Explore Taiwanese Hokkien Language (II): Lonely Tree, Lonely Bird by Wubai 臺語探究(貳):伍佰〈樹枝孤鳥〉

在(佇):在 (tī): At, in. 佗位:哪裡 (tó-uī): Where 批信:書信、信件 (phue-sìn): Letter 親像:好像 (tshin-tshiūnn): As if 風在透:風在吹 (hong teh thàu): Wind blowing 針在偎(揻):針在刺 (tsiam teh ui): Needle pinching 無路用:沒有用,不中用 (bô lōo iōng): Useless, of no use. 無代念我情:沒想過我的感受 (bô tāi liām guá tsîng):...

Explore Taiwanese Hokkien Language (I): Tearful Night Train by Wubai 臺語探究(壹):伍佰〈熱淚暗班車〉

臺語的表達非常豐富,我個人閩南語說得不好,但還是常常從臺語歌學習這個語言獨有的表達方式與詞彙。我以我個人理解嘗試將伍佰的〈熱淚暗班車〉一些詞句寫成華語和英語,有志於臺語研究的朋友請多多指教。 Taiwanese Hokkien has a great variety when it comes to expression. Despite the fact that I can’t speak the language well, I still learn the unique expression and...

Explore Cantonese Language (II): Expressions of water 粵語探究(貳):「水」的表達方式

粵語中「水」字的應用非常靈活,除了跟錢財相關的用法之外,生活中其他表達方式亦是非常生動敏銳。 The usage of the word ‘water’ is very flexible in Cantonese language. It is widely used for expressions related to money, as well as some very lively and apt descriptions of some situations of our daily life. 睇水:觀察形勢、以防萬一...

Explore Cantonese Language (I): Expressions of water 粵語探究(壹):「水」的表達方式

粵語是一個生動有趣、詼諧抵死的語言,很多表達方式並非書面中文可以直接傳達得出來。其中,水的應用方式亦是非常豐富,在此憑記憶細數一番。此篇記錄跟錢有關的說法。 Cantonese is a very interesting and sarcastic language. Many of its expressions can hardly have equivalent terms and phrases in written Chinese. Among others, ‘water’ (水, seoi2)...