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（Play All）Songs and sayings: Sayings

This page contains a selection of poems and traditional proverbs.

Contents

6.3.1: Poem
6.3.2: Ditty
6.3.3: Proverbs
6.3.4: Two-Part Sayings
6.3.5: Maxims

6.3.1: Poem

Tian Xintao, Daba Township, Yongshun County
recorded on 05 August 2002

01 qing1ming1 si3jie3 me2 ce3 ze3, la4qiu1 luo4die1 bu1ce3 bie4.
清明时节雨纷纷，路上行人欲断魂。
During the Qingming Festival the rain falls, Passers-by are bowed down with sadness.
02 re2 tu2 luo4die1 kei2-bo3 zu2, wu2 ka4 luo4bi3 a2re1 xing2hua1cun1 xie2.
借问酒家何处去，牧童遥指杏花村。
Where are the people who serve wine? "Xinghua Village," the young cowherd replies.

6.3.2: Ditty

Peng Wanjiao, Pojiao Rural Township, Longshan County
recorded on 03 April 2002

01 ang2ni1 da4ha3 bi2zi1ka3, a4se3 pa1 li3 nga2 nie4-ca2; nga2 guo2 zong1gang1 la2 ze2 li3, a4se3 pa1 li3 pa1 kuo3ha3.
我们都是土家族，谁说汉语我就想笑；我说一句中间话，谁说汉语就像乞丐。
We are all Tujia, if anyone speaks Chinese I want to laugh; I say something as a middleman, someone who speaks Chinese is like a beggar [borrowing a language].

6.3.3: Proverbs

Tian Jinggui, Dianfang Township, Longshan County
recorded on 19 June 2002

01 ka3 wu2 me3 tong1-duo3, luo4 ri1 me3 zi2-duo3.
为人谚：烧柴要空心，做人要忠心。
Unless the heart of a fire is open [to draw in air], wood will not burn; unless your heart is honest you cannot be a man.
02 ni2 ca2 nga2 ye1 ca2, ra3lie3 la2 bu2 ga2-ji2-da2.
交往谚：你好我也好，一个鸡蛋吃不完。
If you are good friends, then you will share even your last egg.
03 la4 hhi2-duo3-da2 song1kuo1-de1xi3, sa3li3-duo3-da2 song1kuo1-ta1ti1.
谨慎谚：路走错了可以回头，话说错了难以收回。
Wrongly taken steps can be retraced, but wrongly spoken words cannot be recalled.
04 pa3pu1 ka3mong3 se1, re4-die1 me2lu1 ye4.
祖德谚：前人栽树，后人乘凉。
The grandfather plants the tree, and his grandchildren benefit from its shade.
05 jie2ri1 long1 ca2-duo3, pe2ti1 se3 tu2-duo3.
农耕谚：农务年成好，地里肥莫少。
He who would see a harvest from his toil must also put manure on his fields.
06 la2bu1 gu1ce3-zu2, lao2zi1 me2ze3-hu3.
天气谚：午盐出汗，明天雨降。
When salt weeps, rain is on the way.
07 sa3li3-hu3 die2-li1la1di3, ong3-bo3-hu3 mie2-li1la1di3.
细心谚：说话时想一想，坐下时吹一下。
Think before you speak; and blow your seat clean before you sit on it.
08 luo4 li2a4 ru1ga3-da2, ra3 li2a4 luo4 ge4-ta1.
哲理谚：人饿了不怕丑，鸡饿了不怕人。
A hungry man will do anything for food; a hungry chicken will not avoid people.

6.3.4: Two-Part Sayings

Tian Jinggui, Dianfang Township, Longshan County
recorded on 19 June 2002

01 kuo3ha3 ye3 wo4-hi1ce1: guo2duo3 guo2-bo3-xi2.
乞丐背不起东西--自讨的。
A beggar unable to shoulder the fruits of his begging - just deserts.
02 ji3la1pi3 se3si2 za4: ra2-lu3.
脚底板擦油--开溜。
Oiling the soles of your feet - slipping off quietly.
03 zuo2ku1, guo2 ra3 ba4: me3 cai2 tai2.
野猫看鸡--不怀好意。
A wildcat eyeing a chicken - bad intentions.
04 re3 qi4 ga3 gu3: guo2duo3 qi4.
老鼠上秤勾--自称。
A rat on a steelyard - measuring oneself.
05 ka3mong3 ta1nie1 ye4-bo3 ze4ga3 ha3: ta1nie1 ye4-bo3 a1ye3 ri1.
躲在树后打松鼠--幕后作鬼。
Hiding behind a tree to catch squirrels - making trouble behind the scenes.

6.3.5: Maxims

Tian Jinggui, Dianfang Township, Longshan County
recorded on 19 June 2002

01 a3ti3ke3 peng2peng1-bo3 ji3ti3ke1 ha3.
搬石头打膝盖（自讨苦吃）。
Moving a rock and banging your knee - asking for trouble.
02 ra3lie3 huo3lie3 a3ba3 ha3.
用鸡蛋打石头（以卵击石）。
Using an egg to break rocks - an impossible task.
03 me2 ong3-xi2 ci4, me2ze3 ze3 suan4.
雷声大雨点小（说大话，欠实效）。
Loud thunder but little rain - all words and no action.

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright (C) 2004 Philip & Cecilia Brassett