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1. Romanised Teochew (without Tone Indicators)
Old Man:. Kao un, kao un kua,
Kao un chug si huan liao sua.
Teg ter tng, teg ter tua.
I zo ni ziu oi a oi kio kua?
Girl: Kao un i si
thou toi` se` kad thou toi` tua.
I thao hua` u zeg zag ped.
I zia` oi a oi kio kua .
Old Man:. Chan hoi i ia si
thou toi` se` kad thou toi` tua.
I zo ni ziu boi a boi kio kua?
Girl:.. Chan hoi sui jian si
thou toi` se` kad thou toi` tua,
i pag e u kai i`.
I zia` boi a boi kio kua.
Old man:. Tio kou zun i pag e ia u kai i`.
I zo ni ziu oi a oi kio kua?
Girl:.. Tio kou zun i si lag kha kan si sig.
I zia` oi a oi kio kua .
Old man:. Teg sua me ia si lag kha kan si sig.
I zo ni ziu boi a boi kio kua?
Girl: . Teg sua me i si san mag lai lai che`.
I zia` boi a boi kio kua .
Old man: Chan zui koi kai mag ju ken che`.
. Tiam to chan khan toi`.
. Kio tiod “og og ” kio.
I zo ni ziu oi a oi kio kua?
Girl:.. Chan zui koi i si tou tua chui iu khuad.
I zia` oi a oi kio kua.
Old man:. Thou zui kng kai tou ju ken tua.
I kai chui ju ken khuad.
I zo ni ziu boi a boi kio kua?
Girl:.. Thou zui kng i si thou lai zo, hue lai sio.
I zia` boi a boi kio kua.
Old man:. Thou ki ku ia si thou lai zo, hue lai sio.
I zo ni ziu oi a oi kio kua?
Girl:.. Thou ki ku i si san thou u no khan.
I zia` oi a oi kio kua.
Old man:. A ped kai teg hun tan, san thou ia no khan.
I zo ni ziu boi a boi kio kua?
Girl:.. Teg hun tan i si teg lai zo, to lai tiao.
I zia` boi a boi kio kua.
Old man:. Teg siao kia` ia si teg lai zo, to lai tiao.
I zo ni ziu oi a oi kio kua?
Girl:.. Teg siao kia` i si khan siao zoi.
I zia` oi a oi kio kua.
Old man:. Chai thou thiu ……….
Girl:.. Chai thou thuad.
Old man:. Mo ta` mo ta`, ua` kon kai mia kio jia kai.
Girl: O, nia kon si kio a thuad no !
Old man: Zia` zer nio kia`, a ped m ka` ta`,
ler zuan zuan ai` ta`.
Girl: Mia si chai thou thiu, g`e hou` tiod thuad.
Old man: G`e hou` tiod thu… thu… thu… thuad?
Girl: Thuad zia` tui no.
Old man: Ho, lai tui lai tui a ......
Chai thou thuad, i kai khan ju ken zoi.
I zo ni ziu boi a boi kio kua?
Girl: Chai thou thuad i si cha lai zo thid lai ten.
I zia` boi a boi kio kua.
Old man: Cha sa` hi` ia si cha lai zo thid lai ten.
Tua` tiod “ter lan tin tan, ter lan tin tan”.
I zo ni ziu oi a oi kio kua?
Girl: Cha sa` hi` i si u no ko khim zua phue.
Hua` u len tan zi tioa sua`.
I zia` oi a oi kio kua.
Old man: A ped kai phua khou kued kai sua` ju ken zoi.
I zo ni ziu boi a boi kio kua?
Girl: Phua khou kued i si zio se` hui` zio se` lui.
I zia` boi a boi kio kua.
Old man: Chiu chia kia` ia si zio se` hui` zio se` lui.
Phan tiod “thu thu” kio.
I zo ni ziu oi a oi kio kua?
Girl: Chiu chia kia` i si niam siao zoi.
I zia` oi a oi kio kua.
Old man: Sng io` to i kai niam ju ken zoi.
I zo ni ziu boi a boi kio kua?
Girl: Sng io` to i si chiu ten se` kad chiu ten tua.
I zia` boi a boi kio kua.
Old man: Ka tan ziao ia si chiu ten se` kad chiu ten tua.
I zo ni ziu oi a oi kio kua?
Girl: Ka tan ziao i si chui ziam zid kia` lai.
I zia` oi a oi kio kua.
Old man: Ka to kia` i kai chui ju ken ziam, i kai zid ju ken lai.
I zo ni ziu boi a boi kio kua?
Girl: Ka to kia` i si thid lai zo, hue lai sio.
I zia` boi a boi kio kua .
Old man: Tua tan lo ia si thid lai zo, hue lai sio.
Kha tiod tong.... zeg kio.
I zo ni ziu oi a oi kio kua?
Girl: O, ler su ua liao, su ua liao!
Old man: Zo ni oi su, zo ni oi su?
Girl: Tan lo si tan lai zo, ler ta` thid lai zo,
ler su ua liao.
Old man: Ler hua` zi` bue huag khi.
Tan lo men thid thui lai tui tui tui
ziu oi sen tan lo?
Girl: Tiam tiam ta` u lai! Tiam tiam m jin su.
Old man: Hio` koi jiu jin su? Hio` koi jiu jin su?
Ue` ue` ue`, pia` ta` ue,
ziad zun phu kao Tan Khoi Ten lai lou !
Girl: Ua ai` kher Sai Lou, zi zun boi tig tng lou.
Old man: Mai kia`, mai kia`,
A ped lai phad hian zio zed e ziu kao.
Lai phad hian zio liao a !
2. Romanised Teochew
Old Man: Kao20un4 , kao20un42 kua3 ,
Kao20un4 chug01si5 huan3 liao42 sua3 .
Teg01ter0 tng1 , teg01ter0 tua0 .
I3 zo54ni10 ziu20 oi2 a3 oi2 kio54 kua3?
Girl: Kao20un4 i10 si20
thou10toi`2 se`3 kad0 thou10toi`42 tua0 .
I3 thao1 hua`3 u20 zeg10zag01 peg1 .
I3 zia`54 oi2 a3 oi2 kio54 kua3 .
Old Man: Chan10hoi2 i3 ia0si20
thou10 toi`42 se`3 kad0 thou10 toi`42 tua0 .
I3 zo54ni10 ziu20 boi2 a3 boi2 kio54 kua3?
Girl: Chan10hoi2 sui10jian10 si20
thou10toi`2 se`3 kad0 thou10toi`42 tua0 ,
i3 pag01e2 u20 kai10i`4 .
I3 zia`54 boi2 a3 boi2 kio54 kua3 .
Old man: Tio10kou3zun1 i3 pag01e2 ia0 u20 kai10i`4 .
I3 zo54ni10 ziu20 oi2 a3 oi2 kio54 kua3?
Girl: Tio10kou3zun1 i3 si20 lag10kha3 kan54 si54sig1 .
I3 zia`54 oi2 a3 oi2 kio54 kua3 .
Old man: Teg01sua3me3 ia0si20 lag10kha3 kan54 si54sig1 .
I3 zo54ni10 ziu20 boi2 a3 boi2 kio54 kua3?
Girl: Teg01sua3me3 i3 si20 san3mag1 lai3lai3 che`3 .
I3 zia`54 boi2 a3 boi2 kio54 kua3 .
Old man: Chan10zui42koi3 kai10mag1 ju42ken54 che`3 .
Tiam54to0 chan10khan3toi`4 .
Kio54tiod1 “og0og0” kio5 .
I3 zo54ni10 ziu20 oi2 a3 oi2 kio54 kua3?
Girl: Chan10zui42koi3 i3 si20 tou4 tua0 chui5 iu5 khuad0 .
I3 zia`54 oi2 a3 oi2 kio54 kua3 .
Old man: Thou10zui42kng3 i3 kai10 tou4 ju42ken54 tua0 .
I3 kai10 chui5 ju42ken54 khuad0 .
I3 zo54ni10 ziu20 boi2 a3 boi2 kio54 kua3?
Girl: Thou10zui42kng3 i3 si20 thou1 lai10zo5, hue4 lai10sio3 .
I3 zia`54 boi2 a3 boi2 kio54 kua3 .
Old man: Thou10ki3ku1 ia0si20 thou1 lai10zo5, hue4 lai10sio3 .
I3 zo54ni10 ziu20 oi2 a3 oi2 kio54 kua3?
Girl: Thou10ki3ku1 i3 si20 san3thou1 u20 no20khan3 .
I3 zia`54 oi2 a3 oi2 kio54 kua3 .
Old man: A3peg0 kai10 teg01hun3tan1 , san3thou1 ia0 no20khan3 .
I3 zo54ni10 ziu20 boi2 a3 boi2 kio54 kua3?
Girl: Teg01hun3tan1 i3 si20 teg0 lai10zo5, to3 lai10 tiao3 .
I3 zia`54 boi2 a3 boi2 kio54 kua3 .
Old man: Teg01siao3kia`4 ia0si20 teg0 lai10zo5, to3 lai10 tiao3 .
I3 zo54ni10 ziu20 oi2 a3 oi2 kio54 kua3?
Girl: Teg01siao3kia`4 i3 si20 khan3 siao54 zoi0 .
I3 zia`54 oi2 a3 oi2 kio54 kua3 .
Old man: Chai54thou10thiu3 ……….
Girl: Chai54thou10thuad0 .
Old man: Mo42ta`5 mo42ta`5 , ua`42kon3 kai10mia1 kio54 zo5 jia42kai1 .
Girl: O2, nia42kon3 si20 kio54 zo5 a3thuad0 no0 !
Old man: Zia`4 zer3nio10kia`10 , a3peg0 m20ka`42 ta`5 ,
ler4 zuan3zuan3 ai`54 ta`5 .
Girl: Mia1 si20 chai54thou10thiu3, g`e20hou`42 tiod10 thuad0 .
Old man: G` e20hou`42 tiod10 thu0… thu0… thu0… thuad0?
Girl: Thuad0 zia`54tui5 no0 .
Old man: Ho4 , lai10tui5 lai10tui5 a0 ………
Chai54thou10thuad0 , i3 kai10khan3 ju42ken54 zoi0 .I3 zo54ni10 ziu20 boi2 a3 boi2 kio54 kua3?
Girl: Chai54thou10thuad0 i3 si20 cha1 lai10zo5 thid0 lai10 ten5 .
I3 zia`54 boi2 a3 boi2 kio54 kua3 .
Old man: Cha10sa`3hi`1 ia0si20 cha1 lai10zo5 thid0 lai10 ten5 .
Tua`10 tiod1 “ter3lan2 tin2tan2, ter3lan2 tin2tan2”.
I3 zo54ni10 ziu20 oi2 a3 oi2 kio54 kua3?
Girl: Cha10sa`3hi`1 i3 si20 u20 no20 ko54 khim10zua3phue1 .
Hua`42u20 len54tan3 zi42 tioa10sua`5 .
I3 zia`54 oi2 a3 oi2 kio54 kua3 .
Old man: A3peg0 kai10 phua54 khou54kueg1 kai10 sua`5 ju4ken54 zoi0 .
I3 zo54ni10 ziu20 boi2 a3 boi2 kio54 kua3?
Girl: Phua54 khou54kueg1 i3 si20 zio54se`3 hui`3 zio54se`3 lui0 .
I3 zia`54 boi2 a3 boi2 kio54 kua3 .
Old man: Chiu42chia3kia`4 ia0si20 zio54se`3 hui`3 zio54se`3 lui0 .
Phan42tiod1 “thu0thu0” kio5 .
I3 zo54ni10 ziu20 oi2 a3 oi2 kio54 kua3?
Girl: Chiu42chia3kia`4 i3 si20 niam54 siao54 zoi0 .
I3 zia`54 oi2 a3 oi2 kio54 kua3 .
Old man: Sng3 io`10to1 i3 kai10 niam5 ju42ken54 zoi0 .
I3 zo54ni10 ziu20 boi2 a3 boi2 kio54 kua3?
Girl: Sng3 io`10to1 i3 si20 chiu0ten42 se`3 kad0 chiu0ten42 tua0 .
I3 zia`54 boi2 a3 boi2 kio54 kua3 .
Old man: Ka3tan3ziao4 ia0si20 chiu0ten42 se`3 kad0 chiu0ten42 tua0 .
I3 zo54ni10 ziu20 oi2 a3 oi2 kio54 kua3?
Girl: Ka3tan3ziao4 i3 si20 chui54 ziam3 zid10kia`42 lai0 .
I3 zia`54 oi2 a3 oi2 kio54 kua3 .
Old man: Ka3to3kia`4 i3 kai10 chui5 ju42ken54 ziam3 ,
i3 kai10 zid1 ju42ken54 lai0 .
I3 zo54ni10 ziu20 boi2 a3 boi2 kio54 kua3?
Girl: Ka3to3kia`4 i3 si20 thid0 lai10zo5 , hue4 lai10 sio3 .
I3 zia`54 boi2 a3 boi2 kio54 kua3 .
Old man: Tua0 tan10lo1 ia0si20 thid0 lai10zo5, hue4 lai10 sio3
Kha54 tiod1 tong0.... zeg10 kio5
I3 zo54ni10 ziu20 oi2 a3 oi2 kio54 kua3?
Girl: O2, ler4 su3 ua42 liao42, su3 ua42 liao42 !
Old man: Zo54ni10 oi3 su3? Zo54ni10 oi3 su3?
Girl: Tan10lo1 si20 tan1 lai10zo5, ler4 ta`54 thid0 lai10zo5,
ler4 su3 ua42 liao42
Old man: Ler4 hua`42 zi`4 bue0huag01 khi4
tan10lo1 men42 thid01thui1 lai10 tui1 tui1 tui1
ziu20 oi20 sen10 tan10lo1?
Girl: Tiam0 tiam0 ta`54 u20 lai1! Tiam0 tiam0 m20 jin0 su3.
Old man: Hio`54koi0 jiu0 jin0 su3? Hio`54koi0 jiu0 jin0 su3?
Ue`0ue`0 ue`0 , pia`54 ta`54 ue0 ,
ziad01zun1 phu10kao54 Tan3Khoi3Ten5 lai10lou0 !
Girl: Ua4 ai`54 kher54 Sai3Lou1 , zi4zun10 boi20tig01 tng4 lou0 !
Old man: Mai54 kia`3 , mai54 kia`3 ,
A3peg0 lai10 phad01 hian42 zio4 zeg10e0 ziu20 kao5 .
Lai10 phad01 hian42 zio4 liao42 a0 !
3. Direct Translation
Old Man: Earthworm, earthworm song,
Earthworm born seals finished sand.
Bamboo chopstick long, bamboo chopstick big.
It why can ah can sing?
Girl: Earthworm it is
soil inside born and soil inside grows.
Its head also has a section white.
It rightly can ah can sing.
Old Man: Paddy field crab it also is
soil inside born and soil inside grows.
It why then can’t ah can’t sing?
Girl: Paddy field crab although is
soil inside born and soil inside grows,
it belly below has a seat.
It rightly can’t ah can’t sing.
Old Man: “Tio kou zun” (insect) it belly below also has a seat.
It why then can ah can sing?
Girl: “Tio kou zun” it is 6 legs and 4 wings.
It rightly can ah can sing.
Old Man: Dragonfly also is 6 legs and 4 wings.
It why can’t ah can’t sing?
Girl: Dragonfly it is both eyes sharp sharp green.
It rightly can’t ah can’t sing.
Old Man: Paddy field frog’s eyes even greener.
Hides at paddy field hole inside.
Calls/Cries “og og” call/cry.
It why then can ah can sing?
Girl: Paddy field frog it is belly big, mouth also wide.
It rightly can ah can sing.
Old Man: Earthen water jar’s belly even bigger.
Its mouth even wider.
It why then can’t ah can’t sing?
Girl: Earthen water jar it is earth come make, fire come burn.
It rightly can’t ah can’t sing.
Old Man: Clay whistle also is earth come make, fire come burn.
It why then can ah can sing?
Girl: Clay whistle it both heads have two holes.
It rightly can ah can sing.
Old Man: Elder paternal uncle’s bamboo smoke pipe both heads also two holes.
It why then can’t ah can’t sing?
Girl: Bamboo smoke pipe it is bamboo come make, knife come carve.
It rightly can’t ah can’t sing.
Old Man: Bamboo flute also bamboo come make, knife come carve.
It why then can ah can sing?
Girl: Bamboo flute it is holes count many.
It rightly can ah can sing.
Old Man: Radish scraper …..
Girl: Radish grater.
Old Man: Bad say bad say, my grandfather’s name called this.
Girl: Oh, your grandfather is called “otter#” ah.
Old Man: This girl! Elder paternal uncle dare not say, you purposely want say.
Girl: Name is “Radish scraper” must rightly “grate”.
Old Man: Must rightly “grate”?
Girl: “Grate” rightly correct.
Old Man: Good, come correct, come correct ah ……
Radish grater its holes even more.
It why then can’t ah can’t sing?
Girl: Radish grater it is wood to come make, iron to come nailed.
It rightly can’t ah can’t sing.
Old Man: Wooden 3-string instrument also is wood come make,
iron come nailed.
Strummed “ter lan tin tan, ter lan tin tan”.
It why then can ah can sing?
Girl: Wooden 3-string instrument it has 2 pieces python skin.
Still has middle this string*.
It rightly can ah can sing.
Old Man: Elder paternal uncle’s tattered shorts’ thread* even more.
It why then can’t ah can’t sing?
Girl: Tattered shorts they are like this spin like this tired.
It rightly can’t ah can’t sing.
Old Man: Hand cart little also is like this spin like this tired.
Spinning “thu thu” cry.
It why then can ah can sing?
Girl: Hand cart little it is ribs^ count many.
It rightly can ah can sing.
Old Man: Sour star fruit’s folds^ even more.
It why then can’t ah can’t sing?
Girl: Sour star fruit it is tree top born and tree top grow.
It rightly can’t ah can’t sing.
Old Man: “Ka tan” bird also is tree top born and tree top grow.
It why then can ah can sing?
Girl: “Ka tan” bird it is mouth pointed tongue little sharp.
It rightly can ah can sing.
Old Man: Little scissors’ mouth even more pointed,
tongue little even sharper.
It why then can’t ah can’t sing?
Girl: Little scissors are iron come make, fire come burn.
It rightly can’t ah can’t sing.
Old Man: Big brass cymbal also iron come make, fire come burn
Knocking/Striking “tong” one cry
It why then can ah can sing?
Girl: Oh you lose me already, lose me already!
Old Man: Why can lose? Why can lose?
Girl: Brass cymbal is brass come make, you said iron come make,
you lose me already
Old Man: You still tender, not yet grow teeth.
Brass cymbal no need iron hammer come hammer hammer hammer then can succeed brass cymbal?
Girl: Always speak can come! Always don’t admit lose.
Old Man: So easy then admit lose? So easy then admit lose?
Oh oh oh, strived hard talking,
The boat floated to Tang Khoi Ten come oh!
Girl: I want go Sai Lou, now cannot go back oh!
Old Man: Don’t want afraid, don’t want afraid,
Elder paternal uncle come strike loud oars, soon then arrive.
Come strike loud oars ah!
4. Proper Translation
Old Man: Earthworm, earthworm song,
Earthworm, when born, is sealed in sand.
It is as long and big as a chopstick.
Why it can sing?
Girl: Earthworm is
born in the soil and grows up in the soil.
Its head also has a white section.
That is why it can sing.
Old Man: Paddy field crab is also born in the soil and grows up in the soil.
Why then it can’t sing?
Girl: Although paddy field crab is
born in the soil and grows up in the soil,
its belly has a plate.
That is why it can’t sing.
Old Man: (Insect) “Tio kou zun’s” belly also has a plate.
Why then it can sing?
Girl: (Insect) “Tio kou zun” has 6 legs and 4 wings.
That is why it can sing.
Old Man: Dragonfly also has 6 legs and 4 wings.
Why it can’t sing?
Girl: Dragonfly’s both eyes are sharp green.
That is why it can’t sing.
Old Man: Paddy field frog’s eyes are even greener.
Hides inside a hole in the paddy field.
Cries “og og” sound.
Why then it can sing?
Girl: Paddy field frog has big belly and wide mouth.
That is why it can sing.
Old Man: Earthen water jar’s belly is even bigger.
Its mouth is even wider.
Why then it can’t sing?
Girl: Earthen water jar is made of clay and fired.
That is why it can’t sing.
Old Man: Clay whistle is also made of clay and fired.
Why then it can sing?
Girl: Clay whistle’s both ends have holes.
That is why it can sing.
Old Man: My bamboo smoke pipe’s both ends also have holes.
Why then it can’t sing?
Girl: Bamboo smoke pipe is made of bamboo and carved by a knife.
That is why it can’t sing.
Old Man: Bamboo flute is also made of bamboo and carved by a knife.
Why then it can sing?
Girl: Bamboo flute has many holes.
That is why it can sing.
Old Man: Radish scraper …..
Girl: Radish grater.
Old Man: Don’t say (this word), don’t say (this word), my grandfather’s name is this.
Girl: Oh, your grandfather is called “otter#” ah.
Old Man: This girl! I dared not say, you purposely said it.
Girl: Even if you called it “radish scraper” it must still “grate”.
Old Man: Must still “grate”?
Girl: “Grate” is correct.
Old Man: OK, be correct, be correct ah ……
Radish grater has even more holes.
Why then it can’t sing?
Girl: Radish grater is made of wood and a piece of iron.
That is why it can’t sing.
Old Man: Wooden 3-string instrument is also made of wood and iron.
When strummed it sounds “ter lan tin tan, ter lan tin tan”
Why then it can sing?
Girl: Wooden 3-string instrument has 2 pieces python skin.
And in the middle has a string*.
That is why it can sing.
Old Man: My tattered shorts have even more thread*.
Why then they can’t sing?
Girl: Tattered shorts suffer from wear and tear.
That is why they can’t sing.
Old Man: Little hand cart also suffers from wear and tear.
When spinning it sounds “thu thu”.
Why then it can sing?
Girl: Little hand cart has many ribs^.
That is why it can sing.
Old Man: Sour star fruit has even more folds^.
Why then it can’t sing?
Girl: Sour star fruit grows in a tree.
That is why it can’t sing.
Old Man: “Ka tan” bird also grows up in a tree.
Why then it can sing?
Girl: “Ka tan” bird’s beak is pointed and its little tongue is sharp.
That is why it can sing.
Old Man: Small scissors are even more pointed and even sharper.
Why then they can’t sing?
Girl: Small scissors are made of iron and forged.
That is why they can’t sing.
Old Man: Big brass cymbal is also made of/by iron and forged
Striking it sounds “tong”
Why then it can sing?
Girl: Oh you have lost to me, lost to me!
Old Man: Why did I lose? Why did I lose?
Girl: Brass cymbal is made of brass, you said made of iron,
you have lost to me
Old Man: You are still young, not yet have milk teeth.
Don’t brass cymbal need iron hammer to forge it to become brass cymbal?
Girl: Always able to explain away! Always won’t admit lose.
Old Man: So easy to admit I lose? So easy to admit I lose?
Oh oh oh, while busy talking,
the boat has drifted to Tan Khoi Ten already!
Girl: I want to go to Sai Lou, now I can’t go back!
Old Man: Don’t be scared, don’t be scared.
I shall row hard, soon we shall arrive.
Going to row hard ah!
*In Teochew “otter” and “grater” sound the same.
*Teochews use same word for “string” and “thread”.
^Teochews use same word for “ribs” of wooden wheel and “folds” of star fruit.
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