HOUSE BOY (西崽) and COOLIE (出點).
Reading edition
Light the lamp. 要點燈 Iau tien tung.
Call the cook. 呌大司務來 Kyau da-s-voo le.
Call the coolie. 呌出店來 (or 苦力) Kyau tsheh-tien le (or Khoo-lih).
Call a ricksha. 呌一部東洋車來 Kyau ih-boo toong-yang-tsho le.
Set the table. 要擺檯子 (or 要預備檯子) Iau ba de-ts (or Iau yui-be de-ts).
There are guests coming to-day for tiffin. 今朝有客人來吃中飯 Kyung-tsau yeu khak-nyung le chuh tsoong van.
To-day four guests come to dinner (evening meal). 今朝有四个客人來吃夜飯 Kyung-tsau yeu s-kuh khak-nyung le chuh ya-van.
Call an extra boy to help [you.] 要另外呌一个西崽來相帮 Iau ling-nga kyau ih-kuh si-tse le siang-paung.
Clean this room. 第間房子要收作乾淨 Di-kan vaung-ts iau seu-tsauh koen-zing.
Wash this floor. 第个地板要淨 Di-kuh di-pan iau zing.
Sweep this floor. 第个地板要掃 Di-kuh di-pan iau sau.
The door, windows, and base-board of this room I want you to wash. 第間房子裡个門窗咾跌脚板全要淨 Di-kan vaung-ts li-kuh mung, tshaung, lau tih-kyak-pan zen iau zing.
This is not clean; do it again. 第頭勿曾乾淨, 要再做 Di-deu ’veh-zung koen-zing, iau tse tsoo.
Use soap and brush it. 要用肥皂來刷 Iau yoong bi-zau le seh.
Don’t use a brush here. 第頭勿要用板刷 Di-deu ’veh iau yoong pan-seh.
You must scour the table. 檯子要擦 De-ts iau tshah.
Wipe the table. 檯子要揩 De-ts iau kha.
Bring a feather brush. 担雞毛撢帚來 Tan kyi-mau-toen-tseu le.
Dust the pictures. 晝圖要撢乾淨 Wo-doo iau toen koen-zing.
Use a cloth to dust the room. 第間房子要用布揩乾淨 Di-kan vaung-ts iau yoong poo kha koen-zing.
This cloth is dirty; you must wash it. 第个揩布齷齪, 要淨 Di-kuh kha-poo auh-tshauh, iau zing.
Dust (or clean) all things in this room. 第間房子裡个物事, 全要揩乾淨 Di-kan vaung-ts-li kuh meh-z, zen iau kha koen-zing.
Clean the windows. 玻璃窗要揩乾淨 Poo-li-tshaung iau kha koen-zing.
These curtains are dirty, change to clean ones. 第个窗帘齷齪, 要換乾淨个 Di-kuh tshaung-lien auh-tshauh, iau wen koen-zing-kuh.
Brush this table cover. 第个檯布要刷 Di-kuh de-poo iau seh.
Put these books in order. 第个書要擺好 Di-kuh su iau pa-hau.
Put these things in their proper place. 各樣物事, 要擺拉應該个地方 Kauh-yang meh-z iau pa la iung-ke-kuh di-faung.
Please come and help me. 請儂來相帮我 Tshing noong le siang-paung ngoo.
This box (trunk) I want taken over there. 第隻箱子要搬到伊頭去 Di-tsah siang-ts iau-pen tau i-deu chi.
Where are you? 儂拉那裡 Noong la ‘a-li?
If you want to go out, first tell me. 儂要出去, 先告訴我 Noong iau tsheh-chi, sien kau-soo ngoo.
Why are you so idle? 爲啥實蓋懶惰 We-sa zeh-ke lan-doo?
At the end of the month you can go. 做到月底儂可以停 (or 可以去) Tsoo tau nyoeh-ti, noong khau-i ding (or khau-i chi).
If you go home, you must get me a substitute. 若是儂歸去, 要呌替工 Zak-z noong kyiu-chi, iau kyau thi-koong.
[We] want to use another boy. 再要用一个西崽 Tse iau yoong ih-kuh si-tse.
Can you get me a coolie? 儂可以尋 (or 呌) 一个苦力否 Noong khau-i zing (or kyau) ih-kuh khoo-lih va?
If you want to go (stop work) you must wait till the end of the month. 若是儂要停, 要做到月底 Zak-z noong iau ding, iau tsoo tau nyoeh-ti.
[If] you want to go (or stop work), you must wait till I find new man. 儂要停, 等我尋著新个人 Noong iau ding, tung ngoo zing-dzak sing-kuh nyung.
If you go now it is not convenient to pay your wages. 現在停, 勿便付儂工錢 Yien-dze ding, ’veh bien foo noong koong-dien.
[I] will pay at the end of the month. 到月底咾付儂 Tau nyoeh-ti lau foo noong.
[If you] go now I will cut your wages. 現在停, 我要齾儂工錢 Yien-dze ding, ngoo iau ngah noong koong-dien.
This cook is not a very good one. 第个大司務勿大好 Di-kuh da-s-voo ’veh da hau.
This coolie is also very lazy. 第个苦力也是懶惰 Di-kuh khoo-lih ‘a-z lan-doo.
I want to put up the stove for this room at once. 第間个火爐就裝起來 Di-kan kuh hoo-loo zieu tsaung-chi-le.
You must first brush it. 先要刷乾淨 Sien iau seh-koen-zing.
Brush these shoes. 第雙鞋子要刷 Di-saung ‘a-ts iau seh.
Brush these clothes and hang in the sun. 衣裳刷之咾晒拉日頭裡 I-zaung seh-ts lau so la nyih-deu li.
Be careful the wind does not blow them away. 當心勿要撥風吹脫 Taung-sing ’veh iau peh foong ths-theh.
Take this out and shake it [clean]. 担出去抖抖乾淨 Tan tsheh-chi teu-teu koen-zing.
Open this bundle. 第个包要解開 Di-kuh pau iau ka-khe.
Wrap it up. 要包起來 Iau pau-chi-le.
Use a rope to tie this. 用繩梱起來 Yoong zung khwung-chi-le.
Buy some strong rope. 要買牢个繩 Iau ma lau-kuh zung.
Buy a basket (with string net on top). 賈一隻網籃 Ma ih-tsak maung-lan.
Put all the food into this basket. 吃个物事全擺拉第隻籃裡 Chuh-kuh meh-z zen pa-la di-tsak lan-li.
Buy me a foot-stove and some charcoal (balls). 買一隻脚爐咾幾个炭團 Ma ih-tsak kyak-loo lau kyi-kuh than-doen.
Roll up my bedding. 舖蓋打起來 Phoo-ke tang-chi-le.
Take this letter to........... 第封信送到........... Di-foong sing soong tau.........
An answer is wanted. 要回信个 Iau we-sing kuh.
Go to the Chinese Imperial Post Office. 到郵政局去 Tau Yeu-tsung-jok chi.
Go to the Post Office for the mail. 到書信舘去担信來 Tau su-sing-kwen chi tan sing le.
Take this parcel to the Post Office. 第个包送到書信舘去 Di-kuh pau, soong tau su-sing-kwen chi.
Call a wheelbarrow and take these things to the steamer. 呌小車送第个物事到船上去 Kyau siau-tsho soong di-kuh meh-z tau zen laung chi.
Put camphor with the clothes. 衣裳裡要放樟腦 I-zaung-li iau faung tsaung-nau.
The answer says there are two books; why is there only one here? 回信話有兩本書, 現在只有一本, 啥緣故 We-sing wo yeu liang-pung su; yien-dze tsuh-yeu ih-pung, sa yoen-koo?
The chit book says there is an answer; where is it? 送信簿上寫明有回信, 拉那裡 Soong-sing-boo laung sia-ming yeu we-sing, la ‘a-li?
This letter is not mine; have you any other? 第封信勿是我个, 還有別个否 Di-fong sing ’veh-z ngoo-kuh; wan yeu bih-kuh va?
This is for the next house. 第个物事是隔壁人家个. Di-kuh meh-z z kah-pih nyung-ka-kuh.
Call a man to put a new cover on this chair. 第隻椅子呌人來換新个裿布 Di-tsak iui-ts, kyau nyung le wen sing-kuh iui poo.
Get a new glass for this broken window. 窗上个碎玻璃要配新个 Tshaung-laung-kuh se poo-li iau phe sing-kuh.
Take this pass-book to the store and bring the things. 担第本簿子到店裏去, 拿物事來 Tan di-pung boo-ts tau tien-li chi, nau meh-z le.
Go and buy some bread tickets. 去買饅頭票子來 Chi ma men-deu phiau-ts le.
Take these tickets and exchange for bread. 担第个票子去換饅頭 Tan di-kuh phiau-ts chi wen men-deu.
Go and buy biscuits. 去買點餅乾來 Chi ma tien ping-koen le.
I want a ricksha to go to the French Concession. 要一部東洋車到法租界去 Iau ih-boo toong-yang-tsho tau Fah-tsoo-ka chi.
I want a carriage for half a day. 我要一部馬車用半日 Ngoo iau ih-boo mo-tsho yoong pen-nyih.
I want it again to-morrow. 明朝我再要 Ming-tsau ngoo tse iau.
He asks too much money. 伊討个價錢忒大 Yi thau-kuh ka-dien thuh doo.
Three Dollars are enough. 三塊洋錢彀者 San-khwe yang-dien keu-tse.
This carriage is not good; get another. 第部馬車勿好, 要換好个 Di-boo mo-tsho ’veh-hau; iau wen hau-kuh.
I am not very well to-day (or am ill). 今朝我勿大爽快 (or 有毛病) Kyung-tsau ngoo ’veh da saung-khwa (or yeu mau-bing).
What is the matter? 啥个毛病 Sa-kuh mau-bing?
I don’t know what it is. 我勿曉得是啥毛病 Ngoo ’veh hyau-tuh z sa mau-bing.
I’ve got fever and ague. 我有瘧子 (or 瘧疾) Ngoo yeu ngauh-ts (or nyak-dzih).
I’ve got fever. 我有寒熱 Ngoo yeu ‘oen-nyih.
I’ll give you a dose of medicine. 我撥儂點藥 Ngoo peh noong tien yak.
You had better see the doctor. 儂要請醫生生看 Noong iau tshing i-sang khoen.
I must go to the hospital. 我要住拉醫院裡 Ngoo iau dzu-la i-yoen-li.
I want to go home. 我要歸去 or 到屋裡去 Ngoo iau kyui-chi (or tau ok-li chi).
You can return home for a short time. 儂暫時可以歸去 Noong dzan-z khau-i kyui-chi.
You are still not fit for work. 儂現在還勿能做生活 Noong yien-dze wan ’veh nung tsoo sang-weh.
Come again when you are stronger. 儂好點咾再來 Noong hau-tien lau tse le.
Cook is sick and can’t get up. 大司務拉生病, 勿能起來 Da-s-voo la sang-bing, ’veh-nung chi-le.
Why do you work so very slowly? 儂做生活爲啥慢來死 Noong tsoo sang-weh we-sa man-le-si?
Because I am tired. 爲之我弛陀 We-ts ngoo sa-doo.
Perhaps you go out too much at night. 恐怕儂夜頭出去忒多 Khoong-pho noong ya-deu tsheh-chi thuh too.
I think you smoke opium (or drink wine.) 我想儂吃雅片煙 (or 吃酒) Ngoo siang noong chuh ia-phien-ien (or chuh tsieu).
Your clothes and hat are untidy. 儂个衣帽勿整齊 Noong-kuh i-mau ’veh tsung-zi.
Don’t have your shoes down at the heel. 儂勿要拖鞋皮 Noong ’veh iau thoo ‘a-bi.
Have you not combed your hair to-day? 儂今朝勿曾梳頭否 Noong kyung-tsau ’veh-zung s-deu va?
This is not proper (respectful.) 第个是無規矩个 Di-kuh z m kwe-kyui-kuh.
Call amah to come. 呌阿媽來 Kyau A-ma le.