First published in Tulay Fortnightly, Chinese-Filipino Digest
vol. 29 | no. 14 | December 20, 2016-January 16, 2017
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.
| 無錢消膏照貼 | bo tsin siao ko tsiao ta | avail free medication | trying to get something for nothing |
| 日頭照脚倉 (屁股) | dit t’ao tsio k’a tseng | sun shining on the buttock | sleeping until late in the morning |
| 無出頭 | bo tsut t’ao | no excess | no bright future |
| 纒腳載手 | tin k’a tè tsiu | entangling one’s foot and arms | pestering someone who is busy |
| 烏鴉嘴 | oh ah tsui | crow’s mouth | saying inauspicious things |