零
lēng
The Hokkien word for zero is 零 (lēng).
零 is used as a cardinal number to denote the value of zero, the number before 1.
Meaning: cardinal number before 1, denoting nothing (num)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Northern Taiwan, 零 is the most commonly used term for zero.
How do you pronounce it?
lēng
Did you know?
- The character 零 has a poetic history, as it originally referred to 'small raindrops' or 'fragments' before it was adopted as the symbol for zero.
- When giving phone numbers or room numbers in Hokkien, people often say 空 meaning 'empty' instead of 零 to ensure the listener hears the digit clearly.
- In everyday conversation, you are more likely to hear the words for 'empty' or 'none' to express the concept of zero than the actual number 零.
Example conversation
Zhiming and Jiayi are checking their game scores.
- 志明 Chi-ming我的分數是零。guá-ê hun-sù sī lîng.My score is zero.
- 佳怡 Chia-yi真的嗎？我很驚訝。tsia-sinn-má? guá gin kiâng-ia.Really? I am very surprised.
- 志明 Chi-ming沒錯，就是零。bô-tsat, tsiu-sī lîng.That's right, it is just zero.
- 佳怡 Chia-yi沒關係，下次加油。bô-kuan-kè, go̍h-tsió ka-iu.It's okay, do your best next time.
