Hmong Word-a-Day
30 May 2005
Hauj sim: enough, ordinary, normal, just right degree/quantity, suitable.
Pronunciation: how (high falling tone) she (glottal stop)
Synonym:
pem nrab - zoo pem nrab
Lus Piv txwv (examples):
- Zoo hauj sim. 1
(Good enough.)
- Zos Merced xis nyob hauj sim. 2
(Meced city is a suitable or good enough of a place to live.)
- Lub hnub qaij nroos, tshav ntuj los kub thiab sov hauj sim, tab sis yog nyob hauv hav ntoo lawm ces cua kuj tseem tuaj nplawm ntws ib
ce txias zias thiab. 3
( At mid-day, the rays from the sun are hot and warm at just the right degree, but in the jungle, the breeze blows and makes one cold.
- Muaj nyiaj ntau ntau los yuav tsis muaj peev xwm kav; muaj tsawg tsawg ho yuav tsis kum yees ntshaw; Muaj hauj sim ces yog qhov zoo
dua.
(Having too much wealth there is no control over it; having too little it will not quench one's desire; Having just enough is best.)
Ua tsaug ntau ntau:
1. Nyiaj Pov, Dictionnaire Hmong-Francais
2. Merced Lao Family Comm.
3. Ntsuag, Nplaim Hlub
------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmong Word-a-Day
9 June 2005
Pej xeem: citizen.
Pronunciation: bay (high falling tone) sang (glottal stop)
Synonym:
pej xeem fuab fwm - population
Lus Piv txwv (examples):
- Ib tug pej xeem yog ib tug neeg yug lub tebchaws ntawd.
(A citizen is someone born in that country.)
- Ib tug pej xeem zoo nws yuav pab thaiv lub teb chaws thaum muaj tsov rog.
(A good citizen will help defend his country during a time of war.)
- Tus neeg yug nyob Amelikas yog pej xeem Amelikas. Koj yuav muaj cai pov ntawv xaiv tsa nom tswv Amelikas koj yuav tsum yog pej
xeem Amelikas.
( Someone who is born in America is an American citizen. To have the right to vote to choose leaders in America, you must be an
American citizen.)
- Suav tuam tshoj yog ib lub tebchaws muaj pej xeem fuab fwm coob heev tshaj plaws ntiaj teb no.
(China is a country that has a population that exceeds all others on this planet.)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmong Word-a-Day
11 June 2005
Nchav: strong, vigorous, hard, with great force.
Pronunciation: n-ky-ah (low rising tone)
Lus Piv txwv (examples):
- Kuv nuv tau ib tug ntses nchav kawg.
(I caught a large fish.)
- Tsis txhob nchos nchav nchav nyob tsam tus menyuam sawv.
(Don't shake so hard it will wake the baby.)
- Nws yog neeg me tiam sis nws lub zog nchav kawg ho.
(He is small but strong.)
A few additional examples:
- Nws hais lus nchav tsawv ces nws cia li khiav lawm.
( She said some things in a forceful manner and then she took off .)
- Tus zog loj txhiaj ua tus coj, tus zog nchav ua tus kav.
( He who has great strength and vigor is the one who leads.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hmong Word-a-Day
16 June 2005
Xwb tim: simply, just, to do something for the explicit purpose of....
Pronunciation: s-eu (as in the French peu, high tone) dee (glottal stop)
Lus Piv txwv (examples):
- Kuv yeej tsis tau ua txhaum nws dab tsi li, nws xwb tim tsis nyiam kuv li xwb.
(I haven't done anything to him, he simply doesn't like me.)
- Tus ntxhais ntawd kuj tsis muaj mob thiab nkees dab tsi li, nws xwb tim tsis xav ua hauj lwm xwb tiag.
(That girl does not have any sickness, she just doesn't want to work.)
A few additional examples:
-Ib tug ntseeg leej twg xwb tim tsis mus koom txoos.
(A believer can't just go to church.)
- Nws xwb tim hais kom kuv tu siab.
(He simply said it to make me upset.)
- Kuv tus phooj ywg yeej tsis tau mus thab leejtwg; luag xwb tim tsis xav hlub xwb.
(My friend never did anything to anyone; others simply just don't like him.)
