Grammar – K « Intermediate Taiwanese Grammar

Kā indicates that the noun following it is the direct or indirect object. If the object is understood, it may be dropped and kā may be used alone to indicate the object.

Lí khì kā i hōe sit-lé.

Go tell him that you’re sorry.

Lí nā chún it-tēng ài chai iáⁿ, góa ē-sái kā lí kóng.

If you absolutely have to know, I can tell you.

Nā-chún Bí-kok kā kóaⁿ-chhut-kéng, kap Bí-kok it-hiòng hong-pòng ê “jîn-khôan ūi-sū” ê hêng-siōng bô hû-ha̍p.

If the U.S. deports them, it would be inconsistent with America’s long-boasted image as “champion of human rights.”

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Kā brings the object of the main verb up to a position just in front of the verb. It does not change the basic meaning of a sentence, but it does tend to focus the reader’s attention away from the subject and onto the object and what happened to it. The verb tends to be one that in some way “disposes” or “deals” with the object, such as selling off, putting away, placing, giving, considering, discussing, etc.

Related: chiong

Kā chit-ê kè-ōe siu-kái chi̍t-ē tio̍h ē ēng ê ah.

Just alter the plan a little bit and it’ll work.

I kā keng-chè kái-kek kè-ōe tòng chò i ê chi̍t ê tiōng-iàu ê chèng-kiàn.

He considers the economic reform plan as one of his core political views.

Chhiáⁿ lí kā tê phàu hó-hó, lán thang-hó chiau-thāi lâng-kheh.

Please take the tea and steep it well, so that we can serve our guests properly.

M̄-thang kā tī kok-gōa chhōe tio̍h chi̍t hūn khang-khòe khòaⁿ chò sī pái-thoat sàn-chhiah ûi-it ê lō·-tô.

One shouldn’t view finding a job abroad as the only way to escape poverty.

Lí kám chai-iáⁿ ūi sím-mi̍h Tâi-ôan kā Káu-go̍eh jī-cha̍p-poeh ji̍t tēng chò kàu-su-chiat?

Do you know why Taiwan designates September the 28th as Teachers’ Day?

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Ká-ná

Like / seems like / seems to be

Che ká-ná sī chi̍t-tó· “sò·-ūi piah,” kā m̄ bat tiān-náo, bē hiáu iōng bāng-lō· kang-khù ê hiān-tāi sin ê m̄-bat-jī ê lâng só tī chi̍t tó·-piah ê āu-bīn.

This is like a “digital divide,” which takes the new, modern-day illiterates who don’t know about computers and don’t know how to use internet tools and locks them behind this divide.

Chit tiâu thong-óng bô sò·-ūi lo̍k-chha ê thian-tông kok-tō·, ká-ná iá sī chi̍t tiâu lò·-lò·-hn̄g ê lō·.

This road that leads to a nation with no digital gap seems to be a long and arduous one.

Ta̍t-tit chù-ì ê sī, chit-chióng àu chèng-chhek ká-ná hán-tit sêng-kong.

It’s important to note that this kind of oppressive policy seem to be rarely successful.

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Ká-sú

If; in case; in the even that; suppose; supposing

Related: jû-kó / lû-kó

Ká-sú lí chia̍h tio̍h bô chheng-khì ê mi̍h-kiāⁿ ē àn-chóaⁿ?

What would happen if you ate something that wasn’t clean?

Ká-sú múi chi̍t ê lâng lóng ē thang kiám-chió pún-ūi chú-gī, siā-hōe tio̍h ē khah hó.

If every person could reduce their self-centeredness, society would be better off.

Ká-sú thiⁿ-khì bô hó, hāu-gōa kàu-ha̍k tio̍h ài kái-kî a.

If the weather isn’t good, we’ll have to change the field trip to another time.

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Káⁿ

Probably; likely that

Related: kiaⁿ-á

Hiah-ni̍h hân-léng ê só·-chāi, í káⁿ tòa liáu bē sím-mi̍h kòan-sì hoⁿ.

You probably won’t be able to get used to living in such a cold place.

I káⁿ bē koh lâi hoⁿ!

He probably won’t be coming back!

Lán ê jîn-bîn ê tē-it te̍k-sek, góa káⁿ kóng sī ài chū-iû.

It’s fair to say the most prominent characteristic of our people is a love of Liberty.

Khang-chhùi it-ti̍t lâu lâng, káⁿ sī hoat-iām ah.

Pus keeps oozing out of the wound; it’s probably infected.

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[verb] kah

To the extent that; so much so that; in such a way

Chit niá saⁿ chhēng kah put-tap put-chhit, ū-kàu pháiⁿ-khòaⁿ.

These clothes, worn so sloppily, really look bad.

Kan-na poah chi̍t ê kiáu, i tio̍h su kah bô ke-hóe.

With just one wager, he lost all of his savings.

Chi̍t ê sit-bêng ê lâng kèng-jiân ē-tàng kā khîm tôaⁿ kah hiah-ni̍h-á hó, chin sī siūⁿ lóng hô!

I didn’t realize that a blind guy could actually play the Qin so well … it was really amazing!

Sui-jiân to-sò· ê lāu-su tùi kàu-io̍k ôan-ná ū sú-bēng-kám, tān-sī kàu-io̍k kái-kek ê kiat-kó, hō· lāu-su kòe kah pèng bô khòai-lo̍k.

Although the majority of teachers still have a feeling if duty towards education, the result of education reforms has made teachers feel really unhappy.

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[Verb / adjective] kah

Really; the most; (superlative)

Tōa-lâng gín-á ī pâi-á, ī kah hoaⁿ-hí kah.

The adults and kids played cards and had the most fun.

I bô-êng kah, sīm-chì liân chia̍h pn̄g ê sî-kan to bô.

He’s really, really busy, so much so that he doesn’t even have time to eat.

Tóa sè chiah chiáu-á, kâng-chê kiò, kiò kah chhá kah!

Birds big and small were all cawing together and it was really, really loud!

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Kam-gōan … (mā m-gōan … / mā bô …)

Would rather … (than …); better to … (than …)

Related: Lêng-khó·

Góa kam-gōan sí, iā bô ài chia̍h niau-bah.

I’d rather die than eat cat meat.

Góa kam-gōan kiâⁿ lō· khì, mā m̄-gōan chē chia̍h-hun su-ki ê kè-thêng-chhia.

I’d rather walk than take a taxi with a driver who smokes.

Góa kam-gōan ka-kī ke chò chi̍t kóa, mā m̄-gōan khì mâ-hôan tio̍h pa̍t-lâng lâi tàu saⁿ-kāng.

I’d rather do some more myself than bother someone else to come and help.

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Kám [kóng] …

Do you really [mean to say that] …

Lí kám bô siūⁿ beh chai-iáⁿ tāi-chì ê chin-siòng?

You really don’t want to know the truth of the matter?

Kám kóng lí sím-mi̍h lâng to bōe-tàng siong-sìn?

You really mean to say that you don’t trust anybody?

Kám kóng it-tēng ài tán kàu ū koh khah tōa ê sún-sit, lí chiah beh chhái-chhú chin chi̍t-pō· ê chhò·-si?

Are you really saying that you want to wait until there’s more damage before you finally take additional measures?

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Intermediate Taiwanese Grammar

Common Sentence Patterns and Grammar Notes for Intermediate Taiwanese

Grammar – K

Kā…[verb]

Kā…[verb]

Ká-ná

Ká-sú

Káⁿ

[verb] kah

[Verb / adjective] kah

Kam-gōan … (mā m-gōan … / mā bô …)

Kám [kóng] …

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