Particles in Penang Hokkien
Go BackParticles are a group of words that help to convey nuances and very subtle meanings in Hokkien. Grammatical particles exist in English, as well, and include words such as well, ah, oh, eh, huh, then, right, say, anyway, alas, hmm, wow, to name some. In Malay, particular include pun, pula, nah, alamak, aduh, and so on.
Types of Particle
In Penang Hokkien, particles can be grouped into three main types:- Emphatic Particles are used to provide emphasis to a statement. This can appear within a sentence or at the end of the sentence.
- Interrogative Particles are used for forming questions. This usually appears at the end of the sentence.
- Time Particles are used to show the frame of time, in lieu of tenses, which do not exist in the language.
ah3 [a]
Ah3 is an interrogative particle used in affirmative and negative sentences.
Ee1 kong4 hor3 lu4 thnia1 ah3?
He told you, doesn't he?
Lu4-eh3 chaek3 phua3 liau4 ah3?
Your book is torn already, isn't it?
Lu1 be33hiau1 co3 ah3?
You don't know how to do it, do you?
boey3 [boe]
Boay3 is an interrogative particle to reconfirm, in affirmative sentences. It corresponds to "already" in English.
Ciak3 pa4 boey3?
Have you eaten? (This is a standard greeting in Hokkien)
Lu1 choay3 than3 liau4 boey3?
Have you found it already?
boh2 [bo]
Boh2 is an interrogative particle used to verify or reconfirm a statement. It corresponds to "or not" in English.
Ee1 uh33 lai2 boh3?
He came, didn't he? (literally, He got come or not?)
Lu4 choay3 than3 liau4 boh2?
Have you found it or not?
ciau1 [tsiau]
Ciau1 is a particle that translates roughly as "despite of", "still" and "nonetheless". It is used to show an action that is taking place despite of circumstances.
Lok3 hor33 tun4 ie1 ciau1 chut3 khee1 thit1tho2.
Despite the rain he went out to play.
Penang-eh3 chu3 kui3 ta3pi1 lang3 pun1 ciau1 beh4.
Although houses in Penang are expensive, people still buy.
eh2 [e]
Eh2 is a particle that corresponds to "one" in "which one". It is also used as a relative pronoun in complex sentences.
Mummy, ee1 phak3 wah4 eh2!
Mummy, he's the one who beat me. (literally, "Mummy, he beat me one!")
Wah4 choay3 than3 eh2.
I'm the one who found it
-eh3 [e]
Eh3 is a possessive particle used for forming possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns. It is always hyphenated and suffixed to the possessing noun or pronoun. The citation form is actually eh2, and this is how it appears as part of possessive pronouns.
Wah4-eh3 chu3 se1-keng1.
My house is small
Cit1-pun1 chaek3 ee1-eh2.
This book is his.
gok3 [goʔ]
Gok3 is a particle that corresponds to "another", "else", "yet" and "some more". It is similar to kokh3.Tan4 wah4 cit3-leh3 ji33 gok3.
Wait for me another 5 minutes.
Lu4 ai3 ha1mik1 gok3?
What else do you want?
heo2 [hiɔ]
Heo2 is an interrogative particle used to reconfirm, in both affirmative and negative sentences. It corresponds to "isn't it" and the like.
Ee1 ciak3 ka1 liau4 heo2?
She ate everything, didn't he? (literally, "He ate until finish, right?")
Ie1 mai1 jip1 lai2 heo2?
He doesn't want to come in, does he?
hna2 [hã]
Hna2 is an interrogative particle used to verify or reconfirm a statement. It's like "huh" in English.
Lu1 kong4 ha1mik1 hna2?
What did you say?
hna4 [hã]
Hna4 is an interrogative particle used to seek agreement. It corresponds to adding "okay?" at the end of a sentence.
Lu1 tan4 cit1-peng2 hna4?
You wait here, okay?
Lu4 mai1 lai2, hna4?
You aren't coming, right? or Do not come!
Chia1 se4 liau4, hna4?
The car is washed already, isn't it?
hnor2 [hɔ̃]
Hnor2 is an interrogative particle used to reaffirm, usually a negative statement.
Ie1 boh3 ka3 lu1 kong4, hnor2?
He didn't tell you, did he?
kokh3 [koʔ]
Kokh3 is a particle that corresponds to "yet", "yet another", "some more" and "else". It is similar to gok3.
Wah4 boek3 snar3 leh2 kokh1.
I want another three. (Literally, "I want three some more.")
Wah4 boek3 kokh1 snar3 leh2!
I want another three.
Lu4 ai3 ha1mik1 kokh3?
What else do you want? (Literally, "You want what else?")
lah3 [la]
Lah3 is a particle that is used to show irritation or annoyance.
Wah4 mm33 cai1 lah3!
I don't know, (and don't ask me again!)
Be33hiau4 lah3!
Don't know! (And don't care!)
lah4 [la]
Lah4 is an emphatic particles that is used to stress or to persuade.
Mai1 phnai1seh3, ciak1 lah4!
Dont't be shy, do eat.)
Khuai1-khuai3 lai2 lah4!
Come quickly please!
lai2 [lai]
Lai2 is an interrogative particle used to affirm. It is placed at the end of affirmative sentences that begin with the question tag si33 mm33 si33 (Isn't it ...) to provide emphasis.
Si33 mm33 si33 ie1 lai2 ?
Isn't it really him?
Ha1mik1 lai1 ?
What is it?
Si33 mm33 si33 lu4-eh3 tien3wa3 lai2 ?
Isn't it actually your phone? (Isn't it your call?)
leh3 [le]
Leh3 is a particle used to express concern over an existing or impending situation. It can be translated as "oh dear". Leh3 is similar to orh3.
Be33 choay3 than3 leh3!
Oh dear, can't find it!
Ciak3 be33 liau4 leh3!
Oh dear, can't finish (eating) it!
liau4 [liau]
Liau4 is a time particle used to show that an action has been completed. It corresponds to the perfect tense in English grammar. It means "already". It is a homonym to the verb "to finish", leow4 and can be used together. (I spell them differently to provide better word recognition). When used in a negative sentence, it means "anymore".
Wah4 ciak1 liau4.
I've eaten. (Literally, "I eat already.")
Leow4 liau4!
It's finished! (as in a task); Finished! (there's none left).
Ee1 be33 ciak1 liau4!
She can't eat anymore.
loh4 [lo]
Loh4 is a particle is used to stress a point. It emphasizes something that is "already so", and is often expressed as "liau4 loh4" to mean an action that has been completed.
Pan3gee2 liau4 loh4!
Beh3 kokh1 kiam1 keh3 liau4 loh4!So cheap already! Cannot discount anymore!
Ie1 tnui1 chu3 liau4 loh4.
He's gone home already.
mah1 [ma]
Mah1 is a particle to reaffirm a statement. It corresponds to "after all" in English.
Be33sai1 luan33-luan33 khai1, boh3 lui1 liau4 mah1!
Cannot recklessly spend. After all, no money left anymore.
Ie1 chin3 yau1 eng3goay3 ie1 boh3 ciak3 pnua1hang3 gok3 mah1.
He's very hungry as he hasn't eaten anything yet.
meh4 [mɛ]
Meh4 is an interrogative particle used to confirm, in sentences to express doubt, disbelief and incredulity. It corresponds to "are you sure" in English.
Ee1 uh3 lai2 meh4?
Are you sure she came?
Uh33nya4 meh4?
Really? / Are you sure it's true?
mm33 [m]
Mm33 is a negation particle.
Ee1 ciak3 mm33 tiok3 eok1
He took the wrong medicine.
Mm33 is also used in the question tag si33 mm33 si33
Si3 mm33 si3 lu4-eh2?
Isn't it yours?
nee4 [ni]
Nee4 is a interrogative particle used to reconfirm, and corresponds with "how about" or "then" in English.
Wah4 mm33 mai3. Lu4 nee4?
I don't want (it). How about you?
Si33 mm33 si33 cit1 leh1 nee4?
Is it this then?
Ha1mik1su3 ie1 mai1 lai2 nee4?
Why doesn't he want to come then?
nia2 [nia]
Nia2 is a interrogative particle used for verifying a statement. It corresponds to "right?","is it true?", or "isn't it?" and is similar to the Malay "kah" and the Japanese "desuka".
Lu4 ba3lu1 than3 cap3 khor1 nia2 ?
You only get ten dollars, right?
Lu4-eh3 chu3 cit1keng1 nia2?
Your house is this one, isn't it?
nia33 [nia]
Nia33 is a emphatic particle used for delimiting. It means "only" or "just".
Wah4 ba3lu1 than3 cap3 khor1 nia33.
I only get ten dollars.
Wah4-eh3 chu3 se3 keng1 nia33.
My house is a small house. ("My house is small only.")
or3 [ɔ]
wor3 [uɔ]
Or3, also pronounced wor3, is a particle used for expressing anxiety or worry over an existing or impending situation. It is similar to leh3. Orh3 corresponds to "oh dear" or "what should we do ..."
Tau3ke1 khee1hong2 liau4 or3!
Oh dear, the boss is angry already.
Mui2 be33 kham3 wor3.
Oh dear, the door won't shut.
pu1lak1 [pu-lak]
tu1lak1 [tu-lak]
Pu1lak1 is a particle used for emphasizing a situation. A Malay loanword, it is often pronounced as tu1lak1 and can be translated as "then", "some more", "too" and "also".
Cna3hnui1 ie1 puat3to4, kin3jit1 wah4 pu1lak1!
Yesterday he fell, today's my turn. (Literally, "Yesterday he fell, today me also")
Na33si33 mm33 si3 lu4, cui3cui3lang2 tu1lak1?
If not you, who else?
Lu4 co3 ha1mik1 pu1lak1?
What are you doing then?
pun4 [pun]
tun4 [tun]
Pun4/Tun4 are emphatic particles which are Malay loanwords. They mean "also" and are often used to string two different actions in a sequence, as in "following which". Pun4/tun4 is often modified by tone sandhi to pun1/tun1.
Wah4 mai3, ie1 tun1 mai3.
I don't want, he neither.
Wah4 ai3, ie1 pun1 ai3.
I don't want, he too.
Wah4 khui3 mui2, ee1 pun1 jip1 lai2.
I opened the door and she came in.
tiau2 [tiau]
Tiau4 is a time particle that shows an action that is on-going. It means "in the midst of".
Wah1 jip1 lai2 eh3 si2 ie1 co3 tiau3 heh1-leh1 kang1.
When I came in he was in the midst of doing the work.
tok33 [toʔ]
Tok33 is a particle used to affirm a statement. It usually appears alongside si33.
Cit1-leh1 tok33 si33 ie1-eh3 chu3 lah4.
This is his house.
tuah3 [tua]
Tuah3 is a time particle used to show that an action is on-going. It corresponds to the continuous tense in English grammar. It means "in the process".
Wah4 ciak1 tuah3.
I am (in the midst of) eating.
Ie1 co1kang1 tuah3.
He is working.
Examples of how particles are used
Ee1 mai1 lai2. (He doesn't want to come) Here's the same sentence with the various particles:- Ee1 mai1 lai2 ah3? (Doesn't he want to come?)
- Ee1 mai1 lai2 eh2. (For sure he doesn't want to come.)
- Ee1 mai1 lai2 heo2? (So he doesn't want to come, does he?)
- Ee1 mai1 lai2 kokh3. (He doesn't want to come yet.)
- Ee1 mai1 lai2 lah3. (He doesn't want to come (don't ask again).)
- Ee1 mai1 lai2 liau4. (He doesn't want to come already/anymore.)
- Ee1 mai1 lai2 mah1. (He doesn't want to come, y'know.)
- Ee1 mai1 lai2 meh4? (Are you sure he doesn't want to come?)
- Ee1 mai1 lai2 nia3. (He doesn't want to only come (he wants to do other stuff too))
- Ee1 mai1 lai2 nia2? (Is it true he doesn't want to come?)
- Ee1 mai1 lai2 orh3. (Oh dear, he doesn't want to come!)
- Ee1 mai1 lai2 pu1lak1! (And now he doesn't want to come!)
- Ee1 tun1 mai1 lai2. (He also doesn't want to come./He doesn't want to come either.)
- Ee1 ai1 lai2 boay3? (Is he ready to come?)
- Ee1 ai1 lai2 boh2? (He wants to come, doesn't he?)
- Ee1 ai1 lai2 heo2? (He wants to come, doesn't he?)
- Ee1 ai1 lai2 kokh3. (He still wants to come. / He wants to come again.)
- Ee1 ai1 lai2 lah3. (He wants to come (don't ask again).)
- Ee1 ai1 lai2 liau2. (He wants to come already (He's on the way).)
- Ee1 ai1 lai2 mah1. (Moreover, he's coming./He's coming, y'know.)
- Ee1 ai1 lai2 meh4? (Are you sure he wants to come?)
- Ee1 ai1 lai2 nia3. (He only wants to come (and not do anything else).)
- Ee1 ai1 lai2 nia2? (He wants to come, doesn't he?)
- Ee1 ai1 lai2 orh3. (Oh dear, he wants to come.)
- Ee1 ai1 lai2 pu1lak1! (And now he wants to come!)
- Ee1 tun1 ai1 lai2. / Ee1 ai1 lai2 tun4. (He wants to come too.)
Penang Hokkien Grammar
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