Day 68 · Chess Match with a Friend ♟️

1 · Core Words (12)

Chess [ches]
chess sellam karamu ♟️
චෙස්
Chess
Let’s play chess
Sellama [sel-la-ma]
rasawath sellama
රසවත් සෙල්ලම
Game
interesting game
Adiya [a-di-ya]
ilangama adiya
ඊළඟ අදිය
Move (step)
the next step
Hithanna [hi-than-na]
mata hithanna denna
මට හිතන්න දෙන්න
To think
let me think
Dinanna [di-nan-na]
api dinamu
අපි දිනමු
To win
we will win
Paradina [pa-ra-di-na]
api paradennata puluwan
අපි පැරදෙන්න පුළුවන්
To lose
we might lose
Amarui [a-ma-rui]
lassana amarui
ලස්සන අමාරුයි
Difficult
beautiful difficult
Lesi [le-si]
pirisidu lesi
පිරිසිදු ලේසි
Easy
clean easy
Yaluwa [ya-lu-wa]
daksha yaluwek
දක්ෂ යාලුවෙක්
Friend
clever friend
Ayeth [a-yeth]
mama ayeth [a-yeth] yanawa
මම ආයෙත් යනවා
Again
I am going again
Hemin [he-min]
karunakara hemin yanna
කරුණාකර හෙමින් යන්න
Slowly
please go slowly
Hondama adiyak
honda adiyak
හොඳ අදියක්
Good move
a good move

2 · Typical Phrases (6)

Api chess sellam karamu — Let’s play chess

Oyage adiya hondai — Your move is good

Mama tikak hithannam — I will think a bit

Meka amarui — This is difficult

Oya dinanna puluwan — You can win

Ayeth sellam karamu — Let’s play again

3 · Dialogue (8)

A: Ada chess sellamak karamu? — Shall we play a chess game today?

B: Hondai, mama lesi widihata patan gannam. — Okay, I’ll start in an easy way.

A: Oyage mul adiya harima hondai. — Your first move is very good.

B: Stuti, mama godak hithuwa. — Thanks, I thought a lot.

A: Meka tikak amarui neda? — This is a bit difficult, right?

B: Ow, hemin sellam karamu. — Yes, let’s play slowly.

A: Mata hithenne oya dinai. — I think you will win.

B: Paraduwoth ayeth sellam karamu! — If I lose, let’s play again!

4 · Cultural Note

Chess is popular among students and friends in Sri Lanka. Many schools have chess clubs and local competitions. People believe chess improves patience and clear thinking. Friends often play under a tree or in small tea shops. During a game, conversation becomes calm and thoughtful. Elders say chess teaches how to face life problems. Winning politely is more valued than boasting. Losing with a smile shows good character. The phrase “ayeth sellam karamu” keeps friendship warm. Games like chess build respect between generations.