Collection 02 · Longshan Tujia
Northern Tujia text, IPA, English and Chinese meaning, and local audio.
DraftMar max niex biuf jief hor lair ar deiv jir, jiuf jiux niex biuf pux hir ceir.
IPA[ma²¹ ma⁵⁵ nie⁵⁵ piou³⁵ tɕie³⁵ xo²¹ lai²¹ a²¹ tei⁵³ tɕi²¹, tɕiou³⁵ tɕiou⁵⁵ nie⁵⁵ piou³⁵ pʰu⁵⁵ xi²¹ tsʰei²¹.]
ENAn aunt's daughter can be taken by reaching out; a maternal uncle's daughter cannot be afforded.
ZH姑姑女伸手取，舅舅女买不起。
DraftPox jiox wuv dunf tianr jiar kar wux sox bax bax reir tar par.
IPA[pʰo⁵⁵ tɕio⁵⁵ wu⁵³ tũ³⁵ tʰiã²¹ tɕia²¹ kʰa²¹ wu⁵⁵ so⁵⁵ pa⁵⁵ pa⁵⁵ zei²¹ tʰa²¹ pʰa²¹.]
ENThe Tian families of Wudong at Pojiao have coarse millet like mouse skin.
ZH坡脚五洞姓田的，小米粗粗像老鼠皮。
DraftSuf jix kax pux jir par zax niex lax niex paix wof tar laf.
IPA[su³⁵ tɕi⁵⁵ kʰa⁵⁵ pʰu⁵⁵ tɕi²¹ pʰa²¹ tsa⁵⁵ nie⁵⁵ la⁵⁵ nie⁵⁵ pʰai⁵⁵ wo³⁵ tʰa²¹ la³⁵.]
ENWhen your feet tread on chestnut blossoms, cast the seed outward.
ZH脚踩板栗花，种子往外撒。
DraftLov gox rov hux, rov gor lov hux.
IPA[lo⁵³ ko⁵⁵ zo⁵³ xu⁵⁵, zo⁵³ ko²¹ lo⁵³ xu⁵⁵.]
ENPeople fool the land; the land fools people.
ZH人哄地，地哄人。
DraftDux ceiv laor cir, jix ceiv zeir; lar ceiv, beir ceiv, gar mor seif.
IPA[tu⁵⁵ tsʰei⁵³ lau²¹ tsʰɨ²¹, tɕi⁵⁵ tsʰei⁵³ tsei²¹; la²¹ tsʰei⁵³, pei²¹ tsʰei⁵³, ka²¹ mo²¹ sei³⁵.]
ENLightning east brings sun, lightning west brings rain; lightning south or north brings drought.
ZH东闪日头西闪雨，南闪北闪干到底。
DraftLaor cir yianr sir zuf, sox niex dox yir tax.
IPA[lau²¹ tsʰɨ²¹ jiã²¹ sɿ²¹ tsu³⁵, so⁵⁵ nie⁵⁵ to⁵⁵ ji²¹ tʰa⁵⁵.]
ENIf the sun appears only at the wei hour, it will not be seen for three days.
ZH太阳未时现，三天不见面。
DraftSov peir bar gur lav mav caf hur; sov peir bar dar laor cir lov taf.
IPA[so⁵³ pʰei²¹ pa²¹ ku²¹ la⁵³ ma⁵³ tsʰa³⁵ xu²¹; so⁵³ pʰei²¹ pa²¹ ta²¹ lau²¹ tsʰɨ²¹ lo⁵³ tʰa³⁵.]
ENWhen fog climbs the slope, lazy people sing; when it descends, the sun scorches people.
ZH雾上坡懒人唱歌，雾下坡太阳晒死人。
DraftCux sax cux sif wor miaor peif, yief huanf gaf liex sur sur jief.
IPA[tsʰu⁵⁵ sa⁵⁵ tsʰu⁵⁵ sɿ³⁵ wo²¹ miau²¹ pʰei³⁵, jie³⁵ xuã³⁵ ka³⁵ lie⁵⁵ su²¹ su²¹ tɕie³⁵.]
ENOn the third and fourth nights the moon is a moth eyebrow; after supper it already hangs in the sky.
ZH初三初四蛾眉夜，夜饭吃了已挂月。
DraftYier puv cir hax ceix ax rix gar dox; six bax puv cir meir pur lar ax rix pur dor.
IPA[jie²¹ pʰu⁵³ tsʰɨ²¹ xa⁵⁵ tsʰei⁵⁵ a⁵⁵ zɿ⁵⁵ ka²¹ to⁵⁵; sɿ⁵⁵ pa⁵⁵ pʰu⁵³ tsʰɨ²¹ mei²¹ pʰu²¹ la²¹ a⁵⁵ zɿ⁵⁵ pʰu²¹ to²¹.]
ENWhen rice is scarce, eat more vegetables; when clothes are scarce, bind more sashes.
ZH饭少多吃菜，衣少多捆带。
DraftKax pux bav car seix kox kix; lor gar nix bav car kav kox kix.
IPA[kʰa⁵⁵ pʰu⁵⁵ pa⁵³ tsʰa²¹ sei⁵⁵ kʰo⁵⁵ kʰi⁵⁵; lo²¹ ka²¹ ni⁵⁵ pa⁵³ tsʰa²¹ kʰa⁵³ kʰo⁵⁵ kʰi⁵⁵.]
ENBeautiful flowers are hard to grow; a beautiful wife is hard to guard.
ZH花好看难栽，老婆好看难守。
DraftQief gax jix ngar caf hur; lof bux jix ngar dif hur.
IPA[tɕʰie³⁵ ka⁵⁵ tɕi⁵⁵ ŋa²¹ tsʰa³⁵ xu²¹; lo³⁵ pu⁵⁵ tɕi⁵⁵ ŋa²¹ ti³⁵ xu²¹.]
ENAn itching sore is about to heal; itching eyes are about to hurt.
ZH疮痒要好了，眼睛痒要痛了。
DraftLov seif liv kox lox seif dax; wov seif nier pur seif dax.
IPA[lo⁵³ sei³⁵ li⁵³ kʰo⁵⁵ lo⁵⁵ sei³⁵ ta⁵⁵; wo⁵³ sei³⁵ nie²¹ pʰu²¹ sei³⁵ ta⁵⁵.]
ENA person dies but the heart does not; a snake dies but its tail does not.
ZH人死心不死，蛇死尾不死。
DraftJief rix lunr caf, reif hur sir gaf.
IPA[tɕie³⁵ zɿ⁵⁵ lũ²¹ tsʰa³⁵, zei³⁵ xu²¹ sɿ²¹ ka³⁵.]
ENWhen the farming year is good, there is wine to drink and meat to eat.
ZH务农年成好，有酒喝有肉吃。
DraftZiv pux nier puf baf dor; zov sif lier nier bav dor.
IPA[tsɿ⁵³ pʰu⁵⁵ nie²¹ pʰu³⁵ pa³⁵ to²¹; tso⁵³ sɿ³⁵ lie²¹ nie²¹ pa⁵³ to²¹.]
ENWhen buying a pig, inspect its tail; when arranging a marriage, inspect the mother-in-law.
ZH买猪要看猪尾巴，问亲要看丈母娘。
DraftLov har yeix max zaf qix hor lair lox har; lov har cix yeix max tɕiɡ³⁵ hor lair lox har.
IPA[lo⁵³ xa²¹ yei⁵⁵ ma⁵⁵ tsa³⁵ tɕʰi⁵⁵ xo²¹ lai²¹ lo⁵⁵ xa²¹; lo⁵³ xa²¹ tsʰɨ⁵⁵ yei⁵⁵ ma⁵⁵ tɕiɡ³⁵ xo²¹ lai²¹ lo⁵⁵ xa²¹.]
ENThose who know how to discipline use their mouths; those who do not use their hands.
ZH会打人的用嘴打人，不会打人的用手打人。
DraftZaf qix ceif ceir, meir wor tux taf seir.
IPA[tsa³⁵ tɕʰi⁵⁵ tsʰei³⁵ tsʰei²¹, mei²¹ wo²¹ tʰu⁵⁵ tʰa³⁵ sei²¹.]
ENThere is honey on the lips, but thorns inside the belly.
ZH嘴巴上有蜂糖，肚子里有刺笼。
DraftSar lir dief nianv dir; wunr hur mief nianv dir.
IPA[sa²¹ li²¹ tie³⁵ niã⁵³ ti²¹; wũ²¹ xu²¹ mie³⁵ niã⁵³ ti²¹.]
ENThink before speaking; blow on the seat before sitting.
ZH说之前想一下，坐之前吹一下。
DraftMiv lox kar caf dox; lox rix meir caf dov.
IPA[mi⁵³ lo⁵⁵ kʰa²¹ tsʰa³⁵ to⁵⁵; lo⁵⁵ zɿ⁵⁵ mei²¹ tsʰa³⁵ to⁵³.]
ENFirewood should be good for burning; a person's heart should be good.
ZH烧火柴要好，做人心要好。
DraftYif lax lux gar taif — nif dor diex bor lir.
IPA[ji³⁵ la⁵⁵ lu⁵⁵ ka²¹ tʰai³⁵ — ni³⁵ to²¹ tie⁵⁵ po²¹ li²¹.]
ENThe tongue has no bones—say whatever you like.
ZH舌头无骨——由你讲。
DraftYiv zar tur ar laf — mav ngar tir.
IPA[ji⁵³ tsa²¹ tʰu²¹ a²¹ la³⁵ — ma⁵³ ŋa²¹ tʰi²¹.]
ENThrow stones into a sinkhole—it can never be filled.
ZH天坑里扔石头——不得满。
DraftKax cax kux wox nix — sar nix.
IPA[kʰa⁵⁵ tsʰa⁵⁵ kʰu⁵⁵ wo⁵⁵ ni⁵⁵ — sa²¹ ni⁵⁵.]
ENLook for a snake in the grass—look for trouble.
ZH草丛找蛇——找事。
DraftWuanf seir gux lix gar qif bux yix — wunr tax.
IPA[wuã³⁵ sei²¹ ku⁵⁵ li⁵⁵ ka²¹ tɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵⁵ ji⁵⁵ — wũ²¹ tʰa⁵⁵.]
ENScatter beans on an ox's rump—they will not take root.
ZH牛屁股上撒豆子——不坐。
DraftLof zix tiev tier tif — siv zor taif.
IPA[lo³⁵ tsɿ⁵⁵ tʰie⁵³ tʰie²¹ tʰi³⁵ — sɿ⁵³ tso²¹ tʰai³⁵.]
ENA blind person lights an oil lamp—it is useless.
ZH瞎子点油灯——没有用。
DraftZiv seix tux gax ceir tuf — ax rix ax maix.
IPA[tsɿ⁵³ sei⁵⁵ tʰu⁵⁵ ka⁵⁵ tsʰei²¹ tʰu³⁵ — a⁵⁵ zɿ⁵⁵ a⁵⁵ mai⁵⁵.]
ENPour water on a dead pig—add oil and vinegar.
ZH死猪上倒水——添油加醋。
DraftMeif yiev bor liv dur — lov tir har.
IPA[mei³⁵ jie⁵³ po²¹ li⁵³ tu²¹ — lo⁵³ tʰi²¹ xa²¹.]
ENPull heaven over earth—to frighten people.
ZH扯天盖地——吓唬人。
DraftSeir gur lix gar box zox zir — buf lix kox kix.
IPA[sei²¹ ku²¹ li⁵⁵ ka²¹ po⁵⁵ tso⁵⁵ tsɿ²¹ — pu³⁵ li⁵⁵ kʰo⁵⁵ kʰi⁵⁵.]
ENHang a millstone from the rump—it is hard to move.
ZH屁股上吊磨子——难得动。
DraftZof kux par qief rar yix — caif rix tar.
IPA[tso³⁵ kʰu⁵⁵ pʰa²¹ tɕʰie³⁵ za²¹ ji⁵⁵ — tsʰai³⁵ zɿ⁵⁵ tʰa²¹.]
ENSend a wildcat to guard chickens—it will do no good.
ZH派野猫关鸡——不做好事。
DraftJif gav kar munr buf lix zir; buf lix mianx zeix lov gar geir.
IPA[tɕi³⁵ ka⁵³ kʰa²¹ mũ²¹ pu³⁵ li⁵⁵ tsɿ²¹; pu³⁵ li⁵⁵ miã⁵⁵ tsei⁵⁵ lo⁵³ ka²¹ kei²¹.]
ENA green tree bears fruit; when the fruit turns red, people fear to eat it.—Chili pepper
ZH绿绿的树结果子，果子红了人怕吃。——辣椒
DraftSer zour er zir kuanf lox lox; wuf deix jir daf tax tix.
IPA[se²¹ tsou²¹ e²¹ tsɿ²¹ kʰuã³⁵ lo⁵⁵ lo⁵⁵; wu³⁵ tei⁵⁵ tɕi²¹ ta³⁵ tʰa⁵⁵ tʰi⁵⁵.]
ENA round basket came from Shenzhou; it may be heated but not dropped.—Cast-iron hearth pot
ZH神州来了个圆篓子，烧得摔不得。——鼎罐
DraftZix geix huanf lianr lar par zav bor; taf niex raf kox pax lax pax yiev bor; zunx gax heir lar bur keiv bor.
IPA[tsɿ⁵⁵ kei⁵⁵ xuã³⁵ liã²¹ la²¹ pʰa²¹ tsa⁵³ po²¹; tʰa³⁵ nie⁵⁵ za³⁵ kʰo⁵⁵ pʰa⁵⁵ la⁵⁵ pʰa⁵⁵ jie⁵³ po²¹; tsũ⁵⁵ ka⁵⁵ xei²¹ la²¹ pu²¹ kʰei⁵³ po²¹.]
ENA sickle in front, a broom behind and a drum in the middle.—Water buffalo
ZH前头一把镰刀抓着，后头一把扫帚拖着，中间一个鼓挑着。——水牛
DraftJief lax pir kuanx, jief lax pir yeir; sar bax yiex liex, sar niex yiex.
IPA[tɕie³⁵ la⁵⁵ pʰi²¹ kʰuã⁵⁵, tɕie³⁵ la⁵⁵ pʰi²¹ yei²¹; sa²¹ pa⁵⁵ jie⁵⁵ lie⁵⁵, sa²¹ nie⁵⁵ jie⁵⁵.]
ENA palm wide and a palm long; it wipes your father and your mother.—Face towel
ZH巴掌宽，巴掌长，揩了你爹揩你娘。——洗脸毛巾
DraftTaf kax gur lix guf lix; meir bix huf lix huf lix; ngaf caix kax qier mar, nif caix laiv jier?
IPA[tʰa³⁵ kʰa⁵⁵ ku²¹ li⁵⁵ ku³⁵ li⁵⁵; mei²¹ pi⁵⁵ xu³⁵ li⁵⁵ xu³⁵ li⁵⁵; ŋa³⁵ tsʰai⁵⁵ kʰa⁵⁵ tɕʰie²¹ ma²¹, ni³⁵ tsʰai⁵⁵ lai⁵³ tɕie²¹?]
ENIt hops up and down the terraces and its belly swells; I say frog—what do you say?—Frog
ZH坎坎跳上跳下，肚皮一鼓一鼓，我猜是青蛙，你猜是什么？——青蛙
DraftKar munr jief bunf lunx dax; ceir jief dor daf; suf jief bunf lunx dax.
IPA[kʰa²¹ mũ²¹ tɕie³⁵ pũ³⁵ lũ⁵⁵ ta⁵⁵; tsʰei²¹ tɕie³⁵ to²¹ ta³⁵; su³⁵ tɕie³⁵ pũ³⁵ lũ⁵⁵ ta⁵⁵.]
ENTrees do not move, water does not flow and fish do not swim.—A painting
ZH有树不见动，有水不见流，有鱼不见游。——画儿
DraftAx hux gaf deix jir; ax jiex gaf deix jir; liv tir tuf box yif deix jir.
IPA[a⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ ka³⁵ tei⁵⁵ tɕi²¹; a⁵⁵ tɕie⁵⁵ ka³⁵ tei⁵⁵ tɕi²¹; li⁵³ tʰi²¹ tʰu³⁵ po⁵⁵ yi³⁵ tei⁵⁵ tɕi²¹.]
ENIt can be consumed raw or cooked and can travel when poured on the ground.—Water
ZH生的能吃，熟的能吃，倒在地上能行。——水
DraftRuanf niex lunx dax dax jix; lax cox lax lax huanx jix.
IPA[zuã³⁵ nie⁵⁵ lũ⁵⁵ ta⁵⁵ ta⁵⁵ tɕi⁵⁵; la⁵⁵ tsʰo⁵⁵ la⁵⁵ la⁵⁵ xuã⁵⁵ tɕi⁵⁵.]
ENTwo buffaloes fight and the whole family rejoices.—Pounding rice cakes
ZH两头水牛打架，全家欢喜。——打粑粑
DraftNier maix wunx wunx mor zif; bif maix rav rav mor wunf.
IPA[nie²¹ mai⁵⁵ wũ⁵⁵ wũ⁵⁵ mo²¹ tsɿ³⁵; pi³⁵ mai⁵⁵ za⁵³ za⁵³ mo²¹ wũ³⁵.]
ENThe mother hums and cries; the child slowly grows.—Spinning yarn
ZH娘呢嗡嗡地哭，儿呢冉冉地长。——纺纱