an introductory course in myanmar

Foreword

With the increased international interest shown towards the Myanmar language in recent years, the need for modem textbooks that effectively and systematically teach authentic

Textbooks to be response to this need.

made a laudable 0H"'-'-'~T

and \vritten in Myanmar today has been acutely felt. This in Myanmar Language" is the first in the series of

the University of Foreign Languages, Yangon, in of Professor U Tin Shwe of the University of

U Aung Win Naing, who has taught the Myanmar language of Foreign Languages, Yangon, for several years, has

this textbook to further the teaching of Myanmar.

~V,'W~'HVU and piloted by a Myanmar university teacher who has of his life to the teaching of Myanmar as a foreign language,

liAn Language" systematically sets out to lay a sound as it is used by native speakers in the country today. With

the it constitutes a self-contained learning package at the basic level that can be used in the classroom as well as by motivated learners of the

on their own or with the guidance of a Myanmar language

The publication of "An Introductory Course in Myanmar Language" has been an occasion of excitement for those involved in the undertaking. As a sound linguistic knowledge is essential for a serious student of any culture, it is hoped that this textbook, together with the other textbooks in the same series, will make a substantial contribution to facilitating Myanmar studies.

Dr Soe Win Rector

of Foreign Languages, Yangon

October 2000

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to responsible personnel of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education Department (Lower Myanmar), and the then Director General tJ l\fyo Nyunt, Deputy Minister for Ministry of Education, for encouraging and guiding me to bring forth this book" An lntl'oductory Course in Myanmar Language," a teaching material designed for foreign learners of the Myanmar language.

I also owe my sincere thanks to Dr. Soe Win, Rector, University 'of . Foreign Languages, Yangon, Professor U Daya Ram, Head of English Department, Professor U Tin Shwe, Head of Myanmar Department, University of Foreign Languages, Yangon, Professor U Khin Aye, Head of Myanmar Department, University of Yangon, Associate Professor Daw Shein Paing, Monywa University, who had given me much help in writing this book.

I also owe my sincere thanks to an my teachers who taught me the Myanmar language, literature and linguistics. Special thanks are due to Emeritus Professor U Tun Myint, Emeritus Professor Daw Thi Tbl Htut and Emeritus Associate Professor Daw Mar Lay.

Aung Win Naing

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Introduction to Myanmar Pronunciation

1. The sound of Myarunar l~

2. Vowels 2: 1 Phonetic vowel symbols 2:2 Diphthongs 11

2:3 Nasalized vowel 111

2:4 Vowels followed by glottal stop l1l

2:5 Neutral vowel 111

2:6 Tones 111

2:7 How to pronounce Myarunar vowel and diphthong sounds IV

3. Consonants V111

3: 1 How to pronounce Myanamar consonant sounds Vlll

3:2 Initial consonant clusters x

4. Pronunciation practice for Myarunar syllable structure 4:1 Consonant + Vowell i / 4:2 Consonant + Vowell ei I 4:3 Consonant + Vowel! e I 4:4 Consonant + Vowell ai 4:5 Consonant + Vowell 0 I 4:6 Consonant + Vowell oul 4:7 Consonant + Vowel lui 4:8 Consonant + Nasalized vowell in I 4:9 Consonant + Nasalized vowel! an / 4:10 Consonant + Nasalized vowel/un / 4:11 Consonant + Nasalized diphthong vowel i ein I 4:12 Consonant + Nasalized diphthong vowel I oun I 4:13 Consonant + Nasalized diphthong vowell ain I 4:14 Consonant + Nasalized diphthong vowell aun I 4:15 Consonant + Glottal stop / i' /, I e' /, 1 a' I and / u' / 4:16 Consonant + Diphthong vowel with glottal stop

/ ei' /, lou' I, 1 ai' / and 1 au' .I

x Xl

Xl

xu XU

Xlll

XlV

XlV

xv xv XVI

XVII

XVII

XVlll

XVIll

XIX

xx

Lesson 1 min g!la ba 1 Good morning! ')

"'-

I. Imperative sentence 3 2. Politeness 3

Lesson 2 nan me b!lou kilo ba dba!,le: 8 What's your name? 9 1. Personal pronouns (polite form) 10 2. Equational sentence 10 3. Question particle for yes-no question 11

Lesson 3 bpa'sa out sbi. ba db!la: 16 Do you have a textbook? 17 1. Declarative sentence 18 2. The verb of existence 18 3. Negative sentence 19 4. Yes and No 20 5. The particle for sameness/ identity 20

Lesson 4 di ba ba Ie: 25 W'hat's this? 26 1. Demonstrative 27 2. Question particle for wh-question 27 3. Topic marker 28

Lesson 5 twei. ja. da wan: tba ba de 32 I am glad to meet you. 33 1. Nominalizing SuffLX '-dalta' 34 2. Nominalizing suffix '-ja. da' 35 3. Differences between nominalizing sufii.xes between

'--dalta' and '~ja. 00' 35

Lesson 6 nain gan gja: ba dba te' ga!,dbou 38 University of Foreign Languages 39 1. The locative suffix '~hma' 40 2. The locative suffIx '-ga.(nei)! ka.(nei)' 40

Lesson 7 sa kji. dai' kou thwa: gjin ba de 44 I want to go to the library. 45 1. The locative sutTlX '--goul kou' 46 2. The auxiliary '--gjinlchin' 46 3. Declarative sentence-fmal verb ending for future time 46

4. Future and non-future time 47 5. Plural particle 47 6. Sentence final question ending '--gja./kja. m!!la:' 48

Lesson 8 ba hpa' chin ba dh!!,le: 55 What do you want to read? 56 1. Object marker 57 2. Conjunction '-ne.' 57 3. Particle '-no' 57

Lesson 9 nei. dain: 't!!,naji sa bpa' te 62 I read one hour everyday. 63 1. The Myanmar Numerals 64 2. The numeral classifiers 64 3. The particle for starting point 65 4. The particle for finishing point 66

5. from ... to 66

Lesson 10 !!,guo be hn!!,na ji htou: bi Ie: 70 What is the time now? 71 1. Sentence fmal ending'-ba/pa' 72 2. Sentence fmal ending '-zou.!sou.' 72

Lesson 11 ba sa: gjin ba dh!!,le: 78 What do you want to eat? 79 1. Auxiliary '--gjinlchin' 80 2. Auxiliary' -nain' (or) '-hnain' 80

Lesson 12 zun: kh!,jin: ne. sa: me 87 I will eat (it) with spoon and/ork. 88 1. Sentence fmal particle '-no' 89 2. Adverbial case particle '-ne.' 89

Lesson 13 ~. ba lou' Dei Ie: 92 What are you doing now? 93 1. Auxiliazy '--nei' 94 2. Auxiliary '4'/ta" 94

Lesson 14 di throe' thi: b!!,lau' Ie: 101 How much is this mango? 102 1. Auxiliary '--pei:' 103 2. Myanmar currency 103

Lesson 15 b!,lau' wei: Ie: 108 How far is it? 109 1. The noun modifier ending 110 2. The suffIx '~lau' 111

Lesson 16 di nei. m!,nei. gao de' pou pu de 115 Today is hotter than yesterday. 116 1. The Comparison 117 2. The sentence-fmal ending '~ne. tu de' 118 3. The sutIlX '~lau' 118 4. The superlative 119

Lesson 17 ju. z!,na. koun dai' 124 Yuzana Department Store 125 1. The particle '~ne.' 126 2. The particle '~ge.! khe.' 126 3. Adjectivals and adverbials in Myanmar langauge 127

Introduction to Myanmar Pronunciation

1. The Sound of Myanmar language

The sound system of Myanmar language comprises eleven vowels including four diphthongs with four tones and thirty one consonants.

The syllable consists of an initial consonants Of clustef of consonants plus! vowel, spoken on one of the four tones.

2. Vowels

Vowel is a speech sound in which the airstream from the lungs is not blocked in any way in the mouth or throat, and which is usually pronounced with vibration of the vocal cords.

There are seven simple vowels, four diphthongs and neutral vowel [ (} ] in Myanmar language. Each of the vowels are discribed in terms of the positions of tongue and lips.

front (of the tongue) back (of the tongue)

(lips) (lips) (lips) (lips)

close hal/-close hal/-tJpen open

j~7u el........... ./ ou e~o

a

2: 1 Phonetic vowel symbols

Those who understand phonetic symbols look at the following table and picture.

Roman Phonetic Phonetic description character symbol

i Ul closed front unrounded vowel ei reI half-close front unrounded vowel e [e] half-open front unrounded vowel

a r a 1 open front unrounded vowel 0 [:> ] half-open back rounded vowel

ou r 0 1 half-close back rounded vowel u fu I close back rounded vowel

J!

2: :2 Diphthongs

Diphthong is a speech sound is usually considered as one distinctive vowel of a particular language but really involves two vowels, one vowel gliding to the other. For example, the diphthong [ ai J in Myanmar language, consists of the vowel [ a ] gliding into the vowel [ i ].

There are four diphthongs. They are ein [ ei ], mm [ ou], am [ ai ] and aun [au]. The four diphthongs can be described in terms of the changing positions of the tongue during formation. Those who understand phonetic symbols look at the following diagram.

1

I ein [ ei ] !

oun [ou] e 0

, ain [ ai ]

I aun 0 [ au]

iii

No diphthong can be pronounced as it is. In order to have a diphthongs being pronounced, either a glottal stop or one of the three tones with a nasality must follow.

2: 3 Nasalized vowel

Myanmar has three nasalized vowels in [ i ], an [ a ], un [ u ] and four nasalized diphthongs ein [ ei], oun [ ou ], ain [ ai ], aun [au l-

In the production of speech sounds, nasalized vowels are produced by letting the air from the lungs escape through the nose and the mouth. This can be done by lowering the soft palate ( the velum) at the back of the mouth.

2: 4 Vowels followed by glottal stop

There are four vowel followed by glottal stop i' [ C ], e' [ f,?], a' [ a? ], u' [u?] and four diphthongs followed by glottal stop in Myanmar language.

Glottal stop is a speech sound which is produced by the rapid closing of the glottiS (the space between the VOCAL CORDS), which traps the airstream from the lungs behind it, followed by a sudden release of the airas the glottis is opened.

? The phonetic symbol is [ . ].

2: 5 Neutral vowel

Neutral vowel [ () ] is very important and frequently used in Myanmar language. It is a vowel sound, usually unstressed, pronounced with the tongue in a neutral position, i.e, mid central, not high, not low, not front, not back. One such sound is represented in phonetic transcription as [ 0 ] as in about [o'baut]. It is also called CENTRAL VOWEL, MID VOWEL, SCHWA.

2: 6 Tones

When we listen to people speaking, we can hear some sounds or groups of sounds in their speech to be relatively higher or lower than others. This relative height of speech sounds as perceived by a listener is called "pitch".

Tone is height of PITCH and change of pitch which is associated with the pronunciation of syllables or words and which affects the meaning of the word. A tone language is a language in which the meaning of a word depends on the tone used when pronouncing it

I

iv

Myanmar language is a tone language. That is, the inflection of the voice determines the meaning of what is said. There are four tones in Myanmar language.

These are:-1. Low-falling Tone e.g. to be dumb (with a post-scripted dot)

mouth (without any tone mark) 2. Level Tone e.g. 3. High-falling Tone e.g. to be free (with two post-scripted dots)

needle( with the mark' after the symbol) 4. Stop Tone

Rom.an Phonetic charadeI' symbol

t [ ·i]

i . [ -i]

i: , I i] et

I [ . e]

ei [ -e]

! ei; I Ie]

e. [ . ~]

e [.t]

[ . a]

a: [ a]

e.g.

Approximate indications ofthe symbol's value in terms of Enldish sounds.

Like English ea in beat, heat, seat (without articulating the final consonants). I

Low, level and long tone, close to the unstressed I English e in regain, repose, return (no English equi- I valent). I Higb,long and falling tone, like English ea in sea, tea. I High, short and falling tone of eli (No English equi- I ~~). I Low, level and long tone, which might be obtained by

1 producing an entirely iIDstressed a in English may (model verb). (No English equivalent)

I High, long and falling tone; like English a in bay, day, I hay. I I High, short and falling tone; close 10 English. bat, cat, hat (without articulating the final consonants). (No I

! Enf1lish equivalent} I

consonant . Low, level and long tone, like the unstressed English a in martini, Meotis. High, long and falling tone, like English a: in car, far, mar.

v

Roman Phonetic Approximate indications of the symbol's value character symbol in terms of English sounds.

~ [a] Like English a in about, arise, around. o. ['0 ] High, short and falling tone, similar to English 0 in cot,

ho~ lot(final consonants unarticulated), 0 [ -0 ] Low, level and long tone, similar to English 0 in un-

stressed or for. 0: (0 ] High, long and falling tone, like English 0 in bore,

more, tore. 00.. [ '0] Like English 0 in bolt, colt, holt (without articulating the

final consonants). 00. [ -0] Low, level and long tone like English 0 in obey,

November. ou: [ 0] High, long and falling tone, like English 0 in oh, grow,

know. 0.. [ ,u] High, short and falling tone, like English 00 in boot,

coot hoot (without articulatinK the flnal consonants). ! u [-u] Low, level and long tone, like English u in humility,

nutrition. u:

I [ u] High, long and falling tone, ending in a glottal stop, like

English u in put or 00 in foot (flnal consonants not articulated).

in. [ 'i] Nasalized high, short and falling tone; like English in in ink, sink wink(without articu1atin~ the fmal consonants)

in [ ~i] Like the nasalized, unstressed English in in informal, intensive.

I in: [i] Like English in in bin, tin, sin, win (without articulating I the flnal consonants).

&m. [, u] Like English 0. in hunt, punt, runt (but ending with a I glottal stop).

an J ~a] Like English un in ui1fading, ui1failing, unparalelled. am I [ a] Nasalized high, long and falling tone; like English un in

bun, run, sun. un. [ . u] Nasalized short and falling tone; no English equivalent. un [-u] Nasalized low, level and long tone; no English

I equivalent; dose to the unstressed un in such proper names as Grundig and Lundy.

un: [ u] Nasal.ized long, high and falling tone; no English equivalent; close to the Lancashire dialectal production of the union in Sunday, Monday or the un sound in the proper names: Grudi}?, Lundy.

vi

Roman Phonetic Approximate indications of the symbol's value character symbol in terms of English sounds.

~ U71 Like English a in about, arise, around. o. ['0 ] High, short and falling tone, similar to English 0 in cot,

hot lot (final consonants unarticulated). 0 [ -0 ] Low, level and long tone, similar to English 0 in un-

stressed or, for. 0: (0 ] High, long and falling tone, like English 0 in bore,

more, tore. ou. [, 0] Like English 0 in bolt, colt, holt (without articulating the

final consonants 1-ou [ -0 1 Low, level and long tone like English 0 in obey,

November. ou: [ 0] High, long and falling tone, like English 0 in oh, grow,

know. u. r ,u] High, short and falling tone, like English 00 in boot,

coot, hoot (without articulating the fmal consonants). u [ -u] Low, level and long tone, like English u in humility,

nutrition. 11: [ u] High, long and falling tone, ending in a glottal stop, like

English u in put or 00 in foot (final consonants not articulated) .

in. [ 'i] Nasalized high, short and falling tone; like English in in ink, sink, wink (without articulating the final consonants)

in [ -i] Like the nasalized, unstressed English in in informal, intensive.

in: [i] Like English in in bin, tin, sin, win (without articulating the final consonants).

an. [, u J Like English 11 in hunt, punt, runt (but ending with a glottal stop).

an [ -a] Like English un in unfadin~, unfailin~, unparalelled an: [ a] Nasalized high, long and falling tone; !ike English un in

bun, run, sun. un. [, u 1 Nasalized short and falling tone; no English equivalent. un [-u] Nasalized low, level and long tone; no English

equivalent; close to the unstressed un in such proper names as Grundi~ and Lundy.

un: [ u] Nasalized long, high and falling tone; no English equivalent; close to the Lancashire dialectal production of the union in Sunday, Monday or the un sound in the proper names: Grudi~, Lundy.

vii

Roman Phonetic Approximate indications of the symbol's value charadeI' ~bol in terms of ED&lisb sounds.

em. [ ·ei] Like English ai in paint, faint, saint (without articulating the final consonants).

em [~] Nasalized low, level and long tone, which might be obtained by producting an entirely unstressed ai in English pain, gain, stain. (No English equivalent)

em: [ ei] Nasalized high, long and falling tone like English ai or a in gain, pain, lane, wane.

oun. [ .ou] Nasalized bigh, short and falling tone like English 0 in don 'I, won't. (without articulating the final consonants).

oun [ -on] Nasalized low, level and long tone, somewhat close to the unstressed English 0 in bone, cone, tone.

oun: [ ou] Nasalized bigh, long and falling tone, like the stressed English 0 in bone, cone, tone.

• [. ai] Nasalized high, short and falling tone, somewhat similar to the English in in pint.

am [ -31] Nasalized low, level and long tone; dose to the ruwilized English diphthong in in bind, find, but unstressed. (No English equivalent)

run: [ ai] Nasalized high, long and falling tooe; like English i in fine, line. mine.

aWL [ ·an] Like English 00. in court, fount. mount (without articula-ting the final consonants).

aWl [-an ] Nasalized low, level and long tone~ close to the ruwiliz· ed English diphthong ali in bound, found (without articulating the final consonants)

aWl: ! [ an] Nasalized high, long and falling tone; like English Oli in bound, round, sound (without articulating the final con-sonants)

i' fi? ] High, extrem.ely short tone, ending in a glottal stop as in English bit, hit sit, wit (final consonants not articulate)

e' [e1

] Like English e in bet. fret, get (but ending with a glottal stop)

! 14'" [31

] High, exttem.ely short tone, ending with 3 sharp check of the breath. by sharp glottal closure, as when pronouncing the English u in such words as but. cut. hut (without articulating the final consonants)

u' [u" ] High. extremely short tone, ending in a glottal stop, like English u in put or 00 in foot (final consowmts not articulated) .

vm

Roman Phonetic Approximate indications of the symbol's value maracter sYmbol in tenns of Ens.tlisb sounds.

ei' [ei'l ] High, extremely short tone; like English a in bake, cake, late (but ending with a glottal stop)

ou' [ ou?] High, extremely short tone, ending in a glottal stop as English 08 in boat, coat, moat (without articulating the final consonants)

81' [ai1

] High, extremely short tone, ending with a sharp check or the breath by sharp glottal closure, as when pronouncing the English i in such words as bite, kite, light (without articulating the final consonants)

au' [au"!] Like English u in hunt, punt, nmt (but ending with a glottal stop)

3. Consonants

Points of articulation Manaerof ~ DetAl AI-.,. A"-lo- PIIkII4I. Vdrr GI«Ift IU'dl:uJatioB IHIiIttM PWsives p,hp,b t, ht, d k,kh.,g Ajfricmes lei. cb. 1J;j NfL,td m,hm n,hn nj, hnj M.hng Lateral l,hl Fric6Jives th.db. s.hs.z sh h GIMks W i

3: 1 How to pronounce Myanmar ronsooant sounds

Roman Phonetic Approximate indications oHIle symbol's value character symbol in terms of Enlllish sounds

p [p] Like English p in spar, speak, spit (without any aspi-ration)

hp [ph] Like English p in J2S!l; l1!l!Jlf J2i1 (but with aspiration more pronounced than in En1ilish)

b fb1 Like English b in bar bee boat

t [t] Like English t in sta~ steam stick ht [th 1 Like English t in!Q!:, team, lick (but with more pro-

nounced aspiration) d [dl Like English d in dare dear. doe

ix

Roman Phonetic Approximate indications of the symbol's value character symbol in terms of Enl!lish sounds

k [k] Like English k in ski skit (without aspiration) kit [kh ] Like English kin Is!ili kit (with aspiration more pro-

nounced than in English) g {g] Like Englishg in ggt gjye,s:..oat

kj [tG J Like the unaspirated eh in English char (no English

equivalent; the closest English) til [1Gh] Like English eh in char, chit, church (but with aspira-

tion more pronounced than in English)

e:.i fd.4] Like English j in_Lar. jpJI., lOJ{

m fm] Like English m in mar. moo mug hm [hIn] AsI!irated m {no English equivalent}

n In] Like Eng!ish n in no, not nigftt 1m [hn ] Strongly aspirated n (no English equivalent)

nj [nl Like English ny in !>anyan (but in Myanmar the posi-tion is initial, and the articulation is markedly simulta-neous)

Imj [hn] Aspirated nj (no English equivalent)

ng [n] Like English ng in sing, bring (but in terms of position, this sound is always initial in Myanmar)

bng [hn] Aspirated ng (no EngJish equivalent)

i £11 Like English I in [OJ!, lihb love hi [hI ] Like I but voiceless and aspirated or devoiced

til [e] Like English til in thick. thin, thistle dh 1 'DJ Like EIlglish til in that this them

s [8} Like English s in saJ!., sin some Its r sh 1 Strongly aspirated s {no Englisbequivalent) z [z] Like English z in zebrq, z!J2, zoo

sh [<; ] Like English IIh in shark, shirt, shut

Roman character

[w] I Like English w ~. ~ ~icJ" u:ater or when prec~ed I I by a consonant like Enghsh w m sweat, sweet, sWift or I I . I u ill quarto !Lueen guava I

There are two basic consonant combination sounds in Myanmar language. These consonants sounds may be combined with appropriate consonants. j and w combine with other consonants to form synable~initial dusters. For example:

Roman cnaracter

p + j = pj

m + j :;:: mj [mj]

4. Pronunciation practice for Myanmar

The beginners need to practice the pronunciation of The foHowing tables are exercises for should listen their teacher's pronunciation to imitate especially the chrous and.

xi

4: 1 Consonant + Vowel Ii I

pi. pi pi: hpi. hpi Iwi: bi. bi bi: ti. n ti: htl. htl htl: di. di i .. , .... "=

w-' . ki. ki ki: khi. khi khi: ~. gi gi: kji. kji kji: chi. chi chi: ~i. gji gji: mi. mi w: hmi. hmi bini: ni. m m: hni. hni hni: n,ii. nji nii: bnji. hnii hnji: ngi. ngi ngi: hngi. hngi hngi: Ii. Ii Ii: hli. hli hli: thi. thl thl: dhi. dhi dhi: si. si si: " his. hsi hsi: Zl. zi Zl: shi. shi sm: wi. wi WI: ji. ii ji:

4: 2 Consonant + Vowel I ei I

pei. pei pei: hpei. hpei hpei: beL bei bei: teL tei tei: htei. htei htei: dei. dei dei: kei. kei kei: khei. khei khei: gei. gei gei: kjei. kjei kjei: chei. chei chei: mei. roei ~ei: !

I mei. mei mel: hmei. hmei hmei: nei. nei nel: hnei. I -- hnei hnei:

hnjei njei. njei njei: hnjei. I ! hnjei: -f' ngei. ngei ngei: I ~ei. i ~i ! hngei: I I

,--lei lei lei: J hlei. I hJei hlei: I

xii

thei. thei thei: dhei. dhei dhei: sel. sel sel: hsei. hsei hsei: zel. zel zel: shei. shei shei: wei. weI wei: jei. jei jei:

4: 3 Consorumt + Vowel I e I

pe. pe pe: hpe. hpe hpe: be. be be: teo te te: hte. hte hte: de. de de: ke. ke ke: khe. khe khe: ge. ge ge: kie. kie ~ie: .che. che cke: gje. gje gje: me. me me: hme. hme hme: ne. ne ne: hne. hne hne: nie. nje nje: hnje. hnje hnje: nge. nge nge: hnge. hnge hnge: Ie. Ie Ie: hIe. hle hIe:

the. the the: dhe. dhe dhe: se. se se: hse. hse hse: ze. ze ze: she. she she: we. we we: je. je je:

4: 4 Consorumt + Vowel I a I

j)a. P!i .. pa: hpa. hpa hpa: ba. ba ba: ta. ta ta: hta. hta hta: da. da da: ka. ka ka: kha. kha kha: gao ga ga:

xiii

kja. kja kja: eha. eha cha: gja. gja gja: rna. rna rna: hma. hma hma: na. na na: hna. hna hna: l!ia. nja n,ia: hnja. hnja hnja: n~a. nga nga: hnga. hnga hnga: la. la la: hla. hla hla: tha. tha tha: dha. dha dha: sa. sa sa: hsa. hsa hsa: za. za za: sha. sha sha: wa. wa wa: ja. ja ia:

4: 5 Consonant + Vowel 101

po. po po: hpo. hpo hpo: boo bo bo: to. to to: hto. hto hto: do. do do: ko. ko ko: kho. kho kho: go. go go: kjo. kjo kjo: cho. cho eho: gjo. gjo gjo: mo. mo mo: hmo. hmo hmo: no. no no: hno. hno hno: njo. njo njo: hnjo. hnjo hnjo: ngo. ngo ngo: hngo. hngo hngo: 10. 10 10: hIo. hlo hIo:

tho. tho tho: dho. dho dho: so. so so: hso. hso hso: zoo zo zo: shoo sho sho: woo wo wo: jo. jo jo:

XIV

4: 6 Consonant + Vowel I 011 !

POll. pou poU: hpou. hpou hpou: bou. bou bou: tou. tou tou: htou. htou htou: dou. dou dou: kou. kou kou: khou. khou khou: gou. gou gou: kjou. kjou Iqou: chou. chou chou: gjou. gjou gjou: mou. mou mou: hmou. hmou hmou: nou. nou nou: MOU. MOU hnou: njou. njou njou: hnjou. hnjou hnjou: ngou. ngou ngou: hngou. hngou hngou: lou. lou lou: hlou. hiou hIou: thou. thou thou: dhou. dhou dhou: sou. sou sou: hsou. hsou hsou: zOU. zou zou: shou. shou shou: wOU. wou wou: jou. jou jou:

4: 7 Comorumt + Vowel ! 11!

pU. pu pu: hpu. hpu hpu: bu. bu bu: tu. tu tu: htu. htu htu: duo du du: ku. ku ku: mu. mu . mu: I guo gu gu: kju. kju kju: chu. chu chu: gju. gju gju: mu. mu mu: hmu. hmu hmu:---I nu. nu flU: MU. MU . MU: i

xv

1 lu. lu Iu: hlu. hIu hIu: i

I thu. thu thu: dhu. d.hu d.hU:

I. suo su su: hsu. hsu hsu: zu. I :zu ZU:

H.

1

I I shu. shu shu: I

I "NU. WU wu: I I JU. ju jU: I

4: 8 Consonant + Nasalized vowel I in I

I pin. pin pin: hpin. hpin hpin: I bin. bin bin: I tin. tin tin: htin. htin htin: 1

din. I din din: I I kin. kin kin: khin. khin khin: I I gm. I gm I gin: I i I kjin. I kjin kjin: chin. chin I chin: I I I I gjin.

i gjin gjin: I f-

I mm. mm mm: hmin. I hmin hmin:

I nm. I mn nm: hnin. I hnin hnm:

I nJ1n. I npn

I njin: hnjin. hnjin hnjin:

i ngin. L ngin ngin: hugin. hugin hngin: I lin. lin I lin: hUn. Win hlin: I

I thin. I thin thin: dhin. dhin dhin: I r sm. sm sm: hsin. hsin hsin: I

I zm. I

zm zm: I

I shin. shin shin: 1

---'-~-1n-.--~----W-l-n---+---Wl--n-:--+------~,---------r------~ jm. pn Jln:

9 Consonant + Nasalized vowel I an I

pan. pan p!ln: ban. ban ban: I

I

I tan. tan tan: htan. htan htan: i

I

dan. dan dan: I I

xvi

kan. kan kan: khan. khan khan: gan. ~an gan: kjan. kjan kjan: chan. chan chan: gjan. gjan gian: man. man man: broan. hman broan: nan. nan nan: hnan. hnan hnan: rijan. njan njan: hnjan. hnjan hnjan: ngan. ngan ngan: hngan. hngan hngan: Ian. Ian Ian: hlan. hIan hlan:

than. than than: dhan. dhan dhan: san. san san: hsan. hsan hsan: zan. zan zan: shan. shan shan: wan. wan wan: jan. jan jan:

4: 1.0 Consonant + Nasalized vowel fum f

p_un. pun p_un: hpun. hpun hpun: bun. bun bun: tun. tun tun: hron. htun hron: dun. dun dun: kun. kun kun: khun. khun khun: gun. gtm gun: kiun. kjun kjun: chun. chun chun: gjun. gjun gjun: mun. mun mUll: hrnun. hmun broun: nun. nun nun: hnun. hnun hnun: njun. tUun njun: hnjun. hnjun hnjun: ngun. ngun ngun: hngun. hngun hngun: lun. lun lun: hlun. hlun hlun:

thun. thun thun: dhun. dhun dhun: sun. sun sun: hsun. hsun hsun: zun. zun zun: shun. shun shun: WUll. WUll wun: jun. jun jun:

xvl.i

htein htein: dein, dein J • • _..:~ein: kein. kein kein: khein. khein khein: gein. gem gem:

! k' . (Jeln. I k' qem k' ~,em: I h' c em. h' c em I c m: !

mein. gjein gjein: I

mem. I mein mein: i hml"!ln hmein hmein: nein. nein i nem: hnein. hnein hnein: ~jin. njin I njin: I hnjin. hnjin hnjin:

ngeirt I ngein ngein: hngein. hngein hngein: lein. lein ! lein: hlein. I hlein , hlein: thein. thein thein: dhem. dhein dhein: !

sein. sein sem: hsein. hsein hsein: zem. zem zem: shein. shein shein: wein. wein wem: jein. iein jein:

4: 12 Cowronmt + Nasalized diphthong vowel I mm !

poun. poun poun: hpooo. I hpoun I hpooo: I boun. booo booo: I I I I

toun. WOO toun: htmm -+ htooo htoun: doun. doun doun: I koun. koun koun: khoun. I khoun khoun: goun. goun goun: I kjoun. kjoun kjoun: choun. r

I choun i choun: gjoun. gjoun gjoun: j I

L moun. moun moun: hmoW1. I hmrmn I hmoun: I ." noun. noun noun: hnoun. I hnm.m I OOoun: njoun. njoun njoun: hrljoun, hnjooo

I ~joun: i I

I ngoun. ngoun ngoun: r..ngoun. J ~ hngoun: I

loun. 10un I loun: 1 hloun. hloun hlooo: thooo. thoun thoun: 1 dhoun. dhoun dhoun: soun. soun soun: nsoun. hsoun hsoun: mun. mun mun: I I

shoun. ! shoun I shoun: I I

woun. woun woun: 1000. joun joun: I

pain. pain pain: hpain. hpain hpain: bain. bain bain: tain. tain , tain: i htain. htain htain: dain. dain dain: kain. kain kain: khain. khain khain: gain. gain gain: k,jain. k,jain !gain: chain. chain chain: gjain. gjain gjain: main. main main: hmain. hmain hmain: nain. nam nain: hnain. hnain hnain: n,jain. njain n,jain: hnjain. hn,jain hnjain: ngain. ngain ngain: hngain. hngain hngain: lain: lain lain: hlain. hlain blain:

thain. thain thain: dhain. dhain dhain: sain. sam sain: hsain. hsain hsain: zaln. zam zam: shain. shain shain: wain. wain I wam: jain. jain jain:

paun. paun paun: hpaun. hpaun hpaun: baun. baun baun: taoo. taun taun: htaun. htaun htaun: daun. daun daun:

XiX

bun. bun bun: wun. khaun khaun: gaun. gaun gaun: ~jaun. l(jaoo kjaun: chaun. chaun cbaun: gjaun. gjaun maun: maun. maoo maoo: hmaun. hmaun hmaun: naoo. naun I Milll: hnaun. hnaun hnaun: njaun. njaoo njaoo: ~jaun. hnjaun hnjaun: ngaun. ngaun ngaun: hngaun. hngauu hngaun: laun. laun laun: hlaun. hlaun hlaun: thaun. thaun thaun: dhaun. dhaun dhaun: saun. saun saun: hsaun. hsaun hsaun: mun. mun mun: shaun. shaoo shaoo: waoo. iNaun waoo: I jaoo. jaun jaoo:

4: 15 CODSOrumt + Glottal stop 1 i' I, I e' I, I a' 1 and I u' I

pi' pe' pa' ])U'

hpi' hpe' hpa' hpu' bi' be' ba' bu' ti' te' ta' w' hti' hte' hta' htu' di' de' da' du' n' ke' ]ca' ku' kID' khe' kha' khu' gi' _ge' ga' gu'

kii' kie' kia' kiu' chi' che' cha' chu' gji' gje' gja' gju' mi' me' rna' mu' hmi' hme' hma' hmu'

~-

ni' ne' na' uu' hni' hne' hna' huu' - . nji' nje' nja' Jlju'

hnji' hnje' bnja' lmju'

< > pou' paC pau' pel I 1koo~' hou' 1 " hpau' I d A npal '~I ---"

, bei' bou' baC bau' tei' tou' tai' tau' hteC hte' htai' htau' del' dou' dai' dau'

I kei' kou' kai' kau' Lkhei' mou' mai' mau' I gei' gou' gai' Qau'

Q

ki""i' , J" kjou' kjai' kjau' chei' i chou' chai' chau'

I ' ., ---j gjou' gjai' gjau' l-----S1e:i

I mei' mou' mai' mau' i hmei' hmou' ~ .,

rnnal hmau' nei' nou' nai' nau'

I ., l1nea hnou' hnai' hnau'

xxi

mef mOlu' hl "' ·81 hlau' thee thou' thai' thau' dhei' OOOlU1 db.ai' dhau' sci' hsei' zei' shei' shai' shau' "qvei' wou' wl!i' ,wu' iet' iou' . "' jau' s} ,I J81

dei: bi' u: thein: han

dei: bi' u: thein: han

min ~Ia min ~Ia ba hs!!.ia u:

ba htain hou' ke. na: htaun

thin gan: za (ti')

auspICIOusness

min gala ba hsilla min gala ba htain ba hou' ke~ na: htaun ba

Good morning, Good evening, How are you? etc. (male) teacher U, prefix to names of men of considerable age or status polite fonn particle to sit yes to listen

m I ka. I is the first letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the

strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

{J (YJ cn

)

2

Lesson 1

0A0Y.)ol Good morning I

~A0Y.)ol Wq)1! t

Good SIr.

G ~9(' (' w6p2:::D~~v)~ ~ACD0011i a?~ II

Mr. Thein Han ('

~Q)O'Y)G3 :tJQ) III

Mr. David

morning~ Take a seat, U',-,'c<",-,.

(' " Of. CD CYt II Yes.

~ 0(' (' W 6pe::::D~ :()')~ ~0~GCXY)~ol II

Please listen. Mr. Thein Han

--~-~~ .. -----.-----.----- '-~'---i

/ kba. / is the second letter of the Myanmar alphabet The order of the I I

I"

IQ I strokes is as illustrated below.

i

F--2 --I-"3---:-~T-"-"---------l

- I -1 I-----·----i ; I I I ______ I I : i I Iii

I I I I I

I

I II' I I, I I I I ! I J

i I I :

I I i I .

____ .!..-i ~" __ ""_ .. "L_. 11

1

3

Grammar & Usages

1. Imperative sentence

Imperative sentence is a sentence which is in the form of a command.

For example:

thwa: la lou' ma' ta' ja'

(Go!) (Come!) (Do it!) (Stand up!)

In Myanmar language, polite form particle ' ..... balpa' can be used after a 'verb' when the speaker requests some action from or makes the hearer to do something. '- ba' is used after the verb ending with tone 1, 2 or 3. And '- pa' is used after the verb ending with tone 4 or glottal stop.

for example:

thwa: la lou' ma' ta' ja~

2. Politeness

+ ba + ba + pa + pa

=

=

thwa: ba la ba lou' pa ma' ta' ja' pa

(Go, please.) (Come, please.) (Do it, please.) (Stand up, please.)

Language differ in how they express politeness. In Myanmar language, generally, polite form particle ' ..... ba/pa' is used not only after the verb but also the noun. A person would use polite form particle, when referring to persons of equal or superior social standing. Especially, it must be used in formal greeting' min g!la ba' .

'khin bjal shin' can also be added for politeness at the end of an utterance. The equivalent expression in English is 'sir' or 'madam.' 'khin bjs' is used by male speakers. When people are talking fast, 'khin bja' may be pronounced 'khin mja' or even 'kh!mja'. 'shin' is used by female speakers. For example:

[male speaker] min !@la ba kh~ja ffemale speaker] min g~la ba shin

(Good morning, sir/madam.) (Good morning, sir/madam.)

4

DRILLS

Dl (for male students]

1) hsrua hsIDa u: them: han kjaun: <ilia: min ~la ba hsrua (u: thein: han) (or)

min MIa ba kbgmja 2) ~a hsma u: khin ei:

kjaun: dha: min ~la ba hs!ja (u: khin ei:) (or) min ~la ba kh&nja

3) ~a hsrua u: tin shwei kjaun: dha: min g!!la ba hS§ja (u: tin shwei) (or)

min g!!la ba kh~ja 4) hsrua hsrua u: htun: mjin.

kjaun: <ilia: min ggla ba hsrua (u: htun: mjin.) (or) min ~la ba kb§IDja

5) hsrua hsrua u: thi ha. kjaun: dha: min gj!la ba hs!ija (u: thi ha.) (or)

min !@la ba khJ!IDja

D2 Vor female students]

1) hsrua hsrua u: thein: han kjaun: dhu min Wa ba hsrua (u: thein: han) (or)

min ~la ba shin 2) hsIDa hsIDa u: khin ei:

kjaun: dhu min ~la ba ~a (u: khin ei:) (or) min g!!la ba shin

3) hsIDa hsIDa u: tin shwei kjaun: dhu min i@la ba hsIDa (u: tin shwei) (or)

min ~la ba shin 4) hsrua hsrua u: htun: mjin.

kjaun: dhu min ~la ba hsrua (u: htun: mjin.) (or) min g!!la ba shin

5) bsIDa hsIDa u: thi ha. kjaun: <fuu min ~la ba hsrua (u: tm ha.) (or)

min ~la ba shin

5

DJ (for male students]

1) hsrua thwa: (to go) kjaun: dha: thwa: ba (khgmja)

2) hsrua 1a (to come) kjaun: dha: Ia ba (kh£lUja)

3) hsrua lei.Ia (to study) kjaun: dha: lei. Ia ba (khgmja)

4) hs!!ja lou' (to dol work) kjaun: dha: lou' pa (kh~mja)

5) hsrua hpa' (to read) ~jaun: dha: hpa' pa (kh~mja)

D4 (for fenwle students)

1) hsrua jet: (to write) kjaun: dhu jei: ba (shin)

2) hsrua sha (to find! search) kjaun: dhu sha ba (shin)

3) hsrua na: htaun (to listen) kjaun: dhu na: htaun ba (shin)

4) hsrua kje' (to memorize! kjaun: dhu kje' pa (shin) lelim by heart)

5) hsrua m~i' ta' ja' .! (to stand up) kjaun: dhu rna' ta' .ia' pa (shin)

D 5 [Classroom Instructions]

1) na: htaun ba

'f':G~~olll 2) thei dhei cha gja na: htaun ba

~JJ GJJ <tP1.P .~o:GCXY.)8 0111

3) lai' hsoubli, o co,)

(\.(m~olll

4) tgjau' si lai' hsou ba c CQ 0 co') . C?2O?GOY)m~ cym<X(ol iI

5) atu du hsou ba

3da;?Cf( d?ol'i 6) hpa' pa

(9oSo111 7) pjo: ba

G~ol,H 8) kje gje pjo:ba

otJoS<Y.(joS G~olll 9) ~ljan mjan pjo: ba

B~§~ G§')olll 10) pi'bi tha, dha. pjo: ba

Q9 ,.-., ') OOJJJJ ~(),)Olll

11) hta' pjo: ba oun: '

000 GEPo12:11 .' 12) pjo: kJi· t?a, , GGP6t2°111

13) hta' pjo: kji. ba oun: (' ,--, r-" c' ') Q

roo ~()')t:232.i: O! 2: II 14) mj~ma lou pjo: kji. ba

§~~o? G~6e1°11l / 15) in: g~lei' lou m~pjo: ba}f!e.

€ 01;' 0 c: ,], 3d()0JoCl:( ~GlPo '1'. l!

6

Please listen.

Please listen wen.

Please repeat 'after me"

Please repeat after me,

one person at a time .

Please say (it) together.

Please read (it).

Please say (it).

Please speak up.

Please speak louder.

Please speak faster.

Please speak accurately.

Please say (it) again.

Please repeat.

Please try to say (it).

Please try to say (it) again.

Please try to speak

in Myanmar.

Please don't speak English.

16) a: 10un: ~tu du pjo: ba

3d0:a?: 3d0j(0j( c{ooolu 17) ne: fli!: mjan mjan pjo: ba

t~:"2: §<H~~ G(polu 18) truau' si pjo: ba

mS Go.y.xrS ~ GE[.>ol II 19) hrnan ba de

'" '1 c '7;01 mU)ll

20) hma: ba de

'j'J:0 1 moS II 21) sa ou' hpwin. ba

c c '1 OYJ3fo g9 0111

22) sa ou'kou kji. ba

OYJ3f 0 af1§21 01 II

23) sa ou' pei' pa

®03f0 8~0111 24) sa ou' kou m~kji. ba ne.

OYJ3f0cq ~§2101~. II 25) hpjei ba

G§oll1

7

Please say (it) in chorus.

Please speak more quickly.

Please say (it),

one person at a time.

That's right.

That's wrong.

Please open (your) book.

Please look at (your) book.

Please close (your) book.

Please don't look at

(your) book.

Please answer.

8

thin gan: za (hni')

nan me balon kho ba" dhale:

hsilla dei: hi' hsilla dei: hi'

nan me kbo !me ri kan bou' ke.

name to call American yes

nan me balou kho ba dhaIe: - -kjano dei: hi' pa arnei ri kan Iu rnjou: la: hou' ke. amei ri kan Iu rnjou: ba

b.;!iou how kj!no I (male speaking) In mjon: nationality

I 0 I gao I is the third letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the

I strokes is as illustrated below.

f.-I 1 2 3 -

1=0 C-J ~

L

) ")

I

OO~2:03~:()')~ Mr. Thein Han

<' eiO'Y.)G3 :ea:> Mr. David

OO'P2:::>3~:()')~ Mr. Thein Han

eiO'Y.)G3 :eS Mr. David

9

Lesson 2

'0e~ :;n&>o? GsT 01 ~c\) What's your name?

• o

ro I gao I is the fourth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the


1 2 3

~- 0 UJ to

10

Grammar & Usages

1. Personal pronouns (Polite form)

The Myanmar kj!,no and kj!ma., like English '1', refer to the speaker (first person). The difference between them is that kj!,DO is said by men and kj!ma. by woman. For example:

[man speaking] kj!no ~e ri lean Iu mjou: ba (I am an American.) [woman speaking] kj!,ma. ~me ri kan Iu mjou: ba (I am an American.)

Number Singular Plural Person Ii! 2!!!! 3m l!l 2!!!! 3J:i!

Male kj!l1o kh!mja: kj!l1o kh!mja: Speaking thu. doD. doD. thu. Female k.i!ma. shin k.i!ma. shin dou.. doD. Speaking doD. English I you he, we you they Equivalent she

2. Equational sentence

In Written Myanmar. 'hpji" is a verb which shows the equivalent relationship between the subject and the predicative noun. Usually a noun is placed before 'hpji"; however, a phrase or a clause may substitute for the noun. It is used to make a noun, phrase, or clause the predicate of the sentence. For example: kj!no + !mei ri kan lu mjou: + hpji' + thi (I am an American.)

I American to be S(entence) F(inal) P(artic!e)

In Colloquial Myanmar, no need to use the verb 'hpji" (which means to be something, someone). Use two nouns and particle '-balpa' for politeness. For example: kj!no + !,mei ri kan 10 mjou: + ba (I am an American.)

I American particle

11

3. Question particle for yes-no question

-Ia: or dh!la:! th!la: are sentence-final question ending. ----dh!la:! th!la: are used after the verb (or the polite form particle). -Ia: can be used for both predicative nouns and verbs. But ~dh!la:! th!la: is more polite than -la: and usually use with polite form particle '-ba/pa'.

When the verb ends in a vowel with tone 1,2 or 3, use '----dh!Ia:'. When the verb ends in a vowel with tone 4 or glottal stop, use '-th!la:'. But after polite form particle' -ba/pa', use only' ----dh!la:'. For example:

!,mei ri kan lu mjou: + la: (Are you an American?) N Q(uestion) E(nding)

kh!mja: + kjsun: dhu + Is: (Are you a (girl) student?) N N Q(uestion) E(nding)

la Is + Is:! dh!la: la + ba + dh!la:

thwa: thwa: + la:! dh!la: thwa: + ba + dh!Ia:

lou' lou' + la:! th!la: lou' + pa + dh!la:

ei' ei' + Ia:! th!la: ei' + pa + dh!la:

(to come) (DolDid you come?)

(to come) (DolDid you go?)

(to dol work) (DolDid you do?)

(to sleep) (DolDid you sleep?)

12

DRILLS

Dl Vor male students]

1) hsilla nan me b~lou kho ba dh~le: (David) kjaun: dha: kjW10 dei: bi' pa

2) hsilla nan me bwou kho ba dh~le: (Mr. Sawada) kjaun: dha: kj~no mjit s~ta hsa wa da ba

3) hsilla nan me b~lou kho ba dh~le: (Mr. Kim) kjaun: dha: kj~no mjit s~ta kin ba

4) hsilla nan me b~ou kho ba dh~le: (Ko Ko) kjaun: dha: kj~no kou kou ba

5) hsilla nan me.b~lou kho ba dh~le: (U Soe Naing) kjaun: dha: kj~no u: sou: nain ba

D2 Vor female students]

1) hsilla nan me bglou kho ba dh~le: (Yuki) kjaun: dhu kj~ma. ju ki ba

2) hsilla nan me bglou kho ba dh~le: (Nancy) kjaun: dhu kj~ma. nan si ba

3) h sill a nan me b~lou kho ba dh~le: (Khin Khin) kjaun: dhu kj~ma. khin khin ha

4) hsgja nan me b~lou kho ba dh~le: (Ma Ni Ni) kjaun: dhu kj~ma. rna' ni ni ba

5) hsgja nan me bglou kho ba dh~Je: (Daw Thi Thi) kjaun: dhu kjgma. do thi thi ba

D 3 (for male studentsl

1) hsilla kjaun: dha:





D 4 (for female students)

1) hsilla kjaun: dhu





13

khf!mja: f!me ri kan Iu mjou: la: hou' ke., kjf!no gmei ri kan lu mjou: ba

khf!mja: kou ri: ja: Iu mjou: la: hou' ke., kjf!no kou ri: ja: lu mjou: ba

khgmja: gjf!pan Iu mjou: la: hou' ke., kj~no gjgpan Iu mjou: ba

khf!mja: bf!ru nain: lu mjou: la: hou' ke., kjf!no bf!ru nain: Iu mjou: ba

khf!mja: htain: Iu mjou: Ia: hou' ke., kjf!no htain: Iu mjou: ba

khf!mja: bi jet nan lu mjou: la: hou' ke., kjf!ma. bijet nan Iu mjou: ba

khgmja: la ou Iu mjou: la: hou' ke., kjf!IDa. la ou Iu mjou: ba

khf!mja: in dou ni: sha: iu mjou: la: hou' ke., kjf!ma. in dou ni: sha: lu mjou: ba

khf!mja: mf!lei: sha: Iu mjou: la: hou' ke., kjf!ma. mf!lei: sha: Iu mjou: ba

khgmja: kan bo: di: ja: Iu mjou: la: hou' ke., kJ~ma. kan bo: di: ja: lu mjou: ba

14

D 5 Vor both male and female students]

1) hsrua kjaun: dhu kjaun: dha:


3) ~a kjaun: <fuu kjaun: dha:



D6 Vor male students)

1) hsIDa kjaun: dha:

2) hsrua kjaun: dha:



5) hs!ja kjaun: dha:

truou' Iu mjou: (Chinese) shin truou' Iu mjou: la: hou' ke., kj~no truou' Iu mjou: ba

pjin dhi' Iu mjou: (French) shin pjin dhi' lu mjou: la: hou' ke., kj~no pjin dhi' Iu mjou: ba

in: ~lei' Iu mjou: (English) shin in: wei' Iu mjou: la: hou' ke., kj~o in: ~lei' Iu mjou: ba

k~ei da Iu mjou: (Canadian) shin ~ei da Iu mjou: la: hou' ke., kj~o k!pwi da Iu mjou: ba

b~ra zi: In mjou: (Brazilian) shin b!!fa zi: Iu mjou: la: hon' ke., kj~no bi!Ta zi: Iu mjou: ba

si' bou (military officer) khwnja: si' bou la:

than twnan (diplomat) kh~mja: than 4l:man la:

si: bwa: jei: dh.§:ma: (business man) kb2mja: si: bwa: jei: dh.§ma: la:

hs!ja win rna. (female physician) kh.§mja: hsrua win rna. la:

hsrua rna. (female teacher) kh~ja: hsrua rna. la:

15

D 7 (for both male and female students)

1) hsru l1 pain shin (owner) kjaun: dhu shin pain shin la: kjaun: dha: hot!' ke., kjS!no pain shin ba

2) hsrua man nei gja (manager) kjaun: dhu shin man nei gja la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke., kjS!no man nei gja ba

3) hsrua ka: hsrua la: (car driver) kjaun: dhu shin ka: hsrua la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke., kjS!flo ka: hsrua ba

4) hsrua je: rua shi. (police officer) kjaun: dhu shin je: rua sm. la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke., kjS!no je: rua shi. ba

5) hsrua sa kji. dai' hmu: (librarian) kjaun: dhu shin sa kji. dai' hmu: la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke., kjS!no sa kji. dai' hmu: ba

D8 (for both male and female students)

1) hsilla ku: (to copy, to cross over) kjaun: dha:/dhu ku: ba dhS!la:

2) hSIDa Jet: (to write) kjaun: dha:/dhu jei: ba dhS!la:

3) hSIDa pel: (io gjy~) kjaun: dha:/dhu pjei: ba dhS!la:

4) hsrua hpa'· (to read) kjaun: dha:/dhu hpa' pa dhS!la:

5) hsrua kje' (to memorize~ learn by heart) kjaun: dha:/dhu kje' pa ~la:

hsilla dei: bi'

hsilla dei: hi'

sa ou' !,bi. dan m,!sbi.

16

thin gan: za (thoun:)

hpa' sa on' shi. ba dh,!la:

hpa' sa OU' shi. ba dhala: hou' ke. shi. ba de abi. dan jo: shi. ba dhala: hin.in: mashi. ba bu:

book dictionary to have not

bpa' sa ou' bin. in:

text book; reader no

c / nga. / is the fifth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the


1 2 3

C c ~J

OO'P2::B,:c.n, Mr. Thein Han

~iO'Y.>~3 :tl~ Mr. David

OO'fJ2::B,:c..n, Mr. Thein Han

~fO'Y.>G3 :tlS Mr. David

• •

• •

• •

• •

17

Lesson 3

uoSOY.>3fO ~o 1 :).) coo: Do you have a text book?

uoSOY.>3fO ~ol :).)COO:II

Do you have a text book?

utoSo}l ~olO)uSll Yes, I do.

~03 ro,G'fJ ~a:Y.): II Do you have a dictionary, also?

c..n~~8:1 ~~olO(:1I No, I don't.

Q) I sa. / is the sixth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the


1 2 3

Q) <D

18

Grammar & Usages

1. Declarative sentence

--del te is the declarative sentence-final verb ending. --de is used after the verb (or polite form particle) ending in a vowel with tone 1,2 or 3. -te is used after the verb ending in a vowel with tone 4 or glottal stop. For example:

la la + de la + ba + de

thwa: thwa: + de thwa: + ba + de

lou' lou' + te lou' + pa -t de

ei' ei' + te ei' + pa + de

2. The Verb of Existence

(to come) (He/She come/came.)

(to go) (He/She go/went.)

(to dol work) (He/She work/worked.)

(to sleep) (He/She sleep/slept.)

The verb ' shi. ' indicates existence, location or possession. It is used to say that '(something) exists,' or '(something) is located (in a place),' or '(somebody) has (something).' For example:

- jei shi. la: hou' ke., shi. de

!chein shi. la: - jan goun mjei boun shi. la:

mei: Z!,ja shi. la:

Do you have water? Yes, I do.

Do you have time? Do you have Yangon map? Are there (any) questions?

th!nge gjin: shi. de na ji shi. de

19

I have a friend. (A friend exists.) I have a watch. (A watch exists.)

When the subject is an esteemed individual, use polite form particle '-ba'. For example:

pa mau' Ima. gjou' shi. ba de than !ma' kji: shi. ba de mi. ba. dwei shi. ba dh!la:

3. Negative sentence

The rector is in. The ambassador is in. Are your parents home? (or: Are your parents (still) alive?)

The negative phrase <m!hou' hpu:' is used for equational sentence in Colloquial Myanmar. <m!hou' pa bu:' is used for polite form. For example:

N + N + m!!hou' hpu: (or)

kjAno + kjaun: dha: + ba kJ!no + kjaun: dha: + m!hou' hpu: kj!no + kjaun: dha: + m!hou' pa bu:

N + N + m!hou' pa bu:

(I am a student.) (I am not a student.)

For other sentences, the negative particle Om! ..• bu:' is used for the verb ends in a vowel with tone 1,2, or 3. And <m! ... bpu:' is used for the verb ends in a vowel with tone 4 or glottal stop. For example:

m! + Verb + bu:/hpu: (or) m! + Verb + pa + bu:

la (to come) m~ + la + bu: shi. (to exist) m~ + shi. + bu: lou' (to work) m~ + lou' + hpu: thwa: (to go) m~ + thwa: + ba + bu: ei' (to sleep) m~ + ei' +- pa + bu:

20

4. Yes and No

, hon' ke. ' and' in: ' are used when making an affirmatjve reply (equivalent to the noun 'yes'). But ' hm.i~ ke. ' is more polite than' in: .'

Actually, , hoo' ' is a verb means 'to be true; be a fact.' Thus, , hon' la: ' means 'Is it trueT and yon can answer ' hon' te ' or ' hou' pa de ' (Yes, It is true.)

, hin. in: ' means 'no' for an negative reply.

These particles can also be attached to almost any word of a sentence to indicate unity, sameness or identity. Like English 'too, also, even, indeed.' Sometimes they can express emphasis, too. Usually, ' ~ jo: ' is used for question sentence and '- Ie: ' for answer. Sometimes ' - Ie: ' can be used with ' - be:/bpe: ' which particle suffixed to a word for emphasis for equational sentence. For example:

tho ga. Main: II.! mjou: kJi!,no Ie: Main: lu rojou: be:

kj!DO banD: bi we de hp!na' Ie: we de

sa on' we ~a: sa 00' Ie: we de

is Thai. I, too, am Thai.

He is also a rector.

I bought (a pair of) trousers. I also bought (some) shoes.

Did you (some) books, too. Yes, I bought (some) books, too.

t

21

DRILLS D 1 VOT both male and female students]

1) hsrua sa: kjaun: dhu sa: ba dhgla: kjaun: dha: hou' ke., sa: ba de

2) hsIDa thau' kjaun: dhu thau' pa ~la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke., thau' pa de

3) hsrua nel kjaun: dhu nei ba dh~la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke., nei ba de

4) hsrua Win

kjaun: dhu \\1fl ba dh~la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke., win ba de

5) hsrua kjai' kjaun: dhu kjai' pa dh~la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke., kjai' pa de

D 2 Vor both male and female students]

1) kjaun: dhu khe: dan shi. ba dh~la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke., khe: dan shi. ba de

2) kjaun: dhu th{!nge gjln: shi. ba dh!!la:

(to eat)

(to drink)

(to stay~ live)

(to enter)

(to like)

(pencil)

(friend) kjaun: dha: hou' ke., th!!nge gjin: shi. ba de

3) kjaun: dhu pal' hsan shi. ba dh§Ja: (money) kjaun: dha: hou' ke., pai' hsan shi. ba de

4) kjaun: dhu naji shi. ba dh~la: (watch! clock) kjaun: dha: hou' ke., na ji shi. ba de

5) kjaun: dhu {!cheln shi. ba dh!!la: (time) kjaun: dha: hou' ke., ~chein shi. ba de

22

D3 (for both male and female students)

1) hsilla ka. ba dh~la: (to dance) kjaun: dha:ldhu hin. in:, m~ka. ba bu:

2) h sill a ggza: ba dh~la: (to play) kjaun: dha:ldhu hin. in:, m~g~za: ba bu:

3) hsilla kjl. ba dh~la: (to look at) kjaun: dha:/dhu hin. in:, m~kji. ba bu:

4) hsilla mel: ba dh~la: (to ask) kjaun: dha:/dhu hin. in:, m~mei: ba bu:

5) hsilla hpjei ba dhWa: (to answer) kjaun: dha:ldhu hin. in:, m~hpjei ba bu:

D 4 [for both male and female students)

1) hsilla zg!Jwe: shi. ba dh~la: (table) kjaun: dha:/dhu hin. in:, 7-!!bwe: m~hi. ba bu:

2) hsilla kglghtain ba dh~la: ( chairibench) kjaun: dha:/dhu hin. in:, k§J~htain m~hi. ba bu:

3) hsilla !lhpei shi. ba dh~la: (father) kjaun: dha:ldhu hin. in:, ~hpei m~hi. ba bu:

4) hsilla !lmel shi. ba dh~la: (mother) kjaun: dha:ldhu . hin. in:, £!mei m£!shi. ba bu:

5) hsilla te Ii hpone shi. ba dh~la: (telephone) kjaun: dha:/dhu hin. in:, te Ii hpone m~shi. ba bu:

23

D 5 [for both male andfemale students)

1) kjaun: dhu shin gja man Iu rnjou: la: (German) kjaun: dha: hin. in:, kj~no 0 sgtrei: Ii: ja: Iu rnjou: ba

2) kjaun: dhu shin koun dhe la: (trader) kjaun: dha: hin. in:, kj~no in gjin ni ja ba

3) kjaun: dhu shin lJ:.hsou do la: (vocalist; singer) kjaun: dha: hin. in:, kj~no da raj'ta ba

4) kjaun: dhu shinjou'shin min: dha: la: (film star; actor) kjaun: dha: hin. in:, kj~no man nei gja ba

5) kjaun: dhu shin pwe: za: Ia: (broker) kjaun: dha: hin. in:, kj~no pain shin ba

D 6 [for both male and female students]

1) kjaun: dha: kjaun: dhu





kh~mja: jou'shin min: dhlJ:.mi: la: (actress) hin. in: kj~rna.jou'shin min: dhgmi: rn~hou' pa bu:

kh~mja: thu na pju. la: (nurse) hin. in:, kj~ma. thu na pju. m~hou' pa bu:

kh~mja: sgjin: gain la: (accountant) hin. in:, kj~rna. sgjin: gain m~hou' pa bu:

kh~mja: kou han pja. me la: (model) hin. in: kj~rna. kou han pja. me m~hou' pa bu:

kh~mja: sajei: hsgja ma. la: (authoress) hin. in: kj~ma. sajei: hsgja rna. m~hou' pa bu:

24


1) hsrua pjin dhi' zgga: Ie. Ia ba dh~la: (French) kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., in: gg:/ei' zgga: Ie: iei. la ba de

2) hsrua dhgdin: za hpa' pa dh~la: (newspaper) kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., mgggzin: Ie: hpa' pa de

3) hsrua jOll'shin kji. ba dh~la: (movie) kjaun: dha:ldhu hou' ke., te Ii bel: shin: ie: kji. ba de

4) hsrua thgchin: hsou ba dhf!:la: (song) kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., gi' ta Ie: ti: ba de

5) hsrua 19hpe' jet thau' pa dh~la: (tea) kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., ko hpi Ie: thau' pa de


1) hsrua san: dgja: jo: ti: ba dh~la: (piano) kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., san: dgja: Ie: ti: ba de

2) hsrua wi'htu.. jo: hpa' pa dh~la: (novel; fiction) kjaun: dha:ldhu hou' ke., wi'htu.. Ie: hpa' pa de

3) hsrua we'tha: jo: sa: ba dh~la: (pork) kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., we' tlta: Ie: sa: ba de

4) hsrua gme: dha: jo: kjai' pa dh~la: (beef) kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., gme: dha: Ie: kjai' pa de

5) hsrua hsei: jo: thau' pa dh£!la: (medicine) kjaun: dha:ldhu hou' ke., hsei: Ie: thau' pa de

25

thin gan: za (lei:)

di ha ba Ie:

di ha ba Ie: - hsilla lei. kjin. gan: ba

dei: bi' hsilla dei: bi' hsilla

lei. kj in. gan: gao khe' la: hin. in:

dina kbe'

this (thing) to be difficult

makhe' pa bu:

lei. kjin. gan: exerCise

[-----------I <;;0 / hsa. ! is the seventh letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the

I strokes is as iHustrated belowo i I-----------~----____r----__.___,__-------__I

i 1 ! 2 3 ~-----·---------I------=---+-----=-----I

! ______ .• ___ I - ---I i I -- I ---=::---:=:---

1-0

--1 1----

~ iO'Y.)<03 : t) a) • • Mr. David

oo6p2:~':(J.)' • · Mr. Thein Han

~iO'Y.)<03 :t)a) • · Mr. David

006p2:~;:(J.); • • Mr. Thein Han

26

Lesson 4

~ OY.> o'Y.)(:o What's this?

~ OY.> O'YJro -What's this?

<Oat <">1J ~ Sht: () 111 It's an exercise.

006p1l

~ ~ c?; GC\(<">1J~ Q),:m Q) OY.>: II Is it difficult?

(J.)~~8:1 ~Q)c?;{)lO(:JI No, it's not difficult.

@ / za. / is the eight letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the


1 2 3

~ @

27

Grammar & Usages

1. Demonstrative (di-/ hou-/ e: di.-/ hoo: ga.-)

Demonstrative is a word which refers to something in terms of whether it is near to or distant from the speaker. The demonstratives in Myanmar language are: di, hou, e: di., hoo: ga.. They usually occur only as modifiers of a following noun or dependent noun. For example: di ba, boo ha, e: di. ba, boo: gao ba. In this case, 'ba' means' thing'

Thus, 'di ba' designates something physically close to the speaker, 'ho ba' designates something physically close to the hearer, 'e:di. ha' refers to something already mentioned or known to both the speaker and hearer, and Chou: gao ha' designaters something removed from both the speaker and the hearer. Sometimes, 'da' can also be used same as 'oi ha.' For example:

di ha ba Ie: e: da hti: ba

hou ha bgJau' Ie: e: da twa ba

di nei. thf!:.htei: mgla bu: e: da dgge 1a:

di neija houlu hOll: gao 014' sa

What is this? This is an umbrella.

How much is that? This is (costs) 100 (kyat).

Today (our) boss are not coming. Is that a fact?

this place that person that thing over there

di ha ba Ie: da ba Ie: What is this? di hajei ge: thi' ta ba = dajei ge: thi' ta ba This is a refrigerator.

2. Question particle for wh-qoestion

In Colloquial Myanmar, '-Ie:' is a final particle of an interrogative sentence collocating with initial particles, 'ba, be.' For example:

28

da ba Ie: da lei ei: pei: ze' pa

be ho te kaun: Ie: kmen dhe gil: mja: ho te gao kaun: de

3,. Topic marker

What IS this? This is an air-conditioner.

Which hotel is gootl? Traders hotel is good.

, -ga.l ka. ' is the postpositional marker to indicate nominative case. Usually, it is omitted in Colloquial Myanmar. For example:

kj!no (ga.) kmm P!ni 00' k!hta. ba I am the company president. (Z!bwe: bo hma) IDoo' (ka.) shi. ba de There is a doH (on the table).

Actually, this particle designates the topic or theme of a sentence, and also express contrast and emphasis. It can be attached to aU case markers except object particles. When the noun (or case marker) ends in a vowel with tone 1, 2 or 3, use gao. When the noun (or case marker) ends in a vowel with tone 4 or glottal stop, use bo. For example:

kj!!no gao koun P!!ni ou' ~hta. ba

Z!!bwe: bo hma gao ruou' shi. ba de

(As for me,) I am the company president. (As on the table,) There is a doll on the table.

Usually, it is also used with ' do.', which is a suffix to case marker (including object particle) as an emphasis. For example:

thu (ga.) thwa: hsrua win ba kj!!no gao do. ~rei' hsan hsrua win ba

He is a dentist. (As for me,) I am a veterinary surgeOn.

29

DRILLS D 1 [for both male andfemale students]

1) hsf!ja di ha I ~lf!htain ( chairlbench) kjaun: dhu di ba ~lf!htain la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke., e:da k~JW1tain ba

2) hsf!ja da / ;If!bwe: (table/desk) kjaun: dhu da Zf!bwe: la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke., e: da 'Zf!bwe: ba

3) hsf!ja hOll ha I hpa' sa OU' (text book) kjaun: dhu hOil ha hpa' sa ou' la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke., boo Ita hpa' sa ou' pa

4) hsilla hou: gao ha I bi dou (cupboard) kjaun: dhu hOD: gao ita bi dou la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke., boo: gao Ita bi dou ba

5) hsf!ja e: da I f!lunai' poun: (rubbish bin) kjaun: dhu e: da f!lunai' poun: ]a: kjaun: dha: hou' ke., e: da !!hmai' poun: ba


1) kjaun: dhu di ha bo: pin ia: (baH point pen) kjaun: dha: hin. in:, di ha bo: pin mg hou' pa bu:

2) kjaun: dhu da Ie' pa' na ji Ia: (wrist watch) kjaun: dha: hin. in:, da Ie' pa' naji mg hou'~bu::

3) kjaun: dhu e: da dgga: la: (door) kjaun: dha: hin. in:, e: da dgga: mf! hou' pa bu:

4) kjaun: dhu hou ha sa ou' sin Ia: (bookshelf) kjaun: dha: hin. in:, e: cia sa OU' sin m!! hou' pa bu:

5) ~jaun: dhu hou:, gao ha mj;;'J;l:.n-wnla: (spectacles) kjaun: dha: hin. in:. e: da mJe'hman mg hou' pa bu:

30

1). kjaun: dhu di ha mjel boll'n la:· (map) kjaun: dha: bin. in:, di ha da' pOlin ba (photograph)

2) kjaun: dhu da thf!dili: za la: (newspaper) kjaun: dha: hin. in:, da datn ja ji ba (diary)

3) kjaun: dhu e: da Ie' ludn bg:wa la: (handkerchief) kjaun: dha: hin. in:, e: da sa )we' pa (paper)

4) kjaun: dhu houha Ie' ~e: ei'la: (briefcase) kjaun: dha: bin. in:, e: da lwe~' pa (cloth sling bag)

5) kjaun: dhu hou: gao ha tho. la: (key) kjaun: dha: hin. in:, e: da da: ba (knife)

D 4 [for both male andfemale students]

1)·. hs!ja kjaun: dhu kjaun: dha:


3) hsma kjaun: dhu kjaun: dha:

4) hs,rua kjaun: dhu kjaun; dha:

5) nsrua ·kjaun: dhu kjaun: dha:

di ha/bi: di ha ba Ie: e:da bi: ba

001 hti: daba Ie: e: da hti: ba

(comb)

(umbrella)

hou ha 1 mje' hn~thou' Nwa (face towel) nou ha ba Ie: hou ha mje' hil,!thou' p!wa ba

(~ I hou: gao ha I ~bwe: gin: (table cloth) hou: gao ha ba Ie: hou: gao haZi!bwe: gin: ba

e: da I su: lei hprua: (The Sule Pagoda) e: da ba Ie: e: da su: lei hp.!ia: ba

31

D 5 [for both male andfemale students)

1) hsilla kjaun: dhu kjaun: dha:





di ha gao I bu da joun (railway station) diba 2. bu da joun la: hou' ke., e:da gao do. bu dajoun ba

da gao I win gji: mja: joun: (The Secretariat) da gao win gji: mja: joun: 1a: hou' ke.,e: da gao 'do. win gji: mja: joun: ba

-.~

hou ha gao I pja. dai' (museum) bou haga. pja. dai' lri: hou' ke., hou ha gao do. pja. dai' pa

hou: gao ha gao / lei zei' (airport) hon: gao ha gao lei zei' la: hou" ke.~ bou: gao ha gao do. lei zei' pa

e: da gao I ba' s~a: hma' tain (bus stop) e:daga~ b~' s~ka: hma' tain la: hou' ke:, e: da gao do. ba' s~ka: hma' tain ba


1) hsilla di ~lou' ka. khe'la: (to be difficult) kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., di ~lou' ka. khe' pa de

2) hsilla kjaun: dha:/dhu

rrij~ma ZMa: gao 'lwe la> " '\ (to be easy) . '.' I ,-"

hou' ke:,mjwna ZMa: ga .. lw"l! ba de

3) hsilla ~me:dha: gao kaun: la: (to be good) kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., ~me: dha: gao kaun: ba de .

4) hsilla kjaun: dha: mja: 1a: . (to be l!llicll) kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., kjaun: dha': mja: ba de

5) hsilla kjaun: gao ni:., la: kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., kjaun: gao 11.1: ba de

32

thin gOO: za (nga:)

twei. ja. da wan: tha ba de

dei: hi'

hsa wada

twei. to meet

. .

min ~la ba twei. ja. da wan: tha ba de kjano dei: bi' pa amei ri kan Iu mjou: ba min ~Ia ba twei. j a. da wan: tha ba de kjano hsa wa da ba gjapan Iu mjou: ba

wan: tha to be glad

~ I ZL I is the ninth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the


1 2 3

~ ~ ~ ~ "~.

<: ~~oy')G3: eJ Q)

Mr. David

33

Lesson 5

GOd. 'lOY.) 0~::xY..>01 0') oS II I am glad to meet you.

• •

~AC\X)oll1 GOd. 'lOY.) 0~::xY..>01 O')oSu How are you? I am glad to meet you.

aaJ~G0'Y3 gj~ G3:~Sol.1I My name is John David.

3dG~~m, OJ(~l:oll1 I'm an American.

~AC\X)ol II GOd. 'lOY.) o~::xY..>olO')oSll How are you? . I am glad to meet you.

oaJ;G0'Y3 00001310111 My name is Sawada.

<: 0 '1 C(Jo, OJ(~l:OIIi

I'm a Japanese.

2 / nja. / is the tenth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the strokes is as illustrated below.

. 1 2 3

b ~ ~

34

Grammar &; Usages

1. Nominalizing suffix , ...... dalbl'

In. Myanmar language, nominaHzation is the grammatical process of forming nouns from other parts of speech, usually action verbs or descriptive verbs. Even a sentence can also be made the complement of a verb by being made into a nominal (noUn-like) expression.

In. Colloquial Myanmar, the suffix .~ da I bl • makes sentences into nominal expression; it is a nominalizing element with reference to nonfuture time. The verbal nouns or nominal expressions made in this way '- da Ita' indicate activity, quality, quantity, extent, or state of being, concretely. Expressions in are basically equivalent in meaning to one kind of' ... ing', or the infmitive 'to (do). ,

..... tia' is used after the verb ending with tone 1,2 or 3. Ptild ' .... ta' is used after the verb ending with tone 4 or glottal stop. But sometimes ',." bl' can be pronounced as ....... hbl'.

VIIl!"b SoWn: VlIlrb~ Noonl N@miD~iud expremsiOD sa: (to eat) da sa:da (eating) thwa: (to go) da thwa: da (going) Ian: shau' (to walk) ta Ian: shau' ta (walking) ~ou' lou' (to work) ta ~lou' lou' ta (working) kji: (to be big) da kji: da (bigness)

Nominalized expressions • - da Ita' function grammatically like oouns. For instance, they many of the same suffixes and other kinds of elements that are added to ordinary nouns. Following is a sample table of forms of the expression shau' to, (walking) derived from the verb Ian: slum' (to walk):

hm: shau' Ian: shau' ta Ian: shau' ta gao do. Ian: shau' ta Ie: Ian: shau' ta gao Ian: shau' ta gou.

to walk walking as for walking walking, too walking (as topic) w-alking (as object)

35

2. Nominalizing suffix '- ja. da'

ja. is an auxiliary verb and means 'to have opportunity to; to manage to; to be able to; can (do)' or 'have to (do); must.' '- ja. da' can be used as a nominalizing suffix with reference to non-future time. For example: 1. twei. ja. da wun: tha ba de 2. kja: ja. da thei' wun: tha ba de 3. thu. gou twei. ja. da khe' te

4. ~lou' lou' ja. da kjai'te

[(I) am glad to meet (you).] [(I) am very pleased to hear (it).] [It is difficult to meet him. (or) Meeting him is difficult.]

[(I) like to do (my) work ( or) (1) like doing (my) work]

3. Differences between nominalizing suffixes between '- da/ta' and '- ja. da'

Generally, the nominal expressions made with the suffix '- ja. da' express the speaker's experience and feeling. But the nominal expressions made with the suffix '- dalta' do not express the speaker's experience and feeling clearly. Study the following examples.

Ian: shau' Ian: shau' talbta Ian: shau' talbta kaun: de di nei. thu Ian: shau' ta kaun: de di nei. Ian: shau' ja. da kaun: de

twei. twei. da hsrua ne. twei. da kaun: de hsilla ne. twei. ja. da kaun: de

sa: thi' thi: sa: da kaun: de nja. gao thi' thi: sa: ja. da kaun: de

(to walk) walking Walking is good (for everyone). It was good for him walking today. Today (I) took a good walk

(to meet) meeting Meeting with (althe) teacher is good. It was good seeing (my) teacher.

(to eat) Eating fruit is good (for everyone). Last night (1) enjoyed the fruit (very much).

D1

1) ~a kjaun: dhu/cilia:

2) hsIDa kjaun: dhu/dna:

3) nsrua kjaun: dhuldna:

4) hsrua kjaun: dhu/dha:

5) hsIDa kjaun: dhuldha:

D2

1) kjaun: dhu kjaun: dha:





36

DRILLS

twei.! wun: tha (to be happy) twei. ja. da wun: tha ba de

thau' ! kmm: (to be good) thau' ja. da bun: ba de

hpa' ! khe' (to be difficult) hpa' ja. da khe' pa de

i!lou' Iou' ! pin ban: (to be tired) ~lou' lou' ja. da pin ban: ba de

che' /lwe (to be easy) che' ja. da lwe ba de

thf!nge giln: gou twei. ja. da bi!lou nei ba dhi!le: thi!nge gjin: gou twei. ja. da wun: tha ba de

fIef: thau' ja. da bi!1ou nei ba ~!e: (cold drinks) ~ei: thau' ja. da bun: ba de

nYf!11Ul hpa' sa hpa' ja. da b~lou nei ba dh~le: mji!1na hpa' sa hpa' ja. da khe' pa de

(Myanmar Reader)

kounpf!m .@:lou' lou' ja. da b.@:lounei ba ~le: koun Pi!ni ~lou' lou' ja. da pin ban: ba de

mj~ hin: che' ja. da balou nei ba dhi!1e: (curry) mj~ hin: che' ja. da lwe ba de

D3

1) h sill a kjaun: dhuldha:

2) hsilla kjaun: dhu/dha:

3) hsilla kjaun: dhuldha:

4) hsilla kjaun: dhuldha:

5) hsilla kjaun: dhu/dha:

D4






37

th~ehin: hsouja. dapjo ba dh~la: (to be happy) hou' ke. i th~ehin: hsouja. da pjo ba de

ko hpi thau' ja. da kiln: ba d~la: (to be bitter) o hpi thau' ja. da kha: ba de

Ian: shau' ja. da mo: ba dh~la: (to feel tired) Ian: shau' ja. da rno: ba de

~bi. dan shaja. dapjin: ba dh~la: (to be bored) ~bi. dan shaja. da pjin: ba de

eho: k~le' sa: ja. da chou ba dh~la: (to be sweet) eho: k~le' sa: ja. da chou ba de

th~chin: hsou ja. da pjo ba dh~la: hin. in: / th~chjn: hsouja. da pjin: ba de

ko hpi thau' ja. da kha: ba dh~la: hin. in: / ko hpi thau' ja. da chou ba de

Ian: shau' ja. da rno: ba dh~la: hin. in: / ian: shau' ja. da rn~rno: ba bu:

~bi. dan sha ja. da pjin: ba dh~la: hin. in: / ~bi. dan sha ja. da rn~pjin: ba bu:

cho: k~le' sa: ja. da chou ba dh~la: cho: k~le' sa: ja. da rn~hou ba bu:

38

thin gan: za (chau')

nain gan gja: ba dha te' ~dhou

mji' s~ta Ii · nain gan gja: ha dha te' g~dhou gao he hma shi. ha dh~Je:

dei: hi' mji' s~ta Ii dei: hi' mji' s~ta Ii dei: hi'

· te' ~dhoujei' tha Ian: hma shi. ba de · di gao nei wei: ba dh~Ia: · hin. in: / ni: ba de · kjei: zu: tin ba de · ja. ba de

nain gan gja: nain gan gja: ba dlla te' g§dllou

foreign country foreign language( s) university

behma Where (?) wei: to be far ni: to be near kjei: zu: tin to thank

~ I tao / is the eleventh letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the


1 2 J

* *

39

Lesson 6

,8 c(b:O'Y)~o:>g;>~~ University of Foreign Languages

Q • oc.§ 0 c:- oS ~ ~ " ~~ <JY.)C\.) • t c C S0: OYJ::>.:Y)oog;> ~ C\.) 00 0') 'P 0::>,) C\.) II

Mr. Lee Where is University of Foreign Languages? c • 00 g;> ~ c0 ~ 8 ::>.:Y)C\.) ~: 'P ~ 01 00 oS II ~i<JY.)G3 :(:)4) •

Mr. David It is on University A venue Road.

~ i <JY.)c.\3 • ~ooG' Go:01::>.)(\.)0:11 • Mr. Lee Is it far from here?

c:- o c:- c:- ; ~ c:-~i<JY.)G3 :(:)0) • t.r.:l¥3dC:1 :0 000)11

Mr. David No, it's nearby.

~i <JY.)c.\3 • c ~ c:-o G01]:W:ooco 000) II

Mr. Lee Thank you! t'

0 '101 00 oS II ~~<JY.)G3 :(:)0) 0

Mr. David Not at all.

~ ! bta. ! is the twelfth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the


1 2 3

~ +

40

Grammar & Usages

1. The locative suffix ' ..... I1ma'

The suffix ' ..... hma' is added to nouns. Its function is to specifY location in space or time. The English translation of locative '- lima' may be 'in, on, at, under, by,' as appropriate in the context. For example.' sa kji. dai' hmo: shi. de sa thin gan: hmo: shi. de nan jan hmo: shi. de

di hmo: ~bwe: shi. de hou hmo: mjei bju m£!shi. bu: Ia: sa 19i. dai' lea. be limo: shi. Ie:

be ~a ji limo: m~' sa sa: Ie: nwei hmo: thei' pu de shi' naji hmo: ei' te

to be in the library to be in the classroom to be on the waH

Here is a desk. Isn't there any chalk there? Where is the library?

What time do you eat breakfast? In summer, it is too hot. I went to sleep at 8' 0' clock.

2. The locative suffIX '- gao (nei) I U. (nei)'

This locative suffix ' .... gao (nei)' comes after place nouns. The English equivalent of this suffix is 'from,' indication a starting point, separation, source, cause, etc. '- gao (nei)' is used after the verb ending with tone 1, 2 or 3. And '- b. (nei)' is used after the verb ending with tone 4 or glottal stop. For example: diga. n.ei houga. n.ei hou: go. n.ei bega. nei be ga. n.ei la ba ~le: truou' pji ga. nef la ba de

from here from there from over there from where (7) Where have (you) come from? (I) am from China.

\; The element' -nei ' is sometimes left out. For example: ~u ein di. ja. ga. la de He is from India .

. be hn£!naji hma eingo. htvve' Ie: WhaHime did (you) leave (depart from) home?

Dl

1) hsrua kjaun: dhuldha:





D2






41

DRILLS

bolt gjou' zei: (Bogyoke Market) bou gjou' zei: be hma shi. ba ~le:

hsu: lei hpgja: (Sule Pagoda) hsu: lei hprua: be hma shi. ba dh~le:

\ . {!no j{!hta Ian: (Anawrahta Road) ~no j.§,hta ian: be hma shi. ba dh~le:

hsei: joun gii: (General Hospital) hsei: joun gji: be hma shi. ba dh~le:

eindha ein dha be hma shi. ba ~le:

bou gjou' zei: be hma shi. ba dh~le: bou gjou' zei: di hma shi. ba de

hsu: lei hprua: be hma shi. ba dh~e: hsu: lei hprua: hou~hma shi. ba de

~o j~hta Ian: be hma shi. ba dh~le: ~no j~hta Ian: hou: hma shi. ba de

'---------._----

hsei: joun gji: be hma shi. ba dh!!le: hsei: joun gji: mjou. de: hma shi. ba de

ein dha be hma shi. ba ~le: ein dha e: di. hma shi. ba de

(toilet)

(downtown) -----~-~-~- '-

DJ


2) hs~a kjaun: dhuldha:

3) hsrua kjaun: dhuJdha:



D4






42

(summer) (very, too)

hsaun: dwin: (winter) hsaun: dwin: hma thei 'ei:'ba de

nwu: dwin: , (rainy season) mou: dmn: hma mou: thei' jwa ba de

nei.le nel. lehma.ei' pa de

"'-/

nja. nja. hma lei tai' pa de

be g,chein hma thei' pu ba ~ ~le: nwei hma thei' pu ba de

be ~chein hma thei' ei: ba dh~le: hsaun: dwin: hma thei' ei: ba de

(midday) (to be ~!ID)

(night) (the wind blow)

(when)

be ~chein hma mou: thei' jwa ba ~Ie: mou: dwin: hma mou: thei' jwa ba de

be ~chein hma ei' pa dh~Ie: nei. Ie hma ei' pa de

be ~chein hma lei tai' pa ~e: nja. hma lei tai' pa de

D5






D6






43

be gao nei la ba ~le: la ou gao nei la ba de

be gao nei la ba ~e: kjaun: gao nei la ba de

be gao nei la ba dh~le: koun dai' ka. nei la ba de

(Laos)

(school)

(department store)

be gao nei la ba dh@le: lei zei' ka. nei la ba de

be gao nei la ba ~le: bu da joun gao nei la ba de

(airport)

(railway station)

thanjoun: ga.la ba dh@la: (emmbassy) hin. in:! nain gan gja: jei: joun: ga, la ba de

(Foreign Office)

te' g!!dhou sa dai' ka. la ba ~la: hin. in:! sa ou' hsain gao la ba de

bf1hou t!1ia: joun: ga. la ba ~a: hin. in:! je: sf!khan: gao la ba de

(post office) (book shop)

(High Court) (police station)

a' chou' hsain ga, la ba dh@la: (tailor) hin. in:! sa jei: kf1ri. ja zain gao la ba de

a: gf1za: joun ga, la ba ~la: hin. in:! jei ku: gan gao la ba de

(stationery)

(stadium) (swimming pool)

thin gem: za (khun bni')

sa kji. dai' kou thwa: gjin ba de

sa wada

dei: bi' sa wada dei: bi'

sa kji. dai' !hsao' !i0: shei. ,!to do

sa kji. dai' kou thwa: gjin ba de be hma shi ba dhale: di ahsau' au: shei. hma shi. ba de atu du thwa: gja. mala: hou' ke. / atu du thwa: gja. me

library building front; in front of together

~ / da. / is the thirteenth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the


1 .2 3

+ +

~iO':Y.)QO'.)O 131 Mr. Sawada

~iO':Y.)G3 :~~ Mr. David

~iO':Y.)QO'.)o131 Mr. Sawada

9i O':Y.)G3 :~~ Mr. David

45

Lesson 7

ro@~d?03d} ~:6ij801o:>oSH I want to go to the library.

• oo§eio?03d} ~:fij801(7)05" • I want to go to the library. 'JJ05rp ~ol::l)roll Where is the library?

• 33«)GGO'.)033«)~G~. rp ~ol(7)0511 • It is in front of this building.

• 3«)0(0( ~:§~c\'y'):1i • Shall we go together?

• or03d}, 3«)0(0( ~:§90511 • Yes, let' go together.

v I da. I is the fourteenth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the strokes is as illustrated below.

1 1 3

t- O V I

46

Grammar & Usages

1. The locative SUff'IX' '- gou I kou'

The suffix '- goulkou' is attached directly to a place noun and is followed by thwa: (to go) or la (to come), or their compounds. It indicates a specific destination. The English equivalent of this suffix is 'to.' '- gou' is used after the verb ending with tone 1,2 or 3. And '- Imu' is used after the verb ending with tone 4 or glottal stop. For example: jOlln: gan: gou la ba thu lUI: Rei gtm: gou thwa: de Ilou' kou thwa: la:

2. The auxiliary '-gjinl chin '

Please come to the office. He went to the recreation room. Did (he) go to work?

This auxiliary '-gjinl chin ' attaches to verb and expresses the speaker's desire or wish to do or have something. The English equivalent of this auxiliary is' to want to (do).' When the verb ends in a vowel with tone 1, 2 or 3, use '-gjin '. When the verb ends in a vowel with tone 4 or glottal stop, use '-chin '. For example: mj!!D1a za thin gjln ba de (I) want to study Myanmar language. moun. hin: ga: sa: Kiln ba de (He) want to eat Mohinga. b§gan gou thwa: gjln la: Do (you) want to go to Bagan. nwei bma kh§ji: htwe' chin ba de (I) ~t to traveli!!. summer. mou: dwin: hma ru>jin ~twe' chin bu: ---

(I) don't want to go oUtside in rainy season.

1 Declarative sentence-final verb ending for future time: ' -me'

, -me' is the declarative sentence-final verb ending for future time. It is added to a verb and it indicates future action or state (equivalent in usage to auxiliary verbs 'will', 'shall'). Depending on the person of the verb, , -me ' can express intention or supposition as well. For example: di nei. nja. te Ii hpoun: hse' me m~e'hpan hta' la me

(I) will telephone tOBight. I'll come again tomorrow.

47

'-mAla:' is sentence-final question ending for yes-no question type. 6""'m!re:' is for wh-4juestion type. For example:

Q: A:

Q: A:

kjaun: gou thwa: m!\-la: !lOU' ke./ thwa: me

be do. thwa: m~e: .§:gU. thwa: me

Win you go to school? Yes, I wilL

When win you go? I win go now.

The verb plays the most important role in determining the sentence type. The verb is Smtmce Ymal Pankle with which a sentence is ended. The selection and use of sentence final particle vary according to the (DECLARATIVE or QUESTION), or the Time (FUTURE or NON-FUTURE).

I l----""-......;.....~"----+-------'-----_+_----------..l

I

U go there 7) I 1 me

o there.)

(When will vou go?)

'-A.-'U"-,,,.Uiai Myanmar, 9 is particle to nouns, especially personal pronouns, to denote a group of persons or things. The particle '-dweiltwei' is added to nouns and it expresses the plural of the noun. But the particle ,; -gj~lkja.' is added to verbs to denote plurality. Whether, in the absence of a number word, a noun or a subject of a verb is

48

to be taken as singular or plural is generally made clear by the context of the sentence.

'-doD.', '-dwei' and ' -gia.' are used after the pronoun or noun or verb ending with tone 1,2 or 3. And '-t08.', '-twei' and' ..... kja.'are used after the pronoun or noun or verb ending with tone 4 or glottal stop. For example:

kj¥lo lame kj¥1O don. la gia. me

kou kou sa: de kou kou don. sa: gill. de

sa thin gan: hma kjaun: dha: shi. de sa thin gan: hma kjaun: dha: dwei shi. de

lou'la: lou' kja. la:

(I will come.) (We win come.)

(Ko Ko ate it.) (Ko Ko and his group ate it.)

(There is a student in the classroom.)

(fhere are students in the classroom.)

(Does he work?) (Do they work?)

6. Sentence final question ending' -gis. m!la:' (or) 4-kja. m!la:'

There are two parts in this sentence final question ending. They are the verb plural particle '-gja.lkja.' and the question ending for future action '-mila:'. This form is attached to the verb. When the subject is firstperson plural "We," the speaker uses this form to suggest that the speaker and the hearer do something together. The English equivalent of this form is 'Shall we ... (do)?'

'-gja. mlla:' is used after the verb ending with tone 1,2 or 3. And '-kja. m!la:' is used after the verb ending with tone 4 or glottal stop.

Q: kj~o dou. oun: nou.. khau' hswe: hma gja. m!.la: (Shall we order coconut noodles?)

A: hou' ke./ hma gill. me

For wh-question type, • -gja. m!la:' (or) '-kja. m!la:' is attached to the verb. Q: be do. sa: gja. m!le: A: kj§.no dou . [email protected]. sa: gja. me

(When shaH we eat?) (We win eat now.)

49

DRILLS Dl

1) hsru~ l!l,hpe' jei zain / thwa: (tea shop) kjaun: dhuldha: 19hpe' jei zain gou thwa: ba de

2) hsrua jou' shin joun Ita (cinema) kjaun: dhuldha: jou' shinjoun gou la ba de

3) hsrua hPilla: I maun: (to drive) kjaun: dhufdha: hpilla: gou maun: ba de

4) hsrua in: ja: kan / Ian: shau' (Inya Lake) kjaun: dhuldha: in: ja: kan gou Ian: shau' pa de

5) hsilla thanjoun: / pou. (to send) kjaun: dhuldha: than joun: gou pou. ba de

D2

1) kjaun: dhu be gou thwa: ba dh~le: kjaun: dha: l~hpe' jei zain gou thwa: ba de ~e

. 2) kjaun: dhu be gou la ba dh~le: kjaun: dha: jou' shin joun gou la ba de

3) kjaun: dhu be gou maun: ba dh~le: kjaun: dha: hpilla: gou maun: ba de

4) kjaun: dhu be gou Ian: shau' pa dh~le: kjaun: dha: in: ja: kan gou Ian: shau' pa de

5) kjaun: dhu be gou pou. ba dh~le: kjaun: dha: than joun: gou pou. ba de

50

D3

1) hsrua mandg,lei: / net (Mandalay) kjaun: dhuJdha: mand~lei: hma nei gjin ba de

2) hsilla in: lei: kan J thwa: (Inlay Lake) kjaun: dhu/dha: in: lei: kan gou thwa: gjin ba de

3) hsilla th!!.nge gjin: ein / ia (friend's house) kjaun: dhuJdha: th§:nge gjin: ein gou la gjin ba de

4) hsilla aim hsan: gwin: / g£!za: (Aung San Stadium) kjaun: dhuldha:. aun hsan: gwio: hma R-aza: gjin ba de

5) hsilla hsou ni kmm p!!.ni / ~lou' tou' (Sony Co.) kjaun: dhuldha: hsou ni koun p~ni hma §lou' iou' chin ba de

D4

1) kjaun: dhu be hma nei gjin ba dh~le: kjaun: dha: mand~lei: hma nei gjin ba de

2) kjaun: dhu be gou thwa: gjin ba dh§le: kjaun: dha: in: lei: kan gou thwa: gjin ba de

3) kjaun: dhu be gou la gjin ba dh£!te: kjaun: dha: th~nge gjin: ein gou 1a gjin ba de

4) kjaun: dhu be hma R-aza: gjin ba dhf!le: kjaun: dha: aun hsan: gwin: hma ~za: gjin ba de

5) kjaun: dhu be koun p§J1] hma £!lou' Iou' dun ba dhSl-Ie: kjaun: dha: hsou ni koun p~i hma §lou' lou" chin ba de

51

D5

1) hsrua "'!!ne' hpjan I sa: (tomorrow) kjaun: dhuidha: m~ne' hpjan sa: me

2) hsilla dhg}Je' iha Ina: htaun (the day after tomorrow) kjaun: dhuidha: dh§:be' kha na: htaun me

3) hsilla hpein: hnwe: ga Ila (the third day after today) kjaun: dhuldha: hpein: hnwe: ga la me

4) hsrua nau' nei.l hpa' (the next day) kjaun: dhw'dha: nau' nei. hpa' me

5) hsrua ggu. I thau' (now) kjaun: dhuidha: ~gu. thau'

D6

1) kjaun: dhu oun: nou. khau' hswe: be do. sa: m~le: kjaun: dha: m~e' hpjan sa: me

2) kjaun: dhu thgchin: be do. na: htaun mgle: kjaun: dha: dh~be' kha na: htaun me

3) kjaun: dhu th~ge gjin: be do. la m~le: kjaun: dha: hpein: hnwe: ga la me

4) kjaun: dhu wi' htu. be do. hpa' m~le: (novel, tiction) kjaun: dha: nau' nei. hpa'me

5) kjaun: dhu bija be do. thau' m~Ie: kjaun: dha: ~. thau'

52

D7

1) hsIDa 1'n!1.ne'sa sa: m~la: (breakfast) kjaun: dhu/dha: hou' ke. i mWle' sa sa: ba me

2) hsrua dh~din: na: htaun m~!a: (news) kjaun: dhuldha: hou' ke.1 dh~din: na: htaun ba me

3) hsrua e. dhe la m~la: (visitor) kjaun: dhuldha: hou' ke. / e. dhe la ba me

4) hsrua me' gg,zin: hpa' m~la: (magazine) kjaun: dhuldha: hou' kc. I me' ~jn: hpa'pa me

5) hsrua g,ei: thau' mgla: (cold drinks) kjaun: dhuldha: hou' ke. I ~ei: thau' pa me

D8

1) hsrua nei. ltl Zil sa: m!!la: (lunch) kjaun: dhu/dha: hin. in: I nei. Ie za mgsa: ba bu:

2) hsrua mein. gun: na: htaun m!!la: (speech) kjaun: dhuldha: hin. in: I mein. gun: na: m!!htaun ba bu:

3) hsrua po mau.' kha. 1£1 m!!la: (professor) kjaun: dhuldha: hin. in: / pa mau' kha. m~la ba bu:

4) hsrua dhg,din: za hpa'm!!)a: (newspaper) kjaun: dhuldha: hin. in: / dh!!din: za m!!hpa' pa bu:

5) hsrua !!:Ie' thau' m~a: (alcoholic drinks; liquor) kjaun: dhuldha: hin. in: / rue' m~thau' pa bu:

53

D9

1) hsrua nja. za sa: ffif!:la: (dinner) kjaun: dhuJdha: hou' ke. / mf!:ne' sa sa: gjin ba de

2) hsrua thflcltin: gii: na: htaun ffi~la: (classical song) kjaun: dhuJdha: hou' ke. I th~hin: gji: na: htaun gjin ba de

3) hsilla pja. dai' kou la m~la: (museum) kjaun: dhuJdha: hou' ke. / pja. dai' kou la gjin ba de

4) hsilla ka tun: hpa' mf!:la: ( cartoon) kjaun: dhuJdha: hou' ke. / ka tun: hpa'chin ba de

5) hsilla hsei: thau' mf!:la: (medicine) kjaun: dhu/dha: hou' ke. / hsei: thau' chin ba de

D10

1) hsrua thgjei za sa: mf!:la: (snack) kjaun: dhuJdha: hin. in: I thillei za mf!:sa: gjin ba bu:

2) hsilla rei di jou za' Ian: na: htaun m~ia: (play) kjaun: dhuJdha: hin. in: /rei di jou na: mf!:htaun gjin ba bu:

/

3) hsilla kjaun: dhtiJdha:

s{!tei'shou: gou la m!,!la: (stage show) hin. in: I s!!1ei' shou: gou m~Ia gjin ba bu:

4) hsilla g@ja hpa' mf!:la: (poem) kjaun: dhuJdha: hin. in: / £f!:bja m!,!hpa' chin ba bu:

5) hsilla hin: gjou thau'mf!:ia: (thin/clear soup) kjaun: dhu/dha: hin. in: I hin: gjou m~thau' chin ba bu:

DB

1 ) hsilla kjaun: dha:

2) hsilla

kjaun: dha:



54

(kj~no dou.) kje' Ina: sa: gja. m~la: hou' ke. I kje' tha: sa: gja. me

(chicken)

(kj~no dou.) nja. nei dh!!;din: na: htaun gja. m~la: (evening news)

hou'ke.l mou: lei w~tha.dh~din: na: htaun gja. me

(kj~no dou.) za' jmm gou thwa: gja. m~la: (theatre) hou' ke. I za' joun gou thwa: gja. me

(kj~no dou.) poun bjin hpa' kja. m~la: (fable) hou' ke. / poun bjln hpa' kja. me

5) hsilla (kj~no dou.) hpjojei thau' kja. m~la: (juice) kjaun: dha: : hou' ke . .I hpj 0 jei th'u' kja. me

D12





5) hsilla

kjaun: dha:

lhu doll. sa: gja. dh~la: (they) hou' ke. / thu dou. sa: gja. ba de

kh!!;mja: doll. th~chin: dwei na: htaun gja. dh~la: hou' ke. I kj~no dou. th~chin: dwei na: htaun gja. ba de

pa mau' kha. gjou' lOU. la gja. m~la: (Rector & his party) hou' ke. I thu dou. la gja. ba me

gja ne dwei hpa' kja. m~la: (journels) hou' ke. / gja ne dwei hpa' kja. ba me

thu dou. hsei: lei'lwei thau' kja. dh~la: (cheroots or cigarettes)

hou' ke. / thu dou. hsei: lei' twei thau' kja. ba de

dei: hi' sa wa da dei: hi' sa wa da dei: hi' sa wa da dei: hi'

ba !khan: wi' btu.

5S

thin gan: za (shi')

ba hpa' chin ba dh!le:

. .

khamja: ba hpa' chin ba dhale: dhadin: za hpa' chin ba de hou akhan: hma shi. ba de di ha ba sa ou' Ie: wi' htu. sa ou' pa gja ne ne. me' ~in: Ie: shi. de no hou' ke., di hma ba

what room novel, fiction

CIT.) / na. / is the fifteenth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the


1 2 3

{J eu ao arJ

~ fa~O'Y.)G3 :~G>

Mr. Da'Vid

fa~O'Y.)OO':)o 131 Mr. Sawada

fa~O'Y.)G3:~~ Mr. David

faiO'Y.>OO':)o131 Mr. Sawada

~ faiO'Y.)G3:~Q)

Mr. David

fafO'Y.)OO':)o 131 Mr. Sawada

• ..

• ..

• ..

.. ..

o ..

• ..

• ..

56

j.)8s;:ro (g) Lesson 8

:YY.> <905 6ij8 01 :x> 00 II What do you want to read?

~ ('(''1 ... SC~: OY.> <.900~COI::>.:lroll

What do you want to read? (' ~ (' 'l _-"

::>.:lO?c:ro <.9O?CijCOI O?WII

I want to read newspapers.

U?~S,:~ ~olO?oSl! They are in that room. I;il (' " 3 o::Y.) O'Y.>ro3'f 0 ro II

What book is this?

o<6?lro3f801 If Ifs a novel.

(" to (' R --~ (' <1P,oo,. ~g@c:ro2: ,tOOU:)(;P'f'1I There are the newspapers and magazines, too, aren't they?

ur~o? i ~ ~c.~ II Yes, here they are.

0') I ta. I is the sixteenth letter of the Myanmar alphabet The order of the strokes is as illustrated below.

1 1 J

0 r:JJ 0)

57

Grammar & Usages

1. Object marker '- gou I kou'

'- gou I kou' is postpositional marker to indicate objective case. When the noun (or case marker) ends in a vowel with tone 1, 2 or 3, use '- gou'. When the noun (or case marker) ends in a vowel with tone 4 or glottal stop, use '- kou'.

In Colloquial Myanmar, the object marker is generally omitted.

mj~ma ~sa: ~a (gou) kjai' te ~lou' (kou) mjan mjan lou' pa dh~din: za (gou) hpa' la: h~min: (gou) ~mja: gji: sa: de me' @Zin: (gou) sha gjin ba de

(I) like Myanmar food. Please do the work quickly. Do you read the newspaper. (1) eat a lot. (I) want to find a magazine.

2 C . t" , I • '( )" ., • onjunc IOn - nee - nee ••• nee or - Je ••• Je

This conjunction connects two nouns on an equal basis (English "A and B"). Generally, ' - je '0' je ' can be used for more than two nouns.

h~min: nee hin: ~hpei nee tha: nee ko hpi nee l~hpe' jei nee pei: ba paun moun. nee nwa: nou. thau' te

3. Particle • - no '

rice and curry father and son Please give (us) coffee and tea. (I) eat bread and milk

This particle attaches to the declarative sentence, and is used when the speaker wants to seek the hearer's agreement or wants to ascertain the hearer's meaning.

di kaun rna. lei: hla. de no ja dhi u. duo gao pu de no hsilla gao to de no

This girl is beautiful, isn't she? It's hot, isn't it? The teacher is good, isn't he?

S8

DRILLS

01

1 ) hsilla thgje' thi: I sa: (mango) kjaun: dhuldha: thille' thi: (gou) sa: de

2) hsilla than bgja jei I thau' (lime juice) kjaun: dhu/dha: than billa jei (gou) thau' te

3) hs~ja kou bain ka: I maun: (own car) kjaun: dhuldha: kou bain ka: (gou) maun: de

4) hs~La kh~lei: / jai' (to beat) kjaun: dhu/dha: kh~lei: (gou) jai' de

'~

5) hsilla (!;Si jin khan za / pou. (report) kjaun: dhuldha: ~si jin khan za (gou) pou. de

02

1) kjaun: dhu ba ~thi: (gou) kjai' pa dh~le: kjaun: dha: thille' thi: (gou) kjai' pa de

2) kjaun: dhu ba ~ei: (gou) thau' chin ba dh~le: kjaun: dha: than bruajei (gou) thau' chin ba de

3) kjaun: dhu ba (gou) maun: ba dh~le: kjaun: dha: kou bain ka: (gou) maun: ba de

4) kjaun: dhu be dhu. (gou) jai' pa dh~le: kjaun: dha: kh~lei: (gou) jai' pa de

5) kjaun: dhu ba (gou) pou. ba dh~le: kjaun: dha: ~si jin khan za (gou) pOU. ba de

D3






D4






59

: du jin: dhi: I min: gil.' thi: (durianl mangosteen) : dujin: dhi: ne, min: gu' thi: (ne.)

POll.' pa I bggan (Popal Bagan) pou' pa: ne. bagan (ne,)

g,.lou' shin / (!,lou' th(!,ma: (employer/ employee) .@:lou' shin ne . .@:lou' th.@:ma: (ne,)

s(!,nei / t(!,nin: g(!,nwei (Saturday/ Sunday) s.@:nei ne, t.@:nin: g.@:nwei (ne.)

khwei: I kjaun (dog! cat) khwei: ne. kjaun (ne,)

c; be ne, ba (gou) sa: gji~ ba dh.@:le: dujin: dhi: ne. min: gu' thi: (ne.) sa: gjin ba de

(~~e. be (gou) thwa: gjin ba dh.@:le: pou' pa: ne. bagan (ne.) thwa: giin ba de

be dhu ne. be dhu dwei shi. ba dh.@:le: .@:lou' shin ne . .@:lou' th~ma: dwei (ne.) shi. ba de

be nei. ne. be nei. kjaun: pei' pa dh~le: s.@:nei ne. t.@:nin: g.@:nwei (ne.) kjaun: pei' pa de

ba ne. ba (gou) we ba dh.@:le: khwei: ne. kjaun (ne.) we ba de

60

D5

1) hsilla du: jin: dhi:l thille' thi: kjaun: dhuldha: du jin: dhi: je thille' thi: je

2) hsilla ghpei/ gmei/ tha:l thgmi: kjaun: dhuJdha: ~hpei je ~ei je tha: je thgmi: je

3) hsilla ko hpi/ l~hpe' jeiJ nwa: nou. kjaun: dhuJdha: ko hpi je l~hpe' jei je nwa: nou. je

4) hsilla bgganJ man: ~lei:/ mounjwa kjaun: dhuldha: bManje man: dglei:je mounjwaje

5) hsilla nweiJmou: kjaun: dhuJdha: nwel Je mou: Je

D6

1) kjaun: dhu ba dwei (gou) sa: gjin ba dh~le: kjaun: dha: dujin: dhi: je thille' thi: je sa: gjin ba de

2) kjaun: dhu be dhu dwei shi. ba dh~le: kjaun: dha: ghpei je ~mei je tha: je th~mi: je shi. ba de

3) kjaun: dhu ba dwei (gou) thau' pa dhgle: kjaun: dha: ko hpi je l~hpe' jei je nwa: nou. je thau' pa de

4) kjaun: dhu be nei ja dwei gou thwa: ba dh~le: kjaun: dha: b~gan je man: dglei: je moun jwa je gou thwa: ba de

5) kjaun: dhu be ja dhi hma pu ba dh~le: ,.! (:

kjaun: dha: nwei je mou: je hma pu ba de ~

61

D7

1) hsilla zei: kji: de (to be expensive) kjaun: dhuJdha: zei: kji: de no

2) hsilla zei: po: de (to be cheap) kjaun: dhuJdha: zei: po: de no

3) hsrua di hni'pu de (this year) kjaun: dhuJdha: di hni' pu de no

4) hsilla gau'jai'me (to play golf) kjaun: dhuJdha: gau' jaC me no

5) hsilla "'!!:.kaun: bu: (to be bad) kjaun: dhuJdha: m~kaun: bu: no

D8

1) kjaun: dhu du: jin: dhi: gao zei: kji: de no kjaun: dha: hou' ke./ du: jin: dhi: gao zei: kji: ba de

2) kjaun: dhu than bruajei gao zei: po: de no kjaun: dha: hou' ke./ than billajei gao zei: po: ba de

3) kjaun: dhu di s~ei ne. ~nin: ~nwei pu de no kjaun: dha: hou' ke./ di s~nei ne. ~nin: ~nwei pu ba de

4) kjaun: dhu m~ne' hpjan gau' jai' me no kjaun: dha: hou' ke./ m~ne' hpjan gau' jai' pa me

5) kjaun: dhu di ha m~aun: bu: no kjaun: dha: hou' ke./ di ha m~kaun: ba bu:

sa wa da dei: bi' sa wa da dei: bi'

nei. dain: naji t!na ji sa hpa' hse naji hse. t!na ji

62

thin gan: za (kou:)

nei. dain: t,!na ji sa bpa' te

kh~mja: nei. dain: sa kji. dai' kou la la: hou' ke.l nei. dain: la ba de be hn!!naji sa hpa' pa dh!!le: nei. dain: t!!naji sa hpa' pa de m!!fle' hse naji gao nei hse. ~aji ~ti. sa hpa' pa de

everyday hour~ o'clock one hour to read ten o'clock eleven 0' clock

co / hta. I is the seventeenth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of

the strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

o

~io:Y.>OO?o131 Mr. Sawada

~io:Y.>~3 :~~ Mr. David

~iO'Y.)OO?o131 Mr. Sawada

QiO'Y.)G3:~S Mr. David

~io:Y.>OO".)o131

63

~. ~8: oo~c.y.>~ QY.)(9o-)o1oooSn I read one hour everyday.

• •

• •

• •

• •

• •

s6~: G,. 016: GY.)§~o105o? C\Y.)C\Y.):II

Do you come to the library everyday? <" 0<' '1 (' Of O)(>? I ~. or c : C\Y.)O I O?OO II

Yes, I do.

::r:>03,¥>~ GY.)()0301 :nOOIl

How many hours do you read?

~. o?6: O?S¥>~ Q)?t?03010?0311 I read one hour everyday_

~,05 oou3¥>qm~ ro~O')~¥>~34}c8 GY.)()djol cnu311 I read from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

3 I da. I is the eighteenth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of


1 2 3

3 3

64

Grammar & Usages

1. The Myanmar Numerals

L" r, ([, ti' 1 ,hse\ ti' ~C.7 '.

hni' 2 hse. nl" 12

r-'

tahse 10 ~iifise 20

thoun: 3 hse. thoun: 13 thoun: ze 30 lei: 4 hse. lei: 14 lei: ze 40 nga: 5 hse. nga: 15 nga:ze 50 chau' 6 hse. chau' 16 chau'hse 60 khun hni' 7 hse. khun hni' 17 khunhnghse 70 shi' 8 hse. shi' 18 shi' hse 80 kou: 9 hse. kou: 19 kou: '~i! 90 tahse! hse 10 hn~hse 20 4!ja 100

2. The numeral classifiers

Classifiers are words or affixes used with numerals to designate countable or measurable objects. In English, a few classifiers are still used, e.g. head of in: 'five head of cattle.' In Myanmar language, there are classifiers which combine with numerals to name, count or measure objects. Generally, they are used with numerals. But some are pure nouns and they occur as independent words. For example:

Classifiers used with numbers:

- jan' -naji -mi. ni' -se' kan. -jwe' -je' -Ia. -hni' .-wbn: -Ioun: -on' -mjou:

'people' 'o'clock; hours' 'minutes' 'seconds' 'thin, flat objects (sheets)' 'days of the month' 'months; months of the year' 'years; years of age' 'packs (of cigarettes)' 'buildings, houses, machines, tables, chairs' 'books' 'kinds, types'

65

The numbers ti' 'one,' hni' 'two: and khun hni' 'seven,' change from vowel i' [i? J to central vowel! [0] when they combine with classifiers.

But they have special combining fonns with classifier 'Kyat: Myanmar unit of money.' '- kja' , is used after the numbers 'two: 'six,' 'seven,' and 'eight.' And'..., gia' , is used after the other numbers except 'tens. ' For example:

ti' daJja' 1 kyat hoi' hn~kja' 2 kyat thouo: thoun: gja' 3 kyat lei: lei: gja' 4 kyat nga: nga: gja' 5 kyat chau' chau' kja' 6 kyat khun hni9 khun~a' 7 kyat shi' shit kja' 8 kyat kou: kou: gja' 9 kyat t!hse tW1se 10 kyat

Generally, the tens consist of ' tW1se ' doesn't need to combine with classifier.

J. The particle for starting point: ' -gao (nei)! kIl. (nei)'

This particle attach to nouns denoting time or place from which or source of an action. The English equivalent of this fonn is 'from ... .' '..., gao (nei)' is used after the noun ending with tone 1,2 or 3. And '- 0. (nei)' is used after the noun ending with tone 4 or glottal stop. For example:

zei: gao nei la de be gao nei la dh~le: kou ri: ja: gao nei la d~la:

(They) came from the ItUlrket. Where did (you) come from? Did (you) come from Korea?

66

4. The particle for finishing point: ' !hti.'

This particle attach to nouns indicating a certain span of time or distance. The English equivalent ofttIis form is prepositions 'up to: 'until,' 'till.' For example: khun ~naji ~hti. man: ~lei: ~hti. ~. hti. nja. nei chau' naji ~ti. @lou' lou' te

c

tiB 7 o'clock up to Mandalay until now (I) work until 6 p.m.

5. from ••• to: ' -gao (nei)/lm. (nei)' .•• '",,!bti.'

These particles attach to nouns denoting time or place in order to express the starting point and finishing point. for example:

::J"kjaun: gao (nei) ha' s~a: mha' tain ~ti. Ian: shau' te (I) walk from school to the bus stop.

hse na ji gao (nei) hse. hn!!na ji ~hti. sa thin gjein School hour is from 10 until 12 o'clock.

- jan goun gao (nei) man: ~lei: !!hti. lei jin bjan nee he Iau' kja Ie: How long does it take from Yangon to Mandalay by plane?

67

DRILLS

D1

1) hsilla tC I naji (o'clock) kjaun: dhuldha: t~naji

2) hsilla hni' I mjou: (kind; type) kjaun: dhuldha: hn~mjou:

3) hsilla tho un: I jau ' (person) kjaun: dhu/dha: thoun: jau'

4) hsrua lei: / bggan (saucer; plate) kjaun: dhu/dha: lei: bMan

5) hsilla nga: I neija (place) kjaun: dhu/dha: nga: nelJa

D2

1) hsilla chau' /je' (day) kjaun: dhuldha: chau' je'

2) hsilla khun hni' I 10. (month) kjaun: dhuldha. khun hn!!la.

3) hsrua shi' I hni' (year) kjaun: dhuldha: shi' hni'

4) hsilla kou: Ijwa (village) kjaun: dhu/dha: kou:jwa

5) hsrua ~selmjou. (town; city) kjaun: dhuldha: hse mjoQ

D3


2) hsgja kjaun dhu/dha:

3) hsgja kjaun: dhu/dha:

4) hsaja kjaun: dhuldha:

5) hsrua kjaun: dhu/dha:

D4


2) kjaun dhu kjaun: dha:



5) kjaun: dhu kjaun: dha',

68

sa (Ju' ! ti' Iou' (book) sa ou' tgou' pei: ba

khe: dan / hni' I chaun: (pencil) khe: dan hn~chaun: pei: ba

da' poun I thoun: / boun (photograph) cia' poun thoun: boun pei: ba

hsei: lei' / lei: / lei' (cheroot or cigarette) hsei: lei' lei: lei' pei: ba

hpf!.na' ! nga: ! jan hpgna' nga: jan pei: ba

9:gu. be hn~naji Ie: ~gu. khun hn~na ji ba

be hngmjou: we ba dhgle: shi' mjou: we ba de

be hnruau' 1a ba dhg]e: kou: jau' Ja ba de

be hn~b9:gan sa: ba dhgie: hse b~gan sa: ba de

be hn~nei ja thwa: ba dh~le: hse. ~~hei ja thwa: ba de

7' 7

(footwear)

D5

1) hsilla kjaun: dhu/dha: : hsrua kjaun: dhu/dha: :

2) hsrua kjaun: dhu/dha: : hsrua kjaun: dhuldha: :

3) ~a kjaun: dhu/dha: : hsrua kjaun: dhuldha: :

4) hsIDa kjaun: dhuldha: : hsIDa kjaun: dhu/dha: :

5) hs!ja kjaun: dhuJdha: : hs!ja 19aun: dhuJdha: :

69

nei. dain: be ~ji ei' pa dh!Ie: nei. dain khun ~ ji ei' pa de be hn~ ji gao nei be ~ ji ~ti. ei' pa dhW.e: njahse naji ga. nei ~ne' nga: naji ~ti. ei' pa de

nei. dain: be ~naji ba' sWce' oo:~: ba dh{&le: nei. dain hn~na ji ~aza: ba de be hn~naji gao nei be hn~aji ~ti. !Lam: ba dhW.e: nja.nei lei: naji gao nei chau' naji @,hti.~: bade

nei. daiIt be ~naji ~ou' lou' pa ~e: nei. dain shi' naji ~ou' lou' pa de be hnww. ji gao nei be hn!!na ji ~ti. lou' pa ~le: ~ne' sm' naji gao nei~. nei lei: naji ~hti. lou' pa de )

nei. dain: be hD!PUl j i Ian: shau' pa dh!1e: nei. dain ~naji Ian: shau' pa de be hn~a ji gao nei be hniI1a ji §hti shan' pa dlWe: lllWle' chau' naji gao nei khun hn.@J1aji ~ti. shau' pade

nei. dain: be bniPla ji ~: ju ba dhW.e: nei. dain ~ji!lUi: ju ba de be hn!lUi ji ga. nei be ~ ji 1M: ju ba dhile: nei. Ie qpm ji gao nei thoun: na ji pti. iDa: ju bade

70

thingan: za (~e)

!gu. be hn!na ji htou: bi Ie:

sa wada dei: hi' sa wada dei: hi'

guo btou: be ho!os ji btou: bai' bai' hsa lise. bOlOS ji sa: tban' bsaio

~u. he hnWla ji htou: bi Ie: ~gu. hse. hnWlaji htou: ha bi kj~o hai' hsa hi da hsou kjaun: sa: thau' hsain gOll

thwa: gja. zou.

now to strike (the bell) What's the time? stomach to be hungry twelve o'clock food-stall; restaurant

e I da. I is the nineteeth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the


1 2 3

Q Q

~icr.n«YJo131 Mr. Sawada

~to:Y.>Q3:e~ Mr. David

~icr.n~o131 Mr. Sawada

~i~3:e~ Mr. David

• •

• •

• •

• •

71

~89;:ro (00) Lesson 10

:gy O')oS,~~ dl:~ro II What is the time now?

~, ~03;.y.>~ a?:(9ro II What is the time now?

~, ooo?,~.y.>~a?:ol(911 It's twelve o'clock now.

oat;~ ~oS«YJ(91\ Iamhungry.

31~ ~:G)O:~03~tJ? ~:§~. It Wel~ let's go to the school canteen.

~ / DB. I is the twentieth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

4= ~

72

Grammar & Usag~

1. Sentence final ending: '-bi! pi'

This ending following a verb indicating either that such action is taking place. or has already taken place. ',.., bi ' is used after the noun ending with tone 1, 2 or 3. And ',.., pi > is used after the noun ending with tone 4 or glottal stop. For example:

mi: j!lita: Ia bi hsija thwa: bi hn~na ji htou: bi !hpou: ei' pi ji: u: shi. bi

The tmln is coming.(or) Now it is here. The teacher has gone. ( or) Now it is not here. It is 2 o'clock now. Grandfather is in bed. (He has already slept.) I have 11. gil'V boy friend now. (I have already bad a girJlboy friend.)

In question sentence, when the speaker says it quickly. '- bY pi • changes ' - b!l P! .' And it is used with question particle ' - Ia:! Ie: .' For example:

mi: j!hta: Is. bi }a: be dhu Ia hi Ie: be hn~ ji ntou: bi Ie: ~hpou: ei' pi Ia:

(or) (or) (or) (or)

2. Sentence fiual ending: ' ,... zou./ 800. '

mi: j~ta: la ~la: be dhu Ia b~e: be ~ji htou: b~: ~pou: ei' P!4Ia:

This ending attaches to a verb and it is used when the speaker wants the hearer to perfonn some action together. The English equivalent in usage to the imperative 'let's. 'It can be used with ' - gjaJ kja. ' which is the particle suffIxed to verbs to denote plurality. '..., zou.! gja. zou. ' is used after the verb ending with tone 1, 2 or 3. And • - sou.! kja. zou. ' is used after the verb ending with tone 4 or glottal stop. For example:

kjaun: thwa: zou. (or) kjaun: thwa: gja. zou. lou' sou. (or) loll" kja. :lOu. hpa' sou. (or) hps.' kja. zou.

Let's go to the school. Let's do it. Let's read it.

73

DRILLS

D1

1) hsrua ~. be hn~aji htou: bi Ie: / shi' naji kjaun: dhuldha:: ~. sm' naji htou: ba bi

2) hsilla ~u. be hn~na ji htou: bi Ie: / kou: na ji kjaun: dhuldha:: ~. kou: na ji htou: ba bi

3) hsilla ~gu. be h~naji htou: bi Ie: I hse naji kjaun: dhuldha:: ~. hse naji htou: ba bi

4) hsilla ~. be hn~naji htou: bi Ie: / hse. t~naji kjaun: dhuldha:: ~u. hse. ~naji htou: ba bi

5) hsilla ~. be hn~naji htou: bi Ie: / hse. hn~naji kjaun: dhuldha:: ~gu. hse. hn~naji htou: ba bi

D2

1) hsilla ~gu" be hn~na ji htou: bi Ie: / 1 :30 kjaun: dhuldha:: ~gu. t~naji gwe: ba

~

2) hsilla ~gu. be hn~naji htou: bi Ie: / 2:30 kjaun: dhuldha:: ~gu. hn~najigwe:ba

3) hsilla ~gu. be hn~aji htou: bi Ie: /3:15 kjaun: dhuldha:: ~gu. thoun: naji hse. nga: mi. ni' pa

4) hsilla ~. be h~naji htou: bi Ie: /4:20 kjaun: dhuldha:: ~. hse. lei: naji hn~hse ba

5) hsilla ~gu. be hn~naji htou: bi le: /5:40 kjaun: dhuldha:: ~gu. hse. hn~na ji lei: ze ba

74

D3

(e.g.) hsrua i!gu. ti!Ila ji gwe: ba N + N (1:30) kjaun: dhuldha:: MU. ti!naji khwe: ba bi N + V (1:30)

1) hsrua MU. hn~najigwe:ba (2:30) kjaun: dhuldha:: MU. hn~naji khwe: ba bi (2:30)

2) hsrua ~gu. thoun: naji gwe: ba (3:30) kjaun: dhuldha:: MU. thoun: naji khwe: ba hi (3:30)

3) hsrua ~gu. lei: naji khwe: ba (4:30) kjaun: dhuldha:: i!gll. lei: naji khwe: ba bi (4:30)

4) hsrua MU. nga: naji khwe: ba~ (5:30) kjaun: dhuldha:: ~gu. nga: naji khwe: lJa'bi (5:30)

5) hsrua ~gu.chau'najikhwe:ba (6:30) kjaun: dhuldha:: i!gll. chau' naji khwe: ba bi (6:30)

D4

1) hsrua bai' hsa (to be hungry) kjaun: dhu/dha:: i!gu. bai' hsa bi

2) hsrua jei hsa (to be thirsty) kjaun: dhuldha:: MU. jei hsa bi

3) hsrua mou:Jwa (to rain) kjaun: dhuldha:: i!gu. mou: jwa bi

4) hsrua twei. (to see; meet) kjaun: dhuldha:: ~gu. twei. bi

5) hsrua jau' (to arrive) kjaun: dhuldha:: MU.jau' pi

75

D5

1) kjaun: dhu bai' hsa bi la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / bai' hsa ba bi

2) kjaun: dhu jei h~bi la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / jei hsa ba bi

3) kjaun: dhu mou: jwa bi la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / mou: jwa ba bi

4) kjaun: dhu th~ge gj in: gou twei. bi la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / t~ge gjin: gou twei. ba bi

5) kjaun: dhu \. pa mau' kha. jau'l pi la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / pa mau' kha. jau' pa bi

D6

1) kjaun: dbu be dhu la bi Ie: kjaun: dha: hsrua rna. la ba bi

2) kjaun: dhu be gou thwa: bi Ie: kjaun: dha: zei: gou thwa: ba bi

3) kjaun: dbu ba jau' pi Ie: kjaun: <ilia: dh~n: zajau' pa hi

4) kjaun: dhu be dhu. gou twei. bi Ie: kjaun: <ilia: t~ge gjin: gou twei. ha bi

5) kjaun: dhu ba thau' pi Ie: kjaun: dha: ~ei:tnau' pa bi

76

D7

1) hsrua gau' thi: jai' (to play golf) kjaun: dhu/dha:: gau' thi: jai' kja. zOU.

2) hsilla §:na: JU (to take a rest) kjaun: dhuldha:: §:na: JU gja. zOU.

3) hsilla t§:khu. guo sa: (to eat something) kjaun: dhuldha:: i§:khu. guo sa: gja. zOU.

4) hsilla t§:nei ja ja thwa: (to go somewhere) kjaun: dhuldha:: i§:nei ja ja thwa: gja. zou.

5) hsilla ou' htou' hsaun: (to put on a hat) kjaun: dhuldha:: ou' htou' hsaun: gja. zou.

DB


pjin:",<1e / ., Ida hsoujgau' thi: jai' kja:zou .. ; .~~/j ~-_/j

(to feel bored)

2) kjaun: dhu pin ban: de (to be wearied; be tired) kjaun: dha: da hsou ~na: ju gja. zou.

3) kjaun: dhu bai' hsa de kjaun: dha: da hsou t§:khu. guo sa: gja. zOU.

4) kjaun: dhu §:guo a: de (to be free) kjaun: dha: da hsou i§:nei ja ja thwa: gja. zou.

5) kjaun: dhu mou:jwa de kjaun: dha: da hsou ou' htou' hsaun: gja. zou.

77

D9

1) kjaun: dhu ~.a:bi kjaun: dha: da hsou jei ku: gia zou.

2) kjaun: dhu mo:bi kjaun: dha: da hsou ~na: ju gia. zOU.

3) kjaun: dhu bai' hsa bi kjaun: dha: da hsou nei. Ie za sa: gia. zOU.

4) kjaun: dhu jei hsa bi kjaun: dha: da hsou ~ei: thau' kja. zou.

5) kjaun: dhu mou:jwabi kjaun: dha: da hsou hti: hsaun: gja. zou. (umbrella)

D 10

1) kjaun: dhu jou'shin kji. gia. m~la: (film; movies) kjaun: dha: in: / kji. gia. zOU.

2) kjaun: dhu thgjei za ~hu. guo sa: gia. m~Ia: (snack) kjaun: dha: in: / sa: gia. zOU.

3) kjaun: dhu si: kg,re' thau' kja. m~la: (cigarette) kjaun: dha: in: / si: k~re' thau' kja. zOU.

4) kjaun: dhu pjo bwe: za: thwa: gia. m~la: (picnic) kjaun: dha: in: / pjo bwe: za: thwa: gia. zOU.

5) kjaun: dhu Ie' khou' ti: gia. m~la: (to clap hands) kjaun: dha: in: / Ie' khou' ti: gia. zou.

dei: bi' sa wada dei: bi' sa wada

Ilia: ae: ne: sa' kei'sa.

73

thin gan: za (hse. ti')

ba sa: gjin ba dh!le:

ba sa: gjin ba dh~le: mj~ma ~sa: ~sa sa: gjin ba de mj~ma hin: gao ne: ne: sa' pa de kei' sa. m~shi. ba bu: kj~no sa: hnain ba de

food curry a little; a few (of taste) hot

kei' sa. m!shi. ba bu: business; workto be done It doesn't matters.

o / pa. / is the twenty first letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of


1 2 3

C' 0 0

C' ~~0y"),"3:~q)

Mr. David

~~0'Y.)r000 131 Mr. Sawada

C' ~ioy"),"3 :~q)

Mr. David

~toy'')r000131 Mr. Sawada

• •

• •

• •

• •

79

~8(j);:ro (00) Ll!sson 11

o-Y.>ro:Cij801 ~roH What do you want to eat?

C' 'I ... O'.Y.)ro: ~ COl ::lJ ro II

What do you want to eat? ~C' C' '1 C' ~'g)3dro:3dro ro:'ijCOIOOOOII

I want to eat Myanmar food. ~C' to C' C' C' 'I .. ~ ~'g)O')c:m '~:'~:q)OOIOOOOIl

Myanmar curry is a little bit hot.

d3i~~ol 0(:11

It doesn't matters.

0'61~~ GY.>:'~o1oo03" I can eat it

" J hpa. I is the twenty -second letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

C· 0 (9 (9

80

Grammar & Usages

1. Auxiliary:' -&jin! chin '

This auxiliary attaches to verb and expresses the speaker's desire or wish for the realization of the concept denoted by the verb. '- gjin ' is used after the verb ending with tone 1, 2 or 3. And '- chin ' is used after the verb ending with tone 4 or glottal stop. For example:

l~pe' jei thau' chin ba de I want to drink tea. thu kj~no. gou twei. gjin ba de He wants to meet me. di s~nei ba lou' chin ba dh~le: What do you want to do this Saturday. hsaun: dwin: hma khrui: htwe' chin la: Do you want to travel in winter?

2. Auxiliary:' -nain ' (or) , - hnain '

This auxiliary is used with verbs and it indicates ability, capability, or possibility. It is pronounced as ' -nain '. Nowadays most of Myanmar people pronounce it as ' - Imain '. For examp/ e:

~. lou' hnain la: ~gu. m~lou' hnain ba bu: fuu. gou ku nji hnain ba de zei: hma we hnain ba de

Can you do it now? I can't do it now. I can help him. (You) can buy it in a market.

It is interchangeable with ' - lou. js. " making no difference in meaning. For example:

m~e' hpjan thwa: lou. ja. ba de ein hma hpa' lou. ja. ba de kj~o. gou ku nji lou. ja. m~la:

I am able to go tomorrow. You can study at home. Can you help me?

81

DRILLS

Dl

1) hsilia moun. hin: ga: / sa: (rice noodles with fish gravy) kjaun: dhu/dha:: moun. hin: ga: sa: gjin ba de

2) hsrua dein gjin / thau' (milk curd; yoghurt) kjaun: dhu/dha:: dein gjin thau' chin ba de

3) hsrua za' pwe: / kji. (drama; play) kjaun: dhu/dha:: za' pwe: kji. gjin ba de

4) hsIDa mj~ag!!bja / hpa' (poetry; poem) kjaun: dhu/dha:: mj~ma g~bja hpa' chin ba de

5) hsIDa chin: [oun: / ~a: ( cane-ball) kjaun: dhu/dha:: chin: loun: g~: gjin ba de

D2

1) k,aun: dhu oun: htg,min: sa: gjin ba ~la: ( coconut rice) kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / oun: h@nin: sa: gjin ba de

2) kjaun: dhu hsel: thau' chin ba dh~la: (medicine) kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / hsei: thau' chin ba de

\01 3) kjaun: dhu jou'thel: kji. gjin ba ~la: (marionette/putiet show)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / jou' thei: kji. gjin ba de

4) kjaun: dhu wu' htu. dou hpa' chin ba dh~la: (short story) kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / wu' htu. dou hpa' chin ba de

5) kjaun: dhu thoin: K-aza: gjin ba dh~la: (martial arts) kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / thain: K-aza: gjin ba de

D3

1) !gaun: dhu kjaun: dha:

2) kjaun: dhu !gaun: dha:




D4




4) !gaun: dhu kjaun: dha:


82

zei: gou win gjin ba dh~la: (to enter; go in) hin. in: I zei: gou m~win gjin ba bu:

hou hma nei gjin ba dh~la: (to live; stay) hin. in: I hOll hma m~nei gjin ba bu:

hsrua. gOll mel: gjin ba dh~la: (to ask; question) hin. in: I hsilla. gou m~mei: gjin ba bu:

in: ja: kan hma pjei: gjin ba dh~la: (to run) hin. in: I in: ja: kan hma m~pjei: gjin ba bu:

di hma sha gjin ba dh~la: hin. in: I m~sha gjin ba bu:

ba we gj in ba dh~la: mje' hnwn we gjin ba de

ba ehe' chin ba dh~la: b!!:,Zlln che' chin ba de

(to search; look for)

(to buy; purchase) (spectacles; eyeglasses)

(to cook) (prawn; shrimp; lobster)

be gOll thwa: Ie gjin ba dh~la: shan: pji fie gou thwa: Ie gjin ba de

(to visit) (Shan State)

be hma hswei: nwei: gjin ba dh~la: (to discuss; confer) joun: gan: hma hswei: nwei: gjin ba de (office)

be dhu. gOll kjwei: gjin ba dh~la: mel' hswei dwei gOll kjwei: gjin ba de

(to feed) (friends)

83

D5

1) hSIDa di kon pj u ta I jaun: (to sell) kjaun: dhuldha:: di kon pju tajaun: hnain ba de

2) hsIDa hou ka: I maun: (to drive) kjaun: dhuldha:: hou ka: maun: hnain ba de

3) hsrua in: ja: kan hma I jei ku: (to swim) kjaun: dhuldha:: in: ja: kan hma jei ku: hnain ba de

4) hsIDa di sa ou' / mel' tu ku: (to copy; duplicate) ~iaun: dhuldha:: di sa ou' mei' tu ku: hnain ba de

5) hsIDa di ha gou / shin: pja. (to explain)

D6

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

kjaun: dhuldha:: di ha gou shin: pja. hnain ba de

kjaun: dhu kjaun: dha:





sa mel: bwe: hpjei hnain la: (to take an examination) hou' ke. I sa mei: bwe: hpjei hnain ba de

di ha dwei gou ItUl. hnain la: (to lift) hou' ke. I di ha dwei gou rna. hnain ba de

mj1!ma th1!chin: hsou hsou hnain 1a: (to sing) hou' ke. I mj~a t~hin: hsou hnain ba de

di ka: pjln hnain 1a: (to repair; mend) hou' ke. I di ka: pjin hnain ba de

thu. gou Ie' khan hnain la: (to accept; receive) hou' ke. I thu. gou Ie' khan hnain ba de

D7

1) kjaW1: dhu : ~'hpjan kjawr: te' hnain ~la: (to go to school) kjaW1: dha: : hou' ke. / m~e' bpjan kjaun: te' hnain btl de

2) kjaun: dhu : ~ khgjl: ktwe' hnain m~la: (to go on ajou.mey) kjaun: dha: : hou' ke. / !!8U. khWi: htwe' hnain ba de

3) kjaun: dhu : till' po.mjal' hnain m~a: (to photograph) kjaun: dha: : hou' lee. /00' pounjai' Main ba de

4) kjaun: dhu : se' chou' hnain m~la: (to sew by machine) kjaun: dha: : hou' ke. / se' chou' hnain ba de

5) kjaun: dhu : ko hpi hpjo hnain m~la: (to make; dissolve in liquid) kjaW1: dha: : hou' ke. / ko hpi hpjo hnain ba de

D8

1) kjaun: dhu : tnAne' hpjan kjaun: Ie' hnain ~la: kjaun: dha: : bin. in: / m~e' hpjan kjaun: ~e' hnain btl bu:

2) kjaun: dhu : ~. khgji: htwe' hnain ~la: kjaun: dha: : bin. in: I~. k.1lIDi: mf!htwe' hnain ba bu:

3) kjaun: dhu : dtl' pounjal' Main m@la.: kjaun: elba: : hin. in: Ida' poun mruai' hnain ba bu:

4) kjaun: dhu : se' chou' hnain m§la: kjaun: dha: : hin. in: / se' m~hou' hnain ba bu:

5) kjaW1: dhu : ko hpi hpJo hnain ~: (to make; dissolve in liquid) kjaun: dha: : bin. in: / ko bpi .pjo bnain ba bu:

85

D9

1) hsrua kj~no mjwna za hpa' hnain de kjaun: dhuJdha:: kj~no mj~ma za hpa' lou. ja. de

2) hsrua hsilla. gou mei: hnain de kjaun: dhuJdha:: hsrua. gou mei: lou. ja. de

3) hsrua ill ein hma nei hnain de kjaun: dhuJdha:: di ein hma net lou. ja. de

4) hsrua sa ou' hsain hma we hnain de kjaun: dhuJdha:: sa ou' hsain hma we lou.ja. de

5) hs~ja sa kji. dai' hma sha hnain de kjaun: dhuJdha:: sa kji. dai' hma sha lou. ja. de

DIO

1) kjaun: dhu kjl!no di ka: maun: lou. ja. m~la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / maun: lou. ja. ba de / maun: ba

2) kjaun: dhu kh~mja: di sa ou' hpa' lou. ja. m~la: kjaun: dha: : hou' ke. / hpa' lou. ja. ba de / na: htaun ba

3) kjaun: dhu thu bo loun: g~za: lou. ja. mQla: kjaun: dha: hou' ke. I f@Za: lou. ja. ba de / g¥<l ba

4) kjaun: dhu hsilla rna. gou mei: lou. ja. lTI.l!la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke. I mei: lou. ja. ba de / mei: ba

5) kjaun: dhu : bi ja. thau' lou. ja. m.l!la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / thau' lou. ja. ba de .I thau' pa

86

D11

1) kjaun: dhu : kj.@Ilo di ka: maun: lou. ja. Ia: kjaun: dha: : bin. in: I maun: lou. mma. bu:

2) kjaun: dhu : ~ja: jei ku: Iou. ja. la: kjaun: dba: : run. in: / jei ku: lou. mrua. ba bu:

3) kjaun: dhu : zei: broa we lou. ja. m31a: kjaun: dha: : hin. in: I we lou. mma. ba bu:

4) kjaun: dhu : eli ein broa nei lou. ja. milIa: kjaun: dha: : hin. in: I nei lou. mma. ba bu:

5) kjaun: dhu : t~hin: boou lou. ja. la: kjaun: dha: : hin. in: I ~crun: hsou lou. ll1!ia. ba bu:

DIl

1) hsma sa mei: bwe: hpjei lou. mrua. bu: la: / hou' ke. kjaun: dllU/dba:: hou' ke. I sa mei: bwe: hpjei lou. mma. ba bu:

2) hsIDa jei ku: lou. mma. bu: la: I run. in: kjaun: dhuldha:: hin. in: / jei ku: lou. ja. ba de

3) hsma di hou te hma nei lou. mma. bu: la: / hou' ke. kjaun: dhuldha:: bou' ke. / eli hou te broa nei lou. mma. ba bu:

, .4) hsIDa hs!ja. gou mei: lou. mma. bu: la: I bin. in: . kjaun: dhuldha:.:.. hin. in: I bs!ja. gou mei: lou. ja. ba de

5) hsIDa elijoun: gan: gou win lou. mrua. bu: la: / hou' ke. kjaun: dhuldha:: hou' ke. I win lou. mrua. ba bu:

dei: hi' sawada dei: hi' sa wada dei: hi' sa wada

hma kje' tha: hin: uan: zu: kh!iin:

87

thin gan: za (hse. hni')

zun: kh!.iin: nee sa: me

ba hma gja. m~le: kje' tha: bin: gao kaun: de no hou' ke. / kaun: ha de da bsoll kje' tha: hin: hma gja. ZOll.

: zun: khruin: ne. sa: m~la: bou' ke. / zun: khruin: ne. sa: me

to order chicken cuny to be good spoon fork

~ / baa / is the twenty-third letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of


1 2 3

C 0 ~ 0

<:' ~io:Y.)Q3 :~~

Mr. David

Qfo:Y.)Q(Y.)o131

Mr. Sawada

Qio:Y.)Q3:~~ Mr. David

Qfo:Y.)Q(Y.)o131

Mr. Sawada Qio:Y.)Q3:~~ Mr. David

Qi] o:Y.)Q(Y.)O 131

Mr. Sawada

88

:l.)es~:ro (OJ) Lesson 12

~;: soS'l.8:'. ro:a0311 I will eat (it) with spoon and forle.

• •

• •

o •

• •

• ·

OYJy.>6QOO II What shall we order?

6~ :>.Y):u:)(~:oo Qo:Y.>t :oo03~11 Chicken curry is good, isn't it?

<:' , <:'".S U{ooO?' Go:Y.>C:otOOWIi

Yes, it is good.

310q §~:>.Y):o:>8: 'fJ6~. II Then, let's order it ~ ~ ~ ...

~.,: &OO'lc:". ro:S(\Y.):H

Will you eat (it) with spoon and fork? t', t' <:'t', <:'

U?OOO(I ~.,: &OOEllc:,. QY.):~OOI!

Yes, I wiJ!.. eat (it) with spoon and fork~

OJ / ba. / is the twenty-fourth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order

of the strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

:J O'J -xJ

89

Grammar & Usages

1. Sentence final particle: ' ........ 0 '

This sentence final particle attaches to declarative sentence, and is used when the speaker wants to seek the hearer's agreement or wants to ascertain the hearer's meaning. According to the situation, this particle can be used as a declarative, an interrogative, an imperative, or a suggestion. For example:

ja dhi u. duo gao pu de no hsrua gao to de no

. kh!!mja: thi. de no ruin thwa: no kj~no. ka: ne. lai' no hta' sa: no ~tu du thwa: me no kj!!oo pei: me no

2. Adverbial case particle: ' -nee '

The weather is hot, isn't it? The teacher is good, isn't he? You know (it), don't you? Please go first. Come in my car, won't you? Please eat some more, why don't you. Come with us, won't you? Let me pay. (or) Why don't I pay.

The particle ' -ne. " preceded by a noun, indicates the means with which someone perfonns an action, or by which someone drives or moves about The English equivalent of this particle is 'with' or 'by(means) of.' For example:

m1. ba. dwei ne. nei de paun moun. gOll gjoun ne. lou' te te' k~si ne. la de tu ne. sa: de khe: dan ne. jei: ba da: ne. m~pja' pa ne. ba ne. thwa: m~le: jet hta: ne. thwa: me

I lived with my parents. Bread is made with wheat flour. I came by taxi. I eat with chopstick. Please write with a pencil Please don't cut it with a knife. How will you go? I will go by train.

90

DRILLS

Dl

1) bsIDa thu in gjln ni ja (engineer) kjaun: dhuJdha:: thu in gjin ni ja no

2) hsrua di nei. la. bjei. nei. (full-moon day) kjaun: dhuJdha:: di nei. lao bjei. nei. no

3) hsrua hsrua gao mo gun: dein: (registrar of a university) kjaun: dhuJdha:: hsrua ga.. mo gun: dein: no

4) hsrua ~ja: pwe: za: m~ou' hpu: (broker) kjaun: dhuJdha:: kh!!mja: pwe: za: m!!hou' hpu: no

5) hsrua di nei ja gao pan: gjan m~hou' hpu: (garden; park)

D2

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

kjaun: dhuJdha:: di neija gao pan: gjan m~hou' hpu: no






thu si' bou no (militaIy officer) hou' ke. / thu si' bou ba

di nei. la. gwe nei. no (new moon day) hou' ke. / di nei. lao gwe nei. ba

hsIDa gao hta na. hmu: no (Head of Department) hou' ke. / kj!!no gao hta na. hmu: ba

shin koun dhe m~ou' hpu: no (trader) bou' ke.! kj!!Oo koun dhe m!!hou' pa bu:

di neija gao sa dol' m~ou' hpu: no (post office) hou' ke. / di neija gao sa dai' ~ou' pa bu:

91

D3

1) kjaun: dhu thu hilL de no (to be pretty; good-looking) kjaun: dha: hou' ke. ! thu bla. ba de

2) kjaun: dhu di nei. ai'te no (to be warm; be stuffy) kjaun: dha: hou' ke.! di nei. ai' pa de

3) kjaun: dhu di ~bwe: gao lei: de no (to be beavy) kjaun: dha: bou' ke. ! di sa ou' ka. lei: ba de

4) kjaun: dhU sa ou' ja. de no (to get; obtain; have) kjaun: dha: hou' ke.! sa ou' ja. ba de

5) kjaun: dhu m~e' bpjan la;' me no (to follow) kjaun: dha: bou' ke. / ~e' hpjan lai' pa me

D4

1) bsrua !m}an ka: ! thwa: de (express bus) kjaun: dhuldha:: i!Dljan lea: ne. thwa: de

2) hsIDa Ie'! sa: de (finger; band) kjaun: dbuldha:: Ie' ne. sa: de

3) bsrua po. IL sa ! jei: de (Pali language) kjaun: dhuldha:: pa Ii. sa ne. jei: de

4) hS!ia hman bt!11l:! kji. de (magnifying glass) kjaun: dhuldha:: hman ~lu: ne. kji. de

5) hsIDa !!do! nei de (aunt) kjaun: dhuldha:: !!do ne. nei de

thin gan: za (hse. thoun:)

~u@ lou' nei Ie:

dei: bi' rna' khin dei: hi'

rna' khin khin MU. ba nei Ie: kj~a. ~u. h~min: che' nei ba de h~rnin: kaun: gaun: ta' no

rna' khin khin dei: bi'

hou'ke. kaun:gaun: pa

rna' khin khin ~u. ba hin: che' nei nga: hin: che~ ba shin Ie: sa: lou. ja.

ma' ht!mim che'

title prefixed to the proper name of a female (cooked) rice to cook

bun: ga~m: properly~ well Dga: hm: fish curry

~ I mI.. I is the twenty-fifth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. order I the strokes is as illuslIlited below<

I 1 I r=! _3 -1l --= I 1--- I I ----.~--, I I !

I 7 oml I--'I I I j----

----I --~ 1----I I

--------~I-- ____ I~ _____ __

!

I i I

~iO'Y.)G3:~S Mr. David

c r: e~cOlc

MaKhinKhin

~~O'Y.)G3:~~ Mr. David

io)~tQ8

MaKhinKhin

~'O'Y.)G3:~S Mr. David

r: r: ~OlCQC

MaKIDnKhin

e •

.. •

.. •

.. ·

• ..

93

~S~~:oo (:>~) Lesson 13

<' .... ~~ :tY.),,?o,",co II

What are you doing now?

c (' <::,,, ~ OlC Ol C 3d <f :::n0 C\( 0 '4' co 11

Ma Khin Khin, what are you doing now? r: r: (' '1 ("

oal'~ ~~ ro~c:~m~olo?oou

Now I am cooking. r: r: r: _;- r: .. <;' r:

oo~c: G0J0C:G0J0C: <i{jooO?O?O?OJG<t011

You can cook wen, can't you. r: " (" r: <:: r: '1 r:

U?O?O?! G()")'JC:Gm0C: ~mO?O?oIO?tl)1!

Yes, I can cook well. <:: r: "

3d'f :1Y.)(J')C: ~m~coil

What curry are you cooking now?

cl:(J')t: ~~G,()lO?03i1 I am cooking fish curry.

~tro~: 4Y.>:~. 'l0lax0H You can eat it, too.

00 I js.! is the twenty-sixth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 J I

I I C- O I (X)

I

OJ I

I I 1

I I

I I

94

Grammar & Usages

1. Auxiliary:' """'Iiei '

This auxiliary , -Dei '. preceded by verbs, indicates a kind of process or continuing action. It means 'someone is doing something.' For example:

lei tai· nei de . thu dou:-jei k:ii! nei de gJwll sa jei: nei de kje' u. pjou' nei de in: gjl wu' nei de !lIou' lou' fll!!llei bu: kh!mja: pjin: nei Ia:

2. A uxiJiary: ' -da' Ita'" ,

The wind is blowing. They are swimming. My older brother is writing a letter. (He) is boiling eggs. (She) is putting on a dress. (I) am not working. Are you boring?

This auxiliary is used with verbs and it indicates the acquiring of some knowledge, ,skill, capability and qualification. <,... da' • is used after the . verb ending With tone 1,2 or 3. And ' ..... fa' , is used after the verb ending with tone 4 or glottal stop. For example: .

pa Ii. sa hpa' ta' te ~: lei: nga: mjou: pjo: da' te gaul jai' ta' Ia:

(I) can read PaH lanugage. (He) (".aD speak four or five languages. Can you play golf? (Do you know how to play golf?) I can't play golf. (I don't know how to play golf.)

J/~- Study the following differences between ' -da' Ita" and '-hnmll' or '-Iou. ja~'. --"-" ~

Q: ~ja: ka: Maun: da' 1a:

A: hou' ke. I rnaWl: da' pa de Q: !gU. maun: hnain rn§.la: . A: run. in: / @gUo m~: ba bu:

m@IIlaWl: hnain ba bu:

Can you drive a car? (Do you know how to drive a car?) Yes, I can. Can y()U drive now? No., I am not free now. I can't drive (now).

95

DRILLS

Dl

1) hsma .£!hpei / pu' Ie: (to change clothes) kjaun: dhuldha:: ~pei ~wu~ Ie: nei ba de

2) hsma ~eil !Wu' sho (to wash clothes) kjaun: dhuldha:: ~ei !!WU~ sho nei ba de

3) hsma !!kou I than. shin:jei: lou' (to clean~ tidy up) kjaun: dhuJdha:: !!kou than. shin: jei: lou' nei ba de

4) hsrua ~a. I dgftje' si: hie: (to sweep) kjaun: dhuJdha:: i!ffi3. ~bje' si: hie: nei ba de

5) hsrua nji mao I bggan hsei: (to wash saucers) kjaun: dhuJdha:: nji rna ~an hsei: nei ba de

D2

1) kjaun: dhu !!hpei ba lou' nei ba dh!!Ie: kjaun: dha: ~pei !!wu' Ie: nei ba de

2) kjaun: dhu ~ei ba lou' nei ba d.h!!le: kjaun: dha: ~ei ~wu' sho nei ba de

3) kjaun: dhu ~kou ba lou' nei ba dh!!le: kjaun: dha: !!kou than. shin: jei: lou' nei ba de

4) kjaun: dhu ~a. ba lou' nei ba dh!!le: kjaun: dha: ~a. ~bje' si: hie: nei ba de

5) kjaun: d.hu nji rna. ba lou' nei ba dh!!le: kjaun: dha: nji rna. b~an hsei: nei ba de

D3

1) kjaun: <fuu kjaun: dha:


3) kjaun: dhu kjaun: dha.:


5) kjaun: dhu kjaurr dha:

D4


2) kjaun: dna: kjaun: dhu




96

shin htwrun: sa: nei ba dhgla: hou' ke. / kj§,no htgmin: sa: nei ba de

shin ko hpi thau' nei ba dhgla: hou' ke.! kj~o ko hpi thau' nei ba de

shin sa hpa' nei ba dh§:la: hou' ke.! kj~o sa hpa' nei ba de

shin rei ill jOll na: htaun nei ba dhi!la: hou' ke. I kj§:oo rei di jOll na: htaun nei ba de

shinjou' shin kji. nei ba dhi!la: hou' ke. ! kj§:no jou' shin kji. nei ba de

khi!ffija: sa jei: nei ba ~la: hOll' ke. I kj§:ma. sa jei: nei ba de

khf!mja: Ian: shau' nei ba dhi!la: hOll' ke. ! kji!ma. Ian: shau' nei ba de

khgmja: ~lou' lou' nei ba dhgla: hou' ke. I kj@:ma. glou' lou'nei ba de

khwnja: htgmin: che' nei ba dh~Ja: hou' ke.! kjgma. ht~min: che' nei ba de

khwnja: th~chin: hsou nei ba ~la: hou' ke. I kj§:ma. th@:chin: hsou nei ba de


2) kjaun: dhu kjaun: OOa:


97

h~min: sa: nei la: hin. in: I h~min: sa: mW1ei ba bu:

ko hpi thau' nei Ia: hin. in: I ko hpi thau' m£!nei ba bu:

sa hpa' nei Ia: hin. in: 1 sa hpa' mgnei ba bu:

rei di jou na: htaun nei Ia: kjaun: dhu kjaun: OOa: hin. in: I rei di jou na: htaun m£!nei ba bu:

jou' shin kji. nei la: 5) kjaun: dhu kjaun: dha: hin. in: I jou' shin kji. m~nei ba bu:

6

1) hsrua ka: / pjin (to repair) kjaun: dhu/dha:: ka: pjin da' pa de

hsrua mjgma gka. I ktL (to dance) kjaun: dhuldha:: mjgma@,ka. ka. da' pa de

hsrua Ie' hnei' se' I jai' (to type) kjalli'1: dhulOOa:: Ie' hnei' se' jai' ta' pa de

hsilla di I (to sel1.fch; look for) dhuldha:: di neija sha da' pa de

hsrua san: d~a: I play piano) dhu/dha:: san: dilla: ti: da'

D7



3) kjaun: dha: Kjaun:dhu



D8






98

ka: pjin da' pa ~ hou' ke. / ka: pjin da' pa de

mj~~. ka. da' pa ~a: hou' ke. / mj!!llla ~a ka. da' pa de

Ie' hnei' se' jai' ta' pa dh~a: hou' ke./le' hnei' se' jai' ta' pa de

di nei ja sha da' pa ~la: hou' ke.! di nei ja sha da' pa de

san: dIDa: ti: da' pa ~ ~la: . hou' ke.! san: elIDa: ti: da' pa de

in: ~lei' ~: pjo: da' pa dhala: \, bin. in: / in: g!lei' ~: m~j~: <hi~ pa bu:

jan goun mjou. de: thwa: da' pa dh~a: hin. in: / jan goun mjou. de: m¢twa: da' pa bu:

jei ku: da' pa dh~a: hin. in: / jei ~: da' pa bu:

bo loun: ~: da' pa dh~a: hin. in: / bo loun: m~mp'a: da' pa bu:

h~n: che' ta' pa~: hin. in: I h~: m~he' ta' pa bu:

99

1)

2)

man: ~ei: gou thwa: da' la: kjau.n: ke. I thwa: da' pa de kjaun: nei thwa: hnain m§,la: kjaun: d'ha: hou' ke. I thwa: hnain ba de

5) kjaun: dhu mj§:ma ~: pjo: 00' la: kjaun: d'ha: hou' ke. I pjo: da' pa de kjaun: dhu ~. pjo: hnain m§:la: kjaun: dha: hou' ke. I pjo: hnain ba de

D

1) kjaun: dhu mj§,ma th§crun: la: kjaun: d'ha: hem' ke. / hsou da' pa de kjaun: dhu ~. hsou hnain ~la: kjaun: dha: hin. in: I ~gu. m§,hsou hnain ba

2) kjaun: dhu jan goon mjou. de: kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / kjaun: dhu

dha: habu:

100

3) kjaun: dhu hin: ehe' ta' Ia: kjaun: dha.: hou' ke. I che' ta' pa de kjaun: dhu m!!ne' hpjan che' hnain m~a: kjaun: dha: hin. in: I m.§l1e' hpjan m!!Che' hnain ba bu:

4) kjaun: dhu 1-)

aa' pounjai' ta' la: kjaun: dna: hou' ke. I jai' ta' pa de kjaun: dhu ~. jai' ~a~n ~a: kjaun: dna: hin. in: I ~. mmaf bnain ba bu:

5) kjaun: dhu mj~ za jei: 00' la: kjaun: dna: hOu' ke. ! jei: 00' pa de kjaun: dhu ~. jei: hnain m~la: kjaun: dna: hin. in: I !!gll. mruei: hnain ba bu:

DB

1) kjaun; dbu thu. ein gou la <la' la: kjaoo: dha: bou' ke. 11a <la' pa de kjaun: dbu §gU. la lou. ja. mjla: kjaun: dba: hID. in: I ~ 18 lou. ~a ba 00:

2) kjaun: dbu h~: che ta' Ia: 19aun.: dba: hou' ke. I coo' ta' pa de 19au.n: dbu di 00., che' lou. ja. mjla:

Q kjaoo: dha: hln. in: I di nei. ehe' lou' m!ia. ba bu:

3) kjaun: dbu kon pju tajai' ta' la: kjaun.: dba: bou' ke. I jai' ta' pa de ijaun: dbu. di sa ou.· jai' lou' ja. IDJIa: kjaun.: dha: hln. in: I di sa ou' jai' lou. mma. be 00:

4) kjaun.: dbu th.@cbin: hsou <la' la: kjaun.: dba: bou' ke. I hsou da' pa de kjaun: dbu !SU. bsou lou. ja ~a: ijaun.: dba: hln. in: I ~ bsoo lou. IDlia. ba bu:

5) kjaun: dbu. mjpazajei: <Ia'Ia: ijaun: dha: bou' ke. I jei: 00' pa de kjaun: dbu 19U. jei: 100. ja. IDi1a: J.gaun: dba: bin. in: 11811. jei: lou.. roma ba bu:

dei: hi' zei: dhe dei: bi' zei: dhe dei: hi'

zei: dhe

b!hlu' tgktun: sho. t!khun: zei: hD!.ia dan pjan an:

101 .

thin gan: za (hse. lei:)

di th!ie' thi: balan' Ie:

di throe' thi: b!lau' Ie: t£!,loun: nga: ze ba zei: kji: de / ne: ne: shoo pei: ba takhun: zei: ba hou' la: / chau' loun: pei: ba di hma pai' hsan hnrua dan hnruwe' I lei: ja tftia pjan an: ba de

how much; how many perone to reduce; lessen; decrease a fixed price system value of 200 kyats to return change

'1 j js. (ra.) I is the twenty~seventh letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The

order of the strokes is as illustrated below.

F---

1 2 3

3i= ~ --

is

':' %

~~OYJG3~~(!) 0 H

c: 0

G~~::D2:: · Shopkeeper

~~oy)G3 Q II 0

Mr. c:

0

~:::DPO · Shopkeeper

I:: ~lDaY.)G3~~0

II>

Mr. <;: · G\!(j~::D~ ·

Shopkeeper (kyats).

J

103

Grammar & Usages

1. Auxiliary:' ~pei: '

It is easy to learn this pattern, if you know the verb' pei: ' means 'to give.' It is also used as an auxiliary verb which attaches to the verb to use when a speaker requests something for himself, or when he does something for

Please it (for me). buy itfm' me.

you Myanmar language. He \iVTote for me.

wash it me).

basic units currency IS

a kyat. the correct pronunciations Myanrnar currency.

pya I !

2 pyas I

f

3 I I i

/ I

/

/

i

1 kyat 2 kyats 3 kyats 4 kyats 5 kyats 6 kyats 7 kyats 8 kyats 9 kyats

/d~a'i / hnw<ja' / / thoun: gja' / / lei: gja' / / nga: gja' / / chau' kja' / / khun hnw<ja' / / shi' kja' / / kou: gja' /

104

10 kyats 20 kyats 30 kyats 40 kyats 50 kyats 60 kyats 70 kyats 80 kyats 90 kyats

/ t£!hse / I hn!!hse / / thoun: ze / / lei: ze / / nga: ze / / chau' hse / / khun hn!!hse / I shi' hse / / kou: ze /

"I kyat 25 pyas 1 ky~t 50 pyas 1 kyat 75 pyas

I dMja' hn!!hse. nga: bja: / (or) / d~a' twna' / / d~a' pya: nga: ze / (or) I d~a' khwe: / I dMja' khun hn~se. nga: bja: I (or) I hn.f!kja' rna' tin: /

100 kyats / tIDal 120 kyats I tilla hn~se / 1,000 kyats /t~taun / 1,200 kyats / htaun. hnilia I

10,000 kyats / t!lthaun: / 12,000 kyats / thaun: hnf!htaun / 100,000 kyats / t!lthein: / 120,000 kyats I t!lthein: hn~thaun: I

1,000,000 kyats I t~than: I 1,200,000 kyats I t~than: hni!thein: I 10,000,000 kyats /~ei/ 12,000,000 kyats I d§g@:dei hnS!,than: I

200 kyats I hn.!!ia / 230 kyats I hnrua. thoun: ze I 2,000 kyats I hn@,htaun I 2,300 kyats I hn!!htaun. thoun: ja I

20,000 kyats / hn~thaun: I 23,000 kyats I hn~thaun: thoun: daun I 200,000 kyats I hn.§thein: / 230,000 kyats I hni!thein: thoun: dhaun: I

2,000,000 kyats I hnilthan: I 2,300,000 kyats I hn.§than: thoun: dhein: I 20,000,000 kyats I~eil 23,000,000 kyats I hn~ei thoun: dhan: I

The word ' newel ' means 'silver' or 'money' (in coins or currency notes). 'pal' hsan' also means 'money.' For example:

ngwei tWlse pei: ba (or)

pai' hsan ts!hse pei: ba

ngwei nga: gja' shi. la: (or)

pai' hsan nga: gja' shi. la:

Please give me ten kyats.

Do you have five kyats.

105

DRILLS

Dl

1) hsIDa di sa ou' / shin: pja. (to explain) kjaun: dhuldha:: di sa ou' kou shin: pja. pei: ba

2) hSIDa sajwe' / jel: (to write) kjaun: dhuldha:: sajwe'hrnajei: pei: ba

3) hSIDa me' !mZin: / sha (to find; look for) kjaun: dhuldha:: me' !mZin: gou soo pei: ba

4) hSIDa rei dijou / hpwin. (to open; switch on) kjai.m: dhuldha:: rei di jou gou hpwin. pei: ba

5) hsIDa kje'tha: zei: / shoo (to reduce; lessen) kjaun: dhuldha:: kje'ilia: zei: shoo pei: ba

Dl

1) kjaun: dhu mj¥l1a zggfl:boun thin pei: ba (proverb) kjaun: <ilia: hou' ke. / thin pei: ba me

2) kjaun: dhu hmn: zi pan: we pei: ba (rose)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / we pei: ba me

3) kjaun: dhu zei: gou kh{!IW. thwa: pei: ba (a moment) kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / iliwa: pei: ba me

4) kjaun: dhu gpjin hmll kh!!na. saun. pei: ba (outside) kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / saun. pei: ba me

5) kjaun: dhu thfl:m{!da. gil: nan me goujei: pei: ba (president of a state)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / jei: pei: ba me

J



106

nggpjo: dhi: I 20 di ng~pjo: if1.lmm: b~lau' ~loun: hn~hse ba

sha' in: gill 525 di sha' in: gji tfl.hte b.§:lau' Ie: ~hte nga: ja hn~se. nga: gja'

shwei Ie' su' 15678 kja' di shwei Ie' su' d!!gwin: b~lau' Ie:

(banana)

(shirt)

nga: ja . .§:Sei' pa

ring) hsrua kjaun: kjaun: dha: d.§:gwin: nga: daun chau' ja hn.§:hse. pa

8) hsrua kjaun: kjaun: dha:

moun. hin: ga: 135 kja' (rice noodles with fish gravy)

9) h.sIDa kjaun: dhu kjaun: dha:

D4

kjaun:

2) hsIDa

di moun. hin: ga: dfl.bwe: b.§:lau' Ie: ~bwe: thoun: ze. nga: gja' pa

sajwe' 18 kja' pja: 50 di sajwe' tg}we' b.§:lau' Ie: truwe' sm' kja' pja: nga: ze (or) truwe' sm' kja' khwe: ba

lEse dan I hoIDwe' hse dan tmruwe' I hnWlse

hng,hse dan I thoun: jwe' kjaun: dhuldha:: dan jwe'j

3) hsrua ja dan I kjaun: dhuldha:: ja dan lei:

4) hsrua nga: ja dan I nga: kjaun: dhuldha:: nga: ja dan nga: jwe' 1

5) hsrua kjaun:

(paper)

( kyat

(20 kyat biB) ba

00 kyat biB)

(500 kyat nga: ba

(1,000 kyat

D5

1) kjaun: dhu kjaun: dha: kjaun: dhu kjaun: dha:





107

ko hpi ~we' bglau' Ie: ~we' thoun: ze. nga: gja' pa nga: gwe' pei: ba~<~'rr-" trua khun ~e. ~ga~ ~a'J~~

~.-:::,\~.,';-'

khe: dan ta~b;tlli: balau' Ie: tgchaun: g~e~Pa -~chaun: pei: ba nga: ze ba

!!khan: tgkhan: bglau' Ie: ~an: hnghtaun. nga: ja ba lei: gan: pei: ba tgthaun: ba

jou' shin Ie' hma' dgzaun b!!lau' Ie: dgzaun lei: ja ba khun hngsaun pei: ba hnghtaun. shi' ja ba

h@nin: ~bwe: b!!lau' Ie: ~bwe: hnIDa khun hnghse. nga: gja' pa hse bwe: pei: ba hnghtaun. khun hn,rua. nga: ze ba

dei: hi'

khin khin dei: bi'

-..... khin khin dei: hi' khin khin

108

thin gan: za (boo, nga:)

balau' wei: Ie: ......

di gao nei mjou. do khan: rna. ~ti. baJau' wei: Ie: te;k~5i ne. m~ni' hnE!hseCl~~kja de e: di. gou thwa: de. ba' 5~ka: m~hi. bu:la: shi. da 'po. / hse· m5!ui' d~i: ship de be gao nei 5i: ja. Ie: hIe: dan: gao nei si: ba

mjou. do khan: rna. b!lau'

the City Han about what distance~ about how far by taxi tel k!si ne.

mIni' hnahse lau' e: €Ii. gou hse mIni' d!zi: si: .

about 20.minutes to that place one (comes) every ten minutes to ride, to take (a bus), to get in

~!. wo. I is the twenty-ninth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of I the strokes is as illustrated below. I

o

('

~iO'Y.)G3:~~

Mr. David (' (' • ~ClCClC •

MaKhinKhin (' • ~iO'Y.)G3:~~ ·

Mr. David (' (' • ~ClCClC ·

MaKhinKhin

~iO'Y.)G3:~S Mr. David

(' (' • ~ClCClC • MaKhinKhin

109

:x>8s,:ro (~~) Lesson 15

<' <:' " ::J)OOGC\Y.)o) GO:(\) Ii

How far is it?

~ fR (' (' 0 (' -!;' " 3 mG; ~l. GO'Y.)Cl;:~3dro 0') O)GC\Y.)O?GO:ro II

How far is it from here to City Hall? Q, 0 <:' (' (' (' ~ c

()')<J?~;. ~;~ "~Q':)OOGC\Y.)m ey:>OOOOIl

. It takes about twenty minutes by taxi.

~~o? ~:o? 0')03~0Y.>: ~~0(:c\y'):11 Doesn't any bus go there? o ') co C (' 9 ~s ~O'Y.)GO.! II Q':)OO~;~ ()')~~: '.Il00WIl

Of course there is (a bus that goes there). One comes every ten minutes.

O')t0mG; ~:'lcOll Where do I have to get it?

(' (' 9'1 C\f2::!oo;:mG; ~:Olll Get it from Hledan.

:::D I tha. / is the thirtieth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the


1 2 3

:) ~ ~

I JO

Grammar & Usages

1. The Noun Modifier Ending: • - ~e.! teo ' and ' fme~7 i---J

In Myanmar language, the noun modifier functions in the same way that an adjective or relative clause lunctions in English. The noun modifier is put in front of the noun, and indicates a quality, quantity or degree of the noun it modifies.

The modifier endings which attach to a verb. The modified noun and the modifier phrase preceding the modifier endings fonn a noun phrase, and this noun phrase can function as subject, object, etc. in the sentence, just like any other nOli phrase. ' - de.! teo ' is the noun modifier ending for non-future time.

• - de. ' is used after the verb ending in a vowel with tone 1, 2 or 3. And I - teo ' is used after the verb ending in a vowel with tone 4 or glottal stop. For example:

Verb Modifier NOim <:-

Meaning' ending Modifiers

/"Kaun: de. kaun: de. good kaun: de. lu . hsoii: de. hsou: de. bad hsou: de. kjaun: dha: kji: de. kji: de. big kji: de. ein thei: de. thei: de. small thei: de. ~khan: lwe de. lwede. easy Iwe de. z~ga: khe' teo khe teo difficult khe' teo sa ou' shout teo shou'te. complicated shou' teo ~lou'

Actually, this modifier endings come from the (declarative) sentence final ending' ~del te '.

II /~ (di) lu kaun:@e/

v

.. t ~ ...... ~ --.. kaun:\de.lu

~~

[lhe man is good.] [good man]

III

I I .. ~ (di) ha hsou: de ---.. hsou: de. ha-.

-:---'-

[The thing is bad.]

I I ta na ka gjgpan gil. fa de

[Mr. TGftClka came from Japan.] [Mr. Tanaka who came from Japan]

, - me. ' is used foiforture time. For example: . '''<:::: -_/

dei: bi' bggan gou thwa: me bggangou thwa: me. dei: bi'

[Mr. David will go to Bagan.] [Mr. David who will go to Bagan.]

2. The suffix' -Iau'

The suffix is attached to time, place or quantity expresssion, which ask or answer the questions: 'what time?,' 'when?,' 'how long?,' 'how far?,' 'how much?,' 'where?,' etc. It indicates an approximate point in time, place or quantity.

Iu nga: jau' lau' la de nja. nei nga: na ji lau' thwa: me b~Jau' lau' nei m~le: be nei ja lau' hma shi. m!!le: be do. lau' lou' mf!,le:

About five people came. I'll go about 5:00 p.m. About how long will you stay? About where is it? About when will you do it?

112

DRILLS

Dl

1) hsrua ze~: k~~: / ka:, ~-:Q'Q kjaun: dhuldha:: .Z<:';L kJL de4 ka .. _"C:;

'tt:;::;",~,/jF:--.71

2) hsrua hla. ; mein: khS!lei:

3)

4)

5)

D2

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

kjaun: dhu/dha:: ... pla. de. mein: khS!lei:

hs~ja kjaun: dhuldha::

hsrua kjaun: dhu/dha::

hs~ja kjaun: dhu/dha::


kJaun: dhu kjaun: dha:

!gaun: dhu kjaun: dha:



pu I ja dhi u. duo pu de. ja dhi. u. duo

ei: / jei ei: de. jei -~

"--J . (0.',

shei ! khe: dan sheide. khe:dan

hou hma shi. de I e: di. ha gou thi. la: hou hma shi. de. ha gou thi. la:

mS!nei. gao sa: de I e: di. ha gao kaun: la: mS!nei. gao sa:~e·>~a. kall~: la:

, } ! ~

"". ..~) no sha nei de ! e: di. Iu ga."bS!dhu Ie: sha nei de. lu gao bS!dhu Ie:

thu thwa: de I e: di. nei ja gao be nei ja Ie: thu thwaC~~' nei Ja gao be nei ja Je: ,"-:..---1 ," #'~~. "~""'---~~.

113

DJ


m~nel hpjan thwa: me / e: di. nei ja gao ba le: m~el hpjan thwa: me. nei ja gao ba Ie:



4) kjaun:dhu kjaun: dha:


D4

dh~be' kha kji. me / e: di. jou' shin gao kaun: de dhgbe' kha kji. me. jou' shin gao kaun: de

nau' hni' thin me / e: di. ~a: ga. khe' te nau' hni' thin me. ~a: gao khe' te

lou'me / !!lou' sm. la: lou' me. ~lou' shi. la:

sa: me I !!S3: §Sa gou pjo: ba sa: me. !!S3: ~sa gou pjo: ba

1) hsrua na: htaun gjin de I ~chin: shi. la: kjaun: dhuldha:: na: htaun gjin de. th~hin: shi. la:

2) hsrua : mei: gjin de / mei: gun: gou mei: ba kjaun: dhuldha:: (]ileTgjin deJ(mei: gwpfgou mei: ba

:t:::::::.....:::~-=~4'>t, QI_.~J::::2:}.L "~<~~v~"c;~~C'"'~"" G,-.....' ~-:- l~ (:' \::\::~ ',.. ~, - '<

3) hsrua K-aza: gjinde I a: K-aza: gou pjo: ba kjaun: dhuldha:: K-aza: gjin de. a: K-aza: gou pjo: ba

4) hsrua kjaun: dhuldha::

hpa' chin de / sa ou' kou sha me hpa' chin de. sa ou' kou sba me

5) hsrua twei. gjin de / ~nge gjin: la la: kjaun: dhuldha:: twei. gjin de. th.&1ge gjin: la la:

114

DS

1) hs!ia jan goun gao nei man: ~lei: ~ti. b~lau' kja Ie: (lei jin bjan I ~ j"i lau')

2)

3)

4)

5)

D6

kjaun: dhuldha:: leijin bjan ne. ~ji~~j~ ba de - -,- --,-'

hs!ia

kjaun: dhuldha::

hsrua

kjaun: dhuldha::

hs!ia

kjaun: dhuldha::

hs!ia

kjaun: dhuldha::

bou gjou' zei: ~hti. b§!lau' kja Ie: (ba' ~ka: I m~' lei: ze lau') ba' ~ka: ne. m~i' lei: ze lau' kja ba de

b~ou: ~ti. be hn~naji kja Ie: (mi: j~hta: I t:!!naji gwe: lau') mi: j~ta: ne. t:!!na jt gwe: lau' kja ba de

~thein ~hti. be hnIDe' kja Ie: (thin: bo: I tIDe' lau' ) thin: bo: ne. tIDe'lau' kja ba de :-,:,:~,~~" ~'~r ~""L9 !::'";~' ein gao fiet kjaun: ~ti. be ~f kja Ie: (se' bein: I thoun: ze. nga: m~ni! lau') se' bein: ne. thoun: ze. nga: m~ni' lau' kja ba de

1) hs!ia pai' hsan ~lau'~~l!r:: Ie: shit ja. lau' shi' de

(shi' ja) kjaun: dhuldha::

- .,.' ' ,-, ,,:., ,,' ---.-~<.~~ .. >

2) hsWa be nei. tau' thwa;! male:)' kjaun: dhuldha:: t:!!nln: la nei. laliih;a:me

3) bsIDa thgnge gjin: b~au' lau' la Ie: kjaun: dhuldha:: nga: jau' lau' la ba de

4) bs§ja kjaw: dhuldha::

ko hpi b~we' lau' hma m~le: ~we' lau' hma me

(t:!!nin: la nei.)

(nga:jau')

(~we')

5) hsIDa' sa ou' b~ou' lau' hpa' chin Ie: (cbau' ou') kjaun: dhuldha:: sa ou' chau' ou' lau' pha' chin ba de

lIS

thin gan: za (hse. chau')

di nei. m,!nei. ga. de' pou pu de

dei: bi' khin khin dei: bi' khin khin

dei: bi' khin khin

pu tu m!!hni' ka. nwei tJ!hni' ka. hou' pa.

: di nei. m~ev.ga(d;'-~'pu de no : hou' te I ~e: ·ne:,p~~p.u'a¥n,~~Ju de' ; m~hni' ka.C-riwetga. j9-: pu fa: ? : hou' ke. 060 ~~~me:~ t~hni' ka. Iau' to. m~pu ba bu: t~i' ka. Ie: pu de !

: hou' pa. / ~hni' ka. do. ~pu zoun: ba

to be hot to be the same last year summer year before last ~ It is sure; of course

(J) / ha. / is the thirty-first letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of


1 2 3

C 0 (J) OJ

<' • ~~OO0G3:~Q) · Mr. David

<' '" • ~QCQC · MaKhinKhin

'" 0 B~OO0G3:~Q) • Mr. David

<' '" ~QCQC

MaKhinKhin

'" : ~i?OO0G3:~Q)

Mr. David <' <'

~QCQC

MaKhinKhin

116

:).)8Q)~:ro (~G) Lesson 16

3G~. ~~. moor/; qf{oouSll Today is hotter than yesterday.

Q '" os <' 3G,. ~G,o moom \()looWG'fJ

Today is hotter than yesterday, isn't it?

<' '" '" <' 0 "'" '" 0(00000011 ,~:,~: «)loooo,. Of2ooWIi

Yes, right. It seems a little hotter. <'

~'Q)m ~mG€p )l(\)'):11

Last summer was also hot, wasn't it. C"..... '1 " \:' ~ C'

0(000711 3!GO~ O')Q),Q)mGCD0mGOJ? ~)lOjt:1I

Yes, it was. But it was not as hot as the year before last. <:' <' <:' <'

ooQ)'Q)mC\J~: ~O')OOIl

Was the year before last that hot, too? <'1 <:'<:' .,

0(0')0.1 II ooQ),Q)mGO?? 3d~fX?:0! II

It sure was. It was the hottest (of the three).

~ / la. / is the thirty=second letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of

the strokes i~ as illustrated below.

1 3

117

Grammar & Usages

1. The Comparison: t -.. de'(bte' , ~'-i~----__ .

The particle ' ..... de'! hte' , 0E()!~,LJ.~~1J') is used as a standard of comparison, when both items of comparison are mentioned. And it is attached normally to the second noun of a comparison, and usually accompanied by , -- pou '(more).

, ..... de' , is used after the noun ending with tone 1,2 or 3. And ' ..... the' , is used after the noun ending with tone 4 or glottal stop.

The verb' pou ' means 'to be in excess; be more than what is necessary; be over and above the noun; to overdo.' But in front of the other verbs, it can be used as a preverb to mean 'more.' For example:

jan goun gao b~ou: de' pOD kji: de

NI (subject) N2 Verb (Yangon is bigger than Raga.)

truou' Z!!ga: gao mj~a ~a: de' pOD khe' te

NJ (subject) N2 Verb (Chinese is more difficult than Myanmar.)

The phrase ending with' - de'l hte' may occur before the subject of a sentence, making no difference in meaning, other than a slight change in emphasis. See the following examples, and note particularly the words to which the particle' ,.., de'l hte' is attached

leijin bjan gao ka: de' pOD mjan de

NI (subject) N2 Verb (/'he aeroplane is faster than the car.)

ka: de' lei jin bjan gao pOD mjan de

NJ NJ (SIlbject) Verb (/'he aeroplane is faster than the car.)

118

When only one thing or one quality is mentioned. and the other item of comparison is omitted, the prevarb I pOD I (more) is normally used. See the following examples:

di ha gao pOD bun: de hOll ha gao pou zei: kji: de in: wei' ~a: gao pou khe' te

This is better. That is more expensive. English is more difficult.

2. The sentence-final ending' ,..., ne. tu de '

The verb I tu ' means 'to alike; be the same; resemble.' The postpositional maker ' ..... ne. ' suffixed to a noun to indicate conformity (equivalent in usage to preposition 'in keeping with.' [The pattem'""4-- nee tu de ~ndicates resemblance or likeness: It is used

after the sentence ending with declarative sentence final particle' -de I for non-future time and' -me' for future time/action. For equivalent sentence, it can be attached to the noun. For example:

di ha gao kaun: de nee tu de mou: jwa de nee m de di nei. ja dhi u. duo ei: me nee tu de mou: jwa me neG tu de--di ha zei: kji: me nee tu de thu gao ~mei ri kan ne. tu de

3. The suffo: I ..., lau' ,

o It seems to be good. It looks like it was rain. Today the weather seems to be cold. It looks like it will rain. I think it will be expensive. He seems to be an american.

This suffix 9 -Iau' , is attached to nouns, and indicates extent or degree. The English equivalent of this pattern is 'to the extent of: 'as_IJluc~as,1 'equal to,' etc. For example:

di sa ou'~: hou sa out lflU' kaun: de kj~o 1e:'t5.u. lau' lou' hnainde

. <Ii ha gao h()u ha lau' m~la. bu: di em gao hou ein iail 'lcJi: la: m>jo: gao mei: iau' m~e' pa bu:

This book also is as good as that book. I can do as well as he . 'Thls is not as pretty as that. Is this house as big as that house? Speaking is not as difficult as writing.

119

4. The superlative: '! ••• V ••• zouo:lhsouo: '

In Myanmar language, I ! ••. V ... zouo:/ hsouo I is used when ,three or more items of comparison are mentioned. And this means 'the greatest degree.' ; ! I is regularly put before the verb. '- zouo:' is used aIte"r-lbe verb ending with tone 1, 2 or 3. And '- hsouo:' is used after the verb ending with tone 4 or glottal stop. For example:

!mJlll. zouo: the highest (one)

!thei: zouo: the smallest (one)

!touzouo:

!shei zouo:

zei: !kji: zouo:

zel: !PO: zouo:

sei' win za: zilla !kaun: zouo:

the shortest (one)

the longest (one)

the most expensive (one)

the cheapest (one)

the most interesting (one)

Actually, the function of this pattern is noun (phrase) and it is used in equational sentence type' N + N -i- balpa " Instead of polite particle I ~ bal pa I, we can use the emphasis particle I - be: I. For example,

di ruaun gao !ne' hsouo: ba

di nei. !pu zouo: be:

di sa ou' ka. !kaun: zouo: be:

di ha gao !hla. zouo: be:

This colour is the darkest.

Today is the hottest.

This book is the best.

This one is the prettiest.

This pattern can also be used as noun! verb modifier. For example:

g,kaun: zoun: sa ou' the best book

zei: {!;kji: zoun: ho te

g,hla. zoun: mein: ~lei:

di hsrua gao {!;kaun: zoun: thin pei: de

thu {!;mja zoun: lou' te

the most expensive hotel

the prettiest girl

This teacher teaches best of all.

He did it the quickliest.

120

DRILLS

D1

1) hsrua di ein I hou ein I than.. shin: (to be clean) kjaun: dhu/dha:: di ein gao hou eirCde'pou'than. shin: ba de

2) hsrua di Wchan: I hou !!khan: I lin: (to be bright) kjaun: dhuldha:: di !!khan: gao hou !!:khan: de' pou lin: ba de

3) hsrua mjei ill goun: I hle: dan: I wei: (to be far) kjaun: dhuldha:: mj~i ill goun: gao hIe: dan: de' pou wei: ba de

4) hsrua mj!!ma ZMa: I tgjou' z!!ga: I !we (to be easy) kjaun: dhuldha:: mj~ma z~a: gao truou' z!!:ga: de' pou lwe ba de

5) hsrua di Iu I hou Iu I hsou: (to be bad) kjaun: dhu/dha:: di Iu gao hou lu-cle;'imu hsou: ba de

D2

1) hsrua di ein ne. hou einJ)eei!i gao pou than. Ie: kjaun: dhuldha:: di ein gao pou thaif'ihin: ba de--

,:'.:>

2) hsrua di !!:khan:(~~10u ~khan: be ~: gao pou lin: Ie: kjaun: dhuldha:: di !!khan: gao pou lin: ba de

3) hsrua mjei ni goun: ne. h~:,Qan: be nei ja gao pou wei: Ie: kjaun: dhuldha:: mjei ill goun: gao pou wei: ba de ~-

4) hsrua mji!ffia ~a: ne. truou' ~ga: be ~a: ga pou lwe Ie: kjaun: dhu/dha:: mj!!ma ZMa: gao pou lwe ba de

5) hsrua di Iu ne. hou Iu be dhu gao pou hsou: Ie: kjaun: dhu/dha:: di Iu gao pou hsou: ba de

D3





5) 19aun: dhu kjaun: dha:

D4

1) hsilla kjaun: dhu/dha::



4) hsrua kjaun: dhu/dha::

5) hS§ja kjaun: dhu/dha::

121

du: jin: dhi: de' n~pjo: dhi: gou Q<>U kjai' la: -::::=--- ~,-

hou' ke. I du: jin: dhi: de' ngm>jo: dhi: gou pou kjai' pa de

~hpei de' wnei gou pou chi' la: hou' ke. / ~hpei de' ~mei gou pou chi' pa de

kjaun: dha: de' kjaun: dhu gao pou mja: la: hou' ke. I kjaun: dha: de' kjaun: dhu ga. pou mja: ba de

~.

sa ou' hie' khe: dan gou pou we ~~/ .. J .

hou' ke. / sa ou' the' khe: dan gou pou we me

~din: za de' me' ~n: gou pou hpa' m~la: hou' ke. / th~din: za de' me' g~in: gou pou hpa' me

ja dhi u. duo hsou: de ja dhi u. duo hsou: de ne. tu de

thu la me thu la me ne. tu de

hS§ja rna. nei m~kaun: bu: hsilla rna. nei m~aun: bu: ne. tu de

~mei ~ou' lou' nei de ~ei ~lou' lou' nei dene. tu de

thu b~an jan' hpu: ~e thu ~anjau' hpu: de ne. tu de

122

D5

1) hsrua di ha / hou ha / zei: m~ji: bu: kjaun: dhuldha:: di ha gao hou ha lau' zei: m~ji: bu:

2) hsrua wna. / ~ou / ma' m~jin. bu: kjaun: dhuldha:: ~a. gao ~ou lau' mal m~jin. bu:

3) hsma di khe: dan / hou khe: dan / m~hei bu: kjaun: dhuldha:: di khe: dan gao hou khe: dan lau' m~hei.bu:

'"-'-. .. _-"-/ ,

--" 4) hsrua

kjaun: dhuldha:: wu' htu. / me' !@rin: / sei' win za: zrua ~un: /bu;_~ wu' htu. gao me' gi¢n: lau' sei' win za: zrua mWcauri:~~:_~ .

:0

5) hsrua di ~: / hou .@khan: / m~je bu:

D6

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

kjaun: dhuldha:: di ~: gao hou!!khan: lau' m!!kje bu:






thme' t4i: ga n!mpjo: dhi: l~' m.@chQu bu: la: _ hill. iD::--/ thme' thl:ga. ngm>jo~ dhi: de' pou chou ba de

mji' kji: na: gao man: cWei: lau' m!!wei: bu: la: hill. in: / J1lji' kji: na: ga man: d!!lei: de' pou wei: ba de

b~ hin: gao nga: hin: lau' zei: m~ji: bu: la: hin. in: I ~ bin: gao nga: hin: de' pou zei: m.@kji: ba bu:

.@hpei gou wnei lau' ~hi' hpu: la: hin. in: / .@hpei gou wnei de' pou chi' pa de

kje' tha: hin: gou we' tha: bin: lau' m.@kjai' hpu: la: hin. in: I ) kje'tha: hin: gou we"'tha: hin: de' pou kjai' pa de

123

D7

1) hsrua di in: gji / zei: kji: de kjaun: dhuldha:: ;-di in: gji gao zei: ~kji: zoun: ba

-:::;;':""'","""

2) hsma di me' !@Zin: / sei' win za: zilla kaun: de kjaun: dhuldha:: di me' ~in: gao sei' win za: zrua ~aun: zoun: ba

3) hsrua thu / wa. de kjaun: dhuldha:: tim ~wa. zoun: ba

4) hsrua di hni' / pu de kjaun: dhuldha:: di hni' ~pu zoun: ba

5) hsrua di Iu / to de kjaun: dhuldha:: di Iu ~to zoun: ba

D8

I~"

1) hsIDa ~~ga. ~mjan zoun: Ie: kjaun: dhuldha:: lei jin bjan gao ~mjan zoun: ba

2) hsIDa be taun gao ~jin. zoun: Ie: kjaun: dhuldha:: ei w!P'a'taun gao .wnjin. zoun: ba

3) hsIDa : be kjaun: gao ~aun: zoun: Ie: kjaun: dhuldha:: (nain ngan gja: ba dha te' !Ladho~. ~aun: zoun: ba

4) hsma be dhu gao rua' ~jin. zoun: Ie: kjaun: dhu/dha:: mji' s~ta dei: bi' ka. ~jin. zoun: ba --..--> ----.----

-'

5) hsIDa be nei ja gao ~hla. zoun: Ie: kjaun: dhuldha:: in: lei: kan gao ~a. zoun: ba

~- ...

khin khin

dei: bi' khln khin d~i: bi' khin khin dei: bi'

b~dhu

124

thin gan: za (hse. khun hni')

koun dai'

---------;:-~'.---'.--.-.---. ~

nlanei. gao badhune.atu duo:, - ~' - '>.-~

(Tu. z~na. koun dai{~g2~~Ta: Ie: : th~nge gjin: ne. ~tu du th\va: ba d2 : ba\ve, ge. Ie: <sha' in: gii hla. hla. t~hte \ve ge. de

te' kasi ne. th\va: 1a: ------. --._------ - 1

hin. in: / mjan mjan l?n: S1!?ll'i !!?::Y~: ba de

who b~dhu ne. ~tu du koun dai'

with whom department store with (my) fIiend th~nge gjin: ne. ~tu du

sha' (in: gji) Ian: shau' thwa:

shirt (upper garment) on foot

i ! 3& / a. / is the last letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the strokes i

; is as illustrated below. I

1 2 3 1----------'

I I

3

c: c: {:}~c~c

Ma Khin Khiri. c:

{:} <E (Y)')G3 : e> ~

Mr. David

~KhinKhin c:

{:}<E(Y)')G3:e>~

Mr. David

MaKhin Khin c:

{:}<E(Y)')G3 :e>~

:Mr. David

125

JJ~~~:ID,) (:)() Lesson 17

C' 0 C'

O?@~ O?~O(m

Yuzana Department Store

c: '- c:oc:o '-{:}G'i'. m ::nillJ)f'i'. 3d Of? Of? OY@'i'~~'i'O(mO? ~~c\)1I \Vith whom did you go to the department store?

c: c: '- 'I c: J)fCill~C:'i'. 3d Of? Of? ~:Ol 0) ill II

I went (there) with (my) friend. c: '- '-

JY) Oill~c\)11

Wnat did you buy;) i:: &d c: c: c: '- c:

11.03'd0iJC?C? 0)0CO~ OOJ~C0illll

I bought a beautiful shirt. G,

C0<J50'i'. ~:C\)'):II

Did you take a taxi? c: c: ~ c:~ c: c: c: 'I c:

(J)~3'dC:1 ~'i'~'1' c\){:}:GC9Pm~:olC0illll

No, I went (there) on foot quickly.

: 3d / a. " is also the frrst in the set of twelve vo\-vels traditionally taught in

1 the learning of Myanmar language. The order of the strokes is as illustrated I below. I

1 2 3

3

126

Grammar & Usages

1. The particle: ! ~ ne. I

The postpositional particle ' ne. ' is suffixed to a noun to indicate the instrumental case (equivalent in usage to adverb 'with'). For example;

ba' s~ka: ne. thwa: de da: ne. hpja' te

(1) go by bus. (I) cut (it) with a knife.

The particle I ~ ne. I is also used to link nouns in coordination. The last noun is followed usually by the topic particle' - ga.lka. (do.) " the object particle ' - goul kou " etc. This particle never links verbs, adjectival, or adverbial. For example;

thwa: dai' hsei: ne. dh~bu' tan (gou) we ge. de (I bought some toothpaste and tooth-brush.)

mj;!ma ~a: ne. in: ~lei' 23---£a: ne. tillou' ~a: (ne.) gao khe' te (Myanmar, English and Chinese are difficult.)

As an independent word, ! !!tu dt! ' means 'together, along )1'fth, in company IvftlL'

The particle ! ~ ne. I with' ,!!tu du ., preceded by nouns, indicates accompaniment, association 9r relation. For example;

-~--:"<

akoune:--~tu du'lan: shau' te ji: za:ne.:;~t~(f~ nei. Ie za sa: de b~dhu ne. !!tu du nei Ie:

2. The particle: I - ge./ khe. '

I took a walk with my elder brother. I ate ''lith my boy girl friend. With whom do you stay?

This particle is suffixed to verbs to emphasize definitiveness of an action or condition. ',.., ge.· is used after the verb ending with tone L 2 or 3. And < khe.· is used after the verb ending with tone 4 or glottal stop.

For example: ~-- - -- - -"-

m~ne"hpjan 1a ge. ba !!kjein gjein hpa' khe. de

Please, do come tomorrow! (Definitely) I have read (it) sel'el'al time.

127

3. Adjectivals and adverbials in Myanmar language

There are three parts of speech in Myanmar languge. They are noun, verb and particle. Myanmar has neither adjectives nor adverbs by nature. By means of the processes such as affixation and reduplication, the adjectivals and adverbials that the word functioning like adjectives and adverbs.

K When a preftx ' ~ , is affixed to (some) simple verb(s), the prefixed verb will :....--

become a derived word (or noun) and thal deIived \vord will function as an adjectival or adverbial. For example;

Verb Deri~'ed Word Adjecti~'all A~'erbial

mjan [N] ~mjan [Adi] ~mjan ka (express bus) (to be quick) (quickness) [Ad\'] gmjan thwa (Go quickly!)

ni [N] ani [Adj] b: !lui (red car) (to be red) (red colour) (Ad\'] ani che (Paint red!)

pjo: D'-l !pjo: [AdJ1 .!!pjo: za-E,a l spoken language)

(to speak) (spoken)

\\Then a verb is reduplicated, i.e. pronouncing a verb twice, a reduplicated form of the verb will be formed. And this word will function as an adjectival or adverbial. For example;

Verb

hla. (to be pretty)

ni (to be red)

wa. (to be full)

shin: (to be clear)

Reduplicated AdjeeJi}'a1' Adverbial Word

hla. hla. [Adj] pan hla. hla. lbeautlful Hower)

ni ni

wa.wa.

shin: shin:

[Adv] hla hla. wu' (Wear beautifully')

[Adj] ka: ni ni [Adv] ni ni che

[Adj] 1u wa. wa. [Adv) wa. wa. sa

(red car) (Paint red')

(a tall tree) (Eat to be full!)

[Adj] [Adv]

9,than shin: shin: (8 clear voice) shin: shin: PJo: (Speak clearlyl)

Dl

1) hsilla kjaun: dhuJdha::

2) hs~a 19aun: dhu/dha::



128

DRILLS

hs~ja / sa kji. dai' kou thwa: de hs~a ne. ~tu du sa kji. dai' kou thwa: de

~ou I jou' shin kji. de ~kou ne. ~tu du jou' shin kji. de

th~nge gjin: i jan goun hma nei d~~_~ ._ th~ge gjin: ne. ~tu du jan gounium(riei de

<'>._.~~_.W'_ ,,_ .. _~" -

u: lei: ;' ~lou' lou' te u: lei: ne. ~tu du ~Iou' lou' te

5) hsrua ji: za: I nei. le za sa: de kjaun: dhu/dha:: ji: za: ne. atu du nei. Ie za sa: de - .---.•. : ..... __ ....

D2

1) hsilla manei. gao thu la de . / kjaun: dhuidha::

- /,- ..... _i/

~ei. gao thu 1~ ge.jde'\ ( \-_/

2) hsilla ~lou' lou' pi: hi ~jaun: dhuldha:: ~ou' lou' khc. pi: bi

3) hsilla m~e' hpjan zei: th\va: me kjaun: dhuldha:: m~ne' hpjan zei: thwa: ge. me

4) hsilla sa hpa' pa kjaun: dhuldha:: s~'khe. ba

-5) hsrua thu. gou r.jo: la:

kjaun: dhwdha:: thu""gou pjo: ge. 1.1: --:'#=. ~

129

D3

1) hs!!ja el: \ //

(to be cold) kjaun: dhw'dha:: ~el: ./ (coldness) t--.

2) hsilia chou' (to put in custory) kjaun: dhuJdha:: ~chou' (imprisonment)

3) hs~ia Jaun: (to sell) kjaun: dhw'dha:: !laun: (sale)

4) hs;tia hmaun (to be dark) kjaun: dhu/dha:: ~un (darkness)

5) hsilia PJan (to return) kjaun: dhuJdha:: ~PJan (a return)

D4

1) hsilia ~ei: / da' (gas)

kjaun: dhUldha:: ~ei: da' (cold gas)

2) hs~ja ~chou' I khan: (room) kjaun: dhuldha:: £!chou' khan: (prison cell)

3) hs~ja iliaun: ! s!]jei: ( clerk) kjaun: dhuldha:: !Iaun: S~lel: (sale clerk)

4) hsilia Wunaun; nja. (night) kjaun: dhw'dha:: £!hmaun nja. (dark night)

5) hsilla £!pjan / Lan: (way) kjaun: dhw'dha:: £!pjan Ian: (the way back)

130

D5

1) hsilia hse: lei' I ~tou (cheroot! shortness) kjaun: dhuldha:: hse: lei' ~tou (a short cheroot)

2) hsilia tain! ~hei (pole! length) kjaun: dhuldha:: tain ~hei (a long pole)

3) hsrua pei' i ~pa: (cloth I thiness) kjaun: qhu/dha:: pei' ~pa: (a thin piece of cloth)

4) hsilia b~an i gloun (cup; saucer I roundness J

kjaun: dhuldha:: b~n ~loun: (a cup; a bowl)

5) hsilia pin Ie; ~ne' (sea / depth) kjaun: dhuldha:: pin Ie ~ne' (the depth of sea)

D6

1) hsilia • I rue: I sun. (brevery / to risk)

kjaun: dhuldha:: ~ie: sun. (Risk bravely!)

2) hsilia ~hla. I pan (beauty ,I to stick a flower ort the head)

kjaun: dhuidha:: ~hla. pan (Stick it beautifully!)

3) hsilia ~mje: i la (always;' to come) kjaun: dhuldha:: ~mje: la (Come alwaysO

4) hS!la ~mjin. ! te' (height / to climb) kjaun: dhu/dha:: ~mjin. te' (Climb high!)

5) hsrua ~hman / pja. (correctness / to show) kjaun: dhuidha:: ~hman pja. (Show correctly!)

131

D7

1) hsilia nge (to be small) ~aun: dhuJdha:: nge nge (rather small)

2) hsilia hte' (to be sharp) kjaun: dhuldha:: hte' hte' (rather sharp)

3) hsilia mJIIl. (to be high) kjaun: dhuJdha:: mjin. mjin. (rather high)

4) h'>ilia wa (to be yellow) kjaun: dhuJ dha:: wawa (yello",ish)

5) hsilia ne' (to be black) kjaun: dhuJdha:: ne' ne' (blackish)

D8

1) hsilia !iwe I nge nge (size) kjaun: dhuldha:: ~we nge nge (a rather small size)

2) hsilla {!//twa: I hte' the' (blade) ~aun: dhuldha:: ~thwa: hte' hte' (a rather sharp blade)

3) hsilia /hi' pin ,I mjin. mjin. (tree) kjaun: dhu/dha:: thi' pin mjin. mjin. (a rather high tree)

4) hsilia pan: i wa wa (flower) kjaun: dhuJdha:: pan: wa wa (a yellowish flower)

5) hsrua zf!.bin ! ne' ne' (hair) kjaun: dhu!dha:~ ~bin ne' ne' (blackish hair)

D9

1) hsilia kjaun: dhu/dha::


3) hsilia kjaun: dhuidha::

4). hsilia kjaun: dhuidha::


D 10


2) hs~ia kjaun: dhu/dha::

3) hsilia kjaun: dhuldha::

4) !lsilla kjaun: dhuldha::


hman hman / jei: hman runan jei:

ne: ne: I thau' ne: ne: thau'

mjan mjan / shau' mjan mjan shau'

mja: mja: Ihtc. mja: mja: hte.

.. . m: m:, nel . . . m: m: net

kaun: kaun: gaun: pjo:

hpjei: hpjei: bjei: thwa:

kje kje gje 0

hpjaun. hpjaun. bjaun. lou'

kji: kji: gji: jei:

132

(correctly ! to write) (Write correctly!)

(a little bit I to drink) (Drink a little bit!)

(quickly I to walk) (Walk quickly!)

(many i to put) (Put it many!)

(rather near i to stay) (Stay near!)

(to be good) (Speak well!)

(to be slow) (Go slowly!)

(to be loud) ----(Shout loudly!)

(to be straight) (Do straight forwardly!)

(to be big) (Write rather big!)

an introductory course in myanmar

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