PART II. ON THE PARTS OF SPEECH. (continued 3)

Section 10. Conjunctions.

305. The primitive conjunctions may be thus classed:—

a. Connectives, 咾 lau, 也 ’á, and; 且, ’t’siá, 而 rh. and, further.

b. Adversatives 但 dan‘. Forms like 但是 dan‘ ’zz 獨是 tóh ’zz, but, etc. are compounded of adverbs, verbs, etc.

c. Illative 故 kú‘, 蓋 ké‘ (keh), therefore.

d. Causal. 因 yung, 為 wé‘, because.

e. Conditional. 末 meh, 若 záh, 倘 ’t’ong.

f. Antithetical, 雖 sûe, 然 zén, 或 wóh, 越 yöh, 也 ’á, 又 i‘.

Obs. The compounds formed by these words, and words and phrases used as conjunctions derived from other parts of speech, will most of them be found in the following articles.

Connectives. 306. The particle that connects words like the English and, is 咾 lau.

進咾出 tsing‘ lau t’seh, going in and out.

中牲咾窵咾魚 tsóng sáng lau ’tiau lau ng, beasts, bird, and fishes.

Obs. The preposition tah, t’eh, with, often serve the same purpose, e.g. 儂忒我 nóng‘ t’eh ’ngú, you and I; 日頭搭之月 nyih deu tah tsz niöh, the sun and moon.

307. Clauses are connected by 也 ’á and 還 wan. They are also frequently used merely as introductory particles.

南京去過之末, 我也要上北京去 Nén kiung k’í‘ kú‘ tsz meh, ’ngú ’á yau‘ ’zong Poh kiung k’í‘, after going to Nanking, I also wish to go to Peking.

明朝我也要歸去 ming tsau ’ngú ’á yau‘ kü k’í‘, to-morrow, I wish to go home. (introductory).

也要買否 ’á yau‘ ’má ’vá, do you wish to buy?

Obs. i. If the ’á or wan is emphasized it means also. If pronounced without emphasis, it is simply introductory.

Obs. ii. The adverbs dzieu‘, niön, are used as introductory particles to affirmative prepositions: 就是我 dzieu‘ ’zz ’ngú, 原是我 niön ’zz ’ngú, it is I.

308. Another circumstance to be considered, in addition to what has preceded, is introduced 而且 rh ’t’siá, and further 尙且 zong‘ ’t’siá, and what is still more.

今朝路勿好跑個而且我脚跑勿動 kiun tsau lú‘ veh ’hau pau‘ kú‘, rh ’t’siá ’ngú kiáh pau‘ veh ’dóng, it is bad walking to-day, and besides I am lame.

有個朋友話昨日來, 尙且勿曾來 ’yeu kú‘ báng ’yeu wó‘ zóh nyih lé, zong‘ ’t’siá veh zung lé, a friend told me he would come yesterday, and still he has not yet come. (adverbial).

前頭借過歇銅錢, 而且勿曾還哩, 難又要借否 zien deu tsiá‘ kú‘ h’ih dóng díen, rh ’t’siá veh zung wan ’lí, nan í‘ yau‘ tsiá‘ ’vá, you borrowed money before, and further you have not returned it, and do you wish to borrow again? (adverbial).

水深而且渾 ’sz sun rh ’t’siá wun, the water is deep and also muddy.

309. A new subject of remark is introduced by 再者 tsé‘ ’tsé, again, to proceed; 還有 wan ’yeu, there is another thing; 那裏曉得 ’á ’lí ’h’iau tuh, meantime; who could have thought it? strange to say!

托儂買蒔菇, 再者呌船一隻 t’oh nóng‘ ’má zz kú, tsé‘ ’tsé kiau‘ zén ih tsáh, I commission you to buy fruit, and also to call a boat.

還有一樣事體 wan ’yeu ih yáng‘ zz‘ ’t’i, there is another thing I have to say.

Adversatives. 310. But is represented by 但 tan‘ 但是 tan‘ ’zz, 獨是 tóh (g) ’zz; however is 到底 tau‘ ’tí, or 究竟 kieu‘ kiung‘.

說話好聽, 但是道理嘸啥好 seh wó ’hau t’ing, tan‘ ’zz ’tau ’lí m sá‘ ’hau, his words are plausible but his doctrine bad.

現在還勿起到底要還儂個 híen‘ zé wan veh ’k’í tau‘ ’tí yau‘ wan nóng‘ kú‘, I cannot pay you now, but I intend to do so in the end. (adverbial).

Obs. Of these words, tau‘ ’tí is the most common. It sometimes preserves its etymological meaning in the end, as in the example given.

311. Lest is expressed 常怕 dzáng p’ó‘. The compounded phrase 只怕 tseh p’ó‘, I am only afraid that, has come to mean I suppose that.

要打伊隻夠常怕要咬 yau‘ ’táng í tsáh ’keu dzáng p’ó‘ yau‘ ’ngau, beat that dog lest he should bite.

伊個話頭只怕虛個 í kú‘ ’wó‘ deu tseh p’ó‘ h’ü kú‘, that account is I suppose false. (or 恐怕 ’k’úng p’ó‘).

Obs. 恐怕, ’k’úng p’ó‘ is I fear that; 只怕 tseh p’ó‘ has sometimes a similar meaning. 燈旺來些只怕燙壞之手 tung yong‘ lé ’sí tseh p’ó‘ t’ong‘ wá‘ tsz ’seu, the lamp is very hot (bright) I fear it will burn your hand.

312. The conjunctional phrases and yet, on the other hand, are expressed by 倒 ’tau and 偏 píen, perversely.

第個事體呌儂做, 儂倒撥拉別人做 tí kú‘ zz ’t’í kau‘ nóng‘ tsú‘, nóng‘ ’tau peh ’la bih niun tsú‘, I called you to do this, and yet you have given it to some one else to do.

打伊倒勿痛 ’táng i ’tau veh t’óng‘, he is beaten and yet feels no pain.

勸儂好偏勿肯好 k’iön‘ nóng‘ ’hau p’íen veh ’k’ung ’hau, when exhorted to be good, you on the other hand will not.

313. Such conjunctional phrases as it would be better to, are represented by 勿如 veh zû, not so good as, or 𡨴可 niung ’k’ó, I would rather, 勿比 veh ’pí, it cannot be compared with.

勿如轉去更好 veh zû ’tsén k’í‘ kung‘ ’hau, it would be better to go back.

讀勿熟勿比再讀 tóh veh zóh veh ’pí tsé‘ dóh, not having learned it perfectly, it would be better to study it again.

惡事𡨴可死勿做 oh zz‘ niung ’k’ó ’sí veh tsú‘, I would rather die than do what is wrong.

Illative or Transitional Conjunctions. 314. Therefore is represented by 所以 ’sú ’í, 故此 kú‘ ’t’sz, 故所以 kú‘ ’sú ’í, 𡀽咾 keh lau.

心裏勿忘記儂故此又來 sing ’lí veh mong‘ kí‘ nóng‘, kú‘ ’t’sz í‘ lé, I have not forgotten you, and therefore have come again.

315. Then is expressed by 𡀽末 ké‘ (keh) meh, when it denotes a logical consequence, and by 難末 nan meh, when the transition is one of time.

撥勒儂勿要, 𡀽末要啥 peh ’lá nóng‘ veh yau‘, ké‘ meh yau‘ sá‘, I give it and you do not want it, then what do you want?

懂之道理難末好者 ’tóng tsz ’dau ’lí nan meh ’hau ’tsé, the doctrine being understood, then all is well.

Obs. Nan meh, has also been placed among the adverbs as a particle of time. Its book equivalent 於是 ü ’zz, consequently.

Causal Conjunctions. 316. 因爲 yung wé‘, 爲 wé‘ and 爲之 wé‘ tsz correspond to our word because.

Conditional particles. 317. 末 meh, if, is placed at the end of the clause.

賤末要買, 貴末勿要買 kiáng (zíen‘) meh yau‘ ’má, kü‘ meh veh yau‘ ’má, if it is cheap buy it, but not if it is dear.

318. 若使 zák sz‘, 若是 zog ’sz, 若然 zog zén, 倘或 ’t’ong wóh, 倘使 ’t’ong sz‘, 倘然 ’t’ong zén, are used in the sense of if: 旣然 kí‘ zén is if it was already so.

若使勿看見末, 就歸來 zák sz‘ veh k’ön‘ kíen‘ meh, dzieu‘ kü lé, if you do not see him, return at once.

Obs. The verbs 使, 是, and adverb 然 lose their primary sense, and form in colloquial usage merely a terminating syllable to the conjunction with which they combine.

319. Even if is expressed by 就是 dzieu‘ ’zz, 也怕 ’á p’ó‘ 那裏怕 ’á ’lí p’ó‘.

就是其哭, 也勿要憑其 dzieu‘ ’zz gí k’óh, ’á veh yau‘ bing gí, even if he cries, do not yield to him.

也怕嘸末銅錢, 總勿要去偷人家 ’á p’ó‘ m meh dóng díen, ’tsóng veh yau‘ k’í‘ t’eu niun ká, even if you have no money, you must not steal from others.

320. If, with the negative is represented 勿然 veh zén, or 再勿然 tsé‘ veh zén, should it not be so.

快點撥勒我, 勿然我要去者 k’wá ’tíen peh ’lá ’ngú, veh zén ’ngú yau‘ k’í‘ ’tsé, If you do not give it me quickly, I shall go.

再勿然我自家去 tsé‘ veh zen ’ngú zz‘ ká k’í‘, if is so, I shall go myself.

Obs. This amounts to an entire omission of the if, for 然 zén is an adverb so. In fact, the if is often not used in affirmative sentences as well as negative.

321. The conjunctional phrases suppose that, for instance, for example, are expressed by 比方 ’pí fong, 譬如 p’í zû, 猶如 yeu zû, etc.

比方死之末那能 ’pí fong ’sí tsz meh ná‘ nung, if you should die, what then?

猶之乎 yeu tsz hú, just as if.

猶如 yeu zû, ib.

Obs. The adverbs of likeness (see Art. 299) are also similarly employed. 好像日頭忒旺, 眼睛勿好對之伊咾看 ’hau ziáng‘ nyih deu t’uh yong‘, ’ngan tsing veh ’hau té‘ tsz í lau k’ön, just as the sun is too bright for our eyes to gaze on him.

Antithetical Conjunctions. 322. Clauses with the particles although, yet, are formed by 雖然 sûe zén and 然而 zén rh, etc.

雖然巧個, 然而勿牢實個 sûe zén ’k’iau kú‘, zén rh veh lau zeh kú‘, although clever, he is not trustworthy.

好是好個, 到底本事平常 ’hau ’zz ’hau kú‘ tau‘ ’tí ’pun zz‘ bing dzáng, he is well disposed, but his abilities are not great.

雖然路遠, 究竟走得到 sûe zén lú‘ ’yön, kieu‘ kiung‘ ’tseu tuh tau‘, although it is a long way, yet I can walk it.

Obs. Although is very frequently omitted, as in the second example.

323. Either,—or are expressed by 或者 wóh ’tsé, 或者 wóh ’tsé, or by 勿是, 就是 veh ’zz — dzieu‘ ’zz.

勿是打贏, 就是打敗 veh ’zz ’táng yung, dzieu‘ ’zz ’táng bá‘, you must either conquer, or be vanquished.

或在東, 或在西 wóh ’dzé tóng, wóh ’dzé sí, it is either east or west.

勿是儂, 就是儂個兄弟 veh ’zz nóng‘, dzieu‘ ’zz nóng‘ kú‘ h’iung dí‘, it is either you or your brother.

或是姓張, 或是姓李 wóh ’zz sing‘ tsáng, wóh ’zz sing‘ lí, it must be some one named Cháng or Lí.

324. Neither,—nor are represented both by 也—也 ’á—’á, and by 又—又 í‘—í‘, with a negative.

也勿會飛, 也勿會走 ’á veh wé‘ fí, ’á veh wé‘ ’tseu. he can neither fly nor walk.

口也勿開, 手也勿動 ’k’eu ’á veh k’é, ’seu ’á veh ’dóng, he neither opens his mouth, nor moves his hands.

又勿賤, 又勿貴 í‘ veh giáng, í‘ veh kü‘, it is neither cheap nor dear.

325. When the first clause is interrogative, and the second commences with or, the equivalent form is ní, the interrogative particle at the end of the first clause, and 還是 wan ’zz beginning the second. Sometimes 也 ’á alone is used.

明朝要去呢, 還是要待兩日 ming tsau yau‘ k’í‘ ní, wan ’zz yau‘ dé‘ ’liáng nyih, will you go to-morrow, or wait for a few days? (See also Art. 251).

326. Because,—therefore are expressed by 因爲 yung wé‘, or 爲之 wé‘ tsz, in the first clause, and any of the illative particles in the second.

因爲勿曾熟哩, 所以還要燒 yung wé‘ veh zung zóh ’lí, ’sú ’í wan yau‘ sau, since it is not yet well done, you must boil it longer.

爲之儂勿快活咾, 故此我勿來 wé‘ tsz nóng‘ veh k’á‘ weh lau, kú‘ ’t’sz ’ngú veh lé, because you were displeased, I did not come again.

327. Why—? because—are expressed by any of the adverb forms for why? and the casual conjunctions in the answering clause.

爲啥要眠檣因爲要過橋拉 wé‘ sá‘ yau‘ míen dziáng? yung wé‘ yau‘ kú‘ giau ’lá, why do you take down the mast? because there is a bridge to pass.

328. On the one hand, on the other hand, are expressed by ih míen‘ or ih deu repeated.

一面近河咾要沉殺, 一面兵過來咾要嚇昏 ih míen‘ ’giun hú lau yau zung sah, ih míen‘ ping kú‘ lé lau yau‘ háh hwun, on the one side it is near the river, and they will be drowned, on the other side soldiers are coming who fill them with fear.

一半哭一半笑 ih pén‘ k’oh, ih pén‘ siau‘, partly crying and partly laughing.

一頭走一頭想 ih deu ’tseu, ih deu ’siáng, while he walks he thinks.

329. Not only—but even,— are expressed by 勿獨之 veh dók tsz, 惟獨 ví tók, not only, or 勿但不過 veh dan‘ peh kú‘ in the first clause, 就是 dzieu‘ ’zz, or 連 líen or 連搭 líen tah, in the second.

勿獨之朋友什蓋, 就是陌生人也什蓋 veh dók tsz páng ’yeu seh ké‘, dzieu‘ ’zz mák sáng niun ’á zeh ké‘, it is not only friends that are so, but even strangers too.

勿獨自家, 連搭子孫 veh dók zz‘ ká, líen tah ’tsz sun, not only himself, but even his children also.

非獨逆風, 連水也逆個 fí dók niuk fóng, líen ’sz ’á niuk kú‘, not only is the wind contrary, but the tide is also against us.

330. The—the— are expressed by 越 yöh repeated, 越早越好 yöh ’tsau yöh ’hau, the earlier the better.

Obs. Similar phrases are formed with 越發 yöh fah, the more, in each clause, also with 越加 yöh ká.

331. When the supplementary clause is, how much more, 何况于 hú hwong‘ ü, 况乎 hwong‘ ú, 而况 rh hwong‘ or 况且 hwong‘ ’t’siá, are employed.

天好勿看見, 而况雨落 t’íen ’hau veh k’ön‘ kíen’, hú hwong’ ’ü loh, when the weather is fine you cannot see it, how much more when it rains.

小個做勿來, 况且大個 ’siau kú‘ tsú‘ veh lé, hwong‘ ’t’siá dú‘ kú‘, if you cannot do a little thing, how much more impossible for you to do a greater.

自家尙且勿會做, 何况于別人 zz ká zang‘ ’t’siá veh wé tsú‘, hú hwong‘ ü bih niun, since you cannot do it yourself, much more cannot others do it.

Section 11. Expletives and Interjections.

332. There are some words which though they have important grammatical uses cannot be conveniently set down among the preceding parts of speech and they are therefore placed here. Such are 個, 之, 者, 哩, kú‘, tsz, ’tsé, ’lí.

a. 個 kú‘, besides its use as a numeral particle (Art. 156), as the sign of the possessive (130) and in relative pronoun sentences, also takes its place as a final after a verb, or adjective in any indicative proposition.

好個 好拉個 ’hau kú‘, ’hau ’lá kú‘, it is good, well.

勿能做個 veh nung tsú‘ kú‘, or veh nung kú‘ tsú‘, I cannot do it.

b. 之 tsz is the sign of the past or past participle, but as will be seen in the first three examples, it is often indicative.

前年做之宰相者 zíen níen tsú‘ tsz tsé‘ siáng‘ ’tsé, the year before last, he was prime minister.

本地白也會話之 ’pun dí‘ pah ’á wé‘ wó‘ tsz, he can speak in the dialect of this place.

明朝要寫好之末者 ming tsau yau‘ ’siá ’hau tsz meh ’tsé, finish writing it to-morrow.

做之十年官咾告老者 tsú‘ tsz zeh níen kwén lau kau‘ ’lau ’tsé, after having been in office for ten years, he retired on the plea of old age.

c. 者 ’tsé is the sign of an action completed, or in course of being done, whether expressed by a verb or adjective; also of the imperative.

做拉者, 好者 tsú‘ ’lá ’tsé, ’hau ’tsé, it is done, it is right.

去拉個者 k’í‘ ’lá kú‘ ’tsé, he is gone.

吾拉做者 ngú ’lá tsú‘ ’tsé, I am doing it.

d. 哩 ’lí and 拉 ’lá, are used like ’tsé and kú‘, as finals to any indicative proposition. 拉 ’lá is also a preposition (Art. 256).

好哩, 勿好拉哩, 好個哩 ’hau ’lí, veh ’hau ’lá ’lí, ’hau kú‘ ’lí, good, it is not well, it is well.

e. 咾 lau, the particle that connects a string of substantives, occurs at the end of sentences that require something to complete their sense.

已經話拉者咾, 有啥再話 ’í kiung wó‘ ’lá ’tsé lau, ’yeu sá‘ tsé‘ wó‘, I have said it, and why should I say it again.

Obs. 𫡄 ná is a final expletive used with 者 ’tsé.

讀者𫡄 tók ’tsé ná, I am reading.

333. The final interrogatives are 呢, 否, 蠻, 麽, ní, ’vá, man‘, mó. Characters are borrowed for ’vá and man‘.

a. 呢 ní is used either at the end of the first clause in an interrogative antithesis, or at the end of a single clause. It is sometimes pronounced ’nian.

做呢勿做 tsú‘ ní veh tsú‘, will you do it or not?

好勿好呢 ’hau veh ’hau ní, is it right or not?

勿懂呢啥 veh ’tóng ní sa‘, do you not understand?

物事忒貴個呢 meh zz‘ tuh kü‘ kú‘ ní, are the things too dear?

b. 否 ’vá and 蠻 man‘ are appropriated to direct interrogations, where not antithetical. They are colloquialisms.

飯用蠻 van‘ yúng‘ man‘, have you dined?

還要再來否 wan yau‘ tsé‘ lé‘ vá, shall you come again?

曉得否 ’h’iau tuh ’vá, do you understand?

c. 麽 mó (mau), besides expressing direct and indirect interrogation, also implies a strong affirmative. (Art. 278).

第個稀奇個物事有磨 tí‘ kú‘ h’í gí kú‘ meh zz‘ ’yeu mó, is there this remarkable thing?

倒勿是十分壞良心麽 ’tau veh ’zz seh vun wá‘ liáng sing mó? is it not most wilfully unconscionable!

是否, 是麽 ’zz ’vá, ’zz mó, is it so? indeed it is?

第個價錢大麽 tí‘ kú‘ ká‘ díen dú‘ mó, the price of this is great indeed (亦通嗎).

334. The initial interrogatives 豈 ’k’í, how? 幾 ’kí, how many? with 那 ’ná, forming ’á ’lí, 那裏 where? which? and 那能 ’ná nung, how? have already been illustrated among the pronouns and adverbs.

335. The interjections properly so called are such as—

噯 é, ah! 噯動勿得個 é ’tóng veh tuh kú‘, ah! you must not do such a thing.

呔 t’é, ho! 呸 ’p’é, it is bad.

阿唷 ah yóh, alas! oh!

㕭 au‘, indicates assent, yes, or I understand. In the first tone, it calls attention or conveys a warning, 當心㕭 tong sing au, be careful and mind what I say.

呀 á, 喲 yá, as in 是呀 ’zz á, 是喲 ’zz yáh, it is so.

哇 vá, is it not so? 哈 hé, ah!