Tek Gar Kee, Penang Hokkien Poem

Tek1 Gar1 Kee1 is a poem in Penang Hokkien that is quite popular particularly among the Straits Chinese. In the old days, it was used by mothers to teach their daughters in becoming good daughter-in-laws, laying out the expected behaviour and etiquette upon marrying into another family. Among the wealthy Straits Chinese, such marriages strength the bonds and business ties for the two families. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that the daughter maintain the expected decorum in her new household so as the parents would not lose face. The rhyme lays out the do's and dont's expected of the daughter.

There are in fact two versions, one about the Good Daughter-in-law and a later version, about the Bad Daughter-in-law. But thanks to my faulty memory, I can only remember the good version.

Tek1 Gar1 Kee1, Mor3 Hor1 Chee4,
Co1 lang3-eh3 sim3pu3 bat1 to3li4;
Wna1-wna3 khoon3, ca1-ca1 khi4,
Khi4 lai2 se3thau2, buak1 hoon1, tiam1 en3ci1.

Jip3 cau1kha1, se1 wna1tu33,
Jip3 tua33thniah1, cheng1 tok1ie4,
Jip3 pang3lai33, siu3 ciam3chee4;

O3lo1 hnia1, o3lo1 tee3;
O3lo4 ching3kae1 chnae3mm4 gau3 kah1si4

Translation

Beancurd sticks and flour cakes,
Becoming someone's daughter-in-law, one must know one's etiquette,
Late to bed and early to rise,
Waking up make yourself presentable.

Enter the kitchen and wash the dinnerware,
Enter the hall and dust the furniture,
Enter the bedroom and work your embroideries.

Be sure to always compliement your elder and younger siblings,
and not forgetting your parents for your marvellous upbringing!

Vocabulary

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