Category Archives: Kh

Customer, client

Kheh-hō·

Lâng-kheh is the form you’ll usually see, but kheh-hō· can also be used, especially when you need a more formal or businesslike word.

Too much is better than too little

Ū chhun khah iâⁿ bô kàu.

Quit yer whining

Lí tī leh khàu-pē siáⁿ-mi̍h8?

Literally: What are you crying to daddy about?

A match

Khiat-á-hóe

Maybe 30 or 40 years ago, people in Taiwan used to say hoan-á-hóe for match, but since the term hoan-á is considered offensive these days, khiat-á-hóe has replaced it.  Though when was the last time you asked someone for a match?

Ride one horse while looking for another

Khîa bé chhōe bé

This means to just take one job while still looking for a better one, or just go out with someone while looking for someone better.  Sometimes people will say “khîa lî chhōe bé” instead, which means “ride a donkey while looking for a horse.”  Even nastier.

Smart, but overbearing or strongwilled

Khiàng-kha

[Note: said only of women]

Developing country

Khai-hoat-tiong kok-ka

Talk about someone behind his back

Kóng lâng ê kha-chhng-āu-ōe

[Literally: to speak someone's behind-the-butt words]

Barrier; differentiation

Khu-keh

Tâi-ôan-lâng tiau-kang sú-ēng “Tâi-ôan-gí” thang kap Tiong-kok Hok-kiàn chó khu-keh.
Taiwanese people deliberately use (the term) “Taiwanese language” in order to differentiate it from Fujian in China.

Redolent of, have strong smell of

X khùi chin tāng

Example:

 Ēng Tiong-kok-khùi chin tāng ê “Bân-lâm-gí” mā m̄ ēng “Tâi-gí.”

Use (the term) “Minnanhua,” which has a strong association with China, and not use (the term) “Taiyu.”