Grade 1 Characters (Nhng ch cp 1)

Characters in grade 1 cover 35% of all words found in regular Vietnamese writing.
Knowing these characters allows for understanding about 35% of contemporary
Vietnamese written in Chu Nom. Web http://www.chunom.org/
Nhng ch ny trong cp 1 chim 35% tng s ch c tm thy ph bin trong
vn vit Ting Vit. Hiu c nhng ch ny s gip hiu c khong 35% ni dung
ca Ting Vit khi c vit bng ch Nm

79 Characters (79 ch)

ti vi
ngi ng
khng
cho con
mt
mt c i
l m
c cng ra
ca trong li
v
ngi...

nhng...

n...

anh my... n

nh

v
vo
ci

thi...

n
c
cn
ri

b em t...
phi khi nm
mnh nh m
ni ch ...
cc y
hai g v
bit...
trn mi
ny...
thy s
ln
thy c...
lm
ch c

no
vn
ang
nhn

nhiu

lc
tay
ba
ba
ngy
hn

Grade 2 Characters
Characters in grade 1 + 2 cover 60% of all words found in regular Vietnamese writing.
Knowledge of these characters enables you to understand about 60% of contemporary
Vietnamese written in Chu Nom.
Nhng ch ny trong lpcp 1+ cp 2 chim 60% tng s ch c tm thy ph
bin trong vn vit Ting Vit. Hiu c nhng ch ny s gip hiu c khong
60% ni dung ca Ting Vit khi c vit bng ch Nm

232 Characters

sau hay hc th tin... cao vng

thm...
ting h... khc lng xem b
thng
qua tin tui... b hoa cha
chuyn
ai th... tin tn gia hoa
hng...
th chic tm tn nh xin hng
nng...
chng

tri
nghe th nh
yu gi b nh
theo ngi n si... chn b hm
rt n... bng cch yu... di b thch
mun
u ln... ci cch hiu p thch
ng
u ly bo li chnh my ng
ng bo... ngay chnh gi cu
nin...
mi cn v bt
nn tht... ng iu
b lm a t nu bc... mu
v s ng u... chu a... tnh su
i
ca ti
hoc
cng... ng xa ln nngoi...
s
vit di
vic... c... ng mi gi
phng
sng...

va nc hi

ch

i
chiu...

phng
rng trng cy
mt xe
bn hnh

tr

nhau ti ta ht trng...
i

o
hch...
mi...

y
sao qu
vui thng o mua thn
y bn
nay ti nht vn tnh
thnh
u mt
mt trng bay gip
thnh
cha bn
cuc... t t b
thng

chy
trc sng
k
xung

thnh

 b bng... bn
c do
thanh
m
dng...
thanh
ch gi
bn quan thanh
bn bn tri

tri
tu

nh...

gi
tm

trung to tt
mc cng by th
mai ung gia gian
d... ng nh n
khch
du...
tnh bao
xanh
m n
nhn

14 Compounds (14 song t)

chng ti

gia nh

bao gi

khng th

n b

c th

ngi ta

n ng

con gi

nh vy

by gi

nh th

tt c

thi gian

Grade 3 Characters
Characters in grade 1 - 3 cover 75% of all words found in regular Vietnamese writing.
Knowledge of these characters enables you to understand about 75% of contemporary
Vietnamese written in Chu Nom.
Nhng ch ny trong cp 1, 2 v 3 chim 75% tng s ch c tm thy ph bin
trong vn vit Ting Vit. Hiu c nhng ch ny s gip hiu c khong 75% ni
dung ca Ting Vit khi c vit bng ch Nm
Note: Grade 3 is only near-complete at this time! (Lu : Cp l ch thi im gn
nh hon thnh chng trnh hc ny!)

236 Characters

nguyn

th
qun
h bo
h tin
ma tin

c... ming
k
coi
k

hng
cm
thuc
em
c i...
lin
phn...
lin
thu
ch nh
chi ku

nam
sch
nhc
by bin
c gi
vit
bnh dn
bnh tip
bnh
mnh
bi

tr

thiu...

loi

dy
bao
kh
thay

kh...

bui
bc
v
an
ni
ph
cp

gi
xa
kim
i
da
i gp...
thi
th...
mi
mi... n
ch...
c
ni
hng pht
thuc
gy
hng thc
minh

tr hin l l
bn mu
nguyn

bn
d...
trang...
vin
khu t
trang
quc
trm
qun
bc sinh
cnh
chim trai
cnh
ty ton

cu
im

vt
ngh...

giy
cho

trng

trng

mng...

thit...

triu

min

ngha

sn

bnh

n
la

trn
ti
ti
ti
cng

anh

php
t
khp

tm
tng
dng
chn x
lp in
o
nghip
tc
bng
rng...

trnh

trn
trnh
b
tic
ban lan
hi
qu
b
ph
ct

d
tuy
m nghn...
i
ngn
c v
c to

tit...

th
th
th
th

 dy
cu
h

chu

chu

ng

my ht
truyn...
i u t nhiu
t tc
thuyn
gi
ngon
phi
o
non
hnh
li danh
non

nhm
phc
tc
gio
hi
cm...
thn
n...
nhn
kinh ty
phn

thoi

nhin

vin
c
ph

s
xy quyt
gii
c...

chc

khn

nhin

chng

vn

cm...

s...
t
thng

xut

90 Compounds

tr li

con ngi

tc gi

bn tay

i lm

in thoi

Vit Nam

cho bit

Hnh

nht l

anh em

cuc i

phc

th no

hm nay

con trai

tr li

gi l

bt u

nc mt

sau

nhn ra

ti sao

bao nhiu

u tin

chng ta

lm cho

no

lm g

thnh ph

tnh yu

cng ty

t nhin

cm thy

mt ln

tr v

bc s

nhn thy

sinh vin

mt lc

sau ny

b con

xy ra

trc khi

bnh vin

trc mt

vn

nu

khng

tip tc

t chc

anh ch

i hc

tnh cm

hc sinh

cha m

H Ni

u c

cn li

x hi

con b

c ph

trong khi

ra i

ng b

nh ti

quan

kh khn

ch em

trng

ni

c quan

hm sau

b m

chuyn

ca s

thc hin

chng

s dng

trnh

vy m

th gii

quyt
nh

thay i

c bit

tuy nhin

li

ngy xa

Grade 4 Characters

ng gi

tr nn

xin li

kinh t

thng tin

i chi

xut hin

Characters in grade 1 - 4 cover 90% of all words found in regular Vietnamese writing.
Knowledge of these characters enables you to understand about 90% of contemporary
Vietnamese written in Chu Nom.
Note: The list of characters and compounds in grade 4 is not complete at this time!
When ready this grade will contain about 500 characters.

191 Characters

giao m vin gia da hnh gii s...

m c gia hn lc s
cm...
dy tc tt
lm mm tm
nhin

quang
a ng tt nh...
thng
lut quan nhp s by

ch
kh dch khu v

thng
th
gian

th d t ci trphm hu mc
trong
phng
vn
thp

tim
chc

hn
chia
nh

ho

thin
ton
nguy
s
chin
bt vng
ch
kin
qu
xy nht tiu sc
phm
nm
dc...
n khn s u hp ho tra ng

cn
gii tng liu u tht dng
c...
lng
tinh c kt vc hn a
nhiu

in...
hng

xut
cp
qunh
quyn
l

x
si tr hp vua nng si
p phng
c vng...
tham
lnh...

vng
ngn
khoa bng
tr

lun quyt
tr dt tham cng thi ty
ch pht hnh thng chng kin
tiu
thng

 st du
lch sn
h
ngi

doanh
gip trin
th

h him
tr dc
th
nghin
thm
thut
doanh
hy ch sn tp th
thut
lch

t
t

hi
chi
k
khi
k ngn
nim
t

tin

tng

214 Compounds

nghin

cng an

i qua

chia s

quc gia

gio vin

cu

khoa hc

yu cu

cu hi

pht trin

i sng

bnh

khng kh

duy nht

c iu

nh vn

l do

thng

nh

nht nh

t do

khng sao

cho

tham gia

khng

bui sng

thm ch

hm qua

xy dng

khu vc

gii thch

bo v

cm n

r rng

pht hin

vic lm

cnh st

i ra

nhn vin

doanh

c khi

cng tc

khi no

hy vng

sn xut

bit bao

nghip

nh nc

chia tay

nh th

sn phm

nh ca

bui ti

nh li

b i

nh

n ni

cch

ngy nay

hng

mng

tr con

thnh

cng

gi tr

m thanh

lin quan

ni l

chnh ph

ng

h thng

ngy

tt nhin

thng

o di

d sao

i b

phng

khch

ngh

qu trnh

thut

ting ni

gii quyt

dch v

hc tp

ngy sau

th trng

nh hng

ca hng

nguy

him

v tr

gi y

hin nay

ngha v

gio dc

qun i

tinh thn

mi

d n

trng

thng

ban u

trng

hp

tui tr

nh l

kin

nhng m

iu tra

kt qu

iu kin

n cm

ch

h tr

minh
qun s

d thng

c th

bit u

lch s

quc t

nh ra

chnh

ti chnh

thc

chy theo

b trng

ng i

tm l

thng bo

kinh

b i

t nht

doanh

k thut

nhn dn

hin ti

th tng

nh gi

th gi

ngha

thn th

y t

hc hnh

tiu hc

hay sao

cng

ngh

nh

lc lng

chnh tr

ch nht

tin s

hin i

hi hn

chi tit

ngn ng

thy gio

chin u

nhn

tin bc

i hi

thay v

t tng

truyn

bng n
Hoa K

mc du

trng

con mt

hng

hnh

phn i

cng

tnh hnh

phi

phn bit

cy s

gio s

t khi

lut s

ngn

khu ph

mu sc

ra vo

c l

th k

c thn

nghe li

s lng

mt t

sinh nht

b chy

bng

thanh

chng

ton

ch yu

tm hiu

thnh

in t

phn

to ln

chn tay

bn chn

p trai

bao gm

nh thc

phn ln

ch

ng

sau cng

ph

phn no

hi qun

nhn li

qua i

ban ngy

dy hc

hnh thc

cng b

thi tit

khi nim

Other Characters
These are additional characters outside the levels 1 - 4.
Characters outside levels 1 - 4 cover about 5% of all words in Vietnamese writing.

41 Characters

by h li nm thut t t
doanh
him kho phn thu vi
chng
nghin

kho
chp hn
ngn r th vn
sen th xy
ch h

ng
khng
ci h k nhy sn trin in
cn hi k nhn tr
t

nga

vit
vit
vit
vt
tut
m,

Other Characters
These are additional characters outside the levels 1 - 4.
Characters outside levels 1 - 4 cover about 5% of all words in Vietnamese writing.

740 Characters

a... bn bn b cho chi con ci

ai bc... bn b cha c
chuyn
cuc...
an bn bn b

cng
chng c
anh bn bo bn chng
c
chy cc
anh bo bo... b cho
c
chp cch
ba by by b chu
cm
ch cch
ba b bt bi chn
ci
ch ci
ban bn by cao chu
c...
ch cn
bao bnh bc cha chu
c
ch cu
bay bnh bt chi ch
ci
ch cy
bnh b chia chn

cn cm...
bit... bng... bng chim
ch...
c cnh
chnh

chc
bit... bng... bng
c cnh
bin bng bnh chic chnh
chng
cng cp
bui bt b b chin ch
ch cng cn
chiu...
chc
b
bc b
chng coi cng cu
bn
chiu...

 cn
cp
ct
c

d... gi hiu hp kin l

hch...
gi hin
hp ku l

hn
dng
gio hoa
in... kt
di

gip hoa
khi
k lng

hnh
dc...
gi ho
khoa k
li
hnh
cng...
d... gip ho
kho k
li ly

ht

dy
cng...
gii ho
khu k
ln...
hi
c... giy hoc
khc lan lp
hn khch
c du... gii h
lin lm
hu kh
ca dt gi
lin l
ht kh
hng...
c... d
gi
liu lch
h
cu dch
khng
gia
loi lch
dng...
hng h
c
khn lun li
gi hn h...
ca da dng...
kho lut ln
gy
hnh
hc
danh d g
khu l li
hn hi
do da
khp lm la
hm hi
dng gp...
lm lc
doanh
h
em gn hn
kh...
hng
mai
di
khng

gi
h
lnh...
gia

dn
kinh ln minh
hng

hai
hng
gia
dy
h kim lng min

hay
gian
hng
dy
kin lc ming

him
hi
giao
h

mua mc ngh ng nh phi quan sen

mun mt nhau nh sinh
ngha
nin...
quang
m m
nhin
php
sch

non

mu mm ngh... nhiu
pht quyt

non
sng...

ngon

my mi
nhiu
phn
phng quyn su
m mi
nho nng...
qu si

ngoi...
mu mt nguy nh no phng
s

my mt nhn
qun
phng
sn
nguyn
ny...
my mi
nhn
qun s
nn phng
mnh mc
nh...
nguyn
qu
sn

n
mi mng nhn
phm
quc
sc
nhm
ngi...
ni
phi qu
m
s
ngy nh nm
qunh

mi... nam
s
ni

ra
nhng...
phn
mi... nay
s
ngn
phn...

rt

nm
ma ngay
rng sng
ngi nhng...
mi...
nm phm
nghe
nhc

si
ngn

ri

pht
nng

mng...

nht
s...
ng
nghin
ph

ni
rng...
mnh
ngi
s

ph
nc

sao s
mt nghip ngn nhn

nu ph
sao ta
my... nghn... ngi nhp
qua sau
ni
mt ng nht na...
tao
nghn...
quan

tay
thnh

tham thnh

tham
thnh

thn thc ton trc ti

thy th... tra tu
trng
thp th... trai
tc

trang...
trng... tm
th

thanh
tm
tht... tin... trang...

thi
trng...

thng

thanh
thng tinh
tr ty

trang
tinh
tn

thn

trn
thanh
th...
trin
thay th tin
trn tn
thm...
triu
tin
tm
theo

trng
thch th tiu trong
tnh
thi

tr
thch th tic trong
tnh

tr
thi th ting trung
ti
thin

tr
truyn...
th tip
thiu...
ti
thng

tr
th

thng tit... tri trng t

thit...
thng

th tit...
thu

tri
tri tng
th
tin

trn tr ti
thi...
thuyn
tin
thng
trnh tr tm

thi... tiu trnh tuy to

thut thng
th
tim
thuc
tr tui... tt

thng th to trm ty ti tt
thuc
tht th ton
trng ti t
thu
thy thc

t
tnh
ti
t
t
tng
t
ti
tc
tc
t
t
t...
t
ung
vin
vit

vic...
vin
vit

 v xy t n ng
ng
vui
v v x
ng n...

i

c
nh...
v
vi xa ...


u i
vng v
xy n
u... c
y i
vo v
yu a

i
o
vng...
va ang

ng
vng
n
vc yu... em
a
i
v
m ng
xa yu... i
nh
vi
nh o
xanh n iu
c c
v
t
xe o im

n...
vn
u
vng
xem o in
i... n...
ng u
vn xin p in

nh
a u
vn xut m n

m y
u
vn m ng
ng
c...
vt xung u
ng
ng
x
p
vy
vua

! !
Cho anh Nam! Mi anh vo!
Hello Nam! Please come in!

! !
Cho ch! Ti xin chc-mng sinh-nht ch!
Hello! I want to wish you a happy birthday!

! !
Cm-n anh! Mi anh ngi!
Thank you! Please take a seat!

!
V xin chc ch hnh-phc!
And I wish you happiness!

vo to come in, to enter

chc - to wish somebody

chc-mng to wish somebody all the best

sinh-nht birthday
cm-n thanks, thank you
ngi to sit
v and
hnh-phc happiness


Cho ch!
Hello!

Cho anh! Xin li, anh tn l g?

Hello! Im sorry, what is your name?

Ti tn l Nam.
My name is Nam.

Mi anh ngi!
Please take a seat!

Cm-n ch! Cn ch l ch Lan?

Thank you! And you are Lan?

Vng, ti l Lan.
Yes, I am Lan.

The Story of Trang Quynh: The Pregnant Billy-Goat:

Con D c C Cha


Con D c C Cha
The Pregnant Billy-Goat

n sau quan t thin xem thin-vn.

Once the court astronomers looked to the stars.

Thy v a-phn tnh Thanh c mt ngi-sao sng.

They saw a bright star over the region of Thanh.

Chc rng tnh y c ngi ti. Nhng khng bit v lng no.
There must be a gifted person in that province. Just not knowing in which village.

,
Vo tu vua, vua giao nh-thn xt. C mt vin tu rng:
Reported to the King he commissioned his officers to search for. One officer
commanded:

**
xin giao cho tnh-thn Thanh Ha sc* cho trong-ht* mi lng phi tin mt con d
c cha.
( sc=Ni cp trn truyn lnh cho cp di, trong-ht=in th trong ht)
Let the province of Thanh Hoa emit an order to each village that a pregnant billy goat
has to be sent to the court.

Hn mt thng khng c th tr ti.

Due within one month, otherwise severe punishment will be brought out.
Messengers were sent to each village.

*
Cu* sc v cc lng. Cc k lo s qu. M ng-thn-sinh ra Qunh li cng s hn.
( Cu=9, y ngha l bc quan th chn)
All the scholars worried and feared. But Quynhs father feared even more.

*
V mnh l huynh-th* trong lng tt phi (can cu=can-c?) trc.
( huynh-th = K n-anh, c)
Since he is the local village elder he would be addressed first.

V nh bn-nn v on-hn nh vua i nhng s kh khn.

Back home he complained and was full of animosity against the King calling for
something that tricky.

(?)
Qunh thy b (km-ti?) mi hi: Hm nay thy c vic g m lo phin?
Qunh saw his father mourn and asked: Father, what is making you so sad?

,
ng b ang bc mnh. Mng rng: Vic lng vic nc, tr con bit u m hi.
Being so upset he scolded: A matter of utmost importance, what do young children
know.

Qunh thy b khng ni nht nh hi cho ra. ng b phi k tht cho nghe.

Since his father didnt say, he was eager to find it out. Finally the father had to tell it
all.

Qunh l-lu (=lin thong) (tha?) rng: Tng l vic g ch vic y cn g b phi
lo.
Quynh said straight out: I thought it was something serious. How is this something to
grieve you.

Nh vua bt np mt con ch bt np mi con cng c.

The king says to bring one goat, he could also say ten goats.

xin thy c ra bo lng trng cho trm quan-tin.

Please, just go and tell the villagers to pile up 100 silver coins.

con i m nu khng c th mnh con chu ti cho c lng.

Let met settle this, if it doesnt work I will take all punishment for the whole village.

ng b thy con ni l m (hot) lm.

The father thought the son speaks weird but

Ngh bng rng: Ta th nghe tr con xem sao.

Thinking: Lets see how this boy does.

Mi nh-liu ra nhn tin xem lng


Lm t/th cam kt. em tin v bo con i mua.

Qunh nhn tin bo b mai ra kinh- sm mua.

Sng sm mai, khng, gi cm nm, hai b con vc tin ra H Ni mua d.

n ni Qunh ni vi b i o/ua l/la (d la) hi xem hm no vua ng ch ph.

Hi c ri, n hm vua ng, Qunh dy tht sm.

Ln xung di cng ca ng nm-chc. i n qua ng nghe ting h-ht(shout

and scream).

Xe nga quan qun i xch xch trn cng. Qunh lin khc o ln.
The troops horses come in batches to the gate.

Va lc xa-gi vua i n. Nghe ting tr khc m khng thy ngi.

Sai lnh tm, th bt Qunh di cng ln.

Vua hi lm-sao my chui xung cng?


Qunh gi-v khng bit l vua. Ni rng:

Tha ng, ti thy ng xe nga, s cht ??. Cho-nn ti ?? xung cng.

Vua hi: Lm-sao my khc?

Tha ng, m ti cht ba nm nay.

Sao mi khng thy b ti ly em m.

.
Nn ti khc.

Vua bo: Thng b ny d (=d hi?).

Qunh ni: Tha ng, mi ri ti thy vua ?? ly d c cha.

Ti tng d cha c, th b ti cng c.

Vua v cc quan ci.

Bit ngay a con tr ny t-l ngi ti ng vo ngi-sao sng y.


Lin thng cho v phn rng:

Tha cho dn lng khng phi np d na.

( shc?) l (lng?) c hng khng trm quan-tin.

M ting t no.
=============================

Chi Tr Vt
Wordplay

Khi Qunh cn hc nh quan Bng, thng ly ch ngha th chi Th im.

When he was still a student living at Mr. Bngs house, he often did word play with
Th im.

Mt ln Th im i ch
Once when Th im went to the market

Qunh sai ngi a ba mi ng tin v mt mnh giy vit bn ch chin chin

cnh cnh.
Qunh gave her 30 coins and a piece of paper with the words war war compete
compete on it.


Nh i mua h, Th im on ngha ra m mua nm nm cm np.
Asked to go buy, Th im guessed the meaning and bought five pounds of glutinous
rice.

Qunh chu l [?].

Qunh had to admire her skill.

Li mt ln, Qunh gi su ng tin v vit hai ch cung nh mua h.
Another time, he gave her six coins and wrote water lemon asking her to buy.

Ln y Qunh nh mua c cung, Th im bit nhng c tru ngi khng mua c

cung,
That time the wanted to get water melon. Th im knew but tried to provoke him and
did not buy water melon.

li mua cung c em v tr. Qunh trch m bt n.

instead she bought melon juice. Qunh criticized and wanted compensation.

im ch rng: cung c ngc li khng phi l cung c, hay sao!

im bashed him saying water lemon read backwards isnt melon water?

Qunh phi chu.

Qunh had to give up.

Trng Qunh: (3) Tr n B Cha Liu

Tr n B Cha Liu
Oblation to goddess Liu

Gp khoa thi, Qunh ra ng th. ng i qua n Sng,

At the time of exam Qunh goes to take the test. On the way to the temple Sng

Qunh vo yt Cha Liu, xin Cha ph h cho. u th xin tr l.

Qunh prays to goddess Liu, asking for support. When passing exam he would give
an oblation.

Qunh ra thi, qu nhin u thit.

Qunh goes to the examination and really, he passed.

Lc v, Qunh mua mt con b m, mt con b con em n l.

Returning home, Qunh buys a mother cow and its calf for oblation.

Qunh qu xung ly, ri dt con b m n buc vo tay ngi m khn rng:
Qunh goes on his knees to bow, then takes the mother cow and binds it to the throne.
He prays:

Cha c lng thng ph h cho Qunh c u. Nay gi l c mt con b tr

l.
Mother goddess, you had the grace to help me passing the exam. Today I return just a
cow as an oblation.

Xin Cha nhn cho. Cha l ch, xin l con ln, cn con nh, em xin em v khao
dn
Please accept. My goddess, please take the big one. As for the small one I request to
take it home to give a feast.

Ni ri, dt b con v. Con b m, thy dt mt con i,

Finished he takes the calf and goes home. The mother cow when seeing the calf being
taken away

lng ln chy theo, lm ngai Cha lng chng, lng gy c.

jumps up running after them, causing the goddess throne to shake and the roof to
break altogether.

Qunh ci ni: Ch thng, em ngho, tr khng ly, th em xin em v.

Qunh smiles and says: Dear goddess, I am poor, if you dont take my oblation then I
ask to take it home

Ni ri, dt c hai m con b v.

Just finished speaking he takes both, mother cow and calf, and brings them home.

Trng Qunh: (2) ng T Ct


ng T Ct
Mr. Tu Cat

.
C mt ng T tn l Ct. Chy n bo tai Qunh m bo rng:
There lived a scholar named Tu Cat, bigheaded and jealous of a young talent like
Quynh. He just appeared from nowhere and pulled Quynh at his ears and said:

..
Tao ra cho mt cu i. H i c th tao tha.
I will give you a sentence. If you find me a precise analogy I let you go.

:.
Cu i rng: ln-CN n cm-TN(cn v tn l qu trong bt qui)
He spoke: young pigs eat lavishly

:
Qunh i ngay rng: ch KHN ch cn CN.
Quynh countered immediately smart dogs bite courageously
(In vietnamese the analogy is more precise. The Vietnamese words that are used here
for young and lavishly happen to be the names of two Hexagram symbols. In the
analogy the Vietnamese words for smart and courageously are two other
Hexagram symbols)

: . :
ng T li ra cu na rng: Tri sinh ng T Ct. Qunh li i (ng=ng?) khu
rng:
Mr. Tu came with another one: Heaven created Mr. Tu Cat. Quynh countered as
follows:

(~)

t nt ci b hung
Earth spout a dung beetle
(These sentences are precise analogies because each part of the first sentence has a
corresponding part in the other sentence. Heaven becomes Earth. To create and
spout are both verbs of production. Mr. for humans is reduced to just a for animals.
And since the name Tu Cat contains cat which is an animal it becomes dung beetle. In
Vietnamese the analogy is even more precise. Tu Cat and dung beetle are both animate
beings. Furthermore Cat in T Cts name means good, the word for dung beetle is
B Hung where hung means bad.)

(+)
ng T, phi-ci lm, tt mt
Mr. Tu Cat, though looking surprised, had lost.

Trng Qunh: (1) ng To u

ng To u
Mr. Big Head

ng Nguyn Qunh lng Yn-Vc tng T-Quan. Huyn Hong-Ho tnh Thanh-Ho
Mr. Nguyn Qunh from Yn-Vc in the canton of T Quan, Hong-Ho district,
Thanh-Ho province.

/u c-nhn v i Cnh-Hng (1740 1786) nh Hu-L.

He passed the bachelor examination under Cnh-Hng (1740 1786) of the Hu-L
dynasty.

Khi ln by ln tm tui. Chi nghch c kh-tng (=tng) k-c.

At the age of seven or eight, he played tricks but already had an adult character.

Ly l-chui lm c l-sen lm lng m li c tnh khinh ngi.

He took a banana leaf for a flag and a lotus leaf as a parasol while looking down on
the people.

(=)
Mt hm gia ti trung-thu cng tr-con chi trng, ng y bo l-tr:
One night in autumn all the young children were playing in the moonlight. He told
them:

Lm kiu-rc th ta a chng-bay i xem ngi u to bng ci b.

Treat me like a god then I show you a man with a head as big as a basket.

L-tr nghe-li u mi mt c. ng Qunh bo:

The children followed his words and strained themselves. Qunh said:

(=)
Chng-by cng ngh mt cht. Ri tao a i xem.
You all just wait a moment. Then I let you see.

(=)
Ri a l-tr vo ci nh ti bo: ng c y!
He guided the children into a dark house and said: Wait here!

(=?)
tao i chm la soi cho xem ng to u.
Let me light a candle so you can see Mr. Big Head.


nhng a b l s khng gim xem ch a ln li m c.
So unusual the younger children became anxious, only the elder ones strived to stay.

(=)
ng thp n xong bo tr rng: Ka chng-by trng vo vch m xem.
Finished lighting the lamp, he said: There, you all look on the wall.

ng to-u ra y, l-tr nh nhc trng.

Mr. big head, there he is, the children took a glimpse.

Ch thy bng Qunh vch, u to nh ci b tht.

Just seeing Qunhs shadow on the wall. And really, the head was big like a basket.
I think it is , not . Why you use ? is commonly used in East [ng to-u] ra
y, l-tr nh nhc-trng. Ch thy bng Qunh vch, u to nh ci b
ra y, tr nh lc trng. Ch
thy bng qunh bch u to nh ci b tht.