Asking Where Someone Is§
Q: Nyi nai bui? (Where are you?)
A: Ngai buk kha (I'm at home)
Asking What Someone Is Doing§
Q: Nyi mek ma'ai? (What are you doing?)
A: Ngai cu choi (I'm cooking)
Follow-up Questions§
Q: Cu ma'ai choi? (What are you cooking?)
A: Cu fan kak cian kai nyuk (Cooking rice with fried chicken)
Response: Oh khiang sit lah (Oh, sounds good)
Q: Kinyit jiu cho se mo? (Are you working today?)
A: Kinyit mo cho se (Today I'm not working)
Q: Co mai mo cho se? (Why not working?)
A: Nyi eng ki tet kinyit lipai (Did you forget today is Sunday?)
Common Activities§
At Home§
- Cu choi = cooking
- Cho = sit/stay
- Con = return home
- Ngai oi con = I want to go home
Daily Actions§
- Mek = do/make (what are you doing)
- Piong = put
- Cun phin = prepare yourself
Key Vocabulary§
| English | Hakka |
|---|
| Home | buk kha |
| Where | nai bui |
| What (doing) | ma’ai |
| Cooking | cu choi |
| Rice | fan |
| Forgot | eng ki tet |
| Today | kinyit |
| Work | cho se / co se |
| Why | co mai |
Common Questions§
| English | Hakka |
|---|
| Where are you? | Nyi nai bui? |
| What are you doing? | Nyi mek ma’ai? |
| Where did you put it? | Ngi piong hi a-bui? |
| Are you working today? | Kinyit jiu cho se mo? |
| Why not working? | Co mai mo cho se? |
| Did you forget…? | Nyi eng ki tet…? |
Useful Phrases§
- Aa cho ha loi = Come sit for a moment
- Ngai oi con = I want to go home
- Am con = Return in the evening
- Buk kha = at home
- Khiang sit = sounds good / the food is good
Example Dialogues§
Dialogue 1: Location and Activity§
A: Nyi nai bui? (Where are you?)
B: Ngai buk kha (I'm at home)
A: Nyi mek ma'ai? (What are you doing?)
B: Ngai cu choi (I'm cooking)
Dialogue 2: Weekend Confusion§
A: Kinyit jiu cho se mo? (Are you working today?)
B: Kinyit mo cho se (Today I'm not working)
A: Co mai mo cho se? (Why not working?)
B: Nyi eng ki tet kinyit lipai? (Did you forget today is Sunday?)
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