3.3: End Consonants

Table of End Consonants

Here is the table again for easier reference! I will be going though every sound with a few example words. Romanisation follows the Singlor Pengim system. Pronunciation in the example sentences follow my parents' accents unless stated otherwise.

IPA	Singlor Pengim	Hanyu Pinyin	Teochew Peng’im	GGN Peng’im	POJ	Tai-lo
/p/	p	❌	b	p	p	p
/t/	t	❌	❌	❌	t	t
/k/	k	❌	g	k	k	k
/m/	m	❌	m	m	m	m
/n/	n	n	❌	❌	n	n
/ŋ/	ng	ng	ng	ng	ng	ng

P

Singlor Pengim	Hokkien	Teochew	Mandarin	English	Pronunciation
p	十 zap	十 zap	❌	lap	link

Hokkien and Teochew have the -p final consonant. It is similar to the p in lap, but is not aspirated (no final puff of air). Like -', it shortens the length of the syllable.

Here is an example sentence that includes this end consonant: Ten very dirty people walked into that Kway Chap shop.

Hokkien	十	个	真正	垃圾	个	侬	行	入	彼	间	粿汁店
Pengim	zap	gei	zin-zia~	la’-sap	ei	lang	gia~	jip	hit	geng	guei-zap-diam

Teochew	十	个	真正	垃圾	个	侬	行	入	彼	间	粿汁店
Pengim	zap	gai	zin-zia~	na’-sap	gai	lang	gia~	jip	hit	geng	guei-zap-diam

Mandarin	十	个	非常	肮脏	的	人	走	进	那	间	粿汁店
English	ten	count.	very	dirty	poss.	person	walk	enter	that	count.	Kway Chap shop

T

Singlor Pengim	Hokkien	Teochew	Mandarin	English	Pronunciation
t	力 lat	(力 lak)	❌	hat	link

Hokkien has the -t final consonant, which most Teochew speakers will replace with -k. It is similar to the t in hat, but is not aspirated (no final puff of air). Like -' and -p, it shortens the length of the syllable.

Here is an example sentence that includes this end consonant: I have never eaten a chicken wing so jialat before.

Hokkien	我	毋	捌	食	过	按呢	食力	个	鸡翼
Pengim	wa	m	bat	zia’	guei	an-nei	zia-lat	ei	guei-sit

Teochew	我	毋	捌	食	过	按呢	食力	个	鸡翼
Pengim	wa	m	bak	zia’	gue	a-ne	zia-lak	gai	goi-sik

Mandarin	我	不	'曾'	吃	过	这么	糟糕	的	鸡翅膀
English	I	not	ever	eat	'before'	such; so	jialat	poss.	chicken wing

*A more idiomatic Mandarin translation would be:

"我没有吃过这么糟糕的鸡翅膀"

K

Singlor Pengim	Hokkien	Teochew	Mandarin	English	Pronunciation
k	目 bhak	目 mak	❌	hack	link

Hokkien and Teochew have the -k final consonant. It is similar to the k in hack, but is not aspirated (no final puff of air). Like -' , -p and -t, it shortens the length of the syllable.

Here is an example sentence that includes this end consonant: Ah Hock studied until he was very frustrated.

Hokkien	阿福	读册	读	遘	死父	迫促
Pengim	a-hok	tak-cei’	tak	ga	si-bei	bek-cek

Teochew	阿福	读书	读	遘	死父	迫促
Pengim	a-hok	tak-zir	tak	gao	si-be	bek-cek

Mandarin	阿福	读书	读	到	非常	烦
English	Ah Hock	study	read	until	damn	frustrated

M 

Singlor Pengim	Hokkien	Teochew	Mandarin	English	Pronunciation
m	嫌 hiam	嫌 hiam	❌	ham	link

Hokkien and Teochew have the -m final consonant. It is similar to the m in ham.

Here is an example sentence that includes this end consonant: If you are unsatisfied, then stop complaining quietly.

Hokkien	汝	若是	毋	甘愿	就	莫	恬恬	嫌
Pengim	lir	na-si	m	gam-uan	lo	mai	diam-diam	hiam

Teochew	汝	若是	毋	甘愿	就	莫	恬恬	嫌
Pengim	lir	a-si	m	gam-uang	zu	mai	diam-diam	hiam

Mandarin	你	要是	不	满意	就	不要	悄悄 (地)	埋怨
English	you	if	not	satisfied	then	do not	quietly	complain

N

Singlor Pengim	Hokkien	Teochew	Mandarin	English	Pronunciation
n	紧 gin	(紧 ging)	紧 jin	pan	link

Hokkien has the -n final consonant, which most Teochew speakers will replace with -ng. It is identical to -n in Mandarin.

Here is an example sentence that includes this end consonant: Don't worry, slowly go and sleep.

Hokkien	𠀾要紧,	慢慢	去	睏	啦
Pengim	bhei-yao-gin,	bhan-bhan	kir	kun	la

Teochew	𠀾要紧,	慢慢	去	夗	啦
Pengim	bhoi-you-ging,	mang-mang	kir	uk	la

Mandarin	不要紧,	慢慢	去	睡	啦
English	don’t worry,	slowly	go	sleep	lah

Ng

Singlor Pengim	Hokkien	Teochew	Mandarin	English	Pronunciation
ng	侬 lang	侬 nang	方 fang	song	link

Hokkien and Teochew have the -ng final consonant. It is identical to -ng in Mandarin.

Here is an example sentence that includes this end consonant: Recently, a lot of Chinese people know how to speak English.

Hokkien	最近	真	㩼	唐侬	会晓	讲	红毛话
Pengim	zuei-gun	zin	zuei	dng-lang	ei-hiao	gong	ang-mor-wei

Teochew	最近	真	㩼	唐侬	会晓	呾	红毛话
Pengim	zue-gng	zing	zoi	dng-nang	oi-hiou	da~	ang-mor-we

Mandarin	最近	很	多	华人	会	讲	英语
Pengim	recently	very	much	Chinese people	know how to	speak	English

These are the end consonants used in Hokkien and Teochew!

Continue to Rimes & Accents for more info on romanisation!

~桂壱 😒