Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

kmeed

, v.s.

near; close; approaching; basic.
kmeed a diak el cheroid; blik a kmeed er a skuul; kedel.

kakeed
/kaiuekeed

v.recip.

near each other.
kaiuekeed a didu el kmeed; diak le cheroid; blimam a kaiuekeed, kedel a blai er a rael.

kileed

v.s.past

almost; nearly (past tense).
kileed a mle kmeed; a kileed el ruebet, kedel.

kmedang

v.s.inch.

is getting near or close.
kmedang a mla mo kmeed; di kea le cheroid.

kmedung

v.s.pred.

is about to get near or close.
kmedung a kmedang.

See also: , ,

Examples:

Ak kmal mlo merur me ak di kileed el toker.

> I was so ashamed I thought I'd die.

Ng mla mo er ngii a kmeed el ta el sandei er a lekie er tiang.

> It's been almost a week since he's been staying here.

Ak kileed el merot er a mlai.

> I almost got run over by a car.

Ak kileed el mechoit er a skoki.

> I nearly got left behind by the plane.

A lsoal a rengum el me kmeed er a renguk, e ng di ua chad el soal el merael el mo er a chiloil el ngar er a chelmoll.

> When your heart wants to come close to my heart, it's like a person who wants to travel to the rocks in the reef.

Proverbs:

Msisichau e a tutau a kmedang.

> Be strong, morning is nigh.

Keep a stiff upper lip - things will improve (lit. morning is approaching). Encouragement to the depressed to take heart.

A isnged a di kmeed e diak dengetemii.

> Our nose is close (to the mouth), but cannot be licked.

i.e. we shouldn't be too sure of, or overconfident in, ourselves. The nose is very close to the mouth, but, no matter how reassuringly available, it cannot be licked by the tongue. The idiom cautions those who are careless with their possessions to be less assured about wealth.

Msisichau e ng di kmeed a meched.

> Be strong, shallows are close

Crossing the lagoon, a canoe is poled in shallow water, paddled in deep. The phrase refers to canoeists tiring after a long paddle over deep water. Applied when someone is about to give up, though better times are ahead.

Kmakm mechab: charm er a chab el kmeed er a ngau e diak lemedul.

> Like the insects which stays at ashes of fire but doesn't burn.

You're near a situation which needs immediate attention but you don't lend a hand.

More Examples:

Ng kileed e a kusebek a rengrir e le ak mlo meoud.

> I was close to worrying everyone as I was a little late.

Kileed e ak merot er a mlai el ngar er a rrat er ngak.

> I almost got ran over by a car riding my bicycle.

Bo mdengchokl el kmeed er a sechelim.

> Sit next (or near) to your friend.

A blimam a oikab el kmeed er a blil a charm.

> Our house is a bit closer to the zoo.

Ka mdort ailecha el kukau ngkung e ke ko er a kmeed.

> Would you clean them taros as you are closer to them.

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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