by Vunshik Zan
posted 20 Sep 2002
revised 12 Oct 2002
revised 20 Nov 2002
!! -- Vocabulary
1. [hya-bpai=(-)] extravagancy; 2. [lOK_piK-] misery; 3. [bo+] 'to have/be not'; 4. [qu"] lasting/long; 5. [hya-bpai=(-) bo-(_)/lOk_piK= e-(_)\qu"] 'extravagancy is not so lasting as misery'; 6. [qya~-(_)lO-] to walk; 7. [hya-qONg"] boot(s); 8. [hyONg"/gwa_bin-] toward outside; 9. [hen"kwi=(-)] to turn open; 10. [gwan-(_)lai+] original; 11. [dtan-gj"] word; 12. [si-(_) qya~+] popular; 13. [ya=qo"\tzin-(_)/si-(_)qya~+] still very popular; 14. [pO=(+)tONg-laNg+] common people; 15. [m_dtu=(+)\pO=(+)tONg-laNg+ m_tzai- ya~"] but common people don't know; 16.[dtai_kai'] by rough estimation; 17. [ko=(+)ni(E)Ng+] possible; 18. [in-wi\-] because; 19. [dti-|de\'] progres- sive aspect marker; 20. [yo+] to sway/shake; 21. [hi-han"] rare; 22. [bpwa~=] to perform (in a play); 23. [qwa-a=hi'] traditional Taiwanese opera (lit. sing and play); 24. [qO=(+)tza"] long ago; 25. [si-(_)tzun-] period of time; 26. [qan-qan-a\"]/[qa,n-a\"] only; 27. [tzo(/e)"/qwa~=(-)] to occupy a rank especially in service for a sovereign or government; 28. [tzo(/e)"/qwa~= e-(_)\laNG+] who occupies a rank as defined in 27.[tzo(/e)" qwa~-(=)]; 29. [ya=(+)si\-] or; 30. [gwan-(_)gwe-] a title of repect for a landlord in the past, for use in historic drama only; 31.[tzyaQ\-] only so (as a condition); 32. [u_taNg=] affordable; 33. [gwan-(_)gwe- tzyaQ"\u_ taNg-/tsi(E)Ng_/hya-qONg"] (as a condition) [gwan_(-)gwe-] only can afford to wearing boots; 34. [hO\-] by (paasive voice marker); 35. [dtNg-(_) sa~=(-)] a long robe; 36. [bo+,dtyoQ\+(=/-)] otherwise; 37.[qwa~-hOK+(=/-)] also [dtyau_hOK+(=/-)] dress prescribed by the court for identification of a rank; 38. [kam'] to cover; 39. [kam"/dtyau+|de'] to be covered under; 40. [hen'] display; 41. [hen"/tsut=lai-/hO,Ng-kwa~'] to expose (something) for people to see; 42. [bo-(_)tsai"] what a loss; 43. [qu'] a numerative for sentences; 44. [tzit=qu'] or [tzit=e-(_)qu"dtau'] this sentence; 45. [syOK_ gj(u)"] saying; 46. [qu"dtau'] sentence; 47. [qyo"tzo-] structure; 48. [m_ si-] to be not; 49. [i-e+] her/his/its; 50. [lan"] we/us (including whom spoken to) cf. [gu(/a)n"] for the same but not including whom spoken to; 51. [to=(+)lun-] discuss; 52. [dtwi"syONg'] object; 53. [bpi=(+)qau'] compare; 54. [nNg_haNg-] two items; 55. [dtai_tzi'] affair; 56. [kaQ"\qu"] longer (duration); 57. [i+(=)au-] afterwards; 58. [qet=lun-] conclusion; 59. [tONg- syONg+] usually; 60. [e_sai"|dtit'] may; allowed to; 61. [yO(i/E)Ng-] to use; 62. [sa~-tzyONg"] three kinds; 63. [hiNg_siK-] type; 64. [qaNg_kwan"] same; 65. [bo-(_)qaNg_kwan"] different; 66. [bpyau=(+)dtat=(-/+)] to express; 67. [l,ONg\"]/[lONg=(+)tzONg"] wholly; 68. [qun-qi'] based on; 69. [tsan=(+) si(E)Ng=(-)] to generate; 70. [i(E)Ng-gj(u)"] English; 71. [bpan-(_)a"] pat- tern; 72. [tzyONg\=] objective case marker used in the same way as [qa\-] or [qaNg\-]; 73. [teQ=(-/+)] to take or bring; 74. [li(E)Ng_gwa-] besides or other; 75. [teQ_lai-/tzo(/e)"/li(E)Ng_gwa_/nNg_e_(-)/qu"dtau'] to take (the pattern) for making two other sentences; 76. [hit=nya~"] that piece ([nya~"] being a numerative for garments) of garment; 77. [sa~=(-)] garment; 78. [tzit=nya~"] this piece of (garment); 79. [swi"] pretty; 80. [ho=(+) gyaQ=(-/+)] wealthy; 81. [pi=(+)Ru+] for example; 82. [tzit_bpwa~'] half.--!!
Before or after trying to pronounce these words as transcribed, you may click here to check with the audio play.
Reading in Hoyloy
A. Transcribed for audio play 1
[hya-bpai= bo-/lOK_piK- e-\qu"]
[qya~-lO- hya-qONg" hyONg"/gwa_bin- hen"kwi=//tze= tzyu_si_/hya-bpai= gwan-
lai+ e-\i"sj'][tzit-ma" hya-bpai= tzit=e- dtan-gi" ya=qo"\tzin-/si-qya~+//
m_dtu=\pO=tONg-laNg+ dtai_kai' m_tzai-ya~=/i- tzit=e-/gwan-lai+ e-\i"sj']
[tze- ko=niNg/-si_/in-wi_\qya~-lO- dti_de=\yo-/hya-qONg" e-\laNg+ tzin-/hi-
han"//dti_lyau=/dti_de=\bpwa~-/qwa-a=hi'][qO=tza=/si-tzun- q,an-na-\tzo"
qwa~= e-\laNg+ ya=si_/gwan-gwe- tzyaQ"\u_taNg-/tsiNg_/hya-qONg"][hya-qONg"#
hO_\dtNg-sa~- bo+,dtyoQ_\qwa~-hOK= kam"/dtyau+|de-//qya~-lO- e_\si-tzun-#
na_\bo-/qa_\hya-qONg" hen"/tsut=lai-/hO_Ng-\kwa~' tzin-/bo-tsai"]
[hya-bpai= bo-/lOK_piK- e-\qu" tzit=qu"/syOK_gi" i-e-/qu"dtau' e-\qyo"tzo-//
m_si_/i-e-/i"sj'//si_/lan" bweQ"/to=lun- e-\dtwi"syONg'][tzit=e-/qu"dtau'#
si_/bpi=qau"/nNg_haNg_/dtai_tzi'//hya-bpai= kaQ"\qu" ya=si_/lOK_piK- kaQ"\
qu"//i=au- e-\qet=lun-][tzit=e-/qet-lun- tONg-syONg+ e_sai=dtit=/yONg_/sa~-
tzyONg=/hiNg-siK- bo-qaNg_kwan" e-\qu"dtau' lai-/bpyau=dtat=][mwi=tzit_
tzyONg" e-\qu"dtau' l,ONg=si_/qun-qi"/tzit_e-/yu+ni-kuQ-(unique) e_\pat=
tej(/r)n'(pattern) lai-/tsan=siNg-|e'][iNg-gi" e-\pattern dti_\ho_lo=we-#
qyo"tzo"/bpan-a"][lan" tzit=ma" tzyONg-\tsan+siNg-/hya-bpai= bo-/lOK_piK-#
e-\qu" tzit=qu"/syOK_gi" e-\bpan-a" teQ_lai-/tzo"/liNg_gwa_/nNg_e-/qu"dtau']
[hit=nya~=/sa~= bo-/tzit=nya~" e-\swi"]
[i- qam=u_/li=.e-\tzit_bpwa~"/ho=qyaQ=]
[nNg_haNg_/dtai_tzi' bpi=qau" e-\qet=lun- ma_\e_yONg-dtit=/yONg_/liNg_gwa_/
tzit_e-/bpan-a" lai-/tsan=siNg-/bo-qaNg_kwan" e-\qu"dtau'][pi=Ru-/
[it-][hya-bpai= bo-taNg-/tsin-tsyu~_/lOK_piK- hyaQ"\qu"]
[..hyaQ"ni_\qu"]
[Ri-][hya-bpai= bo-taNg-/lOk_piK- hyaQ"\qu"]
[..hyaQ"ni_\qu"]
[sa~=][hit=nya~=/sa~= bo-/tsin-tsyu~_/tzit=nya~" hyaQ"\swi"]
[..hyaQ"ni_\swi"]
[si'][hit=nya~=/sa~= bo-tzit=nya~" hyaQ"\swi"]
[..hyaQ"ni_/swi"]
[gO-][i- qam=u_/li=.e-\tzit_bpwa~' hyaQ"\ho=gyaQ=]
[..hya"ni_\ho=gyaQ=]
[laK=][i- qam=u_/li=.e-\tzit_bpw~"/ho=gyaQ=]
[lan" ma_\e_sai=dtit=/qo"\yONg_/liNg_gwa_/tzit_e-/bpan-a" lai-/tsan=siNg-/
qo"\bo-qaNg_kwan" e-\qu"dtau'] [pi=Ru-/
[it-][lOK_piK- bpi=/hya-bpai= kaQ"\qu"][..qo"\kaQ"\qu"]
[Ri-][tzit=nya~=/sa~= bpi=/hit=nya~" kaQ"\swi"][..qo"\kaQ"\swi"]
[qi"Ren+ qOK=tzyONg=bpi=qau' yONg- e-\bpan-a" u_swat=biNg+lO'][e_bin- si_lan=
.e-\summary]
[dte_it-][yONg_lai=bpi=qau' e-\qi-bpun" e-\bpan-na" si_an=ni=][sya~=mi" bpi=
sya~=mi" kaQ"\sya~=mi=kwan"][pi=Ru+]
1. [nyau-a" tzau=bpi=qau=a" kaQ"qin"]/[nyau-a" bpi=qau=a" kaQ"gau-tzau"]
[tzit=e= i=gwa-][li" na_\bweQ"/tzo"/hu"bin- e-\bpi=qau' bpan-na" si_an=ni=][sya~=mi"#
bo-sya~=mi" e-\sya~=mi=kwan"][pi=Ru+]
2. [nyau-a" tzau=bo-qau=a" e-\qin"]
[li" na_si_/dtwi"/tau-tzit_e-/statement e-\tzin-sit= u_/hwai-gi+//na-maQ- tzyu_\yONg_
tzit=e- bpan-na" lai-bpyau=dtat_/tzit=e-/hwai-gi+][sya~mi" qam=u_sya~=mi" e-\
sya~=mi=kwan"][pi=Ru+]
3. [nyau-a" qam=u_qau=a" e-\gau-tzau"]/[nyau-a" qam=\tzau=u_qau=a" e-\qin"]
[nyau-a" qam=u_qau=a" hyaQ"\gau-tzau"]/[nyau-a" qam=tzau=u_qau=a" hyaQ"\qin"]
B. Transcribed for audio play 2.
[hya-bpai- bo_/lOK_piK- e_/qu"]
[qya~_lO- hya-qONg" hyONg"/gwa_bin- hen"kwi-//tze= tzyu_si_/hya-bpai- gwan_
lai+ e_\i"sj'][tzit-ma" hya-bpai- tzit=e_/dtan-gj" ya+qo"\tzin-/si_qya~+//
m_dtu+\pO+tONg-laNg+ dtai_kai' m_tzai-ya~+/i- tzit=e_/gwan_lai+ e_\i"sj']
[tze- ko+niNg/_si_/in-wi_\qya~_lO- dti_de=\yo_/hya-qONg" e_\laNg+ tzin-/hi-
han"//dtj_lyau+/dti_de=\bpwa~-/qwa-a=hi'][qO+tza+/si_tzun- q,an-na-\tzwe"
qwa~- e_\laNg+ ya+si_/gwan_gwe- tzyaQ"\u_taNg-/tsiNg_/hya-qONg"][hya-qOng"#
hO_\dtNg_sa~- bo+,dtyoQ_\qwa~-hOK+ kam"/dtyau+|de'][qya~_lO- e_\si_tzun-#
na_bo_/qa_\hya-qONg" hen"/tsut=lai_/hONg_/kwa~' tzin-/bo_tsai"]
[hya-bpai- bo_/loK_piK- e_\qu" tzit=qu"/syOK_gj" i-e_/qu"dtau' e_\qyo"tzo-//
m_si_/i-e_/i"sj'//si_/lan" bejQ"/to+lun- e_\dtwi"syONg'][tzit=e_/qu"dtau'
si_/bpi+qau"/nNg_haNg_/dtai_tzi'//hya-bpai- kaQ"/qu" ya+si_/lOK_piK- kaQ"\
qu"//i+au- e_\qet=lun-][tzit=e_/qet-lun- tONg-syONg+ e_sai+dtit=/iNG_/sa~-
tzyONg+/hiNg_siK- bo_qaNg_kwan" e_\qu"dtau' lai_/bpyau+dtat+][mwi+tzit_
tzyONg" e_\qu"dtau' l,ONg+si_/qun-qj"/tzit_e_/yu+ni-kuQ-(unique) e_\pat=
tej(r)n'(pattern) lai_/tsan+siNg-|e'][iNg-gj" e_\pattern dti_\ho_lo+we-#
qyo"tzwe"/bpan_a"][lan" tzit=ma" tzyONg-/tsan+siNg-/hya-bpai- bo_/lOK_piK-#
e_\qu" tzit=qu"/syOK_gj" e_\bpan_a" teQ_lai_tzwe"/liNg_gwa_/nNg_e_/qu"dtau']
[hit=nya~+/sa~- bo_/tzit=nya~" e_\swi"]
[i- qam+u_/li+.e_\tzit_bpwa"/ho+qyaQ+]
[nNg_haNg_/dtai_tzi' bpi+qau" e_\qet=lun- ma_\e_iNG_dtit=\iNg_/liNg_gwa_/
tzit_e_\bpan_a" lai_/tsan+siNG-/bo_qaNg_kwan" e_\qu"dtau'][pi+Ru_/
[it-][hya-bpai- bo_taNg-/tsin-tsyu~_/lOK_piK- hyaQ"\qu"]
[..hyaQ"ni_\qu"]
[Ri-][hya-bpai- bo_taNg-/lOk_piK- hyaQ"\qu"]
[..hyaQ"ni_\qu"]
[sa~-][hit=nya~+/sa~- bo_/tsin-tsyu~_/tzit=nya~" hyaQ"\swi"]
[..hyaQ"ni_\swi"]
[si'][hit=nya~+/sa~- bo_tzit=nya~" hyaQ"\swi"]
[..hyaQ"ni_\swi"]
[go-][i- qam+u_/li+.e_\tzit_bpwa~' hyaQ"\ho+gyaQ+]
[..hya"ni_/ho+gyaQ+]
[laK+][i- qam+u_/li+.e_\tzit_bpwaN"/ho+gyaQ+]
[lan" ma_\e_sai+dtit=/qo"\iNg_/liNg_gwa_/tzit_e_/bpan_a" lai_/tsan+siNg-/
qo"\bo_qaNg_kwan" e_\qu"dtau'] [pi+Ru_/
[it-][lOK_piK- bpi+/hya-bpai- kaQ"\qu"][..qo"\kaQ"\qu"]
[Ri-][tzit=nya~+/sa~- bpi+/hit=nya~" kaQ"\swi"][..qo"\kaQ"\swi"]
[qi"Ren+ qOK=tzyONg+bpi+qau' yONg- e_\bpan_a" u_swat=biNg+lO'][e_bin- si_lan+
.e_\summary]
[dtwe_it-][iNg_lai_bpi+qau' e_\qi-bpun" e_\bpan_na" si_an-ni-][sya~+mi" bpi+
sya~+mi" kaQ" sya~+mi+kwan"][pi+Ru+]
1. [nyau-a" tzau+bpi+qau+a" kaQ"qin"]/[nyau-a" bpi+qau+a" kaQ"gau_tzau"]
[tzit=e= i+gwa-][li" na_\bejQ"/tzwe"/hu"bin- e-\bpi+qau' bpan_na" si_an-ni-][sya~+mi"#
bo_sya~+mi" e_\sya~+mi+kwan"][pi+Ru+]
2. [nyau-a" tzau+bo_qau+a" e_\qin"]
[li" na_si_/dtwi"/tau_tzit_e_/statement e_\tzin-sit+ u_/hwai_gi+//na-maQ- tzyu_\iNg_
tzit=e_/bpan_na" lai_bpyau+dtat_/tzit=e_/hwai_gi+][sya~+mi" qam+u_sya~+mi" e_\
sya~+mi+kwan"][pi+Ru+]
3. [nyau-a" qam+u_qau+a" e_\gau_tzau"]/[nyau-a" qam+\tzau+u_qau+a" e_\qin"]
[nyau-a" qam+u_qau+a" hyaQ"\gau_tzau"]/[nyau-a" qam+tzau+u_qau+a" hyaQ"\qin"]
A Saying for Grammatical Analysis
When put into English word by word this Hoyloy saying goes like 'extravagancy is not as lasting as misery'. The English counterpart as quoted above serves pretty well for a good interpretation. But our main topic for discussion here is the structural pattern of the sentence, not the meaning of the saying.
Key to the sentence pattern of this saying is the 'mighty-e'*1, which is derived from the numerative [e+] generally used for persons and some other miscellaneous items such as cartons and envelopes. (Example: a quantity formed with the number for 'two' [nNg-] and the numerative [e+] is used as either a noun or an adjective of quantity for persons and so forth.) This 'mighty e' as used in this sentence has the similar grammatical function in English as 'so (adjective) as'. The sentence [hya-bpai-(1) bo_(2)/lOK_piK-(3) e_(4)\qu"(5)] may thus be broken down as follows:
(1) [hya-bpai-]*2: extravagancy/excessive display of one's superiority in wealth, power or reputation; (2) [bo+]: has not/is not (to form a verbal phrase, the basic tone of [bo+] is replaced with the linking tone for [bo_/] or [bo-/] as required); (3) [lOK_piK-]: misery; (5) [qu"]: longtime/lasting; (3)+(4)+(5): so lasting as misery.
*1The 'mighty-e' is one of the two most common 'quasi-words' in Hoyloy,
the other one being the 'mighty-a'. 'Quasi-words' are morphemes with grammatical meanings
only each of which must always be connected to the next or preceding word and thus bears none
but a linking tone or an enclitic tone. Caution must be taken to keep from confusing the 'mighty-e'
with other words of the single letter 'e', such as [e-] for 'be able to' and the word for 'shoes' which
is pronounced by some people as [e+], a variation from the pronunciation [we+].
*2Also [hya-bpai~-] or [hya-bpan-] though such pronunciations are rarely
heard now in Taiwan. See the Douglas Dictionary 1873, pp. 128, 356. (Note that [hya=] which means
'boots' is dubiouly interpreted in this dictionary as 'a flower'.)
Let's now practice this sentence pattern with the following examples:
1. [hit=nya~+/sa~- bo_/tzit=nya~" e_\swi"] (That piece of garment is not so pretty as this piece.) 2. [i- qam+u_/li+.e_\tzit_bpwa~"/ho+gyaQ+] (Is it likely for her/him to be half as rich as you are?)
Alternatively we may use another pattern for making the following similar comparative sentences. (English translations are kind of literal.)
1. [hya-bpai- bo_taNg-/tsin-tsyu~_/lOK_piK- hyaQ"\qu"] [..hyaQ"ni_\qu"] 'Extravagancy may not last that long like misery.' 2. [hya-bpai- bo_taNg-/lOk_piK- hyaQ"\qu"] [..hyaQ"lin_\qu"] (same as 1. with the word 'like' [tsin-tsyu~-] omitted) 3. [hit=nya~+/sa~- bo_/tsin-tsyu~_/tzit=nya~" hyaQ"\swi"] [..hyaQ"ni_\swi"] 'That piece of garment is not that pretty like this one.' 4. [hit=nya~+/sa~- bo_/tzit=nya~" hyaQ"\swi"] [..hyaQ"ni_\swi"] (same as 3. with the word 'like' [tsin-tsyu~-] omitted) 5. [i- qam+u_/li+.e_\tzit_bp~' hyaQ"\ho+gyaQ+] [..hyaQ"ni_\ho+gyaQ+] 'Is it likely for her/him to be half that rich (like) you are?' 6. [i- qam+u_/li+.e_\tzit_bpwa~"/ho+gyaQ+] (same as 5. with 'that' [hyaQ-] omitted)
Still another pattern may be used to form other similar comparative sentences as listed below:
1.[lOK_piK- bpi+/hya-bpai- kaQ"\qu"] [..qo"\kaQ"\qu"] 'Misery lasts longer than extravagancy' 2.[tzit=nya~+/sa~- bpi+/hit=nya~" kaQ"\swi"] [..qo"\kaQ"\swi"] 'This piece of garment is prettier than that one.'
Now that you have read about the various comparative sentence patterns in Hoyloy, take note of the summary as follows.
First, the basic pattern is constructed with [bpi\"] (compared with) and [kaQ\-]
(more); e.g.
[nyau-a" tzau=(+)bpi=(+) qau=(+)a" kaQ"qin"]/[nyau-a" bpi=(+)qau=(+)a" kaQ"gau_tzau"]
'cats run compared with dogs more quick' /'cats compared with dogs more capable to run'.
Besides that, you use a different pattern with the 'mighty-e', pronounced [e\+], for negative
comparison; e.g.
[nyau-a" tzau=(+)bo-(_)qau=(+)a" e_\qin"]
'cats run not dogs that quick' = 'cats run not that quick as dogs'.
If you doubt the truth of the first comparative statement, express the doubt this way.
[nyau-a" qam=(+)u_qau=(+)a" e-(_)\gau-(_)tzau"]/[nyau-a" qam=(+)tzau=(+)u_qau=(+)a"
e-(_)\qin"]
[nyau-a" qam=(+)u_qau=(+)a" hyaQ"\gau-(_)tzau"]/[nyau-a" qam=(+)tzau=(+)u_qau=(+)a"
hyaQ"\qin"]
'is it likely that cats are that good at running as dogs'/'..that cats run that quick as dogs'.
Construction of the last pattern is parallel to the frequent tag question [qam=(+)u_ya~"] (is that true?) which reflects the speaker's hesitation to accept some factual statement.
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