addiction, like . . . ngiang3

Let us discuss the word ngiang3 癮 today. Ngiang3 means to have an addiction to something.

ing1ngiang3

煙癮∣烟瘾

to be addicted to smoking cigarettes

However, ngiang3 also means to like as in hi1huaⁿ1 喜歡∣喜欢

tion2ze1 tion2 siang6 ngiang3

睇書睇上癮∣睇书睇上瘾

(He) is an avid reader.

Then there is guê3ngiang3

guê3ngiang3

過癮∣过瘾

to like very much

The Teochew meaning of guê3ngiang3 means to like very much and has the same meaning as guê3 hi1huaⁿ1

guê3 hi1huan1

過喜歡∣过喜欢

to like very much

guê3ngiang3 can also mean satisfy, satisfied  

i1 na7si6bho5 seng2 gao3 guê3ngiang3 i1 si6 bhoi6 deng2lai5

伊喏是無耍到過癮伊是𠁞轉來。｜ 伊喏是无耍到过癮伊是𠀾轉来

If he does not play until satisfied, he will not return.

A long time ago, I heard a story and there is one line which I really like:

Hiong1nou1 toin2 gao3 u6ngiang3

匈奴睇到有癮｜ 匈奴睇到有瘾

Hiong1nou1 were the barbaric people who lived north of China and they used to attack China during the Cing1 秦 and Hang3 漢 dynasties. The storyteller was talking about Hiong’nou watching Teochew opera. Do remember that this is a story! U6ngiang3 means to become addicted and toiⁿ2 gao3 u6ngiang3 means to become addicted to watching.