Tâi-gí

Spoken Hokkien

Meili Fang
苷‫ٻ‬芡脅
Spoken Hokkien
By Meili Fang

Copyright © 2010, 2018 Meili Fang and SOAS

First edition June 2010
Reprinted with corrections March 2018

Originally published by
The School of Oriental African Studies, University of London
for SOAS-UCL Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
Languages of the Wider World

http://speaktaiwanese.com/

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or

transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or
otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright holders.

ISBN 978 0 7286 0391 2

Orchid image adapted from ‘Orchids On Black’ by Cindy See

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bigkids/3450418653
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ CC-BY-SA

Funding for the further development of this text was provided by SOAS-UCL
Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Languages of the Wider World
Contents of Spoken Hokkien

Introduction 7

Lesson 1: Vowels 9

Lesson 2: Consonants 13

Lesson 3: Tone 15
Lesson 4: Tone change 19

Lesson 5: Lí kùi sèⁿ?

What’s your name? 23

Lesson 6: Chih-pá bōe?

Greetings! 31
Lesson 7: Che sī sím-m…h?
What is it? 39

Lesson 8: Lí ài lim sím-m…h?

What would you like to drink? 47

Lesson 9: Kin-á-j…t chhe-kúi?

What day is today? 55

Lesson 10: Lí ê siⁿ-j…t tang-sî?

When is your birthday? 63

(continued next page ...)

Contents (continued)

Lesson 11: Lí phah kúi hō?

Which number are you calling? 69

Lesson 12: Che ài gōa-che chîⁿ?

How much is this? 77
Lesson 13: Lí kám chai-iáⁿ tó-ūi ū piān-só?
Do you know where the toilet is? 85

Lesson 14: Lí teh chhóng-siàⁿ?

What are you doing? 93

Lesson 15: Iok-pêng-iú

Inviting a friend 99

Lesson 16 : Lí Tâi-gí h gōa kú à?

How long have you been learning Taiwanese? 107

Lesson 17: Che ē-sái chhì-chheng bē?

Can I try it on? 115

Lesson 18: Tēng pâng-keng

Making a booking 123

Lesson 19: Lí sī án-chóaⁿ?

What’s wrong with you? 131

Lesson 20: Kài-siāu pêng-iú

Introducing friends 139

Appendix: Answers to Questions 147

Abbreviations and conventions
Adj adjective
Adv adverb
Aux auxiliary
Con conjunction
Int interjection
IP interrogative pronoun
MW measure word
N noun
Nasal nasal sound
Num number
O object
Pa particle
Pl plural
PN proper noun
Pos possessive
Prep preposition
Pro pronoun
S subject
Sg singular
Suf suffix
V verb
○ expression is correct Hokkien
× expression is not correct Hokkien

In wordlists, explanations and comments are surrounded by square

brackets.
Audio items are marked with  in the text.
Introduction
Hokkien is spoken in Taiwan and in parts of China including Fujian
Province. It is also called Taiwanese, Taigi, Min Nan (Southern Min), or
Holo. There are several dialectal variants of Hokkien; this text mainly uses
the variant spoken around the Tainan area, where Hokkien is most
prevalent in Taiwan.
This textbook is intended for learners of Hokkien who start with no or
almost no knowledge of Hokkien and who come from a non-Chinese
background. It is written to support teachers and learners in a classroom
situation where the emphasis is on developing free-flowing speaking and
listening skills. The teacher is expected to provide models for listening and
speaking.
The text was developed to provide a controlled and learnable sequence of
vocabulary, structure, and conversational functions. Ideally, each lesson
should be fully mastered before moving to the next one.
The Hokkien orthography in this book, using modified roman characters,
is derived from a former missionary transcription system. Although this
modern romanisation is now widely used, it is not fully standardised, so
other spellings are possible. In the first two lessons the International
Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is used to indicate sounds.

This textbook includes audio recordings of examples, exercises, dialogues,

and vocabulary for each lesson. Audio items are marked with  in the
text.

Acknowledgements
Funding for the further development of this text was provided by SOAS-
UCL Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Languages of the
Wider World. Bernhard Fuehrer provided valuable support and input to
the project and Bernard Howard assisted with the audio recording and
editing. Andrew Simpson provided useful feedback about the sections on
tone. David Nathan provided editorial and publishing advice. Tom Castle
did the layout and cover design. Special thanks go to the students of the
MA course ‘Elementary Spoken Hokkien’ at SOAS in 2005-7 for their
feedback and inspiration.
Further information
Spoken Hokkien started life as a set of teaching materials for a Hokkien
course designed and taught by Meili Fang at the Tokyo University of
Foreign Studies in 2002. In 2005-6 it was developed further in an English
version for teaching the Hokkien MA course at SOAS within a CETL*-
funded project conducted in collaboration with Dr Bernhard Fuehrer.
The textbook was available in print + CD form from 2005 until 2016.

*SOAS-UCL Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Languages of the Wider World

Where to obtain Spoken Hokkien: The Spoken Hokkien textbook is

available in downloadable electronic form from the SPEAK TAIWANESE
website (http://speaktaiwanese.com)

The SPEAK TAIWANESE website also has further information about the
Taiwanese language, language pedagogy, and the work of Dr Meili Fang.

Dr Meili Fang completed her PhD in Linguistics at Ochanomizu

University in Japan in 1997. She then held a Post Doctoral position at the
Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, where she specialised in classical
Chinese. Following that she was Assistant Professor of Japanese at Fu-Jen
University in Taiwan, and Foreign Professor in Mandarin Chinese at
Tsukuba University and Ochanomizu University in Japan. She taught
Hokkien (Taiwanese) at SOAS, and Mandarin at Imperial College,
London. She has published several books on Chinese and Japanese
linguistics, pedagogy, and language textbooks.
 Lesson 1

Lesson 1: Vowels
Vowels, diphthongs and triphthongs
Hokkien has many vowels, including vowels in combination
(diphthongs, triphthongs) and nasalised vowels. This section lists all
the vowels, with their phonetic values shown in the International
Phonetic Alphabet in square brackets.

1. single vowels 1

a [a] e [e] i [i] ȯ [ɔ] o [o/ə] u [u]

the vowel a [a] is pronounced as in English ‘ah!’ or ‘bath’

the vowel e [e] is pronounced as in English ‘ray’

the vowel i [i] is pronounced as in English ‘eat’, ‘three’

the vowel ȯ [ɔ] is pronounced as in English ‘top’

the vowel o [o/ə] is pronounced as in English ‘hurt’

the vowel u [u] is pronounced as in English ‘foot’

9
 Spoken Hokkien

2. nasal vowels 2

an [ã] in [ĩ] en [ẽ] ȯn [ɔ̃]

3．double vowels (diphthongs) 3

ai [ai] au [au]
ia [ia] iu [iu] io [iə/io]
ui [ui] oa [ɔa] oe [ɔe]

4. nasal diphthongs 4
ain [ãĩ] aun [ãũ]
ian [ĩã] iun [ĩũ]
uin [ũĩ] oan [ɔ̃ã]

5. triple vowels (triphthongs) 5

oai [uai] iau [iau]

10
 Lesson 1

6. nasal triphthongs 6

iaun [ĩãũ] oain [õãĩ]

7. vowels + nasals 7
am [ãm] im [ĩm] an [ãn] in [ĩn] un [ũn]

8. diphthongs + nasals 8
iam [ĩãm] ian [ĩãn] uan [ũãn]

ang [ãŋ] eng [ĩŋ] ong [ɔ̃ŋ]

9. further diphthongs + nasals 9

iang [ĩãŋ] iong [ĩɔ̃ŋ]

11
 Spoken Hokkien

Liān-sip  Exercise  10
Listen to the audio, then identify and transcribe the vowels.

1.
o蚵
2.
au甌
3.
io腰
4.
ue話
5.
oai歪
6.
in圓
7.
iun鴦
8. i
n因
9.
uan冤
10.
eng用

12
 Lesson 2

Lesson 2: Consonants
The following table shows Hokkien’s consonants. The only
consonants which can occur at the end of a syllable are p, m, t, n, k,
ng, and h.

1. Consonants  11,  12,  13,  14

voiceless voiceless voiced nasals voiceless
unaspirated aspirated* fricatives
bilabials p [p] ph [ph] b [b] m [m]
alveolars t [t] th [th] l [l] n [n]
velars k [k] kh [kh] g [g] ng [ŋ]
sibilants ch [ts] chh [tsh] j [dz] s [s]
glottals h [h]
*Aspiration is indicated by superscript h in IPA and by -h in the
Hokkien romanisation.

2. Vowels + consonants  15,  16,  17

Syllables which consist of vowel(s) followed by either p, t, or k
are pronounced shorter than other syllables. These syllables can only
occur with certain tones (see Lesson 3).
a- i- u- e- o- ia- oa- io-
-p ap ip iap
[ap] [ip] [iap]
-t at it ut iat oat
[at] [it] [ut] [iɛt] [oat]
-k ak ek ok iak iok
[ak] [ik] [ɔk] [iak] [iɔk]

13
 Spoken Hokkien

Liān-sip  Exercise  18
Listen to the audio, identify and transcribe the sounds.

1.
pa 爸
2.
bah 肉
3.
Sian 聲
4.
chhi 市
5.
chheng穿
6.
nng 二
7.
thk讀
8.
jah熱
9.
chht賊
10. png 飯

14
 Lesson 3

Lesson 3: Tone
Hokkien is a tone language. Mastering tone in Hokkien is
difficult. The best way to learn is by listening and speaking in the
classroom with your teacher and by listening to this book’s audio.

Each word has its own tone, which is called its “lexical tone”. A
word’s lexical tone is its tone when spoken in isolation. It is usually
indicated in a dictionary and words are written showing their lexical
tone throughout this book. In the writing system used in this book,
tone is marked above the letters. It is generally marked on the vowels,
for example tê “tea”, but is also marked on syllabic nasals, for
example mg “ask”.

Traditionally Hokkien is described as having eight tones but only

seven of them are actually used.

The following table shows each tone number and how it is

marked (using the letter ‘a’ as an example). Note that tone 1 is not
marked, tones 2 and 6 are written the same, and tones 4 and 8 only
occur in syllables that end with p, t, k or h (shown with p in the
table).

15
 Spoken Hokkien

1. Marking the eight tones  19

tone number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

marking a á à ap â á ā p

2. Listen to the eight tones  20,  21

ka ká kà kah kâ ká kā kah
sai hó. pà pih kâu káu chhiūn lk

3. Tone levels
Each tone has a different sound pitch or “tone level”. Hokkien
has three tone levels: high (H), middle (M), and low (L). The
following table shows the vowel ‘a’ in its eight tone levels:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

H a á á ap
M ap ā
L à â

16
 Lesson 3

4. Tone change
Additionally, a word’s tone can change to a different tone when it
occurs in phrases and sentences - you will learn about tone change in
Lesson 4.

Examples  22
1 chheng su
2 pá bé
3 sì khàu
4 chhit pit
5 thâu tê
7 pg sī
8 hk j…t jah

17
 Spoken Hokkien

Liān-sip  Exercise  23
Listen to the audio, then identify and transcribe the words,
including the tones.

1. tâi 台

2. thian 聽

3. lk 六

4. lim 喝

5. khòan 看

6. khì 去

7. kā 咬

8. káu 九

9. gh 月

10. bah 肉

18
 Lesson 4

Lesson 4: Tone change

Hokkien has a complex tone change system, also called tone
sandhi. There are two aspects of tone change: when a word’s tone
changes (the tone change rules), and which tone it changes to (the
tone mapping).

Tone change rules

A word’s lexical tone can change when the word occurs in phrases
and sentences. The tone change system has many rules, which are
not all described here. The general case is that a word’s tone changes
when it is followed by another word.

For example ló “fall down” has lexical tone 2. When it is followed

by hō. “rain”, as in ló-hō. “it’s raining”, ló changes to tone 1:

lexical tone
in combination
(in isolation)
ló  lo hō.
2 1 7

Throughout this book, words are written with their lexical tones,
not their tones following the tone change rules, i.e. not as actually
pronounced in combination in speech.

Tone change is determined by the grammatical structure, not by

the tone of the following word. If a word changes tone, it nearly

19
 Spoken Hokkien

always changes in the same way - see Tone mapping below (for an
exception, see Lesson 11).

A word changes tone when it is in one of the major phrase types

(noun, verb or adverbial phrases), except where:
 the word is the final word of the phrase
 the word is a demonstrative or third person pronoun
(i “he/she/it”, in “them”, che “this”, he “that”, chia “here”,
hia “there”)

Tone mapping
Tones change as shown in the following table; for example ló
(tone 2) changes to tone 1:

4 8

2 3
5*
1 7

* Tone change for tone 5 varies geographically; in northern

Taiwan it changes to tone 3, while in southern Taiwan it changes to
tone 7.

20
 Lesson 4

Examples  24,  25
1→7 4→8
khui-hoe .
pak-pō
kam-á hip-siōng
siau-sit Hoat-bûn
sit-gia̍p

7→3 8→4
tāi-chì hk-hāu
chē-chhia j…k-thâu
lāu-pē jia̍t-chêng

3→2 8→3
pò-chóa chih-pg
thài-thài jo̍ah-thin
sè-î chp-kho.

2→1 4→2
siá-phoe kheh-thia
sé-san hioh-khùn
lé-pài phah-jī
ló-hō.

5 → 7 (south), 5 → 3 (north)
Tâi-ôan
gû-leng
nî-kí

21
 Spoken Hokkien

Liān-sip  Exercise  26
Listen to the audio, identify and transcribe the sounds.

1. hioh-khùn → hioh2-khùn

2. j…k-thâu → jik3-thau

3. khui-hoe → kui7-hoe

4. sit-gip → sit8-giap

5. chē-chhia → che3-chhia

6. Tâi-lâm → Tai7-lâm

7. chhiù-koa → chhiu2-koa

8. pak-pêng → pak8-pêng

9. hong-pian →hong7-piān

10. ho̍k-bū → hok3-bū

22
 Lesson 5

Lesson 5: Lí kùi sèⁿ?

What’s your name?

Tùi-ōe  Dialogue  27

A: Chhiáⁿ-mg, lí kùi sèⁿ?

B: Góa sèⁿ Ông, sī Ông Bûn-eng.
A: Ông sió-chiá, lí hó. Góa sió-sèⁿ Lîm, kiò chò Lîm Bú-
hiông.
B: Lîm sin-seⁿ, lí hó. Lí tò-ūi lâng?
A: Góa sī Eng-kok-lâng. Lí leh? Lí iā sī Eng-kok-lâng sī bô?
B: M̄-sī, góa m̄-sī Eng-kok-lâng. Góa sī Hoat-kok-lâng.

23
 Spoken Hokkien

Sin-gí  New Vocabulary

chhiáⁿ-mg excuse me/may I ask you
lí Pro you
kùi honorable
sèⁿ N surname
kùi-sèⁿ your surname [polite form]
góa Pro I
sī V be/is
Ông PN Ông [a surname]
Lîm PN Lîm [a surname]
sió-chiá Miss
sin-seⁿ (sian-siⁿ) Mister
lí hó How do you do? / How are you?
sió Adj small
sió-sèⁿ my surname [humble form]
kiò-chò (hō chò) V be named
Bûn-eng PN [a name]
Bú-hiông PN [a name]
tò-ūi (toh-ūi) IP where
lâng N person, people
leh Pa a question marker, particle
iā Adv too
m̄-sī Pa+V no, not
Eng-kok PN England
Hoat-kok PN France

24
 Lesson 5

Dialogue (translation)

A: What is your surname?

B: My surname is Ông. I am Ông Bûn-eng.
A: Miss Ông,how do you do? My surname is Lîm. I am Lîm Bú-
hiông .
B: Mr. Lîm. How do you do? Where do you come from?
A: I am English (I come from England). And you? Are you English
too?
B: No, I am not English. I am French.

25
 Spoken Hokkien

Bûn-hoat tiōng-tiám  Grammar Points

Hokkien has inclusive and exclusive first person plural pronouns.
This means that there are different forms for “we” depending on
whether the addressee is included or not.

Plural personal pronouns are formed by nasalisation.

Personal Pronouns:

Singular Plural
tan-sò. hk-sò.

góan lán
First person góa we/us we/us
tē it jîn chheng I/me (excluding the (including the
person spoken to) person spoken to)

Second person lí lín

tē jī jîn chheng you you (pl)

Third person i in
tē saⁿ jîn chheng he/she/him/her they/them

26
 Lesson 5

Kù-hîn  Sentence Patterns

1. Asking somebody’s name:

chhiáⁿ-mg lí kùi sèⁿ

may I ask you honorable surname

Q: Chhiáⁿ-mg, lí kúi sèⁿ?

→ Góa sèⁿ Lîm.
→ Sió- sèⁿ Lîm.

2. Simple questions:

S sī N sī bo
lí sī Bí-kok-lâng sī bo
you be American be not

Q: Lí sī Bí-kok-lâng, sī bo?
→ Sī, góa sī Bí-kok-lâng.
→ -sī, góa ˜-sī Bí-kok-lâng.

Q: Lí sī seⁿ Lîm, sī bo?

→ Sī, góa sī sèⁿ Lîm.
→ -sī, góa ˜-sī sèⁿ Lîm.

27
 Spoken Hokkien

3. Simple questions for “as well as ...”:

S iā sī N sī bo?
lí iā sī Bí-kok-lâng sī bo?
you too be an American be not?

Q: Lí iā sī Bí-kok-lâng, sī bo?
→ Sī, góa sī Bí-kok-lâng.
→ -sī, góa ˜-sī Bí-kok-lâng.

Q: Lí iā sī seⁿ Lîm, sī bo?

→ Sī, góa sī sèⁿ Lîm.
→ -sī, góa ˜-sī sèⁿ Lîm.

28
 Lesson 5

Pó.-chhiog sin-gí  Additional Vocabulary  28

Tâi-ôan-lâng N Taiwanese people
Bí-kok-lâng N American people
J…t-pún-lâng N Japanese people
lâm-pō.-lâng N people from the south
pak-pō.-lâng N people from the north
Tek-kok-lâng N German people
Tiong-kok-lâng N Chinese people
Í-tāi-lī N Italy
góan (gún) Pro we/us [excludes the person spoken to]
lán Pro we/us [includes the person spoken to]

Some of the most common surnames, with their Chinese

character forms, are:  29

Ông 王 Lîm 林 Tân 陳

Lí 李 Gô 吳 g 黃
Tiuⁿ 張 Khó. 許 Lâu 劉
Khó 郭 Chhòa 蔡 Âng 洪
Png 方 Iûⁿ 楊 Siā 謝
Si 施 Tēⁿ 鄭 Khu 邱

29
 Spoken Hokkien

Liān-sip  Exercises
A. Complete the following sentences:

1. ( Chhiaⁿ-mg ) lí kúi sèⁿ?

2. Góa ( sèⁿ ) Lîm, ( sī ) Lîm Bú-eng.
3. Lîm sin-seⁿ, lí hó. Lí ( tò-ūi ) lâng?
4. Góa ( sī ) Eng-kok-lâng. Lí ( leh )?
5. Lí ( iā ) sī Eng-kok-lâng sī bô?

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. I am not English.
→ Góa m̄-sī Eng-kok-lâng. Góa sī Hoat-kok-lâng.
2. Where do you come from?
→ Lí tò-ūi lâng?
3. My surname is Lîm. I am Taiwanese. How about you?
→ Góa sèⁿ Lîm, sī Tâi-ôan-lâng, Lí leh ?
4. Are you Mr Png?
→ Lí sī Png sin-seⁿ sī bô?
5. My surname is not Png, it’s Tan.
→ Góa m̄-sī sèⁿ Png, Góa sī sèⁿ Tân.

30
 Lesson 6

Lesson 6: Chih-pá bōe?

Greetings!

Tùi-ōe  Dialogue  30
A: Gâo-chá, lí chih-pá bōe?
B: Góa chih à. Lí leh?
A: Góa mā chih à. Lín beh khì tó-ūi?
B: Góan beh lâi-khì bé-chhài.
A: Lín beh khì tó-ūi bé.
B: Góan beh khì Tâi-lâm bé.
A: Iá-bô, ū-êng chiah lâi-chē.
B: Hó. To-siā.

31
 Spoken Hokkien

Sin-gí  New Vocabulary

Chih-pá bōe is a commonly used expression in Hokkien. Literally, it
means “have you eaten yet?”, but it is typically used as a greeting,
like “hello”, or “how are you?”
gâo-chá Good morning [lit: You’re around early!]
chih-pá bōe Have you eaten yet?
à Pa [particle for past or perfect tense ]
beh Aux want/will
khì V to go
lâi-khì V going (and coming back soon)
bé-chhài V+O to buy food
teh Aux [auxiliary indicating continuing action]
chhóng-siàⁿ What are you doing?
êng N or V spare time
Tâi-lâm PN Tainan
iá-bô (á-bô ) Adv then
chiah Adv then/until/only
lâi-chē V come and sit [a courteous greeting]

32
 Lesson 6

Dialogue (translation)
A: Good morning, have you eaten yet?
B: Yes. How about you?
A: Me too. Where are you going?
B: We are going to buy food.
A: Where are you going to buy it?
B: We are going to Tainan to buy it.
A: Come and visit me.
B: OK, thanks.

Bûn-hoat tiōng-tiám  Grammar Points

1. Talking about a continuing activity or state:
S teh [V +N]
lí teh chhóng-siàⁿ
you [continuing action] do what

Q: Lí teh chhóng-siàⁿ?
What are you doing?
→ Góa teh thk-chheh.
I am reading a book.
→ Góa teh bé-chhài.
I am buying food.
→ Góa teh bô-êng.
I am busy.

33
 Spoken Hokkien

2. Asking for information, such as where someone wants to go:

S beh V IP
lí beh khì toh-ūi
you want go where

3. Answering the above question:

S beh V V, N or PN
góa beh khì bé-chhài
I want go buy food

Q: Lí beh khì toh-ūi?

Where are you going?

→ Góa beh khì bé-chhài.

I am going to buy food.

→ Góa beh khì lú-hêng.

I am going to travel.

→ Góa beh khì Bí-kok.

I am going to America.

34
 Lesson 6

4. Talking about going to do something and coming back soon:

S beh lâi-khì V, N or PN
góa beh lâi-khì bé-chhài
I want come-go buy food

Q: Lí beh khì toh-ūi?

Where are you going?

→ Góa beh lâi-khì bé-chhài.

I am going to buy food.

→ Góa beh lâi-khì sh-ke.

I am going shopping.

× Góa lâi-khì lîu-hk.

I am going to study abroad.

35
 Spoken Hokkien

Kù-hîn  Sentence Patterns

Greetings:

Gâo chá. “Good morning.”

Lí chih-pá bōe? “Hello”, or “Have you eaten?”: used

when you see someone around
mealtime.

Lí-chiah-nih-chá. “You are so early!”: can be said to

someone who is earlier than
expected.

Lí beh khì toh ūi? “Where are you going?”: also used
as a general greeting, or to ask
someone where they are going.

Lí-hó.? “How do you do”: used only in

formal situations.

Teh bô-êng hiō.? “Are you busy?”: used as a greeting

or as a polite way of getting
someone’s attention when they are
doing something.
Ū-êng chiah lâi chē. These both mean “come again to
Ū-êng chiah koh lâi chhit-thô. visit” and are used when a visitor is
leaving.

36
 Lesson 6

Pó.-chhiog sin-gí  Additional Vocabulary  31

bô-êng Adj busy
chhài-chhī-á N market
kong-hg N park
siōng-pan V+O to work [lit: go to workplace or office]
hk-hāu N school
thk-chheh V+O to study, to read [lit: to read a book]
sh-ke V+O to go shopping [lit: walk streets]
lú-hêng V to travel
phah-chio-ho. V or N greeting
Tâi-pak N Taipei
Sin-ka-pho N Singapore
Pak-kiaⁿ N Beijing
Lûn-tun N London
Pa-lê N Paris

37
 Spoken Hokkien

Liān-sip  Exercises
A. Complete the following sentences:
1. Gâo-chá, Li chih-pá ( bōe )?
2. Lín ( beh ) khì tó-ūi?
3. Góan beh ( lâi-khì ) bé-chhài.
4. ( Iá-bô ) ū-êng ( chaih ) lâi-chē.

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. Where are you going?

→ Lín beh khì tó-ūi?
2. We are going to Tainan.
→ Góan beh khì Tâi-lâm.
3. We are going to buy food.
→ Góan beh lâi-khì bé-chhài.
4. Where are you going to buy it?
→ Lín beh khì tó-ūi bé?
5. When you have time please come (and visit).
→ Ū-êng chaih lâi-chē.

38
 Lesson 7

Lesson 7: Che sī sím-m…h?

What is it?

Tùi-ōe  Dialogue  32

A: Che sī sím-m…h?
B: He sī lé-bt.
A: Sī sím-m…h lâng ê?
B: He sī beh hō. lāu-su ê.
A: Chia lóng sī beh hō. lāu-su ê sī bô?
B: -sī, ū-ê sī beh hō. lāu-su īn bó. ê.
A: Lāu-su īn bó. sī tó-chit-ūi?
B: Chē-tī hia hit-ê tih sī lāu-su īn bó. .

39
 Spoken Hokkien

Sin-gí  New Vocabulary

che Pro this
he Pro that
lé-bt N a present
lāu-su N teacher
hō. V to give
lóng Adv all
ū-ê Adv some
chia Pro these
īn Pro them/they/his/hers
bó. (= thài-thài ) N wife; Mrs
tó-ch…t-ūi IP which one
hit-ūi (= hit-ê) Pro that one
tī Prep at
hia Adv there/those
tih (= tō) Adv [emphasis on the previous word]

40
 Lesson 7

Dialogue (translation)

A: What is this?
B: It is a present.
A: Who is it for?
B: It is for the teacher.
A: Is it all for the teacher?
B: No, some is for the teacher’s wife.
A: Which one is the teacher’s wife?
B: The one sitting over there is the teacher’s wife.

41
 Spoken Hokkien

Bûn-hoat tiōng-tiám  Grammar Points

Possessive Pronouns:

Sg (Singular) Pl (Plural)
tan-sò. hk-sò.

First person góa-ê góan-ê/gun-ê

tē it jîn chheng my our

Second person lí-ê lín-ê

tē jī jîn chheng your your

Third person i-ê in-ê

tē saⁿ jîn chheng his/her their

Demonstrative Pronouns:

Proximal Distal Question

Sg (thing/material) che he sim-m…h

tan-sò. this that what

Sg (people/place) chit (-ê) hit (-ê) tó-ch…t (-ê)

tan-sò. this that which

Sg (place) chia hia tó-ūi

tan-sò. here there where

Pl (thing/material) chia hia + modifier sim-m…h

hk-sò. these those what

42
 Lesson 7

Kù-hîn  Sentence Patterns

1. Talking about possession:
S sī N [owner] ê N [possessed object]
che sī góa ê chheh
this is me [possessive] book
Note: N [owner] can be any noun or pronoun, but N [possessed
object] must be a physical object.

Q: Che sī góa-ê chheh. This is my book.

Q: Che sī i-ê chheh-pau-á. This is his bag.

× Góa-ê chhù (tau) tī Tâi-lâm. My house in Tainan.

× Lí-ê bó. sī tó-ch…t-ūi? Which one is your wife?

× I-ê lāu-su sī Tâi-lâm lâng. His teacher is from Tainan.

2. When the possessed thing is not a physical object, ê is not used and
N [owner] must be plural:

N [owner] (Pl) N [possessed thing]

góan chhù
our house

Q: Góan chhù (tau) tī Tâi-tiong.

My house is in Taichung.
43
 Spoken Hokkien

Q: Lín bó. sī tó-ch…t-ūi?

Where does your wife come from?
Q: In lāu-su sī Tâi-lâm lâng.
Their teacher is from Tainan.

3. Like Mandarin, Hokkien uses measure words (MW) or noun

classifiers for a number of purposes, including asking questions. This
pattern shows how to ask “which one?”:

S sī tó-ch…t MW N
lí sī tó-ch…t kok lâng
you be which country people

Q: Lí sī tó-ch…t kok lâng?

Where do you come from?
Q: Lí sī tó-ch…t kōan lâng?
Which prefecture do you come from?
Q: Tó-ch…t-ê sī beh hō. góa-ê?
Which one is for me?
Q: Tó-ch…t-lip pió-á sī lí ê?
Which watch is yours?

44
 Lesson 7

Pó.-chhiog sin-gí  Additional Vocabulary  33

chheh N book
pit N pen
iân-pit N pencil
gôan-chú-pit N ball-point pen
pió-á N watch
bk-kiàⁿ N glasses
chheh-pau-á N bag
jī-tián N dictionary
ang N husband
ki MW [measure word for long objects]
lip MW [measure word for flat objects]
pún MW [measure word for books]
ūi MW [measure word for people or person]
kōan N or MW prefecture, county
chhun N or MW village

45
 Spoken Hokkien

Liān-sip  Exercises
A. Complete the following sentences :

1. Che sī sím-m…h? ( He ) sī lé-bt.

2. He sī beh ( hō. ) lāu-su ê.
3. Chia ( lóng ) sī beh hō. lāu-su ê ( sī-bô )?
4. -sī, ( ū-ê ) sī beh hō. lāu-su īn bó. ê.
5. Chē-tī hia hit-ê ( tih sī ) lāu-su īn bó..

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. What’s that?
→ He sī sím-m…h?
2. Whose is that?
→ He sī sím-m…h lâng ê?
3. Is that all for the teacher?
→ He lóng sī beh hō. lāu-su ê sī bô?
4. That is the teacher’s husband.
→ He sī beh hō. lāu-su īn ang ê.
5. Who is that sitting over there?
→ Chē-tī hia hit-ê sī sím-m…h lâng?

46
 Lesson 8

Lesson 8: Lí ài lim sím-m…h?

What would you like to drink?
Tùi-ōe  Dialogue  34

A: Bí-hûn, lí ài lim sím-m…h?

B: Góa ài lim kó-chiap. Lí ū kó-chiap bô?
A: Góan chia bô kó-chiap, ū ka-pi, ka-pi hó bô?
B: Án-ne ˜-bián.
A: Lí bô ài lim ka-pi hiō.?
B: -sī, góa chin ài lim ka-pi. -ko góa bē-táng lim.
A: Sī-án-chóaⁿ?
B: In-ùi lim ka-pi góa ē kùn-bē khì.
A: Sī-án-ne o.h!

47
 Spoken Hokkien

Sin-gí  New Vocabulary

Bí-hûn PN a name
ài V to like
lim V to drink
kó-chiap N juice
ka-pi N coffee
ū V have
˜-bián Pa+V not need
sī-án-chóaⁿ IP why, what, how come
˜-sī Pa+V not
˜-ko Con but
in-ùi Con because
kùn-bē khì V can’t sleep
hiō. V isn’t
án-ne Adv such/if so
o. h Int I see!
[exclamation of understanding]

48
 Lesson 8

Dialogue (translation)
A: Bí-hûn, what would you like to drink?
B: I’d like a juice. Do you have juice?
A: We don’t have juice but we have coffee, how about coffee?
B: Forget about it then.
A: Don’t you like coffee?
B: No, I like coffee very much, but I can’t drink it.
A: Why?
B: Because if I drink it I can’t sleep.
A: I see!

Bûn-hoat tiōng-tiám  Grammar Points

1. siàⁿ is a contraction of sím-m…h (“what”, “what kind of”). Sím-
m…h is used to ask about a specified object, while siàⁿ is used where
the object is not specified:

“What kind of tea do you like to drink?”

○ Lí bóeh lim sím-m…h tê?

× Lí bóeh lim siàⁿ tê?

“What do you write with?”
○ Lí boeh iòng sím-m…h pit siá?

× Lí boeh iòng siàⁿ pit siá?

49
 Spoken Hokkien

2. Sī-án-chóaⁿ can mean why, what, or how:

Lí sī-án-chóaⁿ bô lâi? Why didn’t you come?
Lí sī-án-chóaⁿ à? What happened to you?
Góa boeh án-chóaⁿ chaih hó? What should I do?
Tâi-lâm sī beh án-chóaⁿ khì? How can I go to Tainan?
I sī-án-chóaⁿ sí ê? How did he die?

kù-hîn  Sentence Patterns

1. Asking a simple yes/no question:

S ū O bô
lí ū chîⁿ bô
you have money not

Q: Lí ū chîⁿ bô? Do you have money?

→ Ū, góa ū. (Ū, góa ū chîⁿ.) Yes, I do.
→ Bô, góa bô . (Bô, góa bô chîⁿ.) No, I don’t.

Q: Lí ū bh-á-chiú bô? Do you have beer?

→ Ū, góa ū bh-á-chiú. Yes, I do.
→ Bô, góa bh-á-chiú. No, I don’t.

50
 Lesson 8

2. The same pattern can be used to ask about actions:

S ū V bô
lí ū khì bô
you have go not

Q: Lí ū khì bô? Did you go?

→ Ū, góa ū khì. Yes, I did.
→ Bô, góa bô khì. No, I didn’t.

3. ... and for asking about attributes:

S ū Adj bô
i ū súi bô
he/she have beautiful not
Q: I ū súi bo? Is she beautiful?
→ Ū, i chin súi. Yes, she is indeed.
→ Bô, i bô súi. Not, she isn’t.

51
 Spoken Hokkien

4. ... and for confirming:

S ū Adv + V V bô
lí ū chin ài thiàu-bú bô
you have very like dance not

Q: Lí ū chin ài thiàu-bú bô? Do you really like to dance?

→ Ū, góa chin ài thiàu-bú. Yes, I really do.
→ Bô, góa bô chin ài thiàu-bú. No, I don’t like it that much.

In Hokkien, negative questions are answered differently from

English. English uses “no” to confirm a negative question:

Q: You don’t like football, do you?

→ No, I don’t.

Hokkien works the opposite way:

Question:
S [negative] V+O sī-bô
lí bô ài lim ka-pi sī-bô
you not like drink coffee yes-not

52
 Lesson 8

Answers:
sī S [negative] V+O
sī góa bô ài lim ka-pi
yes I not like drink coffee

˜-sī S V V+O
˜-sī góa ài lim ka-pi
no I like drink coffee
Lí bô ài lim ka-pi sì bô? You don’t like to drink coffee, do you?
→ Sī, góa bô ài lim ka-pi. No, I don’t.
→ -sī, góa ài lim ka-pi. Yes, I do.

Pó.-chhiog sin-gí  Additional Vocabulary  35

thiàu-bú V+O to dance
tê N tea, hot water
tê-bí-tê N tea (made from whole leaves)
âng-tê N black tea [lit: red tea]
o.-liōng-tê N oolong tea
gû-ni (gû-leng) N milk
chiú N alcoholic drink
bh-á-chiú N beer
siāu-heng-chiú N shaoxing wine
bí-chiú N rice wine
tih Adv have to/must
sí V to die

53
 Spoken Hokkien

Liān-s ip  Exercises

A. Complete the following sentences :

1. Lí ū kó-chiap ( bô )?
2. Lí bô ài lim ka-pi ( hiō. )?
3. Góa ( chin ) ài lim ka-pi. ( -ko ) góa bē-táng lim.
4. ( In-ùi ) lim ka-pi góa ē kùn-bē khì.
5. Sī- án-ne ( o.h ) !

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. What do you like to drink?

→ Lí ài lim sím-m…h?

2. You don’t like to drink coffee, do you?

→ Lí bô ài lim ka-pi hiō.?

3. Don’t go to any trouble.

→ Án-ne ˜-bián.

4. Why?
→ Sī-án-chóaⁿ?

5. I see!
→ Sī-án-ne o.h!

54
 Lesson 9

Lesson 9: Kin-á-j…t chhe-kúi?

What day is today?

Tùi-ōe  Dialogue  36

A: Kin-á-j…t kúi-geh chhe-kúi?

B: Kin-á-j…t kan-na sī chp-geh chhe-jī o.h.
A: Kin-á-j…t pài-kúi?
B: Pài-gō..
A: Lí pài-kúi ū Tâi-gí-khò?
B: Góa pài-it kah pài-saⁿ ū Tâi-gí-khò.
A: Lí ū kúi chiat-khò?
B: Góa lóng-chóng ū saⁿ chiat-khò.

55
 Spoken Hokkien

Sin-gí  New Vocabulary

kin-á-j…t Adv today
kúi-geh IP+N which month
chhe-kúi MW+IP what’s the date?
kan-na Adv like/it seems like
chhe-jī MW+Num the second day of the month
kan-na ... o.h [to express uncertainty or guess]
pài-kúi Num+IP which day of the week?
kah Con and, with
Tâi-gí PN Taiwanese language
khò N lesson
chiat MW [measure word for a class or lesson]
lóng-chóng Adv total

56
 Lesson 9

Dialogue (translation)
A: What date is it today?
B: It might be the 2nd of October.
A: What day of the week is it?
B: Friday.
A : Which days do you have a Taiwanese lesson?
B: Mondays and Wednesdays.
A: How many classes do you have?
B: I have a total of three.

Bûn-hoat tiōng-tiám  Grammar Points

1. kah (= kap) with, and
→ Góa beh kah i khì.
I want to go with him.
→ Góa ū chîⁿ kah chhia.
I have money and a car.
→ Kin-á-j…t kah bîn-á-chài lóng ū Tâi-gí-khò.
Today and tomorrow I have a Taiwanese lesson.

2. kám mid-sentence interrogative

Q: Lí kám chai-iáⁿ i sī tó-ūi lâng?
Do you know where does he come from?
→ Chai, góa chai.
→ -chai, góa ˜-chai.

57
 Spoken Hokkien

Q: Che kám ˜-sī lí ê leh? (= Che sī lí ê sī bô?)

Isn’t this yours?
→ Sī. He sī góa ê.
→ -sī. He ˜-sī góa ê.

Q: Kám án-ne? (= Sī an-ne mā?)

Is that true?
→ Sī ā.
→ -sī. -sī án-ne.

3. sī ... bô? interrogative; is ... or not?

Q: Lí chai-iáⁿ i sī tó-ūi lâng bô?

→ Góa chai.
→ Góa ˜-chai.

Q: He sī lí ê sī bô? (= Che sī lí ê mā?)

That belongs to you, doesn’t it?

→ Sī. He sī góa ê.
→ -sī. He ˜-sī góa ê.

58
 Lesson 9

4. mā interrogative used at the end of a sentence

Q: Che sī lí ê mā? (= Che sī lí ê sī bô? = Che kám sī lí ê?)

Is this yours?
→ Sī. He sī góa ê.
→ -sī. He ˜-sī góa ê.

Q: He sī lí ê mā? (= Che sī lí ê mā?)

Is that yours?
→ Sī. He sī góa ê.
→ -sī. He ˜-sī góa ê.

Kù-hîn  Sentence Patterns

1. Asking when, e.g. “When do you have to do something?”:

S IP ū Tâi-gí-khò
lí pài-kúi [date] ū Tâi-gí-khò
you when have Taiwanese lesson

Q: Lí pài-kúi ū Tâi-gí-khò?
Q: Lí pài-kúi ū siōng-pan?
Q: Lí sím-m…h sî-chūn ū sî-kan?
Q: Lí sím-m…h sî-chūn ū iok-hōe?

59
 Spoken Hokkien

Pó.-chhiog sin-gí  Additional Vocabulary  37

it-geh N January
jī-geh N February
saⁿ-geh N March
sì-geh N April
gō.-geh N May
lk-geh N June
chhit-geh N July
peh-geh N August
káu-geh N September
chp-geh N October
chp-it-geh N November
chp-jī-geh N December

cha-hng = chang N yesterday

bîn-á-chài N tomorrow
āu-j…t N the day after tomorrow
iok-hōe V date

60
 Lesson 9

Numbers  38
0 lêng
1 ch…t
2 ng Note that when used with dates
(months, days), the word for
3 saⁿ “two” is jī, not ng
4 sì
5 gō
6 lk
7 chhit
8 peh
9 káu

Days of the week  39

Monday pài-it
Tuesday pài-jī
Wednesday pài-saⁿ
Thursday pài-sì
Friday pài-gō
Saturday pài-lk
Sunday lé-pài

61
 Spoken Hokkien

Liān-sip  Exercises
A. Complete the following sentences :

1. Kin-á-j…t ( kan-na ) sī chp-geh chhe-ji o.h.

2. Góa pài-it ( kah ) pài- saⁿ ū Tâi-gí-khò.
3. Góa ê siⁿ-j…t sì jī-geh ( chhe ) peh.
4. Lí ū ( kúi ) chiat-khò?
5. Góa ( lóng-chóng ) ū saⁿ chiat-khò.

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. What’s the date today?

→ Kin-á-j…t kúi-geh chhe-kúi?
2. What day of the week was yesterday?
→ Cha-hng pài-kúi?
3. Which day do you have a Taiwanese lesson?
→ Lí pài-kúi ū Tâi-gí-khò?
4. Today might be the 2nd of October.
→ Kin-á-j…t kan-na sī chp-geh chhe-ji o.h.
5. How many classes do you have?
→ Lí ū kúi chiat-khò?

62
 Lesson 10

Lesson 10: Lí ê siⁿ-j…t tang-sî?

When is your birthday?

Tùi-ōe  Dialogue  40

A: Lí ê siⁿ-j…t tang-sî?
B: Góa ê siⁿ-j…t sī jī-geh chhe-peh. Lí ê leh?
A: Góa ê siⁿ-j…t sī chiaⁿ-geh chp-it.
B: Sī téng-kó-geh o.h.
A: Hèⁿ.
B: Lí kám chai-iáⁿ lín lāu-su īn cha-bó.-kiáⁿ ê seⁿ-j…t sī tang sî?
A: Góan lāu-su īn cha-bó.-kiáⁿ?! Lí mg che beh chhóng-siàⁿ?

63
 Spoken Hokkien

Sin-gí  New Vocabulary

seⁿ-j…t (= siⁿ-j…t) N birthday
tang-sî IP when
leh Pa [question, command or emphasis]
chiaⁿ-geh N January
téng-kó-geh N last month
cha̍p Num ten
hèⁿ Pa yes
kám Int really? truly? can it be possible?
chai-iáⁿ V to know
lāu-su N teacher
cha-bó.-kiáⁿ N daughter
mg V to ask
che Pro this

64
 Lesson 10

Dialogue (translation)
A: When is your birthday?
B: My birthday is the 8th of February. When’s yours?
A: Mine is the 11th of January.
B: Oh! That was last month!
A: Yes.
B: Do you know when your teacher’s daughter’s birthday is?
A: My teacher’s daughter?! Why do you ask?

Bûn-hoat tiōng-tiám  Grammar Points

1. leh indicates a question, command, or emphasis:
question
→I leh?
Where is he?
→ Chîⁿ leh?
Where is the money?
command
→ Chē leh!
Sit down!
→ Lí tòng leh!
Stop!
emphasis
→ Sī leh, iá bô lí beh án-chóaⁿ!
Yes I do, do you have a problem!

65
 Spoken Hokkien

Kù-hîn  Sentence Patterns

1. Expressing complex possessive:
S S in cha-bó.-kiáⁿ ê siⁿ-j…t
N1 N2 N3 N4 N5
possessor possessed
possessor N3=N2 possessed
góan lāu-su in cha-bó.-kiáⁿ ê siⁿ-j…t
our teacher they daughter [possessive] birthday

Note: when N2 also posseses or is related to N4, then N2 must

reappear as the pronoun N3, in possessive form.
Q: I sī siáⁿ-lâng?
→ I sī góan lāu-su ê bó..
→ I sī góan hk-hāu ê lāu-su.
→ Che sī góan lāu-bó.
→ I sī góan lāu-su.

Q: Lín tau tī toh-ūi?

→ Góan tau tī Ko-hiông.
→ In tau tī Ko-hiông.

Q: Lín lāu-su īn bó. teh chhóng-siàⁿ?

→ Góan lāu-su īn bó teh h Tâi-gí.

Q: He sī siáⁿ-lâng ê chhia.
→ He sī góa ê chhia.
→ He sī góan lāu-su ê chhia.
→ He sī góan lāu-su īn bó. ê chhia.

66
 Lesson 10

Pó.-chhiog sin-gí  Additional Vocabulary  41

téng lé-pài Adv+N last week
āu lé-pài Adv+N next week
cha-hng = chang N yesterday
āu-j…t Adv+N day after tomorrow
téng kó-geh Adv+N last month
āu kó-geh Adv+N next month
kū-nî Adv+N last year
hk-hāu N school
hāu-seⁿ (=siⁿ) N son
lāu-bó N mother
Ko-hiông N Kaohsiung
lāu-pē N father [referring to, not addressing]
chái-khí (-sî) Adv this morning/in the morning
êng-àm (ê-àm) Adv tonight
ê-hng (-sî) N night
ê-táu N early afternoon (before 2pm)
ê-po. (-sî) N afternoon
tiōng-táu N lunch time
bîn-á-ê-àm N tomorrow evening
tó-ch…t-ūi IP which one
tī Prep at

67
 Spoken Hokkien

Liān-s ip  Exercises
A. Complete the following sentences :

1. Lí ê siⁿ-j…t ( tang-sî )?
2. Lí mg che ( beh ) chhóng-siàⁿ?
3. Lí ( kám ) chai-iáⁿ?
4. Góa ê siⁿ-j…t sī jī-geh chhe-peh. Lí ê ( leh )?

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. When is your mother’s birthday?

→ Lín lāu-bó ê siⁿ-j…t sī tang-sî?
2. Last week was my birthday.
→ Téng lé-pài sī góa ê siⁿ-j…t.
3. When is your teacher’s daughter’s birthday?
→ Lín lāu-su īn cha-bó.-kiáⁿ ê seⁿ-j…t sī tang-sî?
4. My birthday is the 8th of February. When’s yours?
→ Góa ê siⁿ-j…t sī jī-geh chhe-peh. Lí ê leh?
5. Why do you ask?
→ Lí mg che beh chhóng-siàⁿ?

68
 Lesson 11

Lesson 11: Lí phah kúi hō?

Which number are you calling?
Tùi-ōe  Dialogue  42
A: Ôe, chhiáⁿ-mg Ka-pó-à ū tī-leh bô?
B: Góan chia bô chit-ê lâng, lí phah kúi hō?
A: Lín chia ˜-sī (khòng it khòng-jī sam sù ngó.-kiù pat chhit
lik) ma?
B: Góan chia sī (khòng it khòng-jī sam sù ngó.-kiù pat lik
chhit) o.h.
A: S…t-lé s…t-lé, án-ne góa phah ˜-tih à.
B: Bē-là.

A: Ôe.
B: Ôe, chhiáⁿ-mg lín chia kám sī Ka-pó-à in chhù?
A: Lán tó beh chhōe.
B: Góa kiò-chò Bûn-hiông-à, sī i hk-hāu ê pêng-iú.
A: I chhut-khì à. Tō eng-àm pat-tiám í-āu chiah ē tńg-lâi.
Kám ū sím-m…h tāi-chì?
B: Sī-là, iá-bô i nā tńg-lâi chiah chhiáⁿ i phah ch…t-thong tiān-
ōe hō. góa.
A: Hó, góa chiah kā i kóng.
B: To-siā.
69
 Spoken Hokkien

sin-gí  Vocabulary
ôe hello [when on telephone]
chhiáⁿ-mg may I ask you
Ka-pó N [person’s name]
à Pa [past tense or expressing recognition]
phah V to make a telephone call
hō N number
s…t-lé V sorry
tih V be right
˜-tih Pa+V be wrong
bē-là Adv+Pa not
chhù (= tâu) N home
chhut-khì V to go out
lán Pro you, us
tó (= tó-ūi) Pro where
chhōe V to look for
ê-àm (= êng-àm) Adv tonight
pat-tiám N eight o’clock
í-āu Adv after
tāi-chì N matter, business
là (see Lesson 14) Pa [exclamation of speaker's feeling]
tńg-lâi V to come back
chiah (see Lesson Adv when ... then ...
thong MW [measure word for phone call]
hō. V give
kā Prep to, for, on, at, from
kóng V to speak
to-siā thank you

70
 Lesson 11

Dialogue (translation)

A: Hello, is Ka-pó-ā there?

B: We don’t have any one called Ka-pó. You might have dialled the
wrong number.
A: Isn’t that 010-2345-9876?
B: This is 010-2345-9867.
A: I am sorry, I must have dialled the wrong number.
B: That’s OK.

A: Hello.
B: Hello, is that Ka-pó-ā’s place?
A: Who is speaking?
B: My name is Bûn-hiông-à. I am his school friend.
A: He has gone out. He will come back after 8pm tonight. Do you
need to contact him?
B: Yes, I do. When he comes back, could you ask him to call me?
A: OK, I’ll tell him.
B: Thank you.

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 Spoken Hokkien

Bûn-hoat tiōng-tiám  Grammar Points

1. kā (preposition) has many meanings. It is often used in cases of
some action towards an object: “to, for, on, at, from”

Lí ū kā i án-chóaⁿ bô. Did you do anything to him?

Lí kā góa chhut-khì. Get out of here!

Lí kā góa chē leh. Sit down!

Góa kā lí kóng. Let me tell you.

Góa kā lí phah. I hit you.

Góa kā i sé-saⁿ. I wash the clothes for you.

Góa kā lí bé-chhài. I buy the food for you.

Note that góa kā i phah and góa phah i have nearly the same
meaning (“I hit him”). The difference is that in góa kā i phah, kā
indicates action with some will.

72
 Lesson 11

2. The particle word a (which marks past or perfect tense) can

occur in many tones. Unlike most words, its tone depends on the tone
of the preceding word (see Lesson 4). These examples show the
possible tone combinations:

1 → 1 I lim a. He drank.
Góa kit-hun a. I got married.

2 → 3 I chhōa-bó. à. He got married [lit: took a wife]

Góa pá à. I am full.

3 → 3 I khì à. He has gone.

Góa khòaⁿ à. I saw/looked/read.

4 → 3 Góa phah à. I hit/dialled.

5 → 7 I lâi ā. He has come.

Góa êng ā. I am free.

7 → 7 I ēng ā. He has used (it).

Góa siūⁿ ā. I thought/considered.

8 → 3 I tih-à. He caught/won (something).

Góa pk-à. I tied (something).
I chih à. He has eaten.
Góa thk à. I have read (it).

73
 Spoken Hokkien

Kù-hîn  Sentence Patterns

1. Expressing complex possessive with a question structure:
N [possessor] Pro kám-sī N [possessed] Pro N
lín chia kám-sī Ka-pó in chhù
your here isn’t Ka-pó they house

Q: Lín chia kám-sī Png lāu-su in chhù?

→ Sī, góan chia sī.
→ -sī, góan chia ˜-sī.

Q: Lín chia kám-sī Ka-pó in hk-hāu?

→ Sī, góan chia sī.
→ -sī, góan chia ˜-sī.

Telephone numbers
Telephone numbers use different words from counting numbers:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
telephone
number it jī sam sù ngó. lik chhit pat kiù khòng
counting .
number ch…t ng saⁿ sì gō lk chhit peh káu lêng

74
 Lesson 11

Pó.-chhiog sin-gí  Additional Vocabulary  43

tōa siaⁿ Adj loud

pit-gip V+N to graduate
phái-sèⁿ sorry
phah-sí V+Aux to kill (lit: beat to death)
chit-má N now
chiah tú-á Adv only just
piàⁿ V to work hard
iâⁿ V to win
sé-saⁿ V+N to wash clothes
koāi Adj well-behaved (usually said of children)
siá liáu V+Aux to finish (complete) writing

75
 Spoken Hokkien

Liān-sip  Exercises
A. Complete the following sentences:

1. S…t-lé s…t-lé, án-ne góa phah ( ˜-tih ) à.

2. Ôe, ( chhiáⁿ-mg ) Ka-pó ū tī-leh bô?
3. ( Lán ) tó beh chhōe.
4. I ( tō ) eng-àm pat-tiám ( í-āu ) chiah ē tńg-lâi.
5. I nā tńg-lâi ( chiah ) chhiáⁿ i phah ch…t-thong tiān-ōe hó. góa.

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. Excuse me, is Mr Ông there?

→ Ôe, chhiáⁿ-mg Ông sin-seⁿ ū tī-leh bô?
2. They’re not here.
→ Īn bô tī leh.
3. I am sorry, I called the wrong number.
→ S…t-lé s…t-lé, án-ne góa phah ˜-tih à.
4. He went out, and should be back tonight.
→ I chhut-khì à. Tō eng-àm chiah ē tńg-lâi.
5. Can you tell him to give me a call when he gets back.
→ I nā tńg-lâi chiah chhiáⁿ i phah ch…t-thong tiān-ōe hō. góa.

76
 Lesson 12

Lesson 12: Che ài gōa-che chîⁿ?

How much is this?
Tùi-ōe  Dialogue  44

A: Thāu-ke,phōng-kó ch…t lip gōa-che chîⁿ?

B: Phōng-kó ch…t lip gō. kho..
A: Keng-chio ch…t tiâu kúi kho.?
B: Keng-chio ch…t tiâu saⁿ kho..
A: Si-koe án-chóaⁿ bē?
B: Ch…t-lip gō. chp kho.. Kin-á-j…t ê si-koe tiⁿ koh hó-chih.
A: Hiah-lìn kùi o.h! Che leh, che ài gòa-chē chîⁿ?
B: He ˜-bián, lí nā beh thh-khì.
A: Án-ne góa beh ng-tiâu keng-chio, kah ch…t lip si-koe.
B: Lóng-chóng sǹg lí gō.-chp gō. kho. tō hó.

77
 Spoken Hokkien

Sin-gí  Vocabulary
thāu-ke (lāu-pán) N master
phōng-kó N apple
lip MW [measure word for round things]
gōa-chē (chōe) (lōa-chē) how many
chîⁿ N money
keng-chio N banana
tiâu MW [measure word for long thin things]
.
kúi kho IP how much
si-koe N watermelon
án-chóaⁿ IP how/why/what
tiⁿ Adj sweet
koh Adv, Con and, but also
hó Adj, Int good, yes, ok, nice
hó-chih Adj delicious
hiah-lìn (chiah-lìn) Adv such, how
bē V to sell
che Pro that/those
.h
-o Int [express surprise]
he Pro that/those
ài V must/need
˜-bián not need
nā Con if
thh-khì V take it
lóng-chóng Adv altogether
lk-chp Num sixty
.
kho MW [measure word for money]
tō hó Adv that will be enough, just, only

78
 Lesson 12

Dialogue (translation)

A: Master, how much is an apple?

B: They are five dollars each.
A: How much is a banana?
B: Bananas are three dollars each.
A: How much is a watermelon?
B: Fifty dollars each. Today’s watermelons are very sweet and
delicious!
A: So expensive! How about this, how much is this?
B: That is free. If you like you can have it.
A: Then I’ll have two bananas, and one watermelon.
B: That will be only 55 dollars for you.

79
 Spoken Hokkien

Kù-hîn  Sentence Patterns

N Num MW how much
phōng-kó lip
hî-á bóe
ke-ng kin
ch…t gōa-che chîⁿ
saⁿ niá
hun pau
CD tè

Bûn-hoat tiōng-tiám  Grammar Points

1. koh and, not only but also

→ Chit lip si-koe tiⁿ koh hó-chih.

That watermelon is sweet and delicious.
→ Chit ê lâng ū chhia koh ū chhù.
He has a car and a house.
→ Eng-kok ê m…h-kiāⁿ kùi koh phái-chih.
English food is not only expensive but also not tasty.
→ Lí koh lâi à.
It’s you again!
→ Lí koh kóng.
Don’t say it again!

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 Lesson 12

2. o.h exclamation expressing surprise, emphasis, sympathy,

exhortation

surprise
→ Sī án-ne o.h! I see!
→ Sī lí o.h! It’s you!
→ O.h! Hiah-nih súi. Oh, so beautiful!
→ O.h! Hiah-nih chē. Oh, so much!

emphasis
→ Lí phah ˜-tih o.h. You’ve called the wrong number.
→ Lí kóng ˜-tih o.h. You’ve said the wrong thing.

sympathy
→ O.h, góa chai-a. Oh, I see.

hortative
→ Lâi o.h! Lâi chih o.h. Come on! Come to eat.

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 Spoken Hokkien

Pó.-chhiog sin-gí  Additional Vocabulary  45

thâu-ke-niû N madam (woman shop keeper)
hî-á N fish
hun N cigarettes
bah N meat
ti-bah N pork
ke-bah N chicken (meat)
ke-ng N egg
tiâu MW [measure word for long thin things]
pah Num hundred
chheng Num thousand
bān Num ten thousand
khó. Adj bitter
hó Adj good, yes, ok, nice
hó-chih Adj delicious
pháiⁿ-chih Adj does not taste nice
bē-pháiⁿ-chih Adj does not taste bad

10 chp 2 ng
20 jī-chp 12 chp-jī
30 saⁿ-chp 22 jī-chp-jī
40 sì-chp 222 ng-pah-jī-chp-jī
50 gō.-chp 2,222 ng-chheng ng-pah-jī-chp-jī
60 lk-chp There are two words for the number “two”.
For two only, use ng.
70 chhit-chp
For numbers above 10, e.g. 12, 22, 32, use jī.
80 peh-chp Also use jī when talking about months: e.g.
90 káu-chp jī-geh, chp-jī-geh.

82
 Lesson 12

Measure Words (MW) or noun classes

There are special measure words (noun classes) for different
categories of nouns.

MW Noun example Noun class description

ê lâng, sî-cheng people, clock (round functional things)
tâi chhia, la-jí-ȯh car, radio (machines)
pún chheh, jī-tián book, dictionary (books, magazines)
poe ka-pi, kó-chiap coffee, juice (drinks by glass/cup)
ki iân-pit, tek-á pencil, stick (long, thin solid things)
tiâu keng-chio, chhiú-kin-á banana, handkerchief (long soft things)
tè tāu-hū, ke-ng-ko tofu, cake (a slice or a part)
lip kiû, phōng-kó ball, apple (round things)
tiun chóa, chhia-phiò paper, ticket (thin flat things)
chiah káu, niau dog, cat (animals)
siang ê-á, beh-á, tī shoes, socks, chopsticks (pairs of things)

83
 Spoken Hokkien

Liān-sip  Exercises

A. Complete the following sentences:

1. Keng-chio ch…t ( tiâu ) kúi kho.?
2. Si-koe ( án-chóaⁿ ) bē?
3. Kin-á-j…t ê si-koe tiⁿ ( koh ) hó-chih.
4. He ˜-bián, lí ( nā ) beh thh-khì.

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. Excuse me, how do you sell this?

→ Thāu-ke, che án-chóaⁿ bē?
2. So expensive!
→ Hiah-lìn kùi o.h !
3. That is free.
→ He ˜-bián (chîⁿ).
4. I want two bananas and three apples.
→ Góa beh ng-tiâu keng-chio, kah ch…t lip si-koe.
5. The total is fifty dollars.

84
 Lesson 13

Lesson 13: Lí kám chai-iáⁿ tó-ūi ū piān-só.?

Do you know where the toilet is?
Tùi-ōe  Dialogue  46
A: Chhiáⁿ-mg, lí chai-iáⁿ hū-kīn ê iû-kik tī tó-ūi bô?
B: Iû-kik tī thâu-chêng ê âng-chheⁿ-teng, oat chiàⁿ-chhiú,
koh kiâⁿ chha-put-to ch…t-pah kong-chhioh, to tī leh tò-
chhiú-pêng.
A: Án-ne góa chai-a. Iáu-koh-ū, lí kám chai-iáⁿ tó-ūi ū piān-só.?
B: Piān-só. tī thâu-chêng ê kong-hg-līn.
A: Chin-to-siā lí.
B: -bián kheh-khì.

A: Chhiáⁿ-mg, khì Tâi-lâm ê bá-suh tī tó-ūi chē hō.ⁿ?

B: Khì Tâi-lâm lí tō chē hóe-chhia khah kín.
A: Góa tō ˜-bat chē-kòe bá-suh khì Tâi-lâm, siūⁿ-beh chē
khòaⁿ-māi ê.
B: Án-ne lí ài khì Pat-tit-lō. chē.
A: Lí kám chai-iáⁿ Pat-tit-lō. beh án-chóaⁿ khì?
B: Lí tùi chia it-t…t kiâⁿ, kòe thian-kiô chiū-sī Pat-tit-lō..
A: To-siā.
B: Bē-la.

85
 Spoken Hokkien

Sin-gí  New Vocabulary

chai-iáⁿ V to know (something)
hū-kīn (-kūn) Adv nearby
iû-kik N post office
thâu-chêng N front
âng-chheⁿ-teng N signal
oat V to turn
chiàⁿ-chhiú N right hand
chha-put-to Adv about
kong-chhioh N metre
tī-leh (= tī-tel) Adv at the moment
tò-chhiú-pêng N left
piān-só. N toilet
kong-hg N park
chin Adv very
˜-bián don’t, no need to
kheh-khì Adj reserved, shy
Tâi-lâm N Tainan
bá-suh N bus
hóe-chhia N train
tō Con because
bat V had the experience, know, be acquainted
˜-bat V have not experienced
chē V to sit (also: take a bus)
-kòe Pa [past experience]
khòaⁿ-māi V to try
Pat-tit-lō. N a street in Taipei
tùi (ùi) Prep from
it-t…t (t…t-t…t) Adv straight
thian-kiô N foot bridge

86
 Lesson 13

Dialogue (translation)

A: Excuse me. Do you know if there is a post office nearby?

B: Oh, turn right, then walk about 100 metres, and you’ll see it on
the the left.
A: I see. And do you know where I can find a toilet?
B: There is a toilet over there in the park.
A: Thank you very much
B: You’re welcome.

A: Excuse me. Where can I get a bus to Tainan?

B: To go to Tainan, you’d better take the train, it is fast.
A: I’ve never taken the bus, so I want to try it.
B: Then you have to go to Pat-tit road.
A: Do you know how to get there?
B: From here, go straight ahead, cross the footbridge, and then you
will see it.
A: Thank you.
B: You’re welcome.

87
 Spoken Hokkien

Bûn-hoat tiōng-tiám  Grammar Points

hō.ⁿ
An interrogative placed at end of a sentence.
The speaker expects an affirmative or informative answer.

Q: Lí sī J…t-pún-lâng hō.ⁿ?
You are Japanese, aren’t you?

→ Sī, góa sī J…t-pún-lâng.

Yes, I am Japanese.

→ -sī, góa sī Tâi-ôan-lâng.

No, I am Taiwanese.

Q: I lâi-à hō.ⁿ?
He has come, hasn’t he?

→ Hiò., i lâi-à.
Yes, he has come.

→ Iá-bōe, i iá-bōe lâi-ê.

Not yet, he has not come yet.

Q: Chhiáⁿ-mg, piān-só. tī tó-ūi hō.ⁿ?

Excuse me, where is the toilet?
→ Piān-só. tī jī-lâu ê lâu-thui piⁿ-á.
The toilet is next to the stairs on the second floor.

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 Lesson 13

Q: Chhiáⁿ-mg, chhia-phiò tī tó-ūi bé hō.ⁿ ?

Excuse me, where can I buy a ticket?

→ Tī tē jī ê thang-á-kháu.
At the second window.

Q: Chit jī ài án-chóaⁿ thk hō.ⁿ?

How do you pronounce this word?

→ Chit jī thk ‘...’.

It’s pronounced ‘...’.

Kù-hîn  Sentence Patterns

1. Asking an information-seeking question:

S chai-iáⁿ N V IP bô
lí chai-iáⁿ i sī sím-m…h-lâng bô
you know he is who not

Q: Lí chai-iáⁿ i sī sím-m…h-lâng bô?

Do you know who he is?
→ Chai, góa chai-iáⁿ.
Yes, I know.
→ -chai, góa ˜-chai-iáⁿ.
No, I don’t know.

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 Spoken Hokkien

Q: Lí chai-iáⁿ i khì tó-ūi bô?

Do you know where he went?
→ Chai, i khì Khún-teng a.
Yes, he went to Kenting.
→ -chai, góa ˜-chai-iáⁿ.
No, I don’t know.

2. In this pattern the question marker occurs mid-sentence:

S kám chai-iáⁿ N V IP
lí kám chai-iáⁿ i sī sím-m…h-lâng
you ? know he is who

Q: Lí kám chai-iáⁿ i sī sím-m…h-lâng?

Do you know who he is?
→ Chai, góa chai-iáⁿ.
Yes, I know.
→ -chai, góa ˜-chai-iáⁿ.
No, I don’t know.

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 Lesson 13

3. Asking a simple question of existence:

S ū tī-leh bô
lāu-su ū tī-leh bô
teacher has in/at not

Q: Lāu-su ū tī-leh bô? Is the teacher at home?

→ Ū, i ū tī-leh. Yes, he is home.
→ Bô, i bô tī-leh. No, he is not at home.

Q: I teh (leh/tī-leh/tī-teh) chhóng-siàⁿ? What is he doing?

→ I teh sé-sin-khu. He is in the shower.

Pó.-chhiog sin-gí  Additional Vocabulary  47

gîn-hâng N bank
kéng-chhat-kik N police
chhia-chām N station
Khún-teng N Kenting
kok-kong-hō N [the name of a kind of bus]
chū-kiông-hō N [the name of a kind of train]
Tâi-ôan tāi-hk N Taiwan University
lī-piān Adj convenient/handy
piⁿ-á N a side
hg Adj far
thang-á-kháu N window
ki-tiûⁿ N airport

91
 Spoken Hokkien

Liān-sip  Exercises

A. Complete the following sentences:

1. Lí ( tùi ) chia it-t…t kiâⁿ, kòe thiⁿ-kiô ( chiū-sī ) Pat-tit-lō. .

2. Chhiaⁿ-mg, ( khì ) Tâi-lâm ê bá-suh tī tó-ūi chē ( hō.ⁿ )?
3. Góa ( tō ) ˜-bat chē-kòe bá-suh khì Tâi-lâm, siūⁿ-beh
( chē-khòaⁿ-māi ) ê.
4. Lí kám chai-iáⁿ Pat-tit-lō. beh ( án-chóaⁿ ) khì?

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. Do you know where there is a bank nearby?

→ Chhiaⁿ-mg, lí chai-iáⁿ hū-kīn ê gîn-hâng tī tó-ūi bô?
2. Take this road, and walk about 100 metres.
→ Lí tùi chia it-t…t kiâⁿ, kiâⁿ chha-put-to chit-pah kong-chhioh.
3. Excuse me, how do I get to Taipei station?
→ Chhiaⁿ-mg, Lí kám chai-iáⁿTâi-Pat chhia-chām tī tó-ūi?
4. I have never been, so I want to go.
→ Góa tō ˜-bat khì-kòe, siūⁿ-beh khì-khòaⁿ-māi ê.
5. To get to Taiwan University it’s easier to take a bus from here.
→ Khì Tâi-ôan tāi-hk lí tō chē bá-suh khah lī-piān.

92
 Lesson 14

Lesson 14: Lí teh chhóng-siàⁿ?

What are you doing?

Tùi-ōe  Dialogue  48

Ka-pó: Lí teh chhóng-siàⁿ?

Bi-hûn: Góa teh khòaⁿ tiān-sī.
Ka-pó: Chā-hng lí ū khì tò-ūi chhit-thô bô?
Bi-hûn: Bô, chā-hng góa bô chhut-khì. Góa tī chhù teh siá
kong khò.
Ka-pó: Thiaⁿ-kóng bîn-á-chài thiⁿ-khì bē-bái,lán lâi-khì A-lí-
san chhit-thô hó bô?
Bi-hûn: Hó-sī-hó, ˜-ko bîn-á-ê-àm góa ài phah-kang.
Ka-pó: Iá-bô, lán pài-lk chiah lâi khì, li khòaⁿ án-chóaⁿ?
Bi-hûn: Hó, chiū án-ne koat-tēng.

93
 Spoken Hokkien

Sin-gí  Vocabulary
khòaⁿ V to watch, see, look
tiān-sī N television
siá V to write
kong-khò N homework
thiaⁿ-kóng hear about ..., seems
bîn-á-chài Adv tomorrow
thiⁿ-khì N weather
bē-bái Adj good
A-lí-san N famous mountain near Chiayi
chhit-thô V play, take leisure time
phah-kang V+O to do part-time work
lán Pro we/us (inclusive)
chiū (= tō) Adv then
˜-ko Con but
lí khòaⁿ what do you think?
koat-tēng V to decide

94
 Lesson 14

Dialogue (translation)
A: What are you doing?
B: I am watching television.
A: Did you go out yesterday?
B: No, I didn’t. I was at home doing my homework.
A: I hear that the weather will be good tomorrow, should we go to
Alishan?
B: That’s a good idea, but tomorrow night I have my part-time job.
A: Then let’s go on Saturday. What do you think?
B: OK, agreed.

Bûn-hoat tiōng-tiám  Grammar Points

1. lán we/us (inclusive), you
→ Lán tó beh chhōe. Who are you?
→ Lán kúi sèⁿ? What’s your name?
→ Lán beh khì tó-ūi. Where are we going?
→ Lán lâi khì. Let’s go! (includes the person spoken to)

When you ask someone “What’s your name?” or “Who are

you?” normally you you say Lán tó beh chhōe or Lán kúi sèⁿ,
not Lí tó beh chhōe or Lí kúi sèⁿ.

2. bái and pháiⁿ

Both bái and pháiⁿ are used at the end of a sentence:
bái means “ugly” or “bad”
pháiⁿ modifies a verb, indicating “not good” or “stern/frightening”
to say “not bad”, use bē-pháiⁿ + V

95
 Spoken Hokkien

bái pháiⁿ
I chin bái. ○ Ī chin pháiⁿ. ○
Kin-á-j…t ê thiⁿ-khi bē-bái. ○ Kin-á-j…t ê thiⁿ-khi bē-pháiⁿ. ×
I lâng bē-bái ○ Ī lâng bē-pháiⁿ. ×
Hia ê-chhài bē-bái. ○ Hia ê-chhài bē-pháiⁿ. ×
Hia ê-chhài bē-bái chiah. × Hia ê-chhài bē-pháiⁿ chiah. ○
Hit chhut tiān-sī bē-bái khòaⁿ. × Hit chhut tiān-sī bē-pháiⁿ khòaⁿ. ○

Kù-hîn  Sentence Patterns

1. This pattern shows how to talk about doing something somewhere:

Pro Adv Prep IP Pa V-N

lí chit-má tī toh-ūi teh chhóng-siàⁿ
you now at where [progressive] do what

Q: Lí chit-má tī toh-ūi teh chhóng-siàⁿ?

What are you doing, where?
→ Góa chit-má tī iā-chhī-á teh bé m…h-kiāⁿ.
I am at the night market shopping.
→ Góa tī kong-hg teh sàn-pō..
I am in the park walking.

96
 Lesson 14

Q: Lí téng-lé-pài khì toh-ūi chhóng-siàⁿ?

Last week where did you go and what did you do?
→ Góa khì J…t-pún chhit-thô.
I went to Japan to do some sightseeing.
→ Góa téng-lé-pài khì Iōng-bêng-san chhit-thô.
Last week I visited Yangmingshan.

Q: Lí bîn-á-ê-àm ū beh chhóng-siàⁿ bô?

Tomorrow are you doing anything?
→ Góa ài khì kong-si khui-hōe.
I have to go to work to have a meeting.

Pó.-chhiog sin-gí  Additional Vocabulary  49

Iōng-bêng-san PN Yangmingshan, a famous mountain near Taipei
J…t-gat-thâm PN Sun Moon Lake
sh-iā-chhī-á V+O to go to a night market
phah tiān-náu V+O to use a computer
sàu-tè V+O to clean (something)
chú-pg V+O to cook (something)
thiaⁿ im-gk V+O to listen to music
chhiò-koa V+O to sing
pò-chóa N newspaper
kong-si N company
khui-hōe N meeting
bô-iàu-kín don’t mind
mê-sî N the middle of the night

97
 Spoken Hokkien

Liān-sip  Exercises
A. Complete the following sentences:
1. Góa ( tī ) chhù ( teh ) siá kong-khò.
2. ( Thiaⁿ-kóng ) bîn-á-chài thiⁿ-khi bē-bái.
3. Hó-sī-hó, ( ˜-kó ) bîn-á-ē-àm góa ài phah-kang.
4. Ia-bô, lán pài-lk chiah lâi khì, ( li khòaⁿ ) án-chóaⁿ?
5. Hó, ( chiū án-ne ) koat-tēng.

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. What are you doing?

→ Lí teh chhóng-siàⁿ?
2. I am at school using a computer.
→ Góa tī hk-hāu teh phah tiān-náu.
3. Tomorrow let’s go to Alishan.
→ Bîn-á-chài lâi-khì A-lí-san chhit-thô hó bô?
4. But I have part-time work tomorrow.
→ -kó bîn-á-ē-àm góa ài phah-kang.
5. Then shall we go there on Sunday?
→ Iá-bô, lán lé-pài chiah lâi khì, li khòaⁿ án-chóaⁿ.
6. OK, fine.
→ Hó, chiū án-ne koat-tē

98
 Lesson 15

Lesson 15: Iok-pêng-iú

Inviting a friend

Tùi-ōe  Dialogue  50

A: Lîm sió-chiá, ch…t lé-pài ê lé-pài jit lí ū-êng bô?

B: Lí mg che beh chhóng-siàⁿ?
A: Góa siūⁿ-beh chhiáⁿ lí lâi góan chhù chih-pg, ˜-chai lí ū
sî-kan bô.
B: Pháiⁿ-sè, lé-pài góa ài phah-kang góa bē-tàng khì.
A: Iáu-bô pài-lk hó bô?
B: Hó, pài-lk góa tō ē-sái.
A: Lí ài chih sím-m…h chhài, góa kiò góan lāu-bó chú hō. lí
chih.
B: Góa ài chih khó.-koe.
A: Khó.-koe? Ūi-sím-m…h?
B: In-ūi khó.-koe tùi sin-té chin hó, só.-í góa chin ài chih.
A: Sī-án-ne oh. ! Góa chai-à.

99
 Spoken Hokkien

Sin-gí  New Vocabulary

lé-pài jit N Sunday
mg V to ask
chhiáⁿ V, Int to invite, please
ū-êng V+O to have spare time
siūⁿ-beh V+Aux to want
˜-chai don’t know
sî-kan N time
pháiⁿ-sèⁿ Adj embarrassed, sorry
phah-kang V+O to do a part time job
iáu-bô (= á-bô/iá-bô) Adv then
chhài N food
khó.-koe N bitter squash
ūi-sím-m…h IP why
tùi Prep for
sin-té N body

100
 Lesson 15

Dialogue (translation)

A: Miss Lîm, do you have any time on Sunday?

B: Why do you ask?
A: This Sunday I would like to invite you to have dinner at my
house. I wonder if you have time?
B: I am sorry. On Sunday I have my part time job, I can’t.
A: How about Saturday?
B: Saturday would be OK for me.
A: If you tell me what food you like, I will ask my mother to make it
for you.
B: I like to eat bitter squash.
A: Bitter squash?! Why?
B: Because bitter squash is good for you, that’s why I like it.
A: Oh, I see.

101
 Spoken Hokkien

Bûn-hoat tiōng-tiám  Grammar Points

kiò call, be named, fetch, invite, ask

call, be named
→ Góa kiò chò Ông Bi-hûn.
My name is Bi-hûn Ông.
→ Pa-pa teh kiò lí.
Father is calling you.

fetch, invite
→ Lí khì kiò i lâi.
Go and bring him here.
→ Lí khì kiò i lâi lán-tâu chih-pg.
Invite him to our house for a meal.

ask
→ Góa kiò in lāu-pē hō. i thk-chheh.
I ask his father to let him go to study.

102
 Lesson 15

tō ... often occurs with ˜-chaih-è to give an explanation

Q: Lí nà bô bé?
Why didn’t you buy it?

→ Góa tō bô chîⁿ ˜-chaih-ē bô bé.

Because I don’t have money, that’s why.
Q: Lí nà bô khì hk-hāu?
Why didn’t you go to school?

→ Góa tō bô ài thk-chheh ˜-chaih-è bô khì.

Because I don’t like to study.

Q: Lí nà hiah tōa kho.!

Why, you are so fat!

→ Góa tō ài chih ˜-chaih-ē bô bé.

Because I like to eat!

103
 Spoken Hokkien

Kù-hîn  Sentence Patterns

1. Asking someone to do something for another. This pattern is like
an English causative:

N1 kiò N2 hō. N3 V
V
S V Patient Prep beneficiary for N3
góa kiò góan lāu-bó chú hō. lí chih
I ask/tell my mother cook for/give you eat

→ Góa kiò góan hāu-seⁿ thh phoe khì hō. i.

I asked my son to take a letter to him.

→ I kiò góa chiàu-kò. in hāu-seⁿ.

He asked me to take care of his son.
→ Góa kiò in lāu-pē hō. i thk-chheh.
I asked his father to let him go to study.

104
 Lesson 15

Pó.-chhiog sin-gí  Additional Vocabulary  51

khòaⁿ tiān-iáⁿ V+N to watch a movie
chhiⁿ-chhài N green vegetable
kóe-chí-á N fruit
gû-leng N milk
tāi-khài Adv probably/perhaps
iá-bô (= á-bô/ iáu-bô) Adv then
í-āu N after, late
thh V to take
phoe N letter
tang-thiⁿ N winter
chhun-thiⁿ N spring
chhiu-thiⁿ N autumn
jah-thiⁿ N summer
chhēng V to wear
siong-sìn V to believe
chiàu-kò. Adv take care
hāu-seⁿ N son
chhài N vegetable (any kind)
chú V to cook

105
 Spoken Hokkien

Liān-sip  Exercises
A. Complete the following sentences:
1. Góa siūⁿ-beh chhiaⁿ lí lâi chih-pg, ( ˜-chai ) lí ū sî-kan bô.
2. Pháiⁿ-sè, lé-pài góa ( ài ) phah-kang, bē-tàng khì.
3. Pài-lk góa tō ( ē-sái ).
4. Lí ài chih sím-m…h chhài,góa ( kiò ) goan lāu-bó chú ( hō. ) lí
chih.
5. ( In-ūi ) khó.-koe tùi sin-té chin hó, ( só.-í ) góa chin ài chih.

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. Do you have any time on Sunday?
→ Chit lé-pài ê lé-pài jit lí ū-êng bô?

2. I would like to invite you to have dinner.

→ Góa siūⁿ-beh chhiaⁿ lí lâi góan chhù chih-pg.

3. I have to work, I can’t.

→ Góa ài phah-kang góa bē-tàng khì.

4. What food do you like to eat?

→ Lí ài chih sím-m…h chhài?

5. Because fruit is good for you, I like it.

→ In-ūi kóe-chí-á tùi sin-té chin hó, só.-í góa chin ài chih.

6. Oh, I see.

106
 Lesson 16

Lesson 16: Lí Tâi-gí h gōa kú à?

How long have you been learning Taiwanese?
Tùi-ōe  Dialogue  52

A-peh: Lí Tâi-gí h gōa-kú à?

Ha-lí: Góa kan-nā h ng kó-geh niā-niā.
A-peh: Lí ê Tâi-gí kóng-liáu chīn-hó.
Ha-lí: Nà-ā-ū, sī-lí ˜-kam hiâm ê. Góa kan-nā ē-hiáu kóng
ch…t-st-á niā-niā, iá-ko chin ham-bān ê.
A-peh: Lí kin-nî kui hòe?
Ha-lí: Góa it-kēng jī-chp-saⁿ hòe à.
A-peh: Án-ne lí siùⁿ káu ê. Lí kit-hun a bōe?
Ha-lí: Góa kit-hun a, góa kū-nî kit-hun ê.
A-peh: Chiah-nih siàu-liân tō kit-hun o.h. Ū gín-á bô?
Ha-lí: Iá-bōe ê.

107
 Spoken Hokkien

Sin-gí  New Vocabulary

a-peh (-à) N father’s brother, old person
Ha-lí N Harry [a foreigner’s name]
niā-niā Adv only [used only at end of sentence]
[resultative auxiliary; to say how
-liáu (see Lesson 16) Aux something was done]
nà-ū (= nà-ā-ū) Int not at all
˜-kam (see Lesson 8) Adj mean, stingy
hiâm V to complain, criticise
-ê Suf [a suffix]
kan-nā (= tâⁿ) Adv only
ham-bān Adv not good/unskillful
jī-chp-saⁿ Num twenty-three
hòe MW [MW for age in years]
siùⁿ V to have a Chinese birth sign
káu N dog
-à (see Lesson 6) Suf [perfect tense]
kit-hun V to marry
chiah-nih Adv such
siàu-liân Adj young
tō (=chiū) Adv as soon as/then
gín-á N baby, child
iá-bōe Adv not yet
kin-nî N this year
hiaⁿ-tī N brother
chí-mōai (-mōe) N sister

108
 Lesson 16

Dialogue (translation)

A: How long have you been learning Taiwanese?

B: I’ve been learning for only two months.
A: You speak very well.
B: Not at all, you are just being polite. I can only speak a little, I am
not that good yet.
A: How old are you?
B: I am already 23 years old .
A: Then your Chinese birth sign should be “monkey”. Are you
married?
B: Yes I am, I married last year.
A: So young to be married! Do you have children?
B: Not yet.

109
 Spoken Hokkien

Bûn-hoat tiōng-tiám  Grammar Points

V + liáu + Adv + Adj (+ V) “result” auxiliary
→ Lí ê jī siá liáu chīn súi.
Your hand writing is very nice.
→ Lí ê koa chhiù liáu chīn hó (thiaⁿ).
You sing very nicely.
→ Lí ê chhài chú liáu chīn hó (chih).
Your food is very nice.
→ Lí ê koa chhiù liáu be-pháiⁿ thiaⁿ.
Your singing is very nice to listen to.
→ Lí ê chhài chú liáu be-pháiⁿ chih .
Your cooking is very nice to eat.
ê suffix used at the end of a sentence to explain something
→ Góa kū-nî kit-hun ê.
I got married last year.
→ Góa siūⁿ-beh chhih-khòaⁿ-māi ê.
I would like to try it.
→ He sī siáⁿ-lâng thh-lâi ê?
Who brought that to you?
→ Góa iá-bōe ū gín-á ê.
I don’t have children yet.
→ Góa siùⁿ gû ê.
My Chinese birth sign is the cow.
110
 Lesson 16

Kù-hîn  Sentence Patterns

1. This pattern shows how to express small quantities (“diminutive”):

S kan-nā V Adv niā-niā

góa kan-nā ē-hiáu ch…t-st-á niā-niā
I only know little only

→ Góa kan-nā ē-hiáu ch…t-st-á niā-niā.

I know only a little.
→ Góa kan-nā ū kúi-kho.-á niā-niā.
I have only a few dollars.
→ Góa kan-nā ū kúi-pún-á niā-niā.
I have only a few books.
2. Asking someone’s age: in Taiwanese we often use the expression
below or Lí siùⁿ siàⁿ? instead of literally asking ‘How old are you?’
S MW N IP
lí kúi nî-chhù ê
you which year pos

→ Góa 77 nî-chhù ê, góa siùⁿ lêng ê.

I was born in 77, my animal sign is the dragon.
→ Góa 74 nî-chhù ê, góa siùⁿ gû.
I was born in 74, my animal sign is the cow.
→ Góa 84 nî-chhù ê, siùⁿ ti.
I was born in 84, my animal sign is the pig.

111
 Spoken Hokkien

Pó.-chhiog sin-gí  Additional Vocabulary  53

mê-nî Adv next year
āu-nî Adv the year after next
í-chêng Adv before
J…t-gí N Japanese language
bô-hó Adv not good
bái Adj not good, ugly
bōe-bái (be-bái) Adj not bad
be-pháiⁿ Adv not bad
má-má hu-hu Adj so-so, not particularly good
chán Adj great
gâu Adj good, skillful
kè V (of a female) to marry, to take a husband
chhōa V (of a male) to marry, to take a wife
steamed glutinous rice dumplings in
bah-chàng N
bamboo leaves and filled with meat
thh-lâi V to bring

112
 Lesson 16

Chinese animal horoscope

years
seng-siùⁿ the twelve signs (nî-chhù -
in Taiwanese calendar)
chhú mouse 1972 (61) / 1984 (73)
gû cow 1973 (62) / 1985 (74)
hó. tiger 1974 (63) / 1986 (75)
thò. rabbit 1975 (64) / 1987 (76)
lêng dragon 1976 (65) / 1988 (77)
chôa snake 1977 (66) / 1989 (78)
bé horse 1978 (67) / 1990 (79)
iûⁿ sheep 1979 (68) / 1991 (80)
kâu monkey 1980 (69) / 1992 (81)
ke chicken 1981 (70) / 1993 (82)
káu dog 1982 (71) / 1994 (83)
ti pig 1983 (72) / 1995 (84)

113
 Spoken Hokkien

Liān-sip  Exercises

A. Complete the following sentences:

1. Góa ( kan-nā ) h ng kò-geh niā-niā.
2. Sī-lí ( ˜-kam ) hiâm ê.
3. Góa ( ia-ko ) chin ham-bān ê.
4. Góa ( it-kēng ) jī-chp-saⁿ hòe à.
5. ( Chiah-nih ) siàu-liân tō kit-hun o.h.

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. How long have you been learning Taiwanese?

→ Lí Tâi-gí h gōa-kú à?
2. I have been learning for three months already.
→ Góa it-kēng h saⁿ kò-geh à.
3. How is your Taiwanese?
→ Lí ê Tâi-gí kóng-liáu án-chóaⁿ?
4. I can only speak a little.
→ Góa kan-nā ē-hiáu kóng ch…t-st-á niā-niā.
5. Are you married?
→ Lí kit-hun a bōe?
6. Do you have any children?
→ Lí ū gín-á bô

114
 Lesson 17

Lesson 17: Che ē-sái chhì-chheng bē?

Can I try it on?
Tùi-ōe  Dialogue  54
Sió-chiá: Thâu-ke, che ē-sái chhì-chhēng bē?
Thau-ke: Ē, chhì-chheng-keng á tī-hia.

Thau-ke: Sió-chiá, lí chhēng-liáu siáⁿ-khóan? Ū hh bô?

Sió-chiá: Chi̍t-niá siuⁿ-sè niá, kám ū koh khah tōa niá ê?
Thau-ke: Ū, chi̍t-niá sī chp-it hō ê, lí chhēng-khòaⁿ-māi-è.
Sió-chiá: Chi̍t-niá ê sài-suh ū hh, ˜-ko ph sek ê góa bô
kah-ì. Ū pp-khóan sek ê bô?
Thau-ke: Ū o.h, iá-koh ū chhun chit-niá âng-ê.
Sió-chiá: Kam bô o.-sek ê?
Thau-ke: O. ê bē liáu à. Kan-nā chhun hit ng niá niā-niā.
Sió-chiá: Án-chóaⁿ bē?
Thau-ke: Sǹg lí 660 tō-hó.
Sió-chiá: 660 siuⁿ kùi à góa bé bē-khí, sǹg khah sik ê là, 450
ē-sái bē?
Thau-ke: 450 bé bē-tih là, 500 án-chóaⁿ?
Sió-chiá: Hó. Án-ne mâ-hôan lí kā góa pau hit niá âng ê.
Thau-ke: To-siā.
115
 Spoken Hokkien

Sin-gí  New Vocabulary

chhì-chhēng V to try on (clothes)
keng-á (só.-chāi ) N room
siáⁿ-khóan (án-chóaⁿ) IP how
niá MW [measure word for clothes]
siuⁿ Adj too ...
sè Adj small
-khòaⁿ-māi-è V or Aux try, check
hh Adj suitable
sek N colour
kah-ì V or Adv to like
khah Adv more
tōa Adj big
sài-suh (chhùn-chhioh) N size
ph Adj white
pp-khóan diferent kind
iá-koh (iáu-koh) Adv still, yet
o. N or Adj black
âng N or Adj red
chhun V to be left, available
kan-nā (kan-taⁿ) Adv just, only
bé-bē-khí V+Aux be unaffordable
sǹg V count money
bé-bē-tih V+Aux can’t buy
pau V to wrap, pack

116
 Lesson 17

Dialogue (translation)
Sió-chiá: Master, may I try this on?
Thâu-ke: Yes, the fitting room is over there.

Thâu-ke: Miss, how was it? Is that size OK for you?

Sió-chiá: This one is too small; do you have a bigger size?
Thâu-ke: Yes, this one is size 11, try it.
Sió-chiá: This one fits me well, but I don’t like the colour.
Do you have a different colour?
Thâu-ke: Yes we do, we have one red one left.
Sió-chiá: Don’t you have a black one?
Thâu-ke: We are sold out of the black ones. Those two are the
only ones left.
Sió-chiá: How much are they?
Thâu-ke: It will be 660 for you.
Sió-chiá: 660?! It’s too expensive, I can’t afford it. Can you make
it cheaper? How about 450?
Thâu-ke: I can’t do 450, how about 500?
Sió-chiá: Thanks. Can you wrap the red one for me?
Thâu-ke: Thank you.

117
 Spoken Hokkien

Bûn-hoat tiōng-tiám  Grammar Points

1. -liáu
... V-liáu án chóaⁿ? “how was it?”

Q: Hit chhut tiān-iáⁿ khòaⁿ-liáu án-chóaⁿ?

How was that movie?

Q: Hit keng chhan-thiaⁿ chih-liáu án-chóaⁿ?

How was that restaurant?

Q: Hit tiâu koa thiaⁿ-liáu siáⁿ-khóan?

How was that song?

Q: Lín khì A-lí-san chhit-thô-liáu siáⁿ-khóan?

How was Alishan?

... V-liáu à. “completed”

→ Chîⁿ ēng-liáu à.
I spent my money.

→ Pg chih-liáu à.
I ate the rice.

→ Jī siá-liáu à.
I wrote the words.

118
 Lesson 17

Kù-hîn  Sentence Patterns

1. Asking permission (similar to Che ē sái V-khòaⁿ-māi-è bē?):

N ē-sái chhì-V bē
che ē-sái chhì-chih bē
this can try-eat not
Q: Che ē sái chhì-chhēng bē? = Che ē sái chhēng-khòaⁿ-māi-è bē?
Q: Che ē sái chhì-chih bē? = Che ē sái chih-khòaⁿ-māi-è bē?
Q: Che ē sái chhì-thiaⁿ bē? = Che ē sái thiaⁿ-khòaⁿ-māi-è bē?
Q: Che ē sái chhì-siá bē? = Che ē sái siá-khòaⁿ-māi-è bē?
2. Talking about unachieved actions:

siuⁿ-Adj N V-bē-tih
siuⁿ-hg góa khòaⁿ-bē-tih
too-far I look-not-get

→ Siuⁿ-hg góa khòaⁿ bē tih.

It’s too far away to see.
→ Siuⁿ-chē lâng beh bé góa bé bē tih.
Too many people want to buy it, I couldn’t buy it.
→ Góa khòaⁿ I khó bē tih tāi-hk.
I think he won’t pass the university exam.
→ Siuⁿ-kôan góa bán bē tih.
It’s too high to reach.

119
 Spoken Hokkien

3. Unaffordable things:

siuⁿ Adj N V-bē-khí

siuⁿ kùi góa bé-bē-khí
too-expensive I buy-not-afford

→ Chhia siuⁿ-kùi góa bé bē khí.

The car is too expensive, I can’t afford it.

→ Pg-tiàm góa tòa bē khí.

I can’t afford to stay at a hotel.

→ Hit kiāⁿ tāi-chì góa tam-tng bē khí.

I can’t take responsibility for that.

→ I khòaⁿ bē khí góa.

He looks down on me.

120
 Lesson 17

Pó.-chhiog sin-gí  Additional Vocabulary  55

bô not [negation]
būn-tê Adv+N probable
chiah tih Adv+Adv surely
chhiⁿ sek Adj green
nâ-sek-ê Adj blue
ka-pi-sek-ê Adj brown
kam á sek-ê Adj orange
g sek-ê Adj yellow
chí-sek-ê (kiô-á-sek) Adj purple
hún-âng-á-sek-ê Adj pink
kè-siàu N price
lân Adj difficult
phok-sū N doctor
kôan Adj high
pháiⁿ-khòaⁿ Adj+V does not look good
hó-khòaⁿ Adj+V looks good

121
 Spoken Hokkien

Liān-sip  Exercises

A. Complete the following sentences:

1. Sio-chiá, lí ( ) siáⁿ-khóan? Ū ( ) bô?
2. Chit-niá ( ) niá, kám ū koh khah tōa niá ê.
3. Che-niá ê sài-sū ( ), ˜-ko ph sek ê góa bô kah-ì.
4. 660 siuⁿ kùi à góa bé ( ), sǹg khah sió ê là.
5. 450 bé ( ) là, 500 án-chóaⁿ?

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. May I try this on?

→
2. Try it!
→
3. Do you have a different colour?
→
4. I don’t like black, do you have white?
→
5. It’s too expensive for me.
→

122
 Lesson 18

Lesson 18: Tēng pâng-keng

Making a booking

Tùi-ōe  Dialogue  56
A: Ôe.
B: Tâi-ôan pg-tiám, lí hó.
A: Góa siūⁿ-beh tēng ch…t keng pâng-keng.
B: Lí beh tēng tang-sî ê?
A: Āu-lé-pài pài-gō., ˜-chai iáu-koh ū pâng-keng bô?
B: Lí beh tòa kúi ê-àm?
A: Ng ê-àm, chhiáⁿ-mg ch…t ám gōa-chē hō.ⁿ?
B: Keng-chè pâng ch…t-àm sī ch…t-chheng lk-pah kho..
Siong-bū pâng sī ng-chheng ng-pah-jī-chp kho.. Lóng
ū hù chá-tǹg.
A: Án-ne góa tēng siong-bū pâng, ē-sái bē?
B: Ē-sái, mâ-hôan lí lâu lí ê tōa-miâ kah tiān-ōe.
A: Góa sèⁿ Ông, tiān-ōe sī khòng jī -sam sù ngó.-it kiù pat
chhit lik (02-345-19876).
B: Ông sin-seⁿ, án-ne tō ē-sái à. To-siā lí.

123
 Spoken Hokkien

Sin-gí  New Vocabulary

pg-tiám N hotel
tēng V to make a booking
keng MW [measure word for rooms]
pâng-keng N room
iáu-koh (= iá koh /iáu) Adv still, again, also
tòa V to stay
kúi ê ám (= kúi-ám) how many nights
keng-chè N or Adj economy
siong-bū N business
hù (kah) V to come with (something)
chá-tǹg N breakfast
tǹg MW [measure words for meals]
mâ-hôan please, can I bother you?
lâu V to keep, have
tōa-miâ Adj+N name [usually surname]

124
 Lesson 18

Dialogue (translation)

A: Hello.
B: This is Taiwan Hotel, how can I help you?
A: I would like to book a room.
B: When do you want it?
A: On Friday next week, do you have a room available?
B: How many nights would you like to stay?
A: Two nights. Can I ask the price?
B: A basic room is 1600 dollars per night. A business room is 2220
dollars per night. Both include breakfast.
A: Then I will take a business room, if that’s OK.
B: That’s fine. Please give me your telephone number and name.
A: My surname is Ông, and my telephone number is 02-345-19876.
B: Thank you very much Mr Ông.

125
 Spoken Hokkien

Bûn-hoat tiōng-tiám  Grammar Points

1. koh has many meanings, including “also, again, but”:

A. “not only but also”

S Adj koh Adj

si-koe tiⁿ koh hó-chih
watermelon sweet also delicious

→ Si-koe tiⁿ koh hó-chih.

Watermelon is sweet and delicious.

→ Bah gùi koh pháiⁿ-chih.

Meat is expensive and not delicious.

B. “and”

S V+O koh V+O

i ū chha koh ū chhù
he has car and has house

→ I ū chha koh ū chhù.

He has a car and a house.
→ Hia ū ka-pi koh kó-chiap à.
There is coffee and juice.

126
 Lesson 18

C. “again, more” - as a criticism

S koh V- à
i koh lâi à
he again has come

→ Lí koh lâi à.
It’s you again!

→ I koh chhu-khì à.
He is out again.

D. “again, more” - as an imperative

S koh V
i koh kóng
he again say

→ Lí koh kóng!
Do not say (it) again!

→ Lí koh khàu!
Do not cry again!

127
 Spoken Hokkien

2: iáu koh “still”

→ I iáu-koh iáu-bōe lâi.

He still hasn’t come.

→ Hóe-chhia iáu-koh ū ūi.

The train still hasn’t come.

→ Góa iáu-koh ū ch…t-chheng kho..

I still have a thousand dollars.

Kù-hîn  Sentence Patterns

1. Asking the price in a hotel:

Num MW IP N
ch…t àm gōa-chē chîⁿ
one night how much money

Q: Ch…t-àm gōa-chē (chîⁿ)?

Q: KáuTâi-pak ê ki-phiò ch…t tiun gōa-chē?
Q: Tiān-náu ch…t tâi gōa-chē?

128
 Lesson 18

Pó.-chhiog sin-gí  Additional Vocabulary  57

lú-siā N hotel
lú-kóan N hotel
lú-hêng-siā N travel agent
phó-tong (phó.-tong) N normal
chóng-thóng N president
phah-chih V+O to make a discount
ki-phiò N air ticket
ki-ūi N seat for a flight
chhia-ūi N bus or train seat

129
 Spoken Hokkien

Liān-sip  Exercises
A. Complete the following sentences:
1. Góa siūⁿ-beh ( ) ch…t keng pâng-keng.
2. Chhiáⁿ-mg ( ) ū pâng-keng bô?
3. Lí beh ( ) kúi ê-àm?
4. Siong-bū pâng sī ng-chheng kho., ū ( ) chá-tǹg.
5. Mâ-hôan lí ( ) lí ê tōa-miâ kah tiān-ōe.

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. Excuse me, is that Taiwan Hotel?

→
2. I would like to book a room.
→
3. When do you want it?
→
4. How many nights would you like to stay?
→
5. It’s 3200 dollars per night, including breakfast.
→
6. My surname is Ông, and my telephone number is 02-345-19876.
→

130
 Lesson 19

Lesson 19: Lí sī án-chóaⁿ?

What’s wrong with you?
Tùi-ōe  Dialogue  58

Ka-pó: Ha-lí, lí sī án-chóaⁿ?

Ha-lí: Góa thâu-thiàⁿ, kui-sin-khu bô-lt.
Ka-pó: Nà án-ne là? Lí ū hoat-sio bô?
Ha-lí: Sió-khóa-á ê-khóan.
Ka-pó: Lí ū chih-ih-á á-sī khì hō. i-seng khòaⁿ bô?
Ha-lí: Bô, góa ˜-chai beh khì tò-ūi khòaⁿ i-seng.
Ka-pó: Án-ne góa chhōa lí khì.

Ka-pó: I-seng, i sī án-chóaⁿ? Ū iàu-kín bô?

I-seng: I sī kám-mō., bô sim-m…h iàu-kín. Góa kā chù-siā à,
tńg-khì kiò i hó-hó-á hioh-khùn.
Ka-pó: Hó, ih-á ài án-chóaⁿ chih hō.ⁿ?
I-seng: Ih-á chiào saⁿ-tǹg chih, chih-pg pá chiah chih.
Ka-pó: To-siā.

131
 Spoken Hokkien

Sin-gí  New Vocabulary

thâu- (khak) thiàⁿ N headache
kui-sin-khu N whole body
bô-lt Adj weak, powerless
nà (= thài) IP why, how?
[exclamation affirming the
-là Int
speaker’s feeling]
sió-khóa-á Adv slightly
ê-khóan seem, will, may
chih-ih-á V+O medicine
hō. V or Prep let
á-sī (= iá-sī) Con or
chiào Adv according to, by rule
saⁿ-tǹg Num+N three meals
i-seng N doctor
chù-siā V to give an injection
sng V to be sore, to ache
hó-hó-á Adv well
hioh-khùn V+ O rest/holiday

132
 Lesson 19

Dialogue (translation)

A: What’s wrong with you?

B: I have a headache and I feel weak.
A: What’s wrong? Do you have a fever?
B: I guess I might have a slight fever.
A: Have you taken any medicine or seen a doctor?
B: No, I don’t know where a doctor is.
A: Then let me take you to a doctor.

B: Doctor, what’s wrong with him? Is he OK?

A: He’s got a flu. He will be OK. I gave him an injection.
Tell him to rest well.
B: OK, what about the medicine?
A: Take it three time a day after meals.
B: Thanks!

133
 Spoken Hokkien

Bûn-hoat tiōng-tiám  Grammar Points

khì hō. N khòaⁿ
Go to have somebody check/fix/do something

→ Góa beh khì hō. i-seng khòaⁿ.

I want to see a doctor.
→ Góa beh khì pēⁿ-īⁿ hō. i-seng khòaⁿ.
I want to go to hospital to see a doctor.
→ Góa beh khì hō. i-seng khòaⁿ bk-chiu.
I want to see a doctor to check my eyes.

là
Exclamation affirming the speaker’s feelings; many meanings

emphasis
→ Pài-thok ē là.
Please!
→ Lí sī án-chóaⁿ là.
What happened to you?

request
→ Hō. góa khòaⁿ ch…t-ē là.
Let me see.
→ Lí mài án-ne là.
Please don’t be like this.

134
 Lesson 19

cajole
→ Khah kin-ē là.
Be quick.
→ Khah kòe là.
Move a little!

troublesome
→ Hó là, hó là.
OK,OK!
→ Chai là, chai là!
I see! I see!

invite (hortative)
→ Lâi là, lâi chih là!
Come! Come and eat!
→ Lâi chē là!
Come in please! [Lit: Come and sit]

135
 Spoken Hokkien

Kù-hîn  Sentence Patterns

1. Asking what happened to someone or something:

N V IP
lí sī án-chóaⁿ
you is what (happened)?

Q: Lí sī án-chóaⁿ?
→ Góa pak-tó.-thiàⁿ.
→ Góa chhùi-khì-thiàⁿ.
→ Góa kha láu-tih.
→ Góa ê chhia phái-khì à.

2. Taking (or bringing) someone somewhere:

N chhōa N khì N
góa chhōa lí khì pēⁿ-īⁿ
I take you go hospital

→ I chhōa góa khì pēⁿ-īⁿ.

→ Góan lāu-pē chhōa góa khì lim chiú.
→ Lí chhōa góa khì khòaⁿ-tiān-iáⁿ hó-bô?

136
 Lesson 19

Pó.-chhiog sin-gí  Additional Vocabulary  59

pak-tó.-thiàⁿ N stomach ache
làu-sái N diarrhoea
chhùi-khì-thiàⁿ N toothache
bk chiu-thiàⁿ N sore eyes
kha-thiàⁿ N sore leg
láu-tih V be twisted
chiú-thiàⁿ N sore hand
io-thiàⁿ N backache
kīng-kah-thâu-thiàⁿ N sore shoulders
sîn-keng-thiàⁿ N nerve pain
sîn-keng-pēⁿ N neurosis, madness
pēⁿ-īⁿ N hospital
hong-sip-pēⁿ N rheumatism
sim-chōng-pēⁿ N heart disease

137
 Spoken Hokkien

Liān-sip  Exercises
A. Complete the following sentences:
1. Lí ū chih-ih-á ( ) khì hō. i-seng khòaⁿ bô?
2. Án-ne góa ( ) lí khì.
3. I-seng, i sī án-chóaⁿ? Ū ( ) bô?
4. Tńg-khì kiò i ( ) hioh-khùn.
5. Ih-á ( ) saⁿ-tǹg chih, chih-pg pá ( ) chih.

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. What’s wrong with you?

→
2. I have a headache and I feel weak.
→
3. I don’t know where the doctor is.
→
4. When do I take the medicine?
→
5. Three times a day after meals.
→
6. Tell him to rest.
→

138
 Lesson 20

Lesson 20: Kài-siāu pêng-iú

Introducing friends
Tùi-ōe  Dialogue  60
Bú-eng: Kēng-lí, góa kā lí kài-siāu ch…t ūi pêng-iú. Chit-ūi si góa
kok-tiong ê tông-hk, kiò chò g tōa-an.
Kēng-lí: Hoang-gêng lí lâi guan kong-si chhit-thô. Góa sèⁿ Tân.
Tōa-an: Tân kēng-lí, lí hó? Ē-tàng kah lí s…k-sāi sit-chāi chin
kong-êng.
Kēng-lí: Góa mā chin hoaⁿ-hí s…k-sāi li. Tōa-an, lí iáu teh chò-
peng sī-bô?
Tōa-an: Góa tú-á taⁿ thè-ngó..
Kēng-lí: Phap-sǹg bōe chhōe sím-m…h khóan ê thâu-lō. leh?
Tōa-an: Góa siūⁿ-beh khó gián-kiù-só..
Kēng-lí: Lí sī bōe thk sím-m…h hē ê?
Tōa-an: Góa tùi hoat-lt chin ū hèng-chhù.
Kēng-lí: O.h! án-ne chin-hó, hi-bāng lí ē-tòng khó-tiâu gián-kiù-
só.. Chiong-lâi nā ū ki-hōe chiah lâi kong-si hk-bū.
Tōa-an: To-siā kēng-lí.
Kēng-lí: Bú-eng lí hó-hó-a àn-nāi Tōa-an. Góa ū tāi-chì ài
chhut-khì ch…t-ē, góa seng sit-pôe.
Bú-eng: Hó, che góa chai. Kēng-lí, iá-bô chhiaⁿ lí sūn-kiâⁿ.
Tōa-an: Kēng-lí, chài-kìⁿ.
139
 Spoken Hokkien

Sin-gí  New Vocabulary

Tōa-an N [a name]
Kk-hin N [a name]
pêng-iú N friend
hoaⁿ-hí V be happy
chò-peng V+O military service
s…t-chāi Adv really, truly
to-to Adv well, many
chí-kàu V [a formal greeting]
tú-á (= taⁿ ) Adv just, only just
taⁿ (= tú-á, taⁿ chiah) Adv now
thè-ngó V+O be retired
khó V take an examination
khó-tiâu (-tih) V+Aux pass an examination
gián-kiù-só. N get into a Masters degree
tùi Prep for
hoat-lt N law
hèng-chhù N interest
o.h Int [an exclamation, surprise]
chiong-lâi N future
ki-hōe N chance
hk-bū V to work for someone
Bûn-hiông N [a name]
kēng-lí N manager
chài-kìⁿ (= chài-kiàn) good-bye
kok-tiong N junior high school
tông-hk N classmate
hó-hó-a Adv well, carefully
seng Adv in advance/first
sit-pôe (= sit-lé) I’m sorry I have to go [lit: lose company]

140
 Lesson 20

Dialogue (translation)
Bú-eng: Manager, let me introduce my friend to you. This is
my classmate from junior high school. His name is g
tōa-an.
Kēng-lí: Thank you for visiting our company. My name is Tân.
It’s nice to meet you.
Tōa-an: Mr. Tân, nice to meet you too. It’s a pleasure to meet
you.
Kēng-lí: Pleased to meet you too. Tōa-an, are you still in the
military service?
Tōa-an: I just finished military service.
Kēng-lí: Are you looking for any jobs?
Tōa-an: I am thinking of taking an exam to get into a Master’s
degree, Manager.
Kēng-lí: What are you going to study?
Tōa-an: I am interested in law.
Kēng-lí: Oh! That’s very good. I hope you can pass the exam to
get into the course. It would be good if you can join our
company in the future .
Tōa-an: Thank you, Manager.
Kēng-lí: Bú-eng, you take care of Tōa-an. Sorry, I have
something to do and I have to go.
Bú-eng: OK, I see. Take care.
Tōa-an: Manager, see you later.

141
 Spoken Hokkien

Bûn-hoat tiōng-tiám  Grammar Points

1. tú-á taⁿ

tú-á taⁿ (= tú chiah = tú-á = taⁿ)

Recently, just right now, a little while ago

→ Góa tú-á taⁿ pī-gip.

I just graduated from school.

→ Góa tú-á taⁿ lâi.

I have just arrived.

→ Góa tú-á taⁿ chih pá.

I have just eaten.

→ Góa tú-á taⁿ hā-khò.

I have just finished my class.

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 Lesson 20

Kù-hîn  Sentence Patterns

1. Expressing interest in doing something:

N tùi N ū hèng-chhù
góa tùi gú-giân ū hèng-chhù
I for language have interest

Q: Lí hèng chhù chhóng-sím-m…h?

→ Góa tùi chú-chih ū hèng chhù.

→ Góa hèng chhù chú-chih.

→ Góa kah-ì peh-soaⁿ.

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 Spoken Hokkien

2. There are many ways to say good-bye:

chhiáⁿ lí sūn-kiâⁿ
please you by the route
This means: take care on your way.

bô-êng chò lí
busy follow you
This means: if you don’t have time, go ahead, no worries.

ū-êng chiah-koh lâi-chē

have time then again come sit
This means: if you have time, please visit again..

A: Phái-sèⁿ. Góa ū tāi-chì, góa seng sit-pôe.

Sorry. I have something to do and I have to go.

→ Chhiáⁿ lí sūn kiâⁿ.

Take care!

→ Bô-êng chò lí.

Go ahead! / Good-bye.

→ Ū êng chiah-koh lâi chē.

Come again to visit.

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 Lesson 20

Pó.-chhiog sin-gí  Additional Vocabulary  61

hit Pro that
kóng-kí talk about
sî-siông (= tiāⁿ-tiāⁿ) Adv often
kok-hāu N primary school
tông-chhong N graduates of the same school same year
chò-peng V+O military service
tāi-hk N university
kò.-hiong N hometown
˜-thang don’t
mài don’t [less strong than ˜-thang]
siông-siông Adv often
lk-sú-hē N history
keng-chè-hk N economics
gú-giân N language
bûn-hk N literature
chhài-chhi-á N traditional market
pī-gip (= pit-gip) V+O to graduate
kiú-ióng [polite greeting, lit: I have heard of you]
to walk in the mountains [lit: climb
peh-soaⁿ V+O
mountain]

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 Spoken Hokkien

Liān-sip  Exercises
A. Complete the following sentences:

1. Góa ( ) lí kái-siau ch…t ūi pêng-iú.

2. Lí ( ) chò-peng sī-bô?
3. Góa ( ) taⁿ thè-ngó..
4. ( ) bōe chhōe sím-m…h khóan ê thâu-lō. leh?
5. Chiong-lâi nā ū ki-hōe ( ) lâi kong-si hk-bū.

B. Translate the following sentences.:

1. Let me introduce my friend to you.

→
2. This is my university friend.
→
3. Are you still in the military service?
→
4. Are you looking for any jobs?
→
5. What are you going to study?
→
6. I have something to do and I have to go.
→

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 Appendix

Appendix: Answers to Exercises

Lesson 1:
Listen to the audio, identify and transcribe the vowels.

1. o
2. au
3. io
4. ue
5. oai
6. in
7. iun
8. in
9. uan
10. eng

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 Spoken Hokkien

Lesson 2:
Listen to the audio, identify and transcribe the sounds.

1. pa
2. bah
3. kian
4. chhi
5. cheng chheng
6. nng
7. thk
8. jah
9. chht
10. png

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 Appendix

Lesson 3:
Listen to the CD, identify and transcribe the sounds.

1. tâi
2. thian
3. lk
4. lim
5. khòan
6. khì
7. kā
8. káu
9. gh
10. bah

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 Spoken Hokkien

Lesson 4:
Listen to the audio, identify and transcribe the sounds.

1. hioh-khùn (hioh2-khùn)
2. j…k-thâu (jik3-thau)
3. khui-hoe (kui7-hoe)
4. sit-gip (sit8-giap)
5. chē-chhia (che3-chhia)
6. Tâi-lâm (Tai7-lâm)
7. chhiùn-koa (chhiu2-koa)
8. pak-pêng (pak8-pêng)
9. hong-pian (hong7-piān)
10. ho̍k-bū (hok3-bū)

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 Appendix

Lesson 5:
A. Complete the following sentences:

1. ( Chhiaⁿ-mg ) lí kúi sèⁿ?

2. Góa ( sèⁿ ) Lîm, ( sī ) Lîm Bú-eng.
3. Lîm sin-seⁿ, lí hó? Lí ( tò-ūi ) lâng?
4. Góa ( sī ) Eng-kok-lâng. Lí ( leh )?
5. Lí ( iā ) sī Eng-kok-lâng sī bô?

B. Translate the following sentences.:

1. I am not English.
→ Góa m̄-sī Eng-kok-lâng. Góa sī Hoat-kok-lâng.
2. Where do you come from?
→ Lí tò-ūi lâng?
3. My surname is Lîm. I am Taiwanese. How about you?
→ Góa sèⁿ Lîm, sī Tâi-ôan-lâng, Lí leh ?
4. Are you Mr Png?
→ Lí sī Png sin-seⁿ sī bô?
5. My surname is not Png, it’s Tan.
→ Góa m̄-sī sèⁿ Png, Góa sī sèⁿ Tân.

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 Spoken Hokkien

Lesson 6:
A. Complete the following sentences:
1. Gâo-chá, Li chih-pá ( bōe )?
2. Lín ( beh ) khì tó-ūi?
3. Góan beh ( lâi-khì ) bé-chhài.
4. ( Iá-bô ) ū-êng ( chiah ) lâi-chē.

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. Where are you going?
→ Lín beh khì tó-ūi?
2. We are going to Tainan.
→ Góan beh khì Tâi-lâm.
3. We are going to buy food.
→ Góan beh lâi-khì bé-chhài.
4. Where are you going to buy it?
→ Lín beh khì tó-ūi bé?
5. When you have time please come (and visit).
→ Ū-êng chiah lâi-chē.

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 Appendix

Lesson 7:
A. Complete the following sentences :

1. Che sī sím-m…h? ( He ) sī lé-bt.

2. He sī beh ( hō. ) lāu-su ê.
3. Chia ( lóng ) sī beh hō. lāu-su ê ( sī-bô )?
4. -sī, ( ū-ê ) sī beh hō. lāu-su īn bó. ê.
5. Chē-tī hia hit-ê ( tih sī ) lāu-su īn bó..

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. What’s that?
→ He sī sím-m…h?
2. Whose is that?
→ He sī sím-m…h lâng ê?
3. Is that all for the teacher?
→ He lóng sī beh hō. lāu-su ê sī bô?
4. That is the teacher’s husband.
→ He sī beh hō. lāu-su īn ang ê.
5. Who is that sitting over there?
→ Chē-tī hia hit-ê sī sím-m…h lâng?

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 Spoken Hokkien

Lesson 8:
A. Complete the following sentences :
1. Lí ū kó-chiap ( bô )?
2. Lí bô ài lim ka-pi ( hiō. )?
3. Góa ( chin ) ài lim ka-pi. ( -ko ) góa bē-táng lim.
4. ( In-ùi ) lim ka-pi góa ē kùn-bē khì.
5. Sī- án-ne ( o.h ) !

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. What do you like to drink?
→ Lí ài lim sím-m…h?
2. You don’t like to drink coffee?
→ Lí bô ài lim ka-pi hiō.?
3. Don’t go to any trouble.
→ Án-ne ˜-bián.
4. Why?
→ Sī-án-chóaⁿ?
5. I see!
→ Sī-án-ne o.h!

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 Appendix

Lesson 9:
A. Complete the following sentences :
1. Kin-á-j…t ( kan-na ) sī chp-geh chhe-ji o.h.
2. Góa pài-it ( kah ) pài- saⁿ ū Tâi-gí-khò.
3. Góa ê siⁿ-j…t sì jī-geh ( chhe ) peh.
4. Lí ū ( kúi ) chiat-khò?
5. Góa ( lóng-chóng ) ū saⁿ chiat-khò.

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. What’s the date today?
→ Kin-á-j…t kúi-geh chhe-kúi?
2. What day of the week was yesterday?
→ Cha-hng pài-kúi?
3. Which day do you have a Taiwanese lesson?
→ Lí pài-kúi ū Tâi-gí-khò?
4. Today might be the 2nd of October.
→ Kin-á-j…t kan-na sī chp-geh chhe-ji o.h.
5. How many classes do you have?
→ Lí ū kúi chiat-khò?

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 Spoken Hokkien

Lesson 10:
A. Complete the following sentences :
1. Lí ê siⁿ-j…t (tang-sî )?
2. Lí mg che ( beh) chhóng-siàⁿ?
3. Lí ( kám ) chai-iáⁿ?
4. Góa ê siⁿ-j…t sī jī-geh chhe-peh. Lí ê ( leh )?

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. When is your mother’s birthday?
→ Lín lāu-bó ê siⁿ-j…t sī tang-sî?
2. Last week was my birthday.
→ Téng lé-pài sī góa ê siⁿ-j…t.
3. When is your teacher’s daughter’s birthday?
→ Lín lāu-su īn cha-bó.-kiáⁿ ê seⁿ-j…t sī tang-sî?
4. My birthday is the 8th of February. When’s yours?
→ Góa ê siⁿ-j…t sī jī-geh chhe-peh. Lí ê leh?
5. Why do you ask?
→ Lí mg che beh chhóng-siàⁿ?

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 Appendix

Lesson 11:
A. Complete the following sentences:
1. S…t-lé s…t-lé, án-ne góa phah ( ˜-tih ) à.
2. Ôe, ( chhiáⁿ-mg ) Ka-pó ū tī-leh bô?
3. ( Lán ) tó beh chhōe.
4. I ( tō ) eng-àm pat-tiám ( í-āu ) chiah ē tńg-lâi.
5. I nā tńg-lâi ( chiah ) chhiáⁿ i phah ch…t-thong tiān-ōe hó. góa.

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. Excuse me, is Mr Ông there?
→ Ôe, chhiáⁿ-mg Ông sin-seⁿ ū tī-leh bô?
2. They’re not here.
→ Īn bô tī leh.
3. I am sorry, I called the wrong number.
→ S…t-lé s…t-lé, án-ne góa phah ˜-tih à.
4. He went out, and should be back tonight.
→ I chhut-khì à. Tō eng-àm chiah ē tńg-lâi.
5. Can you tell him to give me a call when he gets back?
→ I nā tńg-lâi chiah chhiáⁿ i phah ch…t-thong tiān-ōe hō. góa.

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 Spoken Hokkien

Lesson 12:
A. Complete the following sentences:
1. Keng-chio ch…t ( tiâu ) kúi kho.?
2. Si-koe (án-chóaⁿ ) bē?
3. Kin-á-j…t ê si-koe tiⁿ ( koh ) hó-chih.
4. He ˜-bián, lí ( nā ) beh thh-khì.

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. Excuse me, how do you sell this?
→ Thāu-ke, che án-chóaⁿ bē?
2. So expensive!
→ Hiah-lìn kùi o.h !
3. That is free.
→ He ˜-bián (chîⁿ).
4. I want two bananas and three apples.
→ Góa beh ng-tiâu keng-chio, kah ch…t lip si-koe.
5. The total is fifty yuan.
→ Lóng-chóng sǹg lí gō.-chp kho..

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 Appendix

Lesson 13:
A. Complete the following sentences:
1. Lí ( tùi ) chia it-t…t kiâⁿ, kòe thiⁿ-kiô ( chiū-sī ) Pat-tit-lō. .
2. Chhiaⁿ-mg, ( kh ) Tâi-lâm ê bá-suh tī tó-ūi chē ( hō.ⁿ )?
3. Góa ( tō ) ˜-bat chē-kòe bá-suh khì Tâi-lâm, siūⁿ-beh ( chē-khòaⁿ-
māi ) ê.
4. Lí kám chai-iáⁿ Pat-tit-lō. beh (án-chóaⁿ ) khì?

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. Do you know where there is a bank nearby?
→ Chhiaⁿ-mg, lí chai-iáⁿ hū-kīn ê gîn-hâng tī tó-ūi bô?
2. Take this road, and walk about 100 metres.
→ Lí tùi chia it-t…t kiâⁿ, kiâⁿ chha-put-to ch…t-pah kong-chhioh.
3. Excuse me, how do I get to Taipei station?
→ Chhiaⁿ-mg, Lí kám chai-iáⁿTâi-Pat chhia-chām tī tó-ūi?
4. I have never been, so I want to go.
→ Góa tō ˜-bat khì-kòe, siūⁿ-beh khì-khòaⁿ-māi ê.
5. To get to Taiwan University it’s easier to take a bus from here.
→ Khì Tâi-ôan tāi-hk lí tō chē bá-suh khah lī-piān.

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 Spoken Hokkien

Lesson 14:
A. Complete the following sentences:
1. Góa ( tī ) chhù ( teh ) siá kong-khò.
2. (Thiaⁿ-kóng ) bîn-á-chài thiⁿ-khi bē-bái.
3. Hó-sī-hó, ( ˜-ko ) bîn-á-ē-àm góa ài phah-kang.
4. Ia-bô, lán pài-lk chiah lâi khì, ( li khòaⁿ ) án-chóaⁿ.
5. Hó, ( chiū án-ne ) koat-tēng.

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. What are you doing?
→ Lí teh chhóng-siàⁿ?
2. I am at school using a computer.
→ Góa tī hk-hāu teh phah tiān-náu.
3. Tomorrow let’s go to Alishan.
→ Bîn-á-chài lâi-khì A-lí-san chhit-thô hó bô?
4. But I have part time work tomorrow.
→ -ko bîn-á-ē-àm góa ài phah-kang.
5. Then shall we go there on Sunday?
→ Iá-bô, lán lé-pài chiah lâi khì, li khòaⁿ án-chóaⁿ.
6. OK, fine.
→ Hó, chiū án-ne koat-tēng.

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 Appendix

Lesson 15:
A. Complete the following sentences:
1. Góa siūⁿ-beh chhiaⁿ lí lâi chih-pg, (˜-chai ) lí ū sî-kan bô.
2. Pháiⁿ-sè, lé-pài góa ( ài ) phah-kang, bē-tàng khì.
3. Pài-lk góa tō ( ē-sái ).
4. Lí ài chih sím-m…h chhài,góa ( kiò) goan lāu-bó chú ( hō.) lí chih.
5. ( In-ūi ) khó.-koe tùi sin-té chin hó, (só.-í) góa chin ài chih.

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. Do you have any time on Sunday?
→ Chit lé-pài ê lé-pài jit lí ū-êng bô?
2. I would like to invite you to have dinner.
→ Góa siūⁿ-beh chhiaⁿ lí lâi góan chhù chih-pg.
3. I have to work, I can’t.
→ Góa ài phah-kang góa bē-tàng khì.
4. What food do you like to eat?
→ Lí ài chih sím-m…h chhài?
5. Because fruit is good for you, I like it.
→ In-ūi kóe-chí-á tùi sin-té chin hó, só.-í góa chin ài chih.
6. Oh, I see.

→ Sī-án-ne oh. ! Góa chai-a.

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 Spoken Hokkien

Lesson 16:
A. Complete the following sentences:
1. Góa ( kan-nā ) h ng kò-geh niā-niā.
2. Sī-lí ( ˜-kam ) hiâm ê.
3. Góa ( ia-ko ) chin ham-bān ê.
4. Góa ( it-kēng ) jī-chp-saⁿ hòe à.
5. ( Chiah-nih ) siàu-liân tō kit-hun o.h.

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. How long have you been learning Taiwanese?
→ Lí Tâi-gí h gōa-kú à?
2. I have been learning for three months already.
→ Góa it-kēng h saⁿ kò-geh à.
3. How is your Taiwanese?
→ Lí ê Tâi-gí kóng-liáu án-chóaⁿ?
4. I can only speak a little.
→ Góa kan-nā ē-hiáu kóng ch…t-st-á niā-niā.
5. Are you married?
→ Lí kit-hun a bōe?
6. Do you have any children?
→ Lí ū gín-á bô?

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 Appendix

Lesson 17:
A. Complete the following sentences:
1. Sio-chiá, lí ( chhēng-liáu ) siáⁿ-khóan? Ū ( hh ) bô?
2. Chit-niá ( siuⁿ-sè ) niá, kám ū koh khah tōa niá ê.
3. Che-niá ê sài-sū ( ū hh ), ˜-ko ph sek ê góa bô kah-ì.
4. 660 siuⁿ kùi à góa bé ( bé bē-khí ), sǹg khah sió ê là.
5. 450 bé ( bē-tih ) là, 500 án-chóaⁿ.

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. May I try this on?
→ Che ē-sái chhì-chhēng bē.

2. Try it!
→ Lí chhēng-khòaⁿ-māi-è.

3. Do you have a different colour?

→ Ū pp-khóan sek ê bô?

4. I don’t like black, do you have white?

→ O.-sek ê góa bô kah-ì, kam bô ph sek ê.

5. It’s too expensive for me.

→ Siuⁿ kùi à góa bé bē-khí.

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 Spoken Hokkien

Lesson 18:
A. Complete the following sentences:
1. Góa siūⁿ-beh ( tēng ) ch…t keng pâng-keng.
2. Chhiáⁿ-mg ( ch…t ám ) gōa-chē hō.ⁿ?
3. Lí beh ( tòa ) kúi ê ám?
4. Siong-bū pâng sī ng-chheng kho., ū ( hù ) chá-tǹg.
5. Mâ-hôan lí ( lâu ) lí ê tōa-miâ kah tiān-ōe.

B. Translate the following sentences:

1. Excuse me, is that Taiwan Hotel?
→ Chhiáⁿ-mg lín chia kám sì Tâi-ôan pg-tiám.
2. I would like to book a room.
→ Góa siūⁿ-beh tēng ch…t keng pâng-keng.
3. When do you want it?
→ Lí beh tēng tang-sî ê?
4. How many nights would you like to stay?
→ Lí beh tòa kúi ê ám?
5. It’s 3200 dollars per night, including breakfast.
→ Ch…t ám sī saⁿ-chheng ng-pah kho..
6. My surname is Ông, and my telephone number is 02-345-19876.
→ Góa sèⁿ Ông, tiān-ōe sī (khòng jī -sam sù ngó.-it kiù pat chhit
lik)

164
 Appendix

Lesson 19:
A. Complete the following sentences:
1. Lí ū chih-ih-á ( á-sī ) khì hō. i-seng khòaⁿ bô?
2. Án-ne góa ( chhōa ) lí khì.
3. I-seng, i sī án-chóaⁿ? Ū ( iàu-kín ) bô?
4. Tńg-khì kiò i ( hó-hó-á ) hioh-khùn.
5. Ih-á ( chiào ) saⁿ-tǹg chih, chih-pg pá ( chiah ) chih.
B. Translate the following sentences:
1. What’s wrong with you?
→ Lí sī án-chóaⁿ?
2. I have a headache and I feel weak.
→ Góa thâu-thiàⁿ. Kui-sin-khu bô-lt.
3. I don’t know where the doctor is.
→ Góa ˜-chai beh khì tò-ūi khòaⁿ i-seng.
4. When do I take the medicine?
→ Ih-á ài án-chóaⁿ chih hō.ⁿ?
5. Three times a day after meals.
→ Chiào saⁿ-tǹg chih, chih-pg pá chiah chih.
6. Tell him to rest.
→ Kiò i hó-hó-á hioh-khùn.

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 Spoken Hokkien

Lesson 20:
A. Complete the following sentences:
1. Góa ( kā lí ) lí kái-siau ch…t ūi pêng-iú.
2. Lí ( iáu teh ) chò-peng sī-bô?
3. Góa ( tú-á ) taⁿ thè-ngó..
4. ( Phap-sǹg ) bōe chhōe sím-m…h khóan ê thâu-lō. leh?
5. Chiong-lâi nā ū ki-hōe ( chiah ) lâi kong-si hk-bū.

B. Translate the following sentences.:

1. Let me introduce my friend to you.
→ Góa kā lí kài-siāu ch…t ūi pêng-iú.
2. This is my university friend.
→ Chit-ūi si góa kok-tiong ê tông-hk.
3. Are you still in the military service?
→ Lí iáu teh chò-peng sī-bô?
4. Are you looking for any jobs?
→ Lí phap-sǹg bōe chhōe sím-m…h khóan ê thâu-lō. leh?
5. What are you going to study?
→ Lí sī bōe thk sím-m…h hē ê?
6. I have something to do and I have to go.
→ Góa ū tāi-chì ài chhut-khì ch…t-ē, góa seng sit-pôe.

166