Some more Hokkien words

[Ah-bin]

I've heard this on the PGHK podcast

Oa-lang kham-be-khi lai pai-ni
我儂kham-be-khi 來拜年

Does anyone know what this "kham-be[h?]-khi" is? It sounds like "close+cannot+go" or "close+will+go"

I've heard it before too, but I can't remember where. I'm guessing it means "we'll definitely have to come and celebrate Chinese New Year [there]" they are talking about how someone is rich and gives or gets big ang-paus.

The other one I have been looking for is "Chhiau" as in "chhiau seng-li" meaning "to cut in on [somebody's] business". At least I think that's what it means Does anyone know what the word actually means by itself? A few definitions I have for various "chhiau" with different tones are "to stir" to turn over with "searching" 抄 and to surpass 超 or to alter a little bit...but none of them seem to fit this compound very well.

Thanks for your suggestions.

[SimL]

The other one I have been looking for is "Chhiau" as in "chhiau seng-li" meaning "to cut in on [somebody's] business".

Hi Ah-bin,

Could this be "chhiauN2" (= "to snatch")? In non-metaphorical usage, it would mean "to grab an object off someone". It's 搶, listed on p88 of Douglas, pronounced "chhiuN2" in Amoy.

[Ah-bin]

Ah yes! I'll have a listen to see whether it is being said "through the nose" I think it might be. Kam sia!

[aokh1979]

搶貹理～

搶 should be chhioN but we in Penang often read as chhiauN. In fact, I have seen many people around Fujian Province and so far I have not come across anyone reading it the same way we do in Penang. Weird, eh ?

我儂較猛去來拜年～

較, kha = more
猛, meh = quick (should be a Teochew adjective, not very sure)
去, khi = go

It means: Let us quickly go and greet about Chinese New Year !

[Ah-bin]

Aha! That makes perfect sense....an exhortation to go and do something quickly.

Thanks very much

搶 should be chhioN but we in Penang often read as chhiauN.

The -iauN endings are one of my favourite features of PGHK, but as you say, no-one else uses them. I wonder where they camre from. Perhaps they are "Made in Penang"!

[Ah-bin]

Does anyone have any idea what 空頭 khang-thau usually means in Penang Hokkien as well? I found a few meanings in Mandarin-Hokkien dictionaries "Ineffective" "existing in name only" and "a thing or affair"

I've also become aware of the word 收著 siu-tiau (I think those are the characters) which I think means "save it for later" ... but again not sure. Again, any information would be much appreciated.

[SimL]

Hi Ah-bin,

I don't know "khang-thau", but "siu-tiau" is almost definitely 收著, with the meaning you give it.

[Andrew]

'Khang-thau' is used to mean 'special contacts', or alternatively 'special technique'

[niuc]

空頭 khang-thau means vacancy or business/financial opportunity in my variant.

[xng]

空頭 khang-thau means vacancy or business/financial opportunity in my variant.

空頭 means business/financial opportunity but not vacancy.