How do you say numbers and times in Taiwanese Hokkien?

Expect to hear 幾个人? (Kuí ê lâng?, "How many people?"). Useful things to say: 一个人。 (Tsi̍t ê lâng., "Just one") and 三个。 (Sann ê., "Three").

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: Numbers and times

Counting people at a restaurant door and checking when a shop opens.

  1. You hear
    幾个人? Kuí ê lâng? How many people?
  2. You say
    一个人。 Tsi̍t ê lâng. Just one.
  3. You say
    三个。 Sann ê. Three.
  4. You say
    四个。 Sì ê. Four.
  5. You hear
    一百五。 Tsi̍t-pah-gōo. A hundred and fifty.
  6. You say
    這馬幾點? Tsit-má kuí tiám? What time is it now?
  7. You hear
    三點半。 Sann tiám puànn. Half past three.
  8. You say
    今仔日有開無? Kin-á-ji̍t ū khui bô? Are you open today?
  9. You hear
    明仔載才開。 Bîn-á-tsài tsiah khui. Not until tomorrow.
  10. You hear
    下晡五點關門。 Ē-poo gōo tiám kuainn-mn̂g. We close at five in the afternoon.
Is this what people really say here?

Questions about this scene

How do you say numbers and times in Taiwanese Hokkien?

Expect to hear 幾个人? (Kuí ê lâng?, "How many people?"). Useful things to say: 一个人。 (Tsi̍t ê lâng., "Just one") and 三个。 (Sann ê., "Three").

What does "幾个人?" mean in Taiwanese Hokkien?

It means "How many people?". It is pronounced Kuí ê lâng?. A natural reply is 一个人。 (Tsi̍t ê lâng.), "Just one".