| be | v.imp. |
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| ble | v.s.hypo. | |
| mera | cont. | mei er a |
merekung
/merkung | v.i.pred. | is about to come or arrive. |
mermang
/meremang | v.inch. |
|
mlei
/mle | v.past | came; arrived.
|
| mlera | cont. | mlei er a |
| be kbong | expr. | goodbye; I'm leaving. |
me e mong
/memong | expr. | pass by; go on; "(in a direction) towards me and then keep going (past me)." |
| nguu el mei | expr. | bring. |
| ta el buil er mla me e mong | expr. | one month ago. |
Examples: |
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> If you can't, let me know and I'll find someone who can. |
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> Goodbye, see you tomorrow. |
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> Droteo and Toki are on very good terms. |
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> Toki and Droteo each have separate house. |
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> Sam and Pat are quarrelling. |
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Proverbs: |
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> Like Ngiramesemong, rehashing what has been finished. Pertains to a person who repeatedly reminds another of past favors or continually recalls the mistakes of others. (My sources no longer recalled the episode or story from which this idiom derives.) |
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> The heart and assessment. This might better be translated, "Assessment with knowledge." The mind or head is thought to be the locus of knowledge in Palau, but such knowledge is made useful or is measured with the heart (reng). Chodab, in this context, would appear to mean "to take stock of" or "to measure." In essence, then, the phrase cautions one who seems on the point of making a rash decision to temper his thoughts with his heart. |
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> Bitter and salty. The strategy of "doing things the hard way." When alternatives are available, the appropriate choice is the more difficult one. In voice, expression, and action there is a positive accent on personal ability. |
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> When the purple swamp hen appears, it brings remembrance There is a song (Oumachas) from which this saying derives: Once there was a young couple who made love in a secluded spot in the taro garden. While they were lying together a purple swamp hen darted out of the brush startling the couple. Eventually love cooled, but thereafter whenever the girl saw a purple swamp hen while she worked in the gardens, she recalled her lover. Hence any occurrence that brings back fond memories. |
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> Are you the son of Redechor is that why you're standing around so much? |
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More Examples: |
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> These clams just released their eggs. |
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> Yes, they have blue, white, and red. |
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> What was the day before yesterday? |
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> Why are you making fist, wanna get smacked? |
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> Palauan language is limited and there are many foreign words being used. |
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