你好
lí-hó
The English phrase "hi" is translated into Hokkien as 你好 (lí-hó).
你好 is used as a friendly, informal greeting. To make the greeting even more casual and friendly, you can say 你好啊 to mean "hi there".
Meaning: friendly, informal greeting (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase lí-hó is composed of lí, meaning "you" and hó, meaning "good".
Which one should you use?
While lí-hó is a standard greeting, it is more formal than simply calling out someone's name or using a casual "hey" in many Hokkien-speaking contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the singular form of "you", which is lí. If you are addressing a group of people, you would typically use lí-hōnn (you all) instead.
How do you pronounce it?
lí-hó
Did you know?
- In many Hokkien-speaking communities, a more common way to say 'hi' is to ask 你食飽未, which means 'Have you eaten yet?' This is a gesture of care rather than a literal inquiry about your last meal.
- In traditional Hokkien culture, greeting someone by their social title or relationship, such as 阿伯 for 'uncle', is often preferred over a generic 'hi' to show proper respect.
- Because Hokkien is a tonal language, a greeting that is meant to be a friendly 'hi' can accidentally sound like a question or a command if the tones are slightly off.
Examples in context
- 你好。lí hó.Hello.
Example conversation
Two friends meet by chance at a market.
- 國強 Kok-kiang你好，佳怡！Lí hó, Ka-î!Hi, Jia-yi!
- 佳怡 Chia-yi你好，國強！Lí hó, Kok-kiông!Hi, Guo-qiang!
- 國強 Kok-kiang你現在在做什麼？Lí hiān-chāi chāi chò sián-mih?What are you doing now?
- 佳怡 Chia-yi我在買一些水果。Góa chāi bé it-kó súi-kó.I am buying some fruit.
