Checking the Hanzi for some basic Hokkien words

Discussions on the Hokkien (Minnan) language.
hong

Post by hong »

I forgot to mention 故 is slightly better than 固for koo as mentioned by the author .
hip is 合(上)羽(下)。I think malaysians are wrong for saying hip hi as making movie.Hip should be used for making photo only hip-ing ,etc.
Mark Yong
Posts: 684
Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2005 3:52 pm

Post by Mark Yong »

Hi, Hong,

Your suggestion is noted: However, I already have 6-7 Minnan reference books sitting on my shelf (not including other dialect books). At this point in time, I don't think it is financially prudent for me as a part-time Minnan enthusiast to spend more money and get a few more just to find out the Hanzi for one or two obscure words (even if I am a keen enthusiast). As and when the need arises, you can rest assured I will upgrade my Minnan library.

I am sorry if I sound stingy about it, but interests aside, I do have other pending priorities as far as my annual expenditure on books is concerned - hope you understand.

In the meantime, if it is too troublesome to describe the word, then forget I asked. I was just curious, and had the impression someone in the forum could share some insight. Well, at least that's what I thought a forum was for - sharing of knowledge (if I am wrong, then somebody please kindly correct my perception, and I will be most happy to leave this forum and cease parasiting off all members concerned).

And for the record: No, it wasn't me who mentioned "tua" as a prefix for verbs. From my personal observation, not all Malaysians (none that I know of, anyway) use it in that "wrong" context you mentioned. As a non-Hokkien native (and one who has barely 6 years of exposure to the dialect), even I don't use it in that context.

Regards,
Mark
hong

Post by hong »

I just read Prof Tang's article of Beijing university that the name for Penang 檳榔島 pin-nng5 is a baiyue 百越 language in hokkien,china 2000 years ago.It is not a han word at all.I don't know where malay borrow it from- Pinang.
Andrew

Post by Andrew »

Isn't it more usual to call it 檳榔嶼 ?
Mark Yong
Posts: 684
Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2005 3:52 pm

Post by Mark Yong »

Andrew wrote:Isn't it more usual to call it 檳榔嶼 ?
Although I have not actually heard the word 嶼 being spoken aloud, I have seen the words 檳榔嶼 carved on the facade of the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (opposite Fort Cornwallis), so you are right.

How do you pronounce 嶼 anyway? Is it the more common word in Penang Hokkien for "island" than 島 (which I have heard before, pronouced exactly the same way and tone as 倒 - "to" with a high tone).
Andrew

Post by Andrew »

su7/si7/sy7

Barclay gives jip8-su7 as meaning "to go from Singapore to Penang".
[/quote]
hong

Post by hong »

Yes,
It should be 檳榔嶼 but I see china newspapers use 檳榔城﹐檳榔島嶼﹐檳榔島 .So I just sinply copy one.
Mark Yong
Posts: 684
Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2005 3:52 pm

I found the Hanzi for "tam" (wet)!

Post by Mark Yong »

I found the character for 'tam' (wet). 夏門方言志 quotes the 集韻 as follows: "耽 (add 三點水 to it; this character is non-standard), 者含切, 湿也.
hong

Post by hong »

Yes,I agree above word is the correct hanzi but I can't understand Prof.Chiu who wrote xiamenfangyancidian put 澹 which is only has the meaning quiet .Many taiwanese also put this word
Mark Yong
Posts: 684
Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2005 3:52 pm

Post by Mark Yong »

Another word in Penang Hokkien for "near" is 'uâ'. I notice it is normally used for physical proximity of people or objects, rather than distance between localities (in which case, 'kin' 近 is used). Of course, on occasion, I have heard it used for proximity of locations, i.e. "ua ta-lo" (Mandarin 靠近那裡).

1. Is the 'hanzi' for "ua" 挨, 邇 (both words mean 'near') or something else?
2. Is it the same 'hanzi' as the Cantonese "măai"?

Regards,
Mark
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