A bridge of understanding between two cultures; a bridge of tolerance between two ages.

When words fail, use idioms… Hokkien style (3)

Idioms, expressions	Hokkien pronunciation	Literal translation	Meaning
嘴尖舌利	tsui tsiam tsi lai	pointed mouth, sharp tongue	a very talkative person
嘴笑目笑	tsui tsio bak tsio	laughing mouth and eyes	expression of happiness as shown in one’s smiling face
三尖六角	saⁿ tsiam lak kak	three sharp edges and six angles	describes something with irregular shape as in a piece of land
三人五目	saⁿ lang go bak	three persons five eyes	too many people watching
雕花刻柳	tiao hue kiak liu	carve flowers	doing something with too much detail that it takes too long to finish

First published in Tulay Fortnightly, Chinese-Filipino Digest 28, no. 5 (August 4-17, 2015): 13.