Help

[Kevin]

I saw a forward mail that have two words, cow -beh and cow bu. i ask my hokkien speaking friend then they just laugh at me.
can someone tell me wat is the meaning for that.

[Ong]

If I am not mistaken, 'cow-peh cow-bu' is a Hokkien phrase to denote 'making too much noice' usually when complaining or grumbling.

[nokko]

'cow' i am guessing is 'cry' not just 'sob', therefore noisy in this context, while 'beh' is dad and 'bu' is mum. this literally means 'crying for the loss of both parents', which is not actually very nice to use. but it is commonly used in singapore nowadays, as pointed by Ong, to denote 'making too much noise' when complaining or grumbling, eg:

"aiyah, don't 'cow beh cow bu' lah, the exam is over now, what use is there to complain about?"

[nokko]

A very very perfect example to use 'cow be cow bu' here for the post before this.

mai cow peh cow bu lah, luan si lang.

[PC]

"cow peh cow bu" is a swearing phrase that people use as a way to curse another person with bad luck, that is the cursee will cry for his or her parents (referring to funeral).