To boast

You may want to learn a few Teochew words from this video.

cia1dua7pao3 車大炮｜车大炮 means to talk big or to boast

aiⁿ3 cia1dua7pao3 愛車大炮｜爱车大炮 means to love to talk big

dua7pao3 大炮｜大炮 means a big gun like an artillery or cannon

At the end he said his grandmother is about to give birth.

A Teochew word which you may want to know is zi2deng2 衹轉｜只转 and it means recently. The Mandarin equivalent is zuijin 最近

cannot bear it

Dudu wrote in Mandarin “堵不住” because she wanted to use a Teochew word “du2m6duê3 堵唔綴｜堵唔缀” which means cannot bear it – for example ruah8 gao3 du2m6duê3 熱到堵唔綴｜热到堵唔缀 – hot until cannot bear it.

Do notice her mother is unable to say 熱 in Mandarin!

In Mandarin, to say it is too hot and cannot bear it, one could say 太熱了忍不住

A Joke

I have written some notes which may help you to under the joke in this video.

gag4hung1 結婚｜结婚 – to marry, to get married

m6 dang5i3 唔同意 – do not agree, to not approve

huêh4uang5guang1hi6 血緣關係｜血缘关系 – blood relationship

The father uses the word mêh and the Mandarin subtitles write 不合適｜不合适 means not suitable – I have no idea what mêh character the father is referring to.

The son uses the word cab4zo3 插做 and the subtitles write gen1 跟 which means to go with

The father said geng6cêng1 近親｜近亲 and in Swatow and Teochew City, people will say geng6cing1 meaning close relatives.  The father said geng6cêng1 because of his accent.

cing1sêⁿ1 親生｜亲生 – one's own children, one's child by birth and I do not know why the mother said sing1sêⁿ1

To whom have you fed

This is a very easy video to understand and I have made notes of the dialogue between the husband and wife to share with you.

Lao6 bung1 le2 ziah8

老分汝食

In our culture, husbands and wives call each other lao6

Husband, give you to eat.

 

ci7 飼｜饲 wei4 餵｜喂 in Mandarin means to feed

de5liao3 除了 is a Mandarin word which means other than, besides, apart from

Le2 de5liao3 ci7 guê3 ua2, le2 ci7 guê3 di7diang5

汝除了飼過我飼過底唺

Besides feeding me, whom have you fed?

 

Bho5! Bho5 ci7 guê3 di7diang5

無! 無飼過底唺

No! Have not fed anybody.

 

Dan3!

呾

Say!

 

giu3gêng2 ci7 guê3 di7diang5

究竟飼過底唺

After all, whom have you fed?

 

Ua2 ci7 guê3 gao2

我飼過狗

I have fed a dog.

 

Ain3 ziah8 ziah8 main3 ziah8 ziu6 main3

欲食食勿食就勿

Want to eat eat, don’t want to eat, then don’t eat

 

Teochew moon cakes

I have made notes on the making of la5biaⁿ2 朥餅 and perhaps you can try and make our Teochew moon cakes.

guang1giang6 關鍵 crucial points

1] do not over work the pastry dough

2] the maltose must be dissolved in water before using and one can use hot water [soi1zui2 燒水] to help the maltose to dissolve quicker – the maltose is to give the pastry a light brown colour which is called zioⁿ6sêg4 上色

3] One can use soya bean oil [dua7dao7 iu5 大豆油] instead of lard to make the pastry [I think one can also use sou1iu5 酥油 (Trex or Crisco) if you so not want to use lard.]

4] For the oil pastry, the ratio of oil to flour is 1:1

5] To make sou1puê5 酥皮 the proportion of oil pastry to water pastry is 1:1.5

6] The proportion of filling to pastry is 7:3

Oil pastry 乾油酥麵團 [iu5sim1 油心 or sou1sim1 酥心] 18 grams each pastry

in grams	1 X makes 6	2X makes 12
low gluten flour	72 grams	144
lard	36 grams	72
Total	108	216
weight for each	18 grams

Water pastry 水油皮麵團 [zui2 iu5 puê5 水油皮 or zui2 puê5 水皮]

in grams	1 X can make 6	2X
00 flour, plain flour	86	172
lard	39	78
maltose	8	16
water	29	58
Total	162	324
weight for each	27 grams
both dough pastry	45 g each
filling required	105 g each
filling + pastry	150 g each
Makes	6 pcs	12 pcs

Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200 C for 25 minutes and at 12 minutes pour some melted lard on top of each la5biaⁿ2 朥餅 and continue baking for another 12 to 13 minutes.  

Personal note: I was watching a cooking video from Taiwan and they have substituted lard for bho5zui2 ni6iu5 無水奶油 clarified butter. In the UK, clarified butter is sold as “ghee”.

watch attentively and see only a third

I want to raise a phrase which Iab Hui has said

mag8ging2 tion2 san1 sian5

目緊睇三成｜目紧睇三成

Watch attentively (and) see a third

Mandarin subtitles: 盯緊才能瞧見三分｜盯紧才能瞧见三分

watch attentively (then one) can have the capacity to see to some degree

Do note that Iab Hui is fluent in English and the English subtitles wrote “keep an eye on it to see 30%” and this means the Mandarin translation does not tie in what is said in Teochew.

Sharing secrets

I think it is very interesting what Iab Hui’s friend said about his master who did not share secrets with him.

He freely shares his recipe for our Teochew labiaⁿ 朥餅 with us, telling us all the secrets.

I think it is in this open mindedness in which people share their secrets which has transformed China from a backward country to a modern society today.

in2zoin5 am3zên6 bho5 mih4 gao1dab4

以前暗靜無乜交答｜以前暗静无乜交答

Do not really secretly handover responses previously

Mandarin subtitles: 以前沒怎麼講秘訣｜以前没怎么讲秘诀

Do not really share secrets previously.

 

To throw

Have you ever heard people use the word dim6 to mean to throw? Iab Hui in this video uses the word dim6 to mean to throw. 

I have not been able to find the dim6 character to mean to throw and if you, please share.

monotonous

Let us learn one word today which is duaⁿ1diao7 單調｜单调 and you can hear Iab Hui using the word in this video.  He said:

U6si5 nang2 gêng1sion5 ziah8 zêg8ion7 muêh8gian6

有時俺經常食一樣物件｜有时俺经常食一样物件

Sometimes we eat one type of thing frequently

有時候我們經常吃一種東西｜有时候我们经常吃一种东西

Nang2 should be translated in Mandarin into咱們 as it includes both the speaker and listener.  Whereas 我們 may not include the listener.

 

sui1riang5 ho2 ziah8

雖然好食｜虽然好食

Although, good to eat

雖然好吃｜虽然好吃

 

dang6si6 nê1

但是呢

however

但是

 

ru5guan2 diam7 diam7 hiên3zo3 ziah8 gu2 lang5hion3 oi6 gag4dig4 duan1diao7

如果扂扂許做食久零許會覺得單調｜如果扂扂许做食久零许会觉得单调

If keep eating this way for a long time, sometimes can feel monotonous.

老是那樣做的話吃多你會覺得單調｜老是那样做的话吃多你会觉得单调

I say hion3 rather than hiên3

 

Does not stop until one reaches the Yellow River

I have not seen any Teochew videos worth highlighting to you dear readers. However, YouTube sent me a lovely video today. The lady speaks with a Gig’Ioⁿ 揭陽 accent and I am sure you can understand her perfectly.

In this video, she said the following idiom and it is a hiah4ao6ghe2 歇後語 in which the saying is in two parts:

bho5 giⁿ3 Huang5Ho5 sim1 bhoi6 si2

無見黃河心𠁞死｜无见黄河心𠀾死 

does not stop until one reaches the Yellow River - to persevere until one reaches one's goal, to keep going while there is some hope

bu4dao4 Huang2 He2xin1bu4si3

不到黃河心不死｜不到黄河心不死

Also said in Mandarin as:

不見黃河心不死｜不见黄河心不死

 Second part of the idiom:

bho5 giⁿ3 guaⁿ1ca5 li7 bhoi6 lao5mag8zab4

無見棺柴哩𠁞流目汁｜无见棺柴哩𠀾流目汁

unless one sees a coffin, one does not shed tears, (an idiom), refuse to be convinced until one is faced with a grim reality

bu4jian4 guan1cai5 bu4 luo4lei4 不見棺材不落淚｜不见棺材不落泪

Egg Dumpling cook in a ceramic pot part 2

卵餃煲

This is the second part of Iab Hui’s video on egg dumpling.

neng6giao2 ru5guan2 si6 dan3 luah4 ao6 ain3 dig8zih4 ziah8

卵餃如果是呾烙後直接食｜卵饺如果是呾烙后直接食

if say the egg dumplings want to be eaten immediately after frying

 

na2moh4 kioh8 dih4gian2 iu5 luah4 tiam1 zêg8ê7

那麼𢭪滴仔油烙添一下｜那么𢭪滴仔油烙添一下

in this case take a little oil and fry more

 

ru5guan2 le2 sion6 ain3 ziah8 gêng3 hong1bu3

如果汝想慾食更豐富｜如果汝想欲食更丰富

If you want to eat an even more enriched (dish)

 

u6 gai5 poin7huag4 zui6si6 nang2 gim1rig8 ain3 ga3 dai6gê1 nang5 gai7 neng6giao2bou5

有個辦法就是俺今日慾教大家人個卵餃煲｜有个办法就是俺今日欲教大家人个卵饺煲

there is one method which is we today want to teach everybody – egg dumpling cooked in a ceramic pot.

There is no need to say dai6gê1 nang5 and the nang5 is not required and just dai6gê1 to mean everybody is sufficient.

 

Ua2 zuê3 hi1huan1 gai7 hung2si1

我最喜歡個粉絲｜我最喜欢个粉丝

mung bean vermicelli is also known as dang1hung2冬粉

zuê3 hi1huan1 can be said as siang6 ngiang3上癮zuê3 hi1huan1 is bhung5ngia2 文雅 elegant / refine

The mung bean vermicelli I like the most.

 

Zim3 ho2 gai7 hion1gou1

浸好個香菇｜浸好个香菇

Chinese winter mushrooms which have been soaked

The ho2 after a verb “zim3” as to soak is to show that the action is completed – i.e. the soaking process has been completed.

 

Zoih8 soi3

截細｜截细

Cut into small pieces

 

Nang2 Dio5suan1 gai7 bêh8cai3gian2

俺潮汕個白菜仔｜俺潮汕个白菜仔

Our small baby Chinese leaf [napa cabbage in the US]

 

Iu5 ko2in2 gê1 dih4gian2

油可以加滴仔

Can add a little bit more oil

 

dou2nêg8 soin1 bang3 i1 lo2 riag8 zêg8ê7

肚肉先放伊裸熱一下｜肚肉先放伊裸热一下

First sauté the belly of pork for a little while

 

Zi2gua3 go3 dou2nêg8 uê1doin2 hoh4 dong6iao3

衹幾塊肚肉鍋底好重要｜只几块肚肉锅底好重要

These few pieces of pork belly are rather important.

Important can also be said as ciag4iao3 切要

 

ru5guan2 le2 u6 zêg8cui3 ho2 teng1

如果汝有一嘴好湯｜如果汝有一嘴好汤

If you have some good quality soup / stock

zêg8 cui3 actually mean a mouthful – but this cannot be used in English translation because no English person would ever say “a mouthful of stock”

 

Le2 dan3 loh8 zêg8cui3 teng1 ia7ho2

汝呾落一嘴湯也好｜汝呾落一嘴汤也好

You say add a little stock is fine.

 

Zi2gai5 si5su2 le2 toin2 ua2 zo3 gai7 cai3

衹個時暑汝睇我做個菜｜只个时暑汝睇我做个菜

You see the dishes I make during this sizzling hot summer weather

 

gi1bung2 long2 si6 piang1 cêng1

基本攏是偏清｜基本拢是偏清

Basically, all are leaning on the light side

cêng1 means 清淡 in Mandarin which means light [food which is not greasy or strongly flavoured]

 

Zi2zung5 zuê3 gi6 ziah8 mih4gai5

衹陣最忌食乜個｜只阵最忌食乜个

What food should one avoid at the moment?

 

zuê3 gi6 ziah8 kah4 huê2 hiam2 ruah8 kah4 guê3 long5 gai7 ziah8muêh8

最忌食𠹛火險熱𠹛過濃個食物

Must most avoid eating things which will make us suffer from excessive internal heat (TCM) food which is excessively flavoured or spiced.

The subtitles Mandarin shang4huo3 上火 i.e. to suffer from excessive internal heat (TCM) is said in Teochew Uê as pu5huê2 浮火

 

long2 si6 dioh8 piang1 cêng1

攏是著偏清｜拢是着偏清

All (food) has to be on the light side.

 

dioh8 ui5 ca1m6do1 cug4 zêg8 uê1 iu5

著為差唔多出一鍋油｜着为差唔多出一锅油

Until most of the oil has been oozed out (from the belly of pork)

 

riang5ao6 hion1gou1 hê5bhi2 zo3 bang3 lo2 ca2

然後香菇蝦米做放裸炒｜然后香菇虾米做放裸炒

Afterwards sauté together with Chinese winter mushrooms, dried prawns

 

hion1gou1 hê5bhi2 dou2nêg8 cuang5bou6 ca2 pang1

香菇蝦米肚肉全部炒芳｜香菇虾米肚肉全部炒芳

Chinese winter mushrooms, dried prawns, belly of pork – all sauté until fragrant

 

soi2 ho2 bêh8cai3 bang3 loh8 ca2

洗好白菜放落炒

Put in the Chinese leaf which has been washed clean

 

Ca2 gao3 cên1cai3 ziah8dioh4 iu5

炒到青菜食著油｜炒到青菜食着油

Fry until the vegetable is coated with oil

 

Zi2gai5 hung2si1 zo3zêg8ê7 loh8

衹個粉絲做一下落｜只个粉丝做一下落

add all of mung bean vermicelli

 

gia1 zui2

加水

add water

 

iam5 hou5zio1hung2

鹽胡椒粉｜盐胡椒粉

salt, ground white pepper

 

ki2 bhung1 zêg8kung3gian2 da2kai3 u6 ngou6 hung1zêng1

起炆一困囝大概五分鐘｜起炆一困囝大概五分钟

Start to stew for a short while, approximately for five minutes

 

sua1uê1 sai7 loh8ke3

砂鍋倳落去｜砂锅倳落去

Place the ceramic pot down

 

bang3 ke3 neng6giao2 tiab8 ki2ke3

放去卵餃疊起去｜放去卵饺叠起去

Arrange the egg dumpling neatly on the top

 

Zuê3ao6 bang3 gui2 liab8 he5in5 loh8ke3

最後放幾粒魚丸落去｜最后放几粒鱼丸落去

Finally put in a few fish balls

 

ain3 gê1sion5 - gê1sion5 la6 la6

慾家常家常𤰉𤰉｜欲家常家常𤰉𤰉

Want a family dish – then have family dish until sufficient

 

riang5ao6 koin3 loh8ke3

然後蓋落去｜然后盖落去

Afterwards put the lid on

He said kain3 instead of koin3

 

kib4 bu5 gê1 ngou6 hung1zêng1 ziu6 ho2 ziah8

㬤烰五分鐘就好食｜㬤烰五分钟就好食

Stew for five minutes and then can be eaten

I do not know the character for kib, and I have chosen the character for its sound and in the subtitle, it writes “to stew in a closed vessel燜” and he did not say hib4 熻

 There are many English words use by our people in our homeland and perhaps this kib is the English keep and kib bu means to keep cooking in low heat in a covered pot. I have not been able to find the kib character in my Teochew dictionaries. 

deng7 ngou6 hung1zêng1 kib4 lo2 bu5 zêg8ê7 nê1

段五分鐘㬤裸烰一下呢｜段五分钟㬤裸烰一下呢

Stew for five minutes

 

ziu6 sêg8tao3

就熟透

already well cooked

 

cuang5bou6 pu5 ki2lai5

全部浮起來

All float to the top

 

lêng5hung5 gai7 cang1iu5

靈魂個蔥油｜灵魂个葱油

shallot oil of the soul

 

Zi2gai5 muêh8 zui6si6 gim1rig8 sang3keh4 dai6gê1 nang5 gai7 gê1sion5cai3 – gio7zo3 neng6giao2bou5

衹個物就是今日送乞大家人個家常菜叫做卵餃煲｜只个物就是今日送乞大家人个家常菜叫做卵饺煲

This thing is precisely to give everybody, a home cooked dish today, known as egg dumplings cook in a ceramic pot.

He said sang3kih4 and this is not a Swatow accent

 

iu7 pin1 zin5

又便錢｜又便钱

And yet has value for money

 

iu7 dua7 sing1

又大身｜又大身

In the subtitle, it writes 大鍋 a big pot

 

iu7 ho2ziah8

又好食

also good to eat

 

iu7 giang6kang1

又健康

also healthy

Word list for second part of the video for the making of neng6giao2bou5

neng6giao2bou5	卵餃煲｜卵饺煲	egg dumplings cook in a ceramic pot
dig8zih4	直接	straight away, immediately
na2moh4	那麼｜那么	like that, in this way, in this case
hong1bu3	豐富｜丰富	plentiful, bountiful, abundant, rich
hung2si1	粉絲｜粉丝	mung bean vermicelli
dang1hung2	冬粉	mung bean vermicelli
hion1gou1	香菇	Chinese winter mushroom
ko2in2	可以	can
zêg8cui3	一嘴	a mouthful, a small amount
ia7ho2	也好	is fine
si5su2	時暑｜时暑	sizzling hot summer weather夏天的炎熱
piang1	偏	to lean, to slant
cêng1	清	light – food which is not greasy or strongly flavoured, as explained by the Mandarin清淡
gi6	忌	to avoid or abstain from
long5	濃	strong in taste, flavour [the Mandarin nong2lie4 濃烈]
sai7	倳	to place
sua1uê1	砂鍋｜砂锅	a ceramic pot
tiab8	疊｜叠	to stack
deng7	段	A measure word for time.
sêg8tao3	熟透	well cooked