Hokkien

I am English ed. However, Hokkien is my mother tongue. My family speaks in English at home, I also speak in English with my friends and at work. Today, I learnt a new word in Hokkien. Kok Che. A colleague was explaining to a customer about the products we are selling. It goes like this in Hokkien, "Wa lang si kok che kongsi, beh lau lu eh." Which means, "We are an international company, we will not cheat you." So, "Kok Che" means international.

I feel that Hokkien is a funny languange. It is so unromantic. For instance, I love you, said in Hokkien as "Wa Ai Lu". Which could also mean I want you, if translated literally. Hmm... lets me think of this joke. (The Chinese language can be quite a coarse languange.) I was talking to NATK and she was the one who thought me the new "kok che" word. After the international word was well learnt and absorbed, we joked somemore.

Me: What do you call a washing machine in Hokkien?

NATK: Seh sa ki

Me: Very good, how about a TV?

NATK: Tien si ki

Me: Hey, your Hokkien is very good! Now, give me a toaster.

NATK: Mmm... pu ki