Personal pronouns

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Jinzhefng taixbengsuu (人稱代名詞; personal pronouns; ref. to Chinese pronouns and 臺灣閩南語常用代名詞)

Personal pronouns
Person Singular Plural
First
person

goar
I, me
Exclusive Inclusive

goarn / gurn
we, us

larn
we, us
Second
person
Informal Formal
lirn
you

lie
you
n/a
n/a
n/a
Third
person

y, yi
he, she, him, her
𪜶
yn
they, them

Goar

goar ( I; me)

Goarn

goarn ( we (exclusive)), gurn

  • usually means "we" (not including listener). Can also mean you (singular) in a polite manner. For example, "How are we doing today?" to really mean "How are you doing today?"
  • "Lie aix khix tøfui?" (normal)
  • A girl asks her boyfriend, "Goarn aix khix tøfui?" (polite). Equivalent to "Lie aix..." but it's more inclusive.

goarn-, gurn-

  • my, our, as in goarn-taw, goarn-amar
  • Gurn- is more common in the north
  • Goarn- is used in the south (Tafkao, Tailaam)
    • However, in Tailaam, goarn- is used by males; females use gurn-

Larn

larn ( we (inclusive))

  • The inclusive "larn" may be used to express politeness or solidarity, as in the example of a speaker asking a stranger "Where do we live?", but meaning "Where do you live?".
    • Speaker asks stranger, "Larn toax ti tøfui?"
    • Speaker means, "Lie toax ti tøfui?" in a polite manner.

Lie

lie ( (singular) you)

Lirn

lirn ( (plural) you / (possessive) your)

Thaekhofng peng'iuo, lirn hør!
Friends from outer space, hello!
Lirn-taw ti tøfui?
Where is your home/house?

Siongkoafn