Verbs and Actions
Dialect Note: This is West Kalimantan/Pontianak Indonesian Hakka [WK]. Some verbs are unique to Indonesian Hakka communities.
Movement Verbs§
| English | Hakka | Dialect Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Go | hi [WK] | [Universal] |
| Walk | hang lu [WK] | [Universal] Literally “walk road” |
| Sit | cho [WK] | [Universal] |
| Stand up | khi [WK] | [Universal] |
| Jump | phiau [WK] / thiau | Regional variation |
| Dance | thiau bu [WK] | thiau = jump/dance |
| Fly | pui [WK] | [Universal] |
| Return | con [WK] | [Universal] Go home |
Communication Verbs§
| English | Hakka |
|---|---|
| Speak | kong fa |
| Sing | chong ko |
| See/watch | khon |
| Meet | nyi / siong nyi |
| Disagree | mo tet |
| Agree | fo hi |
| Fight | ta |
| Argue | chau kau |
Daily Actions§
Eating and Drinking§
| English | Hakka |
|---|---|
| Eat | sit |
| Drink | jim |
| Cook | cu choi |
Work and Learning§
| English | Hakka | Dialect Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Work | jiu co se [WK] / cho se | Both forms used in WK |
| Study (university) | kuliah [ID] | Indonesian loanword! |
| Learn | hok [WK] / khau shu | hok more common in ID Hakka |
| Go to school | thuk shu [WK] | Traditional term |
| Test | khau she [WK] | - |
| Build | hong shin [WK] | - |
Transactions§
| English | Hakka |
|---|---|
| Buy | mai |
| Sell | to lo mai |
| Pay | bon / phoi |
| Give | phoi |
Other Actions§
| English | Hakka |
|---|---|
| Put | piong |
| Search/look for | chim |
| Wait | kai bui |
| Prepare | cun phin |
| Do/make | mek |
| Complete | pau / co to |
| Die | si |
| Forgot | eng ki tet |
Personal Care§
| English | Hakka | Dialect Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bathe | se liong [WK] | Literally “wash body” |
| Sleep | soi muk [WK] | Literally “close eyes” |
Emotional and Mental Verbs§
| English | Hakka | Dialect Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Want | oi [WK] | [Universal] |
| Like | nyen [WK] | [Universal] |
| Think/feel | chi to [WK] / men | men alternative form |
| Remember | siong [WK] | ⚠️ TONE DEPENDENT! Can mean: think/want/remember/photo |
Important Note on “Siong”: This word demonstrates how critical tones are in Hakka! The same romanization “siong” can mean different things with different tones. Always listen to native speakers for the correct tone.
Grammar Patterns§
Expressing Ongoing Action§
Use jiu before the verb:
- Jiu co se = working (now)
- Ngai jiu co se = I am working
Expressing Completed Action§
Use pau after the verb:
- Sit pau = already eaten
- Co to = finished (work)
Expressing Negation§
Use mo or mang for negation:
- Mo co se = not working
- Mang sit = haven’t eaten yet
Expressing Want/Desire§
- Oi + verb = want to…
- Siong + verb = feel like/want to…
- Nyen + verb = like to…
Examples:§
-
Ngai oi sit
- I want to eat
-
Ngai sit pau
- I already ate
-
Jiu co se kinyit
- Working today
-
Ngai cu choi
- I’m cooking
-
Ngai chim pun nyi
- I’ll search for you
-
Ngai kai bui ten nyi
- I’ll wait for you
-
Nyi eng ki tet
- Did you forget?
-
Ngai oi hok Bahasa khek
- I want to learn Hakka
-
Ngai phoi nyi
- I give you
-
Co to pat tiam
- Finish at 8 o’clock
Common Verb Combinations§
- Sit pau mang = Have you eaten? (already eaten not-yet)
- Hi khon hi = Go watch a movie
- Cu choi = Cook food
- Hang lu = Walk (lit: walk road)
- Jiu co se = Working
- Kong fa = Speak language
- Mai pun nyi = Buy for you
—The Gardener