THE LADIES’ TAILOR.
Reading edition
Call a tailor. 呌一个裁縫來 Kyau ih-kuh ze-voong le.
I want you to make a dress. 我要儂做一套衣裳* Ngoo iau noong tsoo ih-thau i-zaung.* * This is the same expression that is used for a suit of clothes.
I want you to make a skirt. 我要儂做一條裙 Ngoo iau noong tsoo ih-diau juin.
I want you to make a bodice. 我要儂做一个肚兜 Ngoo iau noong tsoo ih-kuh doo-teu.
I want you to make a jacket. 我要儂做一件馬褂 Ngoo iau noong tsoo ih-jien mo-kwo.
I want you to make a cloak. 我要儂做一件外罩个袍褂 Ngoo iau noong tsoo ih-jien nga-tsau-kuh bau-kwo.
This sleeve is too long; make it shorter. 第个袖子忒長; 要做來短點 Di-kuh zieu-ts thuh dzang; iau tsoo-le toen-tien.
This garment is too tight; make it easier. 第件衣裳身胚忒緊,要做來寬點 Di-jien i-zaung sung-phe thuh kyung; iau tsoo-le khwen tien.
This is too wide (or loose); make tighter. 第件衣裳身胚忒寬, 要做來緊點 Di-jien i-zaung sung-phe thuh khwen; iau tsoo-le kyung tien.
Make like this pattern. 照第个樣式咾做 Tsau di-kuh yang-suh lau tsoo.
Please bring me samples of native cloth (to let me see). 請儂擔點本地布个樣子撥我看看 Tshing noong tan tien pung-di poo-kuh yang-ts, peh-ngoo khoen-khoen.
Please bring me samples of foreign cloth (to let me see). 請儂擔點外國布个樣子撥我看看 Tshing noong tan tien nga-kok poo-kuh yang-ts, peh ngoo khoen-khoen.
Have you samples of grass cloth? 儂有夏布个樣子否 Noong yeu ‘au-poo kuh yang-ts va?
What you have of broad and narrow cloth, bring and let me see. 所有闊咾狹个布, 全擔來讓我看看 Soo yeu khweh lau ‘ah kuh poo, zen tan-le nyang ngoo khoen-khoen.
When can you finish it? 幾時可以做好 (or 做得好) Kyi-z khau-i tsoo-hau? (or tsoo-tuh-hau).
I want you to do it quicker. 我要儂快點做 Ngoo iau noong khwa-tien tsoo.
Can you finish it this week? 拉第个禮拜裏, 做得好否 La di-kuh li-pa li, tsoo-tuh hau va?
This week it is impossible to finish. 拉第个禮拜裏, 來勿及做好 La di-kuh li-pa li, le-’veh-ji tsoo-hau.
Then next week certainly must finish. 蓋末下个禮拜, 一定要做好 Keh-meh ‘au-kuh li-pa, ih-ding iau tsoo-hau.
How much will it cost to make these clothes? 第件衣裳做工啥價錢 Di-jien i-zaung tsoo-koong sa ka-dien?
You ask too big a price. 儂討个價錢忒貴. Noong thau-kuh ka-dien thuh kyui.
Yes (or all right), I can pay you this price. 好个, 我可以撥儂第个價錢 Hau-kuh, ngoo khau-i peh noong di-kuh ka-dieh.
Why have you not done as I told you? 爲啥勿照我告訴儂个様子咾做 We-sa ’veh tsau ngoo kau-soo noong-kuh yang-ts lau tsoo?
You have done very well. When I have more work I shall want you to do it (lit., and another time I will want you to do work.) 儂做來蠻好, 下回我還要儂做 Noong tsoo-le ’man-hau; ‘au-we ngoo wan iau noong tsoo.