聖誕節快樂
sìng-tàn-cheh khuài-lo̍k
聖誕節快樂 (sìng-tàn-cheh khuài-lo̍k) is the Hokkien way to say Merry Christmas.
This phrase is used to wish someone a Merry Christmas, following the same structural pattern as the English phrase.
Meaning: good wishes at Christmas time (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 聖誕節 (sìng-tàn-cheh), meaning 'Christmas' and 快樂 (khuài-lo̍k), meaning 'happy'.
How do you pronounce it?
sìng-tàn-cheh khuài-lo̍k
Did you know?
- While English speakers say 'Merry Christmas', a Hokkien speaker might use the word 平安 (pîng-an), meaning 'peace', to express a similar sentiment of wishing someone a safe and calm holiday.
- The word for Christmas, 聖誕, uses characters that literally translate to 'Holy Birth', a term more commonly used in literature to describe the birth of a deity or a saint.
- In some Hokkien-speaking households, Christmas is celebrated alongside traditional lunar customs, leading to a unique blend of Western greetings and Eastern familial rituals.
Examples in context
- 聖誕節快樂！sèng-tàn-jit khoài-lo̍k!Merry Christmas!
- 大家聖誕節快樂。tai-ka sèng-tàn-jit khoài-lo̍k.Merry Christmas to everyone.
Example conversation
Two friends meet on the street during the holiday season.
- 志明 Chi-ming曉雯，聖誕節快樂！Xiǎo-wén, sèng-tàn-tsiat kuài-lo̍k!Xiaowen, Merry Christmas!
- 曉雯 Hiau-bun志明，你也聖誕節快樂！Zhì-míng, lí iā sèng-tàn-tsiat kuài-lo̍k!Zhiming, Merry Christmas to you too!
- 志明 Chi-ming你今天有計畫嗎？Lí kin-á-it ū kì-huè?Do you have plans today?
- 曉雯 Hiau-bun我要去跟家人吃飯。Góa bé-io̍h khì kap ka-nan sia̍h-pún.I am going to have dinner with my family.
