Hokkien numerals
Sorji (數字 Hokkien numerals; numbers in Taiwanese) come in two different sets:
In normal speech, a mix of both types is used. Let's start with colloquial.
Colloquial numbers
Cardinal numbers
To count "how many", "cardinal numbers" are used. Use the colloquial system (cit, nng, svaf) together with a classifier (the classifier will change tone when spoken). For example, from Cidboea Hii:
- cidboea hii, nngxciaq kef, svazaang chiuar, ...
- a tail of fish, a pair of chickens, three trees, ...
Zap is 10. From 11, use id and ji, instead of cit & nng, in the ones place. For example:
- zab'id-boea (11-boea), zabji-ciaq (12-ciaq), zabsvaf-zaang (13-zaang), ...
Jixzap is 20.
- jixzab'id-boea (21-boea), jixzabji-ciaq (22-ciaq), ...
Paq is 100. Count how many hundred with cit, nng, svaf. Khoxng (空† zero) is for the blank tens place:
- cidpaq-ee (100-ee), cidpah'khorng'id-boea (101-boea), cidpah'khorng'ji-ciaq (102-ciaq), ...
There are shortcuts when the ones place is blank:
- pah'id-ee (110-ee), cidpah'zab'id-boea (111-boea), ...,
- pahji-ee (120-ee), cidpah'jixzab'id-boea (121-boea)
As we said, the next hundreds place is counted with nng.
- nngxpaq-ee (200-ee), nngxpah'id-ee (210-ee), nngxpah'ji-ee (220-ee)
Above 200, there's a shortcut using ar as a "weak form" of "hundred" (paq -> aq -> ar):
- jixafid-ee (210-ee), jixafji-ee (220-ee), ...
- goxafid-ee (510-ee), goxafji-ee (520-ee), ...
Zhefng is 1000:
- cidzhefng (1000), zheng'id / cidzheng'id (1100), nngxchiefn (2000)
- 1,000, 1,100, 2,000
Ban is 10000:
- cidban (1,0000), cidbaxn'id (1,1000), ..., nngxban (2,0000), ...
- 10,000, 11,000, ..., 20,000
Pahban (100,0000) is 1,000,000.
Ordinal numbers
For ordinal numbers, when the numerals are preceded by the prefix te:
Literary numbers
| 1 | 2 | 3 / 三 | 4 / 四 | 5 / 五 | 6 / 六 | 7 / 七 | 8 / 八 | 9 / 九 | 10 / 十 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peh | cit (蜀) | nng (兩) | svaf | six | go | lak | chid | pøeq | kao | zap |
| Buun | id (一) | ji (二) | safm | sux | gvor | liok | pad | kiuo | sip |
Telephone digits
Telephone digits are read using the literary system, with 0 read as khoxng. The digits are grouped according to certain rules and tone sandhi is applied. For example, 3945068 is read: 394, 50, 68 (samkiwsux, gvofkhoxng, liogpad; safm-kiuo-sux, gvor-khoxng, liok-pad; see Khax Tiexn'oe).
Date
The year is also read using the literary system. For example: 1998 is read: 19, 98-nii (itkiuo, kiwpatnii; see Jidkix Cidphvy).
References
- Oong Iogteg (1972-3). Taioaan-oe Jibmngg (MLT-parn) Liim Keahioong hoan'ek (2000).