Wason
PL4001
L7F84
CORNELL
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY
Cornell University Library
PL 4001.L7F84
Handbook of the Lisu Yawyin) language.
3 1924 022 354 462
Cornell University
Library
The original of this book is in
the Cornell University Library.
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HANDBOOK
OF THE
LISU (YAWYIN) LANGUAGE
RANGOON
SUPERINTENDENT, GOVERNMENT PRINTING, BURMA
192a
TL UOO/
LIST OF AGENTS
FOR THI
SALE OF GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS.
In India:
American Baptist Mission Press, i Rangoon.
Rangoon Times Press, Rangoon.
Maung Lu Gale, Law Book DepSt, 42, Ayo-o-gale, Mandalay.
Thacker, Spink & Co., Calcutta and Simla.
W. Newman & Co., Calcutta.
Butterworth & Co. (India), Ltd., Calcutta.
Thacker & Co., Ltd., Bombay.
* D. B. Taraporevala, Sons & Co., Bombay.
Higginbotham & Co., Madras.
In England :
Henry S. King & Co., 65, Cornhill, E.C.
A. Constable & Co., 10, Orange Street, |Leicester Square, W.C.
Kegan Paul, Trrnch, Tr&bner & Co., Ltd., 68-74, Carter Lane, E.C,
and 39, New Oxford Street, W.C.
Bernard Quaritch, ii. Grafton Street, New Bond Street, W.
P. S. King & Son, 2 & 4, Great Smith Street, Westminster, S. W.
Grindlat & Co., 54, Parliament Street, S.W.
T. Fisher Unwin, Ltd., 1, Adelphi Terrace, W.C.
W. Thacker & Co., 2, Creed Lane, Ludgate Hill, E.C.
Luzac & Co., 46, Great Russell Street, W.C
Wheldon & Wesley, Ltd., 28, Essex Street, Strand, W.C.
Oliver & Boyd, Tweeddale Court, Edinburgh.
E. Ponsonby, Ltd., 116, Grafton Street, Dublin.
B. H. Blackwell, 50 & 51, Broad Street, Oxford.
Dbighton Bell & Co., Ltd., Trinity Street, Cambridge.
On tub Continent :
Ernest Leroux, 28, Rue Bonaparte, Paris, France.
Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, Holland.
Otto Harrassowitz, Leipzig, Germany.
R. Friedlander & Sohnt, 11, Carlstrasse, Berlin, Germany.
* For the sale of officii! publications excluding those of the Legislative
Department of the Government of Burma. / 1 ) f / -TT^ £> —
/o'
A
NOTE ON THE ORIGIN, DISTRIBUTION,
CUSTOMS, ETC., OF THE LISU.
The origin of the Lisu race, as is the case with so many races in
this part of Asia, is uncertain. The uniform testimony of the people
themselves, from widely separated districts, is that they come from the
" head of the river," which they refer, very vaguely, to either the
N'mai Hka, Salween, or Mekong Rivers. It is certain that Lisu are
found in considerable numbers around the upper reaches of these three
Rivers, and as it can be observed that even the present tendency of
Lisu migration is in a southerly direction, it seems probable that their
tradition is correct.* Hence we may suppose that their original home
is in or near Eastern Tibet. This would seem to be borne out by the
strong resemblance between the Lisu language and the Burmese and
Atsi Kachin languages, the latter races also being supposed to have
migrated from the eastern part of Tibet. If these surmises are correct
we may, perhaps, hazard the further supposition that the southern
migration of the Lisu was a later one than that of the Burmans and
Kachins, for whilst the latter seem to be thoroughly acclimatised in
their lower altitudes, the Lisu are seldom found at altitudes of less
than 5,000 feet above sea-level, and flourish best at altitudes of 6,000
and more feet. They are usually to be found, whether in Yunnan or*
Burma, in the higher and colder regions of the mountains.
There are, however, many Lisu who have Chinese surnames and
claim Chinese origin. Though all Lisu clan surnames have their
Chinese equivalents, some have Chinese surnames without Lisu equi-
valents : these are usually descendants of Chinese adopted into Lisu
families. But even Lisu with ordinary Lisu clan surnames will some-
times claim to be of Chinese extraction, averring that their ancestors
originally came from Eastern China, usually from the province of
Kiangsi — the ancestral home of most of the Chinese living near the
Burma frontier. Such Lisu do not, however, boast of their Chinese
Origin. No Lisu is ashamed to own his race, whereas the aborigines
of Eastern Yunnan, where Chinese influence is stronger, are often
ashamed to admit that they are not Chinese, and indeed tend to become
absorbed in the latter race. In the Tengyueh District there is a saying
that the Chinese sometimes " turn into tribespeople " but that the
tribespeople never " turn into Chinese."
It is impossible to speak with any accuracy of the Lisu> for they
are a widely scattered and comparatively little known race. In China
there are probably very few Lisu to be found elsewhere than in the
province of Yunnan. In Yunnan they are found along 'practically the
whole length of the Burma frontier from Wei Hsi down to Szemao,
those in British territory following, in general, the same line from the
North-East extremity of the Putao District down to the Southern
• Their nam* *• Li Su " means "the people who have come dow."
( iv )
Shan States. They are also found along the Valley of the Mekong
down to about Lat. 26°N and along the Upper Yangtse nearly as fat
as the longitude of Yunnanfu. Those in the Yangtse Basin in the
vicinity of Yuanmowhsien speak a dialect so widely differing from the
dialects of the Burma frontier as to be unintelligible to the latter,
scarcely 50 per qent. of the wprds being the same. ,In fact it is
questionable whether they are the same race or not, for only the
Chinese call them Lisu, their Own name for themselves being Linpaw.
In physical appearance the Lisu are of medium height, with a some-
S hat darker complexion than the, Chinese* and Mongoloid features.
ot.h men and 1 women shave their heads entirely but for a patch three
or four, inches across at the back of their heads, the long hair of which
they piait into a queue —evidently in imitation df the Chinese. The
men wear the same kind of loose jacket as the Chinese, whilst the
trousers (worn by both sexes) are made, as the latter is, of plain blue
cloth and come down to an inch or two above the knee, a blue cloth
turban is the usual headgear and white cloth stockings are sometimes
worn by both sexes. The footwear, if any thing at all, usually consists
of cheap sandals made of bamboo bark.
The dress of the women varies very considerably according to the
district. In the parts of Yunnan where the Lisu come more directly
under Chinese influence the women often dress so like Chinese women
as to be only distinguishable from the latter by their Unbound feet.
Between this plain style of dress and the gay and much bejewelled
costume worn by the Lisa women on the Burma China Frontier near
Tawgaw and Sadon there are several grades of omateness. The
turban is usually several feet long, plain in the middle but ornamented
•with strips of coloured cloth at both ends, from which hang tassels,
beads, cowries or other pendants according to the fancy of the wearer
or the customs of the district. Ear-rings are usually worn, also
necklaces of many different kinds — in the district near Sadon several
cqils of ordinary brass wire being worn, sometimes even by the men.
The dress consists of a tunic reaching Only to the waist in front but
long behind. The shortness of the tunic in front is made up for by
an apron fastened to the body by an embroidered waistband. Both
the tunic and the apron are ornamented by square or oblong patches
of red, yellow and green cloth, the lower edges being trimmed with
cowrie shells.
In disposition the Lisu are mild and easy-going, are affable,
hospitable, and almost invariably friendly to Europeans. Whereas thfc
Chinese and Kachins are aften suspicious of strangers, the Lisu are
seldom so. Their frank geniality is more agreeable, to Europeans
at least, than the blunt boorish manner of the Kachins on the one
hand, or the obsequiousness of the Chinese on the other. They
are lovers of peace; law and order, do not engage in raiding or
inter- tribal warfare if it can possibly be avoided and are scarcely ever
known either to rob or beg, Their love of peace begets a timidity
and dependence which forces them under the overlordship of the
Chinese, Kachins, or any stronger race near whom they happen to
live. They are capable of sincere friendship and make loyal and
devoted servants. They have their superstitions and their prejudices
of course, but a stranger of another race need not be afraid of incurring-
( v )
displeasure by unwittingly offending them. This is an important
ffoint fbr the traveller, ^Ho knows how easy it Is to get into trouble
in Kachin Villages— the KacHitls taking their superstitions so much
ftbftS seriously than the Listi.
Lisu women and girls are apt to be shy, but when on familiar terms
they are frank and natural. They are not bold as the Kachin women
-are, nor prudish and self-conscious as the Chinese. In morality whilst
not, perhaps, Sd strict as the Chinese, they are on a distinctly higher
level than the Kachins. An uniriarfied Lisu girl is supposed to behave
herself, and in the majority of cases, perhaps, does so, but districts
vary considerably in their morals. When breaches of morality occur,
ihe offenders of either sex are at least as often married as unmarried
persons. In cases where an unmarried girl is guilty of misconduct the
Offence is not considered a very serious one ahd is often passed Over.
Adultery with a married woman is, however, considered to be a serious
offence, and if proved is punished by fining; the lawful husband often
divorcing his wife and compelling her paramour to marry her. To
the credit of the Lisu it may be said that they have a strong sense of
decency and shame. Out and Out prostitution is unknown among
"them.
The Lisu are everywhere addicted to the drinking of rice beer,
which they seem unable to drink (as the Chinese usually do) in mode-
ration. Not to speak of the waste of good grain, the moral effect of
the habit on the race is wholly bad. It is a fruitful cause of quarrelling
and trouble among an otherwise peaceably disposed people. They do
not distil the strong spirit called "shao tsiu" by the Chinese, but they
buy arid drink this also at the Chinese markets they attend. The old.
people of both sexes are more given to drinking than the young. On
such occasions as weddings, He. an enormous quantity of liquor is
consumed. The Chinese have a saying. " The Lisu for liquor ;
leeches for blood." «
Opium-smoking is not very prevalent in most districts, though a
village would seldom be found which did riot contain at least one
smoker. Sbme Lisu seem to be able to " play with " opium, as they_
say, i.e. to smoke it when they get the opportunity without acquiring
tHe habit. The Chinese never seem to be able to do this. .Poppy
cultivation is well-nigh universal among the Lisu— at least in districts
whfcre its growth is permitted.
Lisu houses are nOt built off the ground as Kachin houses are, but
have plain mud floors in all the rooms. If, as usually happens, the
grdund it sloping, a stone plinth is erected in front of the house to
sup-pdft the mud verandah. THe posts are made sometimes of hewri,
sometimes of tlrijiewn trees, ahd the partitions, both outside and inside,
are made Of bamboos, split into laths and WoVen As a rule there are
only three rooms } the middle one (htang* Waw s -Cl>.) is the " common "
room, where around the fireplace either the family or outsiders are free
it any tlrrie to sit on Idw benchei of logs ahd vvarm themselves ; here
alsd visitors' sleeping accomriiddation is provided. At the back of the
room, facing the door, is a shelf oh which cuj.i arid incense bowls are
pl&ced for offering to the ancestral spirits ; visitors should not place
articles on this. The bedrodrn (Kfergrte* gaw* j is otie of the side robms,
usually entered from the" centra loom, Whe^e. the family themselves
{ vi )
sleep on raised bedsteads and where the grain, valuables, etc., are-
kept. A guest is not supposed to enter the bedroom, and will never
be invited to do so unless for some special purpose, e.g., to see a sick,
person. The kitchen (tsao* h'i*) is on the other side, has a raised
brick " kitchen range," into which islet a big iron pan or two. Water
is usually both fetched and kept in bamboo cylinders. The building
and arrangements of most Lisu houses are so much like the Chinese
as to form one of the many proofs of the influence of the latter race
on the Lisu.
Though fond of hunting— chiefly the barking deer, of which there
is generally a plentiful supply in Lisu country — and though often
helping to make a living by selling firewood, timber, vegetables,
incense, hempen cord, etc., to the Chinese when living near their
markets, the Lisu live almost entirely by agriculture. Comparatively
few have irrigated paddy-fields, and the majority live in districts which
are too cold to cultivate highland paddy. Their chief crops are maize
and buckwheat. Both these crops— in fact most crops of any kind raised
by the Lisu — are grown by clearing and burning the jungle. This most
wasteful method — " taungya cultivation " — is practised because, so the
the Lisu say, their soil is too poor to raise crops by any other method.
It seems probable, however, that most of the soil cultivated by the
Lisu would produce fairly good crops if adequately supplied with
nitrogenous manure, which the Lisu are either too poor or too lazy to
apply in sufficient quantities. In some villages each family has its
own preserve — a large tract of mountain land whereon that family
alone has the right to cut down and burn the forest. The same plot
•of ground is seldom sown even two years in succession, for after the
first year the fertility has so far decreased and the weeds grown so
rank (sic) that it will not pay to cultivate it. Hence it is fallowed for
a long period — usually till the jungle has again grown thick upon it,
when it may be again cut do.vn and cultivated. The land is thus
used in rotations of from ten to twenty years. Ploughing is not
resorted to very much except, of course, where irrigated paddy is
cultivated, partly because the land is too steep, but more often because
the stumps and roots of recently felled trees would oppose the
progress of the plough. The implement used is the ordinary native
hoe. Men and women both work in the fields. Beside maize and
buckwheat, subsidiary crops of potatoes, hill sesamum, hemp, indigo
and other things are grown where soil and climate will permit, also,
as above stated, opium where its cultivation is not prohibited.
There is little in the way of co-operative or commercial farming :
each family grows what is sufficient for its own immediate needs and
no more. The wealthy farmer, the large landowner, though found
everywhere among the Chinese, is practically non-existent among
the Lisu.
The method of taungya cultivation described, above cannot, of
course, keep on for ever, especially with an increasing population.
So little is returned to the soil for what is taken out that in process of
time old settlements tend to get worked out — the hills bare and
sterile. The' Lisu will then cast about for new districts to devastate,
and will migrate forest-wards. The path of least resistance is always,
removal to a lower attitude near Kachin or Shan country, and there
( vii ),
is even a small colony of Lisu down by the Irrawaddy on the
Myitkyina Plain. It is far easier to make a living at such altitudes,
ivnere the soil is> rich arid the climate warm, but it does not suit the
Lisu, arid they know it. They readily fall victims to malaria and
Other diseases prevalent in warm climates and the death rate is high,
especially among children. Fear of this prevents many of them
moving to warmer districts. In one district known to the author
they have a saying : " If you are not afraid of hunger, go up and
live in high altitudes : if you are not afraid of death go down and live
in low (altitudes)." But even those who can stand living in warm
climates seem to degenerate ; they get lazy, shiftless, and physically
weak— in appearance sallow and pasty-looking. The Lisu ' par
excellence' are those who live in cold climates, where even the winds
and vapours from hot plains are shut out by mountain ranges ; where
the men and women are strong, active and intelligent, the children
healthy and rosy-cheeked.
In religion the Lisu are animists, though influenced to some
extent by Chinese religious notions. Idolatry is very seldom practised
but ancestor worship is universal. The latter, as with many of the
Chinese, is quite as much in the nature of propitiation of the ancestral
manes from a motive of fear as pure worship from principle. Where
Chinese influence is strong three large strips of red paper will be
seen pasted on the partition at the back of the centre room just over
the altar-shelf. The centre one of these will bear the six Chinese
characters " t'ien ti chiiin ts'in si uei " (the altar of heaven, earth,
emperor, parents and teacher) in front of which will be an incense
bowl. The strip on the left hand will be for the ancestors and that
on the right for the kitchen god, each with its incense bowl in front"
of it. Incense is burned before these on various occasions and bows
made to them by the men of the family. Lisu women seem to have
no part whatever in any religious ceremony, whilst among the
Chinese religious observances are often left almost entirely to them.
It is not many Lisu, however, who worship as elaborately as the
Chinese. Their worship, as indeed everything connected with them,
is simple and primitive. Indeed the major part of a Lisu's "religion"
seems to consist of propitiation of evil spirits whose " bite " causes
sickness. Not all sickness is attributed to such evil influences, but if
a Lisu priest is consulted in time of sickness and decides by drawing
lots (sa s sye+ sye*) that the disease is caused by the bite of a demon,
a sacrifice — usually a chicken, sometimes a pig, but never a cow or
buffalo as among the Kachins — must be offered, the priest helping by
muttering incantations, and a meal (with rice beer) being eaten by all
concerned. The priest does not, as a rule, receive wages, but gets a
free meal only.
Beside the spirits of the ancestors (ni s bigh 6 ) and other wander-
ing homeless spirits in general (ni s ) the Lisu recognise other spirits
in a vague kind of way e.g. mu s -kwa 3 -ni s (a heavenly spirit) ; mi 3 sp
(" the god of the hills," who has to be propitiated ff horses, cattle,
sheep, etc., get lost or killed by wild beasts on the hills) and others.
But the creator of heaven and earth, also called upon in priestly
ministrations and acknowledged to be the supreme head of all spirits,
good and evil, is wu^-sa*.
( viii )
\Vitchcraft (rghe>h'a« sye* or tai» hjj») is little he^rd of jfl most
district?, bu'$ Jp pfhers it is ifirmjy belieyep: jjj. \yhen a pprsqo of
either sex is suspected of being able to bewitch others, whether
through direct accusation of a fellow villager or by random statements
of a sick person irj delirium, etc., the Ljsu will sometimes throw all
Bense of justipe tp the winds and W 'U summarily expel (or eveq kill)
the suspected person without a shadow of a triaj. Some of these
unfortunate suspects are baqdied about from village to village. An
accusation of witchcraft is not lightly made, for if proved to be false
it renders the accuser liable to a heavy fine. But in any case the
safest thing for a person suspected of witchcraft to do is to flee the
village immediately - When witchcraft |s suspected, as e.g. when
there is an unaccountable amount of sickness in a village, recourse is^
sometimes hqd to trial by ordeal * This may consist of the handling
of hot irons, or more usually to the bringing up of a piece of silver
from the bottom of a huge iroq pan filled with boiling water or oil.
In either case no harm is supposed to result if the person is innocent.
The author has seen a man's arm in a terrible condition after passing
through the latter ordeal. But, as said above, witchcraft does not
seem to have much hold on the Lisu in most districts.
On the death of a Lisu it is the custom in some places to fire
three guns immediately. 'J'he corpse is laid out in the centre room
and covered by a sheet of hempen cloth. A coffin is provided unless
the corpse is that of a child ; sometimes the coffin is evep prepared
several years before death and kept in readiness in the house. If the
deceased is a married woman or widow it is necessary to send for
some member or members of her own family to be present at the
burial. Her husband's family would not dare to bury her otherwise,
for her family mjght bring an accusation that she died by other than
natural means, or else that she was not buried properly and would
hence return to "bite "her relatives, etc., which would involve a
lawsuit and perhaps the payment of a fine. They must be present to
see that every thing is alright. As a rule the burial takes place
within two or three days after death — sometimes within a few hours.
Auspicious days for burial are either not chosen at all or else chosen
in a much simpler way than the Chinese, who will sometimes keep
their dead waiting a year or more for interment. In any case incense
will be burnt and offerings made to the departed spirit before the
coffin is carried out of the house — in some districts a ceremony con-
sisting of walking slowly around the coffin several times and striking
it sharply with a stick each time, chanting, being performed by the
mourners. At least one meal is served to the guests and helpers.
The coffin is carried out without much ceremony f and buried two or
three feet deep on some spot on the hill side. A subsequent ceremony
of " pointing the way" — to the spirit in the unseen world— may not
be performed for even several years afterwards ; this depends on the
* This method of trial is also employed sometimes in other cases, t.g. theft,,
when a direct proof is impossible.
t Sometimes even with levity and mirth. The total absenceof a reverent
spirit at Chinese or Lisu funerals is repugnant to a European observer.
( ix )
ability or otherwise of tie survivors to provide the means, for the
sacrificial ceremonies involve the expenditure of a considerable sum
of money. Cremation is practised only in cases where there is
considered to be pollution, death being caused by e_vfil spiritual
influences. < v
Betrothal and marriage ceremonies vary considerably in different
districts. When a man wishes to get a bride for his son, who may be
anything up to about twenty years of age, he has first to find a
middleman to carry his proposal to the girl's family. If consent is
obtained a small deposit of a rupee or two is given to the girl's
parents, a mutual bow is made and the betrothal is accomplished.
The boy's own wishes in the matter are seldom consulted, and the
girl's never. Indeed it would not be easy, because of the young
people's bashfulness, to get an expression of opinion out of either of
them, even if any Lisu parent were to try to do so. The bridal price
is fixed at the time of the betrothal, and will usually be from Rs. 50
to Rs. 150. Sometimes an exchange will be made between two
families, a man giving his daughter to another's son in exchange for
the Iatter's daughter for his own son : this arrangement cancels the
bridal prices and none is given by either party. In most cases a
Lisu will require the same sum of money for his daughter that he
himself gave for his wife, her mother. This is often tantamount to
an exchange, for the custom in most districts is that the girl, or at any
rate one girl in the family — be given back in marriage to her mother's
people. But she must never be given to a member of her own clan,
even if the relationship is too remote to be traced. Indeed if two
Lisu families live in widely separated districts between which there is
no intercommunication, so that it may be safely inferred that
they are not related at all, they must not intermarry if they happen to
have the same clan surname. Possibly this custom also is to be put
down to Chinese influence, for the Chinese are equally strict in this
regard. Yet a Lisu may marry his father's sister's daughter * without
any thought of inconsistency. t £-g- a Lisu Macdonald will give his
sister in marriage to a Lisu Macgregor. His son may marry a
daughter of the latter marriage, because she is a Macgregor and he
a Macdonald. That such a union is undesirable from the standpoint
of consanguinity does not occur to him, yet by some peculiar mental
kink he would stoutly object to marrying his son to a Miss Macdonald,
even though the actual relationship might be nil, because he and she
are both Macdonalds. In some districts certain clans are said to
be related to certain other clans, and they are not supposed to
intermarry. But there is no arrangement whereby a certain clan is
permanent parent-in-law to another clan, as there seems to be among
some tribes of Kachins.
Betrothals are binding and cannot be broken off at will. Should
either party break the contract without the consent of the other a
heavy fine is imposed ; cases sometimes occur, however, where a
betrothal is cancelled by consent of both parties.
* There are cases of Lisu rrmrrying their own father's sisters, but this is rare
and looked down upon.
( * )
Marriage takes place when the bridegroom's family are able to-
afford it, and usually alter rice harvest when grain is* plentiful. The
bridegroom is, as a rule, at least fifteen or sixteen years old when
he is married. An auspicious date for the wedding is selected, and
tfee^day prevkpsly some members of the bridegroom's family go to the
bride's house with presents of rice beer, rice, pork, salt, etc., for the
entertainment of the guests of the bride's family. The next morning
they all repair to the bridegroom's house to the accompaniment of gun
firing. The bridegroom's people come out to meet them and bows
are exchanged. Then the bride is led into the house, usually by the
womenfolk of the bridegroom's family, the crossing of the threshold
constituting, perhaps more than anything else, the actual marriage.
The young couple have yet, however, to bow to the bridegroom's
parents and senior relations, or even to kneel on the floor and knock
their heads on the ground to them. The bride will then retire to the
bedroom and perhaps not be seen until the next morning, but she is
supposed to help in serving the next day, which is the principal day
of the feast. A large amount of rice-beer is consumed, often result-
ing in what we should consider both unseemly and unseasonable
quarrelling. When all the guests have left, and after the lapse of
some days, the bride and bridegroom have to pay a return visit to the
bride's home, which is an occasion for more feasting. Altogether,
with the expenses of entertainment, the bridal price, various fees or
presents, etc., a Lisu wedding is an expensive affair, often costing
several hundreds of rupees.
Polygamy is rare among the Lisu, not so much from principle as
for economic reasons. Probably no Lisu would ever take a second
wife while his first was living if he had children already by the first.
It is considered a great calamity to be childless. Sons are more
prized than daughters, and if a man is unfortunate enough to have
several daughters but no sons he will usually adopt a son-in-law into
his family. When this is done, the son-in-law is said to '' shang
men"(Ch.).
Elopement is quite common in some districts, but scarcely heard of
in others. When it occurs the parties concerned are as often married
as unmarried persons. They will run away together to a place at
least a day or two's journey from their village, and will remain there
until, if possible, the case has been settled in their absence by the
payment of a fine by the man's relatives to the woman's parents or
husband as the case may be. Sometimes the couple remain in the
village to which they first ran away to hide ; in other cases they
return, somewhat shamefacedly, to their own village. If the woman
in the case be married, her husband may pursue and kill the eloper,
but this is not often done ; it is more usual to settle the case by fining
the eloper and allowing him to keep the woman. Less trouble is
caused by the elopement of unmarried young men and girls, but even
such cases are looked askance upon by the Lisu generally, and, we
'may say, rightly so. However desirable it may seem from a European
point of view that the young people should be allowed to choose their
own partners, and however great the saving effected by the avoidance
of all the ruinous feasting and nuptial red-tape incidental to an
orthodox marriage, it remains that it is not the best type of Lisu who
( xi )
elope. Nor do they always " live happily ever after." Elopers are
those whose morals before eloping are, to say tVie least of it, doubtful,
and they are not always faithful to each other subsequent to their
elopement. The best type of Lisu, with his genuine respectability
and with the wholly admirable pride common to honest and in-
dependent country-folk, would be ashamed of having obtained his
wife in anything but the recognised way. It is deemed unfilial for a
son to do anything but abide by the parent's choice for him* and we
may agree that — for him at any rate — his views are sound on a subject
where, if anywhere, East is East and West is West.
Slavery is unknown among the Lisu. No Lisu, however poor,
would sell his son or daughter to an outsider even for a large sum of
money, and the sentiment of the race is against even the mild form of
slavery practised by the Chinese and Kachins.
As regards Government the Lisu have little or no independent
territory and are subject to the domination of the Chinese, Kachins,
or other races in the vicinity of their villages. They are as a rule
docile, and patient under injustice. Though influenced so much by
the Chinese they have no love for them at heart. They have a
tradition of the first Chinese supplanting the first Lisu and gaining an
ascendancy over him, reminding one of Jacob robbing Esau of his
birthright and they are looking for the coming of a Lisu King who
will win back the ascendency for them. Needless to say, they are too
few and scattered ever to be a serious menace to the Chinese. Some
Lisu living in Chinese territory have been conscripted into the
Chinese Army, but the Lisu do not naturally relish military service..
The ten or eleven Lisu who served with the British Army in
Mesopotamia seem, however, to have rendered a very good account,
of themselves.*
Protestant mission work among the Lisu has been successful out
of all proportion to their numbers, though the work has not, up-to-date,
been developed very far. The Lisu, though timid and superstitious,
are not loth to cast away their demon-worship and put themselves
under the wing of the missionary. Their motives, at first, are largely
temporal: they have confused ideas of becoming immune from sick-
ness, prosperous in making a living, etc., of learning to read and write
and thus gain an ascendancy over the Chinese by becoming Christians.
But however earthly and temporal their motives may be, they are
genuine as far they go in the great majority of cases, and the
missionary finds their vague hopes of betterment a good stepping-
stone to its higher realisation. In the east of the province of Yunnan,
about a thousand families of Lisu are under Christian instruction,
and along the Burma frontier near Tengyueh and Longling
some six hundred families. These are connected with the China
Inland Mission. In Burma there are about a hundred Lisu families
who have embraced the Christian faith in connection with the
American Baptist Mission. These are located in the Myitkyina
District and the Northern Shan States.
* See pamphlet entitled "The Yawyins " by Major C. M. Enriquez.
HANDBOOK
OF THE
' LISU (YAWYIN) LANGUAGE.
(J. O. Fraser, China Inland Mission, TengyUeh, Yiinhan.)
The dialects of Lisu represented in this handbook are those of
the T^ngyiieh and Longling districts (China), and Myitkyina, Bhamo
and the Northern Shan States at least. How far this handbook will
represent Lisu as spoken in east and central Yunnan, the districts of
Putao, Mogok, and the Southern Shan States, I am unable to say :
it will probably, however, be fundamentally correct for these also.
It is the result of several years' study of the language in the district
of T6ngyiieh, Yunnan (near Bhamo and Myitkyina). The word
" Lisu " is used uniformly, both for the people and their language, in
preference to the word " Yawyin " ; for the former is the people's own
word for themselves, whilst the latter is the not very complimentary
name given to them by the Kachins and Burmese (it is evidently a
corruption of the Chinese "ie ren " = wild men, savages). The
Chinese refer to them as " Lisaw." The Lisu language is allied to
the Lolo dialects of Yunnan, and will be found to resemble Burmese *
in not a few particulars. It has been said that the Lisu language
resembles Yunnanese — the Chinese dialect of the province of Yunnan.
This is a mistake. It is undoubtedly true that the Lisu — even those
who cannot speak a word of the Chinese language as such— use a
large number of Chinese words in their ordinary speech, but these
are evidently of comparatively recent adoption. In the Upper
Salween district, where the Lisu are more independent and less
influenced by the Chinese than they are further south, few Chinese
words are used. It is the uniform testimony of the Lisu who live
around Lat. 25 N. that the Lisu living in the upper reaches of the
Mekong, Salween, and N'Mai Hka (which large sections of territory
the Lisu look upon as their " old home ") use no Chinese words, and
that their language is a " well of Lisu undented." The Chinese words
used by the Lisu living further south usually express ideas connected
with civilisation, for which the Lisu in their primitive state would
have little use. They are the " Norman " words of the Lisu language :
the pure "Anglo-Saxon" Lisu words resemble Burmese far more
than Chinese, and Lisu should be classed with the Kachin dialects in
the Burmese family of languages.
Table of Sounds. — Below is given a list of the initial and final
letters which combine to form Lisu words. It should be mentioned
that no Lisu syllable has a consonantal ending (not even the Chinese
ng), and as the language is here treated as monosyllabic every Lisu
word may be said to be the simple combination of a consonant and a
I
( a )
vowel. There are few polysyllabic combinations in Lisu in which
the component syllables may not be used separately or in other
combinations ; hence it seems best to regard every syllable as a
separate entity and indicate polysyllabic combinations by hyphens.
It goes without saying that the descriptions of the sounds given below
are only approximate; they should be learnt from the living voice.
iV i For the sake of the greatest possible simplicity in teaching Lisu
Christian converts to read and write, missionaries on both sides of the
frontier have agreed to use a specially simplified script. Each initial
(consonantal) or final (vowel) sound has a Roman (capital and unorna-
mented) letter assigned to it. Owing to the necessity of using thirty-
eight such letters some have had to be inverted and given arbitrary
values. These letters are given below by the side of the letters as
used in this handbook : —
!
i
i
i
i
B
P
d
D
T
JL
G
K
J
C
3
Z
F
M
N
L
S
R
A
X
w
Y
O
V
H
V
E
3
b
P
hp
d
t
ht
g
k
hk
J
ch
hch
dz
ts
hts
m
n
1
s
r
ng
sh
w
y
h
h'
hh
(W) v
a
a
As in English.
Unaspirated p.
Aspirated p.
As in English.
Unaspirated t.
Aspirated t.
As in English.
Unaspirated k.
Aspirated k.
As in English.
Unaspirated ch.
Aspirated ch.
As in English.
Unaspirated ts.
Aspirated ts.
" ^-As in English.
Nasal h.
Guttural h.
As in English. It is not always clearly
pronounced, however, and sometimes
resembles it.
As in "father."
As in " cat."
As in " yet." In combination the y is some-
what suppressed.
As e in " get " but pronounced with lips
puckered.
As ee in " deed."
u
u
n
ii
rgh
a
a
rgha
rghe
( 3 )
i' ... The plain colourless vowel sound used when
pronouncing the consonants " ch,"
"ts," etc.
O aw ... As in "law." Many Lisu words have vowe
sounds somewhat between this "aw"
and the long" o" (as in "go"). They
are difficult to distinguish and so not
indicated here.
oo as in " boot."
. Rather like u in French " du."
A plain guttural- vowel sound, difficult to
describe. Approximated in involuntary
retching.
Do. plus a.
Do. plus e.
Notes on Sounds. — (i) The consonants /, ch and hch followed
by the vowels a, o and u are often changed to dz, ts and hts respec-
tively, especially in Burma. Where this pronunciation obtains sha is
usually pronounced sa. In some districts si is pronounced shi. It
must be borne in mind that much in this handbook is subject to
differences of dialect.
(ii) The words/?, chi and hchi could equally well be written
gyi, kyi and hkyi respectively.
(iii) The words si, dzi, tsi and htsi are often pronounced like
si, dzi, tsi and htsi respectively. In one village known to the writer
all the old people make a distinction between these sounds) but the*
young people none. The difference is only a slight one in any case,
the " i " here being scarcely a pure " ee " sound.
(iv) The words waw, wu and yi resemble re-inforced vowels, i.e.
41 aw-aw," " uu " and " ii" respectively, and the w and y should not
be given consonantal emphasis. The simple vowels aw, u and i, like
a, e, i and ii, only occur in combination with consonants or in their
nasal forms. When, however, re-inforced (as above) they only occur
alone, with the one exception of the .word " nyi " (day, two, etc.)
which must be carefully distinguished from the word "ni" (evil
spirit, red, few, etc.).
(v) In some districts be s pe and hpe are pronounced bye, pye
and hpye respectively.
(vi) '*« slurred" which has a definite grammatical force to be
explained (§8 ) should neither be given its full sound value nor
entirely omitted. In this handbook it will be represented by " (a) " ;
in the script devised for the use of the natives it is represented by a
short dash at the foot of the letter.
(vii) With the exception of " a " and "rgh" no simple vowel
sound can stand alone in Lisu except in its nasal form. E.g. the Lisu
cannot even pronounce d, e, i, aw and u as they stand, 'whereas when
given a nasal pronunciation (represented herein by an inverted
comma after the letter) d' means a duck, / to scoop, i to rap, aw' to
swell and it' to count. A and rgh have their nasal forms also, a' mean-
ing to halt and rgh' to hover. But no nasal vowel ever combines
with aconsonant (see, however, note on V belotv) in a pure Lisu word.
( 4 )
Such combinations may always be put down as Chinese words ending;
in n or ng corrupted to nasal sounds ; e.g. kwa' = to control (from
Chinese kwan), law' = to meet (from Chinese long), Taw' — a clan
surname (Chinese Tong), etc. All Chinese words are indicated in this-
handbook by " (Ch.) " after the word.
(viii) A somewhat nasal sound is given to the tetter n in the
words nya and nwa, but it seems scarcely worth while to represent
this.
(ix) The consonant h has three values, plain, guttural and nasal,
represented by A, hh and h' respectively. Nasal words with h might
equally well be represented by a plain h and a nasal vowel ; e.g.
h'a (soul) could be~ equally well written ha' ; hi (house) written hi' ,
etc. In other words it makes no difference whether the nasal inflec-
tion is referred to the consonant or to the vowel, but if it is referred
to the consonant (as in this handbook) the above rule (vii) is left
intact.
(x) There are no consonantal endings to Lisu words. Every
Lisu word — regarding Lisu as a monosyllabic language — consists of a
vowel sound with an initial consonant. Hence the paucity of sounds
(there are only about 250 separate sounds iu the Lisu syllabary)
compared to Chinese or Kachin, and the consequent need of care in
pronunciation, intonation and rhythm. The Lisu language is not a
very rich one, perhaps, but it is not an easy language to speak
correctly either, partly for this reason.
. Ton&s. — There are six tones in Lisu: two upper, two middle, and
two lower. In this book they will he indicated by numbers at the
right-hand top corner of the word. They are as follows : —
. First tone ... High and even. E.g. ma 1 = to teach;
cha T =to feed (animals) ; sha' = difficult!
, Second tone ... Abrupt, rising, tone. E,g. htsye 2 =stag;
hkaw 2 =to break in two; ti 2 = to soak.
.. Third tone ... Medium, even, tone. E.g. jaw 3 = to fear ■
daw 3 = to go out ; hpu 3 = to open.
., Fourth tone ... Very slightly lower than the third. E.g.
jaw* = to have ; dawt = to drink ; hpu4 =
white.
: Fifth tone ... Low, even, tone. E.g. ma 5 =not ; baw s =
deaf ; hku s '=to steal.
; Sixth tone ... Low, abrupt, tone. E.g. ma 6 = soldier;
hta 6 = to scold ; ji 6 = to sew.
The punctuation marks as given above are those used by the
missionaries to represent the tones in the native script. The equals-
( — ) sign is in that system arbitrarily employed as a punctuation
mark.
In their use of Chinese words the Lisu generally mutilate the tones
as well as the pronunciation. This mutilation is, however, systematic
The two " even " tones in Chinese, " shang p'ing ",and " hsia p'ing,"
are hot changed, being given the third and sifcth Lisu tones respec-
tively, of which they are equivalents. The Chinese oblique tones.
are, however, changed as follows: the Chinese " shang sheng"
becomes the Lisu fifth tone ; the Chioese " ch'ii sheng " the Lisu first,
and the Chinese," ruh sheng " the Lisu second. It is very remarkable
that the Lisu in using Chinese words distinguish between the Chinese
" hsia p'ing" and "ruh sheng" tones, whilst the local Chinese them-
selves make no such distinction. In most parts of central and, eastern
China the distinction is observed, however, and will be found in any
Chinese dictionary.
The learner is strongly recommended to learn all the tones in
Lisu and use them. They are at least as important in Lisu as they are
in Chinese — certainly more important than in the Kachin languages.
Ambiguities will occur frequently if they are neglected ; e.g. wu* = to
buy, wu s = to sell ; sa 1 (as pronounced in some places) = difficult,
sa 4 = easy; Waw 4 = Bear (clan name), Waw 5 = Vegetable (clan
name) ; a 2 taw 3 = uselessly, a 1 taw 1 = fire ; si 3 hpa 5 = owner, si* hpa s
= official, chief; nyi 1 nyi 4 = today, nyi 5 nyi 4 = two days; ngwa 1
nyi 5 ma 4 = two fish, ngwa* nyi 4 ma 3 = my younger sister, ngwa 5 nyi 4
ma 3 = the one pertaining to the fifth day ; etc-, ad inf.
No attempt has been made to represent accentuation, this being
best learnt from the lips of the natives. The following two sentences
will be useful when learning the language from the Lisu : —
hte 4 ma 4 a 1 shi 5 nga 4 law* ? = what is this ?
gaw 4 ma 4 a 1 shi 5 ta 1 ba 3 law 5 ? = what does that mean ?
GRAMMAR AND SYNTAX.
Intraductoxy Note. — In the outline of this Lisu grammar it
has proved inconvenient to adhere strictly to parts of speech as
•understood in English. The structure of a language such as Lisu runs
athwart the lines of English grammatical construction to such an
extent that it would be unnatural and cause needless repetition to
attempt to force it into an English mould. It would be confusing,
however, to use no system at all, hence the English parts of speech have
■been used as a rough framework. It is hoped that the peculiarities
-of Lisu idiom have been explained adequately without causing undue
difficulty to the beginner. Comparisons are frequently made with
Chinese andKachin (both Chingpaw and Atsi dialects) for the sake
of those speaking these languages, In the examples English words
not in the Lisu but necessary to make the meaning clear have been
invariably enclosed in brackets. Compound words have been written
.as separate syllables joined by hyphens, whether these syllables can
be used separately or not.
(i) Nouns.
(i) Number. — There is, generally speaking, no method of express-
ing the plural in Lisu : it has to be inferred from the context. The
particle bu* is sometimes used, but only for persons and with the idea
( 6 )
of definiteness included. It hence resembles the Chinese particle
"men," though the latter is used with pronouns, whilst 6u* is not ;
t.g.—
htaw s -rghe s saw 3 su 3 ("book study person") may mean " a
student" or "students"; whilst " htaw*-rghe s saw 3 su 1
bu 6 " means " the students."
a 3 -raw 3 lo 1 su 3 bu* (" sheep tend persons ") = the shepherds.
Ngwa'-pha* (" fish male ") = a man or men belonging to the
Fish clan, i.e. Mr. (or Messrs.) Fish ; Ngwa^hpa* bu* =-
the Fish clan, or " the Fishes."
(ii) Gender. — This is expressed by the suffix hpat or pa 1 for the
male, and ma 3 for the female (unless, of course, the gender is already
expressed by the nature of the word, as e.g. htsawt-pa'-ra* = man ;
ra 5 mrgh' s ra s = woman ; a 3 -bi 3 = boy; a'-mi 5 = girl, etc.).
With persons and birds Apa i is the usual male suffix; e.g. —
Hrghs-hpa* = Chinaman. Hrgh s -ma 3 = Chinese woman.
Hchaw 5 -hpa* = Kachin man. Hchaw s -ma 3 = Kachin woman,
a'-rgha'-hpa 5 = cock. a'-rgha'-ma 3 = hen.
etc.
With animals pa 1 is the usual male suffix ; e.g. —
a'-muS-pa 1 = horse. a'-mu^-ma 3 = mare.
a'-vaS-pa" = pig (male). a'-va^-ma 3 = sow.
etc.
(iii) Case. — (a) Nominative. — The subject of a Lisu sentence
usually precedes the verb. It is unindicated and must be inferred
from the context. When once introduced, the subject and even the
object are often omitted from Lisu sentences where the sense will
permit ; e.g —
ngwa 4 yi* ta 1 maw*(a) law 3 = I see (or saw) him, ,
ngwa 4 = I.
yi 1 = he or him.
ta 1 = objective particle (see below),
maw* = see [(a) used in affirmation].
law 3 = a final particle.
If there was no doubt regarding the pronouns referred to, they
might be omitted as follows : —
yi 1 ta 1 maw'(a) law 3 = (I) see him, or
maw 4 (a) law 3 = (1) see (him).
The subject.and object may be transposed, though it is not usual
unless the object is to be emphasised or qualified in some way ; e.g. —
hte 1 -ma* ngwa* nu*(a) law 3 = I want this {lit. this I want).
a-mu s gaw*-ma + ngwa* dz'p(a) law 3 = I ride that horse {lit*
horse that I ride).
( 7 )
Often the expletives nya* (Kachin gaw) and na* nyi* (Kachin
chyawn gaw — see § 8), whilst devoid of grammatical force in them-
selves, halp to make the subject of the sentence stand out in clearer
relief. This is especially the case where there might be ambiguity
with the possessive case (see Possessive Case below) ; e.g. —
ngwa 4 nya 3 a'-mu* dzi>'(a) law 3 = I ride (a) pony.
If the nya 3 were omitted the sentence might mean " (he — or other
subject understood) rides my pony," for. the possessive pronouns are
the same as the personal : —
ngwa 4 nya 3 yi' ta" maw 4 (a) law 3 = I see (or saw) him.
In the case of transitive verbs the particle lye 3 (in some districts
la 1 ), denoting agent or instrument, is sometimes used especially when
emphasis or distinction is desired ; eg. —
yi 1 lye 3 a'-nga 6 hti« hka' sye 6 kaw 3 = he has killed a buffalo.
yi 1 = he.
lye 3 denotes agent.
a'-nga 6 = buffalo. *
hti s = one.
hka a = classifying particle (used with numerals) for
large animals.
sye 6 = to kill.
kaw 3 denotes perfect tense with some verbs.
(b) Accusative. — The direct object of a vtrb is usually followed
by the particle td 1 (Kachin hpe) : —
yi 1 ngwa 4 ta' drgh*(a) law 3 = he strikes (or struck) me.
ngwa 4 a'-yi 6 ta 1 ba 3 grgh* = tell ray elder brother {lit. my elder
brother . . . say give).
"This particle is often omitted, however, with neuter objects and
in common expressions of a general nature. It seems impossible to
lay down a rule as to when it should be used and when not : —
si'-dzi 3 hke a = to cut' down trees (lit. trees cut down).
h'i 4 ye 3 = to build (a) house (lit. house make).
la s -htsaw 4 hwa 3 = to look for a man (lit. man seek).
(c) Dative. — Jhe indirect object of a verb — " to " or " for " any*
body or anything — is followed by the same particle td: —
ngwa 4 ta* ru 4 ta.' grgh s la 4 = bring it to me (lit. me to take
bring give come).
ngwa 4 ta 1 wu s grgh 5 la 4 = sell (it) to me (lit. me to sell give
come).
ngwa 4 ta 1 wu 4 grgh* la 4 = buy (it) for me (lit. me for buy give
come).
( 8 )
In these examples note how the word v grgh? " (give) i& used in
an auxiliary sense. This is quite common, e.g. ba 3 grgh* {lih say give)
= tell ; ma 1 grgh* (teach give) =? teach, etc.
Where a direct object a* well as an indirect object occurs in the
sentence the direct object comes first : —
a'-nyi* ngwa 4 la 1 gaw* grgh* 14* = lead the cow (here) to me
(or for me) \_lit. cow me to lead give come].
a?--bi 3 hte 4 -ma 3 ngwa 4 ta x grgh* la 4 = give me this boy (boy this
me to give come).
(d) Possessive.— It is usual, and more correct, to use the third
person singular pronoun (yi 1 ) after the noun to indicate possession :
La. s -Mas-Ta* yi' a'-muS = La-Ma-Number-One's pony.
A'-y^-si* yi 1 hchis-hpa' = Elder-Brother-Number-Four's foot.
a'-rgha 1 yi 1 ni*-ma 3 = the chicken's heart.
In indefinite expressions the yi is omitted. Comp. the last two
examples with the following : —
la^-htsaw* hchiS-hpa' = a man's foot,
a'-rgha* ni a -ma 3 = chicken's heart.
ngwa 4 -nu s dye 3 -mi« = our (irrigated) fields {lit. we fields) ; nu 4 -wa«
ba a -ba« = your (pi.) father {lit. you father) ; yi'-wa* dza*-ma 4 -si' s =
their paddy {lit. they paddy).
In a predicative sense, however, either rgfa (in some districts
grgfc) or td'-ma 3 is used : —
hte 4 -ma 3 nya 3 ngwa 4 rgh s nga 4 law 3 = this is mine.
gaw 4 -ma 3 yi' ta'-ma 3 ma* nga 4 = that is not his.
as-ji* nu 4 -w« ta'-ma 3 lye* ngaw 4 * = (it) all belongs to you only
{lit. all you belong only is).
Td l -ma 3 can be used in a non-predicative sense : —
Ngwa'-Lye' ta'-ma 3 ma s maw 4 = (I) don't see that belonging
to Fish-Numbar-Two {i.e. the second brother of the Fish
family).
(e) Instrumental. — As stated above the particle lye 3 (or la 3 ) is
used to denote the instrument as well as the agent ; e.g. —
a'-hta* lye 3 hch'i 3 sye 6 = to hack to death with the dah.
ma 4 -da 3 lye 3 pi' = to carry with (a piece of) bamboo.
* Ngaw is a contraction of nga* law\
( 9 )
(f) L&cative.-^ Bath -the ideas of position (at, in) and motion
4owards (to) are expressed- by the particle kwa 3 (Kachin de) : —
.Sye 3 -Kai 3 * kwa 3 tya* law*. = (he) is at Bhamo.
yi* h'i 4 kwa 3 dza 4 dza* tya 1 law 3 = (he) is eating (his) rice in
his house {lit. his house in rice eat is- present).
Sa 3 -Ya 3 -Kaw 3 kwa 3 jyeMaw 3 = he went to Myitkyina' [lit.
Sayakaw to go).
(g) Ablative. — "From" is expressed by kwa 3 bye 3 (or kwa 3 bd 3
ic some districts) : —
Hche 5 -Le 3 -Mu 5 kwa 3 bye 3 la* law 3 = (I) have come from
Tengyueh.
(iv) Formation of Verbal Nouns. — 'a) The chief method of
•forming nouns from verbs is by the addition of " (a) ma 3 ." The "( a )"
is omitted if the verb is in the negative ; e.g. —
/ htsaw 4 -bye* baw 3 = to photograph (lit. write man-picture).
\ htsaw^bye 5 baw 3 (a) ma 3 = photography.
{rghe'-la 6 mu 4 = to trade, do business.
rghe'-Ia 6 mu 4 (a) ma 3 = business, trade.
a'-hta* lye 3 hch'f 3 sye 6 krgh 3 (a) law = (he) hacked (hirri) to
death with (a) dah.
a'-htas lye 3 hchi' 3 sye 6 krgh 3 (a) ma 3 nga 4 law 3 = (it) was e a
with-dah-hack-kill affair.
i
The Lisu are fond of this idiom and will often use it in preference
■to a direct statement ; e.g. instead of paying " h'i 4 kwa 3 lye 6 jye* na*
law 3 " = (we) "had better return home," they will often say : —
" h'i 4 kwa 3 lye 6 jye 4 na a (a) ma 3 nga 4 law 3 " = " it s a had-better-
return-home (affair)."
Verbal nouns formed by the addition of " (a) ma 3 " may be
abstract words, or may refer to persons or things, or the " (a) ma 3 "
may be added to adjectives as well as nouns. When they refer to
persons or things they are not so definite as those formed by the
addition of su 3 and du 3 respectively (see below) ; e.g. —
yi 6 mrgh' 3 tya*(a) ma 3 (a) bye 3 hwa 1 hchi 5 (a) ma 3 = those who
are asleep and those who are awake.
wuS(a) ma 3 ma* t nu 4 ; raw 3 (a) ma 3 lye s nu 4 (a) law 3 = (I) do
not want big (ones) ; (I) only want small (ones).
sya 6 ma s jaw 4 ma 3 ma* jaw 4 = there are no weak ones (lit.
strength-not-have ones not have).
* A corruption of the Chinese '' Sin-Kai" (new street).
f Ma' = no, not. The tone should be learnt correctly. In some districts
'this is pronounced " n " like the Kachin, and probably influenced by it.
( io )
Sometimes, though rarely, " du 3 -ma 3 " is added instead of " (a)
ma 3 "; it is somewhat stronger and more definite than the latter : —
yi' ye 3 du 3 -ma 3 = what he did.
htsaw 4 jaw 4 wa s jaw* du 3 -ma 3 = all mankind (lit. man-have-
man-have-ness).
(*) The " one who," " person who ....," is expressed by the
addition of su 3 * ; e.g. —
jye 4 su 3 ma s jaw* =» there is no one going (lit. go person not
have).
maw 4 su 3 jaw 4 (a) law 3 = there were people who saw (it)
(lit. see-persons have).
If, one wishes to speak of a person who does a definite thing by
trade or profession hpa* is sometimes used instead of su 3 . It is male
and usually singular: —
hwa s ga 6 hpa s = a hunter (lit. flesh-chase-er).
htaw s -rghe s ma 1 hpa s = a teacher (lit. book teach-'er).
ni* hpa s = a wizard or priest (lit. spirit-er).
Either su 3 or hftf can sometimes be added to adjectives ; e.g.—
wu s su 3 = (the) big people.
da 4 hpa s = a brave or clever man.
(c) The object of a verb (" a thing to ....") or the instru-
ment by which it is done ("a thing to ... . with ") is expressed by
th"e particle du 3 ; e.g. —
dea s = to eat ; dza s -du 3 = a thing to eat ; food.
gwa s = to wear ; gwa s -du 3 = a thing to wear ; clothes.
a'-shi' ba 3 -du 3 ma s jaw 4 = there is nothing to be said (lit.
" what [or any] say-thing not have).
mi 3 -na 3 ma 5 -du 3 = a thing to plough with ; a plough (lit. earth
plough-thing).
htaw 5 -rghe* baw 3 -du 3 = a thing to write with-; a pen or pencil
(lit. paper write-thing).
This particle is thus the opposite of su 3 , which denotes the
subject, du 3 the object, of a verb ; e.g. tsi 3 = to command, control,
"order about," etc.; tsp-sti 3 would mean the person who commands,
tsi 3 -du 3 the person commanded, for du 3 can sometimes be used for
persons as well as things.
Du 3 can sometimes be used in a causative sense (" a thing to make
you ... . ") ; e.g.—
wu s -la 4 du 3 = a thing to make one grow (lit- big come
[= grow] thing).
htye 4 la 4 du 3 = a thing to make one capable (or well-behaved).
* 5a 3 is often used to mean " others," " other people," in a general way ; t.g.
su 3 h'i> = others' houses, ether homes.
( II )
Dtt 3 is sometimes added to adjectives too ; e.g. —
bi 4 -du 3 = en ornament {lit. beautiful-thing, i.e. a thing used
for the purpose of beauty).
(d) " Place where" is expressed by the particle gu s ; e.g. —
pya^-nya' gu s ma* jaw 4 = there is no place to hide [lit. hide
place not have).
yi 1 tya'-gu 3 kwa 3 jye 4 la* = let us go to where he is {lit. he
present-place there go come).
With the prepositions kwa 3 (at, in, to) or kwa 3 -bye 3 (from), the
gu 3 is sometimes loosely omitted, or else a ma 3 put in its place. This
construction can then be used with adjectives as well as verbs; e.g. —
nu 4 tya 1 kwa 3 jaw*(a) law 3 = there are (some) where you live
(///. you present there have).
paw 3 la 6 -hkaw 4 kwa 3 ma s jye 4 ni 2 -sh'i 4 = (I) do not want to
go where (they) are fighting {lit. shoot each-other there
not go want). v
yi 1 tya' ma 3 kwa 3 jye 4 la 4 = let us go to where he is ... , the
ma 3 here replacing the gu $ ... in ...the sentence above.
With adjectives : —
aS-hkrgh 1 htsa 4 (a) ma 3 Ifwa 3 tya 1 ny 3 , shi 4 ma 5 srghe 1 = if (we
were to) live in a very hot place, perhaps (we should) die— »
lit. very hot there live if, die not know.
a 3 ti'(a) htu 4 (a) ma 3 kwa 3 htaw 6 = tread where it is rather
thick (lit. a little thick there tread).
{e) "Occasion for" is sometimes, though not very often,
expressed by the particle " prgh 1 " {lit. "end ") ; e g. —
sya 6 Ia 6 -hkaw 4 prgh 1 ma*. jaw 4 = there is no occasion for
quarrelling {lit. breath each-other occasion not have).
yi 1 h'i 4 kwa 3 jye 4 prgh 1 ma s jaw 4 = there is no occasion for
going to his house (lit- his house there go occasion not
have).
(2) Pronouns.
(i) Personal, — I = ngwa 4
you (sing.) = nu 4
he, she, it = yi 1
we = raw 5 , ngwa 4 -nu s
you (plur.) = nu 4 -wa s
Chey = yi'-waS
There are no dual pronouns in Lisu. The two words for the first
person plural have different uses, and must be carefully distinguished.
( 12 )
Haws includes the. person addressed; ngwa^-nu 1 excludes Mm. This
rule is invariable and may apply to any number of persons. E.g. if
yoju. and your two Lisu, servants, are out together and r one of them says
to you, " raw« nyi* raw 3 . . . ," etc (we two), he means, you and he ;
if he says, « ngwa 4 -i "" ' ' n ' "'"" " f ,w ' m
i.e. the two Lisu. i
for " we Lisu, " vvhi
among themselves.
The plural pronouns are sometimes corrupted to a'*-ttu s , na s and
yaw'-wat respectively, but these should be avoided by the learner. _
The third person singular pronoun is often used after the subject
of a sentence to add definiteness. With common nouns it often has
the force of the definite article : —
La s -Ma*-Sa 3 yi' ma« srghe' = La-Ma Number-three does not
know,
a'-mu* yi 1 ma* dza* = the horse does not eat (it). If the^t'
were left out in this sentence — "a*-mu s raa s dza* " — it
might mean " a horse does not eat " or "horses do not
eat."
As stated above i'in){d) pronouns in Lisu have no possessive case
as they have in Chinese and Kachin, the simple personal pronouns
being used to indicate possession.
(ii) Reflexive. — For "self" or "selves" after a personal
pronoun, tsV-hchyaf> or chi 1 -hchya i ape used. This seems to be a
corruption of the Chinese ts'i-chi, or ts'i-hchi as it is pronounced in
the Tengyiieh District ; e.g. —
ngwa 4 -nu* chi 1 hchya 5 jye\a) law 3 = we are going ourselves.
(iii) Demonstrative. — The demonstrative pronouns are :—
hte 4 or a-hte 4 = this.
gaw 4 = that (on same level as speaker) .
nye 4 = that (above level of speaker).
je 4 = that (below level of speaker).
The two latter, though frequently used, are not so common as
gaw* which is often loosely employed where nye or je* would be more
correct. A-hte'* differs from hie* in its generally being used without
a noun to qualify, and in its meaning anything right in front of one's
eyes. * Possibly it is the equal of the Kachin " n'dai," hte' corre-
sponding to the "dai."
The demonstrative pronouns in Lisu, unlike Chinese, Jinghpaw
and Atsi, follow the nouns they qualify ; e.g. —
a'-va 6 htc 4 -ma 3 = this pig.
h'i 4 gaw 4 -ma 3 = that house.
a-hte-ma 3 yi 1 ma> dza s = he doesn't eat this.
* It is also used alone as an interjection : "There you are 1" " I told you so 1 " etc.
( 13 )
The derrionstrative pronouns cannot stand alone. An adjunct of
some kind must be affixed, the commonest of which is the ma 3 given
above, tite^-ma 3 for 'this' and gaio^-ma 3 for 'that' are very
commonly applied to objects of any kind in a loose way, afid may be
either singular or plural. But when definiieness is desired, or a
number stated, the number plus the appropriate classifying particle *
should follow the demonstrative pronoun, after which ma 3 may then be
omitted or inserted at will ; e.g. —
la 3 -htsaw 4 hte 4 ma 3 = this man or these people ; la 3 -htsaw^
hte 4 hti 3 raw 3 (ma 3 ) = this man (in particular).
a'-mu 5 gaw 4 ma 3 = that horse or those horses ;' a'-mu 3 gaw 4 "
hti 5 hka 3 (ma 3 ) = that (particular) horse.
h'a 4 -mi 4 nye 4 Mi* Ik 6 (ma 3 ) = that " taungya " up there.
dye 3 -mi 4 je 4 hti 3 hpu 4 (ma 3 ) = that (paddy) field down there.
mrgh' 3 hte* nyi 5 daw 3 (ma 3 ) = these two rolls of cloth.
htaw 5 -rghe 3 gaw* sa 3 hpya 1 (ma 3 ) = those three sheets of paper.
As as { that } isex P ressedb y{ gaw 4 } ' - hchi3: —
hte 4 mya 3 hchi 3 (ma 3 j = as many as this,
hte* wu ! hchi 3 (ma 3 ) = as big as this.
gaw 4 rgh 5 hchi 5 (ma s ) = as far as that.
Or it could be expressed dv using the phrase 1 „ 4 J hkrgh 4 hchi 3
= t0 {that} eXtent '^-
hte 4 hkrgh 4 hchi 5 wu 5 (a) ma 3 h'i 4 = a house as big as this.
gaw 4 hkrgh 4 hchi 3 rgh 5 (a) ma 3 ja 3 -gu 3 = a road as long as that.-.
(iv) Interrogative. — What? = a'-shi 5 ; e.g. —
yi* a'-shi' 5 la 5 -'htsaw 4 nga 4 law 5 = what man is he ?
nu 4 a'-shi' 5 ye 5 tya 1 law 3 = what are you doing?
Note the tone of the final particle law, which is law 3 in "affirmative
sentences, law s in interrogative.
In non-interrogative form a'-shi" = any, anything, whatever,
every, everything (with negative), no, nothing, etc., according to
context : —
a'-shi' 5 na 4 jaw 4 nya 3 , na'-htsi 6 daw 4 = if (you) have any disease,
drink medicine.
a'-sh'i 3 (a) mi 4 da 4 law 5 = anything will do.
a'-shi' 5 jaw 4 nya 3 a-shi' 3 grgh 5 la 4 = give (me) whatever yom
have (lit. what have what give come).
* See next section on Numerals.
( 14 )
a'-shi's si* dzi 3 (a) mi* yi» hpyaS ne*(a) law 3 = every tree gives
forth leaves.
a'-stm(a) mi* srghe 1 (a) law* = (he) knows everything,
a'-sh'i^a) mi* ma s srghe 1 = (he) knows nothing.
Who? = a s -ma*: —
a 5 -ma* lye 3 ba 3 grgh* la* law* ? =• who told (you) ? {lit. who —
say give come — ?),
as-ma* tya 1 laws ? = who is there? (/it. who present ?).
In non-interrogative form a*-ma* = anyone, whoever, everyone
{with negative), no one, etc : —
as-ma* la* nya 3 , " h'i*-si 3 -hpa* ma* tya 1 " ba 3 grgh* = if anyone
comes, tell (him) that the master of the house is not at
(home' 1 .
a-'-ma* gaw* le 3 ba 3 (a) mi*, ngwa* ma* j'i* = whoever says so,
I do not believe it.
a*-ma*(a) mi* srghe 1 (a) law 3 = everybody knows (it).
a 5 -ma*(a) mi* ma s srghe 1 = no one knows.
Which? = a 3 li 3 -ma 3 . This by itself may be used as an equivalent
for as-ma* = who ? (a 3 -l: 3 ? = how ? )
nu* a 3 -li 3 -ma 3 nu*(a) law 5 ? = which one (or whom) do you
want ?
« a 3 -li 3 -ma 3 ji*(a) law* ? = which one is best? {lit. is good).
When, however, it is desired to be more definite — " which ....
in particular ? " — the idiom of "this" and "that" (above) must be
used ; e.g. —
aMi 3 hti s raw 3 ma 3 ? = which (particular) person ?
aMi 3 hti 5 hpya 1 ma 3 ? = which page (in a book) ?
a 3 -li 3 hti s hkaw 2 ma 3 ? = which garment, blanket, mattress, etc.?
a 3 -h 3 hti s chu s ma 3 ? = which particular kind ?
As with the expressions a'-s/ip (what) and a s -ma* (who) a^h^-ma 3
is also used in the affirmative to mean any . . . . , every . . . . ,
no , whichever .....: —
a 3 -li 3 hti* h'i* ma 3 kwa 3 jye 4 (a) mi*, hti 5 lye 3 lye* ngaw* = it is
the same whichever house (you) go to [lit. which one house
there go -ever, the same only is) ; ngart>* is shortened from
nga* law 3 .
a 3 -li 3 htis chuS ma 3 (a) mi* da* law 3 = any kind will do.
aMi 3 htft raw 3 ma 3 (a) mi* gaw* le 3 ba 3 = every (individual)
person said so (/*'/. which one person -ever thus say),
etc.
" What sort of ? " = a 3 -Ii 3 -lu 3 shi* :—
a 3 -li 3 -lu 3 -shi'S la'-htsaw* nga* law s ? = what sort of a man is he ?
( >5 )
Similarly "this sort," " that sort, " (spoken in a general way), are
hti* li 3 sh'p snd^gaw* le 3 shft respectively : —
»
hte*-le* shi"* nga* law 3 = it is this kind of thing (or affair),
gaw* 164 shi* ma* jaw* = (I) haven't got anything of that sort.
(v) Relative Pronouns.— There are none in Lisu, but they are
expressed by the addition of ma 3 , forming a verbal adjective ;
' g —
a s -nyi* baw 3 (a) ma 3 htsaw* bye* = the photograph which (I)
took yesterday {lit. the yesterday-written picture).
a*-nyi*shis hta* tya'(a) ma 3 la* htsaw* = the man who was
here some days ago {lit- the, some-days -ago here-present
man).
a 3 -saw* yi 1 saw 3 tya J (a) ma 3 htaw s -rghe s = the book which he
was studying j'ust now {lit. the just-now he studying book).
Where in such cases the ma 3 makes tfie whole preceding clause
adjectival, the (a) precedes it, but it is difficult to detect it when the
word it follows ends in ' a' too.
(3) Numerals and Classifying Particles.
{a) Cardinal Numbers.-
—These are :-
1
.. htis
23 ••
. nyi s tsi 3 sa 3
2 .
. . ny t 5
30 ••
sa 3 htsi*
3 •
. . sa 3
40 ..
. li 3 htsi*
4 •
,. li 3
100 ..
. htis h'ya*
5 ■
. . ngwa 5
IOI
. htis h'ya* htis
6 .
, . hchaw 6
102
. htis h'yd* nyi 2
7 •
. . ehis
103 ..
. hti* h'ya* sa 3
8 .,
,. h'i 6
lib ..
. htis h'ya* hti* htsi*
9 •
.. ku 1
in
. hti 3 h'ya.* htis htsi* hti 3
10
.. htsi*
112 ..
. htis h'ya* htis htsi* nyi*
11
.. htsi+ti 1
200 ..
. nyis h'ya*
12
, . htsi* nyi*
300 ..
. sa 3 h'ya*
13 •
, . htsi* sa 3
1. 000 ..
. hti« tuj
14 .,
,. htsi* li 3
1,001
. htis tu 3 hti 3
20 ..
. nyi s tsi 3
1,100 ..
. htis tu 3 hti* h'ya
21
. nyi s tsi 3 hti 5
10,000 ..
. htsi* tu 3
22 ..
. nyi s tsi 3 nyi 2
Notice the irregularity of 11 which is htsi* ti J instead of htsi* hti*,
also 20 (hence 21, 22, etc., also) which is nyi* tsi 3 instead of Hyi* htsi*.
All the rest are regular. The number one is used for the indefinite
article " a."
Like demonstrative pronouns and adjectives Lisu numerals follow
the noun ; e.g. —
a'-vi 6 hti* ma 3 = a pig or one pig.
dza* hpu* sa 1 law* = three baskets of rice
( 16 )
Lisu numerals up to a hundred (and often above a hundred) cannot
stand alone. Some kind of suffix has to be attached. .The commonest
of these is the adjunct maK It would be well if the learner wore to
memorise the numbers with this adjunct affixed ; e.g. i = hti 5 ma 3 ;
2 = nyi s -ma 3 ; 3 = sa 3 -ma 3 , etc. This is the way the Lisu themselves-
usually count
a'-rgha 1 hti^-ma = a chicken.
a'-na s sa 3 -ma 3 = three dogs.
shi' s -sh'i 3 nyp-ma 3 = two watches.
grgh s pa 3 ngwa s -ma 3 = five carrying baskets (fine woven and
covered).
And so for many other common articles.
Like Chinese, Atsi, and some other languages in this part of Asia,
however, the Lisu language uses many other numeral suffixes beside
the adjunct ma 3 . They are used for distinction and may be called
classifying particle?. They correspond to such English words as
" three f-ieces of cloth," " four sheets of paper," " two blades of grass,"
etc. Generally speaking every article has its appropriate classifying
particle which should be used correctly if the speaker is to be readily
understood. Unlike ma 3 , which is a mere colourless adjunct, these
classifying particles often carry meaning with there and are used in
other connections; e.g. most large animals, from the goat upwards ,.
take the particle hka? : —
a'"-nga 6 hti s hka 2 = a buffalo.
* a'-mu 5 nyi s hka 2 = two ponies.
la s -ma 3 sa hka 2 = three tigers, etc.
Persons need raw 3 , hence :—
la s -htsaw+ sa s -raw 3 = three persons.
Hchaw s -hpa s hti s -raw = a Kachin.
raS-mrgb'S-ra nyi s -raw 3 = two women.
Fruit of any kind (and other things usually small and round) need
sp ; e.g.—
nga'-si* hti s -si s = a banana.
siMichr* hti$-si' s = a pear.
a'-rgha'-hu 3 hti 3 -s'i s = a hen's egg.
Clothing, bedding, etc, often take hkav> z l hence : —
bu'-htsi' 5 htis-hkaw 2 s= a coat.
yi4-bu 3 nyi s -hkaw 2 = two blankets.
And so on* for all the other classifiers, a list of which is given
here : —
Persons ... ... raw 3
Brothers .,. ... shi 1
Father and son ... paMa*
I i7 )
Mother and son
'Grandfather and grandson
Husband and wife
Wives
Animals (big) ...
Sheet (of paper, etc.)
Garment, blanket, etc.
Road, long thing
Piece of
Tree
Pencil, gun
Stick
Time, occasion ...
Village
Length, section of
River
Stream
Mouthful, sentence
Kind, sort
Fruit, anything globular
Coin, bowl
Grass, hair
Field (irrigated)
„ (dry)
Book
Fireplace
Garden
Cloth (roll of) ...
Parcel
Spot, place
,, (where seed is sown)
Room in house ...
Meal
Shower of rain ...
Lifetime
Work (day's) ...
Turban, hat
Trousers
Nap (sleep)
Heap (as of grain)
Pile (as firewood)
Stack (straw)
Set {e.g. coffin boards)
Pair
One of pair
End
Side of
Change . .
Harvest, crop ...
Plain
Gully
Mountain range
ma 3 -la* .,.
piMi*
ma 3
mrgh'*
hka J
hpya. 1
hkaw 3
die"
hku 1
dzi<
htrghe 3
da 3
• hwa a , hkaw !
hka a
hte 3
law* or du s
keo 3 (Ch.)
hkrghs
chus (Ch.), shi* or ji«
si*
hpa 5
cha 3
hpu 3
14*
pa' (Ch.)
be 6
be*
daw 3
hte s
taw 1
tsaw*
kaw 3
dza s
dzaw*
zi«
wa s
tsu'
rgh 6
me 3
pe 3
ju s
hpa a
dzye 6
dzye«
baS or hp4 3
prgh 1
hche s or hpaw"
lrgh»
pa 3
pa» (Ch.)
hku*
chi»
( i8 )
Downhill ... ... ra'
Uphill ... ... ta'
Half ... ... brgh*.
Step ... ... htaw*
Load (man's or animal's) ... rghe*
Man's height ... ... h'i*
Length of hand ... (la 6 ) hta 4 "
„ „ outstretched arms baw 3
,, „ stride ... hha s
,, „ gunshot ... paw'
Handful of (single) ... la 6 chaw 3
„ „ (double) ... la«je*
„ ,, (held in one hand) mya'
„ „ (clenched in fist)... nya*
Bundle of ... ... hrghe*
„ „ (paddy sprouts) .,. tu 1
Basket (grain) ... ... law*
Basketful (small, carried on
back) . . . ne'-te*
„ (large, carried on
back) ... hka'-tu*
Pinch of ... ... htsu 3
Cupful of ... ... krgh 1
Jar of ... bya*
Bamboo-cylinder-ful ... htu'
(Copper), rice potful ... ji*-be<
etc., etc.
It should be remarked that the use of some of these classifying
particles varies with different dialects, 1 and in the same district more
than one classifying particle may be used with the same article to-
express different meanings ; e.g. —
{htaw* rghe* hti* pa'* = a book.
htaw*-rghe s hti* hpya" = a sheet of paper.
If the learner is ever in doubt as to the appropriate classifying;
particle to use for any particular object, he may fall back upon the
adjunct ma* without doing great violence to the idiom of the language.
This ma* may be used, at a pinch, with almost anything; e.g. "a 1 -
nga* hti 5 -ma 4 " (a buffalo), though not so correct as " a'-nga 6 hti J -
hka a ," is at least intelligible ; similarly " la*-htsaw* hti*-ma*" (a man)
instead of " la 5 -htsaw« hti* raw 3 "; "nga 5 si* htis-ma* " (a banana)
instead of " nga'-si's hti s -si*," etc. In such cases a native will usually
give the correct word in his reply : this should be listened for and
imitated. These classifying particles are perhaps better " picked up "
than systematically learnt.
The learner should be careful, however, to use these particles
correctly where<relationships are concerned. Brothers and sisters, or
cousins of the same clan to almost any degree (who are reckoned as
" brothers and sisters " by the Lisu) should be referred to as " nyi* sbi 1 ,
sa s shi', li 3 shi 1 ," etc., according to number. When a person of the
generation above is with others of the generation below him they are
( 19 )
enumerated as so many fa.*-ltfi or ma*-/** according to the sex of
person of senior generation ; e.g. a father and his two children would
be three "paMa*" (sa* paMa s ), whereas a mother and her three
children would be four " ma'-la* " (li s ma'-la*). Father) mother and
three children would usually be referred to as " ngwa* ma'-la 5 ,"
though " ngwa s pa J -la J " would do equally well in this case. If three
generations are represented, e.g. grandfather (or grandmother), father,
mother and three children, they would be called six " pi*-li s "
(hchaw* pi'-li s ). This expression is used when none of the inter-
mediate generation are present, e.g. a grandparent and grandchild
are " nyi* pi'-li*." It should be remembered that it makes no
difference, in these expressions, whether the brothers, sisters, grand-
parents, etc., are strictly so from a European point of view, or whether
they only reckon so as being " co-generational " members of the
same clan.
To refer to father and son, or uncle and nephew, as " nyi*-raw J "
(" two persons ") would not quite accord with Lisu ideas of propriety.
The seniority (of generation, not necessarily age, fox the senior by
generation may actually be the junior in years) should be recognised.
Especially is it necessary to be careful in the use of " nyi s -ma* " (two),
which when referred to persons means husband and wife. To refer to
a brother and sister, or to a man and woman not related to each
other, as " nyi s -ma«" (a " couple") would be very undesirable.
(b) Ordinal Numbers. — These are expressed by the cardinal
numbers followed by hti* (= one, but in this connection equivalent to
the definite article), both taking the appropriate classifying particle,
the last of which is strengthened by the adjunct ma* ; e.g. —
sa* raw 1 hti s raw 3 ma< = the third man (lit. three men the
man),
shi* nyi< hti* nyi+ ma' = the seventh day.
ngwa s che 1 hti* che a ma* = the fifth line (on the page).
Observe that if the adjunct ma* is omitted, the meaning is
quite altered, e.g. —
sa s raw 3 hti 5 raw 3 = one man in three.
sbi s nyi* hti s nyi* = one day in seven,
etc.
The first two ordinals, '' first " and "second, "are not expressed
according to this rule but by " yi'-wu' " {lit. the head) and '' ka'-na 1 "
{lit. after) respectively ; e.g. —
The first (man) = yi'-wu J htis ra w 3 (ma*),
The second (man) = ka'-na 1 hti* raw 3 (ma*). The ma* may be
omitted from these.
As in Chinese, the ordinal numbers are not used in expressing the
days of the month, or the months of the year (see appendix).
(4) Adjectives.
Lisu adjectives usually follow the noun ; e.g. htsaw* ji« = a good
man; a'-mu* na 3 = a black horse ; mu*da*-ma« = big place.
( 20 )
Sometimes, however, especially when qualified by such words as
" v%ty," " rather," etc., adjectives may precede the noun, the adjunct
»i«» being then affixed. The Lisu idiom is thus identical with the
Kachin, the Lisu ma* being equivalent to the Kachin at; e.g.—
yi 1 na s ji«(a) ma 3 las-htsaw* nga« law 3 = he is a good man.
aMi'(a) wu*(a) ma 3 mu* nga* law 3 = (it) is a rather big place.
a*-hkrgh' bi«(a) ma 3 h'i« nga« law 3 = (it) is a very beautiful
house.
When used in affirmative sentences the final particle l*w 3 is added,
as in the above examples ; when negatively this particle is omitted
{this rule applies to verbs also ; see § 5) ; e.g. —
yi' na 5 ji 4 (a) ma 3 -la s -htsaw* ma s nga* = he is not a good man.
aS-hkrgh 1 bi+(a) ma 3 h'i* ma* nga« = (it) is not a very beautiful
house. It would be quite incorrect to say " ma* nga<
law 3 " for " (it) is not . . . "
Sometimes Lisu adjectives are repeated and the particle mu s
added. This aiakes the meaning more vivid, and may be compared
to the English "-like " and "-ish " (e.g. " poiu ted -like " instead of
" pointed ";" roundish " instead of " round ");e.g. —
re s -re* mu 3 ta' law 3 = wide open, slaring (of eyes). Ta 1 = to
be (in any state or condition).
hpa*-hp4*mu 3 (ta 1 law 3 ) = bandy-legged.
Ia 6 -du s -du5-mu 3 = without hands (lit. hands "stumpy").
Sometimes the last word of a verbal expression is repeated (see
Miscellaneous Idioms) to form an adjectival phrase; e.g. —
a'-shi s ma s hkaw* = quite all right, nothing the matter with,
etc. (lit. anything not matter) ; hence
a'-shi* ma s hkaw 4 -hkaw« lye 6 -jye* law 3 = (he) went back quite
all right. The repetition of hkaw* makes the phrase
mean" in-a-quite-all -right-condition," " quite-all-right-y."
a'-shi* ma 5 ta J ta' lyeMa* law 3 = (he) came back without
bringing anything (lit. anything-not-bring-bring come
back). The sentence " a'-shi's-ma*- ta'-ta a " might be
crudely rendered "in a not-bring-anything condition."
Comparison of Adjectives.--(i) Positive. — Under this heading
will come the expression of equality — as much as, as big as, as far as
. . . , etc.
With certain adjectives denoting size, quantity, etc., the word
te % is used for " equal ; " e.g. te 3 wu 1 = of the same size (lit. equal
big) ; te 3 mu = of equal height ; te 3 sh'i' = of the same length ; te 3
rgh 3 = of equal distance ; te 3 mya" = equally many or much : —
hte*-ana 3 nya 3 , gaw«-ma 3 (a) bye 3 te 3 wu 1 nga* law 3 = this is of
equal size with that.
ngwa«-nu s hka a (a) bye 3 yi'-wa* hka a te" rgh* nga* law 3 = our
village is the same distance as theirs (lit. our village and
their village equally distant is).
( 21 )
Another construction is to use the particle he At' 3 (= about) and the
\ttbjaw* (= to have) : —
ngwa* a'-va 6 yi 1 a'-va 6 wu s hchi 3 jaw*(a) law 3 == my pig is as
big as his (lit. my pig his pig big about has).
wa*-chi 3 hte*-ma 3 wa*-chi 3 gaw*-ma 3 mu 3 hchi 3 jaw*(a) law* =
this mountain is as high as that.
Yet another construction, which, unlike the preceding, can be used
with any adjective whatever, employs the phrase htfi-lye 3 (the same
or together with) : —
hte*-ma 3 nya 3 gaw*-ma 3 (a) bye 3 hti*-lye 3 ji 4 (a) law 3 = this 'is
as good as that [lit, this . . . that with the same good).
a J -nyi s -hwa s nya 3 , a'-hchi -6 hwa*(a) bye 3 hti s lye 3 mi*(a) law 3 =
beef is as tasty as goat mutton.
(2) Comparative. — This is expressed in various ways, but, unlike
Chinese, the word for " compare " (ta 3 ) is seldom used. It is most
usual to state the subject of comparison first, the object next, then
some expression such as " si -3 -ma s -htsi+, hkrgh 4 -ma s -htsi+, ma J -htsi*,
hta ! -si," etc., then the adjective last of all ; e.g. —
hte^-ma 3 nya 3 gaw 4 -ma 3 si' 3 -ma*-htsi 4 ji 4 (a) law 3 = this is better
than that (lit, this . . . that than good).
dza 4 nya 3 , hkrgh*-sha 3 hkrgh* ma s htsi* mi*(a) law 3 = rice it
nicer (to„eat) than maize.
La* Mas-Ta 1 nya 3 , Ngwa'-Ta 1 hta.s-si* da 4 (a) law 3 = La-M4
Number One is cleverer than Fish Number One.
With simple adjectives expressing size, amount, etc., comparison
is often expressed by the adjective plus " ma*-htsi* jaw*(a) law 3 ."
It is the same idiom as that given above (positive comparison) except
that ma*-htsi* is substituted for hchi 3 ; e.g. —
hte 4 -ma 3 nya 3 , gaw*-ma 3 wu* ma s htsi 4 jaw 4 (a) law 3 = this is
bigger than that,
ngwa* h'i* nya 3 , ' nu* h'i* mu 3 ma s htsi* jayv*(a) law 3 = my
house is higher than yours.
yi 1 ra s -ne* ngwa* ra*-ne* mya 3 ma* htsi* jaw*(a) law 3 = he has
more children than I.
The expressions sp-ma^-htsi* and mat-htsi* may be used alone Jto
mean " more so." In a question and answer such as " Is this as good
aji that?"— "Yes, better!"— the answer would usually be given by
a Lisu "maS-htsi*!" or "s! 3 -ma*-htsi*! " omitting the adjective
' good. ' Or, e.g.— " I should think it was worth Rs. 100 u — " More
than that ! "—this rejoinder would be just expressed by " ma* htsi*l "
—whilst " much more than that 1 " would be expressed in the same
words but with added emphasis.
( *a )
A qualified comparison may be expressed by using the phrase
«« a' ti'(a) " (= a little) ; :g.—
hte*-ma« nya 1 , gaw«-ma» hta«-si' a'-ti'(a) ji*(a) law* = this is a
little better than that.
yi' hpu« nya 1 , ngwa* hpu* mya 1 a* ti'(a) ma< htai« jaw«(a) law 1
= he has a little more money (lit. silver) than I.
Similarly a strengthened comparison {much more, much better,
etc.) may be expressed by using t}-hkvgh l ( — very) : —
hte*-ma J nya 3 , gaw«-ma 3 hta*-si" a'-hkrgh' ji*(a) law 1 = this (is)
much better than that. If the " ma*-htsi " construction is
used, the same meaning may be conveyed by emphasising
the " ma*-htsi* " (see example above).
Comparison, as in English, may he inverted, in which case the
expression " hkrjjM-hchi 1 " (= to -the point of, to the degree of) is
used; t g. instead of saying " this is better than that" one may say
" that (is) not so good as this " : —
gaw 4 -ma 3 nya 3 , hte 4 -ma* hkrgM-hchi 5 ma s ji 4 (lit. that ....
this, to the degree of, not good).
Ngwa'-Sa 3 nya 3 , Naw J -Lye J hkrgM-hchi 1 ma* sha 1 = Fish No. 3
is not so poor as Bean No. 2.
nyi'-nyi* nya 3 , a*-nyi« hkrgh 4 -hchi 3 ma s htsa 4 = to-day is not
so hot as yesterday.
Or with adjectives expressing size, amount, etc. (see above) : —
gaw* ma' nya 3 hte* ma 3 mu s hchi 3 ma 5 jaw 4 = that is not so big
as this,
nu* h'i* nya 3 ngwa* h'i* mu 5 hchi 3 ma s jaw* = your house is not
so high as mine.
Further comparison, e.g. '' this is good but that is better," is
expressed by the phrases "myis-mya 3 , mya s -nyi 3 , ji*-hkrgh«," etc.,
according to dialect ; e.g. the last sentence could be rendered
" hte*-ma 3 nya 3 ji*(a) law 3 , gaw* ma* na s roya s -nyi 3 ji 4 (a) law 3 " : —
hte*-ma 3 mya s -nyi 3 nu'(a) law 3 = this is still softer.
raS-mrgh'Ma 1 gaw*-ma 3 mya s -nyi 3 bi*(a) law 1 = that girl is
prettier.
In such sentences as these last two the " mya s -nyi 3 " may be
Omitted and the comparison implied instead of expressed.
This idiorn, may be used with verbs too : —
•
wu'-htrghe^hte^-htiMsu'-ma 1 mya s -nyi 3 nu*(a) law 3 = (I) prefer
this turban (lit. more want),
a'-va'-hwa* mya'-nyi 3 d«a s ni*-shi 4 (a) law 1 = (I) prefer to eat
pork (lit. more like to eat pork).
( '3 )
The more the more is expressed by the repeti-
tion of " «»-hkrgh' " (very) :—
a'-hkrgh' myA', a'-hkrgh 1 ji« = the more the better (lit. very
many very good),
a'-hkrgh' tya', a'-khrgh 1 h'i 6 -mrghe 6 = the longer (we) stay the
hungrier (we) get (lit. very stay very hungry).
(3) Superlative. — The superlative is expressed by the use of
Ji a'-hkrgh'," plus the adjective, plus the adjunct ma s ; e.g. —
hte*-ma 3 nya 5 a'-hkrgh ji*(a) ma 3 nga* law 3 = this is the best
one.
Though this conveys the meaning correctly there is a possibility of
-ambiguity with " this is a very good one." To turn the sentence
round, e.g. —
a'-hkrgh 1 ji 4 (a) ma 1 nya 1 hte«-ma 3 nga 4 law 3 (lit. [the] very
good one — this is)
xemoves all doubt as to the meaning, and so is the preferable
construction. Similarly —
a'-hkrgh* wu'(a) ma 5 nya 3 , yi 1 nga* law 3 = he is the biggest.
a'-hkrgh 1 sya 6 jaw*(a) ma 3 nya 5 , Tsaw '-Si 1 yi 1 a'-nga 6 nga* law*
= Mr. Tsaw No. 4's buffalo is the strongest (lit. very
strength-have one .... Tsaw. Four his buffalo is). »
(5) Verbs.
Lisu verbs have no inflections, consequently variations of voice,
mood, tense, person, etc., are either expressed by suffixes or left to be
inferred.
(1) The simple past, present, or future tenses are expressed by
the simple verb, plus (affirmative only) the suffix "(a)-law 3 ." With
the past tense the " (a) " is often omitted ; e.g. —
ngwa«-nu' ye 3 (a) law 3 = we do, did, or will do (it) ; ngwa* nu'
ma' ye 3 = we do not did not, or will not do (it).
y'-wa' dza'(a) law 3 = they eat, ate, or will eat ; yi'-wa' ma'
dza' = they do not, did not, or will not eat.
The context is usually sufficient to determine the tense ; if not a
temporal clause may be inserted. The dropping of the " (a) " is
not invariable for the past tense, and in any case is difficult to catch in
ordinary conversation :—
gaw*-hta* ngwa«-nu' ye 3 law 3 = we did it then.
a'-ni'-shi' yi x -wa' dza' law 3 = they ate it over a year ago.
na'-h'a' ngwa«-nu' ye 3 (a) law 5 = we shall do (it) next year.
In this sentence the final law 3 might be changed to ngu?,
which particle implies futurity or indefiniteness, i.e. na'-
h'a* ngwa*-nu* ye 5 (a) ngu 5 .
( *4 )
(2) The continuous tense, past or present, is expressed by the
addition of tytf* (to be present, at, in, of persons). As *>» "»
simple tenses, time must either be inferred or expressed Dy a
temporal clause :— •
ngwa«-nu s ye 3 tya 1 law 3 = we are or were doing (it).
yi J -wa* dza* tya 1 law 3 = they are or were eating.
a*-nyi 3 ngwa4-nus ye 3 tya 1 law 3 = we were doing it yesterday.
shi 3 -nyi 3 yi'-was dza* tya 1 law 3 = they were eating the day
before yesterday.
(3) The Perfect Tense, in the affirmative, invariably adds the
vowel sound " aw " either to the verb itself or to its suffix. This
seems to be the only instance of inflection in the Lisu language,
unless " (a) " be regarded as such. In the negative, however, this
inflectional termination is omitted, and ma* sye* (not ....
yet) used : —
(a) With simple verb —
jyaw* ( = jye-aw) = (he) has gone; ma* j;e*syeS — (he) has
not gone yet.
law* (= la-aw) = (he) has come ; ma« la+sye* = (he) has not
come yet.
shi*-aw = he has died, or is dead ; ma« shr* sye* = (he) is not
dead yet.
(b) With suffix " krgh\"—M.zny verbs add the particle Argk'
(Kachin kau) in the perfect tense affirmative, whilst usually omitting
it in the other tenses and the negative ; e.g. —
dza* = to eat; dza* kaw*( = krgh 3 -aw) = (I) have eaten ;
ma* dza* sye* = (I) have not eaten yet.
ba 3 = to say; ba 3 kaw 3 (= krgh 3 -aw) = (I) have said; raa<
ba 3 sye* = (I) have not said yet.
trgh 3 = to plant ; trgh 3 kaw 3 (krgh 3 -aw). = (he) has planted ;
ma* trgh 3 sye* = (he) has not planted yet.
This particle krgh* is more firmly attached to some verbs, in
which cases it may be used with the negative as well as the affirma-
tive ; e.g. —
hpya'-krgh 3 = to pull down, destroy ; hpya'-kaw 3 (krgh 3 -aw) =
(I) have pulled down ; ma s hpya 2 krgh 3 sye* = (I) have
not pulled down yet.
hu 3 -krgh 3 = to send away; hu 3 -kaw 3 (krgh 3 -aw) = (I) have
sent* away; ma* hu 3 -krgh 3 sye* = .(I) have not sent away
yet.
* This idiom is often carried over by the Lisu and Kichins into their "pidgin"
Chinese, where it sounds rather 'ridiculous. It is never advisable, by the way, to
learn Chinese from any of these non-Chinese races, however fluently they may
t$eak it.
( *5 )
(c) The indefinite perfect is expressed by the addition of the
word nyi 3 in the negative and heilce nyiaw' in the positive. It differs
from the ordinary perfect tense in tfciat it usually refers to more or
less distant time : —
a'-mu s dz'i* nyiaw 3 = (I) have (at some time or other) ridden a
horse,
a'-mu* ma s dzi s nyi 3 sye s = (I) have never (yet in my life)
ridden a horsfe.
{jye* nyiaw* = (I) have been (there) — perhaps some years ago.
ma s jye* nyi 3 = (I) have never been (there).
rhtsaw*-bye s yi 1 ma s maw* nyi 3 = he has never seen a picture
y (lit. man-likeness).
"l ngwa* na 5 maw* nyiaw 3 = I, however, have seen (one) ....
(_ at some time or other.
It should be observed that in none of the examples of the perfect
tense given here is any temporal clause included. If it were it would
practically change the perfect into a simple preterite; e.g. —
jyaw 4 = (he) has gone ; a 3 -saw'-na 6 jyaw 4 = (he) went just
this morning.
dza s kaw 3 = (I) have eaten ; a 3 -saw'-lye 5 dza* kaw s = I ate
(it) just now.
a'-mu* dzi' s nyiaw 3 = (I) have ridden a horse; a s -ni 2 hti* hwa"
a'-mu ! dzii s nyiaw 3 = (1) rode a horse once last year {lit,
last year one time, etc.). •
(4) The Imperative. — In the positive, and when there is no idea
of motion toward the speaker, the simple verb is used ; e.g. —
jye* ! = go ! a'-mi' jye ! = go quickly !
yi 1 ta 1 grgh 5 ! = give it to him !
In some districts the word Jia s is used as an imperative suffix with
such sentences. It makes the command more peremptory; e.g. —
jye*(a) ha s ! = go at once !
yi 1 ta 1 grgh s (a) ha* ! = give it to him at once !
The only verb in the Lisu language which has a special imperative
form is la* (to come) which in the imperative is Id*; e.g. —
ngwa* la*(a) law 3 = I come ; but —
hta* la* ! = come here !
a'-mi 1 la* = come quickly !
This Id* is often used as an imperative auxiliary to other verbs*
but only when motion towards or action in refertnce to the sfettoer
is concerned ; e.g. — "•»
ngwa* ta 1 grgh 5 la* \. = give it to m j !
ngwa*-nus ta* maw 1 grgh* la* ! = show it to us ! (lit. us to
show give come),
ngwa* ta J ba s grgh* 14*1 = tell me (lit. me to say give come),
(raw*) jye* &* 1 = let's go I . . . come on ! etc.
( «6 )
After any imperative verb, whether motion is toward the speaker
-or not, the particle otk* may be used. It softens tne command, and
gives it a familiar, coaxing, tone ; e.g.—
jye 4 mu 5 ! = please go ! — do !
yi 1 t4' grgh 5 mu 5 ! &> give it to him — please do !
ngwa 4 ta b4 s grgh 5 14* mu 5 ! = come now — tell me !
The negative imperative particle is Mat (Kachin hkum ; Atsi
M*):—
hta s jye 4 mu s ! = don't go, please !
hta 5 14* ! = don't come.*
yi' t4' hta 5 ba 3 grgh 5 ! = don't tell him !
In some districts and in some connections the particle md* is used
-as a suffix to the verb with the negative imperative. It pre-supposes
familiarity between the speaker and the person addressed and is,
perhaps, better not used by a European ; e.g. —
hta 5 jye 4 m4 6 !=don't you go, now !
a s -ma 4 t4' hta 5 ba 5 grgh* m4 6 ! = don't you go and tell any-
body, now!
(5) The Interrogative. — (a) Where a question has already been
put by an interrogative pronoun or adverb, the only change is in the
tone of the final law* which becomes law s (Burmese //; ; e.g.—
*
4Mi 3 -kwa 3 tya' law 5 ? = where is ihe)?
h'i 4 kwa 3 tya 1 law* = (he) is at home.
a'-shi 5 nga 4 law* ? = what is (it) ?
hpu 4 hti 5 hp4 s nga 4 law 5 = (it) is a rupee.
a s -raa' la 4 law 5 ? = who is coming ?
ngwa 4 hchawS-hpa* hti 5 -ma 4 la 4 law 3 = a friend of mine has
come {lit. my friend one comes).
The substitution of daw* for law* at the end of such sentences
emphasises the interrogative, being the equivalent of the addition of
4 ' -ever " to the pronoun or adverb in English ; e.g. —
a'-shi' 5 nga 4 daw 5 = whatever is (it) ?
a 5 -ma 4 b4 3 daw 5 = whoever said (that) ?
yi* 4Mi s srghe' daw 5 = however could he know ?
The word na s is used chiefly with 4 3 -/*" 3 (how?) to express strong
dissent ; e.g. —
4Mi 3 nga 4 na 3 ? = how can (that) be ? — meaning " nonsense !"
" impossible ! "
* The learner should be careful in the tone of the hta in this sentence, for
hta* Id* (come here) has a precisely opposite meaning.
( a7 )
(&) In a simple question expecting yes or no, the final particle
U> (Burmese /«,) in the place of the usual word law 1 renders it inter-
rogative. The negative form of the interrogative {e.g. isn't he . . . ?)
is more common than the positive (e.g. is he . . . ?) ; e.g.—
Ngwa'-Ta' ma* tya« la* ? = isn't (= is) Mr. Fish No. i in?
tya* law 5 = (yes, he) is in.
hta 4 tya* la* ? = is (he) here ?
hta 4 ma* tya' = (no, he) is not here.
nu 4 ma* maw 4 la* ? = didn't ( = did) you see (him) ?
maw 4 (a) law* = (yes, I) saw (him).
yi' ma* jye 4 sye* la* ? = hasn't ( = has) (he) gone yet ?
jyaw 4 = (yes, he) has gone.
Instead of using this /«*, which is the strictly correct interrogative
form, it is even more common merely to use the suffix " (aj " (or via*
when euphony demands it) after the verb. It is rather more abrupt
than the former, and here again the negative form is the more
usual : —
hpu 4 ma* jaw 4 (a) ? = have (you any) money ? (lit. " haven't.")
hti* nyi* hpa* jaw 4 (a) law' = (I) have a rupee or two.
gaw 4 -le* ma* nga 4 (a) ? = isn't that (/*'/. thus) so?
nga 4 law* = (yes, it) is.
a'-nyi* ma* maw*(a) ? = did (you) see the cow ?
ma* maw 4 = (no, 1) did not see (it).
jyaw wa* ? = has (he) gone ?
jyaw 4 = (yes, he) has gone.
yi 1 r4 6 -lyaw* wa* ? = has he come down ?
ma* ra 6 -lye+-syeS = (he) has not come down yet.
The " (a) " should be given a low tone in the above examples.
Other final particles connoting interrogation are na^da' or na i -
Ifa (in some districts n&day 1 , chya*-dayi or simply day' alone) ;
Pa 1 (a) ; nyi s ; »*' and syeK
Na s -dJ or na^-lfa rather expect the answer no ; e.g. —
ma* tya' na*-la* ? = oh, isn't (he) in ?
ma* jaw 4 na*-da* ? = (you) haven't got (any), then ?
Pa l (a) (Ch.) expresses a doubt in the speaker's mind as to the truth
of his statement, and asks your opinion : —
ma* nga 4 pa'(a) = surely (it) is not (so), is it ?
htsi 4 -raw 5 hchi 3 jaw*pa'(a) = there are about ten people, aren't
there ?
Nyfi or b&* merely ask for confirmation of a statement just
made : —
ma* srghe' nyi* ? = you say (you) don't know ?
ma* jaw* nyi* ? = you say (you) are not afraid ?
ma* wu 4 ba J ? = (you) do not buy, you say ?
( *8 )
Sjfe s or m'{Ch.) express expostulation : —
ya'-hpye 9 ma* hkwa 5 nya 3 , a'-ship dza* sye* ? = if (we) do not
plant opium, what do you expect (us) to eat ? (lit. opium
not dig . . . what eat . . ?).
jwa 4 ma* jye 4 nya* a 3 -li 3 -kwa 3 jye 4 syfeJ? = if (I) don't go down
there, where am (I) to go?-t'.?. I have no alternative.
htaw 4 -htsie 4 ma* jaw* nya 3 , a 5 -li 3 ye 3 ni* = if (I) haven't (any)
money, whatever do you think 1 am to do?
For other final particles and their uses see § 9
(6) Subjunctive. — Hypothesis is frequently expressed by the
elastic expression " law 3 -shi*-nga 4 -law 3 " after the statement : —
gaw 4 -ma 3 srghe 1 hla 5 na s , yi* h'i+ kwa 3 jye 4 (a) law 5 -shi s -nga-
law 3 = if (I) had known that, (I) would have gone to his
house.
a 3 -saw* yi'-waS ma s ru 4 ta* jye 4 gu 3 nya 3 , a 3 -mrgh' 3 jaw 4 (a) law 3 -
shi 5 -nga 4 -law 3 = if they had not taken them all away a
few minutes ago, there would be some now {lit. a-few-
minutes ago they not take carry go all ... , now have
might).
j*i 3 kwa 3 hti s -htrghe'-ra s du 5 -jye 4 na 3 law 3 -shi 5 -nga 4 -law 3 = I was
thinking of going into the market for a moment {lit.
market there a- moment enter good might).
• This expression is used not only of possibility, but of an idea in
the speaker's mind as opposed to actual fact ; e.g. —
bu 4 -htsi s hu 3 (a) law 3 -sh'i s -nga 4 -law 3 = the clothes seemed to be
dry. Here, as very often, " law 3 -shi=-nga 4 -law 3 " is not
affixed to a verb but to an adjective, the verb " to be "
being understood.
ji 4 (a) law 3 shi' s nga 4 law 3 = it would be or would have been
a good thing,
yi' hpyi ! -mya 3 ma* na 3 nya 3 , bi 4 (a) law 3 shi'5 nga 4 law 5 = if her
face was not (so) dark (she) would be pretty.
A curious turn is given to this expression by substituting kwa*
(some Lisu say " kwaMs'i'-ha 5 ") for the final law 3 , where it has an
adversative force = "but," e.g.— "ji 4 (a) law 3 -shi* kwa 3 " =
" it would have been a good thing, but "
a s -nyi 4 hti s hwa 4 la 4 na' la\v 3 -shi' s kwa 3 , syA 6 ma s jaw 4 nyi 3 ,
la 4 ma 5 hku 4 = (I) ought to have come once yesterday,
but I had no strength. and so was unable to come.
htaw 5 -rgheS saw 3 nya 5 , a 3 -hkrgh* ji 4 (a) law 3 shi* kwa 3 , ngwa*
ba'-tfas ma s saw 3 tsi 1 nyi 3 , a 3 -li 3 ye 3 ma« na 3 = it would be
a very good thing to study, but my father won't let me
and so 1 can do nothing {lit. " how do not well ").
(7) Potential Mood. — This is expressed by the addition to the
verb of auxiliary particles or phrases denoting ability, but with
( 29 )
different shades of meaning. In the negative ma* may precede the
verb or come between the verb and the particle.
(a) Kit 1 iru.ans simple ability, knowledge how to do a thing: —
{ngwa 4 ye 3 ku*(a) law 3 = I can do (it) or— knew how to do (it).
ngwa 4 ye s ma* ku 1 or ma* ye 3 ku 1 = I cannot do (it) ; do not
know how to do it.
mu 5 -gwa* bu 4 ma s ku 1 = cannot sing songs.
hchi 3 -ni 3 ma 5 drgh* ku* = cannot make sandals.
(b) Wa s has reference to time, leisure, etc. (in some districts hche s
—^[Chinese hcheng\ —is used iustead of wa 3 ) : —
ngwa* 'j we* ma s wa ! = I have no time to go.
yi* htsa* nyi 8 , gaw 4 mrgh' 3 tya' ma s wa 3 jaw 3 = he says he is
busy, and >o cannot stay that long (for javv s = *' he says "
-see § 8).
ngwa 4 -nu J htaw s -rghe s saw 3 ni a -shi' 4 law' ship kwa J , saw 3 ma*
wa 3 = we would like to study (books) but we have no
time (to study).
(c) Hku* has reference to resources — physical strength or money.
It may be used either alone or to strengthen the three particles given
below under (d), (e) and (/) : —
ngwa 4 na« ja 3 -gu 3 sye s hku 4 (a) law 3 = I {lit. as for myself I)
am strong enough to walk.
nu 4 nya 3 mi 5 ye 3 ma 5 hku 4 = you haven't strength to wojrk
{i.e. cultivation).
kaw a -yi s li s nyi 3 , ngwa 4 ta' ma s hku* = I can't lift (it), (it)
is too heavy (kaw'-yi* [Ch.] = too).
hka a nyi 3 wu 4 ma* hku 4 = (it is) expensive, so (I) cannot"
afford to buy (it).
hpu+ ma* jaw 4 hku 4 = we are (too) poor to have money (lit.
silver not have can).
(d) Ba*-la* has reference to accomplishment : the ability or other-
wise to "get through "a thing requiring considerable time or
numbers: —
h'at-mi 4 hie* hti* la 6 nya 3 , ngwa* htiS-maMu 1 hkwa 3 ba 4 la*(«)
law = I could cultivate (lit. dig) this patch of taungya
alone (lit. taungya this one patch— 1 alone dig can).
h'i* ma s ye 3 ba 4 -la 4 sye s = we haven't been able to build a
house yet (not enough people to help build — too much
other work on hand — insufficient store of grain to feed
builders, etc., etc.).
a'-mu s kaw'-yi s mya s nyi 3 , ma* law 1 baMa 4 =^here were (or are)
too many horses, and so (he) was not able to tend them all.
yi* na 5 si*-hpa 5 ma s ye 3 ba 4 -la 4 = he is not able («.«. has not the
intelligence, savoir-taire, etc.) to be a chief (for the use of
ntf see § 8).
nir
( 30 )
(e) Hpye'~!a< refers to the overcoming of a difficulty or to success
in any line : —
ngwa" na' ya''-re' (Ch.) ngaw' ma' saw' hp'ye* la 4 = I am
no good at (will never make anything at) learning tne-
foreigners' language,
u* nya 3 ma 4 -ju' hchi 3 -ni 3 drgh' ma' hpye«-la 4 = you make a
poor show at making [lit. striking) bamboo-bark sandals.
ia' ye 3 hpye* la*; hta' ye 3 tsi 3 = (he) will make a mess of it
-don't let (him) do (it) !
yi'-wa' gwa 3 -dzye* hpyeMa* ngu s = they will be able to come
to an agreement successfully (gwa'-dzye* = to consult
discuss),
maw' nyi 3 , htaw'-rghe' ma* saw 3 hpye 6 -la hku« = (I am) old.
and so will not succeed in studying (books).
Hpyt* la* is often used without a verb, the verb being under-
stood : —
ma' hpyeMa*! = it's no good ! (i.e. you will never succeed).
hpyeMaw* ! = (we; have succeeded !
hpye*-la* ngu 3 ! = it's going to be a success !
(f) Hwtf-lye 3 ( = to win), though an independent verb, is often
used as a potential auxiliary ; e.g.—
yi' ta 1 ba 3 ma' hwa'-lye 3 = you can't beat him in talk.
ngwa* ta 1 rgh 1 hwa'-lye 3 -aw = (he) beat me in wrestling.
maw 6 ta' ma' ye 3 hwa'-lye 3 hku* = (we) can't get the upper
hand of the weeds (lit. weeds . . . not do beat can).
Some few other particles, though not strictly potential, follow the-
same rules and may be given here : —
Z?«* = may. This is a very common word and is often used alone-;
e.g.—
da* ngu 5 = that will do ; that is enough, etc.
ma' da* = it will not do ; (you) must not, etc.
As an auxiliary particle it has the force of " may " in the positive
and " must not" in this negative : —
jye* da* law 3 = (you) may go (i.e. no one will forbid you),
h'i* na'-kwa 3 du'-la* da* law 3 = you may (are allowed to) enter
into the house.
gaw*-le 3 ba 3 ma' da* = (you) must not talk like that.
si'-si"' gaw*-ma 3 dza' ma' da* = that fruit is inedible (must not
be eaten),
yi' ta' maw* ma' da* = he must not (or cannot) be seen.
[The idiom for " must," " have to," in the positive, is " na*-ta' (or
ka*)-law 3 ," after the verb ; e.g. —
nu* jye* na*-ta'-law 3 = you will have to go.
h'a*-mi hkwa 3 na*-ta'-law = (I) must cultivate my taungya.
sa'-hkwa 3 yi 6 -ta' na*-ta I -law 3 = (we) must sleep in the night-
time.]
( 3» )
Hckt* in the positive = may; it denotes a loose concurrence
(" may as weJ) ") and is not so strong and definite as da*. In the-
negative it means" need not " ; *.£.—»
gawMe 3 ye 3 hch'r*(a) law 3 = (you) may as well do so.
yi 1 ta- ba 3 grgh* hchi«(a) law 3 = you may as well tell him.
ngwa« ta, 1 na 3 -nyi 3 hchi(a) law 3 = all right ! you may ask me I
jye* ma* hchi* = (you) need not go.
hpu 4 jaw*(a) hta 5 na ! , mi* ma s ye 3 hchr* = if (we) had money
there would be no need for us to do cultivation work.
Na* conveys the idea of convenience, expediency, desirability,
favourable circumstances, etc. ; t.g. —
yi 1 si 3 -hpa s ma ! tya' nya 3 , na 3 -nyi 3 ma ! na 3 = (we) cannot very
well make enquiries when the person concerned (lit. he
owner) is not at (home).
yi J a'-mi* ngwa* ra s -mrgh'* nga*nyi 3 , yi 1 h'i* kwa 3 jye* ma s na*
= as his daughter is my fiancee * it is not convenient for
me to go to his house.
h'u« hts'r* wu 5 na 3 law 3 == there is a good sale for hill-sesamum
oil (lit. hill-sesamum oil sell good),
maw* na 3 (a) bye 3 grgh s (a) law 3 = (I)' gave it to (him) in such
a nay that he could easily see it.
To use the adjective ji* (good) instead of the particle na? in the
foregoing examples would make the meaning stronger and add
definiteness, *>. whereas " jye* ma s na 3 " = it is not desirable to go,.
" jye* ma s ji*" would mean " it is bad to go," etc.
Under this heading comes the particle ckye 6 = "lucky to . . . ."
The Lisu have no word for " luck " in the abstract (though syd 6 -
mya 3 — lit. " life " may also mean fate or destiny) or even an adjective
exactly equivalent to "lucky." Often in their use of ma s ji* (not
good) a superstitious idea underlies their meaning, though not, oL
course, invariably. A European might understand a Lisu to have a
straightforward reason for saying that a certain course of action would
be wa* ft*, whereas it might easily be due to a mere superstitious
foreboding. It is easy to " think at cross purposes " with these
people.
No ambiguity, however, attaches to the particle chye 6 ; e.g. —
gaw 4 -le 3 ba 3 ma 5 chye 6 = it is unlucky to talk like that {e.g.
referring to one's death).
ra J -mrgh' s -ra s si 3 -dzi 3 da 3 ma s chye 6 = it is unlucky for women-
to climb trees.
ra s -ne 3 -ra s si 3 ma s chye 6 =.itis unlucky for children to whistle,
etc., etc.
* Lit. wife. The Lisu have no words for fiance and fiancie : a betrothed couple -
are "husband" and ''wife" though they may never have seen each other. In
any case a betrothal is practically as binding as a marriage. A betrothed couple
are bashful in each other's presence and avoid one another whenever possible.
( 32 )
(8) Causative. — To cause, allow, make (do), etc. = tsi 3 :—
hta s jye* tsi' = don't let (him) go.
ngwa*(a) ba« ngwa« ta' htaw s -rghe s ma s saw 3 tsi 3 = my father
will not let me study (books).
la« tsi' hchi'4(a) la*? = (you) tgfcy let (him) come.
Purpose is expressed by the conjunctive particle (a) bye 3 (see
4 ) ; e.g.—
nu* ta' maw*(a) bye' la+(a) law' = (I) have come for the
purpose of seeing you.
a'-mu 5 hwa'(aj bye 3 daw'-jye* law' = (he) went out to find
the horse,
nu* ta'dzas tsi^a) bye 3 ta' grgh s la«(a) law' = (I) brought (it)
here lor you to eat {lit. to make you eat {ir}).
na'-htsi 6 hte 4 -ma 3 nu 4 da* ye' tsi'(a) bye' grgh 5 daw*(a) law' =
(I) am giving you this medicine to drink to make you
hettet {lit. medicine this you better-get make purpose give
drink ; da* ye 3 is to recover from illness).
(9) Passive Voice. — This is frequently expressed by using the
instrumental particle lye 3 after the subject, using ta 1 with the verb
and making it a noun ; e.g. —
h'i 4 hte*-ma 3 nya', L&MaS-Sa 3 lye' ye' ta 1 ma' nga* law' =
this house was made by La-Ma No. 3 {lit. is La-Ma
No. 3's making),
si'-dzi' hte*-ma 3 nya 3 , To 2 -Wu s lye' trgh' ta 1 ma' nga* law 3 =
this tree was planted by Tong-No. 5.
mu*-k\va 3 mi 3 na 3 nya' = Wu* Sa* lye' chye 6 ta 1 ma' nga*
law 3 = heaven and earth were created by God.
(10) Participles. — The present participle is expressed by the
addition of tya 1 with animate and da* with inanimate objects after the
verb [see § 5 (2) — on Continuous Tense]. Sometimes, however, when
two verhs in the pres&nt participle occur in the same sentence they
are followed by nyi 3 ; e.g. —
a'-hta* de s -nyi3, paw' pi'-nyi* la* law' = (they) came wearing
dahs and carrying guns.
ngu4-nyi 3 a 3 hchya'-je'-nyi' ye'(a) law = (they) were weeping
and wailing {lit. [they] made a weeping and wailing).
Some verbs when used to imply continuous action or state affix the
particle htsa\ This, however, is not without exceptions, for htsa* is
sometimes used for the present imperative, and in some districts it is
not used at all
a'-myao» hte4-ma' h'a 2 hti« ma' hkaw 6 htsa a (a) law' = this cat
has a rat between her teeth {lit. is biting a rat)
yH-hkir-- kwa' chi'-htsa' tya 1 law' = leaning against the pillar
{lit. pillar there lean-ing present).
a»-ii s su' h'i 6 -htsa a tya 1 law' = all standing up.
h'i"«-htsa' 1 = stand up !
( 33 )
The use of /«* to express the past participle passive has already
been illustrated: It is sometimes used as a mere adjunct to the verb
to strengthen it ; e.g. —
na 3 -na* ta 1 ! = listen !
ma s tu* ta 1 ! = silence !
hchi 3 -ni 5 de s ta 1 law 3 = (I) have got (my) sandals on (hchi 3 -ni 5
= sandals ; de s = wear).
(i i) Verbal Auxiliaries. — (a) krgh* meaning " away," "finished,"
as a verbal auxiliary has already been mentioned [§ 5 (3)]. One or
two other such auxiliaries may be given here: —
(b) hkrgA* has the force of " go away " or " off " ; e.g. —
sh'i* hkrgh* lye 3 = to die ; shi* hkrgh* lyaw 3 = dead.
le 3 hkrgh* ye 3 = to roll away ; le 3 hkrgh* yaw 3 = rolled away.
hchye* hkrgh* yaw 3 = run away, absconded.
It may be used alone = to run away, but it is only used when
more or less annoyed, and is not very polite : —
a 3 -li 3 -kwa 3 hkrgh* yaw 3 , ma s srghe 1 ? = I wonder wherever
(he's) run off to ?
(c) Hu 3 has the meaning of "send" and conveys that idea in
combination : —
ngwa* ta. 1 grgh 5 hu 3 la*(a) law 3 = sent as a present to me {lit.
give-send),
wu* l£ 6 -hkwa 3 hu 3 la*(a) law 3 = bought and sent along (by
another person),
ngwa* ta 1 ba 3 hu 3 la* = send word to me.
(d) #'«*, like krgh*, conveys the idea of " away " : —
de s h'a 4 la s -hkaw* = to lay the blame on each other (lit.
mutually push away).
ru* h'a* krgh 3 = to put away, put aside.
(6) Adverbs.
Adverbs are generally formed by repeating the adjective and
adding the particle bye 3 ; e.g. : —
nu 5 = soft. nu s -nu s -bye 3 = softly.
shii 3 = long. sh'i 3 -shi' 3 (aw)-bye 3 = slowly (lit. long-ly}.
lis = heavy. li s -li 5 (a)-bye 3 = heavily.
rghe* = indistinct. rghe+-rghe+(a) bye 3 = indistinctly.
With compound adjectives the last word only is repeated ; e.g.—
ni z -ma 3 h'rgh* =^angry ; ni 2 -ma 3 -h'rgh*-h'rgh*(a) bye 3 = angrily
hchi 5 -du s law 3 ,= prompt ;£hchi s -du 5 -law 3 -law 3 (a) bye 3 =
promptly.
3
This applies to verbal adjectives also : —
chu«-yi' jaw* = wise, intelligent {lit. ideas have) ; chu*-yi J jaw*
jaw*(a) bye 3 = wisely, intelligently.
In a few cases the word is not repeated ; e.g. —
htsa'-bye = hurriedly ; trghe 6 -bye 3 = exactly; hprgha*-bye 3 =
from beginning to end, etc.
N.B. — There are just a few adverbs that cannot be fgrmed directly frorn their
corresponding adjectives as are the, foregoing, e.g. " quick " = ( tsrghe 9 , bu
" quickly " = a'-roi 1 o/ai-mi 1 (not tsrgheO-tsrgheMjye 3 ) j "slow " = hpi' (Ch.)
but "slowly" - shi 3 -shi 3 (aw)-bye»o»'a'nfaMraS)-bye3(Moi hpi s -hpr(a)-bye 3 ).
(i) Adverbs of Place ; Prepositions. — A miscellaneous list of
these is given below. Many of thern are followed by the locative
particle kwa 3 = at, in, to, (Kachin de) : —
Here (or hither) = hta* or hte*-kwa 3 .
There (or thither) = gw* or gaw+-kwa. 3 .
Up there = nwa< or ne*-kwa 3 .
Down there = jwa* or je-kwa 3
In the examples just given, the combinations with kwa 3 are
generally used when the object in question is pointed to; the single
words are somewhat less definite : —
• Where? or whither? = a 3 -li 3 -kwa 3 * (in some districts a 3 -kwa s
or a 3 -/« 3 ).
Anywhere; everywhere = a 3 -li 3 -kwa 3 (a)-mi 4 .
Everywhere ; all over = hti s -muS-hti^-mu s .
{Higher up = ga 6 -paw I .
Lower down = wu^-paw 1 or wuS-pe^-si 1 ).
f Above = hta s -si".
(. Below = na'-hkwa 3 .
/ Outside (a house) = ni a -sh'i 3 -ma 3 (of article) = hta^-si 1 .
X Inside = na'-(kwa 3 ).
/This side = hta*-bas.
(.That side = kaw 3 -ba s .
Alternative expressions for these two words are "hte* hti s hche s
kwa s " and " gaw* hti s hche s kwa 3 " respectively ; the word hche* refers
to the two sides of a thing, right and left, east and west, etc. " Hte*
htis hpaw* kwa 3 " and "gaw* hti s hpaw* kwa 3 " also mean "this
side" and "that side," but the word hpaw' means "to turn over," so
these expressions refer to two faces of a flat thing as, e.g., a piece of
* This expression may be split and any desired particular concerning locality
inserted ; i.g. —
a 8 -H 3 hti 6 h'r 1 kwa? = in which house P
a 8 -Ir 3 hti 6 hka 8 kwa 3 = in which village P
aS-li 3 hti' taw 1 kwa 3 ss in which spot? etc.
i
i
< 35 !
paper, garment, or even the two sides of a mountain range : —
On right-hand side = la 6 -ja 3 hti 5 hchi 3 kvysa 3 .
,On left-hand side = la 6 rgh 1 hti 3 hche 5 kwa 3 .
By the side of; next door = ba s -si\
In front of = hrgh'-hta 5 ; a'-va 6 si 1 ; or a'-muS-hta 5 si 1 .
Behind = ka 1 na'-si 1 ; krgh 1 tsi r (a).
In presence of = chaw 3 chi 3 (a).
Around = ga 3 -la 5 -ga 5 -ji, 4 (see Appendix) or chawMaw 3 .
With (in company with) = (a) -bye 3 .
Together = hti 3 -lye 3 bye 3 .
As far as = kwa 3 hchi 3 .
From = kwa 3 -bye 3
("North = law 4 -wu" ta'-si 1 kwa 3 {lit. river-head direction*).
: South = law 4 hchi 3 du 5 ta'-si kwa 3 {lit. rivejr-bottom direction).
J East = mi 5 -mi 4 daw 3 -hkrgh 5 kwa 3 [lit. sun-come-out-edge) or
; brgh 3 daw 3 hkrgh 3 .
West = mi 5 -mi 4 du 3 hkrgh 3 kwa 3 {lit. sun-enter-edge) or
brgh 3 da 3 hkrgh 5 .
Examples : —
gaw 4 ma 3 ht&si 1 kwa 3 krgh 3 -ta J = put it on top of that.
h'i4 vvu s pe 1 kwa 3 da 2 t law 3 = it is (on the slope) below the
house.
si 3 grgh 3 na 1 kwa 3 h|ju 4 htsi* hpa 3 da 3 f a) law 3 = there are ten
rupees in the box.
ngwa 4 la 6 ja 3 hti 5 hche 3 kwa 5 tya 1 la 4 = come here on my right-
hand side.
Bva 3 hpa 3 nva 3 ngwa 4 h'i 4 ba 4 -si' kwa 3 tya 1 law 3 = the Honey
family live next door to me.
gaw 4 hti 5 haw 5 ma 3 (a) bye 3 jye 4 hchi 4 (a) law 3 = you may as
well go with that crowd.
na'-yi 3 hta 4 ba 5 (a) mi 4 , Li 3 -Su 3 hka 2 hti 3 hka 3 jaw 4 (a) law 3 =
there is a village of Lisu on this side of the river too.
(ii) Adverbs of Time. — Many of these adverbs of time given
below may take the expression hti 1 chi 3 (the time), after them, just
as the adverbs of place may take kwa* : —
a'-mrgh' 3 = now.
a 3 -mrgh' 3 -hchi 3 ? = how long?
"a 1 hta 5 ? = when?
a I -hta 3 (a)-mi 4 = whenever, any time, always. Followed by
negative = never.
^gaw^hta 4 = then, at that time.
{^a'-hta 5 hti 5 chi 3 kwa'?* = at what (particular) time?
gaw 4 hti 5 -chi 3 kwa 3 * = at that (particular) time.
hta 4 (following a verb) = at the time of ; when ....
nya 3 (expletive) = often ; when
tsrghe 3 (Ch. tsai) = again.
sye* (at end of sentence) = yet; again.
* Owing 10 the fact that nearly all the large rivers in Lisu country flow from
N.toS. ; ta'-si 1 = direction.
t See Miscellaneous Idioms for the uses of da* and da*.
( 36 )
(htiS-ku^ma 3 ) or hta*-paw J = since.
hta*-paw" or tsi*-tsi J = until.
a s -hwa 2 = presently; soon.
hti s -htrghe a -ra s = a moment; in a moment.
hrgh'-hta* = before.
ka'-na'-si 1 = after(wards).
a+ne 1 (hta 4 ) = long ago ; in ancient times.
hti s -hwa s -hti s -hwa 2 (lit. one time one time) = sometimes, occa-
sionally.
hteMe 3 gaw 4 -paw" = henceforth.
a^-saw 1 (lye s ) = a little while ago (usually a few minutes
only).
hti 3 -htsi 6 -(le') or hti s -htsi 6 -hl.i s -pa I = for ever, perpetually.
Tna 6 = morning.
\ mawMaw 3 = day-time*
i mrgh' 5 -hkrgh 3 = evening (mrgh' s -hkrgh s -dzia J = dusk).
V.sa J -hkwa 3 = night.
na 6 -na 6 -hti5-ku' = very early in the morning.
mi s -hti 5 -ji+ (or shya 2 ) la* = dawn.
mrgh' 3 -hkrgh 5 -na 6 -te 3 = every morning and evening.
{nyp-na 6 = this morning.
a 5 -saw'-na 6 = just this morning.
a 5 hwa 2 mrgh' s -hkrgh s or nyi J -nyH mrgh' 5 -hkrghs = this evening.
a s -me 4 = yesterday evening,
shi' 3 -me 4 = day before yesterday evening.
sa'-na 6 = to-morrow morning.
{sa'-grgh 3 wa 3 -(nyi 4 ) or sa'-gw 3 = later on (days).
sa'-grgh 3 na'-ha 5 = later on (years).
f nyi'-nyi 4 = to-day.
j sa'-grgh s = to-morrow.
«{ wa 3 -nyi+ = the day after to-morrow.
j hpa s -nyi 4 = three days hence.
l__htsye 2 -nyi* = four days hence.
a s -nyi 4 = yesterday.
sh'i 3 -nyi 4 = the day before yesterday.
sh"i 3 -wu s -nyi 4 = three days ago.
a s -nyi 4 -sh'i5-nyi 4 = an indefinite number of days (but not years)
ago.
tsi'-ni 2 * = this year.
ni'-ha 5 = next year.
naw'-ni 2 = the year after next.
■{ a$-ni 2 = last year.
shi 3 -ni 3 = the year before last.
shl 3 -wu 5 -ni 2 = three years ago.
a s -ni 2 -sh'i s -ni 2 = an indefinite number of years a°-o (see
above).
* These forms may be used with more definite periods of time, viz.-
a^hta^ hti hkaw 11 hti B kwa 9 f = in which year P
gaw* hti 6 hkaw^ kwa9 = in that year.
a 1 -hta 5 hti 5 nyi* kwa 8 ? at which day P
gaw hti* nyi* kwa 9 = (on) that day. etc.
( 37 )
Exam f Us ; —
a s -mrgh' 3 hti* chi 3 jye* ma 5 wa J = (I) can't (haven't time to)
go just" now.
hchi 3 -la* ma 5 -hte 5 , la'-hpd'-tsa 1 la* law 3 = on (his) arrival (he)
at once came and shook hands (ma 5 -hte 5 = immediately
on . . . .).
waw 5 -hpya 5 sh'f 1 hte*-ma 3 a J -hta s hti 5 chi 3 kwa 3 trgh 3 (a) law 5 =
just when are these vegetable seeds (to be) planted?
ni 5 ye 3 hta*, nrgh'S-hwa 3 hti 5 -ma 3 -du 5 la* law 3 = while (we)
were offering to (lit. doing) the nats, a guest came in.
hte*-le 3 gaw*-paw J ma* jye* = (he) will not go after this.
ra 5 -ne 3 ma 5 h'i* sye 5 = (she) has not had any children yet. .
tsrghe 2 htis-hwa* 14+ sye 5 = come once again !
a 5 -hwa 2 hti'-htrge 3 -ra s nya 3 la 4 law 3 = (1) will come in a
moment (lit. soon in a moment),
hta* hchi 3 -la* tsi'-tsi 1 h'u 3 -ny& 3 sye 5 = wait until (he) arrives
here (lit. here arrive until wait yet).
yi'-htjH-le 3 jye* ! = go at once !
lye 6 -jye* htU-ku'-ma 3 sa 3 hkaw 6 jaw*(a) law 3 = it is three years
since (he) went back.
na 6 hti s -chi 3 nya 1 , a^hkrgh 1 ma 5 na* ; sa'-hkwa 3 na 5 a^-hkrgh 1
na*(a) law 3 = it does not pain very much (lit. very not pain)
in the morning, (but) it is very painful at night-
sa'-grgh 3 hti 5 -hwa 3 la* sye* ngu 3 = (I) will come again
another time (lit. to-morrow-one-time).
a 5 -nyi*-shi 3 lye 5 gaw*-le 3 b4 3 law 3 = (you) said so several days
ago (lye 5 = "only" — has here the force of "as long ago
as" et.al).
hti 5 -htsi 6 -le' htsaw 3 ma 5 na 3 pa T (a)? = (they) can't very well tie
(me) up for ever, surely ?
gaw*-hta* a 5 -ma 3 (a) ma 5 tya 1 = no one was (here) then.
In all the above examples note the tendency to omit the pronouns.
(iii) Adverbs of Manner. —
How ? = a 3 -li 3 or a 3 -li 3 -bye 3 -(si").
/Thus (in this manner) = ht€*-le 3 .
(..Thus (in that manner) = gaw* le 3 .
Very = a* hkrgh'.
Extremely (= very very) = a*-likrgh x bye 3 a*-hkrgh*.
Why? = a' shi" 5 -wu' (nyi 3 ) or a 3 -li 3 krgh 3 -lye 3 nyi 3 (= how has
it come about that ....?)
As . . . . as to . . . . ; so . . . . that = na 3 -hchi 3 .
Only = lye s .
For ; on behalf of = be*-rghe 3 or ta 1 .
Instead of = ti 3 -wei a (Ch.) (wu J -ju s has a slightly different
meaning and is only used with verbal nouns).
* This word nfl for year is only used in this and the following combinations.
The usual word for "yeai " is hkai»\
( 3» ')
Like; similar to (used with nouns too) = lye 3 -bye 3 (see
Miscellaneous Idioms for hfye*-rghe*).
Perhaps; possibly = ma* srghe 1 {lit. not know).
Well;properky =yi I -dzi 3 -(dzP)-(bye3).*
Uselessly ; to no purpose = a* taw 3 -(lye 3 ) (this should be
distinguished from a 3 taw 1 = fire).
Easily = sa*-sa 4 -bye 3 .
Really ; truly = ma* krgh 1 {lit. not deceive) or a^-chi'-thcni*)
orchi 3 -chi 3 (Ch.).
Examfles : —
a 3 -li 3 ba 3 law* = what did (he) sa> ? (lit. how say?).
a 3 U 3 bve 3 ye 3 ta 1 la« s = how was it done?
yi'-dzi' 3 ba 3 grgh ; la* mu 3 = tell (me) properly now !
fen 3 (Ch.) haw 3 (a) mi* a 3 -taw 3 -lye 3 nga*law 3 = it is quite useless
even though you apply manure.
nu+ a 3 -chi' jye* ni 2 -sh'i 3 nya 3 . . , . = if jou really want to
6° • • • •
gaw* le 3 nga+, ma 3 srghe 1 = ii may be so ; perhaps it is so.
ngwa* baw 3 (a) ma 3 lye 3 bye 3 baw 3 na+ ta 1 law 3 = (you) n.ust
write like me (lit. I write like must write).
' a 1 shi' 3 wu 1 ngwa 4 ta 1 ma 3 ba 3 grgh 3 la* = why did jou net tell
me?
htaw s -rghe 3 hte+-ma 3 nu+ bg*-rghe 3 nga* law 3 = this tetter is for
you.
To 2 -Lye 3 ti'-wei* Tsaw 3 Lu" jye* na+ ta 1 law 3 = Tsaw No. 6
must go instead of Tong No. 2.
mrgh'4ngc 5 -le'(a) ma 3 nya 3 , chya 3 -prghe 3 -hwa 2 (a) ma 3 wu'-ju 3
nga* law 3 = dumb-show serves the purpose of conver-
sation.
(iv) Adverbs of Quantity. — The prefix a 1 , a 3 , or a 3 (according
to meaning) is characteristic of these, AcAr 3 being usually added to
the interrogative forms: —
a 3 -mya 3 -(hchi 3 ) ? = how much or many? It may also be used
relatively + ».!*(= however many or much) or correlal < «
lively (as many .... as).
a 3 -wu 3 -hchi 3 = how big?
a s -rgh 3 -hchi 3 = how far ?
jetc, for many other adjectives. Note that the tone of the adjective , ,,
changes to agree with the interrogative particle a 1 by a kind of tonal
synesis.
ye 3 -hpa 3 (Ch.) = so much the more.
kaw'-yi 5 (Ch.) = too.
hchi 3 Vr ga 3 -la 3 -ga s -ji* or wu'-dB 3 (= head) = about.
mu 3 = of sufficient sire (or quantity) to
* This yii'dei 3 can be also used as an adjective (ae "proper"), i.g. yi'-dzP
ma 3 hti' 1 ma 9 nga 4 law 8 = (it) is a real proper one.
( 39 )
» c ■ ' ' '• ,
It would be appropriate to state here -that tbe Lisu expressions
for "how much.?*' "how big? " "how far? " etc. (given above) may
bectime strenjgflieBeff aHjectrves by a 'st ill' ttifthSf change of tone.
Strictly these stioiiia not Be given under Adverbs of Quantity, but jt is
convenient to insert them here ; e.g.—
{
a 3 -mya 3 hchi 3 jaw 4 (a) law* = how much (or many) Js there?
a 5 -mya J jaw 4 (a) law 3 = there is very much (or many).
The simple adjective is irfyji 5 = much (6r many).'
a 3 -wu 3 hchi 3 jaw'(a) law* = how big is it ?
aS-wu 1 jaw*(a) law 3 = it is very big.
The simple adjective is wu s = big.
a 3 -rgh 3 hchi 3 jaw* sye s law 5 = how far is it yet ?
a s -rgh' jaw 4 (a) sye* law 3 = it is a long way yet.
The simple adjective is rgh s = far.
Examples :—
{
yi' ta" hta 6 grgh nya 3 , yi' ye"-hpa s ngu 4 (a) law 3 = if (you) scold
him he will cry afl the rriore.
kaw'-yi 5 hi 2 -wii s (a; law 3 = too careless {1ft. too heart big).
sa 3 h'ya 4 hchi 3 = about three hundred. .
sa 3 h ya 4 ga s -la s -ga 5 -ji 4 = in the neighbourhood of three
hundred.
sa 3 h'yi 4 ffia 3 wu'-da 3 = somewhere about three hundred.
ngwa 4 -nu s ta riyi 3 ma s mu 3 == (they) look down oh us (///. us
. . . look not big-enough).
a'-rgha 1 htl 4 -ma 3 a*-tr(a) dza s ma s mu 3 sye* = this chicken is
not quite big enough to eat yet (lit. chicken this a-little
eat not big-enough yet).
(8) Conjunctions and other Particles.
And, or, (connecting nouns or noun phrases only) = (a) bye 3 .
Extmfles—
Su»-TyeS-su 3 {a) bye 3 Law 6 -Taw*-su 3 aS-jP tya 1 law 3 I = The
people of Sutien and Longto were all there .£*«>«, i
hte 4 -ma*(a) bye 3 gaw*-ma. s , a s r Ii»-ma* wu s (a) law s ? == "which is
(the) bigger, this or that ?
" Either or " is best expressed by " if not
» . . . then " ; etgi*-
A 3 -Ta" ma* nga 4 nyaYA^Lye' ftga 4 law 3 == it is either No. i
(son) or No. 2 (lit. if it is not No. i it is No. 2).
( 40 )
Similarly " neither nor " is expressed by a
negative in both clauses :—
A 3 -Ta»(a) ma* nga 4 , A 4 -Lye s (a) ma« nga 4 = it is neither No. i
nor No. 3 (lit. it is not No. i ; it is not No. 2).
With questions " or " is best expressed by making two questions
of the sentence ; e.g. —
A 3 -Ta» nga 4 la* ? A 4 -Lye 2 nga 4 la* ? = is it No. 1 or No. 2 ?
• {tit. is it No. 1 ? is it No. 2 ?)
Sometimes the Chinese mtf-shP is used, but it is not really
necessary. As in Chinese it is prefixed to the latter paft of the
question only and renders the interrogative particle la* unnecessary
h'i 4 kwa 3 tya» la* ? ma s -shi 4 -dye 3 -mi* kwa 3 tya 1 law s ? = is (he)
in the house or in the paddy field ?
And ; then ; and then, (with verbs, indicating sequence) = si 1 or
si'-nyi 3 ; e.g.—
ngwa* h'i* kwa 3 la* si 1 , dza* dza s si'-nyi 3 , tsrghe 2 htis hwa*
daw 3 -jye« law 3 = (he) came to my house, ate (his) rice,
and went out again.
The phrase gav^-le^-nya 3 = thereupon, is also used to indicate
sequence, especially to connect sentences in continuous narration : —
gaw*-le 3 -nya 3 yi'-wa 5 h'i* gaw* ma 3 hpya' krgh 3 nya 3 = and so,
when we had broken down their house
gaw*-le 3 -nya 3 yi 1 tsrghe* hti« hwa 2 la* si 1 hte*-le 3 ba 3 law 3 =
thereupon he came again and said
If = nya 3 (the expletive) at the end of the sentence : —
nu« yi J ta 1 maw* nya 3 , " ngwa* hchi 3 law 2 ," ba 3 grgh s , ma 5
nga* ! = if you see him, tell him that 1 have come back,
eh !
Htd*, strictly meaning " when," is sometimes loosely used for
"if":—
yi' ra s -mrgh'* ma* la* hta* yi 1 ta, 1 hpu* hta 5 hchis grghs = if his
wife does not come (in the event of his wife not coming)
do not lend him money.
But, however = na s , a very common disjunctive. In some
districts the somewhat cumbrous expression " gaw-le 3 nga*(a) mi* "
is used : —
yi*-bu 3 hte* hti s hkaw" ma 3 a 3 ti'(a) ba s (a) law 3 ; gaw* hti s
hkaw 3 ma 3 na s htu*(a) law 3 = this blanket is a little thin
but that one is thick. Notice the position of ua s ; after
not before, the word it disjoins.
( 4i )
hpu* nya 3 ma" jaw*; gaw*-le 3 -nga*(a)-mi* a*-hkrgh J jye* ni»-
shi 3 (a) law 1 = (we) have no money, but (we) very much
want .to go.
Also ; too = (a) mi* or simply (a). Either of these may be
repeated in the same sentence as a correlative = some
others : —
yi"(a) mi* htis-ma* jaw*(a) law 3 -shi*-nga*-law 3 = (I should have
thought) he would have one too.
dza s -su 3 (a) jaw*; ma s dza*-su 3 (a) jaw* = some eat (it)'; others
do not (lit. eat-people have ; not eat people have).
Chya* (Ch.) is used in some districts for " also," " in addition,''
but it cannot be used with the negative to wean ''neither" : —
ngwa* ta 1 chya 3 wu 1 grgh* 14* mu^ = call for me too.
Even = si'^usually with negative : —
ngwa* si 1 ma* srghe 1 = even I didn't know.
ngwa* ta 1 ba 3 si 1 ma* ba 3 grgh* la* = (he) didn't even tell me
(lit. me to say even not say give come) .
hpu* hti 5 hpa 5 si 1 ma* ta a grgh 5 la* = (he) did not even bring
a single rupee.
(A)'tni* may be used for " even " both in the positive and negative
but it is not so definite a word as si 1 : —
hti s -raw 3 (a) mi* ma 5 tya 1 = there was not even one (person)*
present.
ngwa*(a) mi* ye 3 ku"(a) law 3 = even 1 can do it.
Although = (a)-mi* after the verb :
yi' nya 3 Ngwa'-hpa s ma s nga*(a) mi* = ngwa*-nuS(a) bye 3 hti
sh'i* la 5 -htsaw* nga*-law 3 = although he does not belong
to the Fish clan, he is our kith and kin.
a 3 -li 3 ye 3 (a) mi* ngwa* ma s jye* = I (will) not go whatever
happens (Hi. how do although I not go).
Here should be mentioned the word du 3 which may be called an
admissory particle. It has no equivalent in English : —
nga* du 3 nga*(a) mi* = although (that) is so (lit-
r is-yes-is although).
yi" gaw*-Ie 3 ba 3 du 3 nga*(a) mi* = in spite of the fact that he
says that ,
The expression taw'-shi* (Ch.) is used in some^ districts in a
mildly adversative sense : —
gaw*-ma 3 taw'-sh'^-La^-Ma^-Ta 1 ma s srghe 1 nyi 3 nga* law 3 =
that, however, was because La- Ma No. i did
not know.
( 42 )
With ; together with = (a)-bye 3 or (a)-bye 3 -ta'-h s (Ch.)— usually-
indicating state ; (a)-bye 3 -hti s -lye 3 implies motion v as a rule, and
may also mean " the same as " : —
ngwa*(a)-bye 3 hti« chi 3 tya 1 nya 3 = if (you) will be with me
for a while.
ngwa*-nu s (a) bye 3 ta'-ho s tya 1 la* = come and live with us.
yi*-wa s (a) bye 3 hti s -lye 3 jye 1 == go with them.
yi'-waS(a) bye 3 htiMye 3 nga* law 3 = (he) is the same as them.
Then ; then only = si'-lye 5 (= Cb. ts'ai).„
nu* ba 3 grgh* la* si 1 lye s srghe^a) law 3 = you tell (me) then
(I) will know, i.e. you must tell, me before I can possibly
know.
yi'-wa= ta 1 sye 6 gu 3 si'-lye 5 ji*(a) law 3 = the only good (thing
to do) is to kill them ail (lit. kill them all, then only
good).
Because = nyi 3 after thejverb : —
a'-nga 6 ma s jaw* nyi 3 , dye 3 -mi 3 ma 5 re s = because (we) have no
buffaloes (we) do not cultivate paddy fields.
yi 1 na*^a) ma 3 nya 3 , rii s hkaw 6 nyi 3 nga* law 3 = his sickness is
because of nats biting (him).
This nyi* should be carefully distinguished from nya*, which is a
mere expletive and has no causal force. An exception to this rule has,
however, to be made when nyi* follows any of the three particles si 1
"and— see above § (8), byn* (and, with), and lye* instrumental, for in
these three instances nyi* drops its causal force and becomes a
colourless expletive ; e.g.—
hte* hti s raw 3 ma 3 bye 3 -nyi 3 gaw* htis raw 3 ma 5 nya 3 , fcghe*-
h'a*-sye 6 ku'(a) ma 3 las-htsaw* nga* law 3 = this person
and that person are men who are able to bewitch (lit.
able to kill souls).
yi'-wa 5 lye 3 -nyi 3 ngwa*-nu s bu*-htsl s hku s ta 2 jye* gu 3 (a) law 1 =
they stole all our clothes.
gaw*-le 3 gWa 3 -dzye* si'-nyi 3 a 5 -ma* h'i* kwa 3 a 5 -ma* lye 6 jye*(a)
law 3 = (they) thus discussed, and then each one returned
to his own home.
Therefore = gaw*-le 3 -nyi 3 (lit. thus because) :—
yi 1 nya 3 na'-htsi 6 a*-hkrgh' daw*(a) law 3 ; gaw*-le J -nyi 3 da* ye*
law 3 -shi'-nga*-law 3 = (he) drank a lot of medicine ; that
is why he got better (I suppose).
gaw*-le 3 -nyi 3 nga* law 3 = that is why it is (so).
Quotation.— In quoting a saying or a thought, the conjunction
bye' may be irte"d in the place where final inverted commas would be
used in English writing ; e.g. —
hte*-kwa* tya 1 ma s da* (bye 3 ) ba 3 la* nya 3 = if (they) say we
must not live here (lit. " here must not live "
say come if).
( 43 )
baw 6 -law 3 dza s ma s srghe 1 (bye 3 ) du 5 -ja s fiyi 3 = j-ang'-yi* (Ch.)
ma s trgh 3 = we think that perhaps the ants will eat (them)
and sd do not plant potatoes (lit. ants eat not know
think because, potatoes not plant).
The bye 3 may be omitted, especially in short sentences ; e,g. —
ma* jaw*, ba 3 law 3 ! = (I) tell (you) (I) have none !
ja 3 -gu 3 ma 5 srghe 1 , ba 3 law 3 ! = (he) does not know the way,
(I) say!
In short sentences when quoting a third person or fersont, the
words j'ane s (Kachin da) and fa 3 are used. They differ in their use,
jaw'= being used chiefly with the third person singular, and when the
person or persons are definitely known, whilst ja 3 is used chiefly with
the third person plural and in an indefinite way — "they say"
(cp. Fr. "on dit ").
Examples : —
ma 5 jaw* jaw 3 = he says there is not any (lit. not have says).
yi 1 hy'i 3 -ra s nga* jaw 5 = 'he says it is his younger brother.
a s -hkrgh' na« ja 3 = I hear (he) is very ill [lit. very 111-^ — they
y 1
a-< ..
say).
gaw*-le 3 nga* ja 2 = they all say it is so.
Compound quotation is expressed by ba 3 before the jaw % or ja 2 : —
*
ma s tya 1 ba 3 jaw 5 = he says (they) say (he) is not at (home).
saMitsi* hpa 5 nga* ba 3 ja s = they say (he; says it is thirty
rupees.
(9) Interjections and Final Particles.
Reference has already been made to several final particles
(§ -5» Verbs) indicating affirmation, interrogation, command, etc. Some
others are given herewith. It should be remarked that many of
them sound ridiculous if used by anyone not thoroughly at home in
the language, and hence are hardly suitable for the use of a European
1 earner. They should be understood, however.
Of interjections proper the following may be mentioned : —
nga*(a) ! or ngay ! or ma s -nga*(a) ! or mai ! = eh ! or you
will, won't you — you see, don't you, etc. (soliciting
assent).
ha ! answering a call.
way ! (Ch.) — old thap !
lyaw ! = come along, all of you ! (or) all together, now !
a 3 -ka ! expressing pain or surprise,
a'-maw 1 or a'-brghe 3 ! expressing surprise.
a»-lye 3 -daw 3 ! or a 3 -li 3 -ye 3 -daw 3 ! expressing surprise or bewil-
derment.
( 44 )
And others which should be learned locally.
Of final particles the following are important : — ■
Ma (Ch.) adds a certain emphasis. It is most common with the
negative : —
ma* jaw* ma ! = (but I) haven't got any (don't you see !).
ngwa*-nu s ma s srghe" ma ! = we don't know (anything at all
about it).
The addition of ga* rather enhances the emphasis, and infers that
the person addressed ought to have known the fact stated : —
yi'-wa* ma s tya 1 ma-ga 4 ! = don't you see they are not at
(home) ?
Ga* alone is used either as an initial or a Anal particle to introduce
a thought, call attention, etc. It almost = the English "er "
of a hesitant speaker. Gu 3 shi s has a similar use, being only
employed in a hesitant way at the beginning of a sentence.
Lye i is rather strongly emphatic and may express warmth of
feeling against the previous thing said : —
ma s jaw* Iye s ! = but there aren't any ! (there aren't any, you
stupid !).
ma 5 nga 1 lye 5 ! = it isn't anything of the kind !
ja 3 -gu 8 ma s srghe' lye s ! = but (/) don't know the road ! (how
can you expect me to know it?).
Bd s -Atd* (lit. when says) is used in some districts, incorrectly, as
an emphatic phrase : —
ma s jaw* bA'-hta* ! = there are none, I tell you !
Other final particles are syd or syaw; ckyd or chyaw ; brgha 1 Id,
etc. These are all more or less emphatic, but their force can only
be acquired by experience.
(10) Miscellaneous Idioms.
(i) " All."— The Lisu word for " all" is tf-jV ■—
a 5 -ji*-su s = everybody.
aS-ji's tya* law 3 = they are all here.
aS-jIJ-le' = the whole lot ; all included.
( 45 )
The idea of totality is very often expressed, however, by the
verbal adjunct 'gu 3 = to finish*: —
jye* gu 3 (a) law 3 = (they) have all gone.
ma s la 4 gu 3 sye s = (they) have not all come yet.
hpi 6 ye 4 gu 3 (a) law 8 = (it) was all lost.
A rather curious idiom uses this gu 3 , like the Chinese uan, to
express the impossibility of doing all of a thing; e.g. —
ba 3 gu 3 ma s da 4 = it cannot all be said (lit. must not all be
said), i.e. there is so much to be said on the subject you
could never say it all.
dza s gu 3 ma s da 4 = cannot be all eaten up, i.e. there is more
than can be eaten.
a'-shi' 5 gu 3 ma s da s {lit. " what must not be finished " means
"there is no end to "), etc.
ngwa 4 -nu s mu s kwa 3 , ngwa'-ta'-si 5 a J -shi s gu 3 ma 3 da 4 = there
is an unlimited quantity of wild raspberries in our district.
ni 2 -ma 3 ma 3 ji 4 ma 3 la s -htsaw 4 a'-sh'i* gu 3 da 4 daw s ? = what
end is there to dishonest people ? (i.e. they are innumer-
able).
The " whole of" anything, or " all over" anywhere, is expressed
by ht& (one) before the word and le 1 after it, or sometimes the hti= is
repeated with the second syllable of a compound word ; e.g. —
hti s gaw 3 -de s le 1 = all over (his) body (gaw 3 -de= = body) .or
hti s -gaw 3 -hti s -de s .
hti s -mu s -le J = the whole district.
hti s -hka 2 -hti s -law 4 = the whole village.
A general inclusion of everything of a certain kind is expressed by
ngop-htcf-paw* (lit. is this side) ; e.g. —
na 4 jaw 4 su 3 ngaMita^paw 1 = any and every person who has
a disease.
mi s ye 3 su 3 nga 4 -hta 4 -paw 1 , mu^-kwa 3 mi 3 -na 3 ta 1 h'aMe 3 na* ta 1
law 3 = all cultivators (of any race or country) have to
trust in heaven and earth.
Sometimes, but more seldom, (nga*)-Ati s ~iu J or (ngcfi)-'dzP-hkm
are used instead of (ngatyhtat-paw 1 , e.g. —
nu 4 jaw 4 dsi' 3 -hku 4 ngwa 4 ta* wu s grgh* la 4 = sell me all you
have.
Ngcf-htcf-faw 1 is also used to express the idea of discrimination
— "any"; e.g —
la 5 -hkrgh s nga^-hta^-pavv 1 ma s nu 4 = (1) don't want just any
plough (i.e. I am particular about the kind of plough I
get).
* Completed action is, however, best expressed by daw*, e.g, ye 3 daw 3 lyaw 3 =
(I) have finished (it).
,( 4* ■)
(2,) Reference has already been made to the adjectival and
adverbial words for " many " or " much," niyft being the simple
adjective and a s -myd a the adverbial phrase. Similarly the adjective
"few" is hi* and the adverbial phrase a 3 -tt'(a) or a 3 -ti l ra= ; e.g. —
la s -htsaw* ni'(a) law 3 = the people are Jew.
waw s -hpya s kaw 2 -yi s ni'(a) law 3 = there is too small an amount
of vegetables.
a 3 -ti'-ra* lye 5 jaw 4 (a) law 3 = there is only a little.
la s -htsaw 4 a 3 -ti'-ra 5 jaw+(a) law 3 = there were a few people
there.
a 3 -ti x -ra s (a) mi 4 ma s jaw 4 = there was none at all (lit. a little
even not have).
(3) The words wu s (big) and raw 3 or a 3 -ti l (u) (small) are on
used predicatively. When qualifying the noun " da 5 -ma 4 " and lr ra s
respectively, must be employed ; e.g. —
yi 1 a T -nga 6 a 4 -hkrgh r wu'(a) law 3 = his buffalo is very big.
she 3 -htu s a 3 -ti'-ra 5 raw 3 (a) law 3 = the pint measure is rather
small (a 3 -ti*-ra 3 [= few] means "rather," "a little," when
modifying an adjective),
yi 1 a'-mp a 3 -ti*(u) ta 1 sye 5 law 3 = his daughter is small yet
(ta 1 or ka 4 = is — in a state or condition).
hte 4 -ma 3 ny'a 3 yi 1 a 3 -bi 3 da s -ma 4 nga 4 law 3 = this is his big
(i e. eldest) son.
gaw 4 -ma 3 nya 3 yi* a 3 -bi 3 ra» nga 4 law 3 = that is his little son.
Similarly : —
(na 3 -yi 3 da 5 -ma** = the big river.
na 3 -yi 3 ra 5 = the small river.
( sa 3 -ra 3 da»-ma 4 = the big teacher (saya).
(_sa 3 -ra 3 ra s = the small teacher.
(4) The word h$a* is used to strengthen some adjectives ; e.g. —
hti 3 = near ; hpa 4 -hti 3 = quite near.
baw 3 = rich; full (of food) ; hpa 4 -baw 3 = quite full (of food).
bi 3 = full (as water in vessel) ; hpa 4 -bi 3 = brimful.
a 3 -mrgh' 3 = now; a 3 -mrgh' 3 -hpa 4 -hchi 3 = (not) even yet.
(5) The use of the word lye 3 after adjectives should be noted.
It often conveys the idea of motion, "becoming" something or
other ; e.g. —
raw 3 lye 3 (a) law 3 = (it) gets smaller.
baw 3 lye 3 (a) ngu 3 = (you) will get rich.
yi 3 -jya 3 sif .lye 3 (a) law 3 = the water (in the river) is going
down.
(6) The copulative verb, as will have been noticed from the fore-
going examples, is very often omitted where we should insert it in
English. It is included iu the adjective — i.e. wu*(a) law 3 (not wu*
nga* law 3 ) = (it) is big; ma* wu= = (it) is not big.
,( 4.7 )
The word ia 1 (in some districts ia 2 ) though meaning " to be" has
a use ^distinct from nga*: Is usually denotes a state or condition
more than an. inherent, quality : —
gaw 4 -le 3 ta 1 law 3 = that is how (he or it) is.
hrgh'-hta* na«, nteMe^ma 5 ta 1 law 3 -shi*-nga 4 -law 3 = formerly
(he or it) did not seem to be like this.
The phrase krgfc-lye 3 is generally used as the future of the verb
"tobe":—
gaw 4 -l,e 3 krgh 3 -lye 3 (a) law 3 = that is how it will be.
nu 4 gaw 4 -le 3 ba 3 hta 4 na s yi' ma s shi s hwe 3 (Ch.) krgh 3 lye 3 (a)
'?$£? t? if y° u sa y that ne will 110 t be pleased (lit. he not
pleased — will come to).
(7) The idea of necessity is expressed in two ways : —
(a) By nq^-ta^ipr ka % )-law> [see § 5 (7) (/)] after the verb : —
na 4 -krgh 3 -lye 3 (a) law 3 refers to the future ("will have to").
ngwa 4 jye 4 na 4 ta 1 law 3 = I have to go.
nu 4 yi' ta 1 gaw 4 -le 3 ba 3 grgh s na 4 ta 1 law 3 = you will have to
tell him that.
paw'-la 6 hkaw 4 n a 4 - krgh 3 lye 3 nya 3 . . . . = if it comes to
fighting.
For negative (" must not ") see § 5 (7) (/).
(b) By the use of ma s . . . ,.ma s da* (lit., not .... not do).
This idiom is stronger than the former: —
ngwa 4 ma 5 jye 4 ma s da 4 = I must go (I have no alternative).
nu 4 yi 1 ta 1 maj ba 3 grgh 5 ma 5 da 4 = you must (are under
strict obligation to) tell him.
(8) A mild expression of purpose or promise is formed by the
addition of na 2 law 3 to the verb ; e.g. —
gaw 4 -le 3 ye 3 na 2 law 3 = (I) suppose (I) had better do that.
saw 3 na 2 law 3 = (yes, I'll) study — some time or other.
When used with the second and third persons — especially when
formed into a verbal noun or with " law 3 -shi s -nga 4 -Iaw 3 " — it conveys
the meaning of " ought ": —
nu 4 gaw 4 -le 3 ye 3 na 3 law 3 shi s nga 4 law 3 = you ought to have
done that, surely.
yi 1 ngwa 4 -nu* ta 1 hta 5 je s na 3 law 3 = he ought not to have
cursed us. * o
dza 4 chya J dza 5 na 2 ma 3 lye s nga 4 law 3 = the only thing to do
is to boil and eat (our) rice.
mi s ye 3 ma s hku 4 nya 3 = rghe 2 -la 6 -mu 4 na 2 ma 3 lye s ngaw 4 * =
as (you) have not strength to do cultivation work, business
(trade) is the only thing you ought to do.
( 48 )
(9) The word for the " time " or " season " for anything is tsi ' : —
a'-rgha' bs 4 tsi* kwa 3 = at cock-crow {lit. at the cock crows*
time).
li"-ra s trgh 3 tsi' ma 5 hchi 3 sye s = the time for transplanting
sprouts has not arrived yet.
(10) The following idiom, strictly comparative, is often used
without comparative signification : —
gaw + rgh* ma s jaw* = it is not verv far (lit, it is not so far as
that).
gaw 4 hkrgh 4 ma= sha' = it is not very difficult (lit. it is not so
difficult as that).
(u) "In one dose " — " at one time," etc. = hti s shi 4 (a) bye 3 .
(12) The expression ma'-mfi has a special use. Ordinarily it
means old stories, legends, traditions, etc., to recount which is ma'-mi>
cia\ But it is also used like the English word "principle":
a^-saw 1 ba 3 ma 3 ma'-mi* nga 4 law 3 = it is the same idea or
principle as what (I) said a moment ago.
gaw 4 -ma 3 ma'-mi* nga 4 law 3 = it is on the same principle as
that (or) it is just that same kind of affair.
(13) The word j&-gu\ meaning a "road," is sometimes used to
mean "affairs," " matters," etc. : —
a'-saw 1 nu 4 ba 3 ma 3 ja 3 -gu 3 nya 3 hteMe 3 nga 4 law 3 = the matter
you spoke about just now is like this.
yi 1 ye 3 (a) ma 3 ja 3 -gu 3 ma* ji 4 ma 3 lye* nga 4 law 3 = the things
he does are only bad.
(14) Proportion is expressed by the word be* (to divide) in the
following way : —
sa 3 be 4 htis be 4 = one-third (lit. three divisions one division)
htsi 4 be 4 hti« be 4 = one-tenth, etc.
In one district known to the author^ 4 is used instead of be* in this
sense.
,* i\ 5) 7/ h A e ^? °! mUtUal aCti ° n is ex P ressed b y the addition of
U b -hkaw* (Atsi lum) :—
nu 4 la 6 -hkaw 4 na 4 -ta'-law = (you) must love one another
HchawMipa* mS* kwa 3 paw'-la 6 -hkaw 4 tya' law 3 = (thev) are
fighting (/ir. snooting each other) in the Kachin country,
raws as-jis-su 3 gwa 3 -dzye 4 -la<-hkaw 4 na 4 -ta'-law 3 = we must all
thlk it over together (lit. discuss with each other) In
reflexive action the repeated pronoun is connected bv a
special conjunction hchaw* (not hchaw* which = to-
follow) ; e.g. —
* Ngawi is contracted from nga* law*.
( 49 )
yi'-wa* hchaw 5 yi'-wa s ti'-la 6 -hkaw 4 (a) law 3 = they were
beating each other {lit. they with themselves were mutually
beating).
(16) There are, two ways of expressing the idea "other,"
u another " — either by ne'-id 6 (or ni'-bd 6 ) or by yt'-t&yi'. The former
expresses the idea " other," " others," in a general way, whilst the
latter denotes non-identity-" another," i.e. not this one, but another
one ; e.g. —
ne'-ba 6 hchaw 4 -jye 4 su 3 ma s jaw 4 = there are no others who are
following (us).
nS'-ba 6 mu 5 kwa 3 (a) mi 4 jaw*(a) law 3 = (they) have them in
other districts too.
ne'-ba 6 su s ta 1 hta s b4 3 grgh* = don't tell any others.
LaS-Ma^-Ta 1 ma* nga* ; yi^te 3 ^! 1 hti 5 raw 3 nga 4 law' = it is
not La-Ma No. I ; it is another person.
hte 4 hti s chu s ma 3 ma s nga*; yi'-te'-yi 1 hti s chu* nga* law 3 =
it is not this kind, it is another kind.
ngwa*-nu s hka a kwa 3 ma s tya 1 ; yi'-te^-yi 1 hti s hka 3 kwa* tya 1
law 3 = (he) does not live in our village ; he lives in another
village (altogether).
(17) " In between " two objects or persons is expressed by nyii-ku 1 -
■cka 1 : —
gaw 4 nyi s raw 3 ma 3 nyiS-ku'-cha 1 nyi'-ta 1 tya 1 ma 3 = the one
sitting between those two people.
si 3 -dzi 4 bte 4 nyi s dzi* ma 3 nyiS-ku'-cha 1 kwa 3 = between these
two trees.
In reference to time, however, hte* (or gaw*)-nytf-tsyd' is used ;
eg-—
yi'-wu 1 hti* hwa a la 4 (a) bye 3 ka'-na 1 hti« hwa a la 4 gaw 4 nyi*
tsya 1 kwa 3 = between (his) first and (his) second coming.
gwa s shi'-krgh 3 si 1 , l^-ra* ma i trgh 3 »ye s , gaw 4 nyi< tsya 1 kwa*
= during the time between the sowing of buckwheat and
the transplanting of (paddy) iprouts.
(18) " In regard to," " with reference to," a particular aspect of a
thing is sometimes expressed by td l -si* [lit. in the direction of) : —
ni a -ma 3 ji 4 ta'-si 3 na s , a'-shi* ba 3 du 3 ma* ja'w 4 = in regard to
his honesty, however, there is nothing to be said [i.e. no
fault to be found).
shi 3 na* aMikrgh 1 ma* shi 3 ; h'i 4 ta'-si 3 na* a 4 -h'i 3 -h'i 3 jaw 4 (a) law 3
= it is not very long, indeed ; but in regard to its breadth
it is very broad. Note the repetition of AH'h (broad) for
emphasis.
(19) The three words bd* (say), sAa'-hte* (talk), and chy& (speak—
Ch) need to be distinguished. Chyfc-hkrgh* means a sentence ;
th'ydt-frghei-hwa? (to chat) is a phrase imported bodily frcir, the
4
( 5o )
Chinese, where ekydf = speak, prghe* = white, hwa' = word*
(literally). Absurdly enough, the Lisu use hwa'' for the verb and chy&*~
ffghe % for the noun : —
gawMe 3 hta* ba. 3 = don't say that.
hta« sha'-hte 4 = don't talk.
chyaS-prghe* hta s hwa a = don't chat,
chya^prghe* ma i hwa* nyi 3 = (I) wasn't chatting.
chya ! -hkrghs gaw 4 -ma 3 ngwa 4 ma* pa'-ja* nyi 3 = I have never
heard that sentence (pa'-ja s = hear).
(ao) " Cleverness," " wisdom," " ideas," " ingenuity," etc., are
expressed by the Chinese cAu s -yi* (which in Chinese, however, means
" purpose," " intention ") ; e.g : —
Yang s -Ren* (Ch.) nya 3 chu*-yi' jaw 4 (a) law 1 = foreigner*
(Europeans) are ingenious.
yi 1 na s chu s yi a ma ! jaw* ma 3 la J -htsaw 4 nga 4 law 3 = he is a-
man without any ideas (or resource).
ngwa 4 -nu s Li 3 -Su 3 nya 3 , a'-shi' s chu s -yi' ma* jaw 4 = we Lisu-
have no ideas (shifts or expedients).
(ai) In at least one dialect of Lisu concurrent action is expressed
by htispaot-bye* or ja i -maw i -bye i : —
ja 3 -gu 3 sye s hti s -pao s -bye 3 si J -si s hha' dza* law 3 = as he walked
along he plucked and ate fruit.
yi 1 h'i 4 kwa 3 jye 4 ja 3 maw 3 (a) bye 3 yi 1 ta' hku 4 grgh 5 -ma s nga 4 (a) I*
= while (you) are going to bis house, call him (for
me), won't you !
Ja*-maw 3 {a) dye 3 seems rather to refer to the doing of anything:
" while you are about it," i.e., to the killing of two birds with one
stone.
Ja^-maw 1 by itself has an entirely different meaning — " promised ""
(always past tense) : —
ngwa 4 ta 1 a'-lu 5 hti s bpa s wu 4 grgh 5 ja 3 -maw 3 = (he) promised"
to buy an iron pot for me.
sa 3 h'a 4 h'a«-hpu 4 hchaw 6 nyi 4 kwa 3 li 1 grgh s ja 3 -maw 3 (a) law*
shi s -nga 4 -law 3 = (I) thought he promised to return (it) on
the sixth day of the third moon.
(2a) Dza* = to eat; dsat-hkwa* = living or travelling expenses.
(23) "Carelessly," "at random," is often expressed by the Chinese
" pu kwan ti " corrupted to " pu'-kwa s -ne 3 ":—
pu-kw?-ae hta s chya s = don't talk at random.
(24) " That and nothing more " it expressed in some localities by
hti^-gu>(fi) after the thing concerned : —
yi' gaw 4 -le 3 ba 3 hti*-gu 3 (a) = he -just said that and nothing-
more.
( 5» )
(25) " There is plenty of time yet" is expressed by a peculiar
idiom— " h'ya 6 ma* jaw* lye*" {lit. there is no night yet).
(a6) To express the idea of " the way not being open " to do a
thing— of a thing not being " feasible " or "proper," the idiom "yi 1
chS a ma« htsye' " {lit. the road is not cut through — " no thoroughfare ")
is used : —
ngwa 4 ta 1 htsaw' la 4 ma 5 che' ma* htsye' = there is no proper
occasion for coming to tie me up {lit. the road (or tying
me up is not cut through).
ni'-ma 3 h'rgh 4 (a) ma 1 che' ma* htsye' = there is no cause for
anger {lit. the road for anger is not cut through).
(27) " Custom," '' propriety," " reason," etc., are expressed by the
Chinese word li* ; e.g. —
yi 1 li* ma* jaw* = it is not the custom— (or) it is not reasonable
(to do that).
ngwa 4 -nu* Li 3 -Su 3 li* nga* law 3 = it is our Lisu custom,
ngwa* ta 1 hrgh'-hta* ba 3 grgh* la* na' ma 3 li s nga 4 law 3 = by
rights (he) should have come and told me first.
(28) To think fondly of, long after another (in his absence) =
siMya 3 (in some districts sycP-jyfa) ; e.g. —
nu 4 ta 1 a 4 -'hkrgh' si*-jya 3 (a) law 3 = I have been longing after
you very much.
(29) Medium-sized = le'-le* ; e.g. —
yj 1 da*-ma 3 ma s nga 4 ; yi ra*(a) ma* nga 4 ; yi' le'-le* nga 4 law 3
= it was not the big one, nor was it the small one ; it was
the medium one.
In this example notice the use of yi 1 , which here (as often) approx-
imates to the definite article.
(30) " Accustomed to," " used to," is expressed by isaW-lye^ or
shf-de* :—
hta* la 4 tsaw 3 -lye 3 nyi 3 nga* law 3 = it is because (he) is used to
coming here.
ye 3 ma s she z -de* nyi 3 — a 4 -hkrgh' ye 3 ma s ku 1 sye* = (I) cannot
doit very well as (I) am not accustomed to it.
When the verb "to say" is employed, the expression kas-hkwtfi is
more common : —
gaw 4 hti* hkrgh* ma 3 ba 3 ma* ka 3 -hkwa* = (we) are not accus-
tomed to saying that sentence — i.e. it is not used very
much. • „
(31) The word for " black" is nfc or nd 3 -drgA* ; " dark," of night
is nd*-htsP~lye> :—
yi» bu 4 -htsi* nya 3 na 3 -drgh*-mu* ta 1 law 3 = his clothes are (or
his coat is) black.
( 52 )
h'i 4 kwa 3 hchi 3 ye* nya 3 , na 3 -htsi 4 -lye 3 (a) ngu 3 = when (we)
reach home it will be dark. Note the us© of ngu 1 for this
'uture tense.
na 3 -htsi 4 -lyaw 3 ! a 3 -taw" mya 3 na 4 -ta'-law 3 = dark ! we must
light a lamp (lit. a fire).
(3*){S
Ripe (grain or fruit) ; cooked through (of food) = mi 3 ,
"nripe or uncooked = cizi s .
The former should be distinguished from mi* (tasty) which is only
slightly different in tone.
(33) The word sit 6 (new) is applied to persons as well as things.
The word for " old," however, is maw i when applied to persons or
animals, and be* when applied to things ; e.g.—
htsaw 4 -ma\v ! -hpa J = an old man.
htsaw 4 -maw s -ma 3 = an old woman.
yi* na s maw s yaw 3 (= ye 3 -aw) = he is (has got) old. But—
h'i 4 be s = an old house.
bu 4 -hts'i s be 5 = old clothes, etc.
(34) " J ust r 'g nt " — neither too big nor too small — neither too
much nor too little, etc. = yi'-dzya 1 ; e.g.—
. ma 5 slri 3 ma s nye* ; yi'-dzya 1 nga 4 law 3 = (it is), neither long
nor short ; it is just right.
(35) The " appearance " of a thing is its hpye*. '' Like,"
"resembling," is rghe*. Hence hpye l -rghe* = resembling in
appearance ; e.g. —
gaw 4 hti 5 raw 3 ma 3 Waw*-Lu 2 hpye*-rghe 4 = that person looks
like Mr. Bear No. 6.
ngwa 4 a'-wawS-hpa* hpye 5 ma* rghe 4 = (it) does not look like
my uncle.
A somewhat peculiar idiom to express a similar idea uses the
word " hchaw s -hpa' " (companion, mate). Originally meaning a
"companion," Kchaw i -h$&' has come to mean a "mate" — of things
as well as persons, e.g. one shoe of a pair being the kcttaw s -hfd 2 . of the
other. It is also used metaphorically ; e.g. —
nis-gu 3 su 3 ta" grgh* nya 3 , shi«(a) ma 3 yi 1 hchawS-hpa : nga*
law 3 = if I am given (in marriage) to the heathen,* it will
be the same as being dead {lit. death its mate is).
hkuJ-dsaf-ma 3 ma s nga*(a) mi+, hku*-dza s -ma 3 yi 1 hchaw s -hpA*
nga* law 3 = although it is not stealing, it is just the same
as (lit. is the mate of) stealing.
(36) There is a slight distinction between the two words j'ye* and
ye* for "to go." The latter can never be used alone, as an indepen-
( 53 )
dent verb, and seems to be les,s definite than j'ye* as regards direction,
purpose of going, etc. ; e.g.—
httf h'i* htis h'i* b4 3 grgh« jye* = go to every house and tell
(them) (Itt. one house one house, etc.).
hti*-htrghe»-ra* nyi 3 ye* = go and look for a moment,
a'-mi* hwa 3 ye*, hchaw*-hpa a bu*l = hurry up, go and look for
(it), friends !
yi^ta 1 ye* la* = let's go (o bed {lit. sleep go come).
The proper use of these two words can only be acquired by
experience. Another use of ye 3 is to express the idea of action with
a view to future requirements (Ch. hsia) : —
gaw*-le 3 ba 3 ta 1 ye*(a) law* = (he) said that {i.e. left the
information).
yi 1 h'i* kwa 3 krgh 3 ta" ye 3 (a) law 3 = (I) put it down (for him)
in his house.
(37) The expression ti 1 ye* is often used instead of tya 1 (to be
anywhere, to be present, to live), but seems more to refer to tempo-
rary sojourn anywhere than permanent residence ; e.g. —
ngwa* a'-yi* h'a*-mi* kwa 3 ti 1 ye*(a) law 3 = my elder brother
is staying behind on the taungya.
ngwa* a'-waw'-si' MuS-Chi 3 -Na ,! kwa 3 li 1 hkaw 6 ti* ye 4 law 3 = my
fourth uncle lived at Myitkyina four years.
The word/aw 4 is also used instead of tya 1 , but it means " tcfbe an
inhabitant of" — a village or district; e.g. —
nu 4 a 3 -li 3 -kwa 3 tya 1 su 3 nga 4 law 3 or nu* aMi 3 -kwa 3 jaw 4
nga 4 law 3 = where do you live ? {lit. you where live pen
su 3
i persop
are ?).
hta* tya* su 3 nga 4 law 3 or hta 3 jaw*su 3 nga* law 3 = (I) am a man
of this place.
The word /aw 4 in this sense is, however, restricted to just a very
few sentences of this kind, and cannot be used indiscriminately like
tya 1 .
It must be borne in mind that the use of tya 1 , ti J -ye\ and jaw* is
strictly confined to human beings, animals, and living things generally
The corresponding words for inanimate things is cfa 1 (on) and do?
(inside) ; e.g.—
pa s -trgh' nya 3 mi 3 -na 3 kwa 3 da a law 3 = the bench is on the
ground.
lrgh 3 -krgh J (a) bye 3 kaw'-pa' nya 3 , chaw'-tsi 3 (Ch.) htaS-si 1 kwa*
da 2 law 3 = the bowls and basins are on th§ feable.
• Lit. demon-worshippers. This statement was made to the author by a Lisu
Christian girl who was betrothed against her will into a heathen family, and well
lluitrates the use of hchav> h 'hp&>.
( 54 )
htaw*-rghe* nya' si'-grgh* nA» kwa 5 d£' law 1 = the books are in
. -the box (or cupboard).
a'.hta*-pyA* gu 5 h'i* na 1 kwa 5 dA'(a) law 5 = the (sword) sheath
is in the house.
(38) The verbs mrgh' 3 and rd 6 (in some districts pronounced yd 6 )
are very important and their use should be mastered ; mrgh' 3 alone or
before the verb means to " get" : —
bV-ba* hti*-ma 3 wa*-hpu* sa 3 -htsi 4 hpA' mrgh' 5 (a) law 5 = he
gets a wage of Rs. 30 per month {lit. month one wages
thirty coins gets).
mS*-hkaw 6 ji 4 (a) nya 5 , dza«-ma 5 -si* htiS-h'ya« law* hchi 5 mrgh' 5 (a)
law 3 ; ma* ji 4 nya 3 , ngwa*-htsi 4 law 4 si 1 ma* mrgh' 3 = in
good years, (we) get about one hundred baskets of paddy,
in bad (years, we) do not even get fifty,
nu* gaw 4 -le 3 ye 3 nya 5 , hta 6 mrgh' 3 (a) law 3 = if you do that {lit.
thus) you will get a scolding,
hwa* htsi 4 hti*-rghe 5 hchi 3 drgh* mrgh' 3 (a) law 3 = (we) get
(lit. strike get) about a load of oil (out of it).
ma* hwa 3 mrgh' 3 = (it) was not found (lit. not find get).
yi'-ta 1 ma* mrgh' 5 = (he) did not — could not — get to bed.
h'a 4 -mi 5 ma 5 hkwa 5 mrgh 3 = the taungya did not get dug.
With the three words dsefi (eat), daw* (drink), and gwa* (wear),
mrgh' 3 precedes the verb) ; e.g. —
. dza 4 (a) ma* mrgh' 3 dza*, ba 4 -hts*i*(a) ma* mrgh' 5 gwa*, ji+-
hprgh*(a) ma* mrgh' 5 daw 4 = (he) does not get rice to
eat, clothes to wear, (or) liquor to drink.
In some districts the word wa 3 would replace the mrgh' 3 in the
last sentence (only), i.e. dza 4 ma* wa 5 dza*, etc.
The word rd 6 (Ch. choh ; Atsi dzang) is untranslatable into English.
Used alone "ra 6 (a) law 3 !" may mean "it has hit the mark!" (of
shooting at a target), or " quite right ! " (i.e. you have ' hit the mark'
in what you say), etc, : —
paw 5 ma* rA 6 = missed the mark (shooting with gun).
law 5 ma* ra 6 = missed the mark (throwing anything).
bA 3 ma* ra* = to speak incorrectly, say a thing wrongly, be
" wide of the mark," etc.
re* r4 6 (a) law 5 = useful (re* = to use).
Another use of the word rd 6 is to be " willing to give up " a thing,
or, in the negative, to be " loth to do " a thing: —
ngwa\ yi' ta» jye 4 tsi 3 ma* ra 6 = I am loth to let him go
(lit. I him go let not feel-willing).
nu 4 tA' wu s grgh* ma* rA 6 = (I) am loth to sell it to you (*'.#;
loth to part with it).
mi 4 (a) ma 1 nya 3 yi 1 dza* ma* rA 6 = he will not (i.e. is too
parsimonious to) eat nice (things).
( 55 )
(39) Desire to do a thing (Kachin mayu ai) is expressed by
•ma*-sP or ni' shP according to locality :—
yi'-wa* gwa 3 -hchye» m5 3 -si' jaw* = (he) says they want to
dance.
bAs-ngo* ma* cya 6 mu'-si 1 = (I) don't want to take over (settle)
disputes [ba 3 ngo 4 = a " case "; cya* = to talk].
ji 3 ga 6 * ni a -shP(a) law* = (I) want to goto the market.
jwa 4 ma* ra 6 -jye 4 ni'-shi 3 or jwa 4 ra 6 -jye 4 ni a ma* shp = (I) don't
want to go down there.
(40) The word hcha 6 is sometimes, though not often, used to
express desire, " I wish that," " I hope that," etc. :—
htaw* rghe* hte 4 -ma 3 nyi 3 ku 1 hcha 6 ! = I wish I was able to
read these books. [N.B. — The locse use of hte*-ma 3 for
" these "; gaw*-ma 3 is, similarly, used for " those."]
ya 3 -hpye' chP(a) ma 3 kwa 3 -bye 3 Hrgh*-Tipa* bye 3 Hchaw<-
hpa* pavy 3 la 6 -hkaw 4 nya 3 , Hchaw*-hpa* hwa* lye 3 hcha 6 =
if the Chinese and the Kachins fight over the uprooting
of opium, (we) hope the Kachins will win (lit. opium
pulling from, Chinese with Kachins shoot each-other,
Kachins win — hope).
(41) The expression tf-hwa 1 meaning "soon," "in a short time,"
etc., is also used to mean "perhaps," "sometimes," etc. ; e.g.—
a 4 -hwa 3 ni s hpa* ma* la+ ma* srghe* ? = but perhaps the priest
(lit. demon-er) won't come! .. . what if he doesn't come?).*
nyi*-hpa* mrgh' 3 (a) ma 3 h'ya 6 -nyi 4 (a) jaw 4 ; hti* hpa* mrgh' 3 (a)
ma 3 h'ya 6 -ny 4 fa) jaw 4 ; a*-hwa* hti* hpa* si 1 ma* mrgh' 3
ma 3 h'ya 6 -nyi 4 (a) jaw 4 = some days (we) get two rupees
(lit. two-coins get days have) ; some days (we) get one
rupee; some days (we) perhaps do not even get a single
rupee.
a*-hwa 3 a 3 -nyi 3 -ma 3 -mu 3 tya ma* srghe 1 ? = but perhaps (she)
will be in confinement (after childbirth) ?
(42) Uncertainty is expressed by a distortion, both in tone and
meaning, of the Chinese word su-mu (a number) ; e.g. —
yi 1 su'-mu 1 ma* jaw 4 = it is uncertain ; there is no fixed rule ;
one can never tell, etc. (lit. it has not a number).
yi 1 su'-mu 1 jaw 4 (a) law 3 = there is a rule to go by; you can
always tell; a decision has been come to, etc. (lit. it has a
number).
T43) Fate, destiny, is expressed by syif-myd* (lit. life) • —
sya 6 -mya 3 ma* ji 4 = (I) am ill-fated (lit. life is b.ad).
*J%3 = market ; ga 6 (lit.) s to drive, pursue. The compound expression ji
ga 6 means to attend n market such as are held in China every five days. In some
districts the expression is not known, the Chinese kaP-ts* ( = market) being used
instead.
( 56 )
Affinity between two persons, especially husband and wife, is
expressed by their " destinies " being "wrapped" ; e.g.—
yi'-wa s nyi*-ma' sga°-la 6 -hkaw 4 (a)-ma s , sya 6 -mya 3 ma J ht8* nyi*
nga 4 law 3 = their (husband and wife) quarrelling is due to
their havmg no affinity (lit. they couple breath-each-other-
ness, lives not wrapped because is).
(44) The word to " pass" — as of time, or as two persons passing
on the road — is kaw 3 (Ch.) ; e.g. —
hte 4 nyi s sa 3 hkaw 6 kaw 3 krgh 3 nya 3 a 4 -ti'-ra s sa 4 jye*(a) ngu 5 =
after these (next) two or three years things will get a little
easier (lit. these two three years having — passed ... a
little easy go will).
ja 3 -gu 3 kwa 3 ma* kaw 3 ra 6 = (I) didn't pass (lit. pass hit) (him)-
on the road.
To " cross " over, is hkaw* ; e>g. —
htsa 6 -bye 3 trghe 3 hkaw 4 jye+(a) law 3 = (he) suddenly jumped
over (it).
wa« chi 3 hte*-ma 3 hkaw* jye* nya 3 hka a kwa 3 hchi 3 je 3 (a) law 3 =
when we have crossed this (mountain) range (we) shall
reach the village.
(45) "There is nothing the matter" (with anyone); "nothing
.has happened (to anyone); "no harm has come" (to anyone), is
expressed by "a'-shi'S ma* hkaw*." This "hkaw*" does not seem to
be used with this meaning in the positive, or in any other connection.
(46) There seems to be no Lisu word for to "feel." The idea is,
however, often expressed by repeating the last word of a verbal
phrase and adding ta l (or ka*)-law s for the present and krgh^lye^a)-
/aw 3 for the future ; e.g. —
f yi J ta sbi* tsi 3 m a s ra 6 = (I) am loth to let him die.
lyi 1 ta shi* tsi 3 ma 3 ra 6 ra 6 ta 1 law 3 = (I) feel loth to let him die.
!mi 3 ye 3 ma 3 hku* = (1) have not strength to work,
mi* ye 3 ma 3 hku* hku* krgh 3 -Iye 3 (a) law 3 = (1) shall not feel
strong enough to work.
C wu'-du 3 aMi'-ra 3 na*(a) law 3 = (my) head aches a little.
< wu'-du 3 a 3 -ti'-ra s na*-na*-mu 3 * ta : law 3 = (I) feel a slight
(, headache.
(47) The phrase dye*-lye* means to "reach top" or "reach the
mark "; e.g. —
hkrgh"-*htrghs 1 bye 3 dye 3 -lye 3 law 3 = it (the trigger) reaches the
mark with a click.
wu 3 ma* dyeMye 3 sye* = (he) is not full-groWn yet.
* See § 4.
( 57 )
(48) To " last long" is expressed by the verbal auxiliary fu* (Clu
thing) : —
dza* ma* pu 3 = it doesn't last long.
h.S«-htsi« nya 3 , mi 3 -na 3 -htsi - 4 t si 3 -maS-htsi« taw 1 pu 3 (a) law 3 =
hill-sesamum oil burns longer than kerosene (lit. more
burn last).
(49) The Lisu word for to "separate," ''be distant from," \skav>*,
but the Chinese ie* is more commonly used ; e.g. —
wa$ kaw" da 2 law 3 = (there is) snow separating (you) from your
destination,
gaw* rgh 3 ma 5 ke 2 = it is not separated very far.
a*-mya 2 tai 2 ke 2 la 6 hkav\4=(we) are separated from each
other by many generations — i.e. are 5th, Cth or 7th, etc.,
cousins.
LJV.fi. — The word tai 3 for " generation " is a Chinese word, but is more
commonly used by the Lisu than their own word si' 1 .]
(50) To " remain over " is dzye 3 -lye 3 : —
a 3 -mrgh' 3 a s -ma* ma 5 dzye'-lye 3 = no one remains now.
dzyeMye 3 ma 3 nya 3 , a'-na* ta 1 cha 1 grgh* = what is Ieit over
feed to the dog.
(51) Of the two words for " carry," pi 1 and td*, pi 1 means to carry
on the shoulder as a log of wood, a Chinese coolie's burden, or a
sedan-chair.J Td* means to carry in the hand, and is often used,
with ru\ (take) ; e.g. —
ngwa* ta" ru* ta 3 grgh 5 la> = take (it and) bring it to me.
a'-mi 1 ru+ ye* = go "(and) fetch (it) at once.
(52) The auxiliary verb h'a* (away) sometimes gives a turn to
the meaning of the word it follows, e.g. haw 5 = to lead ; haw s -h'a+ =
to escort.
(53) Capacity is indicated by the auxliary particle di\ which is
never used alone ; e.g. —
gaw» mya 3 krgh 3 ma* di+ = it won't hold that much {lit. that
much place not down).
sa 3 htsi* law 3 ma* htsi*krgh 3 di*(a) law 3 = it will hold more than
thirty baskets.
(54) To " try " = shi 5 nyi 3 . When the thing to be tried is stated,
theJ^t 5 is sometimes loosely omitted; e.g —
hti s htrghe" ra* shi^-nyi 3 mu* = have a try now! {lit. try for a
moment).
ye 3 shi s -nyi 3 n& 2 law 3 or ye 3 nyi 3 na 2 law 3 = f I will) have a try
to do (it).
t Lit. earth-pi! — a word only recently coined.
j Pi 1 tlfl jy$* is, however, used of a cat or a dog running off with something
in its mouth. This seems to be in imitation of the Chinese idiom.
( 58 )
(55) It remains to note certain adverbial and rhythmical modes
of expression.
A large class of graphic adverbial expressions' are formed by
Ihe repetition of a single or double word with Aa 3 (some districts
prefer n*') inserted between them. Many of them are onomato-
poetic ; e.g.—
'hpong 5 ka 3 hpong* = the sound of a native hoe striking the
clods in successive " thuds."
hchus-hchus ka 3 hchu s hchu* = the sound of whispering.
•^ hti'-hti 1 ka 3 hti'-hti 1 = the sound of giggling.
sh\' s -lQ ! ka' shi s -lu s = the hum of people's voices — a babel of
sound.
^ba*-la« na 3 ba*-la* = the sound of heavy rain,
etc., etc.
No less vivid is the construction which prefixes chp-li* to a
-compound word ; e.g. —
chiMi 3 pongMong* = " ker-plunk !" (sound of a stone falling
into water).
chi 3 -li 3 hkrgh a -lrgh s = clumsy, complicated, etc.
chiMi 3 hchya J -la J = tangled, uneven, etc.
chiMi 3 hpawMaw* = turning over and over, backwards and
forwards, etc.
chi 3 -li 3 nga 6 -la 6 = miscellaneous ; odds and ends, etc.
etc., etc.
Most of these expressions can be used either singly, or with one
-word repeated or both words repeated, without the chi*-li* at all. It
(the chilli 1 ) merely strengthens the words it precedes and makes
them more vivid. Cp. Eng. " all crumpled up " instead of merely
"crumpled"; "all in a fluster" instead of " flustered," etc., etc.
Lisu poetry, of which there seems to be an abundance, uses many
words not in ordinary conversational use. As Lisu poetry, like Chinese,
seems to be largely based on antithesis, a large number of dummy or
*' match " words are used to offset real ones, and many such dummy
words are used in common colloquial expressions too (though never
alone). When, however, there already exist suitable words for mating
purposes, dummy words are not used or even invented for the
antithetical couplets and four-word phrases the Lisu love so much;
(a) Where dummy words are not used —
ni'-lrgh'-si^-lrgh 1 = to repent (lit. heart-change-liver-chauge.
Here " liver" mates with " heart ").
ni'-sha'-mjk'-sha 1 = sorrow (lit. heart-difncult-eyes-difficult).
yi 6 -raMyi 3 -ra s = kith and kin (lit. little-elder-brothers-little-
younger-brothers).
hchi'+-ra5-h'ya s -ra* = game (lit. little-barking-deer-little-sharau)
hchi 3 -tsa 3 -14s-tsa J = to serve, wait upon (lit. foot-connect-hand-
connect) etc., etc-
( 59 )
{i) Where dummy words are used —
na*-iu»-hpyfc s -su 3 = sick people. In this, as in all such expres.
sions, the dummy word can be at once picked out as being
the second unrepeated word, in this instance Afiyd s . Na*r
su* alone would mean precisely the same as ngp-svt-hpya*-
jk 3 . Many of these expressions are capable of variation,
l 'g —
I na«-ra*-hpya*-ra* = sicknesses.
I na*-jaw«-hpyk s -iaw* = to be sick (lit. have sickness)..
ljia*(a)-ma 3 -hpya 5 (a)-ma 3 = the sick (persons or others). But in
all cases hpyfc is the only word used with na being*
the word to which it is, so to peak, legally married.
Similarly —
hchya*-krgh 3 -ngaw s -krgh 3 = hchya*-krgh 3 alone = to trans-
gress.
hkuS-dza*-na 3 -dza s = hku*-dza ! alone = to steal, pilfer.
wa4-chi s -wa 4 -mu J = wa«-chi 3 alone = mountains, hills,
htsaw* mrgh'*-htsaw«-ji s = htsav\*-mrgh'< alone = a stupid
person ; idiot.
lrgh*-krgh 3 -lrgh.*-mi 3 = lrgM-krgh 3 alone = cups (and basins),
etc., etc., for a very lar^e number of expressions. In fact it
may be said of these four-word-couplet expressions, as of the
adverbial expressions in chilli 3 and ka* mentioned above, that they
are practically inexhaustible. No European can ever hope to know
even half of them, for they vary considerably in different dialects, and
new ones seem to be easily and frequently coined. In some ways the
Lisu language may seem to be a poor and barren one, but in these
particular directions it grows rank and luxuriant.
Mention should also be made of Lisu "nicknames" (ha'-ngaw*) —
a set^of "slang" expressions which they often use either in flippant
conversation (the children will propound them to each other as riddles)
or to conceal their meaning when others of a different race are
present ; e.g. —
Salt (htsa s -baw 3 ) is also called hrgh s -ji 3 (sand) or Law J -Mye s
ma 3 (Burmese woman), etc.
Rice (dza 3 hpu*) is also called baw 6 -law 3 -hu 3 (ant's eggs) or
a* m*ao 3 si 5 hchi 3 (cat's teeth).
A pig (a'-vi. 6 ) is also called mu 3 sya a (rough bristles).
A harrow (cya a si 5 ) is also called mi 3 naMv-u'-prgh 1 (earth-
comb).
A bridge (gaw s -je+) is also called yi 3 -jya 3 -ji s -hrgh* (water-
girdle).
The Chinese (Hrgh 5 -hpa*) are also called a 3 -na 3 (crows *).
TheShans (Brgh 3 -Yi 3 ) are also called siS-na 3 ^ (black teeth)
«
and so on for a large number of words. Some of these nicknames are
witty and amusing.
* Because, they say, " all crows are black, and all Chinese are bad."
{
( 6o )
APPENDIX.
Time, Relationships, Weights, Measures, Money.
A.— Time.
(i) Oj Day. — Very few Lisu know anything about the hours of the
day. When they come into contact with Europeans, they learn to
express the time of day by the word shP-shP, which is a corruption
of the Chinese shi then (time of day, hour). But this shP-sh& may
mean either " o'clock " or an " hour " or a " watch " or clock, so it is
sometimes a little ambiguous ; e.g. —
shi'S-shi 3 sa« ma 3 = three o'clock, three hours, or three watcffes.
shi*>sbi s li 1 ma s brgh* = half-past four, or four and a half hours.
It usually takes a Lisu a long time to comprehend our division of
the day. He is inclined to start his reckoning about daybreak,
thinking it should be one o'clock by about 7-0 a.m., six o'clock by
12-0 a.m., etc.
(ii) Days of the Week. — Those Lisu who have become Christians,
or are in contact with Christians, have adopted the word na s (rest,
stop) to express the days of the week ; i.e. —
f Sunday = na s h'ya 6 -nyi 4 (rest day).
I Monday = na^ ka'-na 1 hti s nyi+ (one day after rest).
I Tuesday = na* ka'-na 1 nyi* nyi* (two days after rest).
^ Wednesday = na s ka'-na 1 sa s nyi* etc.
I Thursday = na* ka'-na 1 li' nyi 4
Friday = na s k4'-na' ngwa s nyi 4
(^Saturday = na* ka'-na 1 hchaw 6 nyi*
This word «a s is beginning to be used for a week, e.g. hti* na s = a
week, nyi ! na s = two weeks, sa 3 na s = three weeks, etc. At present,
however, the number of Lisu who would understand this is very
limited.
(iii) Months. — Most L'isu follow the Chinese lunar calendar, even
when they live in British territory. New Year (hkaw 6 she 6 ) is mov-
able, but it usually falls between January 20 and February 20 and
always, of course, on a new moon. As scarcely any Lisu read Chinese
they do not use printed Chinese calendars, but judge the day of the
month fairly accurately by the size of the moon. For the first, second,
and twelfth mQnfhs of their year they generally use the Chinese
words ; i.e. —
The first moon = cheng s -ye 5 .
The second moon = r'i'-ye 3 .
The twelfth (last) moon = la s -ye'.
( 61 )
The other moons take the ordinary Lisu numerals and the word
h'a* (moon) ; e.g. —
The third moon = sa 3 h'a*.
The fourth moon = li 1 h'a*.
The fifth moon = ngwa* h'a*.
etc.
From the first to the tenth day (inclusive) of each moon the
expression h'a*-hpu* {lit. moon open) is used after the number of the
moon ; eg. —
chehg 3 -ye 3 h'a+-hpu 3 hti s nyi* = the first day of the first moon.
ri 2 -ye 3 h'a*-hpu 3 sa« .nyi* = the 'third day o^the second moon.
sa 3 -h'a* h'a*-hpu 3 htsi*-nyi* = the tenth day of the third moon.
etc.
After the tenth day of the moon h'a*-hpu 3 is omitted ; e.g. —
hchaw 6 -h'a* htsH-ti 1 nyi* = the eleventh of the sixth moon.
shi' s h'a*htsi*-hV nyi* = the eighteenth of the seventh moon.
la 5 -ye 3 nyiS-tsi'-ku' nyi* = the twenty-ninth of the twelfth
moon.
The end of a moon is expressed by the moon " breaking " ; e.g. —
sa 3 -htsi* nyi* kwa 3 ku 3 h'a* htsye 2 -krgh 3 ngu 3 = the thirtieth
will be the last day of the ninth moon (lit. on the
thirtieth day the ninth moon will break).
cheng 3 ye 3 ma s htsye 2 -krgh 3 ht£* lye« la* law 3 = (he) will come
before the end (lit. breaking) of the first moon.
When a number of months is to be expressed, the full word h'tf-ba*
{moon) is used ; e.g. —
h'a*-ba 3 sa s -ma 3 = three months (lit. moons).
tsrghe"* h'a*-ba 3 nyi s -ma 3 nya 3 , mu s -she 3 du* la 4 (a) law 3 = in
another two months (moons) the rainy season will be on
(lit. enter).
(iv) Seasons. — The Lisu do not, as we and the Chinese do, divide
the year into four seasons. The only seasons they speak of are the
rainy season (mu 5 -she 3 hta*) and the dry season (mu s -htsu* hta*).
(v) Years. — In the enumeration of years the Lisu, at least those
who have been born or have lived any length of time in China,
theoretically follow the Chinese in numbering every year, past or
present, by the reign of a Chinese emperor, but in practice very few
of them are able to do this. A much simpler method by which every
intelligent Lisu can reckon years is by the Chinese duodecennary
cycle, each year of which is presided over by one of twelve animals.
Unfortunately this cyclical method of reckoning -leaves it quite
uncertain whether 12, 24,36, etc., years should be added or subtracted
from the year in question, when the presiding animal alone is stated ;
e.g. a Lisu may tell you he was born in the " dragon year " (luS hkaw 6 )
and leave you to guess whether he means 1856, 1868, 1880 or 1892,
etc., which are all equally " dragon years."
( 62 )
The cycle runs as follows : —
Years.
Presiding animal.
1876
1888
1900
1913 ...
Rat (ha").
IB77
1889
1901
1913 ...
Buffalo (a'-nga 8 ).
1878
1890
190a
1914 —
Tiger (la R -ma3).
1879
1891
1903
1915 ...
Hare (htaw^-U 4 ).
I ISO
189a
1904
1916 ...
Dragon (lu 5 ).
1881
1893
»go5
1917 ...
Snake (hu 3 ).
1 85 a
1894
»i)o6
1918 ...
Horte (a'-mu 5 ).
18S3
189S
1907
1919 ...
Goat (a'-hchi 3 ).
1884
1896
1908
1990
Monkey (chya'-mye 8 )
1885
1886
1897
j 909
1991 ...
Chicken (a'-rgha 1 ).
1S98
1910 ■
199a
Dog (a'-na B ).
1887
1899
191 1
etc
tgaj ...
Pig (a s -va 3 ).
E.g.-
nu* a'-sbi* hkaw 3 su 3 nga 4 law s = what year do you belong to ?
{tit. what year's person are you ?).
htaw s -la 4 hkaw 5 su 3 nga 4 law 3 = (1) am the hare year's person,
i.e. was born in a year presided over by the hare,
which may be 1903, 1S91, 1879, 1867, 1855, or 1843, etc: which of
these has to be guessed by the man's apparent age. It is very seldom
that a Lisu does not know the animal which presided over his natal
year, but it is often impossible (in the case of older persons) to tell
which particular year it should be. Very old people often lose count
entirely and cannot tell you themselves whether they are, e.g., 83, 95,
•or 107 years old.
Among the Chinese these " presiding animals " are important for
use with their horoscope in arranging betrothals, determining
•' lucky days," etc., etc., but the Lisu do not seem to use them to that
extent. Days are, however, roughly determined as favourable or
unfavourable for certain purposes by reference to the presiding
animal, for these twelve animals preside over cycles of twelve days
as well as twelve years.
The straightforward way of asking a person's age is : —
nu 4 a 3 -mya 3 hkaw 6 jav\^a) law* = how old are you [lit. how
many years have you?).
sa 3 htsi* ngwa 5 hkaw 6 jaw 4 (a) law 3 = I am thirty-five years old
{lit. have thirty-five years).
B. — Relationships, etc.
(i) Names. — The Lisu give names to their sons when only a few
days old ; thes 6 e 'names are usually called a?-chP mye 3 (milk names).
Curiously enough these names are never, or should never, be used
during the person's lifetime. Though all a man's relations and
neighbours know his " milk name " they will never mention it in his
presence, or great offence would be given. An outsider would never
get to know a Lisu's " milk name " unless he made special enquiry
( 63 )
(and the information would probably be given sotto voce ever
if the man concerned were miles away from the spot) or else over-
heard the name used in a quarrel where it was intended to give an
insult. A certain amount of superstition seems to underlie thisr
peculiar custom.
When a youth is married he is given another name ending in hptfi
(man, male,. His wife thence bears the same name except that the-
hpa % is changed to ma? (mother, female) ; e.g. a youth will be called
Nrgh's-Trghe'-Hpa* and hence his wife Nrgh'J-Trghe* Ma. 5 , or the
youth Hku*-Mya s -Hpas and his wife Hku«-Mya s -Ma 3 .
Even this method of naming is, however, far from general. By
far the larger number of Lisu are commonly known by their surname
plus their number. Every Lisu, without exception, numbers his sons
in order and calls them by their number. This is invariably the case
before marriage, and usually after marriage too. The eldest son is-
given the word ta 1 (Ch. big, eldest), the second son lye', the third sm 3 ,
and the rest the Chinese numerals (nevtr the Lisu) in order; e.g. Mr-
Honey's (Bya s ) ten sons will be—
Eldest ...
Byis-Ta 1 .
Sixth
.. Byis-Lu'.
Second ...
Bya*-Lye J .
Seventh .
.. Bya.s-Hchi J .
Third
Bya*-Sa 3 .
Eighth
.. Bya*-Pa'.
Fourth ...
Byis-Si' 1 .
Ninth
.. Bya s -Chyu s
Fifth ...
Byas-Wu*.
Tenth ... ByiS-Shl'.
The daughters are numbered separately and not with the sons, as-
the Chinese and Shans sometimes do. The method of enumeration
is, however, the same except that the particle mrgh's (woman) i&
prefixed to the number. Hence Mr. Honey's ten daughters are : —
Eldest ... Byas-Mrgh's-Ta 1 . Sixth ... Bya.s-Mrgh'S-Lu J .
Second ... Bya.S-Mrgh'*-Lye 2 . Seventh ... ByaS-Mrgh'S-Hchi'-
Third ... Byas-Mrgh's-Sa 3 . Eighth ... Bya^-Mrgh'S-Pa 3 .
Fourth ... ByaS-Mrgh'S-Si 1 . Ninth ... ByaJ-Mrgh's-Chyu^
Fifth ... ByaS-Mrgh'<-WuS. Tenth ... By;M-Mrgh'$-Shi\
tf 5 __j n some districts the eldest girl is called na^-du^ and in others mrgh'6-
w« 5 (wii 5 = big) instead of mrgh' s -tai ; and from the sixth daughter downwards
(sometimes even from the third downwards) the word me 1 is often used instead of
mrgh'\ the number then preceding instead of following the word ; e.g. the-
" Honey " girls from the sixth downwards would usually be called Bya 6 -Lu»-Me ! ,
ByaS-Hchi-Me', etc.
Here again the strictly correct name for a married woman is her
husband's name plus ma 3 , but it is at least as common to call her by
her maiden name even up to old age, especially by those with whom
she is familiar. Certainly no offence is ever given by calling a married
woman by her maiden name; e.g. Miss Honey No. 3 is married to
Mr. Fish No. 2 (Ngwa'-Lye"). Her correct name, is now Ngwa 1 -
Lye'-Ma 3 , but her fellow-villagers, men or women, will probably
continue to call her Byas-Mrgh's-Sa 3 as they did before her marriage.
As might be expected considerable ambiguity is caused by this?
habit «f numbering sons and daughters, especially in villages where
all the families are of the same clan ; e.g. in a village where all belong to
( 64 )
the Fish clan, every eldest son is Ngwa'-Ta 1 , and many of the fathers
themselves may be eldest sons too. This confusion is r partly relieved
Ijy the addition of discriminating phrases or nicknames; t.g. Ngwa 1 -
Ta'-Maws-Hpas (Old Fish No. i), Ngwa^Ta'-DaJ-Ma 3 and Ngwa 1 -
Ta'-Ra* (Big Fish No. i and Little Fish No. i), Ngwa'-Ta'-Myi*-
Hrghs (Fish No. i— Squint-Eyes), Ngwa'-Ta'-Na'-Baw* (Fish No. I —
Deaf), etc.
Either a boy or girl may be loosely referred to by « 3 plus his or
her number, the surname being omitted ; e.g. —
A 3 -Ta J = the eldest boy; Na J -Du s = the eldest girl.
A'-Lye 4 = the second boy or girl.
A 3 -Sa 3 = the third boy or girl,
etc.
These numbers are used for other relationships also ; e.g. the
■uncles (father's brothers) are : —
A 3 -Waw s -Hpa* = eldest uncle.
A 3 -Waw 3 -Lye 2 = second uncle.
A 3 -Waw 5 -Sa 3 = third uncle.
A 3 -Waw 3 -Si J = fourth uncle,
etc.
(ii) Relttionshifs. — A few Lisu terms for relationships are given
herewith. __ It should beobserved that cousins to the first, second, third
or any other degree are all " brothers and sisters," unless they are on
the mother's side and hence of a different surname. If a Lisu says that
a certain man is his "brother" one can ask him " a5-chl a -hti s -paw 3
ma* nga« la s ? " (= "of the same teat ? " — i.e. were you born by the
same mother?).
It should also be noted that the Lisu has no term for any relation-
" in-law," except daughter-in-law (hchi 6 -ma s ) and elder sister-in-law
(ma'-las). A daughter-in-law refers to her father and mother,
brothers and sisters-z*-/«w as her own father, mother, brothers and
sisters respectively. Her awn brothers, after her marriage, are
referred to as her kfa s -mu*, and her own sisters as her tte'-ma 3 :—
Father = ba'-ba*, a*-baS, or hpa*.
Mother = a 3 -ma 3 .
Son = a 3 -bi 3 {lit. boy) or ra s .
Daughter = a 1 - mi 5 {lit. girl).
Elder brother = a J -yi 6 or kaw 3 (Ch.).
Elder brother's wife = ma 3 -la s .
Younger brother = nyi 3 -ra*.
Elder sister = a'-tsi 3 .
Younger sister or younger brother's wife = nyi 3 -ma 3 .
Daughter-in law = hchi s -ma 9 .
Grandfather = a 3 -pa 3 .
Great-grandfather = a s -hpi s .
Great-gr^art -grandfather = aMa 2
Grandmother = a'-ra s .
Great-graodmother = a s -hpi a -ma 3 .
Great-great-grandmother = a s -la*-ma 3 .
Ancestors = aS-hpu 5 -a 3 -pa 3 .
Posterity = htsi 6 ra s -la a -ra s .
( 65 )
Grandson = Ii'-pa*.
Great-grandson = la'-ra 3 . '' !
Grand-daughter = li'-ma 3 . ; ; '
Great-grand-daughter = la J -ma\
Uncle (father's brother) = a'waw'.
„ (mother's brother) = a»-va*.
• Aunt (father's brother's wife) = a 3 -waw 3 -ma J .
„ (father's sister) = a s -nyi*.
Nephew = ra 5 -dir».
Niece = mrgh' s -du«.
Cousins on mother's side = kwa 3 -hchaw s or hchaw 5 -hchaw s
(male) ; kwa 3 -hchaw s -ma 3 (female).
Sister's son = sa s -ra*.
Sister's daughter = sa 3 -ma 3 .*
{Wife = ra s -mrgh'« ("your wife " is more politely expressed by
" nu* h'i«-si s -ma 3 " — lit. the mistress of your house).
Husband = ra 5 -gu* ("your husband" = nu+ h'i+-si 3 -hpa s ).
First wife = muS-wu s -ma 3 .
Second wife = mu s -raw 3 -ma 3 .
First husband = mu*-wu s -hpa s .
Second husband = mu 3 -raw 3 -hpa s .
Stepfather = a s -ba s -raw 3 .
Stepmother = ma 3 -raw 3 .
C. — Weights and Measures.
(i) The Lisu Weights follow the Chinese as a rule, though the viss*
is commonly employed even in China. Their unit of weight is the
Chinese ounce {law 1 — Kachin rawng), of which about twelve go to the
English lb. and forty to the viss. This law- is subdivided decimally,
i'ijth part being a htsye* (Ch.), and T £ ff th part a hrgh*\ e.g.—
ya 3 -hpye 3 li 3 law* ngwa 5 htsye* shii 5 hrgh* = 4^5 7 (Chinese)
ounces of opium.
shi'-shi 3 htsi* ngwa s law 5 nyi* htsye* = 15*20 (Chinese) ounces
of wormwood.
Above the ounce there is the Chinese catty (cht*, Ch.) which may
be either 16 or 20 ounces, and a weight of ten catties (hchr*) which
is used in some districts. Neither of these weights are used as much
as the viss (hte a ) ; e.g. —
lu 3 -tsi 3 hti s hte a = a viss of (Lisu) betel-nut-
sa 3 -tsi -3 nyi s -tsi x hte a = 20 viss of (Lisu) cutch.
(ii) Measures of Capacity . — These are the Chinese pint (she 3 , Ch.),
two pints (hpe 6 ) ; ten pints (teo s , Ch.) ; twenty pints or basket {law*;
Ch.). Of these the hpe 6 and the law* are the most commonly used by
the Lisu. It should be observed that the word for basket is the same
as the word for ounce except for the tone, and that the Chinese (hence
• A Lisu can demand her in marriage for his son ; to refuse to give her
means a lawsuit and the payment of a fine.
5
I. 66 )
Lisu) basket, which varies indifferent localities, is usually smaller than
the Burmese. A Chinese basket of (hulled) rice usually weighs about
1 8 viss
la 5 -htsaw 4 hti*-raw 3 nya s , hti 5 hkaw" ma 1 dza* ma*-sM sa 3 htsi*
law* hchi-" dza 5 law*(a) ngu 3 = about 30 baskets of paddy
are enough for one man to eat for a year.
wa 5 -hpa 5 nya s , hti 5 nyi 4 dza*-hpu* hti 5 hpe 6 nga* law 5 = the
wages are ^th basket of (hulled) vice per day.
{Hi) Measures of Length. — The Lisu have no exact measures of
length. Such rough measures as hti 5 cha 3 = one length of out-
stretched fingers, hti } baw 3 = one length of outstretched arms, and
hti 1 paw 1 = one gunshot distance, are used, but the Lisu do not seem
to engage in any form of occupation needing exact measures of length.
They seldom use the Chinese It (about J mile) orthe European mile,
though the more intelligent ones in British territory call the mile
a htrgAe' — one mile being hti s htrgke 2 , two miles nyi* htrgke'', etc.
They usually measures distance very roughly by the time taken to
traverse it ; i.e. —
hti 5 na 6 ja 3 -gu 3 (one morning's road) or dza 4 -hchi' 5 hti 5 ga* (one
get-there-f or -breakfast) would be about two hours' walk, say
five or six miles.
hti 5 mawMaw 3 ja 3 gu 3 (= one noon's road) would be about
ten miles.
hti 5 nyi 4 ja*-gu 3 (one day's journey) would be fifteen to twenty
miles; nyi 5 nyi* sye s — two days' journey; sa 5 nyi* sye 5 =
three days' journey, etc. (sye 5 or sye 5 = to walk).
D. — Money.
In China copper cash are used, six or seven hundred of which
usually change for a rupee. These " cash " are called Ataw* Atsye*
(" money") or more accurately ji^htaw^Atsye* (" copper money ") ;
i'-vi'-hwa 5 hti j law 5 nya s , ji 5 -hta\v 4 -htsye 4 nyis-tsi 1 hpA 5 nu 4 (a)
law 3 = (they) want twenty copper cish for an ounce of pork
{lit. pig-flesh one ounce— copper cash twenty coins wanti.
hti 5 h'ya 6 yi'-ta' nya 3 , htaw*-htsye 4 sa 3 h'ya 4 hwa 3 (a) law 3 =
they ask (lit. look for) 300 cash for one night's board and
lodging (lit. sleep).
When dealing with larger sums, the average " jungle " Lisu still
usually thinks of money in terms of Chinese ounces of lump-silver
weighed on the fiative steelyard, e.g. his paddy fields will have been
mortgaged for fifty Chinese ounces of silver (hpu 4 ngwa 5 -htsi 4 lavv 5 ) or
the fine he pays for an abduction will perhaps be a hundred ounces
of silver (hpu 4 hti 5 h'ya 4 ). The Lisus' " deeds "—which in China
are roughly scrawled in Chinese characters by some local Chinese
( 67 )
M scribe " — usually deal in these two quantities only — ounces of silver
-and baskets of paddy ; e.g. —
yi'-wa* ngwa 4 ta 1 hpu 4 h'i 6 -htsi-ngwa* law*, sa» htsye 4 , hchaw*
high* rghe'-la 6 -bu3 ta 1 law3 = they owe me 85-36 ounces of
silver (rgheMa'-bu 3 = to owe a debt).
hpu 4 hti s law* sa* htsye 4 li' hrgh« ra 6 (a) law 3 = it comes to *
1 34 ounces of silver.
In Burma, however, and in China near the Burma frontier, rupees
.are the chief coins in actual use. They are sometimes called " hpu 4 -
htaw 4 -htsye 4 ," though if the classifying particle hpfc (coin) is used;
the phrase Ataw A -htsy** can be dispensed with ; eg. —
hpu 4 hti 5 hpa s = one rupee (lit. silver one coin).
hpu 4 htsi 4 hpa 5 = ten rupees (lit. silver ten coins).
The value of the rupee in Chinese ounces of silver fluctuates, but
•Jor convenience in calculation both Chinese and Lisu assume its value
to be "40 of a Chinese ounce of silver, which is not a bad average.
Hence the following multiples and subdivisions of the rupee, though
not strictly accurate, are everywhere used : —
hpu 4 hti 5 hte 4 = Rs. 100 (lit. a viss of silver).
hpu 4 nyi 5 htsye 4 = 8 annas (lit. T \ = £ ounce of silver).
hpu 4 hti* htsye 4 = 4 annas (lit. ^ ounce of silver).
hpu 4 ngwa* hrgh 4 ov hti s mu s = 2 annas.
hti* pye 3 = 1 anna.
pai (or pi)-htsan hti 5 hpa s = one pice.
In Chinese territory there is a tendency to use only whole rupees
smaller Indian currency being used less and at a discount.
* See Miscellaneous Idioms.
( *9 )
ENGL1SH-LISU VOCABULARY.
Abandon (v.t.) .,
Abase (v.t.)
Abate (v.t.)
„ (».«.)
Abdomen («.) ..
Abhor (»./.)
Abide; dwell
Able be, (p.)
Abode (*.)
Abound
About {pr*p.) ..
„ (»dv.)
Above (frtp.) ...
Absent, to be
Absorb (v.t.)
Abstract (vJ.) ...
Abundant
Abundantly
Abuse ; revile ...
Accept {v.t.)
Accompany (v.t.)
Accord, to be in
According to
Accuse ...
Ache (= pain) ...
Acquiesce (lit. listen)
Acquainted, to be
Active, be
Add (p./.)
Adhere (v.i.)
Adjacent
Admonish ...
Adore ; worship
Adultery (n.)
Advance (v.t.) ...
Advantage
Affair •••
Affix (v.f.)
Afraid, be ...
lawMcrgh 3
ya'(Cb.)
ni'-lye 3 tsi s
raw 3 -lye 3 ; si*-lye'
ni 2 -ma 3 (lit. heart)
hrghe" (Ch.) ; ni a dzaw 3
nyi'-ta 1 ; tya 1
ku 1 (etc., see Grammar)
h'i 4 (house) ; tya* gu 3 (place where
live)
a s -my4 a jaw 4 ; hti J mO' hti J ma 5
jaw 4
chaw* law 3 law 3 (= all around) ;
gaM4 s -ga s -ji 4 (in neighbourhood
of)
a*-la 4 («.g. about twenty people =
a 5 -la 4 nyis tsi' raw 3 )
ht4*-si'
ma* tya*
hchi 6
ru 4 -krgh 3
my4 s ; a*-mya" jaw 4
a J -mya' my4 a
je« ; htsao' (Ch.)
ru 4
hchaw 4 -jye 4
ni 3 -ma 3 haw' (l4«-hkaw 4 )
lye 3 -bye s
di 3 ; kaw* ; wa'-kaw*
na 4
na 3 na'
srghe* 14*-hkaw 4
ma s bu 4 ; hchi J -du j law 3
chya 3 (Ch.)
nrghe 6
hpa 4 -hti'
hchyen 3 (Ch.) or yi 6 nyi« grgh* (lit
awaken)
wu'-dil 3 hte 6
h'y4 s -hchaw s hwa 3 (a) ma 3 ; su 3 ra*-
mrgh' 4 hchya 4 -krghi(a) ma 3
hrgh'-hta* jye 4 ; 4*-v4s-si' jye 4
ji 4 -gu 3
si'-htsye* (Ch.)
nrghe*
jaw 3
( 7° )
After {prep.) ...
Afternoon
Again
Age ... ...
Agent (middleman in arrang-
ing a match) ...
Agree
Aid
Aim (gun)
Air
Alike
Alive, to be
All
Allow ... ...
Allure
Alone
Also
Alter
Alternate
. Although ... • ...
Always ... ...
„ (withoujt end)
Amazed
Amber
Amount (w.t.)
.Ancestors
Ancient
And
Angry
Animal (cattle) ...
„ (game) ...
Annoyed, to be
Annually
Another
Answer
Ant
Anus
Anxious
Any (person)
„ (thing)
Anyhow
Anywhere
Aperture, to have
Appear
Appearance ...
Approve . ...
Arise
Arm ... ...
Armpit
Arouse ...
Arrest {lit. tie)
Arrive
ka'-naMsi")
mayf?-}aw 3 k£'?n£' '
tsrghe" (Ch.' hat')
htsi 6
dzi s -maw s
Kaw< (Ch.)
ye 3 ja»
maw 1
mis-h'i* (wind) ; sya 6 (breath)
hpye s -rghe 4 ; rghe* li'-h'kaw*
sva 1 tya 1
a-'-ji 5 (see Miscellaneous Idioms)
tfti 3
krjjh'
b^-maMa 1
(a)-mi 4 ; chya 3
Irgh'
pa* la 5 -hkaw*
(a)-mi 4 ; du 3 nga*(a) mi*
hti s -htsi 6 ; a" hta*(a) mi 4
hti 3 -htsi 6 hti s -pa 3
da 3 -ja s -mrgh' 4
hui prghe" (Ch.)
kjghMye 3 ; ra 6
a'-hpa 3 -a 3 -pa 3
a'-ne'-ma 5
(a) bye 3 (or ba 3 ); si" (with verbs)
ni a -ma 3 h'rgh 4 ; ni'-dzaw 3
je s -ra 5
hchi 4 -ra 3 -h*ya 3 -ra 3
ni'-dzi 3
hti 3 hkaw 6 bye hti 3 hkaw*
nS' (ni v )-ba 6 ; yi'-te'-yi'
ta 3 -taw' ; taw 5 -taw J
baw ? law 5
h.chi>-hku 4
hchi 1 ; rnya 3 -pya 5
a 3 -ma+(a) mi 4
a'-shi^ajmi 4
a 3 -li 3 ye s (a) mi 4
a 3 -li 3 kwa 3 (a) mi 4
yi 1 hku 4 h'e 4
hpye*-rghe 4
(yi') hpye 3
na 3 -na'
tu 3 (krgh 3 lye 3 )
ia 6 hprgh 4
li 6 du 3 -hku 4
yi 6 nyi* gigh 3
htsaw'
hchi 3 (ye 4 )
C V )
Arrow
As-; like as * ...
Ascend
Ashamed
Asties
£ sk (question) ...
,. for
Asleep, be
Assemble, to
Assent
Assist
Astonished, be
At {firef.)
Attach, to (v.t.)
Aunt (see Relationships)
Avoid (hide) ...
Awake [v.t.) ...
,, (f.».)
Awry
Axe
hchya*-che» or cha»-ch€*
lye»bye 5
dA?(jye»)
sha'-taw 1
hku'h'a*
na'-nyi*
dye*
yt 6 -mrgh ,J
law's (Ch.)
na» na"
ja* j ye 5 ja s
da s -ja s mrgh'*
kwa*
nrghe 6
py£» nyi*
yi 6 -nyi*-grgh«
hwa*-hchi s
hpyi'
as-htsaw'
B
Baby
Back («.)
Bad
Bag (or sack) ...
Bake
Balances
Bamboo
Band (waist) ... ...
Bank (of river) ...
Bark (as dog) ...
„ (of tree) ...
Basket (rough, loosely woven,
carried on back)
Basket (large and closely
woven, with cover)
Basket (small and closely
woven, without rover)
Basket (measure of capacity)
Bastard
Bat (ft.) ...
Bathe (v.t.)
Bazaar (».)
DC ... ...
Beads ... ...
Beans ... ...
Bear (».) ... ...
,, to (endure) ...
htsaw*-shi 6 -ra s
ka 5 kaw' or kk'-ni'-hku*
ma* ji*
mu*-nu 5
hchu* (burn) ; kaw 5 (roast)
htsye 4 du J
ma*-da*
ji'-hrghe' (in some districts /«*«
hrghe*)
pens hkans (Ch. ?) ; bya 5 -maMikrgh«
lu>
si*-kaw'-ji«
hka'-tu*
grgh s ba*
ne'-te'
law*
dis-ras
wa 4 -la*
gaw s de J htsi*
ji» ; kai'-tsis (Ch.) *
nga* ; tya*
H'-ti*
a*»naw 5
waw*
dzi« ; re* (Ch.)
( 7» )
Bear, to (give birth to)
h'fi«
Beard
• •■• • • *
mfl'-tti*
Beat (with stick)
• ••
ti 1
Beautiful
> •• •• •
bi 4
Because
• • • * • •
a 3 -lyawM>4*-nya 3 ; nyi 5 , etc. (see
Grammar)
Beckon
• 4 • > » »
14 6 -me 6
Become
• 1 • • t • '
hpye 6 -!a 4 ; hpye 6 jye 4
Bed (stead)
■■• • •
hchwa* (Ch.) ; hka'-hcha*
„ (sleeping place)
yi 6 -ta x gu 3
Bedding
•• ■ •• •
yi a -bu 3
Bee
• • f • • *
by& s (raw 3 )
Beehive
... •••
by4 5 -si 8 -htu*
Beef
• •• ••*
a'-nyi 5 hwa*
Beer (native brewed)
jiMiprgW
Beeswax
• • • •• ■
byk s shaw 1
Befall
-•• •••
ju 4 -r4 6
Before
• » » . ■ •
hrgh'-hti* ; & s -v4 A -si
Beg
• • • • > •
dye*
Beggar
...
dxa 4 dye 5 su 3
Begin
...
(yi) wu 1 tu 3
Behead
... •••
wu'-du 3 drgh 3 krgh 3
Behind
...
ki'-ni'-si 1 ; krgh 3 -tsy4 I
Behold 1
... • ••
je 4 ! ne 4 ! naw 4 ! etc.
Believe
• ■ • • • •
ji 4
Bell
... »••
chawMaw 5
-Belly
...
h'i 6 -hchi 6
Below
• ■ • • • *
wuJ-paw* ; wu s -pe'
Beneath
• It ...
na'-hkwa 5
Benefit
■ • a • * •
ji 4 -gu 3
Bench
... ...
pa'-trgh'
Bent ; crooked
• •« * • •
gaw 6
Beseech
...
dye*; shang a -fu a (Ch.) ; hchyu' (Ch.)
Beside
... • • •
ba 4 -si' ; ma« htsi 4 ; htaS-si*
Best
* • • ...
a J hkrgh* ji 4
Betel-leaf
••* ...
lu'-tsi* (Ch.)
Betel-nut
... ...
kwangs tsi* (Ch.)
Better (see Grammar)
Between
... ...
nyis-ku'-cha*
Beware of
• •• • • •
ra 3 -mu s
Bewitch (vJ.)
... ...
tai* hu» ; rghe 4 -h'a 4 sye*
Big
• • • * t •
wu s (the big one = yi' da ! -ma»)
Bind (persons)
... ...
htsaw'
„ (things, into bundles)
hrge»
Bird
... ...
nya'
Bite
. • • ■ • •
hkaw*
Bitter
• •• • • »
hit wa 5 (in some districts hka s )
Black
• t • •• •
na»
Blacksmith
... **•
haw 4 -drgh s -hpa 5
Blame, to
• • • ■• • ■
kwai' (Ch.)
Blanket
• • • » « ■
yi'bu 3
Blaze, to
...
(aMaw 3 ) bya 1 la 4
( 73 )
Bleed, to (»,/.) ...
Blind ...
Blood
Blossom
Blow (with mouth)
,, (of wind) ...
Blue
Blunt (of knife)
Boar (wild)
Board (plank) ...
„ (supply food)
Boat
Body
Boil (t.t.)
„ (tu\)
„ (ulcer)
Bold
Bolt (run away) .
Bone
Book ( = paper) . . .
Border; frontier
Born, to be ...
Borrow
Bottle
Bottom
Boundary (see Border)
Boundless
Bow, to
■is <jaw 3
myaMicbe*
sis
(yi-ve 3 ) ve 3
mu s
je*
lan* (Ch.); ni'-hchi 6 (=blue or
green)
ma ! htsyA 8
a'-va'-ti'
si'-hpya'
kong 3 (Ch.) ; grgh< dza 5
li 3
gaw 3 -de s
tsa 3
tsu 3
brgh 4 -na 4 -ji 3 or na* hchu s
ni a -wu 5
hchye a (jye*)
waw'-taw 3
htaw s -rghe»
muS-krghe'-krghe'
h'e* ta' law*
ngwa' (things) ; hchi* (money)
shao 3 liang 3 -hu* (Ch.)
hchi*-duS
yi* leMsye* ma 5 jaw*
wu'-du 3 hte 6
(*.) (ordinary), for pebbles mya*-ma 3
hchya'
lrgh*-krgh 3
si'-grgh*
a»bi 3
la 6 -ju 3
„ (*.) (cross)
Bowl
Box
Boy
Bracelet
Bracken
Brains
Branch
Brass
Bread
Break
si'-pye 3
wu'-nrgh"
si'-la'-ka 3
rzu 3 -pa 3 -pa s
hkaw*
hche«
Breakfast
Breast
Breath («.)
Breathe, to
Breeze
Bride
Bridegroom
(to, as a stick)
( „ as a pitcher)
( „ as a wooden implement) la' byaMye 3
(„ as thread) ... htsye* krgh 3
na* dza*
aw' 3 -hkrgh 3
sya 6
syA 6 h'a*
mis-h'i*
hchi 6 -ma 3 -la'
in-law)
mS'-IA'-hpa*
[lit. young daughter-
C n J
Bridge
Bridle ...
Bright, to be
Pring, to
Brinjal
Broad
Brood («.)
Broom .
Brother
Bucket (bamboo cylinder)
Buffalo
Bug (bed)
Build, to
Bull
Bullet
Bump into (to)
Bundle, to
Burden, a
Burman
Burn, to (house, firewood,
„ „ (oil for lighting)
Burst, to
Bury, to
•Burial place ...
Business ; affairs
Busy, to be
Butt, to
Butterfly
Button
Buy
By (the side of)
etc.)
gaw s -dzye*
(a'-muS) long J -htong s (Ch.) or law*
htu s
lya" (Ch.)
ru*
gwa* si s
yi ra s
h'i* si'-du 3
(elder) a'-yi* ; (younger) nyi^ta*
(see Relationships)
pa s -htu s "
a'-nga 6
pi'-se 1 (Ch.)
tsi' {lit. to put together).; a' 3 (to
put roof on)
a'-nyis-pa 1
paw 3 -si'S
hta s
htS"
rghe*
LawJ-Mye« (Ch.)
hchu*
taw*
paw 1
tH«
tQ'-gu 3
si'-htsye* ; men 3 -hteo s (both Ch.)
htsaS
bu*-lu«
nyuS^tsP (Ch.)
wu*
ba*-si x
Cackle
Cake
Calculate
Ca\f
„ (of leg) ...
Call, to
Calmly ; gently
Camp ; fortress
Can ; be able
Candle , '..
Cane; rattan
Cannon
Capable, to be ...
Capital (for trade)
Caravan (hones)
" kuS-ta' " bye 3 ba*
pa J -pa J (Ch.)
swei' (Ch.)
a'-nyi 5 ra s
hchi J *wS 6
hku«
a s -ra*-a s -ra« bye 5
yings-hpan* (Ch.)
ku 1 (etc., see Grammar)
la'-chu a (Ch.)
gu s »mi*
ta'-hpao* (Ch.)
da*
pen s -htsyen* (Ch.)
(a'-muS) pang 5 tsip (Ch.)
( 75 )
Careful, to be ...
Careless «,.'.
Caress
Carpenter
Carry (on back)
„ (on shoulder)
„ (in hand)
Cat
Catch, to (as fish)
„ „ (as animal in trap)
„ „ (as ball in airj* ...
Cause, to ... ,,,
Cave
Chain
Chair
Change, to
Charcoal
Chase, to
Cheap
Cheat, to
Chest (box)
„ (of body)
Chew ; masticate (to)
Chief; official ...
Child
Chillies
Chin (on face) ...
Chinese
Choose, to
Chop, to (with dah)
City
Clean (adj.)
Clear (of water and liquids)
i. (of sky) ...
Clever
Climb
Close ; near by
„ to
Cloth (cotton)
Clothes
Cloud
Coac
Coax
Cobweb
Cock
Coffin
Coin
Cold
Collect (as taxes)
„ (as debt)
„ to (as things on table
or ground)
ra'-mu^ta 1 ) ; . '
ni'-wu s ' !
she° (grghs) ' }
muS-tsyang* (Ch.)
ma*
pi'
ta 2
aS-niMs'P ;aS*ni^ra s ;"a 3 -myao 3 (Ch.)
ru* '
htu*
da*
tsp
rgha'-hku*
ho 4 she*-h'i* or ho* she*-ni*
pa'-trgh 1
lrgh 1
hku*-mu 3 -tsi 3
ga 6
(yi 1 hpu s ) nu s
krgh 1
si'-grgh*
aw' 3 -hkrgh s
gwas
si 5 -hpa s (see also Headman)
ras-ne 3 (-ra s )
brgha 3 -si' s
mu* prgh 1 du s •
Hrghs-Hpas
si 3
hchi* 3
hka'-da s ma 3
hsia* ; si s -hsia*
hsia 5
(mu s -kwa 3 ) ba J
da* ; la*-ti' ; hwa*
da 3
hpa*-hti'
tsi*
mrgh' 3 (-hcha 3 )
bu*-htsi - s
mS 5 -ti 3 ; mu'-ku 1
bu*-htsi s
krgh'
na'-mi'-chi'-hchyas
a'-rgha' hpa 5
gu s
(hti*) hpa 6 - .
jya«
tsi'
ta 1
sha 3
( 76 )
Collect, to (assemble)
Collide, to
Comb, a
„ to
Come
Command, to
Commence
Common people ; subjects
Companion
Compensate
Complain against (anyone)
Conceal
Confess
Confine, to
Conquer
Consider, to
Consult together
Contain
Convalesce
Cook, to
Cool
Copper
Cord
Corn (maize)
Corpse
Correct (adj.) ...
Cost, the
Cotton
Cough, to
Count, to
Country
Court
Cousin (see Relationships)
Cover, to
Cow
Cowrie (shell) ...
Crab
Crack, to
Crafty
Crawl (of insects)
Criclcet, the
Crooked
Cross, to (as river)
i, „ (as mountain)
Crossbow
Crow, a
Crush, to "...
Cry, to
Cuckoo, the
Cucumber
Cultivate (land), to
hku«-dzi*
trghe'-htaMa'-hkaw 4
wu'-prgh*
prgh*
la* (imperative Id*)
tsl
wu'-tuMu 1
pe'-sing" (Ch.)
hchaw s -hpa'
chS» (grgh)
kaw» or wa J -kaw'
chi 3
re a (Ch.)
be*
hwa 1 lye 1
du*-ja 5 ; a'*-(nyi 3 )
gwa 3 -dzye« la j -hkaw«
krgh 3 -di 4 [(a) law']
da 4 ve s
(dza 4 ) hsia' ; (dza 4 ) chia 1
lya* (Ch.)
fi*
hchi'-ra s
hkrgh'-sha 3
shi 4 -maw 3
chwen* (Ch.)
(yi 1 ) hpa*
sa 3 -la*
tsl 3
a' 3
mu s
ya s -men* (Ch.)
pi 1 (house with roof = fl' 3 )
a'-nyi J -ma 3
yi 4 -ma*
yi 4 -dzye 6
(yi 1 che 1 ) brgh* lye 1
yiMa» ; meo*-chi' na' (Ch.)
cha 1
cha 3 -pu s
gaw'
kaw 1
hkaw 3
hchya 5
a'-na 3
nyi'-hche 6
ngu 4
kwa'-pQ 1
a 3 -pu 3
dye 3 -mi* re* (lowland)
( 77 )
Cultivate (land, to)
Cup
Cure, to
Curry
Curtain, a
Custom
Cut, to (chop) ...
(clear jungle)
(as finger)
(all round, as notch
round bamboo) ...
„ „ (reap, as paddy)
Cutch
H II
>) >i
11 ii
h'a«-mr* hkwa' (highland)
(general)
lrgh«-krgh s or lu* krgh J
(na 4 ) hsya'
waw 5 -hpya s
chang'-tsi' (Ch.)
lis
hchi 3
tsye 1
rgh>
chaw 5
rgh s
sa'-tsi' 6
mi' ye*
Dacoit ; robber ...
Dagger
Dah (sword)
Daily
Damp
Damsel ; maiden
Dance
Dare, to
Dark, to be
Daughter
Dawn
Day
Daytime
Dead, to be
Deaf
Dear ; costly
Debt (or account)
Deduct, to
Deceive, to
Deep
Deer (large)
„ (barking) ...
„ (musk)
„ (sharau) ...
Deliberate, to
Delighted, to be
Deliver, to
Demand, to
Demon ; nat
Deny, to
Depart, to
Deride, to
hchyangs-tao 3 (Ch.)
su 5
a'-htas-hche*
a'-hta*
hti 5 -nyi*-htis-nyi«
hpa'-lye 3
ras-mrgh'MA 1 (ra*)
gwa s -hchye*
prgh 1
na 3 htsi s lye 3
a 1 -mi 5
mi s -hta s ji* la* or mi s -hta hsya* la*
nyi+; h'ya 6 -nyi*
maw 6 -law 3
shi* (aw) ; (yi 1 ) shi*
(na ) baw s
hka a
rghe*-la 6
hkeo' (Ch.)
krgh 1
na 1
htsye*
hchi 4
la 3
h'ya.5
gwa 3 -dzye*-la s -hkaw 4 (take counsel
together ; discuss)
hsi-hwei (Ch.) ; niMipu*
sya 6 -mya 3 tsa* (save life); chyao*
grgh* (as lettei- — Ch.)
hwa 3 {lit. seek)
ni 5
ma* re" (Ch.)
jye*
wa s -sye 4
(, 78 )
Descend, to
ra 6 -lye 3
Descendants
htsi 6 -ra s -li'-ra5
Deserve, to
hpu s
Desire, to
nii 4 ; ni'-shi 3
Despair, to
ni s -ma 3 bya 3 lye 3
Despatch, to
ts'i 3 hu 3 krgh 3
Destroy, to
hpya a
,» (Kill)
sye 6 (krgh 3 )
Dew
lu 2 -shui« (Ch.)
Die, to
shi*
Different
ma« htaw's (Ch.)
„ to be
tseo«(Ch.)
Difficult
sha*
Dig
hkwa 3
Dim, to be
ma 5 lya 2
Dinner ; lunch ; tiffin
dza*-juS
Dip, to
taw s
Dirt ; soil
ne x -h'e s (in some districts la l -pa*
hchtt)
„ (excrement)
hchis
Dirty, to be
ma* shya 4
Disagree, to
ma 5 haw 2 la 5 »hkaw 4
Disappear, to
ma 5 maw 4
Discourse, to
ma'-mi 5 cha 3
Discuss, to
gwa 3 -dzye 4
Disease
na*
Dish
ba 4
Dishonest
ni 3 -nia 3 ma s ji 4
Dislike, to
ma 5 nu*
Disobey, to
ma s na 3 -na*
Dispute, to ...
sy4 6 la* hkaw 4
Distant
rgh«
Distribute, to
be* grgh 5
District, a
mu 5
Distrust, to
ma* h'a 4 -le 3
Ditch
yang 5 keo 3 (Ch.)
Divide, to ...
be 4
Divine, to (by sticks)
sa 5 sye 4 sye 4
Divorce, to
... htsrge*
Lo, to
ye 3
Doctor
na'-htsi 6 si s -hpa s
Dog.
a'-na 5
Door
ka 3 -hkrgh*(-du 3 ) ; a'-hkrgh or hka 3
hkrgh*
Dove ...
a T -gu s
Down (adv.)
wu s -si T (mu 5 )
„ to go
ra 6 -jye*
,, to come •
ra 6 lye 3
Drag, to
gaw 4
Draw ; pull (to)
chp
; , (as water)
hkaw 6
,, (as picture)
baW 3
( 79 )
Draw to (unsheathe) *..
', gaW* -'":,-,-'•;:
Dream, to .... :
yi 6 -my4 3 -hkaw 4 ■ ? '
Dress ... .,-. :
I bu«-htsis . '?
„ to
bu*-htsi s gwa 5 - *.
Drink, to
daw* '. i -■■■•
Drop, to
htsye«-lye 3
Drown, to ? .;. .-.-_.
. htsyen 5 -shi* ; ti'-sbi*
Drug (medicine)
na'-htsi 6
Drunk, to be
yi 6 (a) law 3
Dry {adj.) ... *
hu 3
Duck
4" : 1
Dumb
mrgh'4; ya s -pa 3 (Ch.) = a dumb
person
Dung~
hchi 3
Durable, to be ...
rze 5 pu'(a) law 3
Dust ; ashes ...
hku*-h'a« ; pi 1 je 6
Dwell, to
tya 1
Dwelling (= house)
h'H
Dye, to
nr 1
Dyke (between paddy-fields)
ken 5 -tsi 3 (Ch.)
£
Each
Mi 5 ma 3 bye 3 hti 5 ma 3
Ear, the
na'-paw 3
„ orifice, the
na'-paw 3 -hku<
Ear-ring
na'-likaw*
Early
na 6
Earth, the
mi 3 -na 3
East, the
mi s -mi* daw 3 hkrgh 5 or brgh 3 daw
hkrgh 5 .
Easy, to be
sa<
Eat, to
dza 5
Eatable
dza 5 da* law*
Edge
hkrghs
Eel (land)
hwang 5 -shan 3 (Ch,)
Egg
hu 3
Eight
h'i 6
Eject, to
ga 6
Elbow
la 6 -tsi 3
Elder, village
htsaw*-wu 5
Elephant
h'a*-ma 3
Elope, to
hpaw*-jye 4 (to abduct = haw 5 -.
hpaw*)
Else {adv.)
yi'-te^-yi 1
„ otherwise ...
ma 5 nga* nya 3
Emancipate
hu 3 -krgh 3
Embrace
saw 1
Emetic
hpe 6 (a) ma 3 na'-hts*i 6 J
Employ
rze 5
*
Empty
a'-shp ma 5 da 1
„ to
lr' J
Encircle
chaw 1
( 8o )
End ; extremity
prgh'-du*
Endless
*..
yi' prgh' ma* htsye*
Endure
• • ■
re s ; dzi*
Enemy (= soldier)
ma*
Enough, be
. • •
law 6
Entangle
• ••
hkrgh>lrgh'
Enter
• • •
daMye 3 ; (go in) da* jye* ; (come in)
das-la*
Entertainment ;
feast
poi 3 (Burmese)
Entice .
• ••
krgh 1 ; na 1 (ru«)
Entrails
. • •
wu*
Entrap
...
htu«
Entreat
. ■ .
hchyus (Ch.) ; shang'-fu* (Ch.) ; dye*
Equal, to be
• » •
hti*-lye J
Erase, to
...
hta'-huMcrgh 1
Erect, to (a house)
tsi 1
Err, to
• • ■
hchya*-krgh 5
Escape, to
...
li'-krgh*
Escort, to
• * •
haw 5 -h'a«
Esteem, to
• • •
hpu* ; nu*
Eternal
...
htis htsi 6 hti s pa J
Even ; level
. • .
hping 3 (Ch.) 'ht
Evening
...
mrgh'S-hkrgh 3
Ever {adv.)
a'-hta>(a) mi*
Every
. . .
a 1 shp . . . (a) mi+
Exactly
trghe 6 -bye 3
Exceed, to
mya s -lye 3
•Except ; unless
expressed by " if not"
Exchange
pa 3
Excrement
hchi 3
Exhibit, to
maw 1
Exist, to
. . .
tya 1
Expand, to
...
wuMa*
Expel, to
...
ga 6
Expense
(yi 1 ) hpu»
Expensive
hka J
Explode, to
• ••
paw 3
Extinguish, to
...
sye 6 krgh 3
Extol, to
...
she* grgh*
Extort, to
tsi 3 (lit. collect)
Extract, to
. . .
ru* daw 3 la*
Extremity
. ■ .
prgh'-du 3
Exude, to
... dzi s -daw 3
Eye
mya 3 -si' 5
„ ball
...
mya 3 ni'-ma 3
„ lid
mya 3 kaw 3 -ji*
,, lash
...
mya' kaw 3 -mu 3
•
F
Face (n.)
...
hpi s mya 3
Fail, to
...
ma s hwa 1 lye 3 ; shuMye 3
( &* >
Faint, to
• • •
Oia s hwa'-hclu"
Fall, to
...
htsyeMye 3
,i ,i (of water decreasing
in river)
si 6 -lye 3
False
...
ma* chwen*
Fan, to
• ••
me"
a «* •••
• • ■
htsa*-me*-du 3
Far, to be
• • ■
rgh*
Fast
* • •
tsrghe 6
Fasten, to
• <*
htsaw 3 ; hrgh*; hche*
Fat, to be
...
• htsi*
Fate
• ••
sya 6 mya 3
Father
aS-baS ; ba'-bas ; hpa*
rgh s -hrgh*
Fatigued, to be ...
• • •
Fault
hchya'(a) ma 3
Fear, to
• ••
jaw 3
Feast
...
pois (Burmese)
Feather
• * .
du 3
Fee
• • *
hpu*
Feeble, to be
. * .
sya 6 ma* jaw*
Feed (cattle, pigs, etc.)
. • .
cha 1
„ (to babies, and persons
generally)
...
grgb> dza s
„ (to take food)
...
dzaS
Feign, to
• ■•
(yi 1 ) hpye 6 hpye 6
Fell, to (trees) ...
,.
hkrghe*
Female ...
• • •
ma 3
Fence, to
...
htus
Ferry, a
li 3 -ku 3 -hkrghs
Fetch, to
ru 4 ye 3
Fever, to have
...
gaw 3 -de s hchu*; jya 3 -ni'-wu*-nyi*
da* law 3 •
Few {adj.)
ni 1
Fiddle, a
• • ■
san 3 -bsien* (Ch.)
Field (irrigated)
...
dye 3 -mi* (in some districts
h chawt-muS-hpu*)
„ idry, hillside)
. • •
h'a*-mr»
„ (dry, fallow)
» *•
brgh 4 -jya 3 -mi*
Fig
...
hchya 2 -htsa a -si*
„ tree
hchya a -htsa 2 -dzi 3
Fight
paw 3 la s -hkaw* ; ti'-Ia^hkaw* J
Fill (put in)
haw 5 ; krgh 3
Filth
...
Ia 3 -pa, 3 -hchi* ; hchU (excrement)
Find
...
hwa 3 -mrgh' 3
Finger
la 6 -nyi 3
Finish, to (complete)
...
dawMye 3
„ „ (use all of)
ye 3 gu 3 -lye 5
Fire
a'-taw 1
Fireplace
...
hku*-tsu r -be 6
First
...
yi 1 wu 1
Fish
...
ngwa 1
„ (salted and dried)
6
...
ngwa 1 -j u 3
( 8 3 )
Fish (rotten, Burmese ngafi)
ngwa'-hchT*
Fist
laO-pu'
Five
ngwa 5
Flash, to
bye 6 -lye 6 -mu 3
Flat, to be
pya 3
Flea
krgh 5 -trghe»
Flee
hchye a -jye 4
Fleece (sheep's wool)
a 3 -raw 3 mu 3
Flesh
hwa 5
Float away, to . . .
bu 4 jye*
Floor
iaw 4 -ma 3
Flow
yi 4
Flour (wheaten)
rzu 3 -hrgh s
Flower
si 3 -ve 3
Flute
jit* -la 5
Fly, to
bye* (jye 4 )
Fly, a
i 4 -mu s
„ green
shi' 3 -ma 3
Foam
vi 4 h'u 1
Fog
wuMu' (Ch.)
Fold
Ii 1
Follow
he haw 4 - jye*
Follower
hchaw 4 -jye* su 3 ;
,, (servant)
re 5 -ja 3 -su 3
„ (retainer)
hchi 3 -hpa 2 -ra*
Fond of , to be ...
nu«(a) law 3 ; ni 3 -shi 3 (a) law 3
Kood
dza* du 3
Fool ; idiot
htsaw 4 -mrgh' 4
Foolish ; idiotic
mrgh'*
Foot
hchi^hpa.'
For {prep.)
be*-rghe 3
Forcibly ./.
ma s da 4 ma* sa s
Forehead
nga 6 -hchi»
Foreigner
yangS-ren s (Ch.)
Forget
mi 3 -lye 3
Forgive
ra'-grgh 5
Formerly
hrgh 1 hta*; a*-ni»-shl< ni 2 ; a*-ne''
hta*
Forsake
law 3 -krgh 3
Fort
yings-hpan* (Ch.)
Four
li 3
Fowl
a'-rgha 1
Fox
hu*-li 3 (Ch.)
Fragrant
hche 5 -ne 3 mi*(a) law 3
Friend
hchaw s -hpa a
Frighten, to
chaw'
Frog
wu'-pa 1
From
kwa 3 -bye 3 (or kwa s ba J )
Front
hrgh'-htas
Frost
ni 3
Froth
yi 4 -h'u>
Fruit
si 3 -s'i*
( 8 3 )
Fry (rftill, as egg)
„ (as vegetables)
Fuel (firewood)
„ (charcoal)
Full, to be
Funny
ngaw 1
le 3
s^-chaw 1
hku 4 -mu 3 -tsi 3
bi 3
kas-ji*
Gay; merry
'Gain; profit («.)
Gale ; hurricane
Gall
Gamble
Gaol
Garden
Garlic (kind of) ...
•Garment
Gate
Gaze
Geld
Gently
Get, to (obtain) . . .
Ghost, a
Ginger
Girdle ; waistband
■Girl
Girth (for saddle)
Give
Glad, to be
Glass
„ bottle
Glittering
Go
Goat
God, the Creator
Gold
Gong
Good
Goods (things) ...
Goose
Gourd (bottle) ...
Govern
Grain
•Grandfather
Grandson
Grand-daughter ...
Grass
Gravei a
'Gravy
Gray
sya 3
li» (Ch.)
htaw 5 -ngaw s -htaw*-krgh 3
yi J ma 3 daw 5 ; tu* htsyen 6 (Ch.
be 3 -du*
be 3
hkwa s -sye*
bu« htsi'S
ka 3 -hkrgh s
nyi 3
na 1
a*-ra 4 -a$-ra*(a) bye 3
mrgh' 3
ni 5
chyang 3 (Ch.)
ji^-hrghe*
a'-mi* ; raS-mrgh'S-la 1
tuMai 2 (Ch.)
grghs
ni 3 hpu* ; hsi s -hwei 3 (Ch.)
pawMi 5 (Ch.)
shao 3 -lya' 3 -hu* (Ch.)
bye 6 -lye 6 -mu 3
jye 4 ; ye«
a'-hchii 6
Wu«-Sa 4
shi 3
chaw 3 -Iaw s
ji* ; ha 1
gu s -ju s ; chya 3 -si 3 (Ch.)
aw' 3
huMu 4 (Ch.)
kwans (Ch.)
ma 1 -si s
a 3 - pa 3
li 3 -pa 3 ' ,
li 3 -ma 3
shi 1 ; maw'
Igs-dzu 3
wu*-yi*
ku'-htu*
( 8 4 )
Graze, to ' ... ... shi 1 dza?
Great ... ... wu 5 ; da 5 -ma 5
Greedy ... ... kwa 5
Green (colour) ... ... ni'-hch'i 6
Grind, to ... ... je 3 ; maw s (Ch.)
Groan, to ... na* wu s
Uround ... ... mi 3 -na 3
Ground-nut" ... ... mi 3 -na 3 -s'i s ; law s -ti'-song 5 (Cb„)>
Grow, to ... ... wus-la 4
Guard, to ... ... ra 3 -mu 3
Guess ... ... htsai 3 (Ch.)
Guest ... ... nrgh's-hwa 3 ; ve'-ra*
Guide ; lead (to) . . . haw s (jye«)
Gun ... ... paw 3 ; (cap gun) htong*-hpao'-
htsyang 3 (Ch.)
Gunpowder ... ... haw s -yaw' (Ch.)
Guts ; bowels ... ... wu<
H
Hack ; hew
hchi 3
Hail
wa*-sip j waS-ma 4 -si* ; wa s -hpu*-lu*
Hair, of head, long
wu'-ku'-ma 3
,, „ „ short, in front
wu'-htsye*
„ on body ...
mu 3
• Half, one
(hti<) brghs
Halt; rest
rgh s -hrgh*-na*
Hand
la 6 -hpa 2
Handle
la 6 -wu 6
Handsome, to be
bi 4
Hang up, to
ngaw 3 ; tyao* (Ch.)
Hang, to (kill oneself by hangingj hrgl^-hchP-shi*
Happy, to be ... ...
ni 2 -hpu>,; hsi 3 -hwei 3 (Ch.)
Hard (of substance) . . . '
hu 3
„ (difficult)
sha 1
Hare
htawMa*
Hat
na*-h'aw a or na*-hkaw x
Hatch, to
mu*
Hate, to
hrghe' ; ni" dzaw*
Haul, to
chi -2
Have, to
jaw*
Hawk; eagle
dzye*
He; she ; it
yi 1
Head
wu'-du 3
Headache
wu'-du 3 na*
Head-cloth ;, turban
wu'-htrghe*
Headman (village)
sis-hpa* ; htsaw<-wu*
Heap (see Classifying Particles)
pe» etc.
Hear, to
pa 3 -ja 5
Heart
ni a -ma 3 .
Heaven ; sky
muS-kwa 3 „ .•'.
( 85 )
Heavj
Hell
Help, to
Hen
Here
Hew, to
Hide (v.t.)
(skin of animal)
High
Hill
Himself ; herself, etc.
Hinder, to
Hire, to
Hit, to (with hand or fist)
„ „ (as bullet)
Hither ; here
Hive (bee)
Hoarse, to he_ ...
Hoe, a
Hog ; pig
Hold, to
Hole, a
Hollow
Home
Honest
Honey
Hoof (horse's) ...
Hook
Hooked ; crooked
Honour, to
Horn (buffalo's, etc.)
Horse, a
Hot
Hour
House
How (see Grammar)
Hug, to
Hungry, to be ...
Hunt, to
Hurt, to (pain) ...
Husband
Husk (of paddy, etc)
Hut, a
li«
hchya 6 -mS s
a'-rgha'-ma 5
hta*; hte«-kwa»
hchi 3
chi 3
pya 3 -nya a
ji 4
mu 3 ; a*-mu x -mu s
(level ridge) wa*-dzi 3 ; (high hill or
mountain) wa 4 -chi 3 ; (dome-
shaped peak). waMu'
chi'-hchya*
tang* (Ch.)
ku 1 (Ch.)
drgh*
ra* ; (ya 6 )
hta 4 ; hte*-hwa 3
(bya5)-si 3 -htus
sya 6 mu 3
a 5 -gaw 4
a'-va 6
ru«
hku4
yi'-hku 4 -du 3 (a) law 3
h'i«
ni a -ma 3 ji*
bya 5 -wu s -yi*
(a'-mu*) hchi 3 -hp4 a
a'-gaw 6
gawMyaw 3
hpu 5
wu'-hchi 3
a'-mu s
htsa 4
shi'S-shi 3
h'i*
a 3 -li 3 (-bye 3 ), etc.
saw 1
h'i 6 -mrghe 6
hwa 5 ga 6
na 4
ra s -gu*
cha 3 -hprgh s
h'i*-bye 4
I ; me ; my
Ice
Idiot
ngwa*
ni 3 hpya 1
htsaw*-mrgh' 4
( 86 )
Idle
Idol
If
Ignorant, to be ...
Ill, to be ...
Illness
Imitate
Immediately
Immerse, to
Immodest, to be
Impede, to
Implore, to
Impossible, to be
Imprison, to
Improper
In (at, etc., of persons)
„ (inside)
Increase, to (v.t.)
India-rubber (eraser)
Indigo
Indolent
Ineffectual ; in vain
Infant
Infect, to (of disease)
Infirm, to be
t Inform, to
Inhabit ...
Injured, to be ...
Ink (liquid)
Insane; mad
Insect
Inside
Instantly
Instruct ; teach ...
Insufficient
Intelligent ...
Intercept
Interest (on money)
Intermingle, to ...
Interpose ; screen (to)
Interpret, to
Interpreter
Interrogate ; enquire
Interrupt
Intimate, to be ...
Intimidate, to ....
Into ' ...
Intoxicated, to be
Invert, to
Invisible, to be ...
Invite, to
hsiens (Ch.) ; (lazy) bu*
fu 2 -ra< ; nis-bye s
nya 3
a'-shT* ma* srghe 1
na* (tya 1 )
na*
saw 3
yi J -hte 4 -le J
ti 2
sha 1 ma 5 taw 5
tang* (Ch.)
dye* ; shang 2 -fu 2 (Ch.)
ma 5 hpye 5 la*
be 3
yi 1 li s ma 5 jaw*
tya 1
na J (kwa 3 )
chya 3 (Ch.)
mya s la 4
htaw s -rghe$ hta 2 du 3
tyen 2 (Ch.)
bu*
aS-taw 3 -lyeS ; pe'-pe 2 (Ch.)
htsaw*-shl 6 -ra s
ji 3 la*
sya 6 ma 5 jaw*
ba 3 -grgh 5
tya 1
shang 3 (Ch.)-lyaw 3
mrghe 2 (Ch.) wu 5 -yi 4
wu 1
bis-di*
na 1 (kwa 3 )
.... ma 5 hte*
ma 1
ma* law 6
ming s -pe 2 (Ch.) ; htong 3 -htsyeS{Ch.)
kas
li 2 or li 2 -htsye* (Ch.) ; yi 1 ra^
chya 6 la^-hkaw*
hcha"
mrgh'Mrghe 2 tsa 1
mrgh'Mrghe 2 tsa 1 su J
na 3 -nyi 3
waw 2
ji 4 la 3 -hkaw*
chaw 2
na 1 kwa 3
yi 6 (a) law 3
hpaw 2
ma s maw*
hku*
( 8 7 )
Invoke, to
Iron
Is
Island
It; its
Itch, to
Itch-sores
Ivory
* • •
• ••
t ■ *
• • •
hku*
...
haw*
• ■ •
nga 4
• ••
hais-taos (Ch.)
• • •
yi'
• • •
ni 2 -mu 3
■ • *
grghs-lrgh*
Jacket
Jack-fruit
Jade
Jaggery
Jail
Jar
Join, to h.t.)
» „ (*.«'.) ...
Joke, a
„ to
Journey, to go on
Joyful
Judge, a
Jug, a
Juice
Jump, to
Junction (of rivers)
Jungle
Just
(as two pieces of
bu4-htsi'S
a 1 -nga 6 -h'i 6 -ma 4 -sis
yi'-shi -3 (Ch.)
sha 3 -htangS (Ch.)
bgs-dus
bya*; yi*-wu 4
(as string) tsa 1 ;
wood) nrghe 6
law's (as two streams, Ch.)
wa s -sye 4 -ngaw s
wa s -sye 4 -ngaw s drghe 6
du 4 -daw 3
ni 2 -hpu 4 ; hsi 5 -hwei 3
ba 3 -ngaw* chya 5 su
si s -hpa*
hchya*-kaw 3 ;
wu s -yi*
trghe 3
law*-dzye+
si 2 -pye 3
hpingS (Ch.)
ba 3 ngaw*
htongs-kwan" (Ch.),
Karen
Keep, to (maintain, support)
„ „ (put by, as grain for
Kerchief (hand) ; towel
Key
Kick, to
Kid
Kill, to
Kind (race, sort)
„ (sort, variety)
„ to be
Kindle
King, a
Kingdom ; country
Kiss, to
Kite, a (bird)
K
Ke 3 -Yi 3
kawng 3 (Ch.) ; grgh* dza*
seed) dzye 3
sheoS-chin 3 (Ch.)
yaws-hchi 3 (Ch.)
hti 2
a'-hchi^-ra 5
sye 6
. . shi*
chus (Ch.)
(ni a -ma 3 ) ji*
mya 3 (to kindle— lit. put together
— a fire) = (a'-taw 1 ) tsi 1
wa*-ti x
muS
baw 6
dzye 4 -h'a a -la*
< 88 )
Kitten, a ... ...
Knead, to t..
Knee, the ...
Kneel, to
Knife, a (small, pointed)
„ a (bent, long-handled)
Knock, to (rap) ...
,, „ (strike hard)
Knot, a (in string)
Know, to ...
Knuckles, the ...
a 3 -myao 3 -ra*
nu a
hchi 3 -tsi J
hchi 3 -tsi 3 grgh*
a»-hta«-hch6*
aMitaf-lye*
drgh* ; ti'
' bteMe'-be 3
srghe 1
la«-tsi 3
Labour (».)
• • •
. ... wa 5
Labour, to (work)
mi* ye 3
Lac
...
tsi'i-kengs (Ch.)
Ladder
• • •
htiMsi*
Ladle
...
hpva^hkrgh*
Lamb
• • •
a 3 -raw 3 -ra s
Lame, to be
• • ■
hchiMipa^shaw'
Lament ,* wail
(to)
a 3 -hchya 3 -je«
Lamp ; lantern
• ■ •
a'-taw 1 mya'-du 3
teng* (Ch.)
Lance ; spear {
a)
la 3 -mu 3 -hta s
Lance (pierce),
to
ka 1
Land
• ■•
... mu s
Language
...
ngaw J
Lard
. . .
a J -va 6 -htsi*
Large
* • •
wu*; daS-ma*
Last, the
■ • •
ka'-na'-si" (ma 3 )
Late, to be
• ••
mya 5 -ye 4
Laugh, to
• ••
wa s -sye*
Law («.)
.. •
lis
Lay, to (as egg)
hu 3
,, down, to
krgh 3 (ta 1 )
M » n
(a child)
shl"
I azy
...
... bu 4
Lead, to
• • •
haw 5 (jye 4 ) ja 3 -gu 3
, (metal)
• • •
htsrge 6
Leaf
...
. . si 2 -hpya s
Leak, to
• ••
... yi 4
Lean, to
• ••
kaw 3
„ thin
• ••
che 3
Leap, to
...
trghe*
Learn, to '
..."
saw 3
Leather
• • •
hwa s -ji*
Leave ; go (to)
• ■•
jye*
Leech
...
ve 6
Left (hand)
• • •
l& 6 -rgh«
Leg
...
... hpi*-sye*
(yangi)
haw^-ma'-grgh*
( 89 )
Leggings
Leisure, to be afc
Lend, to (money or anything
where an equivalent only is
. to be returned)
Lend, to (where the identical
object has to be returned)
Leopard
Leper
Less
Lessen ...
Liberate, to
Lick, to
Lie, to tell a
Lie down, to
Life (».)
Lifetime
Light (opp. of dark)
„ (opp. of heavy)
Lightning, to flash
Like, to be
Like, to (love) ...
Lime (CaO) ' ...
Lip
Liquor (brewed, solid)
n ( ,i liquid)
(distilled)
Listen, to
Little (small) ...
» a ... ...
Live ; to be alive
Live; to dwell ...
Liver
Load, a
„ to
Log, a
Long (length) ...
„ (time)
,, after, to ...
Look
Looking-glass ...
Loom
Loose, to
„ (opp. of tight)
Lord (owner)
Lose, to (an article)
„ „ (in battle, etc.)
Loudly
Louse
Love, to
hchi 3 -j u s
hsyen* <Ch.)
hchi*
ngwa 1
la s -wu'-du s
tai'-mas-feng 5 (Ch.)
ni 1
ni'-lye 3
hu 3 -krgh 3
lrghe 6
krgh 1
yi 6 -ta x
sya 6 -mya 3
hti*-rzi«
lya" (Ch.)
law 3
mi 6 -bye 6 -rze 6
rghe 4 ; sui* (Ch.)
nu*
shi 4 -hwei 3 (Ch).
mrgh*-lrge a kaw 3 ji*
ji*-hpu*
ji 4 -hprgh*
lis-chi 3
na 3 -na a
raw 3 ;a*-ti'(u)
a 4 -ti J (a) ; a 4 -ti T -raS
sya 1 (tya 1 )
tya 1
si'-hpya 1
rghe* ; taw' (Ch. = pack-animal's
load)
chye 3
si s -wu s
shi' 3
mrgh'^-ra 3 ; mrgh' 3 -shi' 5
si s -jya s
law 1 ; nyi' ; hpi'-nyi 3 or te'-nyi 3 *
hpi*-nyi 3 -du 3
ya 6 (to weave on loom = ya 6 hch'i*)
hprgh 4 ; brgh 4
bya 5
si 3 -hpa J •
hpi 6 -ye 4
shu 3 -Iye 3 (Ch.)
sya 6 a 4 -wu*-wu*-bye 3
hrgh«
na 4 ; ni'-shi 1
( 9o )
Low, to be . ...
„ to (of cattle)
Lower, to
Lower (opp. of higher)
Lowland [lit. hot country)
Lucky, to be (see § 5)
Lunatic, to be ...
e' 5
mrgh' 4
ru 4 ra 6 hu'-krgh*
wu*-si*-mu 3
le 4 -mu s
chye 6
wu 1
Machine, a ...
Mad, to be
Maid, a
Maize ; corn
Make, to
Male
Man (human being)
Mane
Many
Market
Marrow (vegetable)
Marry, to
Marshy
Marvel, to
^Master - ...
Mat, a
Mate ; companion
Mattress
Matter (pus)
„ (event) ...
Mean (parsimonious)
Measures (see Appendix)
Meat
Meddle, to
Medicine
Meet, to
Melt, to
Mend, to (clothes) .,
,", ,, (as broken article)
Merchandise
Merchant, a
Merciful, to be ...
Merely ; only ...
Messenger .«. .
Midday ; nooh ...
Midnight
Mildewed ; mouldy (to be)
Milk
Millet (two varieties)
M
hchyaMa 6
wu 1
raS-mrgh'Ma'-ra*
hkrgh s -sha 3
ye 3 ; hsya 2 (usually tore-make,
repair)
pa 3 ; hpa s
la s -htsaw 4 ; (male) htsaw 4 -pa 3 -(ra s )
ma s -tsong 3 (Ch.)
mya 5 ; aS-mva*
ji 3 ; kai 3 -tsl*' (Ch.)
a'-hpu*
ra s -mrgh' 4 hwa 5
la 3 -pa 3 h'e 4
du s -ja 5 mrgh'*
si 3 -hpa s
sis-tis 3 (Ch.)
hchaw 5 -hpa a
hkaw s -du 3
bi 5 -hchi 4
ja 3 -gu 3 ; men* hteo* (Ch.) ; si 3 -
htsyes (Ch.)
ritsu*
hwa s
chyao s (Ch.)
na'-htsi 6
dz'i* (ji 4 ) ; taw a -dzaw s
ji 3 (la 4 )
pe*
hsya a
guS-ju* ; haw a (Ch.)
rghe 4 -la 5 mu 4 su*
she T *ra s
tsi 3 -du 3 ; hchai 3 (Ch.)
maw 6 -law 3
pan a -ye a (Ch.)
ba 6 ye*
a s -chi a
shi'-si 5 ; htsye 6
( 9i )
Mimic, to
Mind
saw*
ni s -ma 3
Mine (belonging to me)
ngwa 4 - ta'-ma* ; ngwa 4 -rgh*
„ (silver), a
(hpu 4 )-du*
M »ngle
chya«-las-hkaw»
Miss, to (not to hit)
mas ra 6
Mist
wuMu' (Ch.)
Mistake
hchya 4 (a)-ma»
Mistrust
ma s h'a 4 -le 3
Mix
chya 6 ; pan' (Ch.)
Moan
na 4 -wu*
Mock ; deride (to)
wa s -sye 4
Modest {lit. ashamed)
sha'-taw'
Moist, to be
hchao*
Moment, a
hti s htrghe'-ra*
Monastery (Chinese)
myaoMsi' 3
Money (silver) ...
hpu 4
„ (brass) ...
htaw 4 -htsye 4
Monkey
chya 2 -mye 6
Month (moon) ...
h'a 4 -ba 4
Moon
h'a 4 -ba 4
Moonlight
h'a 4 -ba 4 -hchi 3
More {adv.)
..... sye 5
Morning
na 6
Morrow
sa'-grgh 3
Mosquito
yi'-pu 1
Moth ; butterfly
bus-lu 4
Mother
a 3 -ma 3 ; ma 2 ma 5
Mount (an animal)
dzi*
Mountain
wa 4 -chp
Mourn ; wail (to)
a 3 -hchya 3 -je 4 ; ma 2 ma*
Moustache ; beard
mu s -tsi 3
Mouth
mrghMrghe*
Move, to {v.t.) (a thing bodily)
chi' 3
„ „ {v.t.) (move house)
wu 5 hchi's chi 3
„ „ {v.t.) (as hands and feet) du 3
Much
a s -mya a ; mya s
Mud
la 3 -pa 3 -hchi s
Muddy (turbid) ...
wu'-nrgh' 4 nrgh' 4
Mule
'(a'-muS) law 6 -tsi 3 (Ch.)
Murder ; kill (to)
sye 6
Mushroom, a
chi 3 -tsong 3 (Ch.) ; mi 3 -hchP
Musk ... ...
la 3 -haw 4
Mustard plant ...
waw s -hpi 4
Mute
mrgh' 4
Mutual ; reciprocal
. . . la 6 -hkaw 4
(My)self
(ngwa 4 ) chi'-hchyas
V
Nail, a ...
N
ting 3 tsi* (Ch.)
„ to
hta 6
( 9» )
Naked, to be
Name, a
Narrate
Narrow
Navel, the ...
Near, to be
Necessary, to be
Neck ' ...
Necklace # ...
Needle
Neigh, to
Neighbour
Neither (see Grammar)
Nephew
Nest (bird's)
Net (fishing)
Nettle
Nevertheless ...
New
Niece
Night, a
,, time, in the
Nine
Nip, to
No
No one ; nobody
Nod, to (dozing)
„ „ (in assent)
Noon
North
Nose
Not
Now
Nothing
Numb
Nut (walnut)
jya J -l&*-mu 3
mye 3
(ma'-naU) cba'
tsrghe' (Ch.)
hchya*-du*
nrgh* ; hpa*-hti 8
nu*
krgh J -tsi 3
li'-waw*
waw 2
h'i*-h'i*-h'i* bye 3 mrgh'«
hti 5 -hka 2 -ma 3 la*-htiaw 4
ra s -du 4
nya'-hkrgh*
ngwa'-pe*
ne'-hpe*
gaw 4 -le3-nga 4 (a) mi 4
(yi 1 ) shi 6
mrgh's du 4
h'ya 6
sa'-hkwa 3
ku J
htsi 6
roa s ; ma s nga 4
a s -ma 4 (a) ma s . . .
wu'-htawS-tsu 1
wu'-nge 6
mi*-mi 4 maw 6 -law 3
law^wu'-ta'-si 3
Da 3 -be 4
ma 3
a 3 -mrgh' 3
a J -shi s ma s . . .
hsi 3 (a) law 3
wo 4 -daw s
Obey
Oblique, to be
Obtain, to
Occasionally
Occupation
Ocean
Odorous, to be ..
Offended, to be
Offer to (to nats)
Officer
na 3 -na a
hpya 1
mrgh' 3
htis-hwa'-hty-hwa'
mi s
hpyao 3 -yangJ-ta'-hai s (Ch.) ; na 3 -yi 4
shi* du«
hche s -ne 3
ni'-ma 3 na 4
ti 3 j gu»
si* hpa s
( 93 )
Often
Oil
Old (persons)
„ (things)
On
Once
One
Oneself
Only
Open, to
Opinion ; mind ...
Opium
Oppose, to
Oppress, to
Order, anyone, to
Origin
Orphan
Other ...
Our
Outlet
Outside (of house)
. „ (of box, jug, etc.)
Over [prep.)
„ (past and gone)
Overcast (of sky)
Overcome, to
Overhear, to
Overtake, to (catch up)
Owe, to (a debt)
Owner
Ox
yi a -lao/(Ch.) ; titi* htsi*
hwa s -htsl 4
maw s
be*
hta 5 -si' kwa J
hti 3 hwa 2
bti 5 (-ma 3 )
ehi'-hchya 3
lye 3
hpu 3
ni 2 -ma 3
yaMipye* (Ch.)
tang* (Ch.)
nyi 1 ; ya 2 (Ch.) ; tsl'-dza*
tsi 3
(yi ! )-chye 3
ra s -nchi s
ne 1 (or ni 1 ) ba 6 ; yi'-te 3 -yi' (see:
Appendix)
raw 5 ; ngwa*-nu 5
daw 3 jye* gu 3
ni 2 -shi' 3 -ma 3
hta'-si 1
hta^-si'-mu 3 , etc,
gu 3 -lyaw 3
muHi 3 -ti 3
hwa'-lye 3
na 3 -na s -mrgh' 3
ga 6 -mrgh' 3
ba 3
si 3 -hpa s
a T -nyi s
Pack, to
Pad, saddle
Paddy
Pagoda
Pain
Paint (».)
Pair of, a
Palace
Palm (of hand)
„ (tree)
Palisade
Pan, frying
Pants
Paper
Parcel, a, of
Pardon, to
• • •
krgh 3
hti 2 (Ch.)
dza 4 -ma 4 -sii s
kong s -mu s (Shan) ; mu s taw 2 rzi*-
na*
chi 1
(htis) dzye*
chin 3 -tyen 2 (Ch.)
la 6 -kwa 3
tsong 3 -pao 3 (Ch.)
lans-kan 3 (Ch.) * .
aMuS
mi 3 -hchi 3
htaw s -rghe s
(htiS) hte*
ra 1 (grghs) (Ch.)
( 94 )
Parents
Part, a, of
,, to (take leave of each
Pass, to (as on road)
Passion, to be in a
Past ; gone by . .
Patient, to be ....
Path
Pause ; stop (to)
Pay, to (money)
Pay; wages
Peas
Peck, to
Peel, to
Peep, to
Peg, a ...
Pen or pencil, a
Penalty
Penis
People
Perceive, to
Perish, to (die) ...
Permission, to ask
Permit j allow (to)
Perplexed, to be
Persecute, to
Person, a
Perspire, to
Peruse, to
Pheasant, a
Physician
Pick, to (fruit, etc.)
„ up, to (off ground)
Pig
„ wild ...
Pidgeon
Pillow
Pinch, to
Pineapple
Pine (two kinds)
„ torch
pipe (tobacco) ...
Pity, to
Place, a <...
Plain, a
Plank, a
Plant, to
Plantain
Plate, a
a s -ba s -a 3 -ma 3
(htis) be 4
other) hhaMis-hkaw 4
kaw 3 jye 4
ni 3 -ma 3 -h'rgh*
kaw 3 jyaw 4
ni 2 -ma 3 shi 3
ja 3 -gu 3
na*
brgh 4
wa s -hpu s
a'-naw 3 -waw 3 ; (a'-naw 3 ) wan'-teo'
(Ch.)
Maw*
shi" ; tits*
hku s nyi 3
a'-gaw s
pi 3 (Ch.)
tswi* (Ch.)
h'aw 3
la s -htsaw 4
maw 4
shi 4
chya s -hkrgh s dye J
tsi 3
du s -ja s mya s
ya a (Ch.) ; nyi 1 ; hkaw 4 -dza s or tsi 3 -
htsaw 2 (= to fine)
la s -htsaw 4
chi 3 daw 3
Q' 3 {lit. count, i.e. read out loud) ;
nyi 3 (read)
a'-rgha'-kaw 1
na'-htsi 6 si*-hpa5 ; htai'-yi 3 (Ch.)
hha 6
gaw 3
a a -va 6
a'-va^ti'
a'-gu s
wu'-gaw'-law 3
htsi 6
ma 3 -h'a 3 -la 3 (Shan)
htaw 5 -dzi 3 and sye^-dzi 3
shaw 4 -baw 4
ye 3 -kaw 3 (Ch.)
she'-ra*
mu s
wa 4 -dye 3 ; pa' (Chi)
si'-hpva 1
trgh 3 '
nga 3 -si s
ba 4
( 95 )
Play, to
ka 5 -na 2
Plead, to , v
• • •
dye 5
Pleasant, to be ...
Plentiful, to be ...
...
ni 2 -hpu 4 ; hsye 5 -hwei 2 (Ch.)
a'-shi' 5 gu 3 ma* da 4
Plough, a
Ia 5 -hkrgh 5
,. to
• ■ •
ma 5
Pluck, to (fruit) . . .
< • •
hha 6
Plamp ; fat
htsi 4
Point, to (with finger)
la 6 -nyi 3 gu 3
Poisonous
• ••
taw 1
Pond
...
long 5 -htang 5
Pony
a'-mu 5
Poor (destitute) ...
• • •
sha 1
Porcupine
. . .
pu 3
Pork
• • •
a J -va 6 -hwa 5
Possess ; have (to)
jaw 4
Pot" (copper, Chinese)
. . .
ji 5 -be 4
Potato
la 2 -be 3 ; yang 5 -yi 2 (Ch.)
,, sweet
...
mrgh' 5
,, (a glutinous variety
of
tuber)
...
bi 6
Pound, to (as paddy)
*.*
ti 1
Pour, to
* > •
haw 5
Powder
...
(yi 1 ) hrgh 5
Power ; strength
sya 6
Powerful ; strong (to be)
• »•
sya 6 jaw 4
Pox, small
* ••
bi 4 -bi 4
Praise, to
• ••
she'-grgh 5
Pray, to
».
rghe 5 dye 5 ; wa 5 -kaw z ; wa s -hku 4
Preach, to
• 4 *
ma'-mi 5 cha 3
Precious, to be ...
• ••
hpu 5
Precipice, a
• ••
rgha'-bya 6
Precise ; exact ; true
• • •
chwen 5 (Ch.)
Pregnant, to be
■ • •
ra*-ne 3 jaw 4 ; h'i s -hchi s wu s (vulgar);
gaw 3 de 5 ma s shya 4 (polite).
Prepare, to (as food)
hsya 2
Present, to be ...
• a.
tya 1
Present, time (at the)
a 3 -mrgh' 3 hti« chi 3
Press, to
...
nyi 1
„ „ (as a crowd)
• • •
tsi 5 (Ch.)
„ „ (bear down on)
• • •
taw 2
Pretend, to ... .
,,
.... hpye 6 hpye 6
Pretty, to be
> . *
bi 4
Prevaricate, to
krgh 1
Prevent, to
tangs (Ch.)
Price
.« .
hpu 5
Priest ; wizard ...
...
ni 5 -hpa 5 >
Prison
.. •
be 3 -du 5 •
Prisoner
...
be 3 -ta x -su 5
Profit (».)
• # •
li 2 (Ch.)
Prop, to
...
taw 2
Property (*.) ...
• ••
gu 5 -ju 5
( 96 )
Proprietor; owner
Protect, to
Proud
Provisions («.)
Pull, to
Pumpkin
Punish, to
Punish roent
Pup; puppy (a)...
si 3 -hpa s
pao^Ch.)-ja 3 ; nyi 3 -ja 3 ; hu'(Ch.)-ja>
hkwangs (Ch.) ; (Boastful =) hkrgh*-
hka 2
dza s -du 3 ; dza*-shp
chr"
tong 3 -kwa 3 (Cb.) ; a'-hpu s
tswi 2 grgh 5
tswi 2
a'-naS-ra*
Purchase, to
•• •
wu- 4
Pure, to be
t • >
hsya* ; si s hsya 4
Purpose, to (make up
mind)
chu s -yi 2 drgh*
Pursue, to
• • •
ga 6
Pus
* * •
bi s -hchp
Push, to
de*
Put
krgh 3 ; ta' ; chye 2
Putrid, to go
• •-
hchi' s ye*
Puzzled, to be ...
Q
du s -ja s mrgh' 4
Quake (as earth)
...
du 3
Quarrel, to
...
sya 6 -ia=-hkaw*
Queen, a
. . .
wa 4 -ti'-ma 3
Quench ; extinguish (fii
•e),to
sye 6 -krgh 3
* Question, to
...
na 3 -nyi 3
Quick, to be
...
tsrghe 6
Quickly
a'-mi 1 ; a'-mi'-mi'
Quietly
si s -li 3 -bye 3 ; a 4 -ra 3 -a*-ra 3 -bye 3 ;;
ma* tu 2 -tu 2 ; ma5-lu 2 -lu 2
Quit; go (to) ...
R
jye*
Rabbit
htawMa 4
Race ; run (to) ...
...
rghs
Ragged
...
chi 3 -li 3 -haw 2 -hchi'S
Railway
kan 3 -h ch wan * (Ch.) -ja'-gu 3 ;
Rain (ft.)
mrgh*-h'a 4
„ to
mrgh'S-h'a 4 -h'a 4
Rainbow
...
a'-muS-yi 3 -shi 3
Raise, to
.. .
ru 4 -tu 3
Rake, a
...
ting'-hpaS (Ch.)
Ransom, to
*••
shu"(Ch.)-ru 4
Rap, to
...
j'6
Rapid
...
tsrghe 6
Rapidly t ...
...
a'-mi'-mi 1 ; rgh* lrgh* lrgh s
Rat
•• .
h'a 2 -
Ravine, a
. . •
law 4 -hku*
Raw (unripe)
.. .
(yi') dzi'S
Reach, to (arrive)
...
hchi 3 ; (cannot reach — with hand)
la 6 ma* hchi 3
( 97 )
Head, to
Ready, to make
Really
Reap, to ..'.
Rear, in the
Reason ; right ...
Rebuke
Receive, to
Recently
Reciprocal
Reckon
Recollect, to
Recompense, to
Recover, to (find)
Red
Redeem
Reflect, to
Regret, to
Rejoice, to
Relate, to (tell)
Relations
Release, to
i Rely on, to
Remand ; stay (to)
Remainder, the -
Remember, to ...
Remote ; distant
Remove, to (w.f.)
„ (house), to
Rent, to
Repair, to
Repay, to
Reply, to
s Report, to ...
Reputation
Request ; ask (to)
Rescue, to
ilesin (».)
Resist, to
Respect, to
Rest ; stop (to)
„ on, to .;.
,* Restore ; return (to)
Retch, to
Retire ; go back (to)
Return ; restore (to)
„ go back (to)
Rib, a
Rice (uncooked)
,, (cooked) ...
Rich, to be ...
7
htaw s -rghe s nyi 3 (or law') ; htaw s
rghe 5 u' 3 (to count— the letters)
hsya a
a 4 -chi T (hchi«) ; ma« krgh'
rgh 6 ; sha 3
ka'-na'-si 1
lis
hta 6
ru 4 ; sha 3
a 5 -nyi 4 -shi 4
la*-hka,w 4 »
swan 3 (Ch.) ; u' 3 (count)
du5-ja*-hchi 3 -la 4
dzye 4 -grgh s
hwa 3 mrgh' 3
ni 3
shu 3 -ru*
du s -ja 5 -nyi 3
da* ja* hpawMye 6 )a 4
ni 3 -hpu'> ; hsi*-hwan 3
(ma 1 mi s ) cha 3
yi 6 ra J -nyi 3 -ra s
hu 3 -krgh 3
hV-le 3
tva'
dzye 3 lyt- 3 -ma 3
chi'(Ch.) ta 1
rgh 5
chl 3 ( krgh 3 )
WH s -hchi s -chi 3
ngwa 1
hsya a
dzye* (grgh*)
ta=-taw 2 ; taw s -taw 3 ; waw a grgh* la*
bci>grgh s la 4
mye 3 -du s
dye s
ehyu" (Ch.) ; sya 6 -mya 3 tsa 1
sbaw'-baw 3
ti« (Ch.)
hpu 5 ; htsaw 4 hpu 5
rgh 5 -hrgh 4 -na 5
taw J
li' grgh 5
hpe 6
lye s -jye«
li' grgh'
lyeo-jye 4
ne* gu s ,
dza*-hpu 4
dza*
baw* ; hpu* jaw 4
( 98 )
Riches
hpu 4 -ra s -shi' 3 -ra s
Ride, to
dzi<
Ridicule, to
wa s -sye 4
Right (hand side)
(la>)-ia 3
ma* hchya*
„ (not wrong)
Ring, a
la«-nyi 3 -krghe 3
Rinse, to
la 1
Ripe, to be '...
mi 3
Rise, to ...
tu J ; tu 3 -krgh 3 -lye 3
River (small)
yi 4 jyaMaw 4
„ (large) ...
na 3 -yi 4
„ (very small stream) . . .
keo 3 (Ch.)
Road
ja 3 -gu 3
Roar, to
mrgh' 4
Roast, to
hchu 4
Rob; snatch (to)
h'aw 3 ; hpya 2 dza s
Robber, a
hchyang s -tao 2 (Ch.) ; hpya a dza* su
Rock
rgha 1 hchi 3 ; rgha I -hchi 3 -pa'
Roll, to
le 1 (jye+)
Roof, a
h'^-wu'-hkaw*
Room, a
h'i 4 -hti*-kaw 2
Root, a
(yi 1 ) chye 3
Rope
hchi 3 ra*
Rot, to
he hi* -ye 4
Rough, to be (not smooth) ...
' * 1
, sya
Round (shaped)
lu 1 ; lu'-ht'-mu 3
Rub, to
nu J
Rule; govern (to)
kwan 5
Rump, the
hchi s -du s
Run, to
rgh* ; hchye a
Rupee, a
hpu 4 (htaw«-htsye 4 ) hti* hpa*
Sack, a
Sad, to be
Saddle (pack), a
„ (riding), a
Safe, to be or feel
Saliva ; spittle ...
Salt-
Saltpetre
Same, the
Sand
Sandal (bamboo bark)
Save, to
Saviour, a * ...
Say, to
Scabbard
Scales or steelyard
Scar, a
mu 3 -nu 3
rii a -ma 3 sha 1
htaw* an 3 (Ch.)
hchif-an 3 (Ch.)
h'a 4 le 3 -baw 4 (a) law*
mrgh s -rghe 4
htsa^baw 3
syao 3 (Ch.)
htiMye 3
hrgh s -ji 4
(ma 4 -ju s ) hchi 3 -ni'
chyu" (Ch.) ; sya 6 -mya s tsa 1 .
chyu*-si 3 -bpa s ; sya'-myi'-tsa'-iu*
ba 3
a'-htaS-bya'-gu*
htsye^-du !
na*-du 3
( 99 )
Scatter (seed), to
„ (all ^o away), to
Scent, to have a
Scissors
„ to cut with
Scold, to
Scoop, to
Scratch, to
Scrape, to
Screen, to ... ,
Sciub, to
„ (jungle) ...
Scythe
Sea, the
Search, to
Season, rainy
„ dry
Seat, stool
See, to
Seed {ft.)
Seek, to
Seize, , to
select, to
Self
Sell, to
Send, to
Separate, to [vj.)
„ ' „ {v.i.) (of persons)
Serpent, a
Servant, a ... ~~. ..
Seven
Sever ; c ut (to) ...
Sew, to
Shady
Shake, to
Shallow, to be ...
Shameful
Shan, a
Shape, the (of anything)
Share ; dhide (to)
Sharp, to be
Sharpen (knife), to
She (= he, jt) ...
Sheath (sword) ...
Shed, a
„ spill (to) ...
Sheep
Shelter (from rain)
Shield, a
Shirt, a
-Shoe, a
shi'
san 5 (Ch.) jye*
hche s -ne'
htsi'-ta 1 ' .
htsi 6
hta 6
kaw 3
chwa 3 (Ch.)
kwa a (Ch.)
hcha'
hisa 2 _(Ch.)
si 3 -pye 3
pa 5 -lye*
hpyao 3 -yang 2 -ta 3 -hai 5 (Ch.) ; na*-
yi+-shiS'-du 5
hwa 3
mQS-she 3 (hta*)
mQS-htsu 4 (hta*)
pa s -trgh'
maw 1
(yi 1 ) shi' 1
hwa 3 >
ru*
si 3 ...
chi'-hchya 5
wu s
hu 3 -krgh 3 i
be* la 6 -hkayv*
hha 2 laS-hkaw*
hu 3
ve 5 ja 3 -su s
shi*
ri .h 3
ji«
mi*-waw s
rghe'
hta 6
sha'-taw 3 -sha'-hpa*
Brgh s -Yi»
yi" hpye 5
be*
l.tsya"
si 1
yi 1
a'-hta* bya 6 -gu*
h'i* ra<
hawMye 3
a 3 -raw 3
taw 2 -nya a
chya 3 -ni 5
bu«-htsi*
hchf-hi*
( ioo )
Shoot, to
Shore, the
Short {adj.)
Shoulder
Shout; call (to) ...
Shove ; .push (to)
Show, to
Shun, to
Shut, to
Sick, to be
Sickle, a
Side, a
Sieve
Sift, to
Silent, to be
Silently
'Silk
Silver
Similar
Since ; because ...
Since; after
Sing (songs), to
Single
Sink, to (in water)
Sister, elder " ...
„ younger ...
Sit, to
Six
Skin
Skirt
„ to wear
Skull
Sky
Slap, to
Slave, a
Sleep, to
Slice, to
Slip ; stumble (to)
Slippery, to be ...
Slow, to be
Slowly
Small
Small-pox
Smash, to
Smear, to
Smell, to
Smile, to
Smoke, to
Smoke («.)
Smooth
Snake
paw 3 •
bya 3 -ma 3 -hkrgh s
nye 1
la 6 -hprgh+
hku*
de 3
man 1 (grgh s )
chi 1 (Ch.)
tsF
na* (tya 1 )
pa s 'lye-
hche' ; hpaw 3
wa^-chi 1
ngaw 5
ma s waw s ; ma s -tu 2 -ta'
si*-li 3 -bye 3
bus
hpu«
rghe 4 ; sui s (Ch.)
. . . nyi 3 , etc., see Grammar
ka'-na 1
(mu s -gwa s ) bu 4 or mu s -gwa s -gwa*
hti s -ma 3 -lye 3
htsye 4 du s lye 3 •
a'-tsi 3
n>i 3 -ma 3
nyi'-ta 1 ; nyi--na'
hchaw 6
ji 4 ; kaw 3 -ji 4 ; hwa s -ji 4
du 4 -trgh J
du^trgh 1 trgh 1
wu'-hkaw 4
muS-kwa 3
drgh s
chaw 3 -pa 3
(to go to bed ; lie down) yi 6 -ta' ; {t»
be asleep) yi 6 -mrgh' 3
waw 6
brgh s -ja 3 -le*
yi 2 -lu s
hpis (Ch.) • 1
a 4 -ra 3 -a*-ra 3 (a) bye 3 ; shi 3 shi 3 (a) bye*
raw 3 ; a 4 -ti'(u) ; ra s
bi4-bi*
lu" byaMye 3
me 3
hche s -ne 3
wa s -hrgh s
(yi*-hpya s ) hchi'
mtf-hku 5
yi'-lQS
hu» "
( ioi )
Snare ■
„ to take in
Snatch, to
Snow
So i and 90
Soak, to
Soft, to be
Soldier, a
Sole (of foot)
,, solitary
Some ; any ...
Sometimes
Son
Song
Soon
Soothe, to
Sorrowful, to be
Sore ; boil ; ulcer (a)
Sort ; kind
Sound («.)
Sour
South
Sow, to
„ (female pig)"
Spade ; native hoe
Span, a
Spawn (of fish) "...
Speak to
Spear (n.)
Spectacles
Speech ; words ...
Spew ; vomit (to)
Spider, a
Spike (bamboo) ...
Spill, io{v.t.) ...
Spin (thread), to
Spindle, a
Spirit ; apparition
Spirits ; liquor (brewed)
„ (distilled)
Spit, to
Spittle (».)'
Spleen
Split, to (v.t.) ...
„ „ [v.i.) ...
Spoil, to
Spoon («.)
Spread, to
Spring, to
Sprinkle, to
Stairs; steps
Stalk, a^
wa«-htu*
htu*
haw
wa s
gaw 4 -le 3 -nya' ...
ti 3
nu s
(lao s -lyen 2 , Ch.) ; ma*
(hchi 3 ) kwa s
hti s -ma 3 -tu'
a4 ti J (a)
hti s -hwa a hti s -hwa"
a 3 -bi 3 ; ra s
mu s gwa s
a*-hwa=
ni*-ma 3 ku 1 grgh s
ni 2 -ma 3 sha 1
brgh+-na + -ji 3
shi s ; jye 6 ; chu*
sya 6
che 3
law* hchi s du< (lit. river bottom);
shi 1
a'-va'-ma 5
aS-gaw*
.(htis) cha 3
ngwa'-hu 3
sha'-hte* ; chya'* (Ch.)
la 3 -mu 3 -hta 3
hpi 5 -nyi 3 du 3
ngaw s
hpe 6
a'-ga'-ma 3
dzi s -ma 3
haw'-lye 3
(hchi 3 -ra s ) waw*
hchyaMa 6
ni 5
ji+-hprgh s
lis-chi 3
(mrgh s rghe*) ti"
mrgh s -rghe*
lyenS-htye« (Ch.)
hkrgh*
brghs-lye 3
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