Summary

Hokkien is Contextual

Hokkien, because is used colloquially, do not have a fixed set of rules. One important thing we learnt is that pronounciation in Hokkien depends alot on CONTEXT. Similar pronouncing words can have alot of meanings when it is used in different context. Below are some of the examples:

Learning Numbers in Hokkien

• Neng can mean ‘Two’ or ‘Egg’
• Sa can mean ‘Three’ or ‘Shirt’
• Chit can mean ‘Seven’ or ‘Wipe’
• Gau can mean ‘Nine’ or ‘Dog’
• Zhap can mean ‘Ten’ or ‘Mixed’

Incidental Learning

• Bak Kwa 肉干 VS Chio Kwa 唱歌
• Mian Bao 面包 VS Mian Bao 不用包
• Ai can mean ‘爱’ or ‘要’
  • Note how Ai here has slight difference in intonations when used differently. In the context of 爱 , it is more pronounced with Ai1, while in 要, it is pronounced as Ai3 (numbers loosely follow the hanyu pinyin).
• Lao3 yah2 = useless/old man/old fashion OR Lao1 yah3 = old coconut
• Chu bi = ‘neighbour’ VS ‘house beside’
• Zui = ‘water’ VS ‘watery’

Fluidity of Hokkien as a Language

With the same character, the additon of different characters can create a wide vocabulary of words that mean different things. This made learning Hokkien a little tricky because then the same character used has no direct meaning or relation to the chinese word translations. As sometimes translating from chinese to Hokkien is a method of learning since both can be similar soudning. On a sidenote though, learning can be easier for some words as there is no need for mad memorisation of unique Hokkien characters nor words!

Examples:

• ‘suah’
  • ha suah = umbrella (Interestingly, speaking with my dad, I found out that in Singapore/Malaysia Hokkien, umbrella in Hokkien can be ha jia too?)
  • buey suah = will not disintegrate
• ‘bu’ = female
  • niao bu = female cat
  • lao bu = mother

量词 in Hokkien

So one instance of accidental learning occurred during one of our lesson when we were learning how to apply our Hokkien knowledge on rhyming words by coming up with a rhyming phrase on the spot. As many of us used Hokkien numbers as an inspiration, I had learnt about the different words （量词）that are used to desribe numbers.

Examples:

• sa eh = 三个
• neng ghi = 两只手指
• neng tio = 两张两块钱
• neng liap = 两粒
• jit tiao = 一条
• sa niah = 三件
• gau jiak = 九只

Singapore VS Taiwan Hokkien

As Hokkien is more colloquially used and do not follow any strict rules, local Hokkien used here in Singapore may differ from the more formal use of Hokkien in Taiwan.

Examples (Singapore – Taiwan):

• Just now (balu – tou seng)
  • Balu has its origins from the Malay word ‘baru’
  • Tou seng = 头先
• Money (lui – jngee)
• Wet market (pasat – chai ji yat 菜市场)
• Anyhow say (qin cai gong – si sua gong)

Hokkien Culture

Hokkien has been part of Singapore’s culture and history since the olden days, so words and phrases used can be unique to Hokkien, and that can sometimes reveal a lot on the culture within the Hokkien communtity!

• Zhap Zheang 杂种 is considered bad and insulting to use on other people.
• bi4 chuat4 秘诀 (Formal Hokkien)
• pek4 bo1 法宝 (Secret weapon in Singapore context can refer to one’s secret to success)