What's the matter...?

Mark Yong · Post by **Mark Yong** » Sun May 22, 2005 5:26 pm

In Penang Hokkien, "matter/issue" is referred to as "sŭ" 事. South Malaysian Hokkiens use "tăi ci". I have once heard a hybrid of both in Penang, the phrase "bo sŭ, bo tăi" (in the context of "For no apparent reason,..."). I once watched a China documentary series called 八千里路運和月. In the chapter on Fujian regarding 丁性人家 (the Dings, who are descendants of Arabian-Chinese inter-marriages), a native speaker from Chuan Chew used "tăi ci".

What are the Hanzi's for "tăi ci"? For once, I cannot even hazard a guess!

hong · Post by **hong** » Mon May 23, 2005 12:01 am

事 chuanchiu is sw not su.tai ci benzi is 治志。
tai is baidu of 治=事情﹐爾雅-治=故也。
治 is aslo the benzi for killing -tai2.

Mark Yong · Post by **Mark Yong** » Mon May 23, 2005 10:24 am

hong wrote: 治 is aslo the benzi for killing -tai2.

Strange, I read somewhere that tai2 (kill) was 刣. I could be wrong.

hong · Post by **hong** » Mon May 23, 2005 12:22 pm

see 說文解字治魚。。。。(thai) 。It was started by Jerry Norman of USA.Later it was agree by most people. The zi you gave is 方言俗字 as appeared in minnan dict in qing period.

hong · Post by **hong** » Mon May 23, 2005 1:16 pm

楚人謂之治魚也。說文解字
晏子春秋注--治-宰也。
宋-吹劍三錄--俗言治魚﹐治鴨