Taiwanese-English dictionaries full-text search

What did you say? (when one has not heard clearly), What? Huh? How? Why? My gosh! (when pronounced very long and drawn out), Here, here, Sir! (when said in amazement or dissatisfaction at another's words)

什麼? 我的天啊!

Hvaa. Cid kux lie m bad, si`bøo? [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Hvaa. Cid kux lie m bad, si`bøo? [[...]]
Huh? You don't know this word?
我的天啊! 這句你不懂嗎?

gau'hvay [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: gaau'hvay [[...]]

complain of unfair treatment, discrimination or undeserved punishment, like to complain

叫屈

Y si gau'hvay niaxnia, mxsi bøo cvii. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Y si gaau'hvay nia'nia, m'si bøo cvii. [[...]]
It isn't that he doesn't have any money, he just likes to complain.
他是很會抱怨而已,不是沒有錢。

goaxheeng [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: goa'heeng [[...]]

appearance or features

外型

Goaxheeng si bae, mxkuo laixpo khvoax bøextiøh. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Goa'heeng si bae, m'kuo lai'po khvoax be'tiøh.; Goa'heeng si bae, m'kuo lai'po khvoax bøe'tiøh. [[...]]
Don't judge a book by it's cover. (Lit. The outward appearance is bad but the inside can't be seen.)
外形不好看,不過內部看不到。

hexnggi [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: heng'gi [[...]]

very fortunate

幸運

Tiøh ciofngkoaxn si hexnggi ee taixcix, mxsi extaxng khefngteng ee. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Tiøh ciorng'koaxn si heng'gi ee tai'cix, m'si e'taxng kherng'teng ee. [[...]]
To get top prize is very fortunate, it is not logical.
中獎券是幸運的事情,不是能肯定的。

høeftoa [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: hoea toa; høea-toa [[...]]

internal heat (as cause of disease), fever

火氣大

Uxsi'ar mxzay si høea-toa, afsi arnzvoar, khuxn lorng bøe khix. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: U'sii'ar m'zay si hoea toa, ar'si axn'zvoar, khuxn lorng be khix.; U'sii'ar m'zay si høea-toa, ar'si axn'zvoar, khuxn lorng bøe khix. [[...]]
Sometimes I don't know if it is a fever or what that I can't sleep.
有時不知是火氣大還是怎樣,都睡不著。

hu'tiaw [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: huu'tiaw [[...]]

bas-relief, relief sculpture

浮雕

Cid khoarn ee si hu'tiaw mxsi chimtiaw. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Cid khoarn ee si huu'tiaw m'si chym'tiaw. [[...]]
This kind is relief work it is not sculpture.
這種的是浮雕,不是深雕。

iesux [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: ix'sux [[...]]

meaning, idea, intention

意思　

Goar m si hid khoarn ee iesux. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Goar m si hid khoarn ee ix'sux. [[...]]
I didn't mean it.
我不是那種意思。

bøo-iesux [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: bøo ix'sux; bøo-ix'sux [[...]]
senseless, meaningless, nonsense, ridiculous
沒有意思,不夠意思

iern [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: iern [[...]]

wrestle, throw down, lay down, to overthrow

觔,推,扶

Hid nng ee gyn'ar teq siøiern, mxsi teq siøphaq. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Hid nng ee girn'ar teq siøf'iern, m'si teq siøf'phaq. [[...]]
Those two kids are wrestling, they are not fighting.
那兩個孩子在摔角,不是在打架。

Y tør ti tho'khaf, goar ka y iern (huu) khylaai. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Y tør ti thoo'khaf, goar ka y iern (huu) khie'laai. [[...]]
He was lying on the ground (floor), I helped him up.
他倒在地上,我把他扶起來。

Cid ky thiauar ka goar taux iern khylaai. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Cid ky thiau'ar ka goar taux iern khie'laai. [[...]]
Give me a hand to erect this pillar.
幫我扶直這根柱子。

in'ieen [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: yn'ieen [[...]]

fate or influence which brings lovers together

姻緣

hør in'ieen [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: hør yn'ieen [[...]]
good match
好姻緣

In'ieen thvy zuotvia. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Yn'ieen thvy zux'tvia. [[...]]
Matches are ordained by God.
姻緣天註定

In'ieen thvy zuotvia, mxsi moelaang khaf gaau kviaa. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Yn'ieen thvy zux'tvia, m'si moee'laang khaf gaau kviaa. [[...]]
Marriage are made in heaven, not by the match maker's efforts.
姻緣天註定不是媒人一線牽。

ittiaw itsek [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: id'tiaw id'sek [[...]]

a short time (Lit. one morning and one evening)

一朝一夕

Zef mxsi ittiaw itsek ciu extaxng oanseeng ee. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Zef m'si id'tiaw id'sek ciu e'taxng oaan'seeng ee. [[...]]
This cannot be completed in a short time.
這不是一朝一夕就能完成的。

iuthaau katbin [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: iw'thaau kad'bin [[...]]

have worried look, pull long face, having a displeased look

愁眉苦臉

Tviaxtvia iuthaau katbin ee laang, itteng mxsi khoaelok ee. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Tvia'tvia iw'thaau kad'bin ee laang, id'teng m'si khoaix'lok ee. [[...]]
People who always have long faces definitely are not happy.
常常愁眉苦臉的人,一定不快樂。

ji'hix [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: jii'hix [[...]]

child's play, trifling matter, treat lightly

兒戲

mxsi ji'hix [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: m'si jii'hix [[...]]
It is no trifling matter.
不是兒戲

torngzøx ji'hix [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: toxng'zøx jii'hix; toxng'zøx/zøex jii'hix [[...]]
regard as a mere trifle
當做兒戲

kvafsi [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: kvar'si [[...]]

I rather think it is so, I suppose it is.

大概是

kvar mxsi [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: kvar m'si [[...]]
I think it is not so.
大概不是

kaq mxsi [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: kaq m'si [[...]]

since...not

既不是

Lie kaq mxsi phoarpve, nar bøo aix khix haghau? [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Lie kaq m'si phoax'pve, nar bøo aix khix hak'hau?; Lie kaq m'si phoax'pve/pvi, nar bøo aix khix hak'hau? [[...]]
Since you are not sick, why don't you want to attend school?
你既不是生病,為何不去學校?

Mih kaq mxsi kea ee, lie khix chviar symmihlaang laai khvoax ia bøo iaokirn. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Mih kaq m'si kea ee, lie khix chviar sirm'miq'laang laai khvoax ia bøo iaux'kirn. [[...]]
Since the things are not false, it doesn't make any difference whom you ask to look at them.
貨既不是假的,你去請誰來看也沒有關係。

kahsi [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: kaq'si; (kix'jieen) [[...]]

since — in the sense of circumstances

既然

Y kahsi (kiejieen) teq phoarpve, itteng bøextaxng laai. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Y kaq'si (kix'jieen) teq phoax'pve, id'teng be'taxng laai.; Y kaq'si (kix'jieen) teq phoax'pve/pvi, id'teng bøe'taxng laai. [[...]]
Since he is sick, he certainly cannot be here.
他既然生病了,一定不能來。

Y kahsi m laai, maix køq khix kiøx y. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Y kaq'si m laai, maix køq khix kiøx y. [[...]]
Since he doesn't want to come, don't go and call him again.
他既然不來,不要再去叫他。

karm-mxsi? [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: karm m'si; karm-m'si? [[...]]

how can it be otherwise (surely it is)

難道不是

khaw [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: khaw; (khaw'sea) [[...]]

speak ironically

諷刺

Y teq ka goar khaw, mxsi teq ka goar ølør. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Y teq ka goar khaw, m'si teq ka goar øf'lør. [[...]]
He is speaking ironically, not praising me.
他是在諷刺我,不是在稱讚我。

khiøq [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: khiøq [[...]]

pick up, to gather, bear (a child), sharpen (a saw)

拾,撿

Ti loxnih khiøq`ee, mxsi thautheh`ee. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Ti lo'nih khiøq ee, m'si thaw'theh ee.; Ti lo'nih khiøq`ee, m'si thaw'theh`ee.; (Ti lo'nih khiøq'tiøh`ee, m'si thaw'theh`ee.) [[...]]
I picked this up on the road, I did not steal it.
是在路上撿的,不是偷的。

khørtiøh [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: khøx'tiøh [[...]]

have a bruise (as fruit), bruise from a fall, sometimes with internal bleeding

瘀傷,壓傷

Zef mxsi noaxkhix, si khørtiøh ee. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Zef m'si noa'khix, si khøx'tiøh ee. [[...]]
This (fruit) is not rotten, it is only bruised.
這不是腐爛,是壓傷的。

Lie poaqtør u khørtiøh `bøo? [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Lie poah'tør u khøx'tiøh `bøo? [[...]]
Did you get bruised when you fell down?
你跌倒有沒有瘀傷?

khoarn [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: khoarn [[...]]

treat courteously, entertain, a kind, an article in a treaty, sum or amount of money, a style, get ready (luggage)

款,樣子,收拾

ee khoarn [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: ee'khoarn; ee khoarn [[...]]
seems, probably (This word always comes at the end of the sentences):
似乎,…的樣子

øe løqho e'khoarn [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: e løh'ho ee'khoarn; øe løh'ho ee'khoarn [[...]]
It probably will rain.
會下雨的樣子

huokhoarn [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: hux'khoarn [[...]]
pay money
付款

mxsi khoarn [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: m'si khoarn [[...]]
conduct is very bad
不像樣,不像話

kongkhoarn [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: kofng'khoarn [[...]]
public money
公款

kisit [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: kii'sit [[...]]

as a matter of fact, in fact

其實

kisit y bøo pvoax ee cvii [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: kii'sit y bøo pvoax ee cvii [[...]]
in fact he doesn't have a penny
其實他一毛錢也沒有

kisit mxsi afnny [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: kii'sit m'si arn'ny [[...]]
It really is not so.
其實不是這樣

kiwky [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: kiuo'ky [[...]]

reside for long time

久居

Ciaf mxsi kiwky ee sofzai. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Ciaf m'si kiuo'ky ee sor'zai. [[...]]
This place is not for permanent residence.
這裡不是久居的地方。

kor'ix [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: kox'ix [[...]]

intentional, purposely, on purpose, deliberately

故意

Goar mxsi korix ee. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Goar m'si kox'ix ee. [[...]]
I meant no harm.
我不是故意的。

si korix zøx ee [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: si kox'ix zøx ee; si kox'ix zøx/zøex ee [[...]]
did it deliberately
是故意做的

ko'putciofng [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: kof'pud'ciofng [[...]]

having no alternative but to do it, unavoidably, be compelled to do

不得已

ko'putciofng ee sii [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: kof'pud'ciofng ee sii [[...]]
in an unavoidable case, if necessary
不得已的時候

u ko'putciofng ee suxzeeng [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: u kof'pud'ciofng ee su'zeeng [[...]]
Owing to circumstances beyond control
有不得已的事情

Goar mxsi aix afnny, si ko'putciofng zøx ee. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Goar m'si aix arn'ny, si kof'pud'ciofng zøx ee.; Goar m'si aix arn'ny, si kof'pud'ciofng zøx/zøex ee. [[...]]
I did it of necessity, not of choice.
我不想這樣,是不得已做的

Lømar [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Løo'mar [[...]]

Rome

羅馬

Lømar mxsi cidjit zøxseeng ee. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Løo'mar m'si cit'jit zø'seeng ee. [[...]]
Rome was not built in a day.
羅馬不是一天造成的。

lun [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: lun; jun; (jun) [[...]]

tough, tenacious, strong, patient, endurable, persevering

堅韌

Tøf twn, mxsi baq jun. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Tøf twn, m'si baq jun. [[...]]
It's that the knife is dull, the meat isn't tough. — If you don't know how, you criticize.
刀鈍不是肉老,技差不是事難。

mxsi [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: m'si [[...]]

no, it is not

不是

(na) m si... ciuxsi... [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: (na) m si... ciu'si... [[...]]
either … or, if not … it must be …
若不是 ...就是 ...

Na mxsi lie, ciuxsi y zøx ee. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Na m'si lie, ciu'si y zøx ee.; Na m'si lie, ciu'si y zøx/zøex`ee. [[...]]
If you didn't do it, he certainly did.
若不是你,就是他做的。

mxsi-khafng [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: m'si'khafng; m'si-khafng [[...]]

precautions should be taken, powerful rival

很利害,難纏

Hid ee laang mxsixkhafng. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Hid ee laang m'si'khafng. [[...]]
Precautions should be taken against him. He is a dangerous man. He is a powerful rival.
那個人很利害。