(1st Version in Hokkien)
Hoay Kim Chneh
Chap Goh Meh
Chnia Lin Eh Ku War Lai Lim Teh
Teh Sio Sio
Knia Lor Bay Kin Chio
Kin Chio Bey Ki Pek
Knia Lor Khi Bay Chek
Chek Bey Ki Thark
Knia Lor Khi Bay Or Bak
Or Bak Bey Ki Buar
Knia Lor Khi Bay Chuar
Chuar Bey Ki Liak
Knia Lor Khi Bay Kha Khiak
Kha Khiak Bey Ki Cheng
Knia Lor Khi Bay Ka Leng
Ka Leng Kang, Ka Leng Bo
Chnia Lin Eh Ku Wa Sio Ean Toh..
.
(1st Version in English)
Fireflies
On the fifteenth night
Invite your in-laws to come over for tea
Tea is hot
Go buy some bananas
Bananas unpeeled
Go buy some books
Books unread
Go buy ink sticks
Ink sticks not grounded
Go buy snakes
Snakes not caught
Go buy some wooden clogs
Clogs unworn
Go buy some mynahs
Male mynahs, female mynahs,
Invite your in-laws for a wrestling match..
.
(2nd Version in Hokkien)
Hoay Kim Chneh
Chap Goh Meh
Chnia Lu Eh Ku War Lai Chiak Teh
Teh Sio Sio
Knia Lor Bay Kin Chio
Kin Chio Bey Ki Pek
Knia Lor Bay Chek
Chek Bey Ki Thark
Knia Lor Bay Or Bak
Or Bak Bey Ki Buar
Knia Lor Bay Chuar
Chuar Bey Ki Liak
Knia Lor Bay Kha Khiak
Kha Khiak Bey Ki Cheng
Knia Lor Bay Ka Leng
Ka Leng Ko, Ka Leng So
Chnia Lu Eh Ku Wa Lai Thit Thoe
Thit Thoe Nyar
Chiak Kam Chiak
Kam Chiak Tnee
Chiak Lychee
Lychee Ang
Knia Sai Phar Tniau Lang
Tniau Lang Chow Khi Snua
Bay Bak Char Tu Knua
.
(2nd Version in English)
Fireflies
On the fifteenth night
Invite your in-laws to come over for tea
Tea is hot
Go buy some bananas
Bananas unpeeled
Go buy some books
Books unread
Go buy ink sticks
Ink sticks not grounded
Go buy snakes
Snakes not caught
Go buy some wooden clogs
Clogs unworn
Go buy some mynahs
Male mynahs, female mynahs,
Invite your in-laws out to play
If you win, come have some sugar cane
Sugar cane is sweet
Come have some lychee
Lychees are red
Bridegroom beat in-laws
In-laws ran up to the hill
Buy some meat to fry with pork liver (a traditional Hokkien dish).
.
(3rd Version in Hokkien)
Hoay Kim Chneh
Chap Goh Meh
Chnia Lu Ku War Lai Lim Teh
Teh Sio Sio
Bay Kin Chio
Kin Chio Chiak Bo Liow
Ah Ku Khi Puak Kiow
Kiow Su
Ah Ku Khi Liak Tu
Tu Chow
Ah Ku Khi Liak Kow
Kow Bui
Ehya Ehya Chay Tham Phui.
.
(3rd Version in English)
Fireflies
On the fifteenth night
Invite your in-laws to come for tea
Tea is hot
Go buy some bananas
Couldn’t finish the bananas
Uncle went a-gamble
No luck in gambling
Uncle went pig catching
Pig ran
Uncle went dog catching
Dogs Bark
Dwarfs sits on the spittoon.
.
About this rhyme/ditty:~
Hoay Kim Chneh is a ‘Hokkien’ word literally translated to mean ‘Fireflies’. However in another version, “Guek Kim Chneh” was used~ “Guek” meaning the moon and “Kim Chneh” , the stars and therefore, “Guek Kim Chneh, Chap Goh Meh” were to mean “the moon and stars on the fifteenth night” which is also quite apt because the 15th night of Chinese New Year is an auspicious night where one gets to witness the full moon and stars lighting up the night sky! In the early days of the Chinese Settlers in Penang, Chinese of young or old will recite their favourite ditties to wile away their time while children especially will also dance to the beat and rhythm of the recital provided by two pieces of bamboo clanking against each other.
The author/owner has compiled for record, a collection of early Hokkien sayings, proverbs, rhymes and ditties to capture the essence and spirit of his hoi polloi, a community originating from the southern province of Fujian, China where individuals climbed aboard bum boats, crossing the South China Sea to settle in faraway lands to escape the brewing civil unrest and a way out from hardship carrying along with them in their journey, nothing except their trademark ponytails and their beliefs, very much rooted in Confucianism. These ditties retell their story and their lifestyle way back then so that the younger generation can gain an insight and foothold to their origin..
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Thanks for the “fireflies” and Hokkien ditty.
thanks dan