More Verbal Idioms

\{Siang}/ (相) is often placed before transitive verbs and usually

gives the idea of mutual or reciprocal. In some cases it is

reflexive. As instances of reciprocal action we have \{siang-°tang}/

(相打), “to fight with one another.” \{Siang-mo°}/ (相駡), “to revile one

another.” \{siang-lien}/ (相聯), “to be connected together.”

\{Siang-paung}/ (相幫), “to help one another.”

\{Khe}/ (開) or \{Khe-le}/ (開來) is used with many verbs to give the

idea of spreading wide open. Thus \{Than-khe-le}/ (攤開來) means “to

unroll a bundle.” \{Hyih-khe-le}/ (揭開來) means “to open a box.”

\{Fung-khe}/ (分開), “to divide,” \{san°-khe}/ (散開), “to scatter wide

cast.” \{Tshih-khe}/ (切開) or \{tshih-khe-le}/ (切開來) means “to cut

open, etc.”

Not inclined to do a thing is expressed by the phrase \{’veh

kau-hyung°}/ (勿高興). Thus \{’Veh kau-hyung° chi°}/ (勿高興去),

“not inclined to go.”

Lessons in the Shanghai Dialect · 第 99 / 160 题