Penang Hokkien Lesson: Letter from Mother to Son
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Here's a sample letter from a mother to her son living overseas. You can use the same format when writing letters to your family members in Penang Hokkien. Read also the reply to this letter. William Lee
29 Rowstock Gardens
London, N7 0BG
United Kingdom.
1-Goay 14-Ho, 2014
Ah Boy,
Lu1 ho4 boh2? Ko1 nor3 leh1pai3 tok33 si33 Sin3 Cnia1 liau4. Kit1 ni2 wah1 la1sa1 chu3 ka1e3 boh3 siang3, eng3-goay33 te3-it1 tau4 lu4 boh4 tnui4 lai2. Wah1lang2 ka1liau4 ti1 chu1lai3 cin3 siau1liam3 lu4.
Lu4 tua3 ti1 London ho1 boh2? Wah1 sniau3, tha1na1 si33 mm33 si33 cin3 leng4 liau4. E33ki1 cheng3 kau3-kau3 eh3 sna1 a33si33 lu4 chut3 khee3 hah4. Mm33thang3 tiok3 kam4 pu1lak1.
Lu4 thak3 chaek3 an1cnua4? Kit1 ni2 Ah Choo kho4 SPM, Ah Saik kho4 PMR. Ti1 PMR Ah Saik tharn3 7-liap3 A. Be33 phnai4. Lu4-eh3 Daddy pun1 cin3 hnua3hee4, beh4 hor33 Ah Saik cit3-teng4 sin3-eh3 mo1tor4.
Wah4 uh3 tam3pok3 boh3 ho4 eh3 siau3sit3. Snar3 jit3 ceng2 eh3 si2, Ah Mah puat3to4 ti1 cnai3keng1. Tha1na1 tua3 ti1 Island Hospital. Tok33 si33 loh4. Kio3 ee1 mm33thang3 ka3ki3 khee1 cnai3keng1, mm33 thnia3 wa3. Heh1-leh1 si2, wah1lang2 ka1liau4 chut3 khee3. Ho1cai4 Hasnah kiu3 ee1 khi4 lai2. Wah1 hi3bang3 kokh1 cit1-nor3 jit1 lo1kun1 hor33 ee1 tnui1 chu3 liau4. Ah Mah pun1 mai1 tua3 lo1kun3chu3 ti1 Sin3 Cnia3 jit1.
Kit1 ni2 Auntie Betty co3 cin3 ce33 ho3 eh3 Sin3 Cnia3 kueh4. Uh3 kueh kapit, uh3 kueh bangkit, tun1 uh3 heh1-leh1 bit3phang3siu3-eh3 kueh4, ha1mik1 mia2 Mummy pun1 be33hiau1 kio3! Pha1sng4 lu4 boh3 ti3, wah1 cai1 lu4 tien3tiok1 ai1 ciak1.
A33si33 lu4 e33 tnui4 lai2, hor33 wah1 cai1 lah4 hah4. Wah1lang2 e33 khee1 airport ciap3 lu4. Thak3 chaek3 ho1-ho4 hah4?
Sa3yang1,
Mummy
William Lee
29 Rowstock Gardens
London, N7 0BG
United Kingdom.
14 January, 2014
Dear Ah Boy,
How are you? It's going to be Chinese New Year in two weeks. It doesn't feel the same this year, as you won't be around for the first time. All of us at home miss you dearly.
How are you in London? I believe it's getting very cold now, isn't it? Remember to don something thick if you are going out. Don't catch a cold.
How's your studies? This year Ah Choo is taking the SPM while Ah Saik the PMR. Ah Saik got 7As for his PMR. Not bad. Naturally your Daddy is ecstatic, he's buying Ah Saik a new motorcycle.
I have a bit of unpleasant news to share. Three days ago Grandma fell in the bathroom. She's now at Island Hospital. There you are. Told her not to go to the bathroom on her own, she won't listen. At that time the rest of us were out. Fortunately Hasnah helped her up. I hope the doctor will let her come home in another one or two days. Grandma also doesn't want to stay in hospital through Chinese New Year.
This year Auntie Betty is making all sorts of New Year cookies. There's kuih kapit, kuih bangkit and that honeycomb cookie which I don't even know the name! Unfortunately you aren't around, I know you are going to love all of them.
If you can come home, please let me know, okay? We will go to the airport to fetch you. Until then, study well.
Love,
Mummy
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