金蕉
kim-tsio
The word for banana in Hokkien is 金蕉 (kim-tsio).
金蕉 is used to refer to the fruit known as banana.
Meaning: fruit (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
kim-tsio
Did you know?
- In traditional Taiwanese culture, where Hokkien is widely spoken, bananas are often associated with fertility and prosperity in folk beliefs.
- While 金蕉 describes the fruit, the broad leaves of the banana plant are used in some Hokkien-speaking cultures as natural umbrellas during rain.
- In some Hokkien-speaking regions, the color of the banana is emphasized using 金, which means 'gold', rather than just 'yellow'.
Example conversation
Zhiming and Jiayi are in the kitchen preparing snacks.
- 志明 Chi-ming佳怡，咱家猶有金蕉無？Ka-î, lán-ke iáu-ū kim-chio bô?Jiayi, do we still have bananas at home?
- 佳怡 Chia-yi應該猶有，你看下桌頂。īng-kai iáu-ū, lí khuànn-hā toh-téngThere should be some, look on the table.
- 志明 Chi-ming喔，我看著金蕉矣。o, guá khuànn-tio̍h kim-chio êOh, I see the bananas now.
- 佳怡 Chia-yi好，你趕緊食吧。hó, lí kán-kín chia̍h baOkay, go ahead and eat them.
