ᦁᦱ2ʔaa⁴ᦓᦱᧈ2000final particlea final particle used with wh- questions. [Note: The pronunciation assimilates to the final consonant of the preceding word.]ᦊᦴᧈ ᦑᦲᧈ ᦺᦐ ᦁᦱ.Where is it?ᦂᦴ ᦌᦹ ᦺᦢᧉ ᦶᦑᧉ ᦓᦱᧈ.Why am I so stupid?ᦂᦲᧃ ᦉᧂ ᦁᦱ.What are you eating?9.4.3.3Interrogative 9.2.3.4Question words
9.2.3.4. Question words
ᦂᦲᧈ1kii²5001interrogative pronounhow manyᦚᦱᧃ ᧟ ᦙᦲ ᦂᦲᧈ ᦀᧃ?How many pencils have you sharpened?ᦀᦸᧅᧈ ᦂᦲᧈ ᦆᧄᧈ?What is the date (how many days is it)?9.2.3.4Question words2numeralhow manyᦙᧃ ᦓᧇ ᦉᦸᧃᧈ ᦩᦻ ᦓᦲᦰ ᦈᧅ ᦂᦲᧃ ᦂᦲᧈ ᦞᧃ.He calculated how many days it would take to eat the buffalo.ᦢᧁᧈ ᦣᦴᧉ ᦂᦲᧈ ᦗᧃ ᦔᦲ.I don't know how many thousands of years.8.1.3.1Many, much3numeralseveral; a fewᦓᧂᧈ ᦌᧁ ᦢᦱᧈ ᦌᧁ ᦶᦣᧂ ᦂᦲᧈ ᦵᦑᦲᧈ ᦅᦸᧉ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦶᦕᧁ ᦵᦑᦲᧈ.They had rested several times (on the journey) but they still weren't there.8.1.3.2Few, little
ᦈᦱᧈ1caa²2000final particlea particle used with questions (both yes/no questions and wh- questions)ᦓᧄᧉ ᦟᧄ ᦺᦞᧉ ᦈᦱᧈ?Does that water taste good?ᦈᧅ ᦺᦔ ᦑᦲᧈ ᦺᦐ ᦈᦱᧈ?Where are you going?9.4.3.3Interrogative 9.2.3.4Question words
ᦉᦹᧈᦣᦹsɯɯ²hɯɯ⁴interrogative pronounhow (expresses strong emotion)ᦑᦱᧃᧈ ᦉᦹᧈ ᦣᦹ ᧞ ᦙᦱ ᦏᦹ ᦈᧇ ᦶᦃᧃ?How is it that you are holding her hand?ᦖᦴᧈ ᦀᦹᧃᧈ ᦉᦹᧈ ᦣᦹ ᦅᦸᧉ ᦈᧅ ᦧᦾ ᦣᧁ ᦊᦴᧈ ᧞.How jealous the others will be of us!ᦙᧃ ᦉᦹᧈ ᦣᦹ ᦅᦸᧉ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦋᦱᧂᧈ ᦎᧂᧉ ᦺᦈ ᦵᦣᧆ.There is no way that he could have done it intentionally.9.2.3.4Question wordsᦣᦹ
ᦉᧂ1saŋ¹ᦌᦱ25001interrogative pronounwhat; whichᦂᦲᧃ ᦉᧂ?What are you eating?ᦈᧁᧉ ᦙᧃ ᦋᦹᧈ ᦉᧂ?What is your name?9.2.3.4Question words2interrogative pronounwhyᦩᦻ ᦷᦎ ᦓᦲᦰ ᦉᧂ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦙᦲ ᦃᧁ ᦣᦱ?Why does this water buffalo have no horns?9.2.3.4Question words3demonstrative pronounany; anything; somethingᦙᧃ ᦅᦸᧉ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦞᦱᧈ ᦅᧄ ᦉᧂ.She didn't say anything.ᦙᦹᧂ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦙᦲ ᦑᦲᧈ ᦷᦜᧈ ᦉᧂ.You don't have any desirable qualities.ᦵᦗᦲᧃᧈ ᦙᦲ ᦉᧂ ᦅᦸᧉ ᦋᦱᧂᧈ ᦣᦸᧂᧉ ᦺᦔ ᦡᦾᧉ.When they have something they will call you to go eat.9.2.3.2Indefinite pronounsᦎᦱᧄᦉᧂᦑᦲᧈᦉᧂᦵᦓᦲᧉᦐᧂᦙᧂᦉᧂᦔᦲᧃᦉᧂᦵᦖᦲᧃᦉᧂᦢᧁᧈᦉᧂᦵᦣᧆᦉᧂ
ᦋᦱ1caa⁴2000final particlea particle used with wh- questionsᦆᦲᧂ ᦙᦲ ᦑᦲᧈ ᦵᦈᧇ ᦺᦖᧉ ᦺᦐ ᦋᦱ?Where do you hurt?ᦈᧅ ᦂᦲᧃ ᦓᧄᧉ ᦉᧂ ᦋᦱ?Why does he want to drink water?ᦙᦲ ᦟᦴᧅ ᦂᦲᧈ ᦍᦲᧂ ᦂᦲᧈ ᦋᦻ ᦋᦱ?How many daughters and sons do you have?9.4.3.3Interrogative 9.2.3.4Question words
ᦌᦹsɯɯ⁴5001interrogative pronounwhy; how. [Note: This marks rhetorical questions that express surprise or criticism.]ᦌᦹ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦵᦎᦲᧄᧈ?Why aren't you helping us?ᦺᦂ ᦉᧄᧈ ᦓᦲᦰ, ᦔᦹᧃ ᦌᦹ ᦋᦱᧂᧈ ᦷᦔᧆ ᦣᦸᧆ ᦣᦱ?From this distance, how could an arrow reach it?9.2.3.4Question words2pre-verbcertainlyᦵᦉ ᧞ ᦆᦲᧂ ᦍᧄᧈ ᦺᦉᧈ, ᦌᦹ ᦅᦸᧉ ᦈᧅ ᦗ ᦟᦱᧆ ᦑᦱᧁᧈ.If you step on (the slippery rocks) you will certainly slip and fall.9.4.4.1Certainly, definitelyᦵᦣᧆᦌᦹ
ᦐᦲᧈnii²500final particlea particle used with wh- questions [Note: This is usually used with a rhetorical question. Often the speaker is setting up for their own answer to the question.]ᦈᧅ ᦵᦣᧆ ᦡᧂᧈ ᦣᦹ ᦣᧅ ᦉᦱ ᦕᦳᧄ ᦷᦠ ᦠᦹᧉ ᦡᦲ ᦐᦲᧈ?How does one keep one's hair looking good?ᦕᦴᧉ ᦉᦳᧂᧈ ᦟᦻ ᦍᧂ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦙᦱ ᦵᦑᦲᧈ, ᦞᧃ ᦓᦲᦰ ᦑᦱᧃᧈ ᦙᦱ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦙᦱ ᦐᦲᧈ?The mailman hadn't come yet. Would he come today?ᦘ ᦍᦱᧆ ᦋᦰ ᦓᦲᦰ ᦟᦴᧅ ᦀᦸᧃᧈ ᦋᦱᧂᧈ ᦔᦸᧈ ᦙᦲ ᦜᦻ, ᦔᦲᧃ ᦶᦎᧈ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦉᧂ ᦐᦲᧈ?Many children get this disease. Where does it come from?ᦵᦔᧆ ᦔᦲᧃ ᦉᧂ ᦋᦱᧂᧈ ᦟᦾ ᦓᧄᧉ ᦺᦂᧈ ᦆᦹᧃ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦋᦱᧂᧈ ᦟᦾ ᦐᦲᧈ? Why can ducks swim but chickens can't?9.4.3.3Interrogative 9.2.3.4Question words
ᦺᦐ2naj¹5001interrogative pronounwhereᦶᦎᧃᧈ ᦓᦲᦰ ᦟᦳᧅ ᦺᦐ ᦙᦱ?Where does electricity come from?9.2.3.4Question words2demonstrative pronounwherever; anywhere; somewhereᦙᧃ ᦺᦔ ᦺᦐ ᦖᦱ ᦅᦸᧉ ᦋᦸᧄ ᦑᦲᧈ ᦠᧃᧉ. Wherever he goes the dog follows him.ᦑᦲᧈ ᦉᦳᧆ ᦙᦱ ᦙᧃ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦺᦔ ᦺᦐ.In the end he didn't go anywhere.ᦺᦆᧈ ᦓᧂᧈ ᦺᦐ ᦅᦸᧉ ᦓᧂᧈ, ᦺᦆᧈ ᦶᦀᧁᧈ ᦺᦐ ᦅᦸᧉ ᦶᦀᧁᧈ.If they want to sit somewhere they sit; if they want to go somewhere they go.9.2.3.2Indefinite pronouns3demonstrative adjectiveeach. [Note: Used with a classifier.]ᦖᦱᧅ ᦺᦙᧉ ᦙᦲ ᦓᧄᧉ ᦐᧅ ᦐᦽᧈ ᦺᦐ ᧕ ᦣᦾᧉ ᦵᦆᦲᧉ.The weight of each fruit is 500 grammes.ᦎᦴ ᦃᦾᧉ ᦅᦳᧃ ᦺᦐ ᦀᧁ ᦺᦝ ᦒᦱᧆ ᦂᦸᧂᧉ ᧚ ᦅᦸᧉ ᦀᦸᧅᧈ ᦵᦣᦲᧃ ᦵᦙᦲ.We each took a torch and left the house.8.1.5Allᦋᦲᧃᧉᦺᦐᦺᦐᦓᧃᧉ
ᦑᦲᧈᦉᧂtii⁵saŋ¹20001interrogative pronounwhatᦙᦹ ᦊᦲᧇ ᦺᦞᧉ ᦔᦲᧃ ᦑᦲᧈ ᦉᧂ?What are you holding in your hand?9.2.3.4Question words2demonstrative pronounany; anything; somethingᦢᧁᧈ ᦺᦡᧉ ᦵᦣᧆ ᦑᦲᧈ ᦉᧂ ᦠᦹᧉ ᦙᦹᧂ ᦓᦲᦰ.I haven't done anything to you.9.2.3.2Indefinite pronounsᦑᦲᧈᦉᧂ1
ᦑᧁᧈᦺᦡtaw⁵daj¹5001interrogative pronounhow much; how manyᦃᦻ ᦑᧁᧈ ᦺᦡ?How much are you selling it for?ᦓᧄᧉ ᦐᧅ ᦙᦲ ᦑᧁᧈ ᦺᦡ ᦋᦱ?How much does it weigh?9.2.3.4Question words2adjectiveso much; so manyᦐᦸᧈ ᦃᧁᧉ ᦑᧁᧈ ᦺᦡ.The number of rice shoots that there are.ᦢᧁᧈ ᦺᦋᧈ ᦍᦱᧅ ᦑᧁᧈ ᦺᦡ.It isn't so very difficult.9.2.3.2Indefinite pronounsᦑᧁᧈ1ᦺᦡ1
ᦔᦲᧃᦢᧁᧈᦉᧂpin¹baw²saŋ¹exclamationwhat's the matter? what is it?9.2.3.4Question words9.2.7Interjectionsᦔᦲᧃᦢᧁᧈᦉᧂ
ᦺᦕpʰaj¹5001interrogative pronounwhoᦺᦕ ᦈᧅ ᦵᦟᧂᧉ ᦟᦴᧅ ᦎᧁᧉ ᦂᦴ ᦓᦸ.Who will look after my children?9.2.3.4Question words2demonstrative pronounwhoever; anybody; each personᦺᦕ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦋᦱᧂᧈ ᦠᦱᧄᧉ ᦺᦕ.Nobody could restrain anybody.9.2.3.2Indefinite pronounsᦺᦕᦙᧃᦺᦕᦢᧁᧈᦑᦸᧈ
ᦺᦡ1daj¹ᦺᦤ5001demonstrative adjectiveany; whichever. [Note: Used with a classifier.]ᦅᦳᧃ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦞᦱᧈ ᦘᦱ ᦉᦱ ᦺᦡ ᦅᦸᧉ ᦠᦳᧄ ᦌᦹᧉ ᦵᦆᦲᧂᧈ ᦺᦑ ᦓᦳᧂᧈ ᦌᧄᧉ.People of any nationality, they all like to buy Dai clothing.ᦺᦔ ᦑᦱᧂ ᦺᦡ, ᦃᦲᧈ ᦅᦱ ᦷᦟᧆ ᦶᦂᧁᧉ.Whatever place they go, they ride in fancy cars.ᦅᧃ ᦟᦴᧅ ᦵᦣᧃ ᦷᦎ ᦺᦡ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦋᦱᧂᧈ ᦶᦎᧄᧉ, ᦆᦴ ᦉᦸᧃ ᦅᦸᧉ ᦉᧂᧈ ᦉᦸᧃ.If any student isn't able to write, the teacher teaches them.8.1.5.1Some2demonstrative adjectiveeach; per. [Note: Used with a classifier.]ᦞᧃ ᦺᦡ ᦠᦸᧄ ᦇᦹᧃ ᦺᦞᧉ.Each day she saved up some money.ᦙᦴ ᦺᦡ ᦺᦉᧈ ᦚᦳᧃᧈ ᧕ ᦂᦲᧃᧉ.Put on 5 jin of fertiliser per acre.8.1.5All3interrogative adjectivewhich. [Note: Used with a classifier.]ᦺᦃᧈ ᧒ ᦟᦴᧅ ᦓᦲᦰ ᦟᦴᧅ ᦺᦡ ᦈᧅ ᦔᦲᧃ ᦗᦴᧉ?Of these two eggs which will be a male?ᦔᦲᧃ ᦷᦎ ᦺᦡ ᦙᦱ ᦵᦣᧆ ᦠᦹᧉ ᦅᦸᧉ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦣᦴᧉ.She didn't know which one was doing this to her.ᦓᦱᧂ ᦑᧂ ᧓ ᦓᦲᦰ ᦕᦴᧉ ᦺᦡ ᦕ ᦵᦉᦲᧆᧈ ᦋᦱ?Of these three ladies which is the most excellent?9.2.3.4Question wordsᦅᦱᧈᦺᦡᦅᦳᧃᦺᦡᦶᦉᧃᦺᦡᦊᦱᧂᧈᦺᦡᦅᦸᧉᦡᦲᦵᦋᦲᧉᦀᦹᧃᧈᦑᦱᧂᦺᦡᦶᦎᧈᦺᦡᦑᧁᧈᦺᦡᦔᦱᧃᦺᦡᦺᦡᦓᧃᧉ᧚ᦺᦡ
ᦡᧂᧈᦣᦹdaŋ²hɯɯ⁴5001demonstrative pronounanything; whateverᦢᧁᧈ ᦋᦱᧂᧈ ᦵᦣᧆ ᦡᧂᧈ ᦣᦹ.He couldn't do anything about it.ᦵᦣᧆ ᦡᧂᧈ ᦣᦹ ᦅᦸᧉ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦋᦱᧂᧈ ᦅᦱᧃ ᦀᦸᧅᧈ.No matter what he did he couldn't climb out.ᦀᦻᧉ ᦓᦲᦰ ᦌᦹᧈ, ᦙᦲ ᦡᧂᧈ ᦣᦹ ᦅᦸᧉ ᦞᦱᧈ ᦡᧂᧈ ᦓᧃᧉ.This man was honest; whatever he had to say he said it.9.2.3.2Indefinite pronouns2interrogative pronounwhat; howᦵᦍᦰ ᦡᧂᧈ ᦣᦹ ᦈᦲᧂᧈ ᦋᦱᧂᧈ ᦷᦕᧆᧈ?What can we do to help?ᦜᧂ ᦆᦱ ᦶᦎᧄᧈ ᦉᧄᧈ ᦓᦲᦰ ᦡᧂᧈ ᦣᦹ ᦵᦟᧂᧉ ᦷᦣ ᦩᦻ ᦺᦡᧉ ᦣᦱ?The roof is so low; how will we be able to keep cattle in here?9.2.3.4Question wordsᦡᧂᧈᦣᦹ
ᦢᧁᧈᦉᧂbaw²saŋ¹ᦢᧁᧈᦌᦱ5001interrogative pronounwhat; why; howᦁᧃ ᦓᦲᦰ ᦔᦲᧃ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦉᧂ?What is this?ᦢᧁᧈ ᦉᧂ ᦟᦴᧅ ᦀᦸᧃᧈ ᦺᦠᧉ ᦂᦱᧂ ᦆᦹᧃ.Why do children cry in the night?ᦢᧁᧈ ᦉᧂ ᦈᧅ ᦺᦡᧉ ᦣᧅ ᦉᦱ ᦵᦃᧁᧉ ᦓᧄᧉ ᦓᦳᧄ ᦟᦴᧅ ᦀᦸᧃᧈ?How do you care for children's milk teeth?9.2.3.4Question words2demonstrative pronounwhatever; anything; somethingᦚᧃ ᦠᧃ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦉᧂ ᦔᦲᧃ ᦡᧂᧈ ᦓᧃᧉ.Whatever you dream, may it be like that.ᦈᧁᧉ ᦙᧃ ᦵᦔᧃᧈ ᦔᦲᧃ ᦃᦸᧂ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦉᧂ ᦅᦸᧉ ᦺᦡᧉ.You can change into anything you want.ᦶᦎᧄᧉ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦉᧂ ᦺᦉᧈ ᦺᦓ ᦗᦸᧇ.He wrote something in his book.9.2.3.2Indefinite pronounsᦢᧁᧈᦉᧂ1ᦔᦲᧃᦢᧁᧈᦉᧂ
ᦣᦱᧈ1haa⁵500final particlea particle used with yes/no questions. [Note: The /h/ is pronounced only following a vowel.]ᦡᦲ ᦡᦾᧉ ᦣᦱᧈ?Is it good to eat?ᦋᦱᧂᧈ ᦣᦱᧈ?Can you do it?9.4.3.3Interrogative 9.2.3.4Question words
ᦵᦣᧆᦌᦹhet⁵sɯɯ⁴20001conjunctionno matter how; in whatever wayᦵᦣᧆ ᦌᦹ ᦎᦲᧃᧉ ᦅᦸᧉ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦜᦳᧆ ᦺᦡᧉ.Now matter how he struggled he couldn't get out.9.6.1.5But2interrogative pronounhowᦵᦣᧆ ᦌᦹ ᦟᦹᧄ ᦣᦱ?How could I forget?9.2.3.4Question words9.5.1.4Way, mannerᦵᦣᧆᦌᦹ
ᦵᦣᧆᦣᦹhet⁵hɯɯ⁴2000interrogative pronounhow; whyᦙᦹᧂ ᦵᦣᧆ ᦣᦹ ᦣᦴᧉ?How do you know that?ᦵᦣᧆ ᦣᦹ ᦞᦱᧈ ᧟ ᦣᦱ?Why do you say that?9.2.3.4Question wordsᦵᦣᧆᦣᦹ
ᦣᦹhɯɯ⁴20001demonstrative pronounanything; somethingᦙᦹᧂ ᦊᦱᧈ ᦏᦱᧉ ᦞᦱᧈ ᦣᦹ ᦵᦎᦲᧉ.You don't have to say anything.ᦃᧁ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦋᦱᧂᧈ ᦵᦣᧆ ᦣᦹ ᦅᦸᧉ ᦺᦡᧉ ᦋᦴ ᦅᧄ ᦷᦈᧃ.They couldn't do anything and so they agreed to what the robbers said.9.2.3.2Indefinite pronouns2interrogative pronounwhy; what; howᦙᦹᧂ ᦣᦹ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦶᦎᧂᧈ ᦶᦔᧂ ᦊᦱᧁᧉ ᦵᦣᦲᧃ ᦵᦖᦲᧃ ᦵᦗᦲᧃᧈ ᦋᦱ?Why don't you build a house like everybody else?ᦢᧁᧈ ᦵᦣᧆ ᦡᧂᧈ ᦓᦲᦰ ᦆᦹᧃ ᦈᧅ ᦵᦣᧆ ᦣᦹ?If I don't do this, what should I do?ᦉ ᦗ ᦏ ᦂᦴ ᦅᦸᧉ ᦙᦲ ᦌᧄᧉ, ᦣᦹ ᦞᦱᧈ ᦢᧁᧈ ᦙᦲ.I have them all. How can you say I don't have them?9.2.3.4Question words3exclamationexclamation of doubt or ponderingᦣᦹ, ᦺᦈ ᦅᦳᧃ ᦋᦻ ᦌᦹ ᧞ ᦋᦸᧄᧉ ᦎᦲᧇᧈ ᦙᦱ ᦉᧄᧈ ᦀᦲᧉ.Hmm, how can the hearts of men be so narrow?ᦔᦲᧃ ᦷᦣ ᦑᦱᧃᧈ ᦶᦑᧉ ᦣᦹ?Is that really your cow?9.2.3.4Question wordsᦉᦹᧈᦣᦹᦞᧃᦣᦹᦡᧂᧈᦣᦹᦵᦣᧆᦣᦹ
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