Hokkien, on the tongues of Tsinoys, has grown and evolved, taking on a life of its own. Sometimes words simply fail us. With some creativity, Tsinoys have strung together words to form colorful phrases that simply hit the bull’s eye. Here are some expressions unique to Hokkien as favored by Tsinoys.
| 稱稱彩彩 | tsin tsin tsai tsai | anything will do | anything will do |
| 里里六六 | dee dee lak lak | careless | not very cautious in doing things, meaning confused, muddle-headed |
| 熟賽人 | shiak sai lang | a familiar person | an acquainted or familiar person |
| 一世人 | tsit see lang | whole life | one’s whole lifetime |
| 粗人不會做細餜（幼粿） | tso lang bwe tsue eu ke | rough person can’t bake fine cake | one who is not capable to do fine things |