Degrees of Comparison in Penang Hokkien

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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