佗位
tó-uī
The English word "where" is translated to Hokkien as 佗位 (tó-uī).
佗位 is used as an adverb to inquire about or refer to at or in what place.
Meaning: at or in what place (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
This phrase is composed of 佗 (tó), meaning 'which' and 位 (uī), meaning 'place' or 'position'.
How do you pronounce it?
tó-uī
Did you know?
- When used in a rhetorical question, 佗位 can be used to express that something is completely missing or non-existent, rather than asking for a location.
- The character 位 in 佗位 usually refers to a person's social status or a formal position in many other Chinese contexts, but here it functions as 'place'.
- While 佗位 asks for a location, if you want to ask 'where' in the sense of 'where is it going', you must use the verb 去 (khì) to say 去佗位.
Examples in context
- 汝佇佗位？Lí tī tó-uī?Where are you?
- 伊佇佗位坐？I tī tó-uī tsuē?Where is he sitting?
Example conversation
Jiayi and Jiahao are meeting up at a shopping mall.
- 佳怡 Chia-yi家豪，你佇佗位？Ka-hô, lí tī tó-uī?Jiahao, where are you?
- 家豪 Ka-hao我佇正門前。guá tī chèng-mûn chîng.I am in front of the main entrance.
- 佳怡 Chia-yi好，我現在過去。hó, guá hiān-chái khì-kù.Okay, I am coming over now.
- 家豪 Ka-hao慢慢來，無趕。mān-mān lâi, bô kán.Take your time, there is no rush.
