Emotions & Feelings in Penang Hokkien

Kimster : I am so angry at my friend for not showing up. No, I am actually disappointed. Day, how can I express my emotions in Penang Hokkien ?
CCH :

• Headache = Thow Thiah 
• Stressed = Phaik Chek
• Angry= Khee Hong
• Outraged=Hoay Toak
• Sad = Kek Sim
• At peace= Cheng Sim
• Happy = Huah Hee 
• Disappointed = Sit Bang 
• Frightened = Kiah 
• Tired = Sian
• Jealous = Chiak Chor
• Embarrassed : Phai Seh
• Shocked = Tiok Cheh Kiah
• Excited=Chi Kek
• Bored = Sian Liao
• Shy = Kien Siau
• Envy = Wan Tor; Ang Bak Chew
• Worried = Khuan Sim
• Proud = Chuaah
• Humilated = Boh Bin
• Engrossed = Jeep Sim
• Peaceful = Cheng Sim

Why Hokkien... Hokkien ... Hokkien ?

I was born, bred and will probably die in Penang where Hokkien is the predominant spoken Chinese dialet.

Penang Hokkien is quite different from the Hokkien spoken in the rest of Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan 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 !

The crunch came somewhere in the mid-1980's where I was involved in assisting Bank Negara in raiding a major deposit-taking co-operative during the "deposit-taking crisis". After the investigations, the Accounting Firm where I was working was appointed the Receivers and one of my task was to go on a road-show to almost all the co-operative's branches in order to return part of the money deposited.

That is when I discovered my handicap in Hokkien :-( I clearly remember trying to tell a depositor that the quantum of the deposit to be returned has yet to be decided as follows :-

 Depositor : Lu eh heng wah jua cheh
 CCH: Ah boi choo teah (translated as It has not been fated !) What I should have said is "Ah boi kuat teng !

That's when I decided to try to learn and speak better Hokkien !

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

How to say remember in Hokkien ?

Kister : Dad, how to say remember in Hokkien

CCH:

Remember : Aeh Khee
Forget : Beh Khee

Hokkien's connection with Tang Dynasty...

Did you know that Pencil in Hokkien is 'Anpit'... same as in Korean and in Japanese. How is that so ?

According to http://kosongcafe.blogspot.com/2009/01/hokkiens-connection-with-tang-dynasty.html

Hokkien is:

1. The surviving language of the Tang Dynasty (618-907AD), China 's Golden Age of Culture.
Note: The Hokkien we hear today may have "evolved" from its original form 2,000 years ago, but it still retains the main elements of the Tang Dynasty Language.

2. Hokkiens are the surviving descendants of the Tang Dynasty -- When the Tang Dynasty collapsed, the people of the Tang Dynasty fled South and sought refuge in the Hokkien ( Fujian ) province. Hence, Hokkien called themselves Tng-lang (Tang Ren or People of the Tang Dynasty) instead of Hua Lang (Hua Ren).

3. Hokkien has 8 tones instead of Mandarin's 4. Linguists claim that ancient languages tend to have more complex tones.

4. Hokkien retains the ancient Chinese pronunciation of "K-sounding" endings (for instance, Hak Seng (student), Tua Ok (university), Thak Chek (read a book/study) -- the "k" sounding ending is not found in Mandarin.

5. The collection of the famous "Three Hundred Tang Dynasty Poems" sound better when recited in Hokkien/Teochew if compared to Mandarin.

6. Consider this for a moment: Today, the Hokkien Nam Yim ochestral performance still has its roots in ancient Tang dynasty music. Here's the proof: The formation of today Nam Yim ensemble is typically seen in ancient Tang dynasty paintings of musicians.

More Astonishingly:

Although not genetically-related, Hokkiens, Koreans and Japanese share many similar words (which are different from Mandarin). That's because Hokkien was the official language of the powerful Tang Dynasty whose influence and language spread to Japan and Korea (just like Latin – where many words were borrowed by the English, French, Italian, etc).

Here are just a few words in Hokkien, Japanese & Korean for your comparison:

Hokkien ...................................Korean .....................Japanese

Sin Boon (news) .....................Sin Mun ..................Shinbun - newspaper

Cheng Hu (government) ......Chong Bu

Pang (room) ............................Pang

Chhia (car/vehicle) ................Ch'a

Mui/M'ng (door) ...................Mun

P'hio (ticket) ...........................P'yo

Eng Wan (eternal) ................Yong Won

Chaek (book) .........................Ch'ae

Ki (flag) ..................................Ki ................................Ki

Kang river) ............................Gang/kang

Poh Hiam (insurance) ..........Poh Ham

Sio Sim (caution) ..................Cho sim

Mo Kui (demon) ..................Ma gui

Cham (attend/join/mix) .......Ch'am sok

Kantan (simple) ...................Gan Dan

Sin Sei Kai (new world) ......Shin Sae Gae

Kok Ka (nation) ....................Kuk Kka

Hya (elder brother) ..............Hyaeng

Choon Pi (prepare) ...............Jun Bi

Si Kan (time) ..........................Si Kan

Kam tong (emotion, feeling) Kam Jong ................Kanjoo

Kamsia (gratitude, thanks) ..Kam Sa .....................Kansha

Keat Hoon (marriage) ..........Kyol Hon ..................Kekkon

Oon Tong (exercise) ............Un Dong ...................Undoo

Tua Ok (university) .............Tae Hak .....................Daigaku

Aun Chuan (safety) ............An Jon .......................An Zen

Mua Chiok(satisfaction) ....Man Jok .....................Manzoku

Ai Lang (lover) ....................Ae In ..........................Aijin

Seng Kong (success) ........Song Kong .................Seikoo

Chhiu Sat (suicide) ............Cha sal ........................Jisatsu

Pu Do (grapes) ...................P'o d'o .........................Budoo

Chin Por (progress) ...........Chin bo .......................Shinpo

To all 49 Million Hokkien Speakers:

Be Proud of Your Ancient Hokkien Heritage & Language! Speak it Loud and Clear. Teach Your Future Generation this Imperial Language, Lest it Fades Away.

Be Proud Children of the Tang Emperors.

To all Mandarin-speaking friends out there -- do not look down on your other Chinese friends who do not speak Mandarin – whom you guys fondly refer to as "Bananas". In fact, they are speaking a language which is much more ancient &; linguistically complicated than Mandarin.

Keep in mind that Mandarin is just:

1. A Northern Chinese dialect (heavily influenced by non Han Chinese) that was elevated to the status of National Language by Sun Yat Sen for the sake of China 's national unity.
2. Mandarin was never spoken by your proud, imperial Tang Dynasty ancestors. It was probably spoken by the Northern (Non-Han) Jurchen, Mongols and Manchu minority. Start speaking the language of your ancestors today.

How to say Fake or Bogus in Hokkien ?

Kister : Dad, I think this thing that my friend gave me is a fake. How to say all this in Hiokkien ?

CCH:  Wa seowh che leh mikian wa eh peng yu hor wa see keh eh

Wa : I

Seowh : Think

This : Che Leh

Thing : Mi Kiah

Wah eh : My

Peng Yu : Friend

Hor Wa : Give me

See : is

Fake/Bogus : keh eh

How to identify Relatives in Hokkien ?

Kimster : Dad, in English, we simply call  maternal and paternal relative 'uncles and aunties'  How do you say it in Hokkien ?

CCH: In Hokkien, relatives are precisely identified as follows :

Paternal Uncle (Older) : Ah Pek
Paternal Uncle (Younger) : Ah Chek

Paternal Auntie (Older) : Ah Chim
Paternal Aunties (Younger) : AhKhor

Maternal Uncle (Older) : Ah Koo
Maternal Uncle (Younger) : Ah Koo

Maternal Auntie (Older) : Ah Ee
Maternal Aunties (Younger) : Ah Ee

How do you say Today, Yesterday & Tomorrrow in Penang Hokkien ?

Kimster : Dad, how do you say Today, Yesterday & Tomorrow in Penang Hokkien ?

CCH:

Today : Kin Jit

Yesterday : Cha Hooi

Tomorrow : Miah Chai

Morning : Cha Kii

Afternoon : Eh Por

Night : Arm Meh

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

How to say the Chinese Zodaic Animals in Hokkien ?

Kimster : Dad, how do you say the 12 Chinese Zodaic Animals in Hokkien ?

CCH:

1. Rat - It Chhoo

2. Cow - Jee Gu

3. Tiger - Sar Hor

4. Rabbit - See Thor

5. Dragon - Goh Leng

6. Snake - Lak Chuah

7. Horse - Chhet Beh

8. Goat - Paek Yeow

9. Monkey - Kau Kow

10. Cockrel - Chap Khey

11. Dog - Chap It Kow

12. Female Pig - Chap Jee Too Boh

How to say I love you in Hokkien ?

Kimberley : Dad, how to say I love you in Hokkien ?

CCH:

I = Wah

Love = Ai

You = Lu


So, "I Love You"  is "Wah Ai Lu"

How to say what in hokkien?

Krystle : Dad, how to say what in hokkien?

CCH : Simple,

What = Hami

How to say "Where are you" in Hokkien

Krystle : Dad, I am looking for Kimberley. How to say "Where are you ? " in Hokkien

CCH : Lu Tuah Toh Loh

LU = You
Where = Toh Loh
Tuah = Are

How to say Goodbye in Hokkien ?

Roselyn : Mr Chee, how does one say goodbye in Hokkien ?

CCH : When one visits and then leaves, it is customary to say "Wah Chao Seng" or the abbreviated "Chao Seng" and usually you will get the response "Koh Lai"

"Wah Chao Seng"  = I am leaving...

"Koh Lai" = Come again

Pronouns in Hokkien

Kister : Dad, how to say I, You, We etc in Hokkien ?


CCH :

I - Wah
You - Lu
He/She - E
They - Ee Lang

How to you say "later" in Hokkien ?

Kimster : See you later Dad !

CCH :

Later - Kah Theng
Now - TongKim
Last Night - Cham Meh
Tommorow - Mah Chai
Morning - Char Khee
Afternoon - Eh Por

How to say 'what you want' in hokkien

Kimster : How do you say "What do you want ?" in Hokkien ?

CCH : Lu ai hami

What : Hami
You : Lu
Want - Ai

How to say "like" in Hokkien ?

Kister : Dad, people say that Jong Jin likes me. How to say "like" in hokkien ?

CCH:

Like - Suka (also same in Bahasa Melayu)

Dislike - Boh Suka

Hate - Gin

Love - Ai

How to say Far in Hokkien ?

Kimster : Dad, how do you say far in Penang Hokkien ?

CCH:

Far - Houi
Near - Kin

Very Far - Chin Chiah Houi
Ver Near - Chin Chiah Kin

One Mile : Chit Ki Thui

How to say Animals in Hokkien

Kimster : Dad, I would love to have a Dog. How do you say Dog in Hokkien ?

CCH :

Dog - Kow
Cat - Meow
Horse - Beh
Goat - Yeow
Bird - Chiao
Elephant - Cheoh
Lion - Sai
Tiger - Hor
Fish - Hoo
Monkey - Kao
Bat - Bit Poh
Rat - Niao Chu
Squirel - Pong Chu
Rabbit - Thor

More to come...

Furniture in Hokkien

Kimster : How do you say Furniture in Hokkien ?

CCH: Keh Si

Table - Toh Teng
Chairs - Kow Ee
TV - Ten Si Khee
Cupboard - Too