豬
ti
The English word "pig" is translated into Hokkien as 豬 (ti).
The term refers to the mammal of the family Suidae.
Meaning: mammal of family Suidae (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 豬 is the standard term, the informal form 豬仔 is also used to refer to a pig.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, some speakers use the informal term 豬仔 to refer to a pig and they may also use 豬仔肉 to refer to pork. In Singapore and Malaysia, Hokkien speakers might use the term 豬肉 to mean pork.
How do you pronounce it?
ti
Did you know?
- In Hokkien, the term 豬仔 (piglet) is often used metaphorically in business to describe 'sacrificial lambs' or people who are easily exploited in a scam.
- During the Lunar New Year, offerings of 豬肉 are central to ancestral worship in Hokkien households, symbolizing prosperity and the abundance of the family.
- In traditional Hokkien opera, characters associated with greed or laziness are often visually or linguistically linked to the 豬 to signal their personality to the audience.
Examples in context
- 我愛食豬肉。guá ài chia̍h tsu-bah.I like to eat pork.
Example conversation
Zhiming and Xiaowen are visiting a farm.
- 志明 Chi-ming你看，那隻豬在睡覺。li khan, na ti jiu chai khùn.Look, that pig is sleeping.
- 曉雯 Hiau-bun牠看起來很可愛。le khan khilai hen kho-ai.It looks very cute.
- 志明 Chi-ming豬其實很聰明。jiu khi-sik hen chhang-ming.Pigs are actually very smart.
- 曉雯 Hiau-bun對，我聽說過。tui, wa thian-kò-kò.Yes, I have heard that.
