Adjectives

1. 大

   Tuā

   Big

   Usage

   For talking about size — asking to change clothes or a room

2. 細

   Sè

   Small

   Usage

   The opposite of big; learn the pair together

3. 重

   Tāng

   Heavy

   Usage

   For talking about the weight of your bags at check-in

4. 輕

   Khin

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from "bright" in most languages

   Grammar Note

   Light in weight. For bright use 光 (kng)

5. 貴

   Kuì

   Expensive

   Usage

   Say a price is high; it is the usual opening for haggling

6. 俗

   Sio̍k

   Cheap

   Usage

   Cheap in price; also used to confirm the result of haggling

   Grammar Note

   In Taiwanese 俗 (sio̍k) means cheap in price

7. 燒

   Sio

   Hot (to the touch)

   Usage

   For hot food, drinks, or water — not for hot weather

   Grammar Note

   For hot food, water, or objects. Hot weather is 熱 (jua̍h)

8. 冰

   Ping

   Cold (to the touch)

   Usage

   For cold drinks or water — not for cold weather

   Grammar Note

   For cold drinks and objects. Cold weather is 寒 (kuânn)

9. 新

   Sin

   New

   Usage

   For checking whether an item is new

10. 舊

    Kū

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in an object; do not use it about a person

    Grammar Note

    For old objects only; for an elderly person use 老 (lāu)

11. 少年

    Siàu-liân

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

12. 老

    Lāu

    Old (person)

    Usage

    Elderly, said of a person — a different word from old (thing)

    Grammar Note

    Said of people; objects take 舊 instead

13. 清氣

    Tshing-khì

    Clean

    Usage

    Praises both cleanliness and beauty

14. 垃圾

    Lah-sap

    Dirty

    Usage

    To point out that a room or dish is dirty; say it gently

15. 好

    Hó

    Good

    Usage

    The basic word to praise quality or condition

16. 䆀

    Bái

    Bad

    Usage

    To say quality or condition is not good

17. 近

    Kīn

    Near

    Usage

    Near in distance — you will hear it in answers to directions

18. 遠

    Hn̄g

    Far

    Usage

    Far in distance; helps you decide whether to walk or ride

19. 早

    Tsá

    Early

    Usage

    Early in time — in many languages a different word from fast in speed

    Grammar Note

    Early in time. Fast in speed is 緊 (kín)

20. 晏

    Uànn

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time — in many languages a different word from slow in speed

    Grammar Note

    Late in time. Slow in speed is 慢 (bān)

21. 濟

    Tsē

    Many

    Usage

    Many or much; useful for adjusting portions

22. 少

    Tsió

    Few

    Usage

    Few or little; use it to ask for a smaller amount

23. 熱

    Jua̍h

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

    For hot weather or a hot room — not for hot objects

    Grammar Note

    Hot weather. Objects that are hot take 燒 (sio)

24. 寒

    Kuânn

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

    For cold weather or a cold room — not for cold objects

    Grammar Note

    Cold weather. Cold objects take 冰 (ping)

25. 古錐

    Kóo-tsui

    Cute

    Usage

    A versatile compliment for people, objects, or animals

26. 有型

    Ū-hîng

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly for complimenting the look of a person or object

27. 好食

    Hó-tsia̍h

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment to give at the table

28. 厲害

    Lī-hāi

    Amazing

    Usage

    Expresses surprise or admiration

29. 好耍

    Hó-sńg

    Fun

    Usage

    Used to react to an experience itself

30. 較濟

    Khah tsē

    More

    Usage

    Point at it when you want more of something

31. 淡薄仔

    Tām-po̍h-á

    Just a little

    Usage

    Point at it when you want only a small amount

32. 一半

    Tsi̍t-puànn

    Half

    Usage

    Point at it when you want half the amount

33. 全部

    Tsuân-pōo

    All of it

    Usage

    Point at it when you mean the whole lot

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