bek1, bekim

English: ‘back’.

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Modifier forms

  1. back (return journey)
    em i kam bek long taun he has come back from town
    em i go bek long taun he has gone back to town

  1. back (figuratively turn about, turn on)
    em i tanim bek na kilim ol lain bilong em yet he treacherously killed his own people

Noun forms

  1. Consequence: repercussion ® kaikai, kikbek
    i gat bek bilong en it will have a return one day, there will be a repercussion

Transitive verb forms

  1. Action: to return something
    em i bekim bal he passed the ball back

  1. Form of talking: to answer
    bekim pas to answer a letter
    bekim tok to give an answer

  1. Action: to repay, to give something in return
    em i bekim dinau bilong em he repaid his debt
    ol i baim meri, na lain bilong meri i bekim they paid the brideprice and the woman’s people gave a return payment

  1. Action: to pay back, avenge
    em i paitim mi, tasol mi bekim he hit me, but I paid him back
    wanpela bilong ol i dai, na bihain ol bai bekim one of them has died, and later they will avenge him

Verb phrase forms

  1. Warfare, fighting: bekim bek to pay back, avenge a man’s death (specifically by killing an enemy)
    yu wet, ol bai bekim bek bihain just wait, they’ll get their revenge later (by killing a man from the enemy tribe)

© Revising the Mihalic Project, 26 Jan 2005 [Home]