按怎講
án-chóaⁿ kóng
The Hokkien phrase for "how to say" is 按怎講 (án-chóaⁿ kóng).
You use 按怎講 when you want to ask for the correct way to express a specific word or an idea in another language.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 按怎 (án-chóaⁿ), meaning "how" and 講 (kóng), meaning "to say" or "to speak".
How does it change in a sentence?
按怎講 can be used as a standalone question or as a clause within a larger sentence to ask for a translation.
How do you pronounce it?
án-chóaⁿ kóng
Did you know?
- Hokkien is a tonal language, meaning that if you change the pitch of 講, you could accidentally change the meaning to 'lecture' or 'demand'.
- The phrase 按怎講 can be used as a filler word, similar to how English speakers use 'how do you say…' when they are thinking of the next word.
- The word 講 can mean 'to speak' but it is also used to mean 'to explain' or 'to talk someone into something'. This makes 按怎講 occasionally sound like you are asking for the logic behind a statement rather than just the translation.
Examples in context
- 「謝謝」用台語按怎講？“siā-siā” iōng Tâi-gí án-tsuánn kóng?How do you say 'thank you' in Taiwanese?
- 我袂曉按怎講。guá bē-hiáu án-tsuánn kóng.I don't know how to say it.
Example conversation
志明 asks 曉雯 for help with a word.
- 志明 Chi-ming曉雯，這个按怎講？Hió-van, chiâⁿ-ê án-tsuánn kóng?Xiao Wen, how do you say this?
- 曉雯 Hiau-bun按怎講？你指的咧？án-tsuánn kóng? lí chí ê leh?How to say? What are you pointing at?
- 志明 Chi-ming這个台語按怎講？chiâⁿ-ê Tâi-gí án-tsuánn kóng?How do you say this in Taiwanese?
- 曉雯 Hiau-bun這个按怎講，我嘛袂曉。chiâⁿ-ê án-tsuánn kóng, guá mā bē-hiáu.How to say it, I don't know either.
