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.
| 人吃米粉
你喊燒 |
lang tsia
bi-hoon di huâ sio |
you’re shouting it’s hot when someone else is eating the bihon | to meddle in other people’s business |
| 打折腳骨倒勇 | p’a tsi k’a koot to yiong | broke the foot but became stronger instead | blessing in disguise |
| 銀白，心肝黑 | goon pê,
sim kuan oh |
silver is white,
heart is black |
people blinded by or become greedy because of wealth |
| 有錢人，
乞丐命 |
oo tsin lang,
k’it tsia mian |
wealthy person, beggar’s life | wealthy person who lives miserably like a beggar due to misfortune in life |
| 欲得錢，
毋得生命 |
bê tî tsin,
um tî si mian |
wants money,
doesn’t want life |
one who works too hard and overlooks his health |