Twelve Months

1. In Romanised Teochew (without Tone Indicators)

Zia`gued zia`, chia` kia` sai lai zio` thia`.

Ji gued ji, khan gu kia`lai chng phi`.

Sa` gued sa`, zui kng bo zui ua lai ta`.

Si gued si, bi an bo bi ua lai pi.

G`ou gued g`ou, sin se` ta` ziod pou.

Lag gued lag, ziam ta` kia` mua chan chad.

Chig gued chig, ou to ni, neg ai` pig.

Poid gued poid, khan tao tin tiad tao koid.

Kao gued kao, sin se` ta` lan zao.

Zab gued zab, sin bi png tio` pen mag.

Zab ig gued zab ig, kua` kao kha g`an, chiu kheg kheg.

Zab ji gued zab ji, kua` kao kha g`an, chiu boi hi`g phi`.

2. In Romanised Teochew

Zia`₃gued₁₀ zia`₃, chia`₄₂ kia`₄₂sai₅ lai₁₀ zio`₂₀ thia`₃.

Ji₂₀gued₁₀ ji₂₀ , khan₃ gu₁₀kia`₄ lai₁₀ chng₃ phi`₀.

Sa`₃gued₁₀ Sa`₃ , zui₄₂kng₃ bo₁₀ zui₄ , ua₄ lai₁₀ ta`₃.

Si₅₄gued₁₀ si₅ , bi₄₂an₅ bo₁₀ bi₄ , ua₄ lai₁₀ pi₅.

G`ou₂₀gued₁₀ g`ou₂, sin₃se`₃ ta`₃ ziog₁₀pou₂.

Lag₁₀gued₁₀ lag₁, ziam₃ ta`₃ kia`₄ mua₄₂ chan₁₀ chad₁.

Chig₀₁gued₁₀ chig₀ , ou₃ to₃ni₁ , neg₁₀ai`₄₂ pig₀.

Poig₀₁gued₁₀ poig₀, khan₃ tao₀tin₁ , tiad₀ tao₀koig₀.

Kao₄₂gued₁₀ kao₄, sin₃se`₃ ta`₃ lan₄ zao₄.

Zab₁₀gued₁₀ zab₁, sin₃ bi₄₂png₀ tio`₅₄ pen₀ mag₁.

Zab₁₀ig₀₁gued₁₀ zab₁₀ig₀, kua`₁₀ kao₅₄ kha₃ g`an₁, chiu₄ kheg₀₁kheg₀.

Zab₁₀ji₂₀gued₁₀ zab₁₀ji₂₀ , kua`₁₀ kao₅₄ kha₃ g`an₁ , chiu₄ boi₂₀ hi`g₀₁ phi`₀.

3. Direct Translation

First month first, invite son-in-law come go up hall.

Second month second, lead calf come pierce nose.

Third month third, water jar no water, I come carry (using shoulder pole).

Fourth month fourth, rice urn no rice, I came carry (using one’s arms).

Fifth month fifth, teachers carry (on shoulder poles) “stones” (meant rice dumplings given by pupils’ parents).

Sixth month sixth, sharp pointed shoulder pole, all over paddy field poke.

Seventh month seventh, black berries, longans cracked.

Eighth month eighth, lead bean creepers, pick bean pods.

Ninth month ninth, teachers carry (on shoulder poles) luggage run.

Tenth month tenth, new steamed rice stuff up to eyes.

Eleventh month eleventh, chilled till legs cold, hands curled curled.

Twelfth month twelfth, chilled till legs cold, hands unable blow nose.

4. Proper Translation

On (Chinese) new year day, invite son-in-law to the home.

In March, fix nose ring to calf.

In April, water jar has no water, I shall fetch (some water).

In May, rice bin has no rice, I shall fetch (some rice).

June, teachers are given lots of rice dumplings.

In July, search the paddy field (for frogs).

In August, berries and longans have over ripened.

September, tidy up bean creepers and harvest the bean pods.

In October, teachers go off with their luggage (i.e. go home).

In November, eat newly harvested rice till very full.

In December, chilled till legs are cold and hands curled (i.e. the weather is cold).

In January, chilled till legs are cold and hands unable to blow nose (i.e. the weather is very cold).

Note: I have translated “Second month second” as March, and so on, because Chinese calendar month is about 1 month after Western (Gregorian) calendar month. Chinese calendar is lunisolar, i.e. incorporating elements of a lunar calendar with those of a solar calendar. Each month in the Chinese Calendar has 29 or 30 days because each month follows one cycle of the moon. In order to prevent the Chinese calendar from getting out of phase with the seasons, a leap month is added after every 3 years (occasionally after 2 years) so that Chinese New Year is centred on 4^th February, but is adjusted to the 1^st day of the nearest month. Thus Chinese New Year falls on 4^th February ± 14 days.

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