

Fong' chak,

„

^"[pj] "

;"

P^t on one side.

%4

„

"

"

P^'ice it erect.

,Cha shatj

jj

JSW

"

"

^^^^^ ^^

Tso- 'wan

j>

:^^^

?'

"

sit

»

r

»"""•

" *^"'^ thing's over.

cHang-Sheung »

lEft ffJl

" "

"

^Ha

~P^

v

,7

^A

"

"

Ch^an'

Tung^

'Tsau'hi

Tan

;,

'chiin

hii'

>.

-

„

^^ ^^

^^

in hurry.

^''^^^•

down

safely, to

'^'^"^^

"P*

'''>"i^

down.

move

inside.

^"''''^'^

^^^^•

,Punyap,

v

'Lo ch'ut,

.J

tUtli

"

"

Kiu= ^kHi

V

^4tS

'»

" call him.

,Ivan -ng-o

;,

>j

;;

'Shaicvan

„

?'

„ send a man.

liV sun'

V

"

"

^^^^'^

jOhui

}>

:x^^i]

'J

I'each or obtain

to'

S^^ f$A Wi^

}}

^(Jll^w' ii^e

;

to

by

persuit.

>>

??

have obtained by robbery;

??

>'

P^'t

things aright.

;>

'>

P'^t

things in wrongly.

„

|^f^j

;,

^iE

^Chong- ,ch'a

„

Sat, 'san

>,

^fjcl^ »

v «et things loosely.

,Fan

v

^IM

"

"

^^i^itle,

fall

sail to.

to separate.

„

^^

„

„

„

I^^H

„

„

'Ching- ting^

;,

^>£

j?

m have things ready.

^Ts'ui chii^

j,

fSft

"

"

sC'ha k'ok,

>,

"

" examine thoroughly.

'Tim cheuk,

„

'^'p^^

'Ta sun'

;/

^T^

^ISlim.ts'ai

„

"^^7^,,

„

bring- together.

„

^ ^^

>>

obtain by purchase.

Tit, lolc, ^Sliai

jnai

'Mai tak,

S^

one.

^ letter.

'Ts'eung; 'to

Jioi

be firmly seated.

come with

'Ch'ui ching-'

^^

Joi.

down.

P^"*^^^'

*° constrain, to hurry.

up.

>>

"

v

» calculate.

„

lij^'lit

Yu^^manhak, 1[^'.y(EM Evening.

it

Night.

XXXI INTIiODUCTIONT. Defect of Ihc

hi^si

The learned not always

Dictionar)j.

the

popular men.

The preceiliu;;' «xiiupl3s wiii suliicij r,o iudicute the way, which will If a ruler as intelligent as lead to au intelligible phonetic language. Kanglii could be induc(!d to appoint a commission of three or four men in each province, to classify the verbs according to their prefixes and suffixes, to make a collection of the com])oiinds of nouns and other parts of sneech to have books written witii this newly arranged material and iutrodduced into the schools, one generation would be sufficient to ojjen the eyes of the leained and to convince them of the benefit the nation mu»t

—

derive from a phonetic sys^^em, which men and tlie short time of a couple of months.

women

could ac(|uire

within

The sentences which

am

I

have collected, are constantly on the tongue

known to most foreign scholars of But, how many persons use them in tbeir daily the Chinese language. conversation? Very few indeed; and such as do, do so perhaps twice, Avhen a native, speaking to his country men, would use them ten tiiu.3S. Were we to look into *Dr. Williams' Dictionai'y and select all the comLinations of the class of which I have given examples, we should hardlv find 20 per cent of them. As Dr. Williams' Dictionary is by far the best that has ever been publislied in Chinese, and yet contains so small a percentage of the common colhxpiial, need we then wonder at the constant cry over the diffiMore than 50 per cent of what scholars culty of the Chinese language ? learn is not'current colloquial hence they talk to the poor and ignorant and are not understood, not because the}^ cannot read and write works in the Chinese language, but because they never assenibleit around the hi-eplace, where father, mother and children open their hearts unrestrainedly and convei-se in a tongue, which will give to future generations the material for a polished and intelligible vernacular. This conviction which has forced itself upon my mind as often as I of the natives,

and I

sure, will he

!

;

have sat among a group of native men, women and children, I can no Profound Chinese scholars, who are all the year round longer conceal. sitting" with a loquacious teacher, who almost knows what they mean to sa}' before they have expressed half their ideas, have frequently sneered at the idea, that the (jhinese languag-e could ever be reduced to a nhonotic system and that the ideographic characters could bo dispensed with. I^ut could they ever hold easy converxation with an uneducated native? and during the last war we had an I frankly declare they could not instance of a firstrate scholar of the Chinese language having to give the ])recedence to a neophite, a novice in the Mandarin dialect, because the learned man could hardly talk "vith any body but his teacher. ;

Thei-e is another feature of the Chinese colloquial requiring to be pointed cut. Certain words, like the English verb to get, pass cha melonlike through the language, meaning to strike, to buy, to extract, to ojien, by &c., and are frequently heard in very vulgar or common colloquial. As e. g. 'mai -mai, to purchase rice, would to the ear be almost tar.tology, the Chinaman substitutes 'ta to strike, for to jiurchase. As such idionuitic peculiarities are frequently

met

with, I

would here add

nearl}^

130 sen-

XXXII INTRODUCTION. Examples of

ike use of 'id, to strike.

tences with Ha, to strike, as another illustration of the between the written stvle and the colloquial.

Examples of *Ta ngit,

l^

»-

pun-'

•'

(?'"

tT®M

'c\\'i

To

le-

>,

ofHd

^J

to stiihe.

grit the teeth.

dvefs.

» phiit the cue.

To come hv

,.

16^ jloi

;

J.

tsing- shikj

» eat rice without seasoning.

,)

timg-

„

walk.

move.

„ mend.

'ching

,>

'^h jt=au

» cheat.

»

ti^

>,

(P'o

To

practice usni'y.

on the ground.

» reward.

'sheung-

» save (rescue) one.

„ kau' ,,

sleep

„ lean upon.

„ jCh^ang >,

„ dispatch.

fat,

„ pay the costs of a hiw suit.

» ch'nt, jHgan

»

siin^

„ calculate, to reckon.

J'

ting^ 'chii

,3

„

'\i

i'

„

„ (kun ^fu » (kun >,

J an

J.

^hai

(Sz

,>

1^^

have come to a resolution.

manage.

summon

one.

do.

» force one to write an order for

'cheung

make

the bed.

»

» (Shii

» bind a book.

J.

fp'i

'nau 'nan

,>

'£

sew on

a button.

„

make

>,

fix the price.

a button hole.

»

chi'ii'

» pay debt in kind.

»

(fa

,,

get (seek) flowers,

J.

'tsai

>,

[ilant.

» kau^

money,

» sole shoes.

» (P'o k^oi'

j»

land.

» spy out.

„ t'iim' '»

U-

the use

g-reat difference

f?

„

make an

estimate, to

make

a sketch.

XXXIII IKTliODUCTION. Examples of the use of^td, Til ko' kit,

to strike.

tlfllo

^o

"li^l^e

a Imtton.

y^

»

make

robes.

„ sok,

»

» sDgti

» 1!^

» extract a tooth.

„ ^mai

»

/^

" purcliase rice.

» ^shi

„

tp

» g'o to the market.

„

'kill jloi

„

^^

» mai^ {nv})

„ pMi

„

come by

chair.

" give a riddle to guess.

„ ,tang- mai^

»

!^p^

» guess a riddle, that

» hiim'

lo^

„

P^^l-

" gape, to

» makj

lo^

„

» (ts6

" M

„ i^E

wear coarse

^MJ^

» sneeze.

t^ai'

„

P^^

»

do.

hak, ^ch'i

„

ff£g|

„

do.

ftsz

» p^an^

» Ian*

„ 7;^

» sui'

„

^

„ smash.

» p'o'

„

^t

" split

» (Pang

„

J3

» ^chiin

„ ^p.

„ 'pin

„

„ cp'ing

»

»

„

flit,

„ cch^am ,shun „ ,.

ch4k, mok,

^mun

» (ko yeuk, ,fui jShii

to

;

open by

„ break like glass.

^ ^ ^

» beat

flat.

» level. " let fall.

" ^^"^

^^^1'-

''^

»

^^J

» take

„

^j f

" open the door.

„

'^^

„ a\)\dy a jdaster

J^ij^

" nitike a

'^/^^^

>>

„

1

ofi:'

make

one's clothing.

„

TJC

,>

^^

» strike

»

iS.*^

"

'fo

To

» j^ij/'C

ointment.

floor.

a threshing floor.

„

'fo

01'

chunam

» V*

To

fight (civil war).

fight (general war).

To invade

a territory.

"

,sliii

„

^fiij

„

suffer a defeat.

par

„

J4

"

tlo.

>,

jkHin H^i ,sz fu^

^Ta kwan' „

,t'o

„ ki'mg^

5,

'^fo

„ keukj kwat,

"

JS-'frflM To commit high wny robbery.

^

do.

»

^fl X. To ^P f^ To

„

"W To

»

5>

rWO

» 'TjC

»

lip,

»

mt

»

%'fu

»

"^^''

»

fs'^eukj -fliu

"

H.$,^

>,

(kung

„ ZL.

To

» Hseang

„ 9f^

„

» ^fan

„

jcli'^e

>,

ftin 'to

„

,tsiin

J'

kunu-

one.

» ,,

jming

To cane

master.

|p| To discharge a gun. ^^t* To throw shmg stones.

„

p'i'iu'

» /i

g'ain a victoi-y.

f^tr^ffiii The boxing 'iTT^Si

commit burglary

go a

"

go a hunting.

To go "

„ IS^f!]

a tiger hunting.

sliont birds.

labor for wages.

row.

"

to surprise villages.

fishing,

thresh.

Jth

•

commit highway robbery.

"

iilS- To

-^i-

[maiks.

one

kill

J,

Kuu'

leaves

one another.

Wii To

» eying

it

one.

kill

-J^Atfi

until

strike one until the blood runs out*

Pin Hu ^sz

to strike.

•

.

wlieel about.

turn about madly.

To wedge

in.

make an obevsance.

XXXVI INTRODUCTION. Ortliography

To reduce tbe Canton dialect to a simple, phonetic system, has been a subject of considerable discussion among- the junior students of the Chinese lang-uag-e ; and the different modes of spelling show, that as yet few have agreed ou that point. This diversity is in a great measure owing to the lack of a comprehensive, practical mind, able to look beyond the few years of his own existence ; but no less to a disinclination to make a few concessions to a rival and to sacrifice one's own preconceived oi)inion to better counsel, having for its aim the interest of the less instructed and less talented of the native and foreign students. But we not iinfrequeutly find that the greatest stumbling black in the way of a perfect agreement is the fJict that men make it a matter of Convenience Englishmen will write according" to the pronunciation ef their own language (if there is such a thing as a general rale); the French will follow theirs, &o. So long as they write for their private use only, not much is lost to others or to themselves but when they present the results of their labour to the public, matters stand quite differently. As public men sent out for the extension of science and civiliation, they should study simplicity, should analize every sound and represent it, as much as possible, by simple vowels and consonants, or at least by such diacritical marks as might save future generations from the scandal of spelling tis many now too frequently do amongst the lower classes of England, France, Germany, and the United States of America. They should above all fiiithfully represent the essential points of the various dialects of China, such as are the tones and aspirates, or give no pronunciation at all. For it is much better to leave the student of the Chinese language to himself, than to misguide him by an assumed authority, and to induce him to peisue a course of study which he afterwards, perhaps when too late, regrets, v.'hen health and other circumstances may not allow him to retrieve his lost ground. Standard Alphabet, such as has been proposed by Professor Lepsius is a great desideratum in the newl}' opened countries of tlie far East, and we should have adopted it, had we not a dictionary now in general use by the students of this dialect, the orthography of which is so simple iliat it will not soon be superseded by a better one. The only defects of Dr. Williams' orthography are the use of the to represent three, the E two sounds, and th:it he requires a diacritical mark to express the broad sound of the diphthong ai. The ii should be represented by the o the e by the a; the ai by the ei and the ai by the ai. Having in the present work strictly followed the orthography adopted by Dr. "Williams, I will here add his system, as exhi])ited in the table p.p. XVI and XVII in the Introduction t;ohis "Tonic Dictionary."

—

;

A

U

;

1.

a as in quota

2.

a as in father

3.

e as in

4.

e as in say

5.

i

men

as in pin

;

;

;

;

j

XXX

\

II

INTRODUCTION. Orthograj)hy.

machine

as in

6.

1

7.

o as in

8.

o as in so, lioe

9.

u as hull

;

lord

loiip-,

;

:

10. u as in school 11.

li

12.

u as

as in Giite; in turn

;

'

13. ai in while 14. ai as in aisle, ayej

now;

15. au as in

16. au as in howl (only pi'onounced hrnader and lonpor)

17. eu as in

Capernaum;

18. iu as in

pew

19. oi as in hoy

;

;

20. ui as in Louis

;

21. ui as in cooing 22. sz' this

guages to

s,

if in

;

this

;

an imperfect vowel sound, unknown

is

pronouncing the word dizzy, the two

sound

will

hm,

24. 'ng

a nasal sound,

is

spoken with a cleared mouth,

The consonants need no in

English

made by stopping

ng

;

;

k as in king

I

n

as in a?!

in

when

it is

spoken.

uniformly pronounced as

main

;

nun

s

as in sea

as in title

wits

w

wing

as in

j

as in yard.

the vowels, diphthongs and consonants, found

the Canton dialect.

Tones and Aspirates see

;

ts as in

y all

pap

p

t

;

The nhove comprise

as in sing

as in

sh as in shut

.

as in quality

as in lame

m

be changed,

like a voluntnry half cough.

the nose

illustration, as the}' are

h as in have

kw

European lan-

:

ch as in church f as in fife

in

letters di

be made.

23. 'm or is

•

p. p. 1

and

2.

in

Grammar

ov

(1) the Chinesr Langvaqe,

Difference of Intonation.

1.

Any person anxious to acquire the Chinese language as by the natives, should acquaint himself: 1. 2. 3.

it

i«!

spoken

—With tones; and —With the —With the vowo] sounds. the

aspirates

;

THE Tones.

1,

or Court dialect distinguishes 5 tones

The Mandarin

TheHalcka(5; and

ThePuntiS. 1.

In the Court dialect they are expressed without any modulation

of the voice; are marked as represented in the following square, and peated according to the number opposite each tone,

re-

8

3 (1)

^ Y g ^^ g

The 251

^shing

(

marked

shang^ ^shing

(

marked 2

cp'ing-

1

on the

left

below

),

is

the

simple even tone

The

always uttered with a

The The

71

k'ii'

)

is

the upper tone, and

i3

shrill voice is

the departing tone

) is

the entering tone.

^shing (marked 3)

jih, ,shing

(marked 4

pouthefn variations it always terminates abruptly in Chili, Shansi &c., &,g.

;

;

and In

its

but ends in a long

vowel

A lower 2.

but

(or

jflfth)

tone

is

recognised in the cP'ing ^shing only.

More modulation of the voice

the intonation differs so

much from

observed in the Hakka dialect the Pimti, that those who wish to

is

'acquire both, must take great care not to confound them. The tones of the Hakka dialect are represented in the following

2 squares

Grammar

(2) the Chinese Language.

or

Intonation. 3.

The tones of

the Punti dialect are pronounced, Hii' (Shing and 'Sheung- ^shiug 4. Yap, (ShingcP'ing- (Shing-

1.

2.

1.

2.

Upper Tones 1

2. 3.

Y ai

Shcung- cp'ing- (Shing

J-

J-

Lower Tones.

J-^

;,

'sheung- „

„

hii^

1

'2~3,^ \

,,

4:,

•

^^'

~]^^

2.

~T^

3.

-p.^

sP'ing- calling

„

I-

'sheun'8

>>

,hii'

„

4l

1

yf»p>

The The

cp'ing ^shing- is uttered with a peremptory voice, e. g. Go ! ^sLeung- ^shing- or rising tone is uttered with an interrogative dulation of the voice, e. g-. Is it mce ? Is the weather fine ?

The hu'

(Shing

the optative or wish form,

is

e. g.

Bo

Theyapj „ terminates in the Punti and Hakka in a p, t or k hence it is easily distinguished.

mo-

love me. dialects

always

;

The lowing

1. 2.

&

3. tones of the

Punti are nearly represented in the

fol-

scale.

High

tones

Lovi' tones

How

are the four tones called ?

'f0|SSff4l^-fa;SB/B ^«' They

«2'

^fX^lj^A^ ^i^' Mark Mark

the upper tones the lower ^ones,

What

,f

mat, ,meng

csliing kiu= tso^

aie called cp'ing, 'sheung,

^hii^

^^^' ^P'i^S'.

and yap

'sheung, hti\ yap!

'l^fg "J^^g ,Tim

it

1^_t^1^^'T*fi

ko' ha^ sz^ ^shing

?

5S®^#'l2*K'fi5f cNi ko^ tsz^ hai^ mat, Has

lok,.*

'Tim ko^ sheung-^ sz\shing

(^'^J^ITUg

tone has this character

,ni.

shino-.

the high or low tone

=ye ^shing a\

1

Hai^ ^sheung wak.hai^ hu^ ^shing.

Eear! these characters with me.

'M)

i^4r. ,

Jgj

-^

sT'ung ^ngo tuk^

^ni ko^* ts2-

HiGH Tones, Chin, 'chin, chin', chit,

^Jgf^|^ hlanket; to unroll; to fight

,Kam, 'k^m, kam^ tap, I^J^J^g

^

Low Xin,

IWan

-lin, lin' lit,

to seal; to contract;

to break.

amirror; armour.

Tones,

j2 Jj^-|$^|j to connect, to remove

Svan, wan^ wut,

;

;

to select ; to arrange.

-2i:jt:m^ To .ay; to grant; to revolve ; sliopery A^firaled words seldom have the Inqlier tone in the .fing shing or the hirer tone the MC shbifj. This peculiarity in the Punt/ is worth noticmg, as it vail considerably assist the student's memory.

m

(3)

Grammar

the Ciuxese Language.

of

2. Aspirates.

3.

Vowel Sounds.

How the tones frequently change the seen from the followino: examj)les. (

gr^

)

in** ) (

,U

An

interrogative

particle

^

^ ^

;

U' to hate ; Okj bad, wicked.

do to be; rr on account of. J^T

f cWai, to

\

WaV

meaning of words, may be

j"

;

(

'Ho good. Ho' to love.

A glance into Dr. Williams' " Tonic Dictionary " will convince the student of the necessity of paying strict attention to the pronunciation of the aspirates. Examples.

1.

,T'am

to carry

Tap,

^

„ answer

To'

^Ij

M

„ arrive

Pik,

^"^

,Chiii

to covet

T'ap, T^o'

at

pagoda

a to

vomit

„ oppress

P=ik,

a prince

„ abstain from

,Ch^ai

a commissioner

In the preceding examples the sound and quantity of the vowels are the same, the tones are also identical, the distinction of meaning being conveyed by the aspirates. 3. The Vowel Sounds. The following examples diifer in the sound of the vowels, by which the difference of meaning is conveyed to the ear.

Examples. Narrow

1.

or

Common

Sound.

Broad Sound

2.

Ai'

fe /^

Ai'

to strangle

Ak,

„ grasp

'Am

„ cover with the hand

Am

^

Kau

„ save

to rescue

Kau'

^_

Ak,

3. Difference in the quantity of

a pass, a defile a bracelet

an unopened flower to teach

Vowels.

Examples Long Sound.

Short Sound.

,Sam



^

^ ^

three

to inspect Ivdm gold metal Proper attention paid to these distinctions at the commencement

,Kam

fallen of study, will enable the student to avoid many errors so frequently scholar!?. into by persons unwilling to follow the advice of experienced 4. 4.

Is this

Phrases.

word

aspirated or not ?

B)61H^^®^PJ£ .Ni ko' How

is

this

tsz^

^yau

word pronounced

S#SB^1H^PJS 'Tim yeung^ tuk, It

is

kau' in Pimti,

hi'

=m6

,ni.

?

,ni

;$till^>|fe Punti'

ko'

tuk,

tsz^ ,ni.

kau\

(4) Grammar of the Chinese Language. Dialectical Difference.

Phrases.

And

this chcracter

It is read kau'

What

difference

is

The

B^fi^B^ ^i ko'

?

^WM.

sound? ^151 2^ Ko' (Shing (jam 'tim

difference of

sound

is in

ko' a^ tsz^

kau' cyan I rescue a

^>^ABi^:feK^ By

^^^'' ''^S^ ^^^^ Ira ^'^ -sV.

there in the

10^^ a'^l"! By

tsz^- ,ni.

.

the A,

jam

man

.

.

^fan pit, ^ni.

pat, ,t'ung.

from

peril.

'^'go kau' ,yan cVut, ,u ,ngai ^him.

kau' cyan I instruct

men how

to act.

^^A-Sfite'TTS "Ng'o k^u' jan Him yeung^ ^hang cwai. 4.

Dialectical Difference.

The written Chinese heing ideographic and merely intended for the eye, there is no need for long- words of diversified sounds, in order Hence the rule, " speak as you to convey the meaning to the mind. correctly write, and lorite as you correctly speah,'' is in no way applica* 1.

The student, therefore, hie to the written Chinese language of books. should he careful what characters he commits to memory, and should always ask the teacher to write down for him the compound used in the colloquial, without wliidh he cannot possibly make himself intelligible. With the exception of Dr. Williams' " Tonic Dictionary of the Canton Dialect ' there is not a single work containing such a collection of compounds used in conversation as a student might commit to memory without reference to a competent teacher. Besides the necessity of learning compounds great care should be taken to ascertain the particular word used in the dialect we wish to acquire, as also the peculiar construction of sentences. Thus in treating the Chinese language as if the ideographic characters did not exist, and by paying- strict attention to the respective idioms, vie soon discover that the various dialects of China differ as much from each other as German does from English, Dutch Swedish, Danish and other cognate tongues. 2.

I

do no. see

Examples of Dialectical Difference.

[it] or

I cannot see

JP-" )

(

Hakka Court P.

Will you go?

^H.

'T'ai

r:

kin=.

:j^\\

K'on'

/m

^^Mi

K'iin'

puh, kien

tau'.

fST^iPgiB^ ^Ni hii' c'm ^Nihi^'m. -^i-Pg

I^ir^i: Go-

>

ff|^ ^Ha

* ^

'^'i k'ii'

""'' ,

'Tseu

hii' ,ni.

puh,

k'ii'.

1

Grammar

of the Chinese Language-

2 Excmphs of DiaU-cliral Dlffh-evce. 'iNgo

'rt^J^SlJ

do not

know

^J^Pg^B

^ H.

Compounds.

>

^Ngai ^'m

Ife^^fJ

'Wo

.

puh,

,chi lb\ ,ti.



test Sec.

>»

(6) Gramjiau of the Chinese Language. Compouvds.

To

heai-

To

see

^^'^ g|^^

Classifiers.

.T'ing jman, both

kLV

'T'ai

meaning to „

,,

Examples of Symphonioiis characters used

4.

Lear.

see.

in

Compounds.

M

'T'ai kin', f| ^fai, body, stands here for ij^ ^t;ai to se To see ff These occur chiefly in popular literature and colloquial writing-s, ar sometimes employed from ignorance, and sometimes for intelligibility. 5. Many compounds in daity use may be transposed without alterin the seiise, or becoming unintelligible; but great care requires to be take

in such transpositions, lest the sense be lost. Examples of woids that may he transposed.

To

rejoice

^j^-g- cFun

or 'hi ,fun.

'hi

To go and return 'fi^ -Wong Joi or ,loi -wong. Examples of words that may not be transposed. Lord of a

-^^

family,

In the presence of

A

jgj

wine cup In

but

'ta

merits

;

^k

'chii;

Mln^

j||j

VPI'^

'Tsau

conversation ^kung

Jiung [^XlC] but

^\b

(kung

to

,pvii

'ta

To be married

(said of

toil,

I

want a

I

want

I

is

am

tea

means

to assault, to fight

[^yf]

.15

mean;

toilsome labour.

Phrases.

.^'^S •«' ,.l ko- .ts-^

FH^^

Ch'ut

^'^M

come cup

ka'.

'%o oi-

^^|^^ 'Ngo

^ ik^l

ready

king>.

Tsii' '16 ,p'o.

^'^>^tt

a cup of tea

ready

=11

.loi,

^^^^Hff^ ,Sin ^shang 'ki-^shi ,loL

?

^^^^''^

'Ngo

Ife^lffl^ 6.

A

[^p^^J*]

women)

take a wife

will the teacher

min^ means before us, opposit

whilst ^pui 'tsau means a glass of wine

mm-^'f&.m

"^"'"s^ri at'"' }

Tea

;

cts'in

ff^t^^K^Sf^^ KiiV ^nai 'shui ,sz' fiV

Call the bricklayer

When

;

labour for wages; ^kung

[^ JL]

7.

To

whilst 'chii ^ka means to rule afamilj

jts'in

oi=

cch'a ^pui.

,pui ,ch'a.

P^^'

^^^''

,ts'ai pi^ lok,.

Classifiers.

added to or precedes every noun, whenever it stands Our words herd (in herd of cattle) ; sheets (in (in pieces of silk) correspond exactly to these which the student will do well to commit to memory before,

classifier is

in relation to numerals. pieces sheets of paper) ;

classifiers,

he proceeds further. 1

.

Ko' jgj

is

applied to men, as yat, ko' ^yan

Shap, ko'

'nil 'tsai

'JriS:i^if

'-^'en

—'i^\

girls.

one man.

(7)

Grammar

of tub Chinese Language. 6.

Ko'

^

the

Classifiers.

abbreviated ko'

'^

such as baskets, coin &c.,

'Mid neung- ko'

Jam

Chek, arms, eyes &c. 2.

^

HSMfS^I^ Buy two baskets.

Joi

'Pi ^Dg ko' 'ping ,kon

applied to inanimate objects,

is

Sec.

'kHif$5^^^g[fljj:t^2jg Give bimiive

biscuits.

applied to boats, vessels, birds, quadrupeds, legs, it is also applied to man.

is

In Hahka colloquial

Examples. Yat,

"^^ ^'%

chek, -t'eng

One

boat.

One

vessel.

„

cshiin

Shap,

„

,kai

"T^^

^Ng-'

„

^chxi

5l^J§

Five pigs.

^Leung-

„

'shau

PH^^

Two

„

%g;in

„

Yat,

Ten chickens.

—'^BR

One

arms. eye.

Exercises,

Embark

Call a boat.

Raise one arm.

To

call

B^yR

^^^'

open

ch'ing'.

tTPQ

3. Tiii' ^fif is

Open one

£^oi- 2-

weigh^^

Weigh

in that ship.

Buy

that chicken.

a

pi"-;

eye.

To embark, To buy

to take passage in, ^l? tap,.

^

^mai.

To

raise

^

To To

'kii.

'ta Jioi.

applied to things

we use

that

in pairs,

as shoes,

stockings, scrolls, &c.

Examples. Yat,

tui' shai

Yat,

Yat

tfii'

mat,

tui' 'tui

One

pair of shoes.

'^T'fi^

One

pair of stockings.

'P't^y*

One

pair of scrolls.

—'aU*^ —

Exercises.

Make

Knit a pair of stockings.

a pair of shoes.

Put on

To make

4.

5®

^

this pair of shoes.

tso-.

To

"^

knit -^^ chik,.

To

cheuk,.

jSheung

is

T?ke

ttike off

^

Write a pair

of sceoHs!.

off this pair s^tockings.

To

write

^

'se.

To put

on.

i'ixt,.

applied to a pair, a couple, double, &c. *

Note

2.

— In

kiu' Joi and similar phrases the object must be put between the two verbs. Exception : In negative sentences, as ;

BSfi^VttfflPSfi!

^ttlB^fi^V^

cni tik,

jau ,cham

,'m ch^ut,

orPg-g^

c'm ^chamtak, ch'ut, ,ni tik, .yau,'

Cannot

the particles 6*A'?

Sx

>ii

t'ii"

There 17.

y^^> tui' ^nu ,van

is

a party of ladies in the garden.

stands for herd, flock &c.

^^

jKw'an

Yat, ikw'an jeung'ye ap,

„

,

'shui jngau

„

^3

18. Tat,

Ko' 'pa

A 19.

—'^^^. A — S.lf^l — '^^TjC'^ A

flock of sheep.

wild ducks.

„

'

herd of buffaloes.

applied to irregular pieces or spots.

is

^shang yat,

kini'

^fJlHW —'I^^lfe A

FiV ^fj

is

Yat, fu'

hi' kii'

sau'

tfit,

spot of rust has

^tB:©J^~^S^

come on

used as a

that sword.

cla«t ^/'j^ -tt^

(

)

oXsbacL

in

_a*

j-r

I^-B^fi Aa(-5)K?!^

Wfm^^M:

^'

'Ts^z ,van fu^ ,chi Jol.

.Nl ko' ,yan fu^ .k^

lM

,\no to

,lof.

.Sz shh^ pat, kit, ^kwo.

( P. PJ&('^KtSr^PS/^a Hr J^i =t'i^ C.

and

Colloipiial in the lower.

carry on the back.

shii= ,t6

,'m kit, 'kwo.

(18)

C'hAMMAR of tub CniNEPE LANC.rAGK. Ihe Tlie

woman Inst

w'il'en

B,

f

"'^s'tm ^

younV

(

Ti,ts^ni,ts^ing,cL^unsoii^'"no-ar.

"flrSXt^^^

Ko'^nu,vaTisl.eunoMiau\shan-

The man liar-TB. (P.

ous intentions.

The

B.

rest.

tlie

rest is not

C

shat, 4iu

i*: ^^ff^ifliV^^^ Jv'i

1010

A®®

jan

^U^ 'I^o k"

^^^i _^^f^^

worth bein--^ B. looked at,

The Koi

Article.

fS:§1^^5§{r?l

:kli&U^&

'^'

Lost

The Iiuhfnite

Definite Article.

Shat,

M

cwai

Mo

ke'

>.Ill,^

)i

(Sneak

^ts'z

Sc

write

-^^h|

and

(I'^ung" 'ino

/I's'z chniig-.)

(I'^'inS' '"'^ ^*^-

ajla.} 'J^Iau 'p'an (Sj)eak -p'an

^tX^Ij

^mau.) (G)

The. male and female or masculine and feminine character of

T).

animate niiture

is

expressed bv

l^i!^ cKong and

in-

.yau (strong- and soft.)

Examples. It .

It

a

is is

a

^\

man i^ woman "jj^j^C/^

A

coek

A

bull

(Kung-

Ua? cnam '"^

;>

,yan.

»

KiiV Jvai,kung;ahpn|^^,kai

^X-p

^Mau

A

,ngau.

cow 'if-L^

W\

'p'an ^ngau.

^

and 'nu j^W; are the general terms used in colloquial for exl^ressing the gender of every species of animate nature except

man.

^)i^^]%^lS.iM&

Is this a cock or a hen-bird?

Where

is

hai-

(kung wakj

the

sow?

hai*

iWMWM''mf^ 2.

cChil

jmim

cyan

,t'o

distinctness l"i^

^^''i|^ f 1

^1^0^ J\. may fM,

]\oTE

is

sts'5

6.

1x£ niay mean.

express

that bad

:

required, the characters

^,

cts'i'ii

—iYam ^yeung

]ll^,

^nii tsoi= .p^^^ ^^'ii' c^i-

jch'au

My

as well as the plural. pupil, or

-ii^^d

my

^JNgo

pupils- ko' ok^

man or those bad men. Where Hang -^^ jmun if\ piii' J^,

j^ are put after the substantive

are also applied to concave

Iw5 jyeung

(")

Number.

Every noun may express the singular ke'

r^i chek, tseuk,

'n:'i.

convex Hies;

j

kok,

and convex objects

pJ^K jam

'^nga concave do. 5 the former covering the latter as heaven does earth. (^•ff-

G.

Note

— These characters are — As these words

7.

also applied to plants.

are seldom

used in general conversation, foreigners find themselves often in a dilemna, when having to refer to the gender of animals, whilst the Chinaman will al-

ways help himself by speaking of doir."

a

*'

boy dog" and a "girl

(CO)

GllAMMAR OF TUB CniNESK LANGUAGE. the JSoun.

Words foUon'Vuj

^,

If, cbnng' M, sf=^i^ Hs, sliu> )^, yn '^, ^ts'im ;^, man-

.cliii

'f'^,.li;'im 01-

Plni-al

{H;,^to

Nnmher.

^

fj^, ,kai

Jl\, ^tsung-

and

,kai

either precede

fj,

follow the noun.

^^

'Tano-

^

^Ng-o 'tang-

^^eung

,Nung

common

the most

is

-N"-o 'tan"-

"ui 'tang-,

T^j

character used to denote the plural.

1/]^^

are )ised both in books and colloquial.

%^^WJ

,ti

A

^\f

tik, p5'

'Ni 'yau pak,

hwh

'Yau

ping-^ tik,

,kan

oi'

,tij

'^siii

httle longer.

Hak,

^ti

,yan

^^ El Hv ,ni

iiV

man who

e.

Note

9.

tai^ ,ti.

I like one larger.

A little

^^^xf

'ill

Purchase that white

|$^ Q ^^^B^

kin' ^ni

Have you any

^^^^ AS^Mi^:^

wishes to see you. In another sentence the quality of the adjective vious,

(kau

like

darker.

A little better.

'Mai ko' pak,

^ti

oi'

I hke one smaller,

I do LOt like that;

jCh'eung

Do you

'f^t}7,'gB^pa^i^Bl&

is

calico.

whiter

There

is

?

a sick

much more

ob-

(J.

—'Ho

jjj*

is

>§i(f He

used as an Adverb

;

conducts himself well.

-K'ii

^hang ,wai 'ho

416 'kau

^^%

iBfT

Very

long.

(•35)

GuAMMAIi or TUB Adjfctices.

C. D.

omitled

is

[{>J

^ ^ yv

kwai^ tvan

ix.'JK.il^ifj^

and honorable

rich

In the Canton Colloquial ke^ the Adjective,

-Yau

,'M 'ho ke>

A WtWi^^f^ ^

jan

shiit,

WiV

41 o

A

'Wo jif Good.

Beautiful.

or

M5?

Kang'lio

hateful person.

fi^

Most

by

are expressed

characters

Superlative.

ChP

Better,

M^

Kang' -mi

The comparative is ^T.'z jan pP 'pi ,ya.i

llo han^

Pf ;S'''f^ Amiable,

ke^

oi^

Comparafice.

2.

^

]ierson.

wonKhy man.

Tlje

^

i'lV

crafty fellow.

comparative and superlative corn'.s[)ont!in^- to our more and most. J'osiiive. Comparative.

-Mi

house.

5=^1 hmo-unge.

Pg-^i'^kiifS'

ke^jyan "PffS^'iltA

2.

larg-e

together, as:

more frequently used to express

^$M^^\

jan

ke'

RI ;•§ detestable.

'IIo iV

P(]^ is

very

])ut

e.