Listening to Professor Lim Lung Lung

In a previous post, I had suggested that you should try to improve your Teochew by listening to a native speaker like Professor Lim and the pedagogy here is for you to improve your listening skill, your writing skill and identify and learn any new Teochew words.

I do this exercise regularly. 

Here is a set of notes pertaining to what Professor Lim has said in the video which I have made a link. I have not finished writing out the whole lecture. 

Try to write what Prof Lim says yourself and see how you get along.  You can use Romanised Teochew or write using Teochew characters or both. 

dê5 boh4 nang5cêng5 gao6 茶薄人情厚

Nang2 zi2 gu3 uê7 tong1 goi1ci6 gai5gai5 oi6bag4 a7

俺衹句話通街市個個會𧧸啊。

Everybody in the city knows of this phrase.

Nang2 Dio5suan1 nang5 zian3si6 dan3 Dio5ziu1 nang5 [Teochew people] nê6 ziah8 dê5 hui1sion5 li6hai7

俺潮汕人正是呾潮州人呤食茶非常利害。

We Dio5suan1 people, precisely Teochew people, is very formidable when it comes to drinking tea.

dai6kai3 do1 gua3 ni5 zion5 hia2gi1 Suan1tao5 zêg8gê1 bhuê5ti2 nê6 zo3guê3 tiao5cê5

大概多幾年前吓支汕頭一家媒體呤做過調查。

Perhaps approximately a few years ago, a Swatow’s news media had done a survey,

hia2gi1 means that similar to the Mandarin na4ge5 那個

dan3 zêg8gê1 Dio5suan1 nang5 pêng5geng1 muê2ghuêh8 ziah8 dê5 ki2bhê2 no6 san1 geng1

呾一家潮汕人平均每月食茶起碼二三斤。

and found, a Teochew family, each month on average, consumes 2 to 3 catties [1 kg to 1.5 kg] (of tea leaves) at a minimum.

Dio5suan1 nang5 ziah8 dê5 nê6

潮汕人食茶呤

A Teochew person drinks tea rather like

i1 bin3 zo3 zêg8zêng3 “rig8 sion5 sên1uah8”

伊變做一種日嚐生活

he changes into a type of “daily tasting lifestyle”

lai5 ziah8

來食

to drink tea

so2in2 ing1ui5 dê5 cim1 rib8 sên1’uah8

所以因為茶深入生活

Therefore, because tea has deeply entered into his life

zu6 zêg8 coh4 Dio5ziu1 Uê7 he2 dion2 lê7 zu6 cuang5bou6 êng7 dê5 lai5 dan3

就一撮潮州話許底嘞就全部用茶來呾。

then there is a set of Teochew expressions which has the word “tea”.

Nang5 siang6 gi2 gian6 gian6 ain3 dan3 “u6oin5 lai5 dih4dê5”

俺上指仔慾呾 ”有閒來滴茶”。

We the least want to say is “(if you) have free time come (and) drink tea”!

Zi2 gu3 muêh8 Dio5ziu1 hui1sion5 tong1sog8

衹句物潮州非常通俗。

This is a very common phrase in Teochew.

Haon3 dan3 dê5 boh4 nang5cêng5 gao6 ze1 ghua7

好呾茶薄人情厚之外。

Like to say other than “weak tea passionate relationship i.e., dê5 boh4 nang5cêng5 gao6”

u6oin5 lai5 dih4dê5

有閒來滴茶

“(if) have free time come (and) drink tea” u6oin5 lai5 dih4dê5

Liao2 nang2 zia2 dê5 nê6 huan1 gio3 zo3 dê5bhi2

了俺者茶呤還叫做茶米。

Then we regarding this tea still call tea, “tea rice”.

dê5bhi2 ghua7di7 nang5 tian1dioh4 guê3 ki5guai3

茶米外地人聽著過奇怪。

For people from other places hears this to be very strange

Dan3 bhi2 si6 bhi2 dê5 si6 dê5 lê7 zo3ni5 hion3 dê5 gio3zo3 bhi2?

呾米是米茶是茶嘞咋呢向茶叫做米 ?

hion3 is like na4 那 in Mandarin and both Mogher and Teochew Store use this character向 for hion3

Saying rice is rice, tea is tea, why is it tea leaves are called tea rice?

Liao2 ua2 ziu6 gah8 i1 dan3

了我就合伊呾。

I then told him.

Dio5ziu1 nang5 lo2 ziah8 dê5 gah8 lo2 ziah8 bung7 bên5ion7

潮州人裸食茶合裸食飯平樣。

Teochew people drinking tea is like eating rice.

so2in2 ziah8 dê5 zi2 coh4 dê5 hioh8 si6 gio3zo3 dê5bhi2

所以食茶衹撮茶葉是叫做茶米。

Therefore, tea leaves are called tea rice.

Liao2 nang2 dê5 - dê5hioh8 dioh8 loh8 gê1

了俺茶 - 茶葉著落加。

We have to add more tea leaves (when brewing tea).

m6zai1 ning2 kah4 hiao2

唔知恁𠹛曉 ?

Do you all know?

Nang2 gio3zo3 hib4 dê5 bung7

俺叫做熻茶飯

We call this as “hib4 dê5 bung7” – brewing tea leaves

Ziu6si6 hi2 dê5hioh8 gao6 hu5 dê5 [gao6 厚 means lots of]

許 is normally said as he2 but Professor Lim said hi2

就是許茶葉厚壺茶

Exactly, a tea pot is full of tea leaves

Nang5 hiaon1 dioh4 le2 hiaon1 gai5 koin3 cug8 kui1lai5 gao3 tion2 m6dioh4 dê5 zui2

人掀著汝掀個蓋出開來到睇唔著茶水

People lifting the teapot’s lid are unable to see the brewed tea.

Zi2 sig8 zio3 dê5hioh8 in2gêng1 muan2muan2

衹實照茶葉已經滿滿

Actually, these tea leaves are already closely jam packed.

gio3zo3 hib4 dê5 bung7

叫做熻茶飯

This is called “hib4 dê5 bung7” – brewing tea leaves

Huan1u6 gê1 zêg8 coh4 ing2zing3 hia2ki2 hêng5iong5se5 bi2ru5 dan3

還有加一撮引進吓起形容詞比如呾

Still are a set of adjectives: for example:

u6 dê5 sêg4 a7si6 bho5 dê5 sêg4

有茶色也是無茶色

Is it a (cup of) strong or weak tea?

Nang2 tion2dioh4 dan3 zi2coh4 dê5 cong1 ga1laoh8 si6 cim1 a7si6 gao6 a7si6 boh4

俺睇著呾衹撮茶沖膠落是深也是厚也是薄

We see if the tea is brewed is strong or weak

Gao6 ziu6iao3 u6 dê5sêg4

厚就要有茶色

“gao” will have “tea colour” i.e., a cup of strong tea

boh4 ziu6iao3 bho5 dê5 sêg4

薄就要無茶色

“boh” will have no “tea colour” i.e., a weak cup of tea

ing2zing3 gao3 hia2 nang5 zo3 kang1kuê3

引進夠吓人做工課

I am not sure of the characters ing2zing3 引進 and I have made a guess that it means “refer to”

Referring to people doing work

ru5guan2 dan3 zo3 lai5 ho2

如果呾做來好

In the case of someone having done something well

u6 liang2ming7

有臉面

which will command respect

a7 guê3 u6 dê5sêg4

啊怪有茶色

(Something has been done) very well i.e. there is tea colour “u6 dê5sêg4”

Liao2 ru5guan2 dan3 a7 zo3 lai5 mo2

了如果呾啊做來孬

Then in the case of someone having done something bad

a7 liao2 mo2 gin3 nang5

啊了孬見人

i.e. cannot face people

a7 guê3 bho5 dê5sêg4

啊怪無茶色

i.e., something which has been done very badly or bho5 dê5sêg4 no tea colour

dê5 boh4 nang5cêng5 gao6茶薄人情厚

nê6 nang2 gai5 gai4 hiao2

呤俺個個曉

Really everybody knows [i.e., What is dê5 boh4 nang5cêng5 gao6?]

ru5 dan3 a7 sui1riang5 zi2 go3 dê5 cong1 muê2 gao3 lo2 m6si6 hion3 gao6

如呾啊雖然衹塊茶沖每到裸唔是向厚

If said, even though this tea when brewed is not that strong

ia7 m6si6 hion3 long5

也唔是向濃

is also not that concentrated

ia7 m6si6 dan3 ngê6houn2 cong1 zi2 buê1 dê5 boh4 boh4 le2 ziah8 liao2 li7 ngê6 ain3 dan3 gai5 nang5cêng5 ho2

也唔是呾硬否沖衹杯茶薄薄汝食了哩硬欲呾個人情好

Is also not saying definitely on brewing this cup of weak tea, you finish drinking wanting to say that human friendship is good.

zi2 sig8 ziu6si6 dan3 ua2 zio3 dia3 le2

衹實就是呾我照戴汝

Actually, saying, I respect you.

dang6si6 sui1riang5 dan3 bho5 di7gai5

但是雖然呾無底個

However, even though say there are no issues

dang6si6 nê6 le2 oi6dioh4 tion2 dan3 ua2 gai5

但是呤汝會著睇呾我個

However really you are able to see mine

nang2 gio3zo3 “kêh4cêng5 ho2”

俺叫做客情好

We say as “kêh4cêng5 ho2” i.e., being hospitable towards guests

zi2gai5 i3se3 oi7

衹個意思噲

It is this meaning.

so2in2 le2 de5liao3 dan3 lang5 goin1 dê5 pou3

所以汝除了零間茶鋪

Therefore, besides you, a few tea shops

i1 u6 sia2 zi2 gu3 uê7 – uê7bing2 ze1ghua7

伊有寫衹句話 -畫品之外

I could not hear clearly, and I have a guess that LLL said uê7bing2 ze1ghua7

These shops write this phrase and display it

lang5 goin1 ziu2diam3 i1 ia7 zio3 sên1 sia2

零間酒店伊也照寫

A few restaurants / hotels also write in this way.

Nang2 pêng5si5 dan3 uê7 zi2go3 muêh8 he2dion2 siang6dig8 no6 gai5 zi2 – zêg8 gai5 si6 gao6, zêg8 gai5 zui6si6 boh4

俺平時呾話衹塊物許底上直二個字 - 一個是厚 - 一個就是薄

we talk normally that there is “gao” and the other is “boh”

Nang7 tian1dioh4 Dio5ziu1 nang5 tian1dan3 gao6 gah8 boh4

儂聽著潮州人聽呾厚合薄

Other people hear Teochew people saying “gao6” and “bho4”

zi2 sig8 ghua7di7nang5 tian1dioh4 gao6 gah8 boh4 i1nang7 ia7 oi6hiao2

衹實外地人聽著厚合薄伊儂也會曉

In fact, people who are not Teochew, hear “gao” and “boh” know also

Dang6si6 Dio5ziu1 nang5 gai5 gao6 gah8 boh4 gah4 i1nang7 m6bên5ion7

但是潮州人個厚合薄合伊儂唔平樣

However, (the meanings of) Teochew people’s “gao” and “boh” are different from other people [i.e., other Chinese people]

gao6 boh4 si6 Pou2tong1 Uê7 hui1sion5 pou2tong1 no6 gai5 se5

厚薄是普通話非常普通二個詞

Thick [gao6] thin [boh4] are Mandarin’s two very common words

Ning2 long2 oi6hiao2

恁攏會曉

You are all aware

bi2ru5 zi2 bi1 cion5 guê3 gao6

比如衹陴牆怪厚

For example, this wall is very thick

Nang2 dan3 ming7puê5 gao6 guê3 [uang2 gio3zo3] bui1 cion5

俺呾 “面皮厚怪 [阮叫做] 陴牆”

It is said, “one’s face skin is thicker than the wall” [i.e., shameless]

Zi2gai5 gao6 si6 nguang5lai5 gai5 gao6 [repeat of nguang5lai5 gai5 gao6]

衹個厚是原來個厚

This “gao” [thick] is the original meaning of “gao” i.e., thick

boh4 si6 siang1dui3 lai5 dan3

薄是相對來呾

boh4 [thin] is the opposite of gao6 [thick]

zui6si6 muêh8ti2 gai5 gah8 gao5 siang1huag4

就是物體個合厚相發

exactly is the object where boh4 is the close equivalent expression with gao6

siang1huag4相發has the same meaning as the Mandarin jin4yi4ci2 近義詞 which means close equivalent expression

dig8ming7 hui1sion5 soi3 gio3zo3 “boh4”

直面非常細叫做薄

the surface is very thin, is called “boh4”

Nang2 gio3zo3 boh4 guê3 ze3 li5 zua2

俺叫做薄過漬璃紙

We call this, “thinner than blotting paper”.

Zian3si6 dan3 guang1sim1 boh4 ru5 zua2

正是呾關心薄如紙

precisely saying, “one’s concern is as thin as paper”

boh4 gai5 i3se3

薄個意思

This is the meaning of “boh4”

liao2 gao6 zia2gai5 se5 nang2 Dio5suan1 nang5 êng7lai5 gah8 nang7 m6 bên5ion7

了厚者個詞俺潮汕人用來合儂唔平樣

This word gao6’s is used differently by Teochew people compared with other Chinese people.

huan1u6 im1sing3 gai5 i3se3

還有音信個意思

still has a message – that is its message

bi2ru5 zia2gi1 nang5cêng5 gai5

比如者支人情個

For example, pertaining to human relationships

Ning2 dan3 “dê5 boh4 nang5cêng5 gao6”

恁呾茶薄人情厚

You all say, “dê5 boh4 nang5cêng5 gao6”

nang5cêng5 gao6 si6 sim6mih4 i3se3

人情厚是什乜意思

What is the meaning of “nang5cêng5 gao6”?

nang5cêng5 gao6 ziu6si6 nang5cêng5 hui1sion5 riag8liag8 hui1sion5 ung1luang2

人情厚就是人情非常熱烈非常溫暖

Human relationship “gao” precisely mean human relationship is very passionate, very warm.

hui1sion5 long5

非常濃

a very strong interest [as in “濃厚” in Mandarin]

Gao6 êng7 do6 zi2go3muêh8 zu6 ki5ta1 ghua7di7nang5 ziu6 dan3 hiaon5 hiaon5

厚用在衹塊物就其他外地人就呾嬲嬲

“gao6” use in this context for other non-Teochew people is rather strange

Pou2tong1 Uê7 huang1êg8 lai5tion2

普通話翻譯來睇

Translated into Mandarin 我們的熱情很厚 [the gao6 here does not have much meaning in Mandarin]

i1 tian1 liao2 “hen3 hou4 很厚” mih4gai5

伊聽了 “很厚” 乜個

He heard it as very think – what?

dang6si6 nang2 Dio5ziu1 nang5 ho2 zio3sên1 dan3

但是俺潮州人好照生呾

However, we Teochew people can say it this way.

boh4 hia2gi1 Pou2tong1 Uê7 kah4si6 u6

薄吓支普通話𠹛是有

Mandarin however has a use for boh4

bi2ru5 dan3 zi2gai5 da1bou1 dui3 zi2gai5 ze1nion5 bho5 mih4 ho2

比如呾衹個丈夫對衹個姿娘無乜好

For example, say this boy does not treat this girl well

cab4 i1 seng1 liao2 ziu6 mai3 i1

插伊耍了就勿伊

gets involve with her, plays with her, and then does not want her

goi3zo3 boh4cêng5 neng2

叫做薄情女

so2in2 gao6 gah8 boh4

所以厚合薄

do6 gou2do7 êng3gai1 lai5 hêng5iong5 nang5cêng5 gai5 nên2luang2

在古代應該來形容人情個冷暖

gê1 zêg8gai5 i3se3

加一個意思

An additional meaning

huan1 biao2si7 gê1 gah8 zio2

還表示加合少

still expresses more and fewer / less

ou1bhung1 guê3 gao6

烏蚊怪厚

there are lots of midges

kah4bag4 tian1dioh4

𠹛𧧸聽著

Have (you) heard of this before?

Gao6 m6si6 gah8 go3 cion5 bên5ion7

厚唔是合塊牆平樣厚

“Gao6” is not the same as thick like a wall is thick.

si6 guê3 zoi7

是怪㩼

is having lots of, many, plenty, much [表示數量多]

Zi2sig8 gah8 long5dou7 guê3 long5

衹實濃度怪濃

In fact, it is too highly concentrated [表示濃度大]

si6 ca1m6do1 gai5 i3se3

是差唔多個意思

roughly this meaning

Gim1mên5 mang2 guê3 gao6

今暝蠓怪厚

There are lots of mosquitoes tonight.

a1si6 tang5 guê3 gao6

阿是蟲怪厚

perhaps there are lots of insects

a1si6 di7gai5 guê3 gao6

阿是底個怪厚

perhaps there are lots of other things

kah4si6 zi2go3 siang1dui3 hêng5iong5se5 si6 bho5 lo7

𠹛是衹塊相對形容詞是無咯

But however here there is no opposite adjective

Bho5 zia2gi1 dan3 “hi2go3 gai5 mang2 guê3 boh4”

無者支呾許塊個蠓怪薄

no one says boh4 to describe there are few mosquitoes

a1si6 he2go3 gai5 ou1bhung1 guê3 boh4

阿是許塊個烏蚊怪薄

nor says the midges there is very few [using boh4 to describe few]

bho5 zio3sên1 dan3

無照生呾

Is not said this way.

êg8ki2 gai5 tang3gua3 dan3 long5dou7

憶起個通旰呾濃度

dê5 ho2 dan3 gao6

茶好呾厚

Can use “gao6” to describe tea – i.e., strong tea

ziu2 ia7 ho2 dan3 gao6

酒也好呾厚

Can also use “gao6” to describe alcohol – i.e., strong liquor

Zi2 buê1 bêh8 ziu2 hoh4 gao6 a7

衹杯白酒好厚啊

This cup of spirit is very strong.

gong1 long5ioh8 pao3 zui2

功農藥泡水

Dilute an agrochemical with water

long5tou5 bui5 ia7 si6 gio3zo3 gao6

農塗肥也是叫做厚

Concentrated fertiliser can also be described as gao6 i.e. concentrated

long5tou5 di1 ia7 si6 gio3zo3 boh4

農塗低也是叫做薄

so2in2 dê5 boh4 nang5cêng5 gao6 le2 mai3 tion2 bho5 bho5 zi2gu3 uê7 goi7 goi7 dan3

所以茶薄人情厚汝勿睇無無衹句話易易呾

dang6si6 gao6 gah8 boh4 zi2 no6 gai5 ri7 nê6

但是厚合薄衹二個字呤

nang2 zu6 oi6zai1 no6 gai5 muêh8 lai5ze6 gou2 Hang3ghe3

俺就會知二個物來自古漢語

We know these two items are from ancient Chinese