Zhuang language: Part 10 Syntax (3)
Complex sentences
Complex sentences are sentences that include more than one nominal, adjectival or adverbial parts in one sentence as a subordinate clause.
1. Nominal: The sentence just becomes the subject and object.
Doxdub mbouj ndei, bouxlawz mbouj rox? Who doesn’t know that fignting is not good?
rox = to know
Gou rox mwngz vihmaz mbouj gamj gangj okdaeuj. I know why you don’t dare to speak.
gamj < 敢; okdaeuj = to come out, get out
2. Adjectival: Modifies a noun (phrase) and pronoun (phrase) in a sentence
Boux vunz daj gwnz bya byaij roengz daeuj haenx, lumj daxboh siujfangh raixcaix.
The one comming down from the top of the mountain looks like Xiaofang’s father.
daj = from; gwnz = up, top; bya = mountain; roengz = to come down, get off; haenx = there, over there;
lumj = to look like, similar; siufangh = Xiaofang (person’s name); raicaix = very
Cijmiz mwngz, coh ndaej coengh gou. You are the only one who can help me.
cimiz = only; coh = finally, at last; ndaej = to be able, can; coengh = to help
3. Adverbial: Modifies a verb and an adjective in a sentence.
Gou byaij dwk ga naet lo. I walked until my feet were tired.
dwk = (adverb related); ga = feet; naet = to be tired
Causative
“hawj” is placed before the verb. If you are placing the cause on the object then it is placed after the causative verb
and before the verb. Besides “hawj” there are also the expressions “heuh, cingj, ep, gouz, ce, baij, coi”
including others.
Hawj gou bae hag hai ci. Please let me learn to drive.
hai = to drive
De cingj mwngz gwn laeuj. He recommends the drink to me.
cingj = ;laeuj = sake, alcohol, spirits
Gou gouz daxboh coengh gou. I helped my father.
gouz
Passive
“deng” is placed before the verb to indicate the passive.
If it is placed in a phrase that forms the main action then place it before the verb and after the verb indicating the passive. Besides “deng” there is also the expression “ngaiz”.
Gou deng dub. I was beaten up. dub = to beat up/to strike
Gou deng de dub. I was beaten up by him.
Duz gaeq de deng duz ma haeb dai lo. That chicken was bitten and killed by a dog.
duz =（counter for animals） gaeq = chicken de = that ma = dog haeb = to bite dai = to die
Comparatives
When “gvaq < 過” is placed after an adjective, it becomes a comparative expression.
Gou sang gvaq de. I am taller than him. sang = tall/high
De sij saw ndei gvaq mwngz. He writes better letters than you.
sij = to write < 写 saw = letter/character < 書
There is also an expression that places “beij <比” before the intended comparision.
Gou beij de sang. I am taller than him.
De beij mwngz sij saw ndei. He writes better letters than you.
Tags: linguistics, Zhuang
