Hokkien
|Hok-kien|
🇺🇸
/ˈhɑːkiɛn/
🇬🇧
/ˈhɒkiɛn/
Fujian dialect/language or person
Etymology
'Hokkien' originates from the Hokkien dialect, specifically the word 'Hok-kiàn', where 'Hok' refers to 'Fujian' and 'kiàn' means 'language' or 'person'.
'Hok-kiàn' was adopted into English as 'Hokkien' to refer to both the dialect and its speakers.
Initially, it meant 'person or language from Fujian', and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a group of Southern Min Chinese dialects spoken mainly in southeastern China, Taiwan, and by overseas Chinese communities.
Many people in Singapore speak Hokkien at home.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a person who speaks the Hokkien dialect or is from the Hokkien-speaking region.
He is a Hokkien from Fujian province.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/09 02:28