Penang Hokkien Conjunctions

The Penang Hokkien conjunctions include kah1 (and), ka1 (to/with), a33si33 (if), ta3pi1 (but), and in3-ui33 (because). A33si33 also has an alternative form, na33si33 , while in3-ui33 is also written eng3-goay33 . Both kah1 and ka1 sound the same and are differiated only by their spelling. Ta3pi1 is a Malay loanword that has become completely naturalised into Penang Hokkien, so much so that we seldom use the actual Hokkien word, tan3si33 , anymore. Ka1 is the only conjunction that occasionally takes on the sandhi tone, ka3 .

Jack kah1 Jill1 khi1 snua1.
Jack and Jill went up the hill.

Jack khi1 snua1 ka1 Jill.
Jack went up the hill with Jill.

Ie1 ka3 lu1 kong4 ha1mik1?
What did he say to you?

A33si33 lu1 khee3, wah1 pun1 boek1 khee3.
If you go, I also want to follow.

Ie1lang2 choay3 cit3si1keh3 ta3pi1 choay3 boh2.
They searched everywhere but did not find it.

Ie1 wna3 lai2 in3-ui33 ie1-eh3 chia1 phnai4.
He came late because his car broke down.

Note the difference between "kah1" and "ka3".

Wah1 kah1 ie1 kong4.
He and I (lit: I and he) said.

Wah1 ka3 ie1 kong4.
I told (to) him.

Wah4 kah1 ie1 boh3 ho4.
He and I (lit: I and he) are not in good terms.

Wah1 boh3 ka3 ie1 ho4.
I am not in good terms with him.

Ah3 Hin1 kah1 Ah3 Huat3 ho1 peng3iu4.
Ah Hin and Ah Huat are good friends.

Ah3 Hin1 ho1 peng3iu4 ka1 Ah3 Huat3.
Ah Hin is good friend with Ah Huat.

Jack kah1 Jill khee3.
Jack and Jill went together.

Jill ka3 Jack khee3.
Jill went with Jack.

Wah1 ciak3 lak1sa4 kah1 char1 koay1 teow2.
I ate laksa and char koay teow.

Wah1 ciak3 lak1sa4 ka1 tu3. (Alternatively: Wah1 yong33 tu3 ciak3 lak1sa4)
I ate laksa with chopsticks.

Ah3 Hin1 kah1 Ah Huat3 ciak3 pnui33.
Ah Hin and Ah Huat have a meal.

Ah3 Hin1 ka1 Ah Huat3 ciak3 pnui33.
Ah Hin has a meal with Ah Huat.

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