hundredwords

How do you order night market snacks in Taiwanese Hokkien?

Expect to hear 欲薟無？ (Beh hiam bô?, "Spicy?"), 甜的抑是鹹的？ (Tinn--ê ia̍h-sī kiâm--ê?, "Sweet or savoury?"). Useful things to say: 一份蚵仔煎。 (Tsi̍t hūn ô-á-tsian., "One oyster omelette") and 肉圓兩粒。 (Bah-uân nn̄g lia̍p., "Two bah-uân").

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: Night market snacks

In Tainan and Kaohsiung the night market stall owners talk to each other in Taiwanese, and they love it when you try.

  1. You say
    一份蚵仔煎。 Tsi̍t hūn ô-á-tsian. One oyster omelette.

    Mandarin speakers say this dish in Taiwanese too, so you will hear ô-á-tsian everywhere.

  2. You say
    肉圓兩粒。 Bah-uân nn̄g lia̍p. Two bah-uân.
  3. You hear
    欲薟無？ Beh hiam bô? Spicy?

    Signs often write 辣 for this word, but people say hiam.

  4. You say
    小可薟就好。 Sió-khuá hiam tō hó. Just a little spicy.
  5. You say
    毋愛薟。 M̄-ài hiam. Not spicy.
  6. You hear
    甜的抑是鹹的？ Tinn--ê ia̍h-sī kiâm--ê? Sweet or savoury?
  7. You say
    甜的。 Tinn--ê. Sweet.
  8. You hear
    一份五十。 Tsi̍t hūn gōo-tsa̍p. Fifty for one.
  9. You hear
    燒的，細膩喔！ Sio--ê, sè-jī ooh! It's hot, careful!
  10. You hear
    足好食喔！ Tsiok hó-tsia̍h ooh! It's really good!
Is this what people really say here?

Questions about this scene

How do you order night market snacks in Taiwanese Hokkien?

Expect to hear 欲薟無？ (Beh hiam bô?, "Spicy?"), 甜的抑是鹹的？ (Tinn--ê ia̍h-sī kiâm--ê?, "Sweet or savoury?"). Useful things to say: 一份蚵仔煎。 (Tsi̍t hūn ô-á-tsian., "One oyster omelette") and 肉圓兩粒。 (Bah-uân nn̄g lia̍p., "Two bah-uân").

What does "欲薟無？" mean in Taiwanese Hokkien?

It means "Spicy?". It is pronounced Beh hiam bô?. A natural reply is 小可薟就好。 (Sió-khuá hiam tō hó.), "Just a little spicy".

What does "甜的抑是鹹的？" mean in Taiwanese Hokkien?

It means "Sweet or savoury?". It is pronounced Tinn--ê ia̍h-sī kiâm--ê?. A natural reply is 甜的。 (Tinn--ê.), "Sweet".