On the Naming Argument for “Qilao”and “Xilao”in the Slang of the Song and Yuan Dynasties

After the Song and Yuan dynasties,there was a group of words with suffix laoin urban common saying.Qilaorefers steamed rice and xilaorefers raw rice. Because its naming argument is complicated and obscure,and things have changed with the passing of time,it is still necessary explain the meaning of words with suffix laoand display the reasons. This paper examines the naming argument of qilaoand xilaofrom three aspects. Examining qiand xifrom the character form and pronounciation,it's found that qi( 氣) is the original character of xi( 餼) and that both words in the word phrase to present each other with rice,both qiand xiare identical with each other. This paper points out that qi( 氣) equals xi( 餼),and both xi( 希)and xi( 稀) are used as phonetic character of xi( 餼). The nature of laois a noun suffix,the word meaning remains unchanged without it,and laois an inserted character without meaning. Some modern Chinese dialects prove that the words which develope from qilaoand xilaoby the same naming argument and words concerning steamed rice and raw rice are named by qior xi.