a few translations~ =)

[diana]

hi there everyone.

i just wanted to see if anyone could help me with these translations:
1. sun sao (something to do with the hand)
2. bay meen (something to do with the face)

I also wanted to ask how do you say things in the future and past?
how many past/future tenses are there? like how would you say... just ago, many years ago, a long time ago, soon, in the distant future, very far from now, etc? what are the degrees/levels of time? for example with the past tense... yi cheen, seen tao,...

and just one more... how do you say "when" when it is used in a sentence and not a question? if you could, translate it by using this sentence, "when i grow up, i want to go to college and study photography."

Thanks so much!
-Diana

[Terence]

I think i know what you want to know, but forgive me that I can't explain them for you in English. Just try to help a bit.

1. san1 sau2, stretch hands to do something, like :stretch hands to signal a taxi or to pick up a coin.

2. bei2 min2, do favour for sb. because of his face ( his reputation, good name etc.)

3. aam1 aam1 or zeng3 waa6, just, e.g. aam1 aam1 lai4 dou3 ~ has just arrived

4. tau4 sin1 or sin1 tau4, just ago

5. hou2 do1 nin4 cin4, many years ago

6. hou2 loi6 zi1 cin4, long time ago(where loi6 is long time, hou2 is very, zi1 cin4 is before, so the surface meaning is exagerated: before long time ago)

7. ji5 cin4 or zi1 cin4, in the past, before~as in I have read it before

8. zau6 or faai3, soon. e.g. ngo5 zau6 faan1 lai4 ~ I'll be back soon

9. hou2 faai3, very soon

10. zik1 haak1 or maa5 soeng6, at once ; once .... then

11. hou2 loi6 zi1 hau6, after a very long time.

12. dong1, when at when I grow up (some expression : dang2 (wait), e.g. when I grow up, I 'll take revenge on him.)