Learn Penang Hokkien

Tone Sandhi

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Two types of Words

Regular Words

Irregular Words

(Fixed Tones)

(Modifiable Tones)

Regular Words

goh = five (5)

goh-chap-goh = fifty-five (55) 3 3

3

3

goh retains its tone whether standalone or as modifier

Irregular Words

Basic Form

Modified Form

(When standing on its own)

(When it modifies another word,

for verbs, when it takes an object)

Rules of Penang Hokkien Tone Sandhi

Basic Form Modified Form

1

2

3

4 1

3

Irregular Words

kam 1 = orange

kam chooi = orange juice 3 3

kam (basic form) becomes kam (modified form) 1 3

Irregular Words

chooi 4 = water

chooi seh = water bill 1 1

chooi (basic form) becomes chooi (modified form) 4 1

Irregular Words

kau 4 = dog

kau knia = puppy 1 4

kau (basic form) becomes kau (modified form) 4 1

Irregular Words

knia 4 = child

knia soon = descendants 1 4

knia (basic form) becomes knia (modified form) 4 1

Irregular Words

snar 1 = three

snar-chap-snar = thirty-three 3 1

snar (basic form) becomes snar (modified form) 1 3

3

Irregular Words

lang 2 = people

lang kheh = guests 3 3

lang (basic form) becomes lang (modified form) 2 3

Irregular Words

choon 2 = boat

choon thau = pier 3 3

choon (basic form) becomes choon (modified form) 2 3

Irregular Words

khoon 3 = sleep, lie down

khoon cherng = lie on bed 1 3

khoon (basic form) becomes khoon (modified form) 3 1

Irregular Words

chiak 1 = to eat

chiak bak = to eat meat 3 3

chiak (basic form) becomes chiak (modified form) 1 3

Irregular Words

bak 3 = meat

bak chang = meat dumpling 1 3

bak (basic form) becomes bak (modified form) 3 1

Recapping the Examples

Basic Form Modified Form

1

2

3

4 1

3

bak3

kam1

snar1

chiak1

lang2

choon2

khoon3

chooi4

kau4

knia4

kam3 chooi

4

snar3-chap

3-snar

1

chiak3 bak

3

lang3 kheh

3

choon3 thau

2

bak1 chang

3

khoon1 cherng

2

chooi1 seh

1

kau1 knia

4

knia1 soon

1

Kamsiah lu che che !

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