hundredwords

What will people ask you over drinks in Taiwanese Hokkien?

Expect to hear 你來台灣偌久矣？ (Lí lâi Tâi-uân guā kú ah?, "How long have you been in Taiwan?"), 台灣好耍無？ (Tâi-uân hó-sńg bô?, "Are you having fun in Taiwan?"), 你幾歲？ (Lí kuí huè?, "How old are you?"). Useful things to say: 一禮拜。 (Tsi̍t lé-pài., "A week") and 誠好耍！ (Tsiânn hó-sńg!, "Lots of fun!").

Draft: First draft. A native Taiwanese speaker has not checked these lines yet, and some wording varies between north and south. Tell us if something sounds off.

The whole conversation: Drinks and a chat

Beer at a hot-fry restaurant (熱炒) with new friends. Taiwanese comes out once the glasses do.

  1. You hear
    乾杯！ Kan-pue! Cheers!
  2. You hear
    你來台灣偌久矣？ Lí lâi Tâi-uân guā kú ah? How long have you been in Taiwan?
  3. You say
    一禮拜。 Tsi̍t lé-pài. A week.
  4. You hear
    台灣好耍無？ Tâi-uân hó-sńg bô? Are you having fun in Taiwan?
  5. You say
    誠好耍！ Tsiânn hó-sńg! Lots of fun!
  6. You hear
    你幾歲？ Lí kuí huè? How old are you?

    A normal question here. It helps people work out how to address you.

  7. You say
    我愛台灣。 Guá ài Tâi-uân. I love Taiwan.
  8. You hear
    有閒閣來喔！ Ū-îng koh lâi ooh! Come back when you have time!
  9. You say
    一定！ It-tīng! Definitely!
  10. You say
    掰掰！ Bai-bai! Bye!
Is this what people really say here?

Questions about this scene

What will people ask you over drinks in Taiwanese Hokkien?

Expect to hear 你來台灣偌久矣？ (Lí lâi Tâi-uân guā kú ah?, "How long have you been in Taiwan?"), 台灣好耍無？ (Tâi-uân hó-sńg bô?, "Are you having fun in Taiwan?"), 你幾歲？ (Lí kuí huè?, "How old are you?"). Useful things to say: 一禮拜。 (Tsi̍t lé-pài., "A week") and 誠好耍！ (Tsiânn hó-sńg!, "Lots of fun!").

What does "你來台灣偌久矣？" mean in Taiwanese Hokkien?

It means "How long have you been in Taiwan?". It is pronounced Lí lâi Tâi-uân guā kú ah?. A natural reply is 一禮拜。 (Tsi̍t lé-pài.), "A week".

What does "台灣好耍無？" mean in Taiwanese Hokkien?

It means "Are you having fun in Taiwan?". It is pronounced Tâi-uân hó-sńg bô?. A natural reply is 誠好耍！ (Tsiânn hó-sńg!), "Lots of fun!".

What does "你幾歲？" mean in Taiwanese Hokkien?

It means "How old are you?". It is pronounced Lí kuí huè?. A natural reply is 我愛台灣。 (Guá ài Tâi-uân.), "I love Taiwan".