1.0 In this chapter we learn to establish the degrees of comparison in Penang Hokkien. As in English, there are the comparative degree and the superlative degree.
2.0 Comparative Degree in Penang Hokkien
2.1: more
Use khah1 to mean more.
Wah4-eh3 lui1
khah1 ce33. Lu4-eh3 lui1
khah1 cio4.
My money is
more. Your money is
less.
Ie1 boek1 co3 ie1-eh3 chu3
khah1 tua33 keng1.
He wants to make his house
bigger.
Ceng1hu4 boek1 co3 cit1-leh1 lor33
khah1 tng2.
The government is going to make this road
longer.
2.2: more than
The term "more ... than" is expressed using "
khah3 ...
goay3 [k
ha ... goay]". Replace the ellipsis with the adjective. As in English, you do not have to repeat the noun being compared, and the possessive adjective in the subject is repeated with a possessive pronoun. The word khah3 and goay33 may be dropped according to the meaning expressed.
Wah1-eh3 hau33snaeh1
khah1
tua3
goay33 lu4-eh2.
My son is
older than yours.
Cui33-cui33 lang2-eh3 knia4
khah1
tua33, wah4-eh2 a33si33 lu4-eh2?
Whose child is
older, mine or yours?
Cit1-pun1 chaek3
kui3
goay33 heh1-cit3 pun4.
This book is
more expensive than that one.
Cit1-leh1 cit3 pun4
kha1
kui1.
This one is
more expensive.
3.0 Superlative Degree in Penang Hokkien
3.1 te3-it1
The superlative degree is expressed using
te3-
it1, which literally means "number one" or "first and foremost", followed by the adjective.
Cit1-pun1 chaek3
te3-
it1
kui1.
This book is
the most expensive.
Tok1 cit3-pun4
te3-
it1
kui3?
Which one is
the most expensive?
Te33-
it1
kui3 tok33 si33 cit1-pun4.
The most expensive is this one.
3.2 te33-it1 ... eh2
When expressing the superlative degree, add eh2 for emphasis ("of all"), at the end of the sentence and immediately following the adjective. Further emphasis is provided by tok33 si33 ("
is").
Tok1 cit3-pun4 te33-it1 kui3
eh2?
Which one is the most expensive
of all?
Cit1-pun4
tok33
si3 te33-it1 kui3
eh2.
This one
is the most expensive
of all.
Lu4 te33-it1
luan33 eh2!
You are the
noisiest!
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