飯
pn̄g
The Hokkien word for rice is 飯 (pn̄g).
飯 refers to cooked rice or a meal. In a colloquial sense, the phrase 食飯 (to eat rice) is commonly used to mean 'to eat a meal' in general, rather than strictly referring to the consumption of rice.
Meaning: seeds used as food (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 飯 (pn̄g) refers to cooked rice or a meal, the word 米 (bí) is used specifically for unhusked or uncooked rice grains.
How do you pronounce it?
pn̄g
Did you know?
- The word 飯 (pn̄g) is used in the expression 食飯碗 (eating bowl), but describing someone as 'having a rice bowl' refers to their livelihood or profession.
- In some Hokkien-speaking regions, calling someone a 飯桶 (rice bucket) is a way to call them an idiot or someone who is dim-witted.
- In Hokkien culture, the phrase 食飯 (to eat rice) can be used as a general greeting similar to 'How are you?' or 'Have you eaten yet?' It focuses on the person's well-being rather than an invitation to a meal.
Examples in context
- 食飯。Eat rice.This sentence shows how to use 飯 in the context of eating.Tatoeba #13255681 by tsunhua, translation #13112406 by LeviHighway
- 我欲去買一袋米做飯。goá beh khì bé it tāi bí chò pn̄g.I want to go buy a bag of rice to cook.
Example conversation
Jianhong and Meiling are in the kitchen.
- 建宏 Kian-hong美玲，飯煮好了沒？Bí-lîng, pn̄g tsú hó liáu bē?Meiling, is the rice cooked yet?
- 美玲 Mei-ling快好了，請等一下。kuài hó liáu, tshiánn tán it-ē.Almost, please wait a moment.
- 建宏 Kian-hong我真想食飯。guá tsin siūⁿ tsia̍h pn̄g.I really want to eat rice.
- 美玲 Mei-ling我也很餓，快來。guá iā hia̍t gâ, kuài lâi.I am very hungry too, come quickly.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
