是
sī
In Hokkien, 'yes' is expressed as 是 (sī).
是 is a particle used to indicate agreement or acceptance. While it can serve as a way to say 'yes', in many Hokkien contexts, agreement is more commonly expressed by repeating the specific verb used in the question rather than using 是.
Meaning: word used to indicate agreement or acceptance (particle)
Which one should you use?
是 is specifically used to confirm a statement that uses a copula, such as answering 'Is he a teacher?' with 'Yes, he is'. In contrast, the word 好 (Ho) can be used to mean 'yes' or to indicate agreement in informal situations.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
是 can sound quite formal or emphatic when used as a standalone 'yes'. For informal situations, you might use 好 (Ho) to express agreement.
How do you pronounce it?
sī
Did you know?
- In Hokkien, answering 'yes' with 是 can sometimes be interpreted as overly insistent or argumentative if the tone is too sharp, making it less common in casual harmony-seeking conversations.
- Because Hokkien is heavily influenced by its regional roots, the way one expresses agreement can change significantly between Taiwan and Southeast Asian communities.
- In some dialects of Hokkien, particularly in Taiwan, the word 是 is frequently paired with particles like 喔 (o) to soften the impact and make the 'yes' sound more friendly and less robotic.
Examples in context
- 是！Yes!Tatoeba #13243287 by tsunhua, translation #1148358 by cntrational
- 是。Yes.Tatoeba #13246659 by tsunhua, translation #477086 by soweli_Elepanto
Example conversation
Guo Qiang and Shu Fen are discussing dinner plans.
- 國強 Kok-kiang淑芬，妳想欲食飯囉？Siu-hun, lí siáng-beh chia̍h-pn̄g lo?Shu Fen, do you want to eat dinner?
- 淑芬 Siok-fun是，我好餓。sī, góa hó gâi.Yes, I am very hungry.
- 國強 Kok-kiang咱去食面好無？Zán khì chia̍h-mī hó-bô?How about we go eat noodles?
- 淑芬 Siok-fun好，行吧！hó, kiânn-pah!Okay, let's go!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
