逐工
ta̍k-kang
The English word 'everyday' can be translated into Hokkien as 逐工 (ta̍k-kang).
In English, 'everyday' is an adjective describing something ordinary or suitable for daily use. In Hokkien, 逐工 is most commonly used as an adverb to mean 'every day' (e.g., 'I go there every day').
Meaning: appropriate for ordinary use, rather than for special occasions (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 逐 (ta̍k), meaning 'each' and 工 (kang), meaning 'day' or 'work day'.
How does it change in a sentence?
While the English 'everyday' is an adjective, the Hokkien 逐工 is most commonly used as an adverb meaning 'every day' (e.g., 'I go there every day').
How do you pronounce it?
ta̍k-kang
Did you know?
- The character 逐 in 逐工 is used in other phrases to describe 'chasing' or 'driving out' something, showing a linguistic evolution from 'following' to 'each'.
- In some Hokkien dialects, people might replace 逐工 with 日日, which mimics the repetitive nature of the days through the doubling of the word for 'sun' or 'day'.
- If you are speaking to an older generation, they might use the term 日日 (ji̍t-ji̍t) instead of 逐工, which gives the phrase a slightly more formal or classical tone.
Example conversation
Guoqiang and Meiling are looking at clothes in a store.
- 美玲 Mei-ling國強，你看這件洋裝好看嗎？Kók-kiáng, lí khuànn che kian iáng-tsáng hó-khuànn m̄?Guoqiang, do you think this dress looks good?
- 國強 Kok-kiang太華麗了，不夠逐工。thài huâ-lī liáu, put-kò tsek kang.It's too fancy, not everyday enough.
- 美玲 Mei-ling那我換一件簡單的。guá ná huàn it kian kian-tan e.Then I will change to a simpler one.
- 國強 Kok-kiang對，找一件逐工的就好。tùi, tshá it kian tsek kang e tsiū-hó.Yes, just find an everyday one.
