Toh-ūi Chhut-sì : Where born

On Sunday afternoon, all four family members were out for some needed errands (a T’s yarn store in Fishkill she hopes to have a look, and then stopping by Stony Kill Environmental Center. 

A conversation occurred in the car regarding the birthplaces:

I asked, “A-kun, li di  toh-ūi chhut-sì e?” (A-kun, where were you born?)

A-kun: “Goa  m̄-chai-iáⁿ” (I don’t know).

I: “Li di Cleveland Ohio chhut-sì e.” Again, for him to pick up the word, I emphasized: “Cleeeeveland.”

A-kun: “cReeve-Ment”. Yikes.

Me: “m̄-sī la, si cLEEVE LEND” (Nope, it is “cLEEVE LEND”)

A-kun: “cREEve MENNT”.

Okay. Let’s spilt the word. I then, “CLEEVE”.

He: “cReeve”. Sigh.  I then further simplified it, “LEEve.” He also repeated, “Leeve.” He got it.

(T added at this moment that kids at this age seems to have problem pronouncing L. So it was okay.)

Then I repeated the second part: “Lend.”  He then: “lend”. Perfect.

So this time I combined them all again, “CLEEEEVE LEND”.

Taikun seriously uttered: “cREEve MENNT!”, then giggled like a little devil.

Well, bad boy. Really bad boy! This little guy knows it well—simply intentionally mispronounced it to declare he has some leverage with me!

I lost the battle for the first round.  Fine, let's see what happens next.

Then I followed, “A papa le? Papa toh-ūi chhut-sì e?” (And, how about Dad? Where Dad was born?)

“Goa  m̄-chai-iáⁿ” (I don’t know.)

Then I announced, “papa di Tai-oan chhut-sì e.” (Papa was born in Taiwan.) I followed, “Mama ma si di Tai-oan chhut-sì e o” (Mama was also born in Taiwan o).

He was concerned, and patted A-po, asking “A-po li di toh-ūi chhut-sì e?” (And,  grandma, where were you born?)

A-po responded she was also born in Taiwan: “A-po ma si di Tai-oan chhut-sì e o”. 

Much to my surprise: He shouted with anger: “Goa bô-ài! Goa ma beh di Tai-oan chhut-sì!” (I don’t want/like it! I’d like to be born in Taiwan too!). 

He was concerned, very concerned. He was displeased! We all cracked up. Hahaha!

 As T predicted, he didn’t want to be different from us. Cute little boy.