Thursday, November 1, 2012

How to say Animals in Hokkien ?

Kister: Dad, how do you say animals in Penang Hokkien

CCH : Khim Siew... sometimes my grandma, a Nyonya will yell Binatang (malay word for animals) :-)

Kister: Can you name some common animals in Hollien ?

CCH:  Sure ...

Cat : Meow
Dog : Kow
Cow : Gu

Rooster : Kay Kang
Hen : Kay Boh

Horse : beh
Goat : Yeow

Elephant : Cheow

Snake : Chuah

Rat : Choooh

Bed Bugs : Bugsat

Mosquitoes : Bangg

Flies : Hor Sin

Bird : Cheow

Mynah Bird : Kah Leng

Sparrow : Macheok Cheow

Eagle : Eng

Cockroach : Kak Chuak

Lizard : Sin Tang also Cichak

Fish : Hoo

Prawn : Heh

Crabs : Chimm

Catfish : Tor Sat








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1 comment:

  1. mabJanuary 20, 2017 at 1:14 PM

    i thought u might be able to help with this mystery

    my grandma used to say 'gek aye tiam' (grocery shop i think) do u know what is the meaning of gek aye and what is the dialect, and the history of the name? I would so appreciate it!

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Welcome to Hokkien... Hokkien... Hokkien

I was born, bred and probably die in Penang where Hokkien is the predominant Chinese dialet spoken. Penang Hokkien is quite different from the Hokkien spoken in the rest of Malaysia, Singapore and China in that it is sing-song in nature and contains quite a number of Malay words.

Being born a Hokkien would probably make you assume that I am very proficient in Hokkien. Believe it or not, English is my native language in that I think, dream and have nightmares in English ! I only realise that I hardly speak any Hokkien when in the early 1980's my "Jee Tneoh" i.e husband to my Mum's 2nd Sister asked why I reply in English when he asks me in Hokkien !

This blog basically documents what and how I am teaching Hokkien to my 2 daughters living with me i.e Kimster and Kister who are both studying in a Chinese School after 3 years in an English Pre-school.