monday, august 3rd, 2026
in 2013, teochew social worker koh kuan eng (許光榮 khóu kuang-êng) published a series of simple picture books in various minority sinitic languages. officially titled "let's speak hokkien / teochew / cantonese / hakka / hainanese", with the words "my first book of hokkien / teochew / cantonese / hakka / hainanese words" printed on the cover, each book contained fifty illustrations of everyday objects, with their names in both english and their target sinitic language written below the picture. ostensibly intended to teach young children basic vocabulary in these languages, these books had the potential to be a much-needed resource in the preservation of singapore's minority sinitic languages.
that is, if it was possible to read them.
as far as i can tell, koh kuan eng lacks any sort of formal training in linguistics. i usually try to refrain from editorialising here, but koh's lack of expertise is painfully obvious when it comes to the ad-hoc transcriptions that he employs in his books. his romanisations use features from a vast multitude of conflicting orthographies, from faux-pinyin tone marks to anglicised singapore government romanisation-style transcriptions to even wade-giles-esque vowels. even within the same book, the same sound can be represented a dozen different ways. the result is a complete and utter mess of jumbled-up characters which could represent any number of possible sounds. if you don't believe me, i've included the original romanisations at the bottom of the page so you can see for yourself.
this is not intended to be an attack on koh. his books are a valiant effort in language preservation, and i'm sure that he tried his best to be as internally consistent as possible with his romanisations. so to help him out, i've gone through his books and converted them to systematic orthographies, complete with their appropriate chinese characters. this will hopefully help readers to more easily and accurately pronounce the terms in his books.
| english | hokkien (pe̍h-oē-jī) | teochew (pe̍h-uē-jī) | cantonese (jyut⁶ping³) | hakka (pha̍k-fa-sṳ) | hainanese (béh-oe-tu) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| apple | 苹果 | phêng-kó | 苹果 | phêng-kué | 蘋果 | ping⁴gwo² | 蘋果 | phìn-kuó | 阿布 | a-bū | |
| egg | 雞蛋 | koe-nn̄g | 雞蛋 | koi-nṳ̃ng | 雞蛋 | gai¹daan² | 雞春 | kê-chhûn | 雞蛋 | koi-nuī | |
| ice cream | ice 淇淋 | ai-sī-kî-lîm | 霜糕 | sṳng-ko | 雪條 | syut³tiu² | 雪糕 | siet-kâu | 冰淇淋 | peng-khî-lîm | |
| toothbrush | 齒漱 | khí-chhiù | 齒漱 | khí-tshiù | 牙刷 | ngaa⁴caat² | 牙刷 | ngà-chhat | 牙刷 | kê-toat | |
| diamond | 宣石 | soān-chio̍h | 宣石 | suāng-tsio̍h | 鑽石 | zyun³sek⁶ | 宣石 | soán-sa̍k | 宣石 | soân-chiō | |
| housefly | 戶蠅 | hô·-sî | 戶蠅 | hôu-sêng | 烏蠅 | wu¹jing⁴ | 烏蠅 | vû-yìn | 戶蠅 | hôu-thiân | |
| radio | radio | le-lio | 收音機 | siu-im-ki | 收音機 | sau¹jam¹gei¹ | 收音機 | sû-yîm-kî | radio | le-lio | |
| pencil | 鉛筆 | iân-pit | 鉛筆 | êng-pek | 鉛筆 | jyun⁴bat¹ | 鉛筆 | yàn-pit | 鉛筆 | în-pit | |
| spoon | 湯匙 | thng-sî | 湯匙 | thṳng-sî | 匙羹 | ci⁴gang¹ | 湯匙 | thông-chhì | 頭羹 | khâu-keng | |
| banana | 金蕉 | kim-chio | 弓蕉 | keng-tsio | 香蕉 | hoeng¹ziu¹ | 弓蕉 | kiûng-châu | 弓蕉 | kiang-chio | |
| tomato | 紅毛茄 | âng-mô·-kiô | 番茄 | huang-kiô | 番茄 | faan¹ke² | 紅毛茄 | fùng-mô-khiò | 紅茄 | âng-kiô | |
| rice | 飯 | pn̄g | 飯 | pūng | 飯 | faan⁶ | 飯 | fon | 飯 | buī | |
| baguette | 尖頭 roti | chiam-thâu lô-ti | 尖頭 roti | tsiam-thâu lô-ti | 尖頭 roti | zim¹tau⁴ lo⁴di¹ | 尖頭 roti | chiâm-thèu lò-tî | 尖頭 roti | chiam-khâu lô-ti | |
| toilet paper | 放屎紙 | pàng-sái-choá | 脚倉紙 | kha-tshṳng-tsuá | 廁紙 | ci³zi² | 捽手紙 | chhu̍t-séu-chṳ́ | 肛門紙 | kong-mâng-toá | |
| grapes | 葡萄 | phû-tô | 葡萄 | phû-thô | 葡提子 | pou⁴tai⁴zi² | 葡萄 | phù-thàu | 葡萄子 | pû-khâu-chí | |
| cup | 茶杯 | tê-poe | 茶杯 | tê-pue | 杯 | bui¹ | 茶杯 | chhà-puî | 茶盅 | lê-chiang | |
| computer | 電腦 | tiān-náu | 電腦 | tiãng-náu | 電腦 | din⁶nou² | 電腦 | thien-náu | 電腦 | tian-nâu | |
| curry puff | kari 卜 | ka-li po̍k | kari 卜 | ka-li po̍k | kari 卜 | gaa³lei¹ bok¹ | kari 卜 | kâ-lî po̍k | kari 卜 | ka-lî-pók | |
| doll | 翁公子 | ang-kong-kiáⁿ | 翁公子 | ang-kong-kiáⁿ | 公仔 | gung¹zai² | 人公仔 | ngìn-kûng-chái | 翁公子 | ang-kong-kiá | |
| watch | 手錶 | chhiú-pió | 手錶 | chhiú-pio | 手錶 | sau²biu¹ | 手錶 | sú-péu | 手錶 | siú-piáu | |
| belt | 褲帶 | khò·-toà | 褲帶 | khòu-tuà | 皮帶 | pei⁴daai² | 褲帶 | fu-tai | 褲帶 | khòu-doà | |
| pacifier | 奶推 | ni-tû | 奶推 | ni-tû | 奶嘴 | naai⁵zeoi² | 奶嘴 | nen-choi | 奶頭 | niān-khâu | |
| key | 鎖匙 | só-sî | 鎖匙 | só-sî | 鎖匙 | so²si⁴ | 鎖匙 | só-sṳ́ | 鎖匙 | tó-tî | |
| float | 泅水圈 | siû-chuí-khoan | 泅浴 | siû-e̍k-khuang | 泳圈 | wing⁶hyun¹ | 游泳圈 | yù-yún-khiân | 碰浴圈 | phòng-zak-kho | |
| screw | 螺絲 | lô-si | 螺絲 | lô-si | 螺絲 | lo⁴si¹ | 螺絲 | lò-sṳ̂ | 螺絲 | lô-si | |
| marble | guli | go-lí | guli | go-lí | 波子 | bo¹zi² | guli | ngò-lî | guli | go-lí | |
| lemon | 檸檬 | lêng-mông | 檸檬 | lêng-mông | 檸檬 | ning⁴mung⁴ | 檸檬 | lê-móng | 檸檬 | lêng-mōng | |
| balloon | 風球 | hong-kiû | 氣球 | khì-kiû | 氣球 | hei³kau⁴ | 氣球 | hi-khiù | belon | bê-lūn | |
| carrot | 紅菜頭 | âng-chhài-thâu | 紅菜頭 | âng-tshài-thâu | 蘿蔔 | lo⁴baak⁶ | 紅菜頭 | fùng-chhoi-thèu | 紅菜頭 | âng-sài-khâu | |
| lamp | 燈 | teng | 燈 | teng | 燈 | dang¹ | 燈 | tên | 燈 | deng | |
| ruler | 尺 | chhioh | 尺 | tshioh | 尺 | cek³ | 尺 | chhak | 尺 | sio | |
| hat | 帽 | bō | 帽 | bō | 帽 | mou² | 帽 | mo | 帽 | lōi | |
| plaster | 黏布 | liâm-pò· | 膏藥布 | ko-io̍h-pòu | 膏布 | gou¹bou² | 膏布 | kâu-pu | 膏藥布 | kau-iō-pù | |
| watermelon | 西瓜 | si-koe | 西瓜 | si-kue | 西瓜 | sai¹gwaa¹ | 西瓜 | sî-koâ | 西瓜 | tai-kue | |
| candle | 蠟燭 | la̍h-chek | 蠟燭 | la̍h-tsek | 蠟燭 | laap⁶zuk¹ | 蠟燭 | la̍p-chuk | 蠟燭 | lā-chiak | |
| chilli | 辛椒 | hiam-chio | 辛椒 | hiam-tsio | 辣椒 | laat⁶ziu¹ | 辣椒 | lat-chiâu | 番椒 | hun-chio | |
| crab | 蟳 | chîm | 蟹 | hõi | 蟹 | haai⁵ | 老蟹 | lo-hái | 蟹 | hōi | |
| orange juice | 橙汁 | chhiâm-chiap | 柑汁 | kaⁿ-tsap | 橙汁 | caang²zap¹ | 橙汁 | chhṳ̀n-chṳp | 橙汁 | sêng-chiap | |
| envelope | 批囊 | phoe-lông | 信封 | sèng-huang | 信封 | seon³fung¹ | 信封 | sin-fûng | 皮囊 | phoê-lông | |
| calendar | 曆日 | la̍h-ji̍t | 曆日 | la̍h-ji̍k | 月曆 | jyut⁶lik⁶ | 日曆 | ngit-la̍k | 曆日 | láh-zít | |
| butterfly | 尾蝶 | boé-ia̍h | 尾蝶 | bué-ia̍h | 蝴蝶 | wu⁴dip² | 蝴蝶 | fù-tiap | 尾蝶 | voé-iáh | |
| ribbon | ribbon | le-bin | ribbon | le-beng | 絲帶 | si¹daai² | ribbon | lê-bîn | ribbon | le-bin | |
| flip-flops | 淺拖 | chhián-thoa | 鞋拖 | ôi-thua | 拖鞋 | to¹haai² | 拖鞋 | thô-hài | 鞋靸 | ôi-ta | |
| matchstick | 火排 | hoé-pâi | 火柴 | hué-tshâ | 火柴 | fo²caai⁴ | 火柴 | fó-chhài | 火揭 | hoé-koat | |
| ice cube | 霜角 | sng-kak | 霜角 | sng-kak | 雪 | syut³ | 雪塊 | siet-khoai | 冰塊 | peng-hoài | |
| kettle | 茶鑽 | tê-kó· | 滾水爐 | kóng-chuí-lôu | 茶壺 | caa⁴wu² | 銅煲 | thùng-pô | 茶瓶 | dê-phêng | |
| hammer | 鐵槌 | thih-thuî | 鐵槌 | thih-thuî | 錘仔 | ceoi⁴zai² | 鐵槌 | thiet-chhùi | 鐵槌 | khī-khuî | |
| steamboat | 暖爐 | loán-lô· | 暖爐 | juáng-lôu | 打邊爐 | daa²bin¹lou⁴ | 火爐 | fó-lù | 燒爐 | tio-lôu | |
| love letter | 雞蛋捲 | koe-nn̄g-kńg | 雞蛋捲 | koi-nṳ̃ng kauh | 雞蛋捲 | gai¹daan²gyun² | 雞春捲 | kê-chhûn-kián | 雞蛋捲 | koi-nuî-kián | |
| pineapple tart | 王萊 tart | ông-lâi ta̍t | 王萊 tart | uâng-lâi ta̍t | 黃梨 tart | wong⁴lai² dat¹ | 黃梨 tart | vòng-lì tat | 王萊 tart | oāng-lâi tát | |
| english | hokkien | teochew | cantonese | hakka | hainanese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| apple | pǐng-kò | pěng-kwàir | pěng-guó | píng-kǒu | āh-bù |
| egg | kuāy-nēng | goī-néng | gāi-tán | kāe-chóon | gōi-nuī |
| ice cream | āi-sěe-kee-līm | sn̄g-kōr | shěet-tiéw | shiět-kāo | pēng-hěe-lǐm |
| toothbrush | kée-chěw | kée-chěw | ngǎ-zhát | ngá-tzǎt | gǎy-tuàt |
| diamond | suǎn-jìoh | suǎng-jìok | jūn-sěk | suàn-sàk | suàn-jìok |
| housefly | hǒr-sée | hǒu-sēng | wū-yēng | wú-yǐng | hǒu-diǎn |
| radio | lāy-lēo | siēw-yīm-kēe | sāo-yūm-gāe | siēw-yīng-kēe | lāy-liòh |
| pencil | yǎn-pěet | ěng-pǐk | yěen-pàt | yéan-pěet | yeǎn-pèet |
| spoon | tn̄g-sée | tn̄g-sēe | qǐ-gāng | tóng-sǐh | hǒw-géng |
| banana | kīm-jīo | gēng-jīoh | hiōng-jiēw | kīong-jiāo | kāng-jíoh |
| tomato | ǎng-mǒ-kío | huāng-kīoh | fūn-káe | fǒong-móu-kiǎo | ǎng-kīoh |
| rice | pňg | pňg | fǔn | fòn | pnuí |
| baguette | jiām-tǎo-lǒ-tēe | jiām-tǎo-lǒh-tēe | jēem-tǎo-lǒ-tēe | jiām-tóh-lǒ-tèe | jiām-hǎo-lǒh-tèe |
| toilet paper | pàng-sái-zuà | kāh-chn̄g-zuà | qī-zée | chìh-sǒw-tsě | kōng-mǎng-tuǎh |
| grapes | pǒot-tóh | pǒo-tōr | pǒu-tǎi-zée | pǒo-tǒw | fǒo-hǒ-zhèe |
| cup | tǎy-puāy | tǎe-pwāir | pwēe | tzhǎ-pwēe | lǎy-jiáng |
| computer | diǎn-nào | diǎng-nào | dǐn-nóu | tiàn-nǒu | diàn-nǎo |
| curry puff | kā-lēe-pòk | kā-lēe-pòk | kā-lēi-pòk | kā-lēe-pòk | kā-lěe-pùp |
| doll | āng-kōng-kià | āng-kōng-kià | kōng-zái | nǐng-góng-zǎi | ǎng-kōng-kiǎ |
| watch | chéw-pīo | chēw-pīoh | sáo-pīu | sìu-piāo | sīu-bìoh |
| belt | kòr-tuǎ | kòu-tuǎ | pěi-dái | kù-dài | hòu-tuǎ |
| pacifier | nēe-tú | nēe-tú | nāi-joí | nàen-joì | niàn-hǒw |
| key | sóh-sée | sór-sēe | sór-sěe | sǒw-sǐh | tōh-tēe |
| float | sǐu-jwée-kwān | sǐu-ěgg-kuāng | wěng-huēn | yóu-yǒn-khiān | bōng-yǎk-hóu |
| screw | lǒh-sēe | lǒr-sēe | lǒr-sēe | lǒw-sīh | lǒh-sée |
| marble | gǒ-lèe | gǒr-lèe | bōr-zée | ngǒh-lée | gǒ-lèe |
| lemon | lěng-mōng | lěng-mōng | lěng-mōng | lǎy-mōng | lěng-mòng |
| balloon | hōng-kíu | kèe-kīu | hēi-kǎw | kèe-kǐu | bǎy-lòon |
| carrot | ǎng-chài-táo | ǎng-chài-tāo | lǒr-pǎk | fǒong-lǒu-pièt | ǎng-chài-hǒw |
| lamp | tēng | tēng | dāng | tēn | déng |
| ruler | chìoh | chǐok | chěk | tzhàt | sìoh |
| hat | bōh | bǒr | móu | mòu | loì |
| plaster | liǎm-pǒr | kōr-yǒk-pǒu | gāo-póu | gāo-pù | kāo-yò-bǒu |
| watermelon | sēe-kuāy | sēe-kwāir | sāi-guā | sēe-kuā | tài-kuáy |
| candle | lǎ-zěk | lǎk-zěk | lǔp-zòk | lúp-zǒk | lǎh-ziàp |
| chilli | hiām-jīo | hiām-jiōh | lǎt-jiēw | là-jiāo | wóon-jíoh |
| crab | zhéem | hoí | hái | lǒw-hěi | hoì |
| orange juice | chiǎm-ziǎp | knāh-zǔp | tzáng-zùp | tzáng-zhěep | sěng-ziàp |
| envelope | puāy-lóng | sèng-huāng | sǒhn-fōng | sèen-fōong | fwēe-lǒong |
| calendar | lǎ-zèet | lǎk-zèet | yuět-lěk | yěet-lět | lǎh-jièt |
| butterfly | buáy-yàh | bwáir-yàh | wǔ-díp | fǒo-tiàp | buáy-yàh |
| ribbon | lāy-bīn | lāe-bīng | sēe-dái | lāy-bīn | lāy-bìn |
| flip-flops | chián-tuā | oǐ-tuā | tōr-hái | tōw-hěi | ǒi-tàh |
| matchstick | huáy-pái | hwáir-chā | fór-chǎi | fǒu-tzǎi | wǎy-kuàt |
| ice cube | sn̄g-kǎk | sn̄g-kǎk | shēet | shiět-kwài | pēng-huǎi |
| kettle | těh-kòr | gǔng-jwée-lōw | chǎ-wú | tǒng-pōu | dǎy-bǔn |
| hammer | tèe-tuí | tèe-tuī | chǒi-zái | těd-chwěe | hèe-hwěe |
| steamboat | luán-lór | juáng-lōw | tá-bīn-lǒu | fǒu-lǔ | tìoh-lǒu |
| love letter | kuāy-něng-gǹg | goī-něng-gǎok | gāi-dǎn-ghuén | káe-chóon-kiǎn | goī-nuǐ-kiàn |
| pineapple tart | ǒng-lǎi-tàt | wǎng-lǎi-tàt | wǒng-lái-tàt | wǒng-lěe-tàt | wǎng-lài-tàt |