Came up to
------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmoob Word-a-Day
26 June 2004
Kom Yees: came up to
This word is often used in conjunction with txij as seen below.
Tej lus piv txwv (examples):
Dej kom yees txij caj dab. (The water came up to my neck)
Poj kws kom yees txij taub hau. (The corn came up to my head)
Capacity, capability
------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmoob Word-a-Day
2 July 2004
1Tom txwv: capacity, capability, might.
2Tom txwv: siv tom txwv, use your abilities to cast a spell.
Classifier – (lub) tom txwv
I have also heard tom txwv can mean secret, but have no confirmation of this.
Lus Piv txwv (examples):
Koj xav sim kuv tom txwv lov?
(Oh! So you want to put my capabilities to the test?)
Muaj neeg siv tom txwv rau nws nws thiaj li tuag.
(Someone cast a spell on him and he died.)
Qhov yeeb ncuab lub tom txwv tsim txom Hmoob yooj yim ntawd yog tim Hmoob coj cwj pwm tsis zoo. 1
(The reason that our enemies easily use their capacities to persecute the Hmong is because our character isn’t as it should be.)
Suav siv Suav lub tom txwv tua peb cov Hmoob puag thaud ub peb nyob Suav teb.
(When we lived in China, the Chinese used their capabilities to kill the Hmong
Lawv siv lawv cov tuab neeg ua tom txwv tsim txom teb chaws America xis le cov xwm txheej lub 9-11-01 uas yeeb ncuab tsav nyob
hoom tsoo ob lub tsev nyob hauv New York (World Trade Center) thiab tsoo ib lub tsev nyob hauv Washington DC (Pentagon).2
(They use their people in that capacity to attack America as in the events of 9/11 when our enemies drove planes into the two towers in New
York and crashed into the Pentagon in DC.)
Paj cai cov tub rog thiaj siv tom txwv ua rau cov tub rog Nyab laj Nyab laj thiaj li raug sub tawg sub ntsha ua rau lawv tuag lawm coob
kawg nkaus. 3
(Pa Cai’s soldiers used their abilities to cast a spirit on the Vietnamese soldiers. The evil sub spirits got to the Vietnamese soldiers and a
great many of them died.)
-This last one is a bit difficult on the translation.
Ua tsaug ntau ntau rau…
1: Faiv Neeb Vaj
2: Faiv Neeb Vaj
3: Hmong Congress
Change (Clothes)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmoob Word-a-Day
27 July 2004
Loob: to change (clothes). <coarse language>.
Loob muam: bandits, gangsters who kill and slaughter people.
variation: suav loob muam
Loob ntxwv: deaf.
variation: loob pob loob ntxwv
Lus Piv txwv (examples):
loob ris tsho.
(to change clothes. coarse)
Loob tawv dev!
(Get dressed! angrily)
Koj tsis muaj ris tsho hnav mas ib me ntsis koj yuav loob tawv dev xwb!
(If you don't have anything to wear, then soon you'll be wearing dog skins!)
Cov loob muam tuaj tua peb coob tus ces khiav nrog peb tej khoom siv mus lwm qhov chaw.
(The bandits came and killed many of our people and then left having stolen many of our provisions.)
Vim nws mob heev thaum tseem yau mas nws thiaj loob pob loob ntxwv hnov tsis tau luag hais.
(Because he was sick when he was younger, he is now deaf.)
Conceal
------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmoob Word-a-Day
28 July 2004
Ntis: hide, conceal, block, filter, screen, make secret of.
Pronounciation: n-dee
Lus Piv txwv (examples):
Koj tsis txhob ntis kuv.
(Don't conceal me or hide me from sight.)
Hauv roob ntis...
(In the shadow of the mountain...)
Hnub no tshav ntuj heev, tsis muaj huab ntis hlo li.
(Today is really sunny. There isn't a cloud in the sky to block the sunlight.)
Txhob ntis kuv tshav ntuj, no no kuv.
(Don't block my sunlight, I am cold.)
ntis mob ntis ntsaj
(to hide your sickness and suffering (so the dab won't come))
Crab
------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmoob Word-a-Day
29 July 2004
Roob ris: a crab.
Pronounciation: drong dree (more d, less r)
Synonym: raub ris
Lus Piv txwv (examples):
lub khauj khaum roob ris
(the crab's shell)
Hmo no koj tuaj xyuas peb ces peb yuav noj nqaij roob ris!
(Tonight come visit us and we'll eat crab!)
Roob ris mus kev faj zuj zas.
(The crab walks sideways.)
mus kev faj zuj zus
(to walk like a crab.)
Perhaps someone can fill us in on the deeper meaning of the following two:
Zaj roob ris sawv haus dej.
Roob ris tuag vim roob ris lub qhov, zaj tuag vim zaj lub pov.
And a fun one (well sort of)...
Tau phem nyab,.ces tam ntua li ntes roob ris hauv vab!
Collect (into a bunch)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmoob Word-a-Day
20 August 2004
Qaws: to collect, roll up, or gather in a bunch (as in hair or clothes).
Pronounciation: guuhh
Lus Piv txwv (examples):
Qaws plaub hau.
(To gather one's hair into a knot.)
Qaws plaub hau ua yiv tws -LOS SIS - Qaws yiv tws.
(to gather one's hair into a bun.)
Nws cov plaub hau muab qaws rau saum taub hau.1
(Her hair was in a bun on top of her head.)
Qaws ceg ris -LOS SIS - Loj ceg ris.
(To take or roll up one's pant legs.)
Qaws tw tiab.
(To lift the back of the skirt.)
Zeb qaws ceg ris hla dej.
(Ge rolled up his pantlegs and crossed the river.)
Ua tsaug ntau ntau rau:
1. Tej Yam tsis Paub Ploj
Consent
------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmoob Word-a-Day
6 October 2004
Yib: 1. to be satisfied or willing to accept the decision or settlement (often in a dispute).
2. to consent, to accept someone's point of view.
Pronounciation: yee (high tone)
Lus Piv txwv (examples):
Nws thov li cas los nom tsis yib li.
(No matter what he said, the official wouldn't accept it.)
Yog tias nws tsis yib mas yuav ua li cas?1
(If he won't accept the settlement, then what will we do?)
Kuv tsis yib koj.2
(I don't accept your point of view.)
Kuv xav yuav peb puas, koj muab ob puas xwb mas kuv tsis yib.3
(I wanted $300, you only give me $200. I don't accept this.)
Yog niam txiv tom ub tseem muaj ib tug txhib ntag das tias yog tsis tau kaum
ob kho mas niam txiv tom ub mas yeej tsis yib li.4
(Anyone care to translate this?)
Neb nkawm me khaub plees nkauj nraum tsis hais ib lo lus txaj los xeev txwj xeev laus hais tias tsis yib.5
(A little more difficult usage. Translate if you dare!)
(In my studies, I have only found this word to be used in the negative sense: to not
accept. Are you aware of this word being used in the affirmative: I do agree to this
settlement, etc?)
Ua tsaug ntau ntau rau:
1. Ernest E. Heimbach
2. T.P. Nyiaj Pov
3. T.P. Nyiaj Pov
4. Poj Rhawv Kab Yawm Rhawv Kev Tus Cag Txuj
5. Poj Rhawv Kab Yawm Rhawv Kev Tus Cag Txuj
