Hokkien Phrases U-Z

~hungry ghost~ image copyright Kris Lee 2012

~hungry ghost~
image copyright Kris Lee 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ULU- A remote place.

UM BONG BONG- Very dark.

UM CHI- Late night thorns. Cinema Touts.

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WA CHIAK EAM CHAY KUAY LU CHIAK BI- I ate more salt than you have eaten rice. Normally told to a younger person by an elderly when exerting an experienced assessment.

WA KAR LU KONG- Let me tell you.

WA KONG TANG LU KONG SAI- I say East you say West. To describe someone who misunderstands you or wasn’t listening and consequently did the wrong thing.

WAH LAN/WAH LAN EH- Oh Penis! Used when surprised by something.

WAH LAU/WAH LAU EH- The more polite variation of Wah Lan.

WAH PIANG- Also more polite version of Wah Lan.

YAU KWEE- Hungry ghost. It describes a glutton or avaricious person.

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About the Phrases:~

The author/owner has also compiled for record, a collection of everyday Hokkien Phrases 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 phrases are as much as possible being conserved in its purest state despite having some which had been mixed with other local dialects and languages but nevertheless the Hokkien lingo took prominence over the rest. This list is continuously updated.

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