Lesson XXXI Phrases of Politeness
Be pleased to ——. —Sila, sila-lah, or sila-kan-lah.
Please come into the house— Sila-kan naik atas rumah.
Be pleased to sit down on a chair— Sila-kan duduk di-atas krusi.
My house is not what it should be— Rumah sahaya tiada dengan sapertinia.
Treat it as your own house; don’t stand upon ceremony— Buat-lah saperti rumah sendiri, jangan malu.
I must beg leave to depart (lit. to rise)— Sahaya handak minta diri-lah dahulu.
Pray do as you wish; take care as you go— Sila-kan-lah. Jalan baik-baik.
I crave permission to retire, as I wish to go home— Hamba tuan handak mohun-lah dahulu handak balik.
Very well (it does not matter)— Ta’ apa-lah.
I must ask to be pardoned for going (style of the Court)— Patek handak meng-ampun-lah dahulu.
Very well— Baik-lah.
Pray come and see me often; don’t hesitate— Mari-lah kĕrap-kĕrap rumah sahaya, jangan-lah segan-segan.
I am exceedingly pleased to have seen you at my house— Sangat sudi sahaya tuan-tuan datang ber-landang rumah sahaya.
May your journey be safe— Salamat jalan.
May you remain in peace— Salamat tinggal.
There is something that I want; it is to invite you to a trifling entertainment— Ada hajat sadikit handak jamu makan sadikit ayer-ayer sejuk.
I thank you exceedingly (lit. I accept a great favour from you)— Sahaya baniak tĕrima kasih, or, simply, tĕrima kasih.
Are you well?— Tuan ada baik?
How is so-and-so, who was ill the other day?— Apa khabar si-polan4 yang sakit kalmarin itu?
He has quite recovered his former health— Sudah sihat balik saperti sedia lama.
Thanks to the favouring influence of your good fortune, we are free from all misfortune and sickness— Dengan berkat tuah tuah tulong tiada-lah satu apa-apa mara-bahaya deri-pada sakit demam.
Exercise
It is a long time since I saw you last. I did not know that you had arrived here. How did you come, by the river, or by the road? How long do you intend to stay? Don’t be in a hurry to return; stay for a while, and recover from the fatigue of your journey. It is a pity that I did not know beforehand that you were coming. He is a most excellent old man, and it would be hard to find many like him. If nothing occurs to prevent it, I shall come and see you on Monday next. There is no necessity for writing a letter; if you let my clerk know, that will be sufficient.
4. Polan, or fulan, such a one, probably from the Hindustani fulana, a word of Arab derivation.