‘捅破棚窗纸’ ‘捅破棚窗纸’Literally means to pierce the white paper of the shadow play stage.In fact, it is often used to refer to uncovering the truth of things. Practice speaking this sentence in Teochew dialect: Shadow puppetry Shadow puppetry is a traditional performing art that uses silhouettes of figures carved from animal skins, which are flat and…

“头日剃头就遇着个胡须” “头日剃头就遇着个胡须” is a Teochew idiom.It means that things are in trouble the same time as the plan just start.’头日’means the first day.’剃头’means cut hair for others.’遇着’ means handle.’胡须’ means a person with a full beard. Practice speaking this sentence in Teochew dialect: Proud Apprentice Once upon a time, there was an apprentice barber. He…

凡事学大丈 ‘凡事学大丈’,The literal meaning is: Learn from your uncle in everything.Often refers to those who do things without knowing what to do and blindly follow others. ‘大丈’originally refers to the uncle in Teochew(husband of mother’s oldest sister or husband of oldest father’s sister).’凡事’means everything. Practice speaking this sentence in Teochew dialect: Special Teochew customs of…

无用姿娘勤三顿 There is a popular saying in Teochew Chenghai:’无用姿娘勤三顿’,which is used to mock those who are lazy by nature but cheat and cover up their faults. ‘无用姿娘勤三顿’,the literal meaning is that an incompetent woman only pretends to work hard when it is time to eat.’无用’means useless,in this sayingit refers more to a person who is…

In the Ming Dynasty, Feng Yuanbiao, a native of Cixi, Zhejiang, served as the county magistrate of Jieyang (one county of Teochew). During his four years in office, he did a lot of good things for Jieyang. He repaired the city, built Hanyuan Tower, Junzi Hall, Wuxian Temple, Shepu, Jinxian Gate, etc. He was also…

有人沉船，有人出米 Teochew Proverb’有人沉船，有人出米’,The literal meaning is that someone sank the ship and someone got the rice because of it. ‘船’ means ship in Chinese,and ‘米’ means rice in Chinese,’人’means people,’有人’means someone. It means that some people suffer misfortune, while others become rich because of it. Practice speaking this sentence in Teochew dialect: Stories start from…

众生有料人孬料——亦做：牛料马料人孬料 ‘众生有料人孬料’,this sentence is a proverb in Teochew.’众生’means livestock,’料’means predict. This proverb means that people can predict the future of livestock, but it is difficult to predict their own future.Often used to express that life is unpredictable. Practice speaking this sentence in Teochew dialect: Li Niuzhong, who is good at judging cattle There was a…

The Teochew Inspirational proverb”正想千丁，倒想绝种”,literally means that “Whether there are offspring or not depends on whether you are positive”.This is of course an exaggerated statement. “正想千丁，倒想绝种” Meaning of Teochew proverb”正想千丁，倒想绝种” Because the ancient Chinese people valued having many children and many grandchildren.They were afraid of extinction and no one to pass on the family line. These…

一块薯粉粿，欲保贺多少人 There is a saying in Teochew”一块薯粉粿，欲保贺多少人”(practice how to pronounce in Teochew above),which is often used to satirize those who give little but ask for a lot.Literally means:Who can be blessed by offering only one piece of sweet potato Kueh? Meaning of “保贺”in Teochew “保贺“is a common phrase in Teochew.It is something like “Bless”.We say…

Have you ever heard the Asian Koel call “Soigo! Soigo!” when the bayberry flowers bloom? Read this magical and poignant Teochew folk story. Susan&Amy are sister-in-law In ancient times, there was a Nanshan Mountain outside the city of Teochew. At the foot of Nanshan Mountain, there lived a family. There were three people in the…