虼蚻
ka-tsuā
The Hokkien word for cockroach is 虼蚻 (ka-tsuā).
虼蚻 is used to refer to the type of insect known as a cockroach.
Meaning: type of insect (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
ka-tsuā
Did you know?
- In some Hokkien-speaking households, saying the name of the insect out loud is avoided. There is a superstition that naming the pest will actually 'invite' more of them to enter your home.
- The slang term 屎公, which translates to 'feces old man', is used in very casual settings. However, using it in a formal dining setting or in front of elders is considered highly offensive and unrefined.
- Hokkien speakers may use different descriptive terms to distinguish between small flying cockroaches and large crawling ones rather than using one generic word.
Examples in context
- 這隻虼蚻真大。tsit tsia bat-kiant chin tuai.This cockroach is very big.
Example conversation
Zhiming and Meiling are in the kitchen.
- 美玲 Mei-ling志明，你看！那是虼蚻！Chì-mîng, lí khòaⁿ! Na-sī táng-choa!Zhiming, look! That is a cockroach!
- 志明 Chi-ming在哪裡？我沒看到。tī tó-lo̍h? guá bô khòaⁿ-tau.Where is it? I don't see it.
- 美玲 Mei-ling在桌子下面，快把它趕走！tī toh-tsú ē-sé, khuài pá i kán-tsò!It's under the table, hurry and chase it away!
- 志明 Chi-ming好，我現在就處理這隻虼蚻。hó, guá hiàn-tsāi tsiū chú-lí che chiah táng-choa.Okay, I will deal with this cockroach right now.
