Taiguo Siong'iong 460-ji

Taiguo Siong'iong 460 ji (台語常用460字; 460 Frequently-Used Taiwanese Words) written in Modern Literal Taiwanese with English definitions. Adapted from: 黃美雲 (2004) Taiguo Siong'iong 460-ji [460 Common Taiwanese Words]. 台語文協會.

Personal pronouns

Main article: Personal pronouns

MTL	THJ	Hoaguo	Engguo
goar	我	我	I; me
gurn	阮†	我們/我的	we; us; (not including listener)
goarn	阮†	我/我們/我等/咱們	we; us; (not including listener)
kaki	家己	自己	self
larn	咱†	我們/咱	we; us; (includes listener)
lie	汝/你†/妳	你/妳/汝	you
lirn	恁†	你們/你的/你們的	you (plural/exclusive)
tag'ee	逐个	各個/每個	everybody
taixkef (tagkef)	大家	大家	everybody; all the people
y	伊	他/她/祂	he; she; it; his; her
yn	𪜶†	他們/他的	they; them

Demonstrative pronouns

MTL	THJ	MSM	ENG
cidee	cid个	一個	one
ciaf^	遮†	這裡	here
ciah'ee (ciaf`ee)	遮的†	這些	these
ciahniq' (ciahni)	遮爾†	這麼	such; so
cit'ee	cit个	這個	this one
citkhoarn	cit款	這種/這樣	this kind of
hef^	彼†	那	that one
hiah'ee (hiaf`ee)	遐的†	那些	those
hiaf^	遐†	那裡	there
hiahniq' (hiahni)	遐爾†	那麼	in that way
hit'ee	彼个‡	那個	that one
hitkhoarn	彼款‡	那款	that kind of
sviafkhoarn	啥款‡	怎麼樣	what kind
symmih'khoarn	symmih款	什麼樣	what do you think
zef^	這†	這	this one

Tone sandhi exceptions:

• ^: words that never change tone.
• ': words ending with apostrophe, which will be directly followed by another word with no space.

Interrogative pronouns

MTL	THJ	MSM	ENG
joaxkuo	偌久‡	多久	how long
joaxtoa (goaxtoa)	偌大‡	多大	how big
joaxzøe (goaxzøe)	偌濟†	多少	how many; how much
kuyee	幾个	幾個	how many
kuyjit	幾日	幾日	how many days
kuykafng	幾工	幾天	how many days
kuytiarm	幾點	幾點	what time it is
nar	哪†	怎	how; why; what
nar øe (naføe)	哪會†	怎會	how come; how could this be possible
sviafhøex	啥貨‡/sviaf貨	甚麼/什麼東西	what
sviaflaang	啥人†	哪個/孰/誰/誰人/誰個	who
sviar	啥†	甚	what
symmih^ (sviafmiq, sviafmih)	啥物‡/sym物	什麼	what
symmih'laang (sviaflaang)	sym物laang	什麼人	who
tafcidee (tøfcidee)	佗一个‡/tøfcid个	哪一個	which one
tafcidhang (tøfcidhang)	tøfcid項	哪一項	which item
tafcidui (tøfcidui)	tøfcid位	哪一位	which one
tangsii	當時	何時	when
tafui (tøfui)	佗位‡/tøf位	那裡	where
uixhøo	為何	因何/為什麼/為何	why; for what
ui-symmih^ (ui sviafmiq)^	為甚物‡/為sym物	為什麼	why; for what. see si-afnzvoar

Conjunctions

MTL	THJ	MSM	ENG
afnnef/afnny	按呢†	這樣子 / 如此	well…then
afnzvoar	按怎‡	何以 / 怎的 / 怎麼	how
chinchviu	親像	就像	as; such as; as if
citmar	這馬‡/cit馬 / 即碼	現在	at this moment
hafntid (harn`tid)	罕得	少有 / 難得	rarely; seldom
høfkazaix ...	好佳哉‡/好佳zaix	幸好 / 幸虧	fortunately
iah	抑	或 / 抑	or
iao	猶†	而	but; still (synonym iawkøq)
in'ui...sofie	因為…所以		because…therefore
kab	佮	和	and; with
kiafmzhae	檢采 / 減采	假使	perhaps
kaxngkhoarn	仝款‡/kaxng款 / 共款	一樣 / 同樣 / 相同 / 相像	same ; similar
koputjiciofng (koputciofng)	姑不而將 / 姑不將	不得已 / 無奈何	be obliged; have no choice but to; reluctant
lofngzorng	攏總	一共 / 一總 / 打總兒 / 全部	all; collectively
ma	嘛†	也 / 亦	also; too
mxbiern	毋免‡/mx免	不免 / 不必	not necessary; unnecessary; not have to
mxkøq (mxkuo)	毋過‡	不過 / 然而	but
mxna	毋但‡	不只 / 不光 / 不但	not only…
na	若	若 / 如果	if
suxnsoax	順紲‡/順soax	附帶 / 趁便 / 順便	conveniently
pwntøea	本底	本來 / 原本 / 先前	at first; originally
taxnsi	但是	但是	but
thiaukafng	刁工 / thiau工	特意	on purpose
tiaukorix (thiaukorix)	刁故意	存心 / 成心 / 刻意 / 故意	on purpose
tvaf	今†	現在 / 如今	now
twciaq	拄才‡/拄ciaq	適即 / 剛剛	moment ago

Auxiliary verbs

MTL	THJ	MSM	ENG
aix ...	愛	喜歡/想要/愛	want; like
borng	罔†	姑且/將就	content oneself with; may as well
bøe ...	袂†	不會	be not able to; not willing to
bøeq ...	欲†	要/如果/快要	want; like
bøexhiao ...	袂曉‡	不會	don’t know
bøexsae ...	袂使‡	不可以	it can not be; be not able to
bøextaxng ...	袂當‡	未為/不能	it can not be; be not able to
øe ...	會†	會/能	be able and willing to
øexhiao ...	會曉‡	能曉/會	know
øexsae ...	會使‡	能使/可以	it may
øextaxng ...	會當‡	能為/可以	be able to
øextitthafng	會得通‡	可以	it can be; be able to
laai	來	來	let’s ; come
m	毋†	不	not
maix ...	莫†	勿/毋	do not
mxthafng	毋通	不可	may not
phvae	歹†	壞/惡/難	it’s bad to
thafng	通	通過/可以	may
tiøqaix	著愛	須	have to

Adverbs (Huosuu)

See also: Huosuu

MTL	THJ	MSM	ENG
bøo-tviutii	無張持‡	沒注意/不小心	unexpectedly (see hutjieen)
ciog	足	足/很	very; very much
ciu	就	就	then
cyn-	真	真	very
cviaa	誠	很	very much
iao	猶†	還/尚	still; yet
iawbøe	猶未‡	尚未	not yet
juo...juo	愈…愈 (愈)	愈…愈	the more…the more
kaix	蓋	最	very (see uxkaux)
kaq	佮	與	to
kannaf (kantvaf)	干焦‡/干tvaf	只有	only; merely
khaq	較	比較/更/再	more
køhkhaq	閣較‡	更較/復較	even more
køq	閣†	再/還/更加	again; more
kuikhix	規氣/歸氣	索性/乾脆	simply; totally
liammy (liampvy)	連鞭	馬上	at once
lorng	攏	都/皆/全部	all
luo...luo	愈…愈	愈…愈	the more…the more
niaxnia	爾爾†	而已	only
siong	上	尚/最	the most
sioxngkaix	上蓋	最	the most
suii	隨	馬上	immediately
svakab	相佮	一起	together
sviw	傷	太	too much; too many
teq	咧†	在/正在	in the process of
thaix	太	太	very
thaothaux	透透	透徹	thoroughly
tø	就†		yet; though; then
tvaf hai`aq (hai`laq)	今害矣	?	"too bad"
twafhør (twtwafhør)	拄仔好‡	剛剛好	just right

Prepositions

kaesuu (介詞)

MTL	THJ	MSM	ENG
ciaux	照	照	follow
ciofng	將	將	going to ; about to
ho	予	給/乎	to; by
ka	共	給/跟	with; to
kab	佮	和	with; and
kaux	到†/夠	到/夠	to; enough
kiezai/kuozai	據在	隨便	indiscreetly; at one’s convenience
pie	比	比	compare
suizai	隨在	任憑/任由	at one’s convenience; no matter; regardless
ti	佇	在	at; in
tiaxm	踮†	站/在	at; in
tixleq (ti teq)	佇咧‡/佇leq	正在	in the process of
tngf	當	當	when; at that moment
tuix	對	對	to, towards, with regard to, from. see also uix
tuy	追	從	to follow behind or catch up from behind; to chase after, woo, pursue
uixtiøh	為著	為了	for the sake of

Suffix particles indicating mood

See also: Twenty-seven Taiwanese words beginning with the backquote

MTL	THJ	MSM	ENG
`aq / `ax	矣	呀	an enclitic at the end of sentence to mark the completion of action
`bøe	未	未	did… or not
`bøo	無†	沒有	yes or not
`hvoq	乎	吧	an enclitic at the end of sentence to indicate emphasize on interrogative mood
`jiblaai	`入來	進來	come in here
`jibkhix	`入去	進去	get in there
jip`laai	入`來		come in
jip`khix	入`去		to go in
khix`aq	去矣		enclitic affixes to verbs to express completion of action
`khylaai	`起來		get up to here
`khykhix	`起去		get up to there
`khylix	`起去		get up
øexsae`tid	會使得‡	能使得/可以的	okay; can be; may
khvoarmai	看覓‡/看mai	看看	just try it to see
`laq	啦†	啦	an enclitic at the end of sentence to indicate recognition; affirmative; impatience; completion; request
`liq / `leq	哩†/咧†!		an enclitic at the end of sentence to indicate command; emphasize on interrogative mood
`løq / `loq	囉	囉	an enclitic at the end of sentence to indicate completion; exclamation; or emphasize
`løqkhix	`落去	下去	downward to there
`løqlaai	`落來	下來	downward to here
`oq	`喔!		an enclitic at the end of sentence to indicate caution; exclamation;
tiøh	著		affix to many verbs expressing accomplishment or taking effect

Verbs (Toxngsuu)

See also: Toxngsuu

MTL	THJ	MSM	ENG
aix	愛	喜歡/想要/愛	love; like
ao	拗	折/扭曲	break and snap
barn	挽	拔	pluck
biq	覕	匿/逃避/躲	hide
bøviar	bø影/無影‡	不真實的	no such thing; groundless; unsubstantiated
chi	飼	飼	raise; feed
chiaau	撨†	移/調整	to adjust; to move
chiøf	𪁎†	好色	be horny
chitthøo	𨑨迌†	玩耍	play; have fun
chviaa	晟†	成/栽培	to raise kids
chviar	請	請	to request; to ask; to invite
chviax	倩	聘僱/僱用	to hire
chviux	唱	唱	to sing
ciah	食	吃	to eat
ciaokhykafng	照起工	按部就班	keep to the working routine
cym	唚†	吻	to kiss
giaa	夯†	抬	carry heavy thing over the shoulder
giexn	癮†	癮/渴望	to crave; addict
giin	睨†	凝	stare
hahhix	哈hix/哈唏‡	喝噓/打哈欠	to yawn
hao	吼	哭/叫	roar; howl
haxmbiin	陷眠	做夢	talk in one's sleep; dreaming
hiaam	嫌	嫌	to detest; to dislike
hiin	眩	眩/暈	dizzy
hipsioxng	翕相	照相	take a picture
hiøq	歇	休息	rest
hiw	咻†	喊	scream; shout
hoaq	喝	喊	shout
i	奕	玩	to play
jiarng	嚷	嚷	shout
jiog	逐	追	to chase; to follow
kaam	含	含/唅	hold in the mouth
kah'ix	佮意	中意	feel satisfied; take delight
kaxn	姦†	姦	intercourse
kerng	揀	揀	choose; select
khausøea	剾洗	諷刺/刨說	give sarcastic; ironical caustic comments
khaw	剾	諷刺/刮/刨	speak ironically
khia	徛†	豎/站	to stand
khoarn	款	整理行李	pack; prepare for travel
khuxn	睏†	睡	sleep
khvoax	看	看	to see
kiernsiaux	見笑	丟人	feel ashamed; embarrassed
kiørsi	叫是	以為	assume; presume
korng	講	講	to say; to speak
koxng	摃†	打/摃	hit
køeasyn	過身	過世	pass away; die
kviaa	行	行走	walk
kvoa	捾†	攜	carry by a handle
kvoaa`tiøh	寒著	著涼	catch cold
laosae	落屎	拉肚子/瀉肚子	have loose bowel
larm	攬	攬	embrace/bear
liah	掠	掠/捕	catch; grasp
liam	唸	唸	to read; to recite
liaqzurn	掠準	以為	presume
liaxm	捻†	捻	to drive; to expel
lym	啉†	喝/飲	to drink
ngx	向	向	to face
oar	倚	倚	recline; lean on
ølør	呵咾†	讚美	praise
parngsag	放捒†	放棄	give up; abandon
phag	覆/仆	覆/仆	lying face down
phahkhachviux	拍咳啾‡	打噴嚏	sneeze
phahphvae`khix	拍歹去‡		to ruin; spoil; make a mess of something
phak-jidthaau (phagjit)	曝日頭	晒太陽	be exposed to sunshine; sunbath
pharngkvix (phah'mxkvix)	拍毋見‡	丟掉/不見	lose; misplace
phoarpve	破病	生病	get sick
phvi	鼻	聞/嗅	smell
phuix	呸†	吐/翻臉/唾	spit
po	哺†	哺	chew
poah	跋†	跌	fall down (see poah cidtør)
poaqkiao	跋筊‡	賭博	gamble
puun	歕	吹	to blow
saf	捎	抓	to grasp; to catch
siafphøef	寫批	寫信	to write a letter
siar	寫	寫	to write
siuu	泅	泅	to swim
siuxkhix	受氣	生氣	get angry; get upset
soahsoaq`khix	煞煞去	算了	to stop or discontinue with intention; call it off
søeaji	細膩	小心	be careful; concerned; deliberate; watchful
søf	挲	搔/搓	stroke; rub; pet
søo	趖†	爬行	wonder around
suq	欶	吸	suck
tafm	啖†	嚐	lick; taste
thef	䖙†	靠/躺	recline; lean on
theh	提†	提/拿	to lift; hold in the hand; grasp; take. cf. zhoa
thviaf	聽	聽	to listen
tiøo	趒	跳	jump
tngr`khix	轉去	回去	go home; go back
tong	洞	洞	poke; hole
tør`leq	倒咧!	倒哩!	lying down
tuhkw	盹龜‡	打瞌睡	doze
zaiviar	知影	知道	be aware of
zao	走	跑/逃	to run; to leave
zefng	舂	舂	hit
zhamsioong	參詳	商量	discuss; confer
zhoa	𤆬†	導/迎娶	lead; guide; accompany; escort; show the way (cf. theh)
zhoafnkhuix	喘氣	呼吸	breathe
zhoaq	掣	顫	to shake; to tremble; to shiver
zhoxng	創	創	to do; to create; to establish
zhorngsviar	創啥‡	創甚	to do something
zhw	趨‡	滑	to slide
zhwn	賰†	剩	to be left; to remain
zng (cvi)	吮/舐	饌	to lick
zuxn	顫†	抖	shiver

Adjectives (Heng'iongsuu)

Heng'iongsuu

MTL	THJ	MSM	ENG
bae	䆀	醜	ugly; mean
bø'eeng	無閒‡	無閑	busy
bøzhae	無彩‡	可惜/白費	too bad; regrettable
chirnzhae	凊彩	隨便/馬虎	one or other; either way
chiuchixn	秋凊	涼快	pleasantly cool
chvihun (svihun)	生份	陌生/生疏	strange; unfamiliar
cidkoar (cidkoafar)	一寡‡	少許/一些	some; a little; a few
cidsi'ar	一絲仔‡	絲毫	a little bit
cidsut'ar	一屑仔†	一點點	a little bit
ciør	少	少	few
eng'eeng (uxeeng)	閒閒	閒著沒事	not busy
gaau	𠢕	賢	clever; good at …; wise
gong	戇	傻	stupid; silly
hanban (hamban)	頇顢‡/頇ban	愚笨	incompetent; clumsy; unskillful
hiaau	嬈†	嬲	lascivious; lewd
hiafm	薟	辛	hot; spicy
høfgiah	好額	有錢	rich
høfkhafng	好空	好門路	lucky; blessed
høfsex	好勢	好勢	settled; finished
huiekhix	費氣	麻煩	troublesome; difficult
hvoahie	歡喜	高興	glad ; happy
ientaau	緣投	英俊	handsome
jixncyn	認真	認真	serious
keksae	激屎	傲慢	snobbish; snooty;
khiao	巧	聰明	clever; intelligent
khiarngkhaf	勥跤‡	精明/厲害	shrewd; ambitious
khoaelok	快樂	快樂	happy
khofng	悾	呆笨	frantic; wild; maniac
khor	苦	苦	bitter
khinkhiam	勤儉	勤儉	hard-working and thrifty; diligent and frugal
kiaam	鹹	鹹	salty (also stingy)
kirn	緊	快/急	fast
kofix	古意	忠厚/老實	gentle; mild; well-behaved
kofzuy	古錐	可愛	cute
koarnsix	慣勢	習慣	used to; accustomed to
kutlat	骨力	勤勞	hard-working
kvialaang	驚人‡		dirty; filthy; soiled
lau	老	老	old
lahsab	垃圾‡	骯髒	dirty; filthy
lixpien	利便	便利	convenient
og	惡	不好的	bad; evil
phahpviax	拍拚	打拚	work very hard; exerting the utmost strength
phvae	歹†	壞/惡/難	bad; evil
phvaysex	歹勢‡	不好意思	embarrassed; shy; coy
pintvoa	貧惰	怠惰	lazy
sarnchiaq	散赤	赤貧	poor; poverty
segsai	熟似	熟識	familiar; reminiscent
siab	澀		rough; a slightly bitter taste that numbs the tongue
siaolieen	少年	少年	young
sien	𤺪†	倦	tired; sick of
simseg	心適		interesting
siok	俗		cheap; not expensive
siøfkhoar	小可仔‡	稍微	some; a little; a few
siongpurn	傷本	高成本/花費大	cost too much; too expensive; costly
sngf	酸		sour
soong	倯†		hick; clownish; bucolic; stupid
søex	細		small; little
suie	媠†	美	beautiful
tarngsngf	凍霜		stingy
taxmpøqar	淡薄仔‡		some; a little bit
thiarm	忝†		tired; weary
thihkhie	鐵齒		stubborn (thihkhie-tanggezøo)
thøfzex	討債		prodigal; in expenditure
tiaau	牢	牢/住	tight
tiautit	條直		honest and straight-forward
toa	大	大	big
tvy	甜	甜	sweet
voax	晏	晚/遲	late
zar	早		early
zhengkhix	清氣		clean
zøe	濟†	多	plenty; many

Nouns - blood relation and relations by marriage

MTL	THJ	MSM	ENG
acie	阿姊		older sister
acirm	阿嬸		the wife of one’s father’s younger brother
afng	翁		husband
ahviaf	阿兄		older brother
akim	阿妗		wife of maternal uncle
akofng	阿公		grandfather
aku	阿舅		mother’s brother
amar	阿媽		grandmother
amr	阿姆		the wife of one’s father’s older brother
apeq	阿伯		father’s older brother
azeg	阿叔		father’s younger brother
bor	某†	妻	wife
gyn'ar	囡仔†	孩子	kids
hauxsvef	後生	兒子	son
khanchiuo`ee	牽手		wife
kviafsaix	囝婿		son-in-law
kviar	囝	子	child; son
mamaf (mafmaq)	媽媽		mother
papaf (apaq)	爸爸		father
Siensvy	先生		Mr.; Sir (see Siensvy)
simpu (sinpu)	新婦	媳婦	daughter-in-law
siøfmoe	小妹		younger sister
siøfti	小弟		younger brother
sixtoa	序大		the senior; elder
sun'ar	孫仔‡		grandchildren
takef	大家‡	婆婆	husband’s mother
takvoaf	大官‡	公公	husband’s father
tangmngg`ee	同門的‡	連襟	the men whose wives are sisters
tangsai'ar (tangsai)	同姒	妯娌	the women whose husbands are brothers (tangsai)
Thaethaix	太太		Mrs.
tviuxlaang	丈人‡	岳父	wife’s father
tviuxmr	丈姆		wife’s mother
zabor-kviar	查某囝		daughter
zapof-kviar	查埔囝		son

Nouns describing body (sengkhw)

MTL	THJ	MSM	ENG
axmkurn	頷頸‡		neck
bagbaai	目眉		eye brow
bagciw	目睭‡	眼睛	eye
chiuo	手		hands
chiwkhiaw	手曲		elbow
exhaai	下頦		lower jaw
hengkharm	胸坎		chest; thorax
hvi	耳		ears
hvixkhafng	耳空		ear hole/ear
hvixzw	耳珠		ear lobe
kengkahthaau	肩胛頭		shoulder
khachiuo	跤手	手和腳	foot and hands
khaf	跤	腳	legs
khazhngf	尻川†	臀	buttocks
na'aau	嚨喉	咽喉	throat
paktor	腹肚		stomach
phvi (phvi'ar)	鼻		nose
sengkhw	身軀		trunk; body
thaukhag	頭殼		head
thaumngg	頭毛		hair
thauzafng	頭鬃		hair
toxzaai	肚臍		belly button
zhuie'extao	喙下斗		lower jaw
zhuiekhie	喙齒		teeth
zhuietuun	喙脣		lips
zhuix	喙		mouth

Nouns - general use

MTL	THJ	MSM	ENG
kankhor	艱苦		hardship
loxeng/loxiong	路用		use
miqkvia	物件		thing
paxnsex	範勢	辦勢	condition; situation
sapbuun	雪文‡		soap
senglie	生理	生意	business
sihnaq	爍爁†	閃電	lightning
sofzai	所在		place; location
taixcix	代誌‡	事情	thing
zhuopvy	厝邊		neighbor

Nouns - Time (sikafn)

See also: sikafn

MTL	THJ	MSM	ENG
armsii	暗時		at night; night time
armthau'ar	暗頭仔‡		evening
au`jit	後日		the day after tomorrow
auxjit	後日	幾天後	some other day in the future
bin'afzaix/mia'afzaix	明仔載‡		tomorrow
bømee-bøjit	無暝無日		day in day out
cidtiafm'ar-kuo	一點仔久‡		only a little bit long
cidtiap'afkuo	一霎仔†久		in a moment
cirnzeeng	進前	無多久以前	not long ago
citmar	這馬†	現在	right now
citzun	這陣†	這時	right now
e'hngf	下昏‡	今昏	tonight
e'axm	下昏暗‡	今暗/今晚	tonight
etaux	下晝‡	今罩/今午	this afternoon
expof	下晡		afternoon
extaux	下晝		afternoon
hiexntai	現代		modern
hiøhjoah	歇熱		summer vacation
hiøhkvoaa	歇寒		winter vacation
jit`sii	日時		day time
joaqthvy	熱天		summer
khahtheng'ar	較停仔‡		in a very short time
kin'afjit	今仔日‡		today
kinnii	今年		this year
køeakhix	過去		in the past
kofzar	古早		long long ago
kuxnii	舊年		last year
kvoathvy	寒天		winter
Lefpaix-jit	禮拜日		Sunday
Pae'id	拜一	禮拜一	Monday
Pae'ji	拜二	禮拜二	Tuesday
Pae'svaf	拜三	禮拜三	Wednesday
Pae'six	拜四	禮拜四	Thursday
Pae'go	拜五	禮拜五	Friday
Pae'lak	拜六	禮拜六	Saturday
sincviaf	新正		Lunar New Year
tangthvy	冬天		winter
thao'axm	透暗		all night; very late at night
thaomee/thaomii	透暝		all night
thaozar	透早		very early in the morning
thaozar-thao'axm	透早透暗		day or night
thautwar	頭拄仔‡		not long ago
thvy-kngf	天光		dawn; at dawn
tiongtaux	中晝		noon
tviaxtvia	定定		quite often
twciaq	拄才‡	剛剛	just now; just a moment ago
za'axm	昨暗		last night
zafban	早慢		sooner or later
zafkhie	早起		morning
za'hngf/zaqhngf	昨昏	昨天	yesterday
zhunthvy	春天	春天	spring
zøh`jit	昨日	前天	the day before yesterday
zuun`nii	前年‡		the year before last year

Chviar Zhamkhør

• 臺灣閩南語推薦用字 (300-ji)
• Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwan Minnan

Siongkoafn

• Swadesh List
• My First 100 Words in Taiwanese
• Common Taiwanese phrases